Director Fred Kennedy arrived in Colorado Springs just as angry as when he left Washington. If possible, he was even more so because now he was here, with these people.
As he stepped off the elevator on the 1st floor, he was met by a dark haired woman who was dressed in a mini-power suit. He looked her up and down, then barked, "I'm here to see General Hammond." His intimidating routine didn't work on the woman in front of him and unfortunately for him, the woman in question was Ma'at O'Toole. She kept her voice nice and even and 'normal'.
"Good morning, Sir. You must be Director Kennedy", she practically purred.
This assignment was totally wasted on Weiss, he thought. Out loud, he said, "Yes, General Hammond is expecting me." Suddenly it dawned on him who, exactly, this was. His voice hardened. "Take me to his office please."
Continuing her innocent routine, she said huskily, "Of course. This way, Director." She paused and smiled at him. "My name's Ma'at O'Toole, by the way." Disgust fairly dripped from Kennedy's lips.
"Yes, Miss O'Toole, I'm well aware of who—I mean, WHAT you are," he snorted. "How IS Andy these days?"
"Oh - so I can drop this silly voice? It really is murder on the vocal cords," she said, still pleasant as possible. "And he's fine," she smirked. "More than fine, actually."
Kennedy actually shuddered as mental images flooded his mind. "Miss O'Toole, please. Have SOME decorum. I realize it may be difficult for someone like... you." She gave him an innocent smile.
"Oh, I am sorry, Director. Did I put the wrong 'double' on your 'entendre'?"
"Wouldn't it be better if someone ELSE were to escort me?" he asked her, putting heavy emphasis on the word 'escort'. Ma'at laughed as if this were the wittiest remark she'd heard in years.
"Don't fear, Director. You wouldn't spend the money, and I wouldn't spend the time," she told him.
They stepped into the elevator and Ma'at pushed the button for Level 27. They rode in silence with Ma'at blatantly checking him out and Kennedy just as blatantly ignoring her. She half sighed and half purred as the ride came to a stop.
Kennedy stomped off the elevator and started walking before realizing that he had no idea where he was going. He turned to her, then averted his gaze.
"Can we get this show on the road?" he asked impatiently. Ma'at flicked the tip of her tongue to wet her lip. He looked away again.
"Of course, Director. This way," she said and sashayed down the corridor. Kennedy tried hard to be disgusted and settled for quietly staring.
Suddenly, she stopped, with just enough space to allow Kennedy to bump into her from behind.
"Here we are, Director. General Hammond's office."
Director Kennedy shook his head in disgust and opened the door. The sight in front of him was a shock and he tried to hide it well.
"Oh, I see everyone's here, General. Was it necessary?" Spotting Shannon in the chair near Hammond's desk, he said, "Oh, Agent Weiss…"
"Hello, Director." Shannon kept her back to him and didn't move.
General Hammond stood and began improvising quickly. He constricted his breathing so the veins in his head stood out as if he was angry.
"Good morning, Director. And you bet your ass everybody is here. What do you have to do with this," he motioned at Shannon, "Agent's activities?"
Looking directly into Hammond's eyes, Kennedy said, "Agent Weiss was supposed to retrieve weapons info. Anything else," and here he did a little shrug, "she did on her own. I take it you have those notes we discussed?"
Leave me to hang out to dry, you bastard, Shannon thought. She closed her eyes and shook her head slightly. Hammond held up a disk.
"Actually, no, Director. I have those notes. The notes about weaponry as requested in you brief, but also the other personal info your little snoop has been quietly collecting on my people." He glared at Shannon. Even though she knew the charade was for the benefit of Kennedy, she still cringed. "The CIA has given her no directive to collect or distribute that information, and I will be holding this disk until it has been investigated and that information removed. Your weapons information will have to wait until that has been done." Director Kennedy was not impressed.
"General, that disc, and anything on it, is property of the CIA. Hand it over. The pertinent info will be removed and the disc destroyed," he said and stepped forward, expecting the other man to just hand it over.
Daniel, who was sitting off to the side, was visibly seething. What I wouldn't give for a zat right about now. Off his look, Shannon stood and turned.
"Director Kennedy, by order of the President of the United States, you are under arrest for attempting to use blackmail and extortion against residents of this country guarded under political immunity," she said, all in one breath. She glanced at General Hammond. "Do you have someone who can restrain him, or should I?"
"Oh, let me," said a murderous voice from behind. Everyone in the room turned to look at Ma'at. She was staring at Kennedy with loathing in her eyes.
"I think that would be appropriate," said Sam with cold satisfaction. Shannon nodded her head.
"I agree." She motioned in Kennedy's direction while looking at Ma'at. Director Kennedy turned toward the door.
"I don't have to take this." He found his exit blocked by the slim frame of Ma'at O'Toole. "Miss O'Toole, I suggest you get out of my way, or your stay here on Earth will be cut EXTREMELY short."
"I don't need this planet, Director. I can get my own," she told him condescendingly. "Hands on your head, I think, please."
"Fuck you."
In a move so fast that it was almost missed, Ma'at grabbed Kennedy, spun him around and twisted his right arm up behind his back. She leaned forward and hissed into his ear, "You. Wish."
She turned to Shannon.
"Where do you want him?"
"Wherever you hold insolent, traitorous assholes," Shannon told her with a smile.
"If I go down for this…" Director Kennedy was still struggling against the solid hold Ma'at had on him. "You stupid bitch, you have no idea. These THINGS are dangerous and they are compromising our officers." Andy couldn't suppress his grin.
"And it's a long way down," he said. Ma'at tightened her grip.
"Is this a bad time to ask for handcuffs?" she asked Shannon.
"Nope." Shannon unhooked a pair from behind her back and tossed them to Ma'at, who caught them one-handed. When Kennedy took a swing at her as she loosed her hold, she grabbed him again and ran him into the nearest wall. General Hammond called for airmen to remove Kennedy from the room.
As Shannon watched, her mentor and boss was dragged practically kicking and screaming from the room. Suddenly, she felt an overwhelming sadness. What Kennedy had said was true. She no longer had a job. She sighed, stood and faced the room.
"General, the Colonel and Director were right. As it seems that my job no longer exists..." she cleared her throat to keep tears from welling up in her eyes. "I will be heading back to Washington to see where I will be going... or not... next. If you'll excuse me." She headed toward the door. Sam spoke up.
"Sir? I maybe stepping out of line here, but I think we can use someone of Agent Weiss' abilities," she said, matter-of-fact. Colonel O'Neill threw a desperate look at General Hammond, who had a thoughtful look on his face.
"It's a possibility. What do you think, Agent Weiss? Could you see yourself here on an ongoing basis?" he asked her.
Shannon took a look around the room. Jack, who looked thrilled at the possibility. Sam, who looked like she meant using Shannon's abilities. Daniel, who looked sad at the thought of her leaving.
Ma'at, who's expression was completely unreadable.
"General, if that is something that is agreeable to ALL your staff, then... yes," she said, trying not to sound too grateful or desperate. Daniel immediately raised his hand.
"Agreeable by me, sir."
"And me, sir," Samantha told Hammond.
"YES!!" Jack shouted, then slumped down quickly when he realized that he had in fact shouted. A small grin twitched at the corner of the General's mouth.
"Very well. Agent Weiss, if you return to DC and clear up what you need to clear up - we'll see what we can do towards getting you assigned here to the SGC," he ordered. "Sound okay to you?"
"Perfect." She smiled at everyone, and carefully picked her way to the door. She entered the hallway and shut the door behind her. She closed her eyes to again keep the tears from coming and sighed. After a moment, she began walking towards her suite.
Still inside the room, Daniel said, "If you'll all excuse me….?" He followed Shannon out of the room. She was halfway down the hall, but Daniel caught up with her easily.
"You, okay?" he asked her, concerned. She wiped her eyes.
"Yeah, I'm just... I mean. Arresting and turning in the man who'd been my mentor for years. I've been with him since I joined the Agency... it just boggles my mind." She took a deep breath. "I'm heading to Washington, Daniel. I have to see if they'll even allow me to stay." She shrugged. "With one call, I'm sure it won't be a problem. I hesitate to use the President to do this though..."
"Hey, if you've got the weight around to throw, then throw," he said with a grin. Shannon smiled and held out her hand.
"I appreciate your helpfulness in everything. Including last night," she said sincerely. Daniel took her hand and shook it awkwardly, as if he wanted to do more.
"You're welcome. And it isn't good bye. Just remember that. It's 'see you soon.' Besides. I'd like to take you to dinner someplace where the chicken nuggets don't look like tiny hockey pucks," he joked. She giggled.
"Funny." She looked at him, then stepped into a hug. "Thank you, Daniel. Really… I'll be back in a day or two." Daniel happily hugged her back. It is, after all, what he wanted to do in the first place but didn't want to push."
"A day or two, no longer. I'll be waiting," he said. "If you need anything, call me." Shannon nodded and continued down the hall. After ten feet, she looked back. Daniel was still standing where she'd left him. She smiled and waved.
"Bye," she called and continued on her way.
Daniel watched her leave, feeling a little thrill when she looked back. He then put his hands in his pocked and wandered in the other direction, whistling.