Thanks to all of you who reviewed the first chapter. I know how difficult it is to make up your mind about a new story when you don't know what to expect, so thanks for having confidence in my writing. I know one thing... 'Junior' will be a very hard act to follow. While you are reading this story, I shall endeavour to put together a brand new story for you all.

I may not get around to posting tomorrow as I have the workmen in all day, and then the clearing up afterwards when they've finished, but I will be back on Friday!

UNITED WE STAND

By Lingren.

Previously:

Sam looked up to see them approach the table, standing formally in respect. She could see something was bothering her CO, but he'd tried to hide it from her by putting on a false bravado and carrying on as if nothing had happened. He smiled brightly at her as he took his seat beside her off to the General's right.

Chapter 2

"...So there you have it General," Jack wound up his report.

Hammond looked pleased. They had been given permission to mine for the precious mineral and all in exchange for some new farming methods and a few medicines that the people of this new world so desperately needed. Looking round the room at the smiling faces he smiled too. 'Damn this situation,' he inwardly cursed, 'they were such a great team, even Jonas was proving his worth given the relatively short time he'd been with them.'

Major Samantha Carter radiated a warm smile which lit up her face. Hammond's sudden thought clouded his face as he wondered if his news would widen that smile or wipe it from her face altogether. He didn't know, but now was to time to see.

"Right SG-1, before I dismiss you all, I have one more item on my agenda. Colonel…you have often praised Major Carter for her devotion to duty, and her unswerving loyalty, and rightly so. Now is the time for such dedication to be rewarded." He paused, watching the smile start to fade from, not only Jack's face, but Sam's too, as she wondered what was coming. He steeled himself and carried on. "As you know we lost Lt. Col. Mankowitz last week, and that leaves SG-7 without a team leader. Major Carter, I'm putting you up for the vacancy. As from Monday morning, you will be the new CO of SG-7. Congratulations Major, you thoroughly deserve it." Hammond sat back and watched the reactions of his premier team.

O'Neill was hiding his face from Sam, studying his fingers in his lap. 'Had he known that this was coming?' she asked herself when she turned towards him in surprise. Looking back at Hammond, she opened her mouth to say something, but failed each time, until she managed to utter a thank you to him. Her suddenly overly bright eyes slipped sideways again and this time they locked onto those of her CO. His own dark eyes were hard from fighting down his own emotions, while hers filled with despair.

Jack didn't know whether to celebrate with her or cry. He knew this time would eventually come, but after so long together it was something he'd forced to the back of his mind. It wasn't his place to object, knowing it would be a huge step forward for Sam, ending with promotion if she proved herself worthy of the task set before her. This was her chance to step up the proverbial ladder. He knew he wouldn't want to stop her from taking that opportunity. He couldn't hold her back any longer.

"Congratulations Major," he stated, a tight grin on his lips, trying hard to appear pleased for her sake, though inside he was fighting to keep himself in check.

Sam could see that Jack's smile was forced onto his lips; it never reached those dark expressive eyes of his, she saw only a fleeting sadness reflected back at her from abnormally dull ones. She didn't want their partnership to end. She would much rather stay where she was, as second-in-command of SG-1, rightfully beside him, knowing they were together whatever befell them. After all these years of fighting side by side, they had grown to love each other with a passion that was only quenched by serving on the same team, of close proximity, of watching each others backs. Yes, this would be the chance they had both longed for. Free at last from the regulations, she would no longer be under his command and therefore they could, in all honesty, fraternise freely.

But, something much deeper tugged at her insides. It would mean she wouldn't be there for him if and whenever he needed her. What if one or the other of them died out there? Millions of light years away from each other at the moment of death, it would signal the beginning of tortuous feelings of regret and guilt that the other had died alone, never hearing those precious words of comfort from the mouth of the one they loved.

Sam's thoughts were suddenly recalled when she was congratulated by Teal'c and Jonas. She stood and accepted the hugs offered so enthusiastically by those around her, while Jack merely looked up from his seat and smiled wistfully.

The news soon spread through the grapevine and Sam found herself inundated with surprised friends all wishing her luck for her first command.

OoOoOoOoO

Given time to adjust to her new team, Sam was ready for the first mission when it came. A simple milk run really. An uninhabited planet, without the hint of any former life-signs, or so the UAV reported.

Jack hovered in the control room watching her closely, a knot of fear settling in his gut, making him almost squirm. His nervous fingers drumming restlessly on the back of the civilian technician's chair, until she turned and glared up at him.

"What?" he asked, until realisation dawned. "Oh...Sorry!" he apologised and immediately shoved his hands deep into his pockets, forcing himself to calm down. Hammond smothered the grin that was trying to escape at the nervousness Jack couldn't quite hide.

Sam, standing geared up and ready below in the gate room, knew he was there and looked up through the observation window, straight at him. She smiled a little nervously, but he calmly smiled back at her with a nod, radiating his trust in her ability, despite his inner turmoil.

Although the opportunity for togetherness was there, neither of them had broached the subject uppermost in their hearts and minds. Too long spent hiding their feelings, it had made it difficult to allow them to break free at last. They had spoken at work, and about work whenever their paths had crossed, but not for long, their duties now keeping them apart for most of the time.

Jack had been busy interviewing new personnel for his replacement 2IC. Several names had been put forward, but he didn't like, nor want, anyone other than Sam. It had been the same with Jonas. After Daniel had ascended, he'd rejected many who didn't live up to Daniel's standards. He missed his friend a lot, and knew that there was no-one on this earth who could ever replace the 'Geek'. General Hammond had given him a final ultimatum then. Choose someone or have a Russian on the team. So Jack had chosen Jonas with great reluctance, but now the man had proved himself and as much as Jack resented him at first, he found that he was indeed a worthy replacement. Now he felt the same way about this. He wanted Sam back, he needed Sam. Retirement loomed large in his thoughts, as he contemplated the future of his team without her.

Sam's attention turned back to the Stargate when it burst into life. With a quick salute to the General and a smile back at her former CO, she led her team up the ramp and they disappeared into the wavering event-horizon.

OoOoOoOoