She was working steadily away, on the Bug Duster gun (he had no idea who had named it that, but he loved it) he had built, delicately picking her way through the connections, so at first, she didn't see him. He loved these moments. The seconds before she saw him. Her face, highlighted from underneath, achingly beautiful. Her eyes, so blue, and her smile, soft and fascinated. At these moments, he could stand and watch her forever. Whatever Pete, or those others had of her, he had those moments, these seconds no-one else would ever share with her.
"Colonel... I mean, General." She said, grinning from ear to ear when she saw him, like a non-disappearing Cheshire Cat. "How's the first day on the job."
He came forward, into her lab, close enough to see the joy in her eyes, not close enough to touch.
"Very satisfactory, thank you, Colonel." He said, revelling in her new title. Then the General façade dropped, and he became just Jack again. "The chair is so cool. And do you know I have a direct phone line to the President?"
"They let you keep that?" she asked, incredulously, then added a hasty, "Sir."
But the joking passed, and Jack had a job to do.
"I've got something you need to see." He said, seriously. She put down her tools, and listened. "And before I show it to you, you need to understand that this is General O'Neill showing Colonel Carter, not me showing you, do you understand?" he asked anxiously, wanting to make sure she understood this was not personal.
She frowned.
"This is about Pete." She said, not a question, because only a few subjects could reduce them to their ranks, and not friends. He nodded, and handed the file over. She read it, quietly.
"I see." She said, finishing it.
"I'm not doing anything about it. What you do with the information is up to you." He said, trying to discern what she was thinking, but failing utterly. Damn it, where had she learnt that trick of concealing her emotions? There was a time when he could read every expression on her face.
"Thank you for telling me."
"It's not personal...I mean... I don't want to upset you."
"I'm not upset. And I'm not angry. At least, not with you, Sir."
He nodded.
"It means a lot, not just that you told me, but that you're leaving it to me to sort out." She said, her eyes soft.
"Ok." He said, unhappily, and left.
When he got back to the office, he called someone.
"Sir?"
"Jack, I think you can call me George now." The friendly voice was reassuring, even over the phone. "And congratulations on your promotion."
"Thanks, though I'm not sure I'm up to this."
"You'd better be, that's why I recommended you."
"Oh, so this is your fault?"
"Damn right it is. And pass my congratulations on to Colonel Carter too."
"I will."
There was a moment's silence, then Jack said,
"I found the file."
"I thought you would."
"That was sneaky, letting it fall behind the drawer like that, make it look like you'd never seen it."
Hammond laughed.
"Knew it wouldn't fool you, son. But hopefully, it'd fool everyone else. What did you do with it?"
"Gave it to her. It's her choice."
"Good." Hammond said, approval radiating down the phone line. "When I saw that file, I already knew my time was nearly up, and I knew that eventually, you'd take over. There was no way I could tell you what Shanahan had done, but I felt you ought to know, just in case he turned out to be a bad one, and if I accidentally forgot the file...."
"Thanks. I appreciate it."
"You know, son, anytime you want to talk, I'll be available for you." Hammond said, seriously. "and believe me, whatever problems you have, you are not the first general to experience them. You have my home number."
"I do. And thank you."
Jack out the phone down, and looked at the clock. His day was almost over. He thought of finding Sam, and getting cake, but realised that right now, she probably wasn't in the mood. Hopefully, she'd find Daniel, and start talking to him. She needed a friend. And he...he needed to finish the paperwork. With a sigh, he picked up the topmost file, and began to read.
THE END