Unmerciful

"This is outrageous! Daniel, this is completely unfounded. Tell me it's unfounded?" Jacob's rant had led them out of the briefing room and into a more private area; a locker room. Jacob had stopped at the locker designated to hold his civilian clothes for when he would return to Earth to visit his family. He had never expected to need to get to it so quickly before, but this situation warranted his expeditious nature.

"Well, of course." Daniel stuttered. He knew the answer was no. There was nothing between Sam and Jack, there never had been and never would be as far as he was concerned. Maybe there had been some potential, but truth be told, he had known the military rules after a short amount of training, and beyond that, they were all friends, nothing more. Weren't they?

"I've been involved in some heavy red tape in my life, and heard about some tricky maneuvers, but this is just ridiculous." Jacob spat as he pulled on a new shirt. Daniel turned as the man began to change from some odd animal product that looked like stomach lining, into a pair of jeans. "If Sam is in Nevada, I'm going."

Forget modesty. Daniel spun around. "Now?"

"Yes now, Daniel. And you're coming with me." Jacob was already headed to the door with a small bag in tow.

"Why me?" Daniel questioned with a bit of hope it didn't have to be him.

"Because you have a car."

"You'll need to get some kind of clearance to…"

"Where do you think we're going first? Besides, if anyone says no, they can consider the Tok'Ra-Earth alliance over."

Daniel bit his lip as the former general burst out of the room and left the locker room door swinging. This was going to be a disaster, he thought. If he only knew how right he was.

"…no aliens, no alcohol, that was all you." Jack growled at the mirror in front of him, preparing some kind of speech for Sam. His own expression that stared back was as unconvinced as he knew she would be. "If she comes home at all." He muttered. Truth be told, he had no idea how long Sam was usually at work, or if she even planned on coming back before she knew he was gone. She was stubborn like that. He knew better than he wanted to. But how was he going to convince her that the night before was alright, was supposed to happen, wouldn't affect anything. Better yet, how was he supposed to convince himself?

In the moment it had seemed the perfect solution, the best release. It was a freedom they had never had, a way to fully appreciate the only good that had come from Carter's reassignment. The look they had shared when she had finally stopped crying. She got up from the couch, not in the least concerned from their close proximity. Not nervous and ramrod straight as she had been when she came to tell him goodbye not long before, when he had been taken over once more by the Ancient Database. It was comfortable. It was right.

There were no words. He had shifted back in the couch, assuming that was where he would speak to her from as she fixed something in the kitchen, or rummaged around for something, anything to put a safe distance between them. But then he felt the comfort stay. It didn't dissipate from the room. If anything it engulfed it. She looked back from the doorway and he knew. The rest was fate.

But fate, as they had come to know over the years, was more often cruel than loving.

"Daniel Jackson, where are you going?"

Daniel turned around as if it took a great effort. He twitched in his civilian clothes before replying in a singsong voice. "Ne-va-da."

"Have you received some kind of special permission to visit Major Carter?" Teal'c seemed a bit hurt, but then again, it was hard to tell with Teal'c.

"Not like that Teal'c. I've been ordered to take Jacob to see her. You were invited too by the way, but I thought I'd save you from where this trip will most likely lead."

Realizing the implications of the reply, Teal'c arched his brow and lifted his head. "I understand. Thank you for sparing me from potential…distress. However, if at any time you require my assistance, I will be most willing to come and provide it."

"Thank you, Teal'c." Daniel rolled his eyes to show that Teal'c was getting a far better end of this deal, then made his way to meet Jacob and make the trip to Nevada. However, accommodations were going to become much quicker transportation thanks to certain connections of the Stargate Program.

The oval office is not an intimidating room. Surreal may describe the experience of being in it, but not intimidation. It would be more intimidating if the movies hadn't made it such a common place image. The real thing or not, you're pretty much ready for the Resolute Desk, the blue rug, and the great view that most offices don't have. Mr. Woolsey was therefore, unimpressed.

"Mr. President." He greeted as he was escorted in by the President's secretary.

"Ah... Mr. Woolsey. I was wondering when I'd see you here again."

Woolsey's mouth spread like a toad and his eyes narrowed. That may have been a snide remark, but he wasn't going to let it interfere with his work. He never let anything do that. Especially not feelings. Not if he could help it. "Were you, sir?"

The president motioned for him to sit across from him as he leaned back in his chair, already well adjusted to the position of power, at least the physical one. "I must admit I've been a little curious about the Stargate Program. Seeing as a couple of months ago I was certain we were the only intelligent, for the most part, beings in this universe."

"I see." Woolsey replied dryly. "Well, sir, I can assure you from personal meetings, we are not." An image of Teal'c flashed in his mind and he felt a little uneasy. Somehow he was sure if he ran into him again, he may not leave the meeting so intact.

The two men continued with a rather dry rapport. Woolsey's lack of humor and the President's lack of concern over protocol made it all the more unenthusiastic. It was a hard conclusion to reach, seeing as they were discussion intergalactic policies and warfare, but the truth was, even that could come down to paperwork. Then came another issue which had come down to paperwork, and once which had spread out like an infection through the members of SG-1 and those associated closely to them.

"Major Carter's work at Research and Development in the Nellis division has been quite forthcoming. However, some of her enthusiasm for the subject matter at hand seems to have been diminished. As for SG-1, her position has been filled by a Dr. Rodney McKay. He is just as well versed in Stargate knowledge inside and out if not more so that Major Carter, seeing as he has had more time to study the device in comparison to Major Carter's former field work."

"About that…" The President cut Woolsey off. "I've got to admit I thought about that decision after I agreed to it. I was new and all if you hadn't noticed. But do you think it really needed to come down to that? I know it's been done, but would you say it has been for the best?" The president tapped the tips of his fingers together.

"I can't say that there has been much of a change either way. At least not one that can be measured yet. SG-1 is still going to need time to adjust to the addition of Dr. McKay in place of Major Carter, and Major Carter should soon slip into a rhythm of more production at R&D once she is also acclimated to her new position."

The President took his hands down and pulled them across his desk. "I got a call this morning. One I'm well aware that you haven't gotten any wind of seeing as you were flying here. A message from Dr. Weir."

Woolsey looked unsettled and readjusted his position in his chair for the first time since sitting down. "And?"

The conversation about the problems SG-1 was having and the newest information about possible alliance trouble with the Tok'Ra for the way they handled so called "rumors" set the conversation in a totally different direction.

She was surprised he hadn't run away from the situation. But she knew deep down that Jack O'Neill didn't run from anything accept himself. He had promised he wasn't going to leave her, and his truck parked a lot over proved that he hadn't.

Jack heard Sam open the door, set down her things, and proceed to find him sitting on the couch where it had all begun.

"We need to talk." They said in unison. But they weren't going to get that chance. Timing and circumstance was unmerciful to them as always.

There was an unexpected knock at the door. Sam was privy to ignore it, but it was followed swiftly by a ring and yet another knock when she made no attempt to answer it. Letting out a huff, Jack stood. His face rose no more than an inch or two from Sam's and he allowed one lingering glance between them before he himself went to answer the door and shoo away whoever was interrupting what could be one of the most important conversations of his life.

"Look, whatever it is…"

Jack was cut short by an astounded stare on Jacob Carter's face. Behind him, Daniel was muttering "Oh crap" and looking to the concrete as quickly as he could.

A/N: Thank you for reading. Apologies for the delay, but the death of a close family friend delayed this posting (prayers for her family are much appreciated).