The Satisfaction of Revenge
Chapter Eleven
Jack was worried out of his mind, not to mention the guilt he felt. The more he thought of Sam, the more responsible he felt. It had been a week since Jack asked Daniel for help and they still hadn't heard from Teal'c.
Against the wishes of the Joint Chiefs and the President, Jack's retirement was official. He would be retired as of 01:00 tonight. He was in his office clearing out his personal things.
His secretary was trying to help, but she was having a difficult time with his decision. She was barely keeping the tears from falling and had moved quickly from his office to hers several times during the last hour.
Of course, Jack didn't have a clue; he just wasn't talking anymore than necessary. He didn't have a lot of room in his mind anyway; Carter filled most of it as she had for the last two weeks.
Jack looked even worse than he had when Daniel left DC after staying the night with Jack. Actually talking with Daniel had helped; it was the only night he'd slept all night in the last two weeks.
Leaving his office with a large box he stopped at Captain Michaels' desk, "I just want you to know you're just as good as Walter only a lot prettier. I really appreciate how well you've taken care of this old man for the last couple of years….," he teased.
Captain Michaels knew Walter. Jack had taken her to the mountain just after she gained top level clearance to see the Gate and meet all the people who called her CO on an almost daily basis at first. She still couldn't believe what she knew about the SGC and her CO. At times it really felt as if she had dreamed the whole thing.
Walter had become a close 'phone' friend. Jack had her contact the SGC frequently and a lot of those times it was Walter that she'd talked with.
She and Walter had several conversations over the last two weeks without her actually telling him why the information he provided was important. But Walter knew it was something to do with Colonel Carter and Teal'c.
She hated that she would be left in the dark as to the results of this. She hated that it was costing her the best assignment of her career. She wanted to hate the woman that caused this, but she couldn't; she was too descent to feel such emotion for a woman she'd never meet.
She stood and hugged Jack squeezing in as close as she could, causing him to shift the box and hug her back with one arm. She was much shorter than he was. She felt like a little girl to Jack.
He noticed the tears tracking her face, "Hey, none of that now. You're going with me." He realized that in the fog of the week, he forgotten to tell her.
"I've requested that you be reassigned to the SCG as my personal assistance. You'll be there in two weeks, unless of course you don't want it?" He almost panicked. She'd said once that she'd like to work there; but he wasn't sure if she still did.
"Really? General? Are you serious? I'm going to the SGC? Really?" Jack grinned his signature grin; she sounded like a young girl too. He was glad she was happy about that news.
"You know I can't have Walter back, so I have to take you." He teased. She dried her face and smiled up at her tall CO. He was old enough to be her father and she respected him almost as much as she did her father.
"Thanks." She pulled away and straightened her uniform. Her whole body perked up and she seemed taller. "I don't need two weeks, General. I can be there in just a couple of days if I can stay on base until I find an apartment. I have a room mate, so I don't have to worry about packing up my place so fast."
"Good, but you take the two weeks, Janice. I have two weeks before I report as a consultant. I don't know where I'll be during the next two weeks."
"But if I'm there, General, I can help. What if you need me to run down something else on Colonel Carter? Don't I need to be on duty?"
Jack felt touched that this young woman was so willing to help him with such a personal matter. He'd had to tell her about Sam, at least the part he was telling the others that he wanted to know some of the truth.
"I'd like that if you're sure it's whacha want. It would probably really help me." He watched her reaction. He was sure that she meant what she'd said. The more he thought of the benefits, the more he liked the idea. He really didn't know what to expect the next two weeks, it would be great to have her stationed there to do his leg work. She was as efficient as Walter.
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Jack woke early the next morning. He had his bag packed and wrote a message for the cleaning lady saying that he'd contact her when he returned. He left a check for two weeks and asked that she check on the place if he hadn't return at the end of two weeks. He wasn't moving anything until he knew where he and Sam would end up. He had faith that he would find her and that they would work things out. They had too.
