They laughed and returned to their seats as the meeting was called to order. The afternoon session dragged on through the rest of the day. The Councilors grew more and more restive as it went on while Jack grew quieter and grayer until George stood up beside him.
"Enough," he said without preamble or introduction, "End it now or come back tomorrow. This has gone on too long. One of you aides, contact Major Carter and let her know we're going to need her," he said and then sat back down.
The Earth contingent looked at each other in surprise. The Standers nodded their heads in agreement. Someone slipped out the back door. Jack looked like he was about to protest, but the Speaker headed him off.
"We do not wish to hurry this matter, but it does seem like we're just going in circles here. Mr. President, I call for the vote." At his words, a low murmur of confused puzzlement rippled across the table occupied by the Earth delegation. The three who had traipsed up to the top of the hill had not had time to inform their companions of what they had learned there.
Jack sighed in response to the call for a vote but said, "Very well. Mr. President, are you prepared to accept the treaty or will you require more time to make a decision?" When he spoke his voice was harsh and so quiet they had to lean forward to hear him.
"I did plan to bring the proposal before the Congress and UN before signing it, but you're not asking anything that should be a matter of contention. The biggest concern will be funding, and you've offered more than a fair exchange in grain for that...I'll sign."
"Thank you," Jack answered him. Then addressing the Council he said, "As President of this Council I am prepared to sign this treaty if that is your recommendation."
The Speaker spoke up, "Because time is short I ask that we forego formality and Stand as one in agreement to the signing of this treaty." The group came to its feet at once. The Speaker looked questioningly to George, "This should go over the Link. Is there time?"
O'Neill growled at him, "We'll take the time to do this right."
The old man frowned, and mouthed "Hurry" to Oritz. The Speaker nodded and motioned to someone in the media room. Turning to the Earthers, he said, "It will only take a moment to establish the Link. Mr. President, if I could ask you to join Colonel O'Neill for the signing."
"The link?" General Hammond asked.
"Yes, this is an important moment for our Worlds. We will open our StarGates and transmit it live."
"You have the means to open all your StarGates simultaneously?" Colonel Ramsey asked.
"Yes."
"We'd be interested in knowing how that works...when you feel you can trust us, of course."
Daniel groaned and wondered if the man would ever say something to the Standers without making it an accusation. But, they took no offense; they understood his mistrust-they'd been just as suckered by the Aschen as Earth.
"The Link is open," someone announced and Jack began to speak:
"This is O'Neill. Beside me is the President of the United States of America who speaks for Earth. We've been able to come together and draw up an alliance between our two peoples...an alliance which I believe will greatly benefit the Hazeldor Research. Councilman Oritz will read that to you and then we'll sign it."
Councilor Oritz stepped in front of the table and began to read the manuscript. It had been handwritten and in several areas entire paragraphs had been scratched out and revised, but it sounded as weighty as any Daniel had ever heard. Not that he was listening very closely. He was more concerned with what was going on behind Oritz's back. While the Speaker read, George pulled Jack's chair away from the table and then with the help of another Stander helped him to stand. It was an obviously painful process. Sweat beaded on his friend's ashen face as he struggled to stay upright. The men worked a pair of crutches under his arms and slowly released their hold on him. He swayed unsteadily between them while George wiped the sweat from his face with a handkerchief.
Daniel hazarded a look at Janet. He could tell it was taking everything she had not to run to Jack and offer whatever help she could. He felt the same way. "What is it?" he whispered to her, but she only shook her head.
The men moved away from Jack's side and when the Speaker finished and retook his seat, Jack was standing on his own. A pen was passed to the President and he signed his name with a flourish while cameras flashed. Balancing carefully on his crutches, Jack scrawled his signature below the President's and reached out a shaking hand to him. The men smiled at one another for the cameras, and it was over.
"The Link is down," someone called. George and his assistant were at Jack's side immediately. The crutches fell out of Jack's shaking hands and he more or less collapsed into George's arms. "It's all right, Sir," he said quietly to the colonel, "We've got you," and then yelled out, "Where's the doctor?"