A/N: this is the longer chapter I think I am going to write. It took me a while to write and now I am tired. My muse has gone and I am trying to right chapter 12 but it is difficult. I will try to update soon. Enjoy it.
The other lost city
Chapter XI
"Yes sir, this is to important for us to postpone it because of a personal issue" Sam said very serious, "when has something personal stopped us, we always do the job no matter what, sir"
Jack knew she was right, they had always put their work and the Air Force first, this time things shouldn't be different. This time things weren't going to be different.
"You're right, Colonel" Jack looked at her a moment before speaking again. "You should go to see you groom to tell him that you will be leaving for a while, we don't actually know how long our search will take"
"Yes sir. I guess you're coming with us" she said with one big smile.
"Well Carter, considering that we are the only ones here that can make the balls glow, I think I will be going with you", he said smiling. "But first, I have to talk to the President" he stood up and walked to his office. Before going in he turned, "Danny, Jonas can you take care of our guests? Teal'c you will go with Carter and Cassie to talk to Shannahan" Sam was going to protest "I know that it isn't necessary, but I don't trust his mother, Carter" he turned and went to his office, leaving them looking at the now close door.
"I don't need you there Teal'c, I can take care of myself."
"I'm aware of that but I will do as I was ordered" Teal'c knew Sam was capable of handing anything but he alse knew that this were special circumstances ans he had seen Shannahan's mother. "Cassandra Frasier, you're coming with us. After talking to Pete Shannahan, we will take you to O'Neill's house. That's where you're staying, am I correct?"
"Yeah, uncle Teal'c"
"Lets go to my lab, I have to call Pete to see where he is" the three left the room.
"If you like we could go to the commisary to grab something to eat and then to my lab, I have some artifacts that you might find interesting" Daniel said. The Tok'ra looked at him.
"I would like to talk to Selmak, alone" Garshaw said.
"We accept your offert Dr. Jackson" Malek spoke.
Daniel left the room with Jonas, Anise, Terrin and Malek.
"I will go and see how is Jack doing" Hammond said leaving Garshaw and Jacob alone in the briefing room.
"You don't approve what we've done" Selmak stated, it wasn't a question.
"You should had asked the Council first" Garshaw said. "We understand that you trust the Tauri, your host is a Tauri but we don't. They aren't like the others humans that are out there" Garshaw pointed the Stargate.
"No, they are strong and aren't afraid of us, or any other enemy that might appeared"
"That's right, they haven't been slaves for a long time, they don't remember what is being ruled by the Goa'ulds. They don't see how dangerous their behavior is. They are dangerous"
"I don't see them as you do. For me they are a very good allied. As I said they are strong and intelligent."
"But they don't trust us"
"We haven't done much, Garshaw, to gain their trust"
"General O'Neill….."
"General O'Neill is a strong leader, wise too. He is more intelligent that what you think. He has suffered a lot in his life and the incident with Kanan didn't help in our relation with him" Selmak looked at him "I know you don't like the situation but the only possible way to find out what this city hide, is with their help. You'd seen how the spheres glow in their hands"
"I've seen it and it's really amazing"
"So?"
"You will have to face the High Council when this finish"
"Yes, Jacob and I are prepared to do that" She said smiling, "Are you going to come with us?"
"I think that you, Malek and Anise will do a good job"
When Hammond went into Jack's office, he was at the phone with the President.
"Yes, sir, apparently the spheres are the key to open the doors of a city of the Ancients." Jack looked at Hammond and pointed a chair, so that the old general took a seat. "Yes sir, the ones that built the artifact in Antartica" he smiled, "no sir, I won't put my head in any device this time, unless there's no other option" Jack laugh "No sir, I don't want to worry Colonel Carter"
Hammond looked at him quizzicaly, Jack shook his head.
"Well, we don't exactly know how long it will take, sir. Danny and Jonas said that the only way to find the city is following some sort of clues" He looked at Hammond, who saw that Jack was playing with a pen, "yes I have to go sir, Carter and I are the ones that can activate the spheres." Jack looked at his desk, "No, sir, the spheres need both of us, is our combination that….." Jack sat heavily in his chair "Sir, it seems that the spheres need the combination of a man and a woman to work."
George smiled, he really wished he was at the Oval Office at this moment. Jack was going to explain to the President the reason why only them could activate the balls.
