A/N: Sorry for the long delay since I last wrote. Life here has been hectic! Hope it was worth the wait.
As for this installment, I have four words… HOLY GIANT CHAPTER, BATMAN!
Wow, this one just poured out of me. I sincerely hope I didn't fumble any of the details. I searched for any reference to the Joint Chiefs already mentioned in Stargate SG-1, but as far as I could tell, the only one ever shown or mentioned by name was US Army General Francis Maynard (in season 7's Inauguration), who is the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs. So, I made the rest of them up. Luckily, all my exposure to "The West Wing" reruns helped me with that! (And on that note, anyone else notice that William Devane, the guy who's played the president in SG-1 since season 7, was also the same actor who played the West Wing's Secretary of State? It's funny, because he was passed over for the vice-presidency in the West Wing, but was apparently more successful on SG-1, since he's now commander-in-chief, LOL!)
This took me a LONG time to write, because I wanted to make sure everything fit. I hope you enjoy my creative solution to the corner I'd seemingly painted myself into.
Anyway, on with the story…
Chapter 15
Sam wondered if it was possible to expire from the buildup of nervous tension in a room. If it was, then it seemed awfully likely that she and everyone else in the conference room were about to drop dead.
Suppressing the urge to shift in her chair, she instead settled for fiddling with the brass button on the front of her coat. It felt odd to be this upset while wearing her dress uniform. Generally, these garments were reserved for special, happy occasions. In fact, the last time she'd worn them was when Jack had promoted her to Lieutenant Colonel. The only other time she'd felt so distraught in her uniform was during Janet's funeral.
Sam swallowed, trying to push those dark thoughts out of her head. She wanted to use Teal'c's deep breathing exercises, but knew she couldn't – not while she was crammed into a skirt and coat clearly not intended for a woman who was pregnant with twins. While she was only 10 weeks along, she had recently stopped fitting comfortably in her blue jeans. It also didn't help that she really hadn't worn much of anything for the last week. It just made her awareness of the constrictive clothing that much more noticeable.
Involuntarily, she glanced at the figure across the table from her. She immediately jerked her gaze away and focused again on her coat button. She couldn't look at Jack. Not now. It was bad enough that Daniel and Teal'c knew exactly what had transpired in the last week. If she let herself focus on Jack for even a moment, she knew her feelings for him would be written all over her face.
Oh Lord, how had she gotten herself into this situation? Why hadn't she just resigned when she'd discovered her pregnancy? Jack had insisted that her military career was too valuable to just throw away. In her heart, she agreed with him. However, there were other, more pragmatic parts of her that now just wished she hadn't subjected herself and her friends to this ordeal.
Fighting back the now-familiar waves of nausea which seemed to lurk around every corner, Sam decided to look to Daniel for support. Not surprisingly, he was examining her with an expression of sympathetic concern. She knew she was probably pale as a sheet. She tried to smile reassuringly at him, but when his expression didn't change, she knew he had seen through her façade. Still, it felt good to have someone on her side.
Across the broad, gleaming surface of the wooden conference table, Jack caught the wordless exchange between Sam and Daniel out of the corner of his eye. Like Sam, he knew that gazing directly at the object of his affection would likely lead to disaster. As it was, he was having a hard time keeping himself from giving into his rising temper. What the hell was taking so long? They'd arrived at the mountain over an hour ago, and had spent most of the time since cooling their heels here in the conference room. Sam was clearly ill and anxious. And, much as he enjoyed the view, Jack could also tell that her clothes were starting to become uncomfortably snug. The urge to jump up and demand a start to the proceedings before she keeled over was nearly uncontrollable. He felt impatient anger rise up in his throat. How could they subject a vulnerable pregnant woman to this kind of fear? Especially after her doctor had told her to avoid stress! Those morons had to have that information. All of her prenatal exams had been performed here on the base, making her medical records official Air Force property.
Again, O'Neill felt anger bubble up inside himself. The deck had been stacked against them from the beginning. The pregnancy itself had been a result of their dedication to military service, and every step since then had been taken with their duty and honor in mind. They'd trusted the military. And in doing so, they had given it all the rope necessary to hang them with. Sam's pregnancy records were military property. Their revised mission briefings starkly described the events on P6Y-441. But perhaps most damning were the four-year-old records of their Zatarc testing. Thanks to Goa'uld mind manipulation and Tok'ra technology, both he and Sam had been forced to reveal their feelings for each other or be subject to a potentially brain-damaging procedure. So now, anyone with the proper clearance could read the trashy dime store version of a seemingly inappropriate relationship between a Brigadier General and his second-in-command.
