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The Nutcracker
by Adelie King

Chapter Four: A Brighter Side to Things

Jack and Sam sighed relief as they left General Hammond's office. Daniel Jackson and Teal'c immediately joined them. "So what did the General say Jack?" Daniel asked.

"Kinsey is trying to court-martial both of us…" O'Neill informed them, "Me for telling the bastard off. Carter for nut-craking and humiliating him."

Teal'c then added, "I believe Major Carter should be promoted for such a courageous deed O'Neill."

Jack instantly grinned and looked at Sam, "You know…I have to agree with that Carter…" He told her, "You should get a promotion possibly a metal."

"Very funny Sir." Carter remarked with a perturbed expression as they got to the elevator, "But I doubt the president is going to see it that way."

"You never know." Jack remarked as the doors opened and all four of them stepped on. The doors shut.

Daniel then mentioned, "I assume Kinsey is pissed especially over this morning's issue of the Denver Post." He held up his copy of the paper, "By the way Sam…can you sign this for me."

Sam crossed her arms and finally smiled, "Sure Daniel." She took it and signed it.

Daniel then added, "There are a lot of other personnel that want autographs on it as well."

Her jaw slacked and she handed it back to him, "Are you serious?" Sam was baffled, "I'm probably going to lose my career and go to prison and everyone wants my autograph."

O'Neill then teased, "It's not every day that Kinsey gets nailed in such a way…" He smirked and tapped her on the shoulder, "Bask in the glow Carter while you can."

The doors opened and the headed to the commissary. When they entered Carter was immediately applauded. She was taken aback her jaw slacked again. The guys were hooting and hollering at her as they headed for the line. Instead of smiling she blushed a dark red.

"Take a bow Carter." Jack told her smiling, "You've more than earned it."

Sam got uncomfortable and sheepish all of all sudden. "I think I'll just go to my lab Sir. I need some quiet for a while." She left the commissary back to the elevator.

O'Neill then excused her, "I'm sorry boys. She's not used the fame just yet." He told them, "Stack up your copies of your papers and I'll make sure she signs them for you."

Teal'c was confused by Carter's behavior, "I do not understand O'Neill. Why isn't Major Carter pleased with the recognition she is being given?"

He shrugged pretending to be as confused, "You've got me big guy…" Jack lied to cover the reason she was really upset knowing it had to do with him and her. "She's just taken off guard. She'll come around." He assured them.

"Perhaps one of us should check on her?" Teal'c suggested considerately, "Maybe do something to lift her spirits a little."

Daniel then interjected, "Maybe we should just leave her alone a while." He knew that Sam needed time to herself at the moment and he pointed out, "Remember she's being threatened with a possible Court-Martial here. She probably doesn't feel like celebrating as we do."

O'Neill knew he was right and so they decided to just eat and get to work for the day.

Later that day Senator Kinsey arrived with his assistant and military escorts. He was almost walking bowlegged from Carter's blow the evening before. He had a copy of the newspaper and he was irate.

General Hammond was on the phone when Kinsey stormed in demanding, "So what are you going to do about Major Carter General?"

Hammond excused himself on his call and hung up. Then he answered, "At this moment Senator, nothing…" He paused and reminded him, "You were the one as I recall who called her a whore in front of a military ball." Hammond then told him, "I feel her reaction was a normal and justified one."

"Well what about this General?" Kinsey threw the paper on his desk.

Hammond stated, "I have no control over what the media publishes Senator."

"Well I do have some control." Kinsey stated, "What if I revealed Colonel O'Neill and Major Carter's secret affair and blow the Stargate program wide open."

The next moment Jack walked in and asked, "Is there a problem General?" He saw Kinsey and remarked, "I'd say so and a big one."

"Laugh while you can Colonel." Kinsey told him, "Because you aren't going to be laughing long in a prison cell with Major Carter."

O'Neill commented, "Oh Carter and I are used to cells since we've been in them once in a while off-world Senator."

"Why do I find that not surprising Colonel?" Kinsey commented back, "Did you two use handcuffs while sharing one." He added a little double meaning.

"No Carter's not into that." Jack remarked, "She has become quite the nutcracker lately as you've just found out."

The Senator got irate at that last comment and promised, "And she's gunna pay heavily for that I assure you Colonel…"

Jack then makes one of his snarky remarks, "I'm surprised you're even injured at all with as little equipment that you have." He smirked his hands in both pockets.

This got Kinsey even angrier and he was about to hit O'Neill when Hammond interjected, "That's enough Colonel, Senator." Jack just stood there not willing to back off because Kinsey threatened him.