"No, sir, Danny and Carter can't make them work. Sir, only Carter and me………… yes sir, well, it's complicated………….. sir, it appears that the spheres can sense who are the man and woman whose genetic combination is stronger………………. they sense who are the best mates………………… sir, Carter is getting married……………………. well, it was going to be tomorrow……………………..no, we are leaving as soon as we can……………………..when you give me permission………………….yes, General Hammond" George was waiting for the moment when his name would be said "yes sir, he is right here…………..I will give you with him" Jack gave Hammond the phone.
"Mr President, sir, it's General Hammond……………………yes sir……………I don't have any problem……………yes, sir………..no sir………………..ok, I'll tell him…………goodnight Sir" Hammond hanged down. "You have green light Jack, but you have to resolve the situation as soon as possible"
"You know that that's what we all want, George" Jack was serious "I'm looking forward to go off world but not with the Tok'ra, specially not with Anise/Freya" Jack sighed.
"It was a good move the one of Cassie being your daughter, she didn't like that" Hammond smile.
"Yeah, unfortunately it didn't last long"
"No, well tell me how are things at the base"
"So, what do you want to eat?" Daniel asked.
"The commisary has a good variety of food" Jonas told them, "we have paste, meat, chicken, soup"
"Cake, coffee, Jello, red and blue,"
"We are never without red and blue Jello, the General and Sam would go crazy without them"
"And don't forget the cake or pie, Jonas"
"Yes, those meals are always available"
"Why?" Terrin asked
"They are Jack and Sam's favourites"
"Don't forget about cofee Daniel, there is always coffee there"
"Yes; that's my drink. Im adicted to cafeine" Daniel said laughing. They reached the mess and went to grab somethig. There was a strange thing that looked like the MRE of a previous mission, Daniel told the Tok'ra to don't grab them. Between Jonas and him selected a good variety of food, desserts, fruit and drinks and sat on a table. They fractionate the food and started eating.
"What' the relation between the girl and the Genral really?" Freya asked.
"Cassie and Jack? Well as Cassie said Jack is her legal guardian."
"What that does mean exactly?"
"Jack looks after her, he is responsible for her, Freya"
"And what about Colonel Carter and the General?"
"What about them?" Jonas asked acting fool.
"What is their relation?"
"I don't know, you should asked them" Daniel said
"Colonel Carter is getting married"
"Selmak isn't happy with her decision" Terrin said, he was a small man, with green eyes and red hair, the only thing that said that he was a Tok'ra was his voice and clothes.
"Why is that?" Malek asked.
"She says that Samantha was making a big mistake, that's why she let General O'Neill take them here; Jacob isn't happy either""None of us is happy" Daniel said, "but there's nothing we can do"
"Why you aren't happy?" Freya asked
"Come on Freya, you where in that isolation room four years ago, they love each other"
"I was there Daniel and I don't understand why they act like if nothing of that had happened"
"Because they are soldiers, that's why; soldiers in the same chain of comand. They can't have a relationship if they are in the same chain of comand"
"I don't understand that concept, Dr Jackson."
"Well, there isn't much that I can tell you Malek, I don't understand it either."
Malek looked at him puzzled.
"Ok, I understand the rules but I don't comprehend why Jack and Sam ………"
"I think the only reason they aren't together is because they don't want the other to leave the SGC"
"Why would that happen, they are very important for the Tauri""We know that, and they know that ans that's the main problem. What they can't see is that if they asked the President for permission to persuade a realtionship, the President would agree." Daniel said
"They have saved Earth more times that anyone" Jonas declared "But we have to remember that now we have Pete in the ecuation"
"We can get rid of Pete very quickly if we want"
"Really, how?" Terrin asked.
"Well, Jacob has found a way"
"The spheres" Anise said "The spheres only work with mates, this way he can convince both of them that they belong together"
"That's right, so the only thing we have to do now is wait!" Daniel said bringing to his mouth a spoon full of yogourt.
Once they reached Sam's lab, Sam went to call Pete to his cell phone.
"Teal'c do you think she will realize that she is making a big mistake?" Cassie whispered.
"I believe Colonel Carter is really confused right now, and that is the reason why she agree to marry Pete Shannahan"
"Hi, it's me…………where are you?………………… Aha, yes, well in twenty minutes I can be there………… I want to talk to you Pete………………..it's important……………..ok, see you in twenty." Sam hang down the phone "Ok, lets go" They left the lab and began the journey up the mountain.
