Guess who had time to post a new chapter this morning!! My kiddo was up at 3am, so I had some time to read/review while she went back to sleep. I apologize if there are any sleep-deprived errors.
Just as a clarification, this story is set in the short time between when Jack was unfrozen / Sam was recovered from Fifth, but before Dr. Weir told Jack he was going to become Brigadier General. In my mind, she's in Washington right now debriefing the President and receiving permission for Jack (and Sam's) promotion.
—0—0—0—0—0—0—
SG-1 was still wearing their civilian clothes when they walked into a briefing room on sub-level 10 of the Cheyenne Mountain complex. Sam wished she had time for a shower, but the only way General Hammond would still be here was for an emergency.
The first thing she noticed upon entering the room made her stop in her tracks. Behind her, Daniel and Teal'c bumped into each other at her sudden halt.
"Mark?" She asked incredulously. Sitting next to her brother was Pete. "What are you doing here?"
"Sam, thank God you're okay," Mark stood and practically flew around the table before engulfing her in his arms. She sent a dark look at Pete, noting the satisfied look on his face. What the hell was going on?
"We were worried sick," Pete said easily. "Ever since O'Neill abducted you—"
"Colonel O'Neill what!?" Sam yelled louder than was necessary.
"According to Officer Shanahan," General Hammond explained, "Colonel O'Neill came to your home and ordered you to go with him yesterday."
"I was so worried when you didn't come home last night, sweetheart," Pete said smoothly.
"Are you high?" Jack finally said from his position just outside the door. "I don't know what tales this guy has been spinning, sir, but no one 'abducted' Carter."
"Jack's right," Daniel said, "I was there."
"As was I," Teal'c added, shooting a death stare at Pete.
"Of course you'd both cover for your commanding officer," Pete argued.
"Sir," Sam addressed General Hammond, "I'm afraid Officer Shanahan has pulled you into the middle of a domestic dispute."
"I don't understand," Hammond studied her closely, and she realized he'd finally seen the remnants of her split lip.
"Officer Shanahan and I were in a physical altercation yesterday right before SG-1 showed up at my home to pick me up for a camping trip," Sam stared at a spot on the wall not wanted to see the looks on anyone's face as she explained. The embarrassment was overwhelming. "I told Officer Shanahan to pack his stuff and leave before I got back. That's all I know."
"Sweetheart, you know none of that is true!" Pete acted hurt by her words. "What did O'Neill threaten you with to get you to lie?"
"For cryin our loud!" Jack growled, "you don't actually believe this guy?!"
"I don't know what's going on here," Mark said looking between Sam and Pete. "All I know is one of my best friends called me upset about my sister disappearing. Again. I need answers, Samantha, and I need them now."
"Why don't we all take a minute," Hammond interrupted. "I need to speak with my officers, then we can all sit down and discuss this."
"I'm not comfortable allowing Sam to be alone with O'Neill," Pete argued.
"Allowing me!?" Sam practically shouted and took a step forward.
"Easy Major," Jack grabbed her shoulder lightly and glared at Pete. "General?" Jack raised his eyebrows at Hammond.
"Mr. Shanahan," Hammond practically growled, "Need I remind you that Colonel O'Neill," Hammond emphasized his rank,"is interim commander of this base and Major Carter is his second-in-command. They have the full support of Dr. Weir, myself, and the President of the United States."
"Of course, sir," Pete replied, obviously pretending deference.
"Airman Green will show you both to the VIP quarters," Hammond said, dismissing the two civilians as he followed SG-1 out the door.
OoooOoooOoooO
As soon as the door to Hammond's office closed Sam spoke, "Sir, you cannot believe—"
"Of course not, Major," General Hammond interrupted her, "I know you both much better than that. It helps that Daniel and Teal'c were witnesses, but it wasn't necessary."
"Thank you, sir," Sam let out a deep sigh.
"I would like to know what happened between you and Pete Shanahan," he ordered, his voice softening slightly. He had a pretty good idea of what transpired, but he needed to hear it from her.
