Chapter four

Jack looked down at his watch. It was 6:12. He was finishing his inspection of all the SG team leaders. All of them except for one. Well technically, Sam wasn't an SG team leader, but he had asked her to come early for her inspection because she was in charge of the female inspections. He was getting distracted because she wasn't there yet. It wasn't like her to be late for anything.

"Damn you guys are good. I can't find a single thing wrong with any of you!! How in the hell did that happen? Not a shoelace wrong, not a single crooked tie, or misplaced ribbon! Nobody was even dumb enough to wear white socks! What the hell? Well... I just hope the rest of your teams are as outstanding as you guys.' Jack just stopped in disbelief. From behind him, Hammond was observing from the window in his office. Little did Jack know, Hammond had already inspected the team leaders, and told them what to fix before the Colonel's inspection. He seemed to be in an ornery mood today and he liked seeing his 2IC squirm. And besides it wasn't fair to let the Colonel have all of the fun.

"Uh.. okay. At ease. You have until 06:50 to get your teams together, and lined up in the gate room. The inspection will start at 0700, and I mean AT 0700. Understood?" Jack glanced back down at his watch.

A chorus of yes sir's rang out through the briefing room.

"Okay then you're dismissed. See you in a while." Jack's mood was starting to shift slightly. The good mood was still there, but worry was starting to edge its way into his mind. But being the ever poised and stoic military officer that he was, he couldn't let a little thing like his second in command being late for one of the most important inspections ever, get in the way of his professional thinking. Too bad he had given Teal'c and Daniel the day off, he was wishing they were at least here so that he could pace in front of them or something. He watched as all of his team leaders headed out of the briefing room. Then he turned back towards Hammond's office.

As he marched back in, the General was already on the phone to the surface. He hung up the phone and looked up at the Colonel.

"Jack I know that look on your face, and I have already tried calling Major Carter's house, and her cell phone. No answer at either one. I just talked to the security posts, and apparently Major Carter left the base at 0430 this morning, but has not checked back in yet. My guess is that she was here all night working, and had to go home to get her things for the inspection. And if the traffic that I drove through to get here this morning was any indication, I am not surprised she's running a little bit behind. Cut her some slack, Colonel, she's been putting in sixteen or seventeen hour days lately. Sometimes I think you might be a little harder on her than even you realize. Don't worry. She knows what a big deal this is today. She'll be here." Hammond was more worried that the Major had driven home with so little sleep and had had to come back to the base so quickly.

"I know she'll be here sir, and I know you're right. But remember the last time she didn't show up on time? She was kidnapped, and there wasn't a damn thing I...any of us could do about it. That was pretty traumatic for her, and I just don't want anything like that to happen to her again, you know? That's all I was worried about. I think I'll go grab some chow before the inspection starts."

"Jack. Relax. I don't think she was kidnapped within the last hour and a half. It takes any one of us at least twenty minutes to get here, and for most, it takes quite a bit longer. And how many times have you been late for something that Major Carter deems important? Just think about it will you? And for God's sake, knock before you come in next time. So go on and get some breakfast. I'll keep checking to see if she gets here. Dismissed."

The Colonel turned to go, and slowly turned back.

"What if she doesn't get here sir?"

Hammond looked up at Jack with a small, brief smile. "Well, then right after the inspection, we will start looking for her. But not until she misses the inspection. Then we'll know something is truly wrong. But it's six twenty five. You're going to miss breakfast if you don't hurry. She's still got thirty-five...make that forty minutes until she's officially late. Thirty-five puts her right on time. Now go on. I'll see you downstairs in a little bit."

With that said, Jack headed upstairs to the commissary for some chow. When he got there, it was completely empty. The lights were off, and there was a sign on the door.

It read 'Breakfast will be served following command inspection. Please see today's menu for breakfast choices.'

"Damn it." Now Jack really didn't know what to do with himself. He went to his office, which he NEVER used, and sat down behind the desk. It was void of anything except his telephone. He looked again at his watch. 06:43. He picked up the telephone, and dialed Daniel's number. Five rings before Daniel answered.

"Hel...(yaaawwwn) lo?"

"Daniel it's Jack. Listen...have you heard from.." He was cut off.

"Jack..I distinctly remember you giving Teal'c and I the day off today. Why the hell are you calling at almost seven in the morning? If you tell me we have to go on a mission, I am hanging up. This is the first day off I've had in forever. Not to mention the fact that I was sleeping in. Now what do you want?"

"Well the inspection is supposed to start in about fifteen mi..." He was cut off again.

"I am not dressing up to come in there so that you can pester me just because you're in your blues. And besides...Teal'c and I were going to hit the slopes today. I think he's in there trying to figure out that PlayStation 2 that you got me for Christmas. Seeing as it has been in the box since then. At least it will get some use. Will you please tell me why you called or did you just wake me up to be mean.?"

"Daniel, I was trying to say that..." And yet again, he was interrupted by Daniel.

"Jack, I haven't had my coffee yet, can this wait?"

"Daniel, would you shut up and listen? Stop interrupting me. Carter hasn't checked in yet. She left here at four thirty, after staying all night, and now she's not here yet, and the inspection is supposed to start in about ten minutes. I was calling to see if you had heard from her."

"Jack she probably just hit traffic. She was freaking out about this inspection all week, so I doubt that she'd miss it. And if she just left the base two and a half-hours ago, she should be back anytime. I doubt that anything has happened to her in just such a short amount of time. She probably stayed late last night to finish the experiment that she was working on about astro............"

Click. Jack hung up the telephone with Daniel still running his mouth at the other end. He checked his watch. 06:49. He got up from his chair to head down to the Gate room for the inspection. He walked out of his office to the elevators. The doors opened, and the car was empty. Jack thought for sure that at least someone would be there to keep him company on the way down.

When Jack walked through the gate room doors he was surprised to see what he thought were all 204 SGC personnel lined up in tight rows across the back of the gate room, and to either side of the ramp. He corrected himself as he looked around. He didn't see Carter. In fact, he didn't see Frasier either. 201. Not including himself. Now he knew something was going on if both Sam and Janet were late. If Carter was hurt, he knew Frasier would call the base to let them know. He was determined to continue the inspection on time regardless.

As he walked to the front of the crowd, and stood at the base of the ramp, he looked at how well everyone seemed to be prepared. He stood at the base of the ramp and looked out over everybody. He checked his watch. 0700 exactly.

"SG personnel! ATTEN...HUT!" The crowd snapped to attention, and Jack proceeded to call his section leaders to the front of the ranks. He gave the Team leaders their instructions for the inspections, and sent them on their way. He just watched from his position on the ramp, and looked up a few minutes later as Hammond came through the doors, and walked up to stand beside him on the ramp.

Hammond leaned over to whisper to Jack.

"Okay Colonel. After the inspection we'll start an investigation. But don't worry too much until there is something to worry about."

"Frasier's not here either sir. Do you think something happened to Carter and she had to get in touch with Frasier?"

"I don't know. But we'll find out. I am going back upstairs to make some phone calls and do some snooping. Let me know how the inspection goes." With that, the General walked back out of the gate room, and back up to his office.

Jack looked again at his watch. 0713. Why wasn't Carter here yet?

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