Once in the surface they went to Jack's car. Sam was really shocked when Cassie gave her the keys. The young woman told her that Jack would never know they took his car so there wouldn't be a problem. Sam stared at her a while then took the keys and they left the base. They were going to Sam's and Pete's new house. All Pete's family and her's were there.
The trip was quiet, Sam was thinking what she was going to say to Pete, he wasn't going to react well to the news but this was important, the city could have a new kind of technology and that was important. Also she wasn't sure if what she was doing was the right thing, she had seen the balls after all. The way they shined when Jack and she touched them, was amazing. She knew they where compatible, she knew since the first time she saw him in that breifing room. He was an Alpha male and she, she was a good female specimen, the babies they could produce would be great. And the balls just confirmed that. She was lost, really lost. What was she going to do? If only Janet was there.
When they arrived the house, they saw a lot of people. Cassie smiled, they wouldn't like what Sam was going to say. She didn't like Pete, he was a SOB from Cassie's point of view, he was an obsessive weak man. And he wasn't Jack. Casise always wondered why Jack and Sam weren't together, they belong to each other, as Teal'c had said, they were one. She got out of the car and followed Sam inside the house.
Teal'c went into the house following his leader. Colonel Carter was a great warrior, woman and scientist. There was noone like her, not even Ishta. She was strong and selfconfident when taking about science and military stuff but Teal'c knew she was lacking confidence when feelings where in game.
"Pete, we have to talk" Sam didn't even kissed him. Pete looked at her.
"What happened?"
"Not here Pete, I want to talk alone"
"No Sam, we are talking here, what you came to tell me, you're going to tell us all"
"Pete, please"
"No Sam, you left our party and now you want to tell me what to do? No way, we are talking here"
"Colonel Carter" Teal'c said.
"No Teal'c, it isn't necessary. If he wants to talk here in front of everyone, we'll talk here" Sam sounded confident, but she wasn't and Cassie and Teal' knew that.
"Come on Sam, tell us" Mark said
Sam looked at him, then looked at Teal'c who nodded.
"We are leaving in a few hours Pete"
"What?" Peted shouted. All the people there looked at her surprised.
"You are leaving?" Pete asked, "Where are you going?"
"We have something to do, something to search and.."
"It will have to wait, dear, you are getting married tomorrow" Pete's mother interupred.
"Ma'am, you don't understand" Sam tried to explain "this can't wait, the wedding in other hands can"
"The wedding as you put it, is your wedding Samantha, not anyone's wedding"
"I know, ma'am, but this is my work and it's important too"
"I can't believe you are gonna put your job before our wedding Sam!" Pete cryed out.
"You always knew my job was first Pete, so don't sound so surprise"
"I knew that your job was important to you but I never thought that it would be more important than us!"
"Sorry Pete but this is extremely important, even the General has to go with us and he doesn't go on field trips anymore"
"He is going with you? Why the hell is he going?" Pete was mad. He didn't like O'Neill. He didn't like the way he looked at Sam or the way Sam looked at him or the way Sam talked about him or the way they saw each other. Pete didn't like Jack.
"Because he is needed Pete! What's wrong with you?" Sam said.
"What's wrong? Let me tell you what's wrong, our wedding is tomorrow and you are telling me that you are leaving in a few hours because of some alien thing!" Pete shouted.
"PETE!" Now Sam was angry, he had said something that he shouldn't, he had said alien. All the people were startled; 'alien, he said alien' that was the thought that everyone was having. "SHUT UP, YOU ARE NOT GOING TO OPEN THAT MOUTH OF YOURS ANYMORE" Sam was pissed, Sam was furious and Teal'c had seen her before angry and it wasn't something nice for the person that had irated her. "YOU'RE GOING TO LISTEN TO ME," Sam had a deep breath and continue more calmed, "I. Have. To. Go. On. This. Mission., the President has given us the green light, General O'Neill told him that I was getting married tomorrow but he said that this mission was more important than any marriage. That I can get married anytime I want but that this mission couldn't wait so I AM SORRY we have to postpone the wedding but I'm just following orders, ok"
Pete looked at her astonished, he couldn't believe that the President had given them permission to go on this mission, no matter what.
"The President?" Mark asked. Sam knew she had played her cards well. They have forgotten what Pete said about the aliens. They were amazed that they needed permission from the President to go on a mission.
"Yes, Mark, the President gave us green light" she said smiling
"You know President Hayes?"
"Yes Mark, we know the President. We even have dinner with him some time ago."
"How?"
"General O'Neill is a hero, and we are his team" Sam said with a wide smile.