"After leaving the base yesterday morning, I went home and told Pete I wanted to postpone the wedding. He accused Colonel O'Neill and me of improper behavior," she added as Hammond watched Jack's head whip toward her.
"You never told me that, Carter," he sounded surprised. Hammond made note of his reaction.
"The argument escalated and he backhanded me across the face," Sam finished, ignoring Jack's interruption. "I ordered him to pack up and leave."
Hammond nodded while he processed the information. As Sam's godfather he wanted to murder Pete Shanahan, but as a seasoned Air Force General, he knew they needed to proceed carefully.
"Shanahan convinced your brother to file a formal complaint with the Air Force Inspector General implicating this base, alleging abuse against you, and accusations of improper conduct by your superior officer," Hammond explained. "I intercepted the complaint and postponed leaving, but Mark is shining a pretty big spotlight on our operations here. Needless to say the brass in Washington won't be happy."
"So Shanahan is using Sam's brother to do his dirty work," Daniel shook his head. "You've got to be able to arrest him or something. Surely filing a false report breaks all sorts of laws, let alone his assault on Sam."
"It's not that simple, Daniel," Sam replied. "Anyone has a right to file a complaint with the AFIG, and complaints by civilians are taken very seriously, especially those of family members. He convinced Mark to submit the complaint, so technically Pete's hands are clean. Besides, it's his word against mine about the assault."
"Major Carter is correct," Hammond acknowledged grimly. "The easiest way to make this all go away is for Mark to rescind the complaint before I'm required to forward it up the chain. Something like this can ruin careers."
"You saw him out there," Jack pointed to the closed door. "The shrub has Mark convinced Sam is in danger. He's not going to just drop everything because she asks him to. He'll assume she's under orders from us to cover it up."
"The only thing I don't understand," Sam added, "is why Pete would do this at all. All we really need to do is read Mark into the Stargate Program. My Dad's been pushing for it anyway. If he knew what I do, why I occasionally get hurt and disappear, he'd probably be pissed, but would drop the complaint."
"Pete likely thinks this will tarnish your and Jack's careers permanently," Daniel suggested. "He probably has some twisted belief that your disgrace will drive you back into his arms."
"Maybe," Jack said hesitantly, "but my gut says there's something else going on. This reeks of something Kinsey or the NID would be orchestrating. Forgive me Carter," he sent her a semi-sympathetic look, "but Shanahan isn't smart enough to to cook this up on his own."
"I agree," Hammond said, happy his team had derived the same conclusions as him. "There's more to this than simple revenge against Colonel O'Neill or Major Carter. Given Kinsey's recent disgrace and firing, we can't ignore the possibility of his involvement or the NID's."
"When a Jaffa wishes to test the loyalties of a suspected spy, they are taken on an impossible mission through the Stargate," Teal'c said. "When faced with mortal peril the truth is often revealed."
"Unfortunately, we don't have the option," Hammond replied.
"Wait a second, General," Jack cocked his head in thought. "Maybe we do."
"What are you suggesting?" Hammond didn't like the gleam in the Colonel's eye, but knew Jack's ideas were usually crazy enough to work.
"Instead of just reading Carter's brother into the Stargate program, let's show it to him," Jack grinned.
"You can't be serious, sir," Sam protested.
"Wait a second, Sam," Daniel said as a smile settled onto his face. "That's not a bad idea. Pete would never expect it."
"We give Mark access to first hand knowledge about what we do," Jack continued. "You know the shrub will insist on coming along. We make him think it's his idea, then once off-world we pretend to save his life, get him to let his guard down, and talk. One way or another."
"Plus we can protect your brother from whoever is pulling Pete's strings," Daniel urged. "If this is Kinsey or the NID, Mark is in danger if he rescinds his complaint without us exposing them first. It'll be harder to reach him off-world."
Hammond watched as Sam listened to the plan take shape. It was a risk, but it was also the only viable plan they had. "I'd like to bring Jacob in on this," he told her. "This involves you and your brother; he should be here. The Tok'ra may be able to provide another layer of protection for Mark."
"I agree, sir," Sam said; the decision made. Pete Shanahan and Mark Carter were about to get a crash course in gate travel.
