CHAPTER FIFTEEN: MEETING FARRETTI
After the joint session with Jack, Vicky went to Sam's lab.
"Sam, did you need anything from my right now?"
Sam looked up from the piece of equipment that she was working on and was surprised to see that Vicky had been crying. "Are you OK?"
"Yeah, you know that these therapy sessions can run you through the emotional ringer. Thanks for asking. If you don't need me for a little while, I'm going to the Marine's barracks and make arrangements with a Tech SGT Chang to get some crash corses in computer technology from the last couple of decades."
"That's a good idea, no I don't need you now."
"Thanks. After I am done it will be time for a meeting with the Doctor and the General. I'll come back by after and we can grab some lunch, OK?"
"Sure, that would be great. See you later." Sam was back to her work even before Vicky turned to leave.
~X~X~X~X~X~X~X~X~X~X~X~X~
Vicky had gotten directions from a passing airman and had entered the Marine Day Room when someone spotted her.
"Captain on deck!" The whole room snapped to action and saluted.
//God, I do love Marines\\
She returned the salute, "As you were." Everyone returned to what they were doing. "Gunny, a word, please."
"M'am, yes, M'am!"
"I was told that Tech SGT Lisa Chang would be here, may I speak with her?"
"CHANG! The Captain wants to see you."
A very small oriental woman sprinted up. "M'am, yes, M'am!'
"As you were Tech SGT. Aren't you a cute little thing!"
Chang got quite huffy, "I make the minimum height requirement, M'am!"
"Just barely I assume." Chang looked embarrassed. "I'm sorry. However, if you ever get tired of the military thing, you could market a line of Marine Chang action figures. Show little girls that women can be in the service, too."
The Tech SGT grinned, "I just might do that, M'am."
The Gunny piped in, "I can design the weapons she uses!"
"There you go, Chang, you'll be all set. Anyway, what I came to see you for is that I have been off world for twenty-three years and I need some classes in Earth technology advances from the time that I was gone. The good news is that I hold a PhD in cybernetics so I'm not a total technological idiot."
Just then a Major ran into the Day Room with a look of total panic. "Please, someone, tell me it's not true!"
"What's not true, Ferretti?" The Gunnery SGT looked totally confused.
"That O'Neill has a wife. Do you have any idea what that does to the O'Neill/Carter romance betting pools?"
The Gunny looked like he had just been electrocuted and that he wanted to floor to swallow him up. "Ferretti..."
"I mean, I have a whole series of pools that this shoots the odds all to hell!"
"Ferretti!"
"Tell me they're just joking with me..."
"FERRETTI!!"
"WHAT?"
"I'd like you to meet Navy Captain Victoria O'Neill."
Ferretti turned and gaped at Vicky.
//nice fish imitation\\
"Oh...SHIT!"
Vicky and Chang started to giggle. Ferretti snapped to attention and saluted. Vicky returned the salute, "As you were, Ferretti."
"M'am, I don't know what to say."
"I think you've said quite enough, don't you?"
The Major paled, "M'am, I am SO SORRY."
"Next time maybe you might want to check who is in ear shot BEFORE you start to rant."
"M'am, yes, M'am. Umm...you don't have to tell the Colonel about this do you? Because, you know, he will kill me."
"I don't think I have to tell Jack about this...at least yet." Vicky had a very evil smile on her face. Ferretti paled even further, if that was possible.
"Thanks, M'am. I think I'll just be going now."
"I think that's a really good idea. I guess it was nice meeting you, Ferretti. I'm sure we'll see each other again."
"Yes. M'am" With that Ferretti turned and literally ran out of the room, causing everyone to burst out in very loud laughter. When they eventually calmed down Vicky turned back to the Tech SGT.
"Anyway, Chang, if you could come to my lab at 1400 hours on Monday? Unless you have something more important, that is."
"No, M'am, that will be fine."
"Good, see you then."
~X~X~X~X~X~X~X~X~X~X~X~X~
Still smiling Vicky caught up with Jack in the hallway on the way to the briefing room.
"You look like you're in a good mood."
"Just someone in the Marine Day Room that didn't realize there was a superior officer in the room and I had a lot of fun with that."
"Jack gave her an amused smile, "I just bet you did."
