Thank you all once again for your kind reviews. Glad you're still with me. We're coming up for the real fluffy bits now we're past the angst; though I warn you it's not all over with just yet!
Junior
By Lingren
Previously:-
Together they walked to the elevator to reach the briefing room. They didn't hold hands, as much as Jack wanted to; too many years of conditioning himself not to touch her if he could help it, and it wouldn't allow him to do as such in the corridors of the SGC. Besides which he was in uniform for his last official duty as a favour for General Hammond.
Chapter 19
When they reached the briefing room, Jack was surprised to see Hank Landry there along with General Hammond and another person in U.S.A.F uniform that he didn't recognise and who had leapt to his feet on their entrance.
"Generals!" Jack greeted them. "Colonel!" he nodded to the stranger.
"General O'Neill. Colonel Carter," Hammond addressed them formally, not at all surprised to see Sam at Jack's elbow. "I'd like to introduce you to Lieutenant Colonel Cameron Mitchell."
Mitchell who was still standing to attention now saluted O'Neill and nodded a greeting to Sam.
"General. Colonel."
They both acknowledged his salute and then ignored him again.
"Be seated Jack, Colonel, then we can begin."
Jack swivelled the chair in front of him and sat down; Sam taking the seat next to him while she faced Mitchell. Jack sat opposite Landry while General Hammond was back in his former position at the head of the table, which seemed so familiar.
"First of all let me inform you that Lt. Colonel Mitchell will be taking over as 2IC of SG-1 Colonel," Hammond said, addressing Sam. "You will still carry on as CO, Colonel Carter, that hasn't changed. Your record as Commander of SG-1 is exemplary as I believed it would be," Hammond said, hoping that this new arrangement would work out okay.
Sam took a renewed interest in the tall good looking officer, though she only had eyes for the handsome General next to her in that respect. Mitchell glanced up at her to see her reaction, but she merely nodded to him before turning her attention back to General Hammond.
"Before we start on the official business Jack...now that you have been fully restored to health, are you sure you don't want to stay on in your old position?" Hammond chuckled.
"Ah...no sir. I wanna be able to spend my time with Jon Junior. He is my top priority now sir," he confirmed, giving Sam a silent look that meant he included her in that too.
Hammond nodded with a sly grin.
"Right, down to business then."
They left the briefing room to make their way to the gate-room where all the personnel were mustered ready for the official hand over and as a goodbye to Jack.
Jack took his place on the rostrum to a spontaneous round of applause from the assembled troops, who were happy to see him fit again. He held up a hand to bring them back to attention once more and gave a speech about how much he had appreciated their support during is tenure as Commander of the SGC. He then praised them for their devotion to the Stargate Programme and that he hoped they would continue to do so under their new Commander, Major General Landry.
Hank Landry gave his own thanks for the welcome, and then General Hammond acknowledged the work that Jack had done in the past year as Commander and before in his role as leader of SG-1.
The whole thing was merely an official handing over and introduction to Mitchell, seeing as Jack had been too ill to do it before. Jack however had one last request to ask of General Hammond, but first he wanted to break the good news to him in private. Once again they withdrew to the briefing room while the others mingled for the small celebration feast below, overlooked by the Stargate where it all began.
"General, I'd like to ask if Colonel Carter could possibly have some time off, say, in a few weeks time?" asked Jack, surprising George and Sam too.
Hammond chuckled and placed a hand on Jack's shoulder, giving it a friendly pat.
"I think I can guess what this is all about Jack," Hammond smirked. "So, how about you take two months off in six weeks time Colonel? Will that be long enough for your honeymoon and for you two to sort out your homes?"
Jack coughed and Sam blushed, looking away.
"Yes sir, thank you. How..." Jack cleared his throat again and tried to sound normal. "How long have you suspected?"
"Longer than you imagine Jack. I'm neither blind nor deaf son. Congratulations to you both by the way, and if I might add...it's about time too."
"And yet...you never said anything?" Jack accused.
"There was no need to son. I knew neither of you would never let it interfere with your duties. I had complete trust in you adhering to the regulations," he said with a wry smile. "Well, most of them anyway," he added more to himself than out loud when they both looked down, suitably abashed. "At least you never let it interfere with your duties, for which I am grateful. Thank you for that."
Jack had the grace to flush slightly, but Sam concentrated on her hands lying clasped tightly in her lap.
"So when is the big day?"
Jack looked sideways at Sam who blushed even brighter when their eyes met.
"Um...not sure yet. I haven't exactly been in a position to...em...arrange anything lately," Jack sighed.
"I hope I'll be included on the guest list? In fact I shall damn well expect it!" Hammond chuckled.
"Oh, yes sir. Top of the list!"
"You're one lucky Sonofabitch Jack."
"Thank you sir," he replied with a smile. Jack laid his hand over Sam's nervous ones and squeezed them gently. He kept it there to help reassure her, showing her he wasn't afraid to show his feelings when it concerned her.
"So what was the other thing you wanted Jack?"
"Well sir..." When he thought about it, he wasn't so sure he'd be allowed. Now he was officially retired, it wasn't something he could take for granted. "I want to go through the gate one more time sir."
"What?" Sam gasped in disbelief "Jack?"
"Why on earth would you want to do that for son?" Hammond asked surprised by the strange request.
"Why?" asked a bewildered Sam.
"I also want to take Jon Junior with me," he said, wincing slightly at the General's surprised features.
"You want to take him back to Edora?" Sam asked incredulously, beating Hammond to the question.
"The Tok'ra have already had several people there clearing up the bodies Jack. There's nothing left there."
"I know that. It's just... Mom said the kid's still having nightmares about it, and I thought perhaps if he had some type of closure on that whole thing, he'd settle down a bit better. I wanna allow him to say goodbye properly. The Edorans' have...had a specific funeral ritual to wish their dearly departed farewell on their journey into the afterlife and Jon needs to do this so he can move on. I wanna be able to do this for him George. We're talking about his family here. He needs this. He will understand, and maybe it's what he needs to do. All the kids knew about it, it's ingrained into them from an early age."
"You know what to do?" Hammond asked doubtfully.
Jack nodded.
"I'm pretty sure that I can remember most of it. We had plenty of people to bury in the aftermath of the 'fire rain' while I was there. Quite a few of those who stayed behind were killed during that meteor shower. I lent a hand wherever I could. Things weren't the same there; they don't... didn't shield their kids from the hard facts of life like we tend to do. They participate in everything."
"Everything?" Sam squeaked, wondering if everything meant exactly that.
Jack snorted.
"But not that kind of everything, Sam," he said grinning, but sobered again up at Hammond's impatient cough.
"Let me think on this Jack and I'll get back to you. You know I can't spare a team to accompany you except maybe SG-1, don't you?"
"I didn't expect even than that sir."
"Is there anything else?"
"No sir, not a thing!"
Hammond stood up and reached out a hand to Jack.
Jack shook the offered appendage.
"Good luck son. I hope you'll be happy in your retirement, and I already know you'll look after Sam."
"Thank you sir. It's been one hell of a ride George. It was an honour serving under you General. Thank you for all your patience and latitude with me over the years sir."
"It's certainly been...shall we say...'interesting' to work with you Jack," he snorted, "but it's been my privilege son."
"Thank you sir."
"Go home Jack. That boy of yours is missing you. As Colonel Carter is now on down time until Monday, I'm sure she will be happy to drive you home."
Jack grinned. He was more than happy for her to do so and to have Sam join him for a few days was just what he needed.
TBC