A/N- Dang it, dang it, dang it! I am *this* close to finishing the story; the concluding chapter
is basically all written and ready to post. BUT, on the advice of my beta-goddess, I'm going
to go back and flesh out a little bit of Sam's infirmary stay. *I* was content to start the next
chapter with TEN DAYS LATER…but realized that I was copping out a bit. So back to the
laptop I go. I know this chapter is short, but it's better than waiting 4 days for everything,
yes?
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Chapter 13
Thursday, 0930 Hours
Jack O'Neill was nervous. Which was absolutely nuts considering the fact that he was black
ops trained, had helped kill more than his share of false gods and had even saved the frickin
planet…twice!
"Colonel O'Neill?" The receptionist said from behind her desk. "Evan will see you now."
"Thanks." Jack said standing up and tucking his cap beneath his arm. He really wasn't
keen on wearing his dress blues yet again, but even the great Jack O'Neill recognized that a
man in uniform tended to receive a little more respect then a guy in blue jeans and a leather
jacket.
"Colonel." Evan said tentatively holding out his hand to Jack. Jack hoped the real estate
agent had forgotten Sam's outburst at the house. Or at least the way he and Daniel had
shuffled Carter unceremoniously out the door with scarcely a goodbye.
So much for making a good first impression.
"Good to see you again Evan." Jack said shaking the man's hand.
"How is Dr. Carter doing?" Evan asked with a touch of concern.
"Much better thanks." Jack said relieved to say it aloud. Carter was really going to be fine.
Still, he'd really like to hear that from her.
"That's good to hear." Evan replied motioning Jack to take a seat around the conference
table. "You have the papers with you?"
"Yep." Jack said taking out the folded documents. "And you can call me Jack." Maybe the
military title was throwing the kid off.
Right.
"Certainly Jack." Evan said with a nod taking a seat himself. He took a few moments to
glance at the papers. "Everything appears to be in order.."
"Oh it is!" Jack agreed with absolute certainty. The SGC had requested a legal department
shortly after the Asgard treaty and some of the finest military lawyers had been recruited to
help broker treaties between planets. If the guys down in legal could do that, Jack was
certain they'd know what papers to use when dealing with power of attorney issues.
"So this is how it's going to work." Evan said placing the papers Jack had brought to one
side and bringing out another stack of papers. "From what you told me over the phone, you
have purchased a home before and understand how this works…"
"Two times actually." Jack said holding up two fingers. He didn't feel it necessary to tell
Evan that he had actually been out of the country when his wife signed the papers on the
first house. He had however, done the second one all on his own. Well mostly anyhow.
"Right." Evan said with a small frown. He really wished someone else was working with Dr.
Carter and this colonel of hers; the whole situation was completely bizarre! He's a guy
willing to put down $5,000 of his own in earnest money and write up an offer on a house for
somebody else! He had to be sleeping with her.
"So I'm going to submit your offer."
"Carter's offer." Jack amended.
"Dr. Carter's offer of $220,000 with 20% down and $5,000 in earnest money."
"That sound about right." Jack said nodding again. He had seen Carter's bank account- he
knew what she could afford. Besides, she was considering this place at $230k- she should
be thrilled if he can get it for her at $220k.
"So what will happen from this point is that I'll take your check and we'll write up the offer for
the seller. We may dicker once or twice over the price—but your offer of 20% down means
you're serious- I'm sure they'll accept."
"And after they do, you cash the earnest money and hold it in an account until after the
housing inspection." Jack concluded.
"Right. That's their guarantee we aren't wasting their time. Don't worry," Evan said looking
up again from his papers and giving Jack a small smile. "I'll write this up so there's no
possible way for them to take your earnest money without a really good reason. It's
basically there just on the off chance the buyer is a total jerk and strings the seller along for
several weeks and then changes his mind." Evan said sliding over the first of many
documents to be initialed.
"We expect Major Carter to wake up any day now, so if there's any minds to be changed, it'll
happen pretty quick." Jack said hoping he sounded a little more optimistic than he felt.
Sure Carter would wake up soon. But would she be in a position to really be thinking about
houses? Suddenly Jack wondered if he was doing the right thing.
"Right." Evan said handing Jack another paper to be initialed. "We'll use the maximum
allotment of time available to us- which means Dr. Carter has 5 days to do a "neighborhood
inspection" and another 10 days to schedule a housing inspection."
"Neighborhood inspection?" Jack asked raising his eyebrows. What the hell was *that*?
Evan chuckled. "Neighborhood inspections are mostly for out of town buyers or someone
moving into a neighborhood they know nothing about. This gives the buyer the chance to
walk around, talk to his neighbors and see if the neighborhood he wants to buy a home in is
really for him."
