What Fate Decrees - Part Thirty-eight

The day came for Jack to report to Washington for his medical and the board interviews. Sam had wanted to go with him and was beside herself at his refusal. She spent the day trying to work, but eventually gave up and went in search of Daniel, finding him in his office. Janet joined them before long and it was only a few minutes after she arrived that Teal'c appeared in the doorway.

"Is there any news?" he asked.

Sam shook her head. "It's still too early." She couldn't help looking at her watch for what must have been the hundredth time in the last few minutes.

"He won't even be halfway through the medical yet," said Janet. "Then there'll be the assessment and then the …" She broke off and gave Daniel's arm a quick squeeze.

"I wish he'd let me go with him," sighed Sam, yet again.

"Yeah, I'd love to have seen their faces if he took his 2IC with him," grinned Daniel.

"I could have waited somewhere for him."

"And you'd still be worrying yourself sick, but on your own," Daniel pointed out.

"How was he this morning?" asked Janet.

They had all spent the previous evening together, wishing Jack luck, but Sam was the only one who'd seen him since. She'd waved him off on his flight early that morning.

Sam grinned at Janet's question. "Nervous as a new recruit."

"I've never seen Jack nervous like that," smirked Daniel. "I wish I'd been there with a camera."

"He'd have eaten you alive. When a full bird Colonel who's seen more action than half the SGC put together gets nervous, you watch out," said Janet quite seriously.

Sam nodded in agreement. "He was getting a little tetchy."

Janet's eyebrows went up questioningly.

"Okay, a lot then," admitted Sam. "Well, I'm certainly a lot fitter than I was, but I'm almost ashamed to say Jack could outrun me when he was recovering."

Daniel smiled. "Thanks for getting me off the hook with that by the way."

"O'Neill has spent much time in the gymnasium and on the assault course. I can see no reason why they should fail him. He is fully recovered," said Teal'c.

"They're doing it to get back at him and the SGC, using his age as well as his injury as an excuse," explained Daniel.

"Age is of no concern on Chulak. It is the warrior's ability to perform his duties that is important. I see no reason to show such concern of O'Neill." Teal'c folded his arms across his massive chest. "I find the Tauri can be foolish in such affairs."

"You'll get no disagreement from anyone here," said a voice from the doorway.

Janet turned and started to rise, followed quickly by Sam when she saw who the visitor was. "General Hammond."

The General waved them down. "At ease," he said, coming into the room. "I wondered where you'd all be. It didn't take long to track you down though."

Hammond sat on the chair nearest to him. "I'm through staring at my paperwork. I thought I'd come and see how the worry club was doing."

The others smiled at his words; they knew how much he valued Jack as not only his 2IC but as a friend.

"Bet Colonel O'Neill's been real crunchy this week," smirked the General. "I could barely get two words off him yesterday." He seemed to direct his comment at Sam.

Sam nodded to him, unthinking.

"I'm expecting good news though. The Colonel's been looking the picture of health lately and he's been in really good humour too. You'd never guess how much he has been through these last few months, would you?"

The General stood. "Well, I'm off to a meeting, but I'll be back by 1500 at the latest." He gave them a smile, directing a special one at Sam, and departed.

Sam stared after him anxiously. "Janet, I'd swear he knows."

"How can he?" asked Daniel.

"He kept looking at me when he spoke."

"Guilty conscience," scoffed Daniel.

"Gee, thanks."

"Well," put in Janet "You'd have to be blind not to have noticed the difference in Jack since, well since you and he…"

"And in you too Sam," chimed in Daniel.

"I don't see that much of the General," said Sam thoughtfully.

"No, but he knows Jack well and sees him daily. He can't have failed to have noticed how happy he looks - he's been nice to people as well," said Daniel.

"Jack's not nasty," defended Sam.

"Oh, he can be, as you well know, but I didn't mean that, I meant he's … Well, he acts like he's in love."

"Yes, I know a few hearts that have been broken on base because of that," said Janet.

Sam frowned. "Now you're being silly."

"Nope, I've had confessions from two of my nurses and they are convinced he's found his true love and they don't stand a chance," said Janet, laughing slightly.

"Oh, he's definitely spoken for," grinned Sam.

Even Teal'c nodded in agreement as Daniel commented. "He sure is."

They eventually made their way to the mess, where they picked at some lunch before separating to get back to work. Sam made a big effort to immerse herself in her experiments and partially succeeded. It was quite a surprise when the phone rang and a glance at her watch told her it was almost five. It was the General's aide asking her to call on the General in his office.

She tidied herself up and made her way there, somewhat nervously, knocked and waited for his permission to enter. She came to attention before him and he nodded and gestured for her to sit.

"I thought I'd let you know the news first, Major. You can fill the others in."

Hammond paused. Sam knew her worry was reflected in her face, but the General smiled and continued. "My 2IC is fully reinstated for active duty and as we speak is boarding his plane for home."

Sam beamed at the General as the news sank in. "Thank God," she breathed, greatly relieved.

General Hammond's eyes seem to twinkle at her. "The Colonel only had time for one quick call before he had to get to the airport, so he sends his apologies for not calling directly. He said to be sure and tell Sam." Sam's jaw dropped slightly as she took in the General's words. "I'm not blind, Sam. I have seen the changes in Jack, and they're good changes. It's about time he got some happiness and I'll say the same to you as I said to him. Keep it quiet, keep it off base and if I see any trouble in SG-1 as a result I'll kick his ass to Washington myself." He paused for effect. "Now go and put the others out of their misery."

Sam was quite stunned, and failed to show the proper decorum as she left the General's office. She got as far as the door before she turned. "Thank you, sir," she said sincerely as she shut the door behind her.

xoxoxoxoxo