General Jack O'Neill walked heavily along the corridors of Cheyenne Mountain.
After a long discussion with Colonel Samantha Carter over the phone, he had finally accepted the post the President offered him, but he had a very heavy heart about it. They had already waited 7 years, 2 more years seemed an impossible task for him to achieve. Sam was much younger than him and the previous year's events tended to prove that despite her acknowledged feelings towards him, she could move on. But she had been adamant about him accepting, feeling honored that he had sought her advice, and telling him they still had options they could consider regarding their relationship.
He reached the former office of General Hammond, where the sticker had been replaced and now bore his own rank and name. He put his hand on the handle, sighed, and stepped in to be welcomed by Colonel Martin.
"Sir!" he said, standing at attention and saluting him.
"At ease, David…" he said smiling faintly with no real enthusiasm. He toured the desk and went to sit on the armchair, taking in a scenery he well knew, but which was still unfamiliar from this point of view.
"Sir, all the current files are sorted by order of importance on your laptop, you have a meeting with Dr. Weir at 11.00, and a meeting with the military SG leaders is scheduled this afternoon before they go on their respective missions. I'm at your disposal if you need any further information."
"Thank you, David, now sit down and let's talk off the record…"
David Martin did as asked and crossed his legs casually.
"What do you want to know, Jack?"
"As I understand, you are my new second in command and sort of secretary for a while?"
"Yes."
"So I'm gonna establish a few rules…"
"Sure."
"First of all, I have seen the work you've done during the past month, and I must say I am impressed. So despite all the crap the President told me, I believe you deserved that post at least as much as me."
"Don't worry about it, Jack. I'm glad it's you and not some dumb ass from the Pentagon or whoever else…"
"Thanks…" he smirked. "Anyway… If you have anything to say to me, do not hesitate. I want a real partnership here, David. Since you're going to go in the field at the same time, you'll be my practical conscience. Plus you have a far more diplomatic spirit than I do, and it might come in handy when dealing with the civilians, which I'll have to do constantly."
Colonel Martin chuckled.
"They can be tough sometimes I must admit. But if Dr. Weir's replacement is as intelligent as she is, the task will be a hell of a lot easier than you expect, believe me."
"All right, now that we've set the rules, you're free to go and I'm free to…" he made an evasive gesture towards the computer. "Well I guess I'll have to get used to it… Dismissed…"
Just as he was about to stand up to show the Colonel to the door, his internal line rang. He picked the receiver as his subordinate left the room.
"O'Neill?"
"Sir, it's Lieutenant Colonel Carter, may I see you in your office?"
"Right now?"
"If it's not too much of an imposition…"
"No, not at all… I'll be expecting you…"
"Thank you, Sir"
A few minutes later she stepped inside his office and closed the door.
He smiled sadly at her and beckoned her to sit.
"Sorry I didn't have time to come by and say Hello…" he said softly.
She straightened on her seat.
"Permission to speak freely, Sir…"
"Granted."
"Jack, I have thought about this over and over… I can't wait two more years…"
His internal world collapsed.
"That's why I have decided that after evaluating Major Kopp's commanding abilities, I will resign from the military and only pursue a scientific career here, in this facility…"
"Sam, I refuse to let you jeopardize your military career because of me."
She snorted.
"My career?... What's the point, Jack?... I've already achieved so much regarding this military career, I've just been promoted to the rank of Lieutenant Colonel, for crying out loud, then what? Full bird Colonel? Brigadier General?..."
"I know the ranks, Sam… That's not the point…"
"Yes that IS the point, Jack… At some point in my life, my career was the most important thing I had in mind, but I'm older now, I have lived thousands of things and I have met the man I want to spend as much time as I can with, only right now I can't because of some stupid paperwork. Military wise, I've reached an honorable rank, and I want to fulfill other more personal desires, such as leading a normal private life."
"I'm not sure resigning is going to be the solution, what if it didn't work out between us? What if…"
"It's worked out for 7 years, Jack." She interrupted. "Sure we've never been intimate, and we've had good times and bad times along the years while working together, but what you've gone through, what I've gone through made me realize it's time to stop walking on that path and try another. After your phone call the other day, I went to see Dr. Weir to tell her about my idea. She said she would approve my project and give her personal recommendation to her replacement. You know, basically it would only be a simple change in my status: I will no longer be military, period. But I'll still continue working at the SGC, I'll still go on missions with SG1, and I'll still be the head of the scientific department, so no big change all in all… the only big change in my life will be that I'll be free to pursue any relationship with you. Even as a member of SG1 I won't be reporting to you, so there's absolutely no risk of breaking any civilian/military regulation either."