He didn't dare look to the head of the table. Seated there were several of the Joint Chiefs, who waited with seemingly inexhaustible patience. To Jack, their unruffled composure seemed almost smug. He was sure if he looked at any of them, he'd lose the last, shaky fragment of control he had over his temper. Better to sit quietly, shredding the remains of a Styrofoam coffee cup, than to risk ending up in the brig.
Finally, the door opened. At once, all eyes turned to the entrance in mute expectation. All the military personnel immediately stood at attention. Carter and O'Neill saluted General Hammond, who in turn, saluted the Joint Chiefs. That out of the way, Hammond walked briskly into the room, followed by two unexpected additions.
The first person behind the general was High Councilor Shinsall of P6Y-441's Founding Colony. She wore long ceremonial robes that made Jack and Sam wince in unison – not because of their style, but because of their vivid, purple coloring. It seemed Daniel was right. The color was evidently used to demark leadership. The distinguished woman smiled serenely at Jack and the other members of SG-1 before taking a seat at the table.
The other guest was almost as much of a shock. While the bruise on his cheek was now almost completely faded, Jack was sure he could still feel it sting when Jacob Carter walked into the room. Oh, great, he thought. Not only was he going to lose his military career, but he was probably going to get pummeled by a Tok'ra in the process. There was no way Jacob was going to miss the change in his daughter. O'Neill sighed. The day was getting better and better.
Sam, too, felt another wave of anxiety – and nausea – when she saw the two additions to the meeting. She tried returning Shinsall's smile, but feared her attempt was even more dismal than the earlier one she'd given Daniel. Still, the woman didn't look offended. In fact, if Sam didn't know better, she'd say Shinsall was trying to convey support and even apology to her.
The arrival of her father made any analysis of the High Councilor's intentions fly out the window. Sam was immediately struck by two, conflicting urges. The first was to get up and throw herself into her father's arms, letting him comfort her in this moment of despair. The second was to run out of the room and never look back. The instant he observed her interactions – or lack of interactions – with Jack, Jacob would know exactly what was in his daughter's heart. Sam had honestly no idea how he'd take the most recent turn of events, but given his last display of temper, she wasn't anxious to find out.
Jacob avoided looking at Jack, but did smile briefly at Sam before taking his seat. If it was possible, the tension in the room ratcheted up another few-dozen notches, making the atmosphere seem to hum with electricity. The air of nervous expectation was palpable.
Finally, General Hammond cleared his throat to signal a start to the proceedings. After the long hour of silence that had blanketed the room, the noise was startlingly loud.
Hammond's voice was clear and cool as he began. "I'd like to thank you all for coming today, especially High Councilor Shinsall of the Prime Colony, and Selmak and Jacob Carter of the Tok'ra."
Shinsall nodded briefly in acknowledgement. "I am glad to be of service in this matter, General. I cannot help feeling some responsibility for this entire ordeal. It was my lapse in explaining customs to your fine officers which caused the confusion that led up to the current circumstances."
A snort of disbelief came from one of the Joint Chiefs across the room. Marine Corps Commandant, General Martin Falterman stared with frank disapproval at all of the SGC personnel. Clearly, he did not agree with Shinsall's assessment of the situation. Hammond returned the stare with a cold but calm look of his own.
A deep, alien voice interrupted the silent exchange. "I, too, am glad to be part of these proceedings. The Tok'ra have a vested interest in the SGC, and we therefore are appreciative to be included in any of the decisions which may impact the organization's leadership structure." The end of this statement was accompanied by a brief, glowing flash in Jacob's eyes.
Jack stifled a laugh. The Commandant had clearly become disconcerted when hearing Selmak's odd, unnatural voice. The eye-flash actually caused the General to become visibly pale. Jack knew that the glowing eyes had been pure theatrics on the part of Selmak. And, much as he often was annoyed by the Tok'ra, he appreciated the show of support. While O'Neill knew that Jacob was likely to be steaming mad about the recent turn of events between his daughter and her commanding officer, General Falterman did not. Nor did the large marine know anything about how symbiotes and hosts functioned as two completely separate beings. All the Commandant knew was that he had come close to insulting the pregnant daughter of an alien who'd stared at him with glowing eyes. To say the man suddenly looked less sure of himself would be an understatement.
