8 days, 12 hours, 45 minutes before the event.
"Everything okay Sir?"
"Huh, yeah- Er, sorry erm," Sam looked around the room, seeing all the people stare at her. "Sorry, where were we?" Sam coughed.
It was her second meeting in Washington and she had already messed it up. Things hadn't been the same since she left SGC. Jack had been great at helping her settle into Home-world security, introducing her to all the personnel and showing her the ropes. Today however, is her first full day solo. Jack had been called away to handle some sensitive issues with the president. She didn't know what the issue was, but she knew that she would be in the know if it pertained to her job.
"We were discussing the alliance with the Asherah Sir," An astute middle aged man spoke.
"Of course!" Carter replied.
"The report from General Ferretti seems quite outstanding." James quoted, an elderly man who has been working within the HWS since its conception.
"Just think of some of the applications the Asherah are offering us." Another said.
"Yes it does seem quite promising. However, I am concerned that they are offering us too much - especially for what they are asking for in return." The middle aged man General Davis spokes again.
"Yes it does seem that we would be getting the better deal out of this arrangement." Carter spoke, quickly re-skimming over General Ferretti's report once more.
She read the report several times over the last few days, something is bothering her. But she couldn't pin point exactly what that problem is. The report in front of her is flawless.
"And all they want is knowledge on how to build ships and using the Stargate." Carter frowned.
"Sir, what are your thoughts?" General Davis asked her.
"I'm not sure. With all the technology they have, how could they have not figured out what the Stargate is? Let alone how to use it? Not only that but we could be opening up our current allies to danger, if these people turn out to be less than truthful. I mean let's take a moment here. They are asking a lot from us, the use of the Stargate – a means to travel and to advance like we have done."
"Yes, I agree it does seem rather strange." Davis said taking a delicate sip of his water.
"Well according to Dr Jackson they did have some scrolls about the gate that only went to the one planet. They had sent people though bit never heard from them again and in turn never tried again. Doesn't that sound familiar?" James looked at Carter.
James is an arrogant man; he knows what he wants and is prepared to go to all lengths to prove his point. He happens to have a lot of sway against these particular type of meetings. He had hoped that he would be given the chair that General Carter now sits in.
"Yes perhaps similar to Doctor Ernest Littlefield's experience." Carter admitted.
"Perhaps the Asherah had a similar fear and decided not to continue down that route as we once had," James looked around the table before continuing. "I can see what you mean what if this is a 'If it sounds too good it's probably a scam' scenario? But c'mon - can we really pass this up. Dr Jackson's report even states that they 'Seek knowledge and wisdom on the path of enlightenment' does that sound like an evil race to you? James smirked.
"He has a point General Carter. Dr Jackson is the world's expert on alien cultures." A Posh civilian diplomat, Carla added.
"Yes, but Dr Jackson doesn't attend these diplomatic missions. That is now down to Colonel Rhodes on SG-28." James contested."The same Colonel Rhodes that presided over the alliance with the Tynian's, The people of PX4-R57, Rysonany people who mine Naqudah for us, that helped us build The Phoenix, need I continue." James shut the folder in front of him. He didn't need to see anymore. "Colonel Rhodes negotiated such alliances without the input of SG-1 and we have had fantastic pay-offs."
"Is there no one that shares the concerns I have with the amount they are offering?" Carter Asked.
"They will be getting a lot of information from us regarding how to build ships and the technology from us and a few gate addresses to get them started..." General Davis closed his folder too.
"Yes, and they have agreed to assist in any future adversary's we should encounter." Carla added closing her folder.
"It seems like it has been decided." James stated as a matter of fact.
"You all agree this alliance would be for the benefit of Earth and our continued alliances?" Carter looked across the rounded table, seeing all members nod. "Very well, Inform General Ferretti and have him make the preparations to finalise the alliance." Sam said closing the folder in front of her. "I guess this concludes this meeting for the day..." she looked around the table, waiting if there was anything else that needed to be addressed. "...Alright then, dismissed."
Carter stood as all her fellow colleagues took their leave.
Her mind was elsewhere today, with Jack not being around she feels all alone. She knows full well that she is not alone. Yet the feeling doesn't fade.
Her thoughts kept going back to her appointment with Dr Lam only a few days ago. Where the initial thoughts had been confirmed; she's pregnant. Dr Lam arranged for a private room and had an ultra sound machine in place. She took some more bloods, ran more extensive tests. And then it happened. Sam got to see a little dot on the machine- her baby. Dr Lam had been talking to her, still after replaying the incident over and over in her mind; she still doesn't know what she said. Sam's eyes were transfixed on that screen. Seeing that little blob floating around in her uterus, completely unaware what life beholds.
"Well I was wrong you are seven weeks." Sam remembers Dr Lam saying. She had been pregnant for seven weeks without her even knowing her son or daughter was there. Sam sat hearing the beats of her baby's heart, hearing the familiar strong beating heart like his or her fathers. Her mind melded into that sound, focusing on it as though she was under a sirens hold.
"Sir, is everything okay?" Carla asked, noticing that Carter didn't flinch when she dropped her folder all over the floor. Carla stood there patiently awaiting a response. There was none. "General Carter, Sir?" Carla asked again, concern evident in her voice.
"Er, yes- yes everything is fine. Sorry I was er, erm." Carter's mind was in a haze she couldn't think of what to say. For the first time she was completely lost. She felt lost.
"It's a bit overwhelming, isn't it?" Carla said sympathetically.
"Excuse me." Was all Sam could muster, did she let something slip? Did this woman know something? She couldn't be sure.
"Sorry Sir that was out of line. I just meant Washington - the building." Carla looked at the door anxiously wanting to run through it. Not only did she spew sensitive information all over the floor, she asked a rather personal question to one of the most senior military personal the United States has to offer. Carla didn't know what to do. She wouldn't have dared ask such a personal question to General O'Neill.
"Right of course. Yes it is a bit... Nothing I can't handle." Carter replied looking over to the doorway.
"Oh, I wasn't saying that you couldn't han..." Carla Began.
"I know there's nothing to concern yourself with – other than the task at hand." Carter knew that Carla had overstepped her boundaries; she also knew that Carla was aware she had too. "Dismissed" Carter sternly added.
Once Carla had taken her leave, Sam slumped back into her chair releasing the breath she didn't know she was holding. She had to tell Jack, but how? Was the question she needed answering. She placed her hand over her still flat abdomen. She felt alone, but she would never be alone again.
"Any ideas on how to break the news to your Dad?" she whispered silently.
Sam took in a deep breath, neatly arranged the multiple folders on the table again and braced herself to stand. Just as she did the phone rang. She pulled the phone out from her inside jacket pocket, as she looked at the caller ID she froze before answering.
"Hey, everything okay?" Sam asked.
"Funny that!"
"What's funny?" Sam replied.
"I was going to ask you that very same question."
"You was?" Sam smiled.
"Indeed..." He stopped, hearing her giggle. "So, how are you Mrs O'Neill?" Jack asked seriously.
"Everything's fine. The meeting was fine, everyone is in agreement. The arrangements are being made."
"And?" Jack pondered. He could tell by Sam's tone of voice something was troubling her.
"Well it's just that, I am getting that little niggle feeling. Something isn't quite right."
"Listen Sam, I get it. It's hard to make these decisions. It takes time to adjust to everything. I had the jitters too... what does everyone else think?"
"They have voted for the proposals. They looked through the reports all seemingly happy with them."
"There you go see." Jack smiled. Although he knew she wouldn't see him. "Carter, you sure there's nothing else?" His smile turned to concern and worry once more.
"Yes...Er, no! Everything is just fine, nothing a relaxing evening couldn't fix." Carter bit her lip, she wanted to tell him, but she couldn't, not here, not now. Not like this.
"Right, well I must get back to work. Retirement isn't as easy to achieve as Hank led us to believe."
"Will I'll see you later?" Sam asked.
"You bet. I'll pick you up." Jack hung up the phone and placing it on the table next to empty beer bottles.
