Buffet?

Sam looked towards the guard once again only to receive yet another un-amused look, Sam now counted six. The time was 14.10 and Sam had been waiting topside for 20 minutes, with no sign of Jack. Pulling her cell from her purse, she dialled his number; well speed-dial 2 , Janet was 1.

"Sir?...Where?...Well when?...Yes sir."

Waiting another five minutes, Jack finally decided to emerge from the underground cavern of the SGC, much to the relief of Sam and the guard, who was becoming tired of being the target of the Major's glares.

"And here I thought women took ages to get ready."

"Right, Carter, I get it. I'm late." He snapped a little. Signs of a mood now evident in his posture as well as his voice. "So let's just get going. Who's car?"

"Well, unless you want to go by bike, sir, we'll take yours."

"Maybe later,2 he said not really listening, striding in the direction of his car.

Following the colonel Sam shook her head.

This is going to be harder than I thought.

oOo

Arriving at the academy, they stepped out Jack's car. Jack felt like it was his first day at school, the intimidating building loomed over him, his stomach uneasy, though he hid it well. Once inside they took off their caps, but Jack (ever the cool guy) kept his sunglasses on.

"Right, so where is this thing then?" he said half-heartedly looking around on the quiet lobby, his unease slowly dissolving his mood.

There was a near-by buzz of chatter coming from behind two double doors.

"Let's check in here, sir." She said brightly, even though she did feel sympathy for him, as she knew how boring this would be for him. In the end she decided to let him deal with it on his own, after all trying to cheer-up a grumpy colonel was about as easy as re-writing the laws of physics (very, very hard but not impossible).

Hopefully there'll be some sort of buffet to keep him occupied

Although she had much respect for her CO she didn't want to deal with him while she was trying to represent the mountain and make 'Deep Space Radar Telemetry' sound interesting.

Entering the adjoining room they were faced with a small desk that served as a reception, behind which was yet another set of double doors leading to the actual event.

"Major Samantha Carter and Colonel Jack O'Neill from Cheyenne Mountain Complex." Said Sam taking the lead.

Sam was in her element, this and saving the world by solving some near impossible problem was what she did, and what she enjoyed most.

The colonel however was moping around behind her, glaring slightly at the doors he'd soon be going through. Jack was willing to let Sam to take point. This was not his idea of fun.

Ticked off on some register, the lieutenant doubling as a clerk gave Sam some instructions then they made their way inside.

The place was surrounded in a myriad of ranks and people with all sorts of brass on their uniform, few could compare theirs to Sam's and only a handful with the colonel's, even though there were several generals present.

They found themselves in a large assembly hall divided almost in two; at the front were rows of chairs facing a stage with a single plinth on it. At the back of the hall there were around 40 tables each with two chairs behind them lining the walls of the room. One table stood out from the others. This one had a white tablecloth. Eyeing his target, he looked to Sam and said;

"I'm kinda hungry. Want anything?"

"Water, sir."

"What if there's cake? Or Jell-O?" he asked his eyes regaining some of their usual lustre.

"No sir, I'm fine."

"You're sure?" he said finally removing his sunglasses.

"Yes, sir." She smiled, noticing his mood seemed to be lifting.

"I'll just be over here." He said, target in his sights, prowling quietly towards it preparing to make his calculated attack on the spicy chicken wings and little fudge brownies.

oOo

"Samantha Carter!" a low voice from behind her made Sam jump slightly. Turning she was faced with a good looking, 6 foot, black haired, green eyed, 40 something year old man in a casual suit.

"Professor Mason!" she said smiling and taking his outstretched hand in her own.

"It's good to see you, it's been what... 12 years?"

"Yes, it's been a while." He said smiling himself. "You look great Samantha! And I see you've made Major." Releasing her hand.

"Yes, thank you, you've hardly changed at all."

"So what are you working on now?" he said stepping a little closer so he could be heard over the din.

"I'm based at Cheyenne Mountain Complex, we're working on Deep Space Radar Telemetry..."

oOo

Jack was half way through filling his small paper plate, when he abruptly stopped, deciding he'd leave it so as not to look too greedy, closing in on another near-by table he picked up two bottles of water hooking them under his left arm. He then headed back into the crowd in the general direction of where he left Carter.

Maybe this won't be to bad, so far no one's recognised me and I haven't seen anyone from my ...hmm... who's that talking to Sam? She must know the guy...

His eyebrows furrowed, his face nearing a scowl, instantly exchanging it for an impassive expression, his slightly panicked and jealous look vanished as quickly as it appeared. He soon zeroed in on the two, taking his place next to Sam (if not a little in front of her making himself a barrier between her and the mysterious guy), handing her a bottle he said;

"Who's you friend?" he said gruffly, sizing up the younger man before him, his chest puffing out as if he were a bull issuing a challenge.

"This is Professor Mason who I was telling you about." She said noticing the colonel's distinctly protective behaviour.

"Ah right, your mentor, the guy that taught you all you know," though he was still wary, he took the younger man's hand and shook it vigorously. "The names Jack, Jack O'Neill."

"Er... hi I'm Paul Mason." The man was extremely uneasy about how dominant this guy was, his very presence commanded respect and his eyes spoke for him the harsh years he had seen and the wisdom he learnt from them.

"Colonel O'Neill is my CO he works with me down at Cheyenne."

"Right nice to meet you, I better get going, Derek will need my help getting things started." Making his excuses, grinning wildly at Sam before he walked away.

I don't like that guy, he doesn't fit the short, balding, wrinkly yoda-like mentor I imagined in fact he's got more hair and less wrinkles and years than me! Nah something just doesn't sit right with him. Sam likes him though so I guess I'll have to put up with him. He mentioned some guy called Derek though. It couldn't be Ford? Could it? Nah there's bound to be more than one Derek floating around here. I hope.