Hammond, too, appeared to be restraining his amusement as he continued. "I apologize for the delay in these proceedings. Selmak was unavoidably detained on Tok'ra business, and it was my decision to wait for him before starting. I felt it was important to have all affected parties assembled at the same time, even though it caused an unpleasant wait for those of you who were already here."
Abruptly, the mood in the room became more sober. It was finally time to get down to business. Taking a deep breath, Hammond gestured to a large, distinguished Army General at the head of the table. "General Francis Maynard, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs, has asked to present the findings of the panel that looked into this matter. General?"
As Hammond took a seat at the conference table, General Maynard stood. If ever there was a man who looked at home in a US Army uniform, this was him. He carried himself with the deadly grace of a man who had long courted death, while at the same time, presented a polished, professional quality that bespoke a comfort with his power. If this man was chosen to pass judgment on him, Jack decided he would accept the outcome with all the dignity the General would expect.
"When General Hammond came to me with the details of this situation, I was not only startled by the news, but saddened by the implications it presented. Some of the finest officers in the US military are assembled in this room, and it would be a real shame to lose any of them to circumstances as mundane as these." Seeing the looks of surprise on many of the faces around the table, Maynard continued. "I do not mean to belittle the gravity of the situation. But, quite frankly, if I'd ever contemplated potential scandal from the SGC, it was more likely to be caused by some nefarious alien plot than a case of suspected fraternization." He smiled, though it was not especially comforting. "Still, the evidence had to be considered. So, I met with the President, the Joint Chiefs, and General Hammond. We read the reports, and reviewed all relevant details from prior missions." Jack winced inwardly, recalling the tortured admission of his feelings for Sam during the Zatarc testing. "We also took into consideration the outstanding military records of the parties involved. After much debate, we even called upon High Councilor Shinsall, since it was her own culture that was apparently involved with the incident. Then, once we had done the appropriate research, we sat down and tried to find an acceptable course of action. That was by far the most time-consuming and difficult part of our job. It took us a long time to come to consensus. However, the decision we have finally reached is, in my opinion, a sound one."
Sam took a deep breath. Against her better judgment, she looked across the table at Jack. To her surprise, she found that he was already looking at her. Their eyes locked, and all at once, Sam felt herself relax. The men here could take away her military career, even fire her. They could pass judgment and change her life forever. But, in spite of this, she knew they could not touch the things that mattered most to her. No matter what else happened today, she would walk out of this room carrying Jack's babies, with the memory of his whispered declaration of love still growing in her heart. Jack's eyes mirrored her sentiments. She could almost hear him daring them to do their worst. With renewed strength, Sam pulled her eyes from his and returned her attention to the Chairman.
Maynard continued soberly. "First of all, with regard to Doctor Jackson and Teal'c, the Joint Chiefs have decided that your minimal role in this situation warrants no further disciplinary action. We would, however, like to remind you that even though you are not bound by the Uniform Code of Military Justice, we expect you to live up to a higher standard than the average civilian contractor. You represent our entire planet each time you step through that gate. As such, we expect that from now on you will use better judgment in reporting all relevant mission details."
Sam glanced at Daniel. He nodded at the Chairman, though concern was still clearly etched upon his features. This decision was expected. The anxiety in the room had never been over Daniel and Teal'c's involvement. Still, even if Daniel didn't look very relieved, Sam certainly felt it. At least she didn't have to feel guilty for ending the careers of her dearest friends.
"As for General O'Neill and Colonel Carter," Maynard paused, looking at the two officers. "I've long thought of you both as some of the finest Air Force officers I've ever encountered. And, given my military experience, those are not small words of praise. The Joint Chiefs have been aware of the unusual nature of your relationship with each other for some time. However, we have also found your conduct to be impeccably professional." His eyes narrowed as he glanced at the rest of the Joint Chiefs. "Some of the other Chiefs have had their doubts. Some of them," he continued, looking very grim, "have even gone as far as conducting surveillance in an attempt to flush out an inappropriate relationship."
Sam gaped at that revelation. One – or more – of the Joint Chiefs had been involved in having her and Jack followed? Glancing across the table, she saw Jacob's and Jack's faces darken visibly. Apparently, General Maynard also saw their growing anger, because he quickly continued.
"Their attempts were obviously unsuccessful. I choose to believe that this is because there was nothing to reveal. Not all of the Chiefs agree with me, but that seems to be irrelevant, as they have no facts to support their opinions. So, lacking evidence of a prior inappropriate relationship, and considering all that High Councilor Shinsall has told us of the potency of the Ka'Shakk, we can find nothing to refute the claims made in the revised mission reports. We find General O'Neill and Colonel Carter guilty of failure to obey standing orders, as they willfully failed to report relevant details of their mission to their superiors and the president. For this, their punishment will be one week of unpaid leave. Furthermore, we are willing to accept last week's absence as fulfillment of this punishment. It will be noted on your records, and your loss of pay will be reflected in your next check."
Sam and Jack glanced disbelievingly at each other. That was all? A week without pay, which, ironically, had been spent doing all the things they were not supposed to do? The look of skepticism on Jack's face said he was waiting for the other shoe.
"However," Maynard went on, "in light of the now immensely personal relationship between General O'Neill and Colonel Carter, it is impossible for the present situation to remain unchanged." Ah. There it was. Jack settled back in his chair for the rest of the details. Sam closed her eyes for a moment, and steeled herself against the inevitable.
"Since it would be unethical and impractical for a woman to report to the father of her children, something must be done to remove Colonel Carter from General O'Neill's line of command. The obvious choice would be reassignment. However, given the unique and delicate nature of the work done by the SGC, none of us feel this is an acceptable solution." Maynard looked intensely at the pair. "You have both been integral parts of the SGC for so long that removing either of you from its service would be depriving the organization of a wealth of resources. There have been countless occasions when your unique experience and knowledge have saved lives and benefited Earth as a whole. Therefore, we feel that reassignment should be avoided at all costs."
Sam gritted her teeth. Tell me something I don't know, she thought bitterly. She was certain that the next words out of the general's mouth would be a call for either her or Jack to resign their commissions.
She was wrong.
"Some of the Joint Chiefs were demanding the resignation of one or both of your military positions. However, I'm afraid I cannot agree. I would feel a sense of supreme injustice if the very commitment to duty that makes you fine Air Force officers was the same quality which therefore calls for your resignation. Since it seems that Colonel Carter's pregnancy was directly caused by her willingness to be immersed in new cultures, as a service to her planet and country, it would not be right or honorable to abandon her in this time of need. Nor would it be right or honorable to punish General O'Neill for his similar role in this incident." General Maynard's voice took on an air of determination, and he seemed to direct his next words to the other Joint Chiefs seated at the table. "This panel has determined that both General O'Neill and Colonel Carter were victims in this situation. High Councilor Shinsall not only made that clear, but even offered to provide compensation for her nation's role in the ordeal. She also advised us to deal with General O'Neill and Colonel Carter gently, as they were likely experiencing some trauma from the turn of events."
Sam and Jack exchanged another meaningful look. So that's why they were being treated so kindly. Shinsall had evidently caught wind of the affair, and, somehow feeling responsible, was likely threatening to withdraw from the technology swap if an acceptable solution wasn't found. Looking away from Jack, Sam immediately sought the High Councilor's gaze. She hoped her expression of gratitude was obvious. With any luck, she would be able to thank the older woman personally after the meeting.
Maynard next turned his attention to Jacob. "We also conferred with our Tok'ra and Asgard allies about this situation. While Supreme High Commander Thor was unavailable for this meeting, he was able to briefly communicate with us last week. He stressed his confidence in General O'Neill's command, and indicated a preference for working with him in the future." Jack noticed that the Commandant's face paled again with the mention of Thor. He suppressed a smile. Thor had caused a similar reaction when he'd appeared in front of a panel of world military leaders a few years back. The little grey guy sure did know how to make an impression.
"As for the Tok'ra," Maynard continued, "there is a very important link between those powerful allies and Colonel Carter. Not only was she once a host for Jolinar of Malkshur, but, obviously, her father Jacob is the current host for Selmak. This unique and powerful bond is greatly valued by both the SGC and the Tok'ra."
General Maynard made a sweeping appraisal of the room. "As a result of these conferences, we became convinced that Earth would be best served by keeping both General O'Neill and Colonel Carter in positions of authority on the SGC. We therefore opted for a creative solution to the problem. Instead of reassigning either General O'Neill or Colonel Carter, we have instead decided to change the command structure within the SGC."
Taking a deep breath, Maynard glanced at Hammond before continuing. To Jack's surprise, Hammond looked a bit grim. Unsure of what was coming, Jack returned his attention to the Chairman and held his breath.
"For a long while, there have been calls from within the military and from congressional oversight committees to have more accountability within the SGC. General Hammond had long opposed any outside management of his personnel, insisting that they were competent and capable enough to regulate themselves. However, the need for more regulatory accountability has become more evident over the past year, especially in light of the near-disaster of Anubis' attack on Earth. So, with this objective in mind, we decided to kill two proverbial birds with one stone. Effective immediately, Lieutenant Colonel Samantha Carter will no longer report to General Jack O'Neill. Instead, she will report directly to General Hammond and, of course, to congressmen of the appropriate security clearance and the Joint Chiefs. She will continue to lead and accompany SG-1 on offworld missions, and will continue to share her findings with General O'Neill. However, in addition to her current duties, her new standing orders will be to seek out security weaknesses within the SGC and share this information with General Hammond."
Jack took a deep breath. So that was why Hammond looked sour. He'd managed to keep both Jack and Sam in the SGC, but had to pay for it by allowing congress and the Joint Chiefs to have some control in the running of the SGC.
General Maynard paused, allowing his words to sink in. "This should not be seen as punishment to General O'Neill. The notion of SGC oversight has been discussed for a long time now. There was much disagreement as to who we should offer this position to. We all agreed that our interests would be best served if a current SCG member took the job, since only someone familiar with the SGC would be able to identify its weaknesses. In fact, many of us expressed our preference for Colonel Carter long before the present situation arose. The Colonel's handling of a Foothold situation a few years back was exemplary, and the perfect model of what a security coordinator would be expected to do. However, we were doubtful she would be interested in taking the position, and were reluctant to order someone to perform such an important and sensitive duty if they were not happy with the task." He then looked pointedly at Sam. "That, I'm afraid, is still a matter of great concern to us. We do not want this to be seen as a sentence to be carried out, or as a penalty for wrongdoing. We are only interested in offering you this position if you are willing to take your responsibilities seriously. You must understand that you may be forced to point out flaws or weaknesses in the organization that is led and manned by those you feel a great deal of respect and admiration for. It is not a job for the weak-stomached. Your father, Jacob, assured me that you were up to the task, but I'm afraid I won't feel good about the situation until I hear it directly from you. So, Colonel Carter, how do you feel about this?"
Sam felt all the eyes in the room turn toward her. Steeling herself, she kept her voice steady and calm. "General Maynard, I'm flattered and proud that you and the other Joint Chiefs think I'm deserving of this position. I gladly accept the job, even knowing that it might make me unpopular at times." She looked at General Hammond. "I know how important the security of the SGC has become. I'm sure I can work with both military and civilian personnel to achieve a level of protection that we are all comfortable with." She itched to look at Jack and gauge his reaction, but didn't dare.
General Maynard smiled. "I'm very glad to hear it, Colonel. Obviously, this is not a perfect solution. You will still have daily interaction with General O'Neill, and we expect you to work with him in a professional manner. Given the very personal nature of your relationship now, that may prove a challenge to you both. However, we all understand that the SGC is not a typical military unit, and that the close relationship shared by all members of SG-1 has yet to interfere with the cohesiveness of the SGC as a whole. In fact, it appears that your close friendships, forged in the heat of battle, are nearly legendary among your colleagues. For this reason, we're willing to allow the two of you to work together. The letter of the law is being followed by removing Colonel Carter from General O'Neill's direct chain of command. However, as the General is still superior in rank to Colonel Carter, she should be respectful of his orders. And, of course, any discontent within the ranks as a result of the unusual relationship will be cause for immediate review of the situation. Furthermore, in spite of General O'Neill's superior rank to the Colonel, all of her actions must be in compliance with the express desires of General Hammond and the Joint Chiefs, first and foremost, as they are her direct supervisors in this new command structure."
