Unity.
By LetitiaRichards.
Previously:
The mood of the evening lifted, as the subject of Jack's clone and the painful memories of Iraq were forgotten with the playing of the movie for their scheduled entertainment of the moment, and the Pizza boy had arrived laden with their order.
Chapter 2
The elevator doors had barely opened when over the PA system, Jack heard his name mentioned, summoning him to General Hammond's office.
He tossed the newspaper he'd been reading in the elevator over to Daniel and then headed down the corridor.
"I'll see you guys later. Go grab Carter and Teal'c and I'll meet you in the Commissary for breakfast!" he yelled over his shoulder as he hurried away.
"Ah...Okay. I'm on my way!" Daniel replied in his usual hesitant manner. They had left a bit late this morning and hadn't had time for more than a cup of coffee, and now he was hungry. He hurried down the drab grey passages towards what he had hoped was Sam's lab. His memory was still a little hazy at times, especially more so when he felt unsure of himself.
Jack knocked on the open door of the General's office although he didn't wait for an invitation to enter as General Hammond had been ready for him and had seen his approach, beckoning him in even as he knocked.
"Jack. Come in, shut the door and take a seat. There's something we need to discuss."
"Yes sir," Jack answered puzzled slightly by the serious look the General gave him.
Jack studied Hammond's face as the man visually ran through the papers in his hands. He looked nervous for some reason and it made the hair on the back of Jack's neck stand up as his warning radar kicked in. Something big was up and it was obviously a difficult thing for his CO to discuss. What could it possibly be? he wondered. NID problems? He had a sudden uncomfortable thought, that maybe he and Sam had been careless and had been found out? He swallowed hard and wished his CO would hurry up and spit it out, whatever it was that was bothering him.
Hammond coughed, clearing his throat from some imaginary lump that was blocking it and looked up at Jack, seeing his puzzled frown.
"At ease son. You've done nothing wrong Jack," he assured him, seeing a definite easing of Jack's tense posture. Hammond could see he was still keyed up though, waiting to find out why he had been summoned.
"Well that's a good thing, right?" Jack quipped. "So what's up General?"
"As you know our boys are still mopping up pockets of resistance in Iraq..."
Jack froze. The mention of Iraq sending his senses reeling. But what had it to do with the SGC? He wanted to know.
"...There are still frequent attacks by those loyal to Saddam and some of our troops are being kidnapped and held as hostages in the hope that we'll withdraw from their country and re-instate Hussein," Hammond continued. "It's all very difficult for the boys out there right now."
"Yes sir," Jack agreed hesitantly, "No fun at all. But what has this to do with us. We're front line troops too!"
Hammond smiled sadly. He knew that; though sometimes he felt that the Pentagon forgot it on occasions, mainly when the budget meetings came round.
"Yes Jack. We are," he continued, "However I received this communiqué this morning from the Pentagon. It holds the Joint Chiefs' authorisation and the President's approval, and is a request that you be posted to Baghdad for a period of one month..."
"Whoa...what? You're kidding? Right?" Jack all but yelled in stunned shock, leaping to his feet, eye wide in disbelief. They were never gonna send him back there? Were they? Hadn't he had enough problems getting over the last time he was shipped out there? It was the last place on Earth he ever wanted to visit again.
"Jack...sit down," Hammond began, trying to calm his 2IC down with as much patience and sympathy as he could convey. "Unfortunately, this isn't an option..."
"But you just said it was a request," Jack picked up straight away, wagging his index fingers at the General. "So I'm saying no way! I'm not going back there. Never!"
"It has been approved by the President who thinks..."
"I don't give a damn...sir!" he scowled.
"Jack," Hammond sighed patiently. "Don't make me take drastic steps on this son. I don't want to do this to you any more than you want to go. If I could say anything about this I have to say it stinks, but my hands are tied on this Jack. If you refuse then I have no alternative than to take legal action against you, and there's no way I would want to do that to you; not after all you've been through and done for this country, hell the world."
"And so this is my reward? To get sent back there where I spent four stinking months locked away in a tiny box for most of the time. I barely made it out the first time…" Jack ranted, beside himself with dreaded anger.
"I know that Jack. If I had my way, I'd tell them to get somebody else, but they need someone with...experience of this kind of thing and the Joint Chiefs felt you had the right qualifications for the job."
"Qualifications? Almost dying is a diploma nowadays? Practically losing my mind is now a degree? What the hell do they want from me?" he yelled.
Jack sat back, breathless from his angry outburst, speechless, and absolutely furious that they could do this to him. His anger was so strong that it was palpable across the room, and Hammond could actually feel the heated angry waves as they emanated from him.
Jack stood up abruptly to pace the room for a minute, then turned to stare blindly out of the window overlooking the briefing room, his thoughts turning inwards at the devastating news.
Hammond gave him all the time he needed, knowing it was hard for Jack to understand why they were sending him back there.
Long minutes passed as Jack fought a battle within himself. He desperately wanted to stay here and do the job he had been given, and thoroughly enjoyed doing. He needed to stay with his team; his friends. One half of his conscience desired this, but the other half knew that if he refused to go, then they would Court-martial him for sure and that would put paid to his career and any pension due to him, and worse; it would take him away from his family. SG-1, his 'kids' were his family now, and all that he held dear. Was this the way it would be, after giving his life to serve his country? For saving the world countless times? It was too much to ask; he couldn't do it. Could he?
For a brief flash he considered actually going ahead and telling them where exactly to stuff their orders; that way he would be free of the regulations and be able to see Sam without restraint. But then, would she want to be associated with him being labelled as a disgraced officer? A Coward? Maybe now was the right time to retire after all?
But then, maybe not. He wanted to stay with the SGC; to see an end to the Goa'uld if at all possible; and the only way to do that was to accede to his superiors' orders.
He knew what he had to do now, and sighing heavily he returned to stand in front of Hammond's desk, looking down at his CO and friend.
"So what is it I have to do once I get there sir?" he asked; his voice calmer than the raging turmoil battling inside. Pain written over his pinched features.
"Sit down Jack. For what it's worth...I'm really sorry it has to be this way."
Jack grimaced miserably but nodded.
"Yes sir. I know you are. Being head honcho sucks on occasions huh?"
"Too right Jack. These stars carry far more responsibility than I'm comfortable with sometimes, and right now as you say, it sucks, big time!"
"It's okay sir. I know you're only following orders."
Jack sat down heavily in the chair again, the weight of the world resting on his shoulders as he listened to his orders. He wondered how he was to get through the next month without his friends beside him, and without Charlie to come home to, unlike the last time. His only consolation being that this time, he wouldn't be fighting, or anywhere near the enemy.
TBC
Pretty please read and review! With a cherry on top?
Okay … I'm beggin' ya!
Come on guys…I need some encouragement here!
It's gets more exciting later and with some Sam/Jack fluff comin' real soon.