He was no longer in the military and normally wouldn't be allowed access to the mountain, but at Jack's request the President had granted him a consultant contract that would allow him to continue working with the Stargate Program, and gave him the same top level clearance that he'd had.
Jack and the President had become good friends over the last two years. President Hayes quickly learned that Jack was a man to have on his team, that he was an honest man almost to a fault. He was grateful that Jack had requested the appointment, because he hated the thought of loosing all his experience and expertise.
The appointment was affective immediately, and gave Jack much authority, even though he would be a civilian at the SGC. He didn't out rank Landry, but he was his civilian equivalent and would be placed as head of all civilian departments that worked at the mountain, as well as consultant to the recruits' training.
The only thing he wouldn't have access to was the Asgard beaming technology. He'd thought long and hard trying to decide if it was more beneficial than him having the extra time to locate Carter. The time won out.
Jack had explained his problem with Carter to the President without going into detail, but not the Joint Chiefs. Jack had run out of time. He had to turn in her resignation and explain why it was late. He told them he had tried to convince her otherwise, and had held her paper work until the last possible date.
The Joint Chief's weren't happy that Jack had kept them out of the loop on Colonel Carter's decision. If Jack hadn't retired, he would be facing repercussions. But the President helped him with the Chief's disappointment and insisted that he wanted Jack in any capacity.
Carter resigned-- was all the Joint Chiefs knew. The President had ensured Jack that he would bring her back to the SGC or any where she wanted as a civilian consultant at any time; or would have her reinstated into her current commission if it wasn't too long before she returned.
Now all Jack had to do was find her and try to make things right. He knew she wasn't on Earth. He'd spent a pretty penny of his own money on dozens of investigators trying to find her, but not one had found one trace of her anywhere.
He instinctively knew that she'd been on that ship, but he had to cover every base. That's one of the reasons he'd waited so long to contact Daniel. The less people involved in this, the less it would embarrass Carter.
He had to find Teal'c. Jack just knew that Teal'c had helped her. That was where he hoped Daniel and Vala would come in. Vala knew the galaxy much better than any of them. She'd know of planets that fit the needs of someone trying to hide.
Even though they had attempted, the SGC had been unable to reach Teal'c.
Jack knew he'd convinced Landry that something had to be wrong and they owed it to Teal'c to find out what. He could be in trouble. But Jack really believed that where ever Teal'c was, he'd find Carter or at least learn of her whereabouts. He didn't understand why Teal'c wasn't answering their call, but knew instinctively that he had chosen not too.
Jack talked General Landry into letting him take Daniel, Cam, Vala and Jennifer Hailey, who had been assigned to SG1 after Sam's appointment to Atlantis, to locate Teal'c. They would meet Bra'tac first and go from there.
Jack looked around the gate room. All of SG1 was present. Daniel, with Jack's permission, had given each of them as much of the truth about the real mission as he knew.
Jack wanted each one of them to have the choice to say no. But, he was really glad that each one had made the decision to join him in his search for his friends. They each had unique qualities that Jack felt could be needed before this was over.
They readied themselves as Jack looked up at Landry. "God's speed SG1. Jack, find him." Jack gave a slight nod of his head and turned to lead the team through the gate. He hated leaving Landry in the dark, but Sam's life and sanity could depend on them finding her. He knew for sure his did.
Landry turned back to the stairs that lead to his office, alone in his thoughts but silently praying. "Find her Jack, find her."
Unknown to Jack, the President had briefed Landry and had given him as much info on Jack and Carter's situation as he knew and had Okayed any help that Jack might request during the next month. They both agreed that these two officers had earned the support of the country that wouldn't be here if not for either one of them. Landry knew as much or more than even Daniel of this situation.
When Landry reached his office he found a very alert and quiet Captain Janice Michaels. Walter had her waiting in the conference room and she'd watched from the window. She turned to face the CO of the base of her new assignment with a big smile.
"Captain Janice Michaels reporting for duty, Sir."
TBC
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