They entered the room to see the General and the Doctor already there. Jack closed the door and they sat on the other side of the table.
Hammond spoke first, "Doctor, can you please make your report now?"
"Certainly, General, First I want to say that I want to thank the Colonel and the Captain for being very co-operative."
The General looked at Jack amazed as he looked inordinately pleased.
"I am going to clear the Captain for duty, provided that it is here on the base. I am not clearing her for gate travel yet. I will clear the Colonel for off world missions in about two weeks."
"Good, the Pentagon has made a decision that they consider Vicky still on active duty."
"Then I want back pay."
"That's my girl!"
"General, this brings up my next point. In the past I've dealt with a pilot that was reported Killed In Action, who was actually held prisoner for over twenty years. IT was difficult to get a bank account and he had no credit since he had been reported as deceased."
"Well, you can be put on my checking account and credit cards, if you trust me with your money."
"Of course I do, Jack"
"Good then we can have your back pay direct deposited into my checking account."
"What's direct deposit?"
"It's really cool, they just electronically transfer the money directly into a bank account. No check, no waiting for it to clear."
"Kind of like instant money!" Jack beamed at her. //she always was smart\\
"Good that's settled. Next, General Hammond, I gave the Colonel to take Vicky out to lunch off base for a couple of hours, provided it is to some place quiet. She sould only go out for a few hours at a time at first. And it should be with someone she is comfortable with."
"Can I take her to the park an maybe to my home with my granddaughters for a few hours on Sunday?"
"I don't see why not. Just make sure the park is not to crowded. Remember, though she is in good physical shape, she will tire very quickly from the emotional strain."
"Uncle George, I'm supposed to be dead, what are you going to tell them?"
"We'll use the story that we had thought you were dead but you were being held prisoner in a third world country all this time. That will also explain why you don't know how to use every day technology."
"Good cover, Uncle George. It will be great to see some more family. I can't wait to meet the girls."
"George, can I take off a couple of hours early today? I need to take care of some things."
"I think that we can live without you for a couple of hours, Jack"
"I'm not sure, but I think that I've been insulted," he said to Vicky. She smiled at him, Oh, I think you can be sure, Jack." As he left they could hear him muttering about "no respect".
After the joint session with Jack, Vicky went to Sam's lab.
"Sam, did you need anything from my right now?"
Sam looked up from the piece of equipment that she was working on and was surprised to see that Vicky had been crying. "Are you OK?"
"Yeah, you know that these therapy sessions can run you through the emotional ringer. Thanks for asking. If you don't need me for a little while, I'm going to the Marine's barracks and make arrangements with a Tech SGT Chang to get some crash corses in computer technology from the last couple of decades."
"That's a good idea, no I don't need you now."
"Thanks. After I am done it will be time for a meeting with the Doctor and the General. I'll come back by after and we can grab some lunch, OK?"
"Sure, that would be great. See you later." Sam was back to her work even before Vicky turned to leave.
~X~X~X~X~X~X~X~X~X~X~X~X~
Vicky had gotten directions from a passing airman and had entered the Marine Day Room when someone spotted her.
"Captain on deck!" The whole room snapped to action and saluted.
//God, I do love Marines\\
She returned the salute, "As you were." Everyone returned to what they were doing. "Gunny, a word, please."
"M'am, yes, M'am!"
"I was told that Tech SGT Lisa Chang would be here, may I speak with her?"
"CHANG! The Captain wants to see you."
A very small oriental woman sprinted up. "M'am, yes, M'am!'
"As you were Tech SGT. Aren't you a cute little thing!"
Chang got quite huffy, "I make the minimum height requirement, M'am!"
"Just barely I assume." Chang looked embarrassed. "I'm sorry. However, if you ever get tired of the military thing, you could market a line of Marine Chang action figures. Show little girls that women can be in the service, too."
The Tech SGT grinned, "I just might do that, M'am."
The Gunny piped in, "I can design the weapons she uses!"
"There you go, Chang, you'll be all set. Anyway, what I came to see you for is that I have been off world for twenty-three years and I need some classes in Earth technology advances from the time that I was gone. The good news is that I hold a PhD in cybernetics so I'm not a total technological idiot."
Just then a Major ran into the Day Room with a look of total panic. "Please, someone, tell me it's not true!"
