I have been absulutly amazed by the response to the first chapter, it's been amazing - Thank you! So here is Chapter 2please review, it makes my day!

Chapter 2

Colonel Jack O'Neill was confused; this was more rare than he would have most people in the SGC believe. He'd worked with Carter for 7 years and they had truly been through hell together. But he'd never talked about his past and others around him tended to follow his lead and not talk about their pasts either. He knew Carter had worked at the Pentagon just prior to the SGC, earning excellent reviews from all those she served under,

He had glanced through her combat record but nothing stood out. She had completed almost all the advanced training courses: hand-to-hand, weapons, survival, and escape and evasion, but he just assumed she liked learning so had gone in for the courses. The idea of her needing them much off the exercise field, before the SGC, seemed to him unlikely so he'd never looked into it.

In his defence, reading military records isn't like reading a curriculum vitae. A record, for someone with as active and classified a career as Carter, runs to many tightly typed pages. She hadn't been his choice after all; she been gifted on him. A gift he was now very grateful to have received but not so at the time. If he was honest 'Degree in Quantum Mechanics' and 'worked for the Pentagon' was probably all he had really seen on her record, despite her offer to arm-wrestle.

He pondered all this as he headed for his office to dig out her service record. As he sat and read he realized that maybe, just maybe he should have read this all 7 years ago.

He eyes skimmed over her war service. It was classified of course but being her CO and having high-level clearance meant that was no problem. He realized when he been doing black ops on the ground, she could have been one of the pilots providing cover, either retrieval or input of his men, or the emergency air strikes called for when situation got to hot to handle on the ground. He'd personally watched these pilots fly, with all manner of shit being thrown at them from the ground and air, to retrieve a team. He'd never known a woman who did it but he guessed if any woman did it would be Carter.

As it was classified he guessed her sex had been overlooked in favour of her piloting skills, which in itself said a lot. There was one brief note on her record from late in the war, 'commendation offered, withdrawn at pilot's request.' He didn't understand why she'd do that and had never heard of it before but knowing Carter, as he thought he did, he decided she would have had her reason.

His mind raced 'She never even asked to fly and always declined the front seat when he'd offered it to her,' he just couldn't understand why, in his head he skimmed possibilities; maybe she'd had enough in the war, it happened young idealistic people go in, people die in front of them and slightly older and wiser people come back, having seen enough. But she still seemed so naive, idealistic to him, she never gave the impression to him of someone who'd quit at anything. His thoughts were interrupted by a knock at the door

He slid the file into an overcrowded drawer.

"Come."

"Sir," Carter said as she entered. She didn't salute but she stood stiffly in front of his desk.

"Yep that's me just like it says on the door. What can I help you with today?" He smiled in what he hoped was an open way.

"Sir, I would like to request permission to return to the alpha site. There is a further test needed for the X302 and the engineers have asked me to return to assist them. Sir, it shouldn't take more than 2 nights away, sir." Three sir's. He knew he was in trouble.

"If you recall Carter, your supposed to be on downtime for the next 4 anyway. Didn't you have plans?" It sounded more accusatory than he had meant it too but once the words were out he couldn't really take them back.

"Nothing that can't be changed; these tests are important, sir." There was an edge of irritation she couldn't keep out of her voice.

"OK, Carter, as long as the general approves it and try not to have too much fun," he said in an attempt to make her smile.

"Sir, you know me, science is fun." She held her features still but there was a glint in her eye and a smile played on the edge of her lips, like he was missing a much bigger joke.

"Whatever you say."

"Thank you, sir" and she nodded and left. He knew she was pissed at him and he was going to have to try and correct that, but she seemed happy about something else, so he guessed he take some comfort in that.

After she closed, the door he got out her service record again and finished reading it. It was impressive but it didn't really explain her current attitude towards flying. He was determined though to get to the bottom of it. But first he knew as he looked at his overflowing in tray, he was going to have to spend at least an hour weeding out all the crap people sent him.

He made an appointment to see the General in 2 hours time, and set to work. He wished frequently someone would come in and distract him, from the tedium of memos about whether or not people could use the microwaves during the night. He marvelled at a system that would send people half way across the universe with a P90 and a prayer but wouldn't let them have midnight snacks in case they or someone else got hurt.

Two hours to the minute later, Jack knocked on General Hammond's door,

"What can I do for you Colonel?" He greeted him casually as he walked in and sat down.

"Sir, I'd like to spend my downtime at the alpha site,"

"You just got back and you know we can't let people take there leave off world"

"Sir, Carter already made the same request; I thought I could be of assistance." It sounded a bit weak but he didn't really have an official plan behind his request.

"Colonel, Major Carter has requested to be allowed to work her downtime as usual and this time her work takes her off world. She did not simply ask to go fishing there."

"Sir, I'm sure I can be of some use there. I promise not to go fishing, I'll just help with whatever Carters doing."

"She's conducting the second set of tests on the 303s, low precision flying equipment. You should know that; you authorized her to go."

"Of course I did. It's not like Carter would go without permission," he said defending her automatically. Then he decided this time honesty was the best plan. "Sir I think I have some bridge building to do. I've been stepping on her toes lately and ah… I'd like the chance to go help her out and correct that. I could take some paper work with me, guaranteed done by the time I get back." He tried to flash the general a smile that would clinch the deal. It probably wasn't his greatest skill but he got results.

"Given the fact you are on downtime and I am worried about the stress on the relationship between you and Carter, I'll authorize this trip. But Colonel do not interfere, they know what they're doing out there." Jack was pleased but also a little upset that even the general had noticed the tension between them.

"Yes sir, I promise no interfering, meddling or otherwise making a nuisance of myself."

"And Jack I'm taking you up on your offer, I expect those field reports finished by the time you return."

"Of course, sir" he said with smile

"I mean it Jack, but you've got a go. Carter has already left but I want the gate clear for SG3's return. You may leave when they get back, they're scheduled for 1700."

"Thanks."

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