Wives and Other Follies - Part 2
Beatrice Ritson tapped her pen lightly on the highly polished coffee table, ignoring the irritated look her friend gave her. She put a typed sheet, covered in various scribbles, on to the table between them. "This guest list is getting rather long."
"I admit it's a little more extensive than usual, but there are perfectly good reasons for that." Angela Greenburgh nodded in thanks as her maid placed a fresh pot of tea beside the mass of notes and papers. She leaned forward, a long red nail pointing at the offending list. "You've probably heard me speak of Ross's secretary, Linda?" At Beatrice's nod she continued. "Well, she was complaining that the junior ranks are never included in any of the various functions the Pentagon holds. He asked me to be sure they were invited."
"The junior ranks? You mean the secretaries and clerks?" Beatrice sat forward and was quiet for a moment as she poured herself another cup, then her face cleared. "What did Linda threaten Ross with?"
Angela smiled tightly. "Apparently she has been a little", she hesitated as if searching for a word, "Awkward. Hence the somewhat expanded invitation list. This cocktail party is the perfect event. It's just a meet and greet to welcome the staff of the Institute to Washington There won't be a lot of senior ranks there, just those connected to the relevant departments that deal with the Institute"
"Exactly how many secretaries and such are coming?"
"That's the beauty of this plan. The Institute staff are mainly male – scientists and the like, and quite a lot are unmarried." Angela laughed as she caught Beatrice's eye. "No surprises there. We'll point the secretaries at the scientists and see what happens."
"Maybe it will stop them gossiping about our new general."
"O'Neill?" Angela grimaced at Beatrice's nod. "Ross mentioned that too. He told me that the man can barely step out of his office without an audience, but General O'Neill seems completely oblivious to all the attention."
"Isn't he newly married? Oliver served with him in the Gulf and was a bit taken aback to find he had remarried. He and his first wife divorced after their son died about ten years ago and O'Neill threw himself into his work. Oliver only just caught up with him last year at some meetings here in Washington, but he said he still seemed pretty focused on the job."
"Well, the post of Head of Homeworld Security was quite coveted. Ross was hoping to be appointed to it when Hammond retired – he's got years of seniority on O'Neill, but O'Neill has some sort of 'in' with the President." Angela gave another tight smile. "I can't say I was upset – I hardly see my husband at all as it is."
Placing her cup back onto its saucer, Beatrice picked up the invitation list again. "Why isn't General O'Neill's wife listed here? Is she unable to attend?"
"Oh, but she is. You're looking at the wrong list" Angela took a sheet from under the others and passed it over. "This is the Institute guest list – she's under 'Doctor Samantha Carter' Delicious, isn't it."
"She's a scientist?" Beatrice stared in surprise at her friend. "That hardly seems to fit with what Oliver told me of O'Neill – I had the impression he was an action rather than words sort of soldier."
"It seems he met her at his last posting, something to do with NORAD. I think she may have even been military if I remember correctly, but I could be wrong about that." Angela's lips twitched. "Perhaps she was his assistant. Could have been an office romance."
Beatrice smiled back. "His assistant? You mean like Ross and Linda?"
Angela's amused expression changed to one of annoyance. "Very droll. Let's get back to work. We still have a lot of arrangements to finalise."
The two women bent to their task, General O'Neill and his new wife no longer a topic of conversation.
xoxoxoxoxo
Jack O'Neill grabbed his dress uniform jacket from the hanger, hurriedly slipping it on as he bent to tie his shoes.
"I'm really sorry about this, Sam."
"For the fourth time, I've told you it's okay. I understand." Sam waited for her husband to stand, before tugging his tie straight and dusting a few almost invisible specks off his right shoulder. "It isn't like you planned this. I just wish I was going with you."
Jack stroked a finger gently against her cheek. "I wish you were too. It shouldn't take too long, you won't even need to save me some dessert."
Sam moved a little closer, her arms snaking around Jack's waist. "How long before you leave?"
"Any minute now, unfortunately. Not that I don't appreciate the gesture, but…" he returned Sam's hug briefly before holding her at arm's length, grinning. "…dressed like that I don't think you'd want to…" The rest of his words were lost as a beam of white light picked him up and threw him away from Earth.
"Have fun, Jack." Sam whispered somewhat wistfully, before turning and heading for the bathroom, untying her robe as she walked.
A quick shower later and she was shuffling the clothes in her closet, muttering to herself. She surveyed the choices with little enthusiasm, only grateful it was a cocktail party she was attending, rather than a formal dinner. She was also perversely glad that she didn't have to wear her dress uniform. Although she was comfortable in it, Sam was well aware that it wasn't the most flattering of outfits, and she wasn't averse to showing her husband how well she could scrub up at times. She finally decided on a recent purchase – a plain black dress overlaid with a spidery weave of copper thread.
Sam finished her makeup just as the cab pulled up outside the house. She had cancelled the official car after the Asgard had requested Jack's presence as representative of Earth at a short emergency meeting of their High Council. She didn't feel comfortable using the car when he was being transported directly to the party. It was just as easy for her to catch a cab and a lot less conspicuous.
Sam grabbed her bag from the bed and hurried downstairs. She was actually looking forward to the evening. It would be the first chance she had to socialise with her colleagues, and the first opportunity to meet Jack's staff. It was the perfect icebreaker.
Assuming her husband made it back from a far distant galaxy in time for dessert.
xoxoxoxoxo