General Maynard looked as though he was just about ready to dismiss everyone, when High Councilor Shinsall delicately cleared her throat. She sent a pointed look to General Maynard, who suddenly looked uncomfortable.
"Oh, yes," Maynard added somewhat reluctantly, "there is one more thing. After a thorough discussion of the situation, the Joint Chiefs agree that any formalization of the relationship between General O'Neill and Colonel Carter would be in keeping with the conduct of military officers, and would not be opposed." Seeing the blank look on Jack's face, he clarified. "In other words, should the General and the Colonel wish to take a traditional path and bind their family together by getting married, we would be supportive of that decision."
Instantly, Jack's eyes grew wide with shock. If he'd been bowled over by Sam's earlier use of the "L" word, then he was positively traumatized by the use of the "M" word.
Sam had to bite her lip to keep from grinning at the look of sheer terror that had settled on Jack's face. Apparently, not everyone was being as diplomatic, as she heard a few chuckles from around the table in response to his obvious panic. Even General Maynard himself was smiling.
"In any event, everyone involved in this decision, regardless of their opinions on the prior nature of the relationship, is now dedicated to seeing two fine Air Force officers through a difficult situation." Addressing Sam and Jack directly, he spoke with an air of sincerity. "You have both dedicated your lives and sacrificed much to keep Earth safe. The military is never fully able to compensate the men and women who serve their country. Your commander in chief, however, hopes that a little flexibility in this matter goes at least a small way toward paying that debt. So, with that in mind, General O'Neill, you are now again in command of this fine facility, minus one very competent Lieutenant Colonel."
Flabbergasted, Jack stood and saluted. "Thank you, sir."
Immediately, Sam followed his example, rising from her chair and snapping a perfect salute to the General.
The Joint Chiefs then began rising from their seats. At this point, Hammond also stood and saluted, then began asking if any of the Chiefs needed an escort back to the surface. They all graciously declined, and began drifting from the room. Some of them even stopped and complimented Jack on his base. Commandant Falterman, however, seemed to be in a great hurry. He kept glancing nervously at Jacob and Teal'c as he left the room, while trying to not appear as though he was rushing away.
Once General Maynard and the Joint Chiefs had left, Sam looked at Jack, Teal'c and Hammond, and nearly collapsed with relief. Sinking bonelessly into a chair, she suddenly felt weak and shaky.
Daniel rushed over to her. "Are you okay?"
She nodded, eyes wide with shock. Whatever she'd expected of this meeting, this had not been it.
Hammond looked at High Councilor Shinsall. "I'd like to thank you again for coming today. Your presence here was greatly appreciated."
Shinsall just smiled. "I assure you, it was my pleasure." Then, looking over at Sam, she continued. "Perhaps Colonel Carter might walk me to my room. I'm afraid the hallways in your complex all look the same to me."
Sam quickly stood and approached the distinguished silver-haired woman. "Of course, High Councilor."
Shinsall rose and took Sam's elbow. Glancing at Hammond and Jacob, she bowed her head. "I will see you before I depart. Thank you for your hospitality, General Hammond. And, Selmak, please convey my warmest greetings to the Tok'ra. I would very much like to meet more of you someday." Then, looking at Jack, she smiled warmly. "According to General Hammond, I will see you for dinner tonight, General O'Neill. I look forward to speaking with you again." Farewells were exchanged, and Sam led the High Councilor out into the hallway.
Walking down the steps to the main floor of the SGC, Sam took a deep breath. "High Councilor, I really must thank you for your help in this situation. Surely you must know that your words had a great impact on the outcome of the Joint Chief's decision."
Shinsall smiled, a twinkle in her eye. "I sincerely hope so, Colonel. I'm certain that if those men were left to their own devices, you and your General would be banished to separate obscure outposts for the rest of your undistinguished military careers. And, seeing what I did at the Harvest, I couldn't allow that to happen."
Sam felt herself beginning to blush. "High Councilor," she began, only to be interrupted.
"Please, dear, call me Shinsall. We are not in the Colonies, and I feel as if we are already friends." The older woman gently patted Sam's hand.
Sam couldn't help her look of surprise. "Thank you, Shinsall. I'm not sure what I did to deserve your support, but I assure you, you'll never know how much it's helped me. And of course, you can call me Sam."
