CH 156
Jack and Sam walk out side while they talk. The same airmen showed up in the car, after they got in they headed to the air force hall. When they got there fifteen minutes later they walk up the steps and into the building. Then they walked down to where there were a lot of air force personnel, including the black ops teams. Jack and Sam walk over to them and talk to them
"Hey guys what are you doing here?"
"We were invited"
"Oh"
"How did the briefing go?"
"Good"
They talk for ten minutes when General Hammond walk over to them they all stood at attention and saluted him which he did in return
"At easy" then all relax
"General Hammond this is a surprise"
"It's good to see you Sam, how are you?"
"I'm good thanks, how about you sir?"
"I'm good, crag got engage last weekend" Sam smile
"Hey that is good news, how is the family?"
"Good, so what are you doing here?"
"Jack and I just came from the pentagon after a briefing, we were ask to come here" he nodded
"Sam I thought you should know… Jacob is here" Sam looked at him in shock
"Where is he?"
"Behind me"
Sam steps to the side and looks behind the general to see her father talking to some guy, she couldn't believe how much he has changed since she last saw him. Then she step backs and looked at General Hammond
"Thanks for letting us know"
"Your welcome another reason why I'm here, I've been transferred back to Colorado Springs"
"Again" He smile
"Yes again, I'm the new CO of Peterson air force base"
"Sweet" she said smiling
"I know that you show up on some Saturdays to fly for a few hours, you still can do that while I'm in change"
"Thanks general" then he turn to Jack
"Major I see you still keeping Sam happy?"
"We keeping each other happy sir"
"That good to know"
"General Hammond"
"Yes Sam"
"Remember what I said to you years ago about your hair?"
"Yes I remember… your father sure ruin a good moment"
"I know and it seems you have lost more hair and put on weight sir" he chuckled
"Well Sam you sure still got a good sense of humour after what you been through"
"I know, but Jack and everyone else has been keeping not just each other happy but me also"
"That good to know, I'll leave you all to chat, keep up the good work"
"Thank your sir" they all said then he turned and walked away.
"Sam what did you say to General Hammond about his weight and hair?" One of the captains asked Sam to smile at the memory.
"When I was seven years old General Hammond and his family showed up one Saturday night for a barbecue with other friends of mum and dad. It has been two years since I last saw him, when I gave him a hug I said to him if you lose this, I was patting his stomach at the time… your hair might grow back… I patted his head, he laughed knowing I was joking… unfortunately dad didn't see it that way, he told me to apologise for my ruddiness. General Hammond try to tell him that I was only joking, dad told me to go and play with the other kids… he said it in a colonel tone, I did go outside, but I didn't play with the older kids"
Jack had his arm wrap around her shoulder while she was leaning against him when she was telling him the story.
"Sam how long have you known General Hammond for?" one of them asked
"He and dad have known each other since they join the airforce thirty years ago"
"Wow that is along time"
"It is"
"Hey guys the ceremony just beginning" they all turn to see chief of staff walking up the stops to the pounamu
"Today is a good day for number of air force personnel who are here today to received promotions and awards, without further ado"
He started calling one air force officer up at a time to give them a promotion most of them were generals and colonels. Hour later, every one heard
"Major Jonathan O'Neill"
Sam gave Jack a push so he walked towards the pounamu and up the steps. He stood at attention and saluted which the general did in return.
"Major O'Neill in extraordinary heroism in saving a prisoner life from sustain death while and almost lost your life while on a rescue mission you have been rewards the bronze star and purple heart in results of your injury" the general pin the two metals on Jack uniform
"And from your record for what you have done, it has given me the privilege to promote you to lieutenant colonel… congratulations colonel O'Neill"
"Thank your sir"
"Raise your right hand and repeat after me"
Everyone watches as Jack was swan in. once done and his oak leaves change and they saluted each other. Jack walks back down to where Sam is. She held onto his hand and gave it a squeeze that he did in return.
"They're only one more… Lieutenant Samantha Carter"
Sam was shocked so she stepped forwards and walked up the steps and stood at attention and saluted the general, which he did in return. Jack notice Jacob was leaving when he heard Sam name, so he walk over to him
"General Carter, leaving without finding out what your daughter is receiving" Jack said it loud enough so people close by heard what Jack said. Jacob turned to Jack and gave him the cold look then he heard which shock him.
"Lieutenant Cater, you are one hell of an air force officer and woman. After what I have heard, what you did has given me the greatest honour and privilege to give you the medal of honour and Purple Heart for extraordinary heroism for rescue. Not one but two teams and the civilians, covering them while they escaped, hanging onto poll on the helicopter for over hour and a half while wounded, that is incredible"
While he was talking he pin the Purple Heart on to Sam and put the medal of honour around her neck, when it was done he also added
"It has also given them the honour to promote Lieutenant Carter to Captain Carter, congratulation captain Carter" Sam was shocked but happy.
The general changes her barges then they turn to everyone, Sam saw Jack looking at her father, she saw the angry look on her father's face then he looked at Sam before he turned and walked out of the room. Jack turned and looked at Sam when they all heard, not knowing that Jacob was just outside.
"Captain Carter has made air force history, she is the youngest air force to reach the rank of captain at the age of seventeen and the youngest to receive a medal of honour. Captain Carter has and will go down in the history books for what she has done for herself in the past three years…. The way she going she going to be steeping in my shoes in few years" every one chuckled and notice Sam was looking down at his shoes then back to his face
"I don't think so sir, your feet are to big"
Everyone burst out laughing including the chief of staff himself. He turn to Sam
"Very funny captain" she was smiling at him.