"Sam doesn't know you are here, does she?" Daniel asked, as Jack took another sip of his beer.
"Nope!" Jack muffled.
As promised Jack was there to pick her up. He entered the building and went straight to his office where his wife was, as usual, distracted by work. He stood there watching, waiting for her to realise that he was standing in the doorway, as he did so many times in the past.
"I know you're there, I'm just finishing up."
"Uh - huh." Jack smiled.
Jack didn't move from his spot. It wasn't long before Sam had finished the last of the paperwork. She got her stuff and headed out of the door alongside Jack.
A little while longer they got into his car and headed to what Sam though was home. She had no idea of the plans Jack had been making all day, for what he called 'his very important work'.
"Carter. Is, uh... is everything okay?" Jack spoke after twenty minutes of silence.
"Huh... Yes fine..." She looked at him giving him a reassuring smile, "honestly."
"Well something is up. You've hardly eaten, or spoke in the last few days." Jacks concern evident in his voice.
"Uh... Sorry. I didn't realise. I'm fine – honestly, just not been that hungry." Sam placed her hand on his thigh, trying her best to convince him otherwise.
"Look, I know this is a big change..."
"It's not that, honestly I'm fine. I'm just missing the SGC and the guy's a bit that's all." She lied.
Her mind was so focused on how to bring up the topic of babies or the fact they were pregnant, it consumed her thoughts. This was one situation she was struggling to resolve. They'd never spoke about this and she really didn't know where she stood or if Jack ever wanted children again.
"Uh, where are we going? This isn't the way home." Sam asked seeing him turn down the wrong street.
"Yeah about that... It's top, secret; way above your pay grade!"
He turned and looked at her briefly; she smiled for the first time in a while. It was a sight for sore eyes and one that he cherished more than anything.
A while later Jack pulled into a car park, switching the engine off he looked to her and said, "We're here."
There was nothing seemingly special about this place it was an empty car-park with a few dim lights and secluded. Over in the distance there were a few buildings but other than that there was nothing.
Sam was confused as to why he would have brought her here, although it hadn't been a particularly long journey, taking only twenty minutes or so from base. She looked around and knew from first- hand experience. Appearances can be conceiving. Jack walked over to the building and placed his palm on the door. But nothing happened. Jack looked at her and smiled, he nodded at her to follow and then he disappeared through the door. Sam giggled to herself, of course it was a secret door.
With a deep breath she walked through. Her eyes centred on the aircraft in-front of her. It was slightly bigger than an X-302 there was enough space for two people.
"How did I not know about this?" Sam said walking around the craft inspecting its detail.
"Well it was above your pay-grade. There's actually two." Jack answered relieved more than anything that he didn't have to hide this secret from her any longer.
"Two! I haven't seen any of the plans for this, so how did I not know about it?" Sam was getting a little riled.
"Well, in a way you did a long time ago you first designed the plans for the X-302 to be a two manned craft. But that was scraped if you remember, because of logistics during a fire fight in space, it seemed better for less casualties then more when ejection wasn't viable." Jack walked around to bridge the gap between them. "A few years ago with the wraith becoming so close to well – you know. We had no safety net in Washington for the President and one more vital person to national security. With the two most important people on the planet in terms of the Stargate program had no-where to flee. And so this was the outcome. One within a few minutes of the Pentagon and the White House..." Jack confirmed tapping on the device.
"Two most important people on the planet," Sam thought for a moment unsure what Jack meant. "And it heads to the SGC, the Commander-in- Chief and the Security of Defence personal escape to the Alpha site." Carter stated matter of fact.
"Kinda, you're missing some key details." Jack grinned at her.
"The doors are protected with the Ancients gene. This is a two manned craft- usually there are couple of pilots around. And the First important person, not my choice is the Chief. But the second is perhaps the smartest astrophysicist on the planet."
"You're kidding, me." Sam started to blush.
"Yes, you. The head of the entire Stargate programme across all galaxies." Jack came closer to her and looked at her straight in the eyes, his voice sincere. This was no time for games, he had no way to protect her now, she was alone running the largest kept secret in the world.