"But I don't actually have to inspect anything, right?" Jack asked worriedly. He so didn't
have time for crap like that.
"No." Evan said emphatically placing another paper to be signed under Jack's hand. They
were coming faster now.
"The big thing to remember is the housing inspection. We'll schedule that for 10 days from
today. After the inspection, Dr. Carter- or yourself- must decide if this is the house for her
and the deal is finalized. If at any reason you back out after that, you lose your earnest
money."
"Gotcha." Jack said initialing once again. Damn! This might as well be SGC paperwork for
all the initialing he was doing. For nearly 10 minutes Jack signed and initialed paper after
piece of paper. Finally the end was in sight.
"There's one thing I don't quite understand Col..Jack." Evan said as he place the last
document to be signed under Jack's hand.
"What's that?" Jack asked signing his name with a little extra flourish. He breathed a sigh of
relief and watched as Evan handed the papers to an office worker to be copied.
"Well, if I'm reading all these power of attorney documents correctly, you do have the power
to write up an offer for the house in Dr. Carters name, but you don't really have the authority
to buy it using her money, correct?"
"Yeah, that's right." Jack said. He was seriously counting on Sam's waking up and doing
that herself.
"So what happens two week from now if Dr. Carter isn't able to actually buy the house?"
"She's been approved by her bank." Jack said not quite following where Evan was going.
"That's now what I mean sir." Evan said shaking his head. "After the inspection is held, the
house is basically sold and all we are waiting on is the funding. If Dr. Carter isn't able to
work with her mortgage company, she..you will forfeit the $5,000."
"That's one possibility." Jack said gathering up the stack of copied papers. "But being a
military man, I always like to have a plan B."
"Plan B?" Evan asked confused as he stood up to walk Jack out.
"I've been thinking of buying a second house..." Jack said with a sly grin as he shook
Evan's hand one final time and placing his cap back on his head. After a few paces (and
out of Evan's hearing) Jack finished his sentence. "…Although, who's to say I won't just turn
around and sell it back to a friend?"
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Hee hee! Isn't Jack just a doll? I do love writing our favorite Colonel.
I know the detailed house stuff was probably ultra boring for those of you who haven't gone
through the *very* tedious process. However, I just couldn't figure out where to trim it down!
I wanted to be accurate here and the result is what you see above. The conclusion (really,
truly) will be posted by or before Tuesday January 6th.
Website: http://home.earthlink.net/~dietcokechic/fanfic.html
is basically all written and ready to post. BUT, on the advice of my beta-goddess, I'm going
to go back and flesh out a little bit of Sam's infirmary stay. *I* was content to start the next
chapter with TEN DAYS LATER…but realized that I was copping out a bit. So back to the
laptop I go. I know this chapter is short, but it's better than waiting 4 days for everything,
yes?
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Chapter 13
Thursday, 0930 Hours
Jack O'Neill was nervous. Which was absolutely nuts considering the fact that he was black
ops trained, had helped kill more than his share of false gods and had even saved the frickin
planet…twice!
"Colonel O'Neill?" The receptionist said from behind her desk. "Evan will see you now."
"Thanks." Jack said standing up and tucking his cap beneath his arm. He really wasn't
keen on wearing his dress blues yet again, but even the great Jack O'Neill recognized that a
man in uniform tended to receive a little more respect then a guy in blue jeans and a leather
jacket.
"Colonel." Evan said tentatively holding out his hand to Jack. Jack hoped the real estate
agent had forgotten Sam's outburst at the house. Or at least the way he and Daniel had
shuffled Carter unceremoniously out the door with scarcely a goodbye.
So much for making a good first impression.
"Good to see you again Evan." Jack said shaking the man's hand.
"How is Dr. Carter doing?" Evan asked with a touch of concern.
"Much better thanks." Jack said relieved to say it aloud. Carter was really going to be fine.
Still, he'd really like to hear that from her.
"That's good to hear." Evan replied motioning Jack to take a seat around the conference
table. "You have the papers with you?"
"Yep." Jack said taking out the folded documents. "And you can call me Jack." Maybe the
military title was throwing the kid off.
Right.
"Certainly Jack." Evan said with a nod taking a seat himself. He took a few moments to
glance at the papers. "Everything appears to be in order.."
"Oh it is!" Jack agreed with absolute certainty. The SGC had requested a legal department
shortly after the Asgard treaty and some of the finest military lawyers had been recruited to
help broker treaties between planets. If the guys down in legal could do that, Jack was
certain they'd know what papers to use when dealing with power of attorney issues.
"So this is how it's going to work." Evan said placing the papers Jack had brought to one
side and bringing out another stack of papers. "From what you told me over the phone, you
have purchased a home before and understand how this works…"
"Two times actually." Jack said holding up two fingers. He didn't feel it necessary to tell
Evan that he had actually been out of the country when his wife signed the papers on the
first house. He had however, done the second one all on his own. Well mostly anyhow.