"What's not true, Ferretti?" The Gunnery SGT looked totally confused.
"That O'Neill has a wife. Do you have any idea what that does to the O'Neill/Carter romance betting pools?"
The Gunny looked like he had just been electrocuted and that he wanted to floor to swallow him up. "Ferretti..."
"I mean, I have a whole series of pools that this shoots the odds all to hell!"
"Ferretti!"
"Tell me they're just joking with me..."
"FERRETTI!!"
"WHAT?"
"I'd like you to meet Navy Captain Victoria O'Neill."
Ferretti turned and gaped at Vicky.
//nice fish imitation\\
"Oh...SHIT!"
Vicky and Chang started to giggle. Ferretti snapped to attention and saluted. Vicky returned the salute, "As you were, Ferretti."
"M'am, I don't know what to say."
"I think you've said quite enough, don't you?"
The Major paled, "M'am, I am SO SORRY."
"Next time maybe you might want to check who is in ear shot BEFORE you start to rant."
"M'am, yes, M'am. Umm...you don't have to tell the Colonel about this do you? Because, you know, he will kill me."
"I don't think I have to tell Jack about this...at least yet." Vicky had a very evil smile on her face. Ferretti paled even further, if that was possible.
"Thanks, M'am. I think I'll just be going now."
"I think that's a really good idea. I guess it was nice meeting you, Ferretti. I'm sure we'll see each other again."
"Yes. M'am" With that Ferretti turned and literally ran out of the room, causing everyone to burst out in very loud laughter. When they eventually calmed down Vicky turned back to the Tech SGT.
"Anyway, Chang, if you could come to my lab at 1400 hours on Monday? Unless you have something more important, that is."
"No, M'am, that will be fine."
"Good, see you then."
~X~X~X~X~X~X~X~X~X~X~X~X~
Still smiling Vicky caught up with Jack in the hallway on the way to the briefing room.
"You look like you're in a good mood."
"Just someone in the Marine Day Room that didn't realize there was a superior officer in the room and I had a lot of fun with that."
"Jack gave her an amused smile, "I just bet you did."
They entered the room to see the General and the Doctor already there. Jack closed the door and they sat on the other side of the table.
Hammond spoke first, "Doctor, can you please make your report now?"
"Certainly, General, First I want to say that I want to thank the Colonel and the Captain for being very co-operative."
The General looked at Jack amazed as he looked inordinately pleased.
"I am going to clear the Captain for duty, provided that it is here on the base. I am not clearing her for gate travel yet. I will clear the Colonel for off world missions in about two weeks."
"Good, the Pentagon has made a decision that they consider Vicky still on active duty."
"Then I want back pay."
"That's my girl!"
"General, this brings up my next point. In the past I've dealt with a pilot that was reported Killed In Action, who was actually held prisoner for over twenty years. IT was difficult to get a bank account and he had no credit since he had been reported as deceased."
"Well, you can be put on my checking account and credit cards, if you trust me with your money."
"Of course I do, Jack"
"Good then we can have your back pay direct deposited into my checking account."
"What's direct deposit?"
"It's really cool, they just electronically transfer the money directly into a bank account. No check, no waiting for it to clear."
"Kind of like instant money!" Jack beamed at her. //she always was smart\\
"Good that's settled. Next, General Hammond, I gave the Colonel to take Vicky out to lunch off base for a couple of hours, provided it is to some place quiet. She sould only go out for a few hours at a time at first. And it should be with someone she is comfortable with."
"Can I take her to the park an maybe to my home with my granddaughters for a few hours on Sunday?"
"I don't see why not. Just make sure the park is not to crowded. Remember, though she is in good physical shape, she will tire very quickly from the emotional strain."
"Uncle George, I'm supposed to be dead, what are you going to tell them?"
"We'll use the story that we had thought you were dead but you were being held prisoner in a third world country all this time. That will also explain why you don't know how to use every day technology."
"Good cover, Uncle George. It will be great to see some more family. I can't wait to meet the girls."
"George, can I take off a couple of hours early today? I need to take care of some things."
"I think that we can live without you for a couple of hours, Jack"
"I'm not sure, but I think that I've been insulted," he said to Vicky. She smiled at him, Oh, I think you can be sure, Jack." As he left they could hear him muttering about "no respect".