"Carter," she answered shortly.
"Hey, Sam, it's Jack. I figured you'd be here when there was no answer at your house."
"I was just leaving," Sam countered, always on the defensive about her workaholic tendencies.
"Good to hear, I just have some stuff to run by you, though."
"Shoot."
"The timetable for, ah, the disclosure, is being pushed up way too quickly. I was hoping I could talk you into coming to Washington to help advocate for the SGC. I could really use help with this. The General has already agreed to send whoever I ask for- this is really important to the SGC."
"Yes, it is, Jack. If we aren't careful about what information is kept classified we could be looking at some serious consequences. Let me wrap up the projects I've got going. It may take me a few days to get ready."
"President Branson has called a press conference for Wednesday morning."
"Jack! That's two days from now! Okay, okay, I'll talk to General Landry first thing in the morning and call you back."
"I've already talked to him. He's just waiting for your decision. Thanks, Sam. I'll feel a lot better with you here, by my side." Sam smiled at his admission.
Hanging up, she looked around her at the piles on her desk and realized she was indeed swamped with work. She began sorting it into piles to farm out to the other scientists. There wasn't much sleep in her immediate future, that much was plain to see.
"...The Stargate program has been in existence since the fifties, but had its origins even before that, in Giza, Egypt. The year was 1928 when an artifact of breathtaking complexity and unknown origin was unearthed by a team of archeologists, one of whom was a Dr. Catherine Langford..."
Jack's voice droned on as he read the prepared statement. Sam sat at his side, taking notes for the upcoming questions from the press, who were presently listening with varying degrees of wonder and horror etched on their collective faces. She could only begin to guess at what they were thinking as they listened to the incredible story of the Stargate.
"...in conclusion, it is hoped that by making this information freely available to the people of Earth that we can, as one, peacefully and intelligently take our place in the community of space."
Jack finished abruptly, swept his speech into a neat pile, and turned to President Branson and his aides. The buzz in the room was quickly becoming a roar as reporters reacted to the news and jockeyed for position.
"Please, please, there will be time for all your questions," Branson smiled as he stood and addressed the crowd.
"General O'Neill and Colonel Carter have graciously agreed to answer all your concerns. Mr. Nester," the President pointed to a senior member of the press core, sitting importantly in the front row.
"Yes, thank you, Mr. President. My question is for General O'Neill. If the air force has kept this secret for all these years, why are you telling us now? Is there an imminent alien invasion we should all know about?"
The swell of patronising laughter that Sam and Jack had expected to hear after such an outrageous question never occurred. All the room sat silently, tensely, waiting for the answer. Jack quickly looked at Sam, thrown off balance by the odd reaction of the reporters, unsure what to say. She jumped in for him.
"I think we can safely say that, at this time, there is nothing threatening Earth from space. That's not to say that there aren't hostile alien races out there. However, the Stargate program has been very successful in securing allies among the friendly intelligent races of the galaxy. As to why the program is being made public at this point in time, that is a question for the administration, not the military."
"Mr. President?" The senior reporter redirected his query.
"Aah, yes, Mr. Nester, my administration believes that the American People have a right to know the amazing reality of this planet's place in the heavens. We deplore the subterfuge and duplicity of prior adminstrations in keeping such a huge amount of relevant information secret. Our administration will always be honest, above all else, with the American People, you can be assured."
"I think I'm going to be sick," Jack whispered in Sam's ear. She hid a smirk behind her hand.
"My question is for General O'Neill," another reporter interjected. Sir, am I correct that these other races have learned about Earth through the exploration of our military through this..."
"Stargate."
"...Stargate?"
"Yes."
"How do you explain the U.S. military's disregard for the safety of all the people of Earth as demonstrated by their exposure of Earth's assets and location tothe threat ofextraterrestrials as a result of this exploration?"
"Whoa," Sam thought.
"Mr..."
"Mr. Ladd," the reporter supplied coolly.
"Mr. Ladd, the benefits Earth has reaped through association with its new allies far outweigh any danger to Earth." Jack gave Sam a quick, guilty glance as he took his seat again. They both were thinking of all the times the fate of the Earth had hung by a thread over these past many years.
The press conference went on for another hour, but Sam could no longer concentrate on the individual questions and responses. That feeling that this was a colossal mistake had come back to take up residence in her mind and she couldn't shake the dread that accompanied it.
