Chapter 3
"How are the drinks coming, Jack?" Daniel asked as soon as Jack sat back down.
"What? I don't know."
"Jack are you okay?" a concerned Daniel asked.
"What? Yeah fine."
"Who were you talking to sir?" Carter asked.
"Oh, some random guy. An interesting conversation though."
"You sure you're okay jack?" Daniel asked again.
"Yeah just thinking. Um… I have something to tell you guys."
"What?"
"Um…there are going to be some changes now that all known threats have been eliminated. I've decided to step down as the Head of Home World Security and move back to Colorado Springs. I'm either going to retire or take a job offered to me, as a trainer for new recruits to the SGC or Atlantis programs. Slow down a bit."
"Good for you, Jack."
"Yeah, there are some things I've always wanted to do that I haven't had a chance to do." Jack responded this time looking at Carter. Of course, Carter noticed and gave him a small, shy smile which he returned.
They continued with lunch for another hour or two until it came to a close. The group then moved outside toward the parking lot.
"See everyone at the base tomorrow. Bye Jack hope to see you soon." Daniel shouted before he, Teal'c and Vala got into his car. Mitchell left in his car.
"Bye Daniel."
"When are you heading back to Washington, sir?"
"Soon, I need to get a taxi and head back by my hotel before heading to Peterson in a few hours. I'm not sure what I'm going to do to kill time…"
"I can take you."
"Are you sure? I don't want to put a damper on your afternoon plans, Carter."
"I didn't have any. I was just going to head home anyway."
"Really? Not back to the Base?"
"I don't always work."
"Yeah sure Carter. Who are you trying to avoid."
"Felger."
"What did he do this time?"
"Want's my help on some project. That, one, I don't have time for, two, I don't want to help, and, three, I don't think will work."
"So tell him no."
"I did."
"Ah. Want me to go intimidate him into silence? I do have a few hours."
"No it's fine."
"You sure?"
"Yeah."
"Okay…So where to, Carter?"
"I don't know. You choose, sir."
"Drop the sir please."
"You're still my indirect CO. I can't."
"No, I'm not. I'm no longer the Head of Home World Security. I can have that job back if I want, but at the moment I'm on leave trying to decide what I want to do."
"Oh really, sir?"
"Carter…"
"I'll drop the sir if you drop the Carter."
"Fine, Sam. Yeah I'm trying to decide what to do."
"Do what you want. But, for the moment maybe we want to leave the parking lot. It's starting to rain."
"Okay. Where are we going?"
"I don't know. How about my house? Want to watch a movie or something."
"Sure Sam."
"Okay Jack. To my house it is."
"Great." Jack smiled at Sam.