"Right." Evan said with a small frown. He really wished someone else was working with Dr.
Carter and this colonel of hers; the whole situation was completely bizarre! He's a guy
willing to put down $5,000 of his own in earnest money and write up an offer on a house for
somebody else! He had to be sleeping with her.
"So I'm going to submit your offer."
"Carter's offer." Jack amended.
"Dr. Carter's offer of $220,000 with 20% down and $5,000 in earnest money."
"That sound about right." Jack said nodding again. He had seen Carter's bank account- he
knew what she could afford. Besides, she was considering this place at $230k- she should
be thrilled if he can get it for her at $220k.
"So what will happen from this point is that I'll take your check and we'll write up the offer for
the seller. We may dicker once or twice over the price—but your offer of 20% down means
you're serious- I'm sure they'll accept."
"And after they do, you cash the earnest money and hold it in an account until after the
housing inspection." Jack concluded.
"Right. That's their guarantee we aren't wasting their time. Don't worry," Evan said looking
up again from his papers and giving Jack a small smile. "I'll write this up so there's no
possible way for them to take your earnest money without a really good reason. It's
basically there just on the off chance the buyer is a total jerk and strings the seller along for
several weeks and then changes his mind." Evan said sliding over the first of many
documents to be initialed.
"We expect Major Carter to wake up any day now, so if there's any minds to be changed, it'll
happen pretty quick." Jack said hoping he sounded a little more optimistic than he felt.
Sure Carter would wake up soon. But would she be in a position to really be thinking about
houses? Suddenly Jack wondered if he was doing the right thing.
"Right." Evan said handing Jack another paper to be initialed. "We'll use the maximum
allotment of time available to us- which means Dr. Carter has 5 days to do a "neighborhood
inspection" and another 10 days to schedule a housing inspection."
"Neighborhood inspection?" Jack asked raising his eyebrows. What the hell was *that*?
Evan chuckled. "Neighborhood inspections are mostly for out of town buyers or someone
moving into a neighborhood they know nothing about. This gives the buyer the chance to
walk around, talk to his neighbors and see if the neighborhood he wants to buy a home in is
really for him."
"But I don't actually have to inspect anything, right?" Jack asked worriedly. He so didn't
have time for crap like that.
"No." Evan said emphatically placing another paper to be signed under Jack's hand. They
were coming faster now.
"The big thing to remember is the housing inspection. We'll schedule that for 10 days from
today. After the inspection, Dr. Carter- or yourself- must decide if this is the house for her
and the deal is finalized. If at any reason you back out after that, you lose your earnest
money."
"Gotcha." Jack said initialing once again. Damn! This might as well be SGC paperwork for
all the initialing he was doing. For nearly 10 minutes Jack signed and initialed paper after
piece of paper. Finally the end was in sight.
"There's one thing I don't quite understand Col..Jack." Evan said as he place the last
document to be signed under Jack's hand.
"What's that?" Jack asked signing his name with a little extra flourish. He breathed a sigh of
relief and watched as Evan handed the papers to an office worker to be copied.
"Well, if I'm reading all these power of attorney documents correctly, you do have the power
to write up an offer for the house in Dr. Carters name, but you don't really have the authority
to buy it using her money, correct?"
"Yeah, that's right." Jack said. He was seriously counting on Sam's waking up and doing
that herself.
"So what happens two week from now if Dr. Carter isn't able to actually buy the house?"
"She's been approved by her bank." Jack said not quite following where Evan was going.
"That's now what I mean sir." Evan said shaking his head. "After the inspection is held, the
house is basically sold and all we are waiting on is the funding. If Dr. Carter isn't able to
work with her mortgage company, she..you will forfeit the $5,000."
"That's one possibility." Jack said gathering up the stack of copied papers. "But being a
military man, I always like to have a plan B."
"Plan B?" Evan asked confused as he stood up to walk Jack out.
"I've been thinking of buying a second house..." Jack said with a sly grin as he shook
Evan's hand one final time and placing his cap back on his head. After a few paces (and
out of Evan's hearing) Jack finished his sentence. "…Although, who's to say I won't just turn
around and sell it back to a friend?"
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Hee hee! Isn't Jack just a doll? I do love writing our favorite Colonel.
I know the detailed house stuff was probably ultra boring for those of you who haven't gone
through the *very* tedious process. However, I just couldn't figure out where to trim it down!
I wanted to be accurate here and the result is what you see above. The conclusion (really,
truly) will be posted by or before Tuesday January 6th.
Website: http://home.earthlink.net/~dietcokechic/fanfic.html