Back at Andrews, Sam flopped into a chair in Jack's temporary quarters. Both were glad for the moment to be away from strangers with their wide eyes and alarmed queries. Jack flipped on the television set and sat on the end of the bed.
"Wow," Sam whispered, staring at the floor.
"Yeah," Jack agreed. "They still don't know anything about the Goa'uld, or the Aschen, or the Replicators. Just that there are other races out there, some of whom are hostile. And I thought we'd get at least a few questions about the whole wormhole thing."
It still grated Jack that he couldn't quite grasp what a wormhole was, in spite of Sam's patient lecturing over the years. He'd consoled himself by believing that nobody else knew what a wormhole was either, other than Carter and her eggheads. The fact that nobody had even felt the need to ask about it was troubling his carefully constructed theory, however.
"I think the whole idea that we are not alone in the universe is taking precedence over curiosity as to how the Stargate actually works," Sam suggested.
"Oh, yeah, you're probably right."
Okay, Jack felt better. None of them got it either; they were just too far behind the eightball to even think about it right now.
He smiled to himself.
"Jack," Sam breathed harshly, pointing at the television. The news program was showcasing a gathering on the Mall in front of the Capitol. The crowd looked angry and was quickly growing.
"What's going on?" Jack asked, moving closer.
"Looks like a mob scene," Sam speculated, trying to make sense of the developing situation. She leaned in toward the screen, her brow wrinkling in concentration.
"This is breaking news," the news anchor said urgently. "The incredible announcement by the President today of the existence of a secret military division that has purportedly been exploring other inhabited worlds in our galaxy for years was made today in the White House. The scene before you here is being played out all over the world as the public reacts to the disturbing news that our country has been in contact with extraterrestrial life for decades and yet has deliberately chosen to hide this information. It certainly makes one wonder what else is being covered up, doesn't it, Amy?"
"Yes, Chuck, and it looks like the overwhelming reaction to today's revelations is of a negative nature..."
"Oh, crap," Jack burst out.
"Shh," Sam said, unconsciously reaching out to place a hand on his forearm and leaning in to hear more.
"We take you now to the steps of Capitol Hill, where Senate Minority Leader Gil Hansen, along with Senator Fisher, are addressing the crowd."
"He's got a mike, and a podium, and everything. It's like they were ready for this," Jack exploded incredulously as Hansen began to speak.
"People of America! Our military has been working in an area they know very little about and have jeopardized our lives and our futures! Many good men have already died in this covert operation which can only bring danger to our whole planet. Now that we know the truth, we must work together to stop the unsafe activity of this secret arm of our military forces. They assume we are stupid! You and I are more than mere pawns..."
"I know him," Sam exclaimed.
"What?"
"I mean, of course, he's a Senator, but I know him from somewhere else." Sam peered at the image flickering before them. Jack saw a light flash in her eyes as recognition dawned suddenly.
"He's Jonas Hansen's brother."
Jack sat up straight, instantly alert. "Do you suppose Jonas told him about the Stargate back when he was in the SGC? I'm betting he's been behind this whole disclosure effort for a while now, Sam. Do you think he's trying to get revenge for his brother's death?"
"I think it's a very likely scenario, at least in part. I think we need to call General Landry at the SGC and let him know this."
"You bet we do."
After a hasty phonecall on a secure line to the SGC, Sam and Jack got very little sleep over the course of the night as reaction to the earlier press conference continued to spawn unrest around the world. The little television in Jack's room stayed on through the night, tuned to CNN.
Jack and Sam had finally dozed off, Sam draped across the bed and Jack curled in the easy chair, when the phone rang loudly, awakening them in a very unpleasant manner.
"O'Neill," Jack barked into the receiver, his sore nerves already resonating loudly in his head. The red numbers glowing on the alarm clock by the cot read '5:12.'
"General, you and Colonel Carter are needed at the White House in fifteen minutes. There will be a car waiting."
Jack hung up without bothering to answer.
"We have to go, Sam," he groaned quietly, reaching out to her limp form on the chair and touching her hair softly.
Another day in Washington had already begun.
Author's Notes.
Chapter 3 is coming soon! Thanks so very much for the reviews for Chapter One!