The High Councilor shook her head. "Please don't thank me, Sam. It's been my duty and pleasure to help you. After all, I know that your present condition is a direct result of my own negligence. Had I been more specific about the effects of the Ka'Shakk, none of this would have happened. I made assumptions about the nature of your relationship with General O'Neill that were incorrect. I never should have allowed myself to lose my professional bearings, just because you and your general made such a pretty pair."
Sam blushed again, but spoke insistently. "Shinsall, please don't feel responsible for this."
At this, the woman laughed warmly. "I most certainly will feel responsible! If my giant blunder has led to the two of you finally having your happiness, then it will be the best mistake I've ever made in my life." She stopped, pulling Sam to a deserted corner, and took the young woman's hands into her own. "Samantha, when your Joint Chiefs first brought me to this world and began asking me questions about the Harvest, I was confused to say the least. I finally demanded to know the reasons for their inquisition. When I learned the truth, that you and General O'Neill were under scrutiny because of a supposedly inappropriate relationship, I nearly swallowed my tongue. I was even more shocked to hear that you had both admitted feelings for each other four years ago, but chose to ignore them out of duty to your military. I had, of course, seen the clear affection the two of you held for each other. My mistake was in assuming that these feelings were open and accepted by all. When the Joint Chiefs made it very clear that they disapproved, I was very distressed! Not only did it seem barbaric to keep two honorable and worthy people apart, it was downright wrong to punish them for being the victims of circumstances outside their control. It was then I saw an opportunity to set things right. I told them in no uncertain terms that my culture required me to make amends for the situation, and that if they would not allow it, I would have to withdraw from our technology exchange in shame. Naturally, the only way for me to make those amends was to ensure you both kept your careers and each other."
Gaping at the kindness and generosity of the woman before her, Sam shook her head. "Next you'll be telling me that my coach is going to turn onto a pumpkin at midnight." Seeing Shinsall's look of puzzlement, she waved her hand. "Never mind."
The High Councilor looked at Sam for a long moment, warmth clearly etched on her features. "My dear, you remind me so much of myself when I was your age. I was so concerned with duty and honor, I neglected my own heart. I had an opportunity for a husband and children once, but I kept putting it off because I thought my true vocation was leading my people." Her eyes grew misty, and she looked off into the distance. "Then, my young man was killed in an accident on a transport vessel. Only then did I realize my mistake. Had I chosen a different path, I still might have led my people, but I could have done so from the position of a happy, satisfied woman. Instead, I've served them, but with loneliness and melancholy as my constant companion. Perhaps I would not have been the youngest High Councilor ever elected, had I married Barten, but I certainly would have been the happiest one. Even if I could not stop his death upon that vessel, I might have known years of happiness with him before that time. I hope you can benefit from my mistakes, Sam. I've done everything in my power to give you the chances I never had. You can have your military career, help your people, and still be the wife and mother you always longed to be."
Sam opened her mouth to object, but Shinsall waved her off. "Oh, yes, I know. Your General looked positively ill at the mention of marriage. But mark my words, dear. He'll come around. I knew you were meant for each other the moment I saw you two standing beside each other for the first time. And now, if I'm not mistaken, the two of you have begun to realize the same thing. If you must thank me for my part in this, then simply promise me you will come and celebrate Birthmonth with us. You can imagine that life in the Colonies becomes very interesting when all our young expectant mothers are due at the same time. It is a joyous time, with much anticipation and speculation on the time and date of the arrivals. If you and General O'Neill would pay us a visit for a few days during that time, I would consider any debt you feel to me paid in full."
Sam could only nod. Her throat was choked with emotion, and she found herself blinking back tears. Seeing the other woman's eyes also grow moist, she squeezed the cool, strong hands holding her own. Wordlessly, the two women embraced each other, each feeling the profound joy of realized dreams.
In the Conference room, Jack watched as Sam led the High Councilor out into the hallway. As soon as it was reasonably possible, he knew he'd have to track down the lovely colonel and discuss this bizarre turn of events. He hoped that Sam was appropriately thanking the older woman for her undoubted saving of their collective behinds.
Abruptly, Jack felt an arm being clamped around his shoulders. Looking up, he was surprised – and somewhat dismayed – to see Jacob standing beside him, grinning broadly. "So, Jack, tell me… When are you going to marry my daughter?"
As he fumbled for something to say, Jack was struck with a familiar thought.
Holy crap.