"Sir may I say something" he nodded and stepped back and Sam took his place.
"It has been an honour to be here today and to receive both promotions and awards… I know it is hard for women in a man army. I know I have tried my hardest to prove that I am officer material in the army, and I'm not the only one… I think that any male officer thinks that the air force, navy, marines are for men and men only shouldn't be in any of them. Times have changed now people should change and get used to having us women joining the ranks. It is the same with the police, firefighters and anywhere else. I know it hard, but with help, support from family friends and workmates, they… we can do it. So if any of you think that the air force is a man's world… think again and I'm here to stay, who knows if there is going to be a war over in Iran? Who knows an air force officer… a female air force officer will risk her life to save your six like I did to save two teams lives. They accepted me not just because I'm a woman cause I'm an officer who can kick their asses" Jack and his team chuckle.
"So get used to having us girls around flyboys cause us fly girls are here to stay" then she steps back.
Every one applause with what Sam just said. She looked at Jack and smiled. The chief of staff step ford after Sam step a side
"Well Captain you sure don't mince your words… and your right about women being in the air force and what you done, we do need women like you in the air force… keep up the good work"
Sam nodded then she stood at attention and saluted which he did in return. Then Sam walked back down to where Jack is. They both hug and kiss
"Well done Sam, I'm proud of you"
"Thanks Jack" then the guys gathered around Sam and congratulated her.
Sam saw Jacob in the doorway, he watched Jack give her a hug and kiss then the others gathered around to congratulate her then he walked out the door and walked away. Jack, Sam and the team were there for half an hour before an airmen walked in and over to them to let them know that their plane was ready and waiting for them. So they all walk out together while they still talk.
They got onto two waiting vans then they were on their way to Andrew air force base. When their plane landed at Peterson air force base, they all walked off the plane to see their wives there. Jack and Sam said their goodbyes to them and walked over to Jack truck with their bags.
They got in and headed home. One the way they stop off at a photographer shop in town that they know of. They walk in to get their latest photos taken with their new metals, and then they get new air force ID badges sorted out. When done they headed home. When they got home, they went and got changed and Sam made some phone calls, the first one was to her grandmother.
"Hello"
"Hi grandma, it Sam"
"Hi Sam how are you?" Sam knew she would be smiling
"I'm good, I… we got some news for you?"
"Oh"
"Jack and I have been promoted"
"What… Sam that is wonderful news, I'm so happy for you both"
"Thanks… Jack was reward the Bronze Star and Purple Heart"
"Really was it to do with the rescue mission I heard about on the radio?"
"Yes"
"You must be proud of him?"
"Yes I am… I also was rewarded"
"Same as Jack?"
"Yes and no, I received Purple Heart like Jack but something else which is hard to get"
"What?"
"Medal of honour" Sam and Jack who was listening on the other phone waited for Grace reply
"Grand ma"
"Sorry, I'm shock Sam, I'm so happy for you"
"Thanks, even I was shock and I made air force history" Grace laugh
"Sam you always making some sort of history"
"I know"
"Sam I'm so proud of you, have you called the rest of the family?"
"No you first"
"Ok when are you going to tell the others?"
"Next weekend at mark twenty first birthday party"
"He going to be shock"
"I know but at least he's going to be happy then complain for a few seconds about his baby sister outrank him" Grace laughed.
"I'm sure he will, is Jack there"
"I'm here Grace I heard everything you said"
"Good, congratulation, I'm sure your family will be proud of you"
"Yeah, I know they will"
"What are your plans for tonight?"
"We going out to dinner"
"Romantic dinner, that sweet"
"Grandma, Jack taking me to O'malley's for a steak dinner then an early night" she said smiling when she looked at Jack.
They both agree on going to O'malley's for dinner and an early night since they both talk about it.
"Who's idea was it?"
"Both, he wanted steak and I wanted an early night, we both negotiate and we got what we wanted"
"That is good, Sam why an early night"
"Grandma… what do you think" Grace through about it
"Oh, I understand, well then I'll let you go and get dinner, enjoy your evening"
"We will grandma, see you next week"
"I'll be looking ford to it bye dear"
"Bye" then they hung up.
"Well she happy for us" jack said
"Yeah I know… so shall we cause I'm hungry" Jack laugh then pull Sam into his arms and give her a kiss
"Sure, order whatever you want Sam"
"I know" then she gave him a kiss before rolling off him and off the bed
"Coming" Jack smiled then he got up from the bed then they walked out of their bedroom together.
Fifteen minutes later they walk into the bar and grill to see their friends and wives there. Jack and Sam walk over to them and the wives congratulate them both after their husbands tell them about what Jack and Sam received.
They were talking for ten minutes when Andy and Jane walked into the bar. When Sam saw them, she saw that Jane was showing since she was eight months pregnant. Sam walked over to them and gave them both a hug
"Hi guys, who spill the beans?" they laugh
"Tom did, he called when he got home and told us what you and Jack received, I'm shock" Andy said
"Thanks, come one lets find a place to sit" they walk over to where a table is and they sit down
"So what would you two like to drink"
"Beer for me"
"Lemonade for me thanks Sam" Sam look over at Jack and he gave Sam a nod, which she did in return, then she turn back to them
"Already taken care of"
"How when you haven't left the table" Sam smiles.
"Jack knows and he's been learning to lip read" They turn to see Jack at the bar waiting for their drinks.
"Ok" Jane said.
When Jack got there drinks he walked over and placed them on the table then great Jane and Andy before sitting down next to Sam.