Jack nodded over to the changing rooms, pointing at the two jumpsuits suits as a silent order to get changed.
Sam didn't know where she was heading, yet it had been a long time since she had piloted an aircraft she was a little nervous in doing so; now more than ever.
Within no time at all they were changed, suited and booted ready to take on the next frontier!
"Ready." Sam said holding her lower abdomen.
Jack noticed that she carefully placed her hand there, he grinned momentarily, "nervous" he asked, seeing her weak smile, thinking that the thought of flying made her nauseous.
"A bit, It's been a while you know."
"Oh c'mon it's just like riding a bike." Looking straight at her, adoring her military look, "You'll be fine."
Jack climbed up offering her the pilot seat. Sam looked up giving him her mega watt smile. She knew he loved to fly and this would be his last chance to do so and yet he still thought of her.
"You sure, you don't wanna?" Sam chuckled.
"Nah, you first, we have to bring it back you know." Jack lent out his hand to help her up.
She accepted his hand, although, she never needed it. The sentiment was nice. Climbing on board she familiarised herself with the controls, position, buttons etc, making sure she knew where everything was. It had been a while since she had flown and was worried she'd be a little rusty.
Jack climbed in the back passenger unit, that had the option to take control of the craft, in emergencies, but he needn't have to in this case. He had complete faith in her.
"So, where to General?"
"My famous cabin of course... Where else?"
Sam started the pre-flight checks; she hit the hanger remote switch within a few seconds the roof stirred open. The engines firing up, within a short moment the aircraft dubbed, 'Protector' lifted above the ground through the open bay roof. Jack hit the clocking mechanism and within a short while in the air heading to his beloved cabin.
A few hours later they arrived at the foot of the cabin door. It was late and dark the cabin sat silently within blackness, no light hugged the interior like a black-hole.
Jack and Sam walked quietly from the nearby field towards the cabin. Jack picked up his pace, heading straight to the door he pulled out his keys.
"Welcome home!" Jack said loudly opening the door moving out the door so Sam could enter first.
Sam led the way, holding her bag in her hand ready to discard it to the floor. Before she had a chance to walk fully through the door the lights switched on.
"SURPRISE!" they all shouted.
"Agghhh" Sam was taken aback by the surprise so much so it made her jump, dropping her bag on the floor.
She saw the looks of laughter plastered all over her friend's faces seeing her reaction. Heck she would be joining them, had she been part of it. With barely a foot in the door Vala came squealing at her, hugging her at full force.
"A bit jumpy there, that new desk of yours throwing you of your game?" Cam joked.
"Hey, something like that." Sam bridged the gap between them wrapping her arms around his neck.
Sam jumping didn't go unnoticed by Jack nor Teal'c. Perhaps this shindig is exactly what Sam needed after all.
"This was your secret Presidential meeting, wasn't it?" Sam asked as her heart rate returned to normal.
"Yep." He smirked, picking up the fallen bag and placing it against the wall.
"We were told you missed us, a Team night is way overdue." Daniel spoke.
"Yes. Way, way overdue. Teal'c has brought Star wars for us to watch." Cam laughed.
"Of course he has." Sam laughed.
"Indeed, A friend got me a copy of the new film It's called the Rise of Skywalker."
"What! you pirate." Jack shouted from the kitchen.
"No O'Neill, they are Jedi." Teal'c replied.
They all sat down around the table laughing at Teal'c as he turned the TV on. Jack came back from the kitchen handing out a round of beers and a soda for Teal'c.
"I'll have a soda Jack." Sam said handing the beer back to him.
"I'll have a soda" repeated Vala mockingly.
"Yes, I might be called with the preparations for the alliance, and there's this science project... thing." Sam answered simply.
"A science thing?" Mocked Daniel.
"Yes, a science thing Daniel, quiet the film is about to start."
The look between Daniel and Jack didn't go unnoticed. Maybe Jack was on to something, Sam was acting strange.
Chapter Nine will be written and uploaded as soon as possible. I'm sorry for the delay in this Chapter.
Hope you all have had a fab Christmas and a Happy New year to all.
Chez x