"He is?" Mark asked, he had seen the man and he really didn't look like a hero, of course he didn't know how a hero looks but cretainly not as O'Neill.
"Yes, but that's not the case here, we are leaving, we have work to do. And Pete whether you like it or not, I am leaving."
"I don't care if the President gave you this order Samantha, you are not going anywhere til you marry my son"
"Ma'am, you really don't understand that I can't do anything about this. I was given an order and I will follow that order. I'm in the Air Force and my CIC gave me a direct order so I will follow it, no matter what"
"Samantha, it really doesn't matter now, once you marry Pete tomorrow you will leave your job to have a family" she said smiling.
"Excuse me ma'am but I never said I was going to give up my job. My job if my life…."
"That's where you are wrong, darling, Pete is your life now."
"No, ma'am, THE STARS are my life" Sam was loosing her patience. This woman was unbearable. "I care a lot for your son but my work is all I have and I 've work all my life to be where I am now. My team mates are my family and I won't leave them any soon."
Mark looked at her, Sam was loosing her patience. He knew that his sister's dream was going to the stars, was to become an astronaut, but he also knew that she wasn't doing that. And what
she said about her team, that was shocking. He knew they lived a lot of things together but to be consider her family? That was strange, he was her family, their father too but the men he met today? They weren't her family or perhaps they were her adopted family. He knew a little about them and from what he knew they were all alone, they didn't have a family near so maybe that was the reason Sam considered them her family.
"Honey…"
"NO, STOP IT" Sam said, this conversation was over, "I don't really care what you or anybody else think, I am leaving and if your son wants to marry me when we're back, he and I will talk. I have a duty to fulfil and I will do it without hesitation, if you don't like it, I'm sorry but what we do is the most important job in the world." Sam turned to leave.
"Sam, please, calm down" Mark asked, "perhaps we can sit and talk"
"No Mark, we" she said in reference to Teal'c, Cassie and her "have to go, as I said before we have a mission"
"Where are you going, Sam?" Emily asked, "How long it will take?" She was really concerned about Sam. Pete reaction to all this situation wasn't good; but Pete's mother's reaction was worst, the woman was insufferable. Pete had been saying since Sam, Jacob and the rest of the military left, that O'Neill and the other men of Sam's team were responsible of this. He said that they didn't like him and that they didn't agree with the wedding. Emily had the feeling that they didn't like Pete but she truly didn't think that they could so something like this on purpose. And if the President gave her the order, well, it should be important.
"I can't tell you where we are going, not even we know" Sam said, Emily and all the others looked confused, "ok, Daniel knows where we are going, he knows the location but nothing more. And I really don't know when we are coming back, it all depens. If we find what we are looking fast, it could be in a week or week and a half, if not in could take a month or more"
"What?" Pete's mother appeared in scene again.
"Sorry ma'am but that's what happends with all our missions." Sam said with a shy smile, "one of the General's missions lasted aproximately 3 months and well there's always the possibility that the mission goes wrong and noone come back."
"But you work in Deep Space Radar Telemetry, dear"
"Yes, but we go on missions too, ma'am" Sam said smiling. Cassie snorted, this was funny. Sam looked at her sharply.
"Sorry"
"So, Pete I call you when I come back…"
"As I said before, honey, you are not going anywhere" Pete's mother grabbed Sam's arm tightly. Teal'c moved to help Sam.
"Ma'am, please, release me. I really don't want to hurt you" Sam asked politely. Suddenly, her cell phone started ringing. "Carter…………yes sir……….we are leaving Cassie at your house, then we are heading the base……………really? And what did he say?……………………..Daniel must be jumping of excitement…………………..ok sir see you in half and hour…………….." Sam looked at Teal'c and said, "we are leaving now, see you later, and Mark, dad is coming with us so don't worry about him" Sam turned and Pete's mother stand in front of her, she wanted to stop Sam from leaving. Teal'c was the first one to react; he grabbed the woman and moved her to the other side. Patricia yelled in surprised and all Pete's relatives started reacting but the face the big guy gave them was enough to quiet them all.
"Colonel Carter, it's time to leave" he said.
"Yes, come on Cassie" Sam said and the three left the house.
In the car noone said anything. They reached Jack's house and Cassie said goodbye and wished them good luck. They saw how the girl entered the house and left. The base was calling them, a new world was waiting and Sam really wanted to walk through the gate and forget for a while all Earth's tribulations.