"Maybe, Sam… But the sacrifice…"
"What sacrifice, Jack?" she interrupted once more. "It really seems insignificant compared to what I can gain."
He looked her in the eyes for the first time since she had entered his office. He observed her for a few seconds, and from the looks on her beautiful face, he knew she would not change her mind. He sighed, leaning back on his armchair toying with a pen.
"You're sure that's what you want?"
A smile softened her features.
"You bet!"
He smiled at last.
"I always thought I would be the one taking one step backwards when it would come to it…"
"Circumstances have changed, Jack. As a member of the military, I was able to participate in the most interesting space program ever. That was almost ten years ago, and I stuck with the military because, a- I wanted a career to impress upon my dad (still the same Oedipus complex thing…), and b- it allowed me to work on the program as thoroughly as I wanted. Today I don't have to impress my father any further, and I can still pursue my work on the Stargate program, even as a civilian, what more could I ask?"
He let her finish with a growing admiration, his feelings of pride and affection almost making his insides burst. When had he become such a tender heart anyway? His features softened and he looked at her tenderly.
"Then who am I to deny you what you're asking for?" he waggled his eyebrows, stressing the double meaning in his words. Suddenly a heavy weight had left his heart and he felt a new stream of energy course his body. "I still believe the Air Force will lose one of its finest officers, Colonel…"
"Oh they'll get over it faster than you believe…" she said, standing up before giving him a formal salute. "Sir!"
"Oh, cut the crap with the salute, Sam…"
"It's 'Colonel Carter', Sir and you're stuck with my military behavior for a few months until I can 'cut the crap' as you put it!... Consider that to be payback for all the worries you've put me through along those past 7 years!" She winked.
He chuckled.
"Beware of payback's payback, Colonel..."
"Oooh… I can't wait!" and she was out of his office, leaving him staring into space with a dreamy look on his face.
:¤:¤:¤:¤:¤:¤:¤:¤:¤:¤:¤:¤:¤:¤:
Routine quickly took over. His task was not as boring -- for a field man -- as he had first thought it might be. He worked close to Dr. Weir to prepare the arrival of her replacement, as well as her new mission. He had to admit she had done a very good job, and he respected her a lot. He enjoyed briefing and de-briefing the SG teams, and had a close working relationship with Colonel Martin, who although a still active field man, had a propensity to write excellent reports. He delegated most of what he called the boring sides of his work to him but his subordinate seemed not to mind and most of all, never discussed any of his orders.
Dr Weir was finally replaced, and he had to get accustomed to the new civilian manager, but as well as Dr. Weir, Dr. Franklin Green was a good partner to work with. He was an astrophysicist who had based his research on wormholes theories, ignoring until recently that they were pretty accurate. For all the time Jack had been with the Asgard, he had been briefed by General Hammond about the program and what the military had achieved so far, and had worked as closely as possible with Dr. Weir too.
When he knew about it, he was very supportive of Sam's project, happy to gain such a brilliant mind to the civilian side.
Sam was thrilled with the new organization of her department, and the first experiences at her first command. She was also involving Major Kopp a lot with the team, and Teal'C and Daniel appreciated his practical sense a lot. But Sam was worried: Major Kopp's experience was a bit too short in her opinion, to make him the next CO of SG1. Her plan suddenly felt less brilliant and she started wondering if she would get to the end of it before the end of the two year period the president had asked Jack for.
Oblivious of her worries, Jack was slowly accustoming his mind to a possible actual relationship with Sam. It had been eight years since his separation with Sarah had been effective, and he had lived a rather celibate life ever since. He was a bit worried at the simple fact that he would have to share his life with a woman again. Would Sam want to have kids? Would HE want to have kids?... Would they start living together right away? Where would they live? His house, hers? Would they settle in a new one? So many questions that threatened to overflow his mind when he was alone and had nothing else to do…
He rubbed his tired eyes and checked his watch: 23:22. He doubted he could be any more efficient at this hour, so he saved what he had been doing to the hard drive, checked his emails one more time, and exited his office, taking a stroll down the corridors to his personal quarters, not feeling the courage to take the 20 minutes drive back to his house. He passed Sam's lab on his way and saw that she was still there, working probably on some reports on her laptop. He observed her from the opened door smiling, and stepped inside, knocking slightly to announce his presence.
She turned toward him and smiled.
"Sir!"
"Sam, it's past 23:00, I know there are these damn security cameras, but I'll take the blame personally if you get to be in trouble by calling me Jack…"
She smiled warmly.