"You and that subordinate whore of yours are dead O'Neill." Senator Kinsey deliberately threatened and provoked, "You should fuck each other now while you have the chance before your court-martial…" Then he got nasty, "Because by the time I'm done you'll never see each other again."

Jack's fist hit the senator in the jaw knocking him over a chair to the floor. Then he told him in a cold deadly tone, "I warned you not to call Carter a whore again Senator." Kinsey got up and Jack grabbed the coat of his suit and was going to finish him off, "And I'm going to make sure you'll never do it again!"

The next moment two MP's came in pulling O'Neill off Kinsey. "Throw the Colonel in the brig." General Hammond ordered. The two MP's drug Jack off down the hall to the brig kicking to get back at Kinsey.

Kinsey wiping the blood off his mouth informed General Hammond, "I told you to keep him in line general. You just gave me what I needed to charge the Colonel and the Major of assault and battery."

Hammond wasn't stupid knowing he set Jack up. He slowly rose out of his seat looking at the senator in and intimidating manner. Then he told him in uncertain terms, "You deliberately provoked O'Neill senator and Major Carter." He observed staring him down, "Don't think I don't know what you're doing." Then he promised, "You even attempt to charge my officers and I will bring charges on you for entrapment."

"Just try General." Kinsey challenged, "And I'll have you removed from your position."

He contradicted "Well until that happens Senator. I'm still in command here and I am ordering you to get off my base…" Hammond warned, "If you don't leave. I'll have you arrested and thrown in the same cell with Colonel O'Neill…And I won't be responsible for what he's going to do to you…"

Kinsey's eyes widen a moment knowing what O'Neill would do to him. Then he challenged the General, "You wouldn't dare."

Hammond then gestured to two MP's and they walked in standing to either side of Kinsey. He then stressed "Now have I made myself clear Senator?"

Kinsey submitted leaving his office. Then he promised him, "This isn't over General…" The MP's then escorted Kinsey off the base.

One MP asked, "What about Colonel O'Neill Sir?"

"Release him as soon as Senator Kinsey is off my base." Hammond ordered.

"Yes Sir." The MP left the office heading to brig.

Jack was sitting in a cell when Sam came in. He stood up and came to the bars. She smiled and told him, "I heard you punched Kinsey out for me Sir."

"He called you a whore…You think I was going to let him get away with it again." Jack informed her logically with a smirk on his face.

"I'd kiss you if there weren't cameras in here…" Sam smiled shyly walking up to the bars leaving a little over a foot between them.

He held on to two bars with his face in between them grinned and told her, "Just kiss me later after they let me out of here." Jack tucked his hands in his pockets. "Next time when we're off world preferably…"

Carter than brought up, "If we get to go off-world again." She then informed him, "As of now we're on stand down because our funding is suddenly being debated on." She paced and told him, "Hitting him was not a wise move Sir especially after I kicked him. Our pending court-martial is in the works as of now."

O'Neill then suggests leaning an arm on the bars, "Since we're going to be court-martialed anyway…Maybe we should get a room and make passionate love for a night…" He gave the sexiest irresistible grin to her ever.

Sam refused smiling, "I don't think so Sir." Then she stated, "That'd just add fuel to Kinsey's accusations."

"Well a guy can hope can't he?" Jack flirted with her with this innocent expression. She looked at the floor blushing.

She looked back up smiling. "Yes he can…" His eyebrows raised and he smiled. Then she informed him, "They're coming to let you out Sir."

The door opened and the MP's came in with General Hammond. He informed him, "Colonel as of now SG1 is on stand down until further notice until I can clean up this mess you and Major Carter have made."

The MP's unlocked the door and Jack came out of the cell. Hammond continued ordering, "Until then you two are on leave and are to remain off base until further notice."

"Yes Sir." They both agreed.

"We don't need Senator Kinsey getting any more irate than he already is." Hammond justified, "It's safer for you not to be here. Otherwise I'll have to lock you two in here when he shows up again."

"I'd rather be home Sir." Jack told him flat out.

Sam then agreed, "Me too I'm tired from autographing all those newspapers." She sighed sounding exhausted, "I haven't gotten any work done."

"Good, you're on leave as of now. So be off base within the hour" The General left leaving the MPs to escort them both off base to their vehicles.

When they got topside Carter asked him, "Since I owe you for defending me…again…Would you like to come over for dinner Sir?"

"Sure." Jack gladly accepted tucking his hands in his pockets, "Just tell me what you need for cooking and I'll head to the store for you."

"Okay…I'll see you around eight-o clock then." Sam smiled brightly getting into her car.

"Do I get my kiss then?" O'Neill asked her.

"We'll see." She answered smiling shutting the door to her car.

He stood there wishing for more than just dinner but knew there was no way that was going to happen as he went to his truck…