"Okay then, Jack… On your way to going to sleep?"
"Oh I guess I'm going to crash on base tonight. I don't feel up to driving home now. You should get some rest too, you look tired."
She sighed, taking a moment before speaking again.
"Actually 'preoccupied' would be a better word for it…"
"Oh?" He stepped further inside her lab and sat across a chair, resting his elbows on the back.
She sighed again.
"I'm not sure Major Kopp is up to the task of commanding a unit yet… He's a fine officer, but his experience is not large enough in my opinion to take command of SG1…"
A shadow passed over his face.
"I see… Do you have any other military personnel in mind for that task?"
She shook her head negatively.
"Hammond owes me big on this, maybe he can help me find someone?..."
"It would look a bit suspect…"
"What, after all I've done for this country, and the entire world? I'm entitled to ask for a little favor!" he said playfully.
"I don't want you to do this. It's wrong, it would only serve our personal interests."
"I hate this…"
"Not as much as I do, believe me…"
"So I guess we're in for those damn two years, then?"
"There must be another way… I promise I'll think about it. I told you, I don't want to wait two years. Besides, who knows you won't be asked for two more years then?"
"Hey, they don't own me either!"
"I know" she chuckled. "But there has to be a simple way…
"All right… If you're optimistic about this, then I am too…" He stood up. "Now go to bed and don't force me to make it an order." He admonished her playfully.
She gave him one of those mischievous smiles she reserved for him before replying: "Yes, Sir!"
"I've never met a more stubborn woman in my entire life, I swear!" he half cried as he walked out of her lab to his quarters.
She giggled softly then switched off her laptop, and exited her lab to go to bed.
:¤:¤:¤:¤:¤:¤:¤:¤:¤:¤:¤:¤:¤:¤:
Daniel, Teal'c, and Sam were in the commissary having breakfast.
"I really don't see where your problem is, Sam… No-one's going to bug you for resigning for personal reasons, and then they'll have to consider finding a suitable replacement for SG1."
"What do you mean?"
"How long have you served the Air Force?"
"15 years."
"I'm not familiar with military regulations there, but you could very well go on with the part of your plan where you become attached to SG1 as a civilian scientist. I mean who's going to blame you for resigning to pursue personal matters when you've given 15 years of your life to the country?"
"And how do you think I could do that without having trained my replacement before?" She said unbelievingly.
"Well, how many times did Jack resign? Was there a specific schedule he had to respect before doing so? Did he have to train his replacement? You're not irreplaceable, Sam and frankly, Teal'c and I are sick of seeing the two of you play another take at Romeo and Juliet there."
She started at him, in disbelief.
"I believe what Daniel Jackson wants to say is that only your conscience prevents you and O'Neill from going on with what you so cleverly thought as a move of career, Colonel Carter."
"Due to the special flag team status of SG1, the military would have to find a suitable military replacement for you on their own, Sam. You don't need to save the base after saving the world, you know?"
"Are you saying what I think you are saying?"
"I'm saying you can be selfish for once, Sam"
"I don't think it would be suspicious of General O'Neill to accept your resignation."
"Oh? And what about the rumor mill?"
"Oh about that, remind me which one? That you and Jack have been fucking your brains out in every corner of the base ever since his return? Or that me and Jack have been an established couple since the first Abydos mission?"
"What!" she said, her eyes wide as saucers.
"Believe me Sam, I've heard it…" he smirked. "And every time I think about it I just want to throw up. I was married and so was he for God sake, we're flaming heterosexuals! Anyway, that's not the point. Rumors live, and then rumors die. In such a facility, one's bound to hear the strangest ones. But the important thing is that so far, there has never been any evidence whatsoever of you and Jack acting unprofessionally around each other. In taking your resignation and finding a replacement for you, he would act as the military commander of this base, end of story."
"And I am sure General O'Neill is very capable of affecting whomever he thinks is worthy enough to command SG1, even without your recommendation, Colonel Carter." Teal'C added.
"So basically what you're saying is that we've been worrying our heads off for nothing for the past three months?"
"That's a good short cut, yes…"
"Daniel, it cannot be that simple, there's got to be something I haven't seen!"
"Oh there is, you and Jack have both been so concerned of behaving professionally around each other, even when you kissed on the ship –- don't even think we didn't know! –- that you've totally lost focus!"
Sam was speechless.
"I can't believe it… !"
"Well you'd better start believing it and do something about it."
"You know what?" she said, standing up and looking at her friends. "I think you're right…"
And she walked out of the commissary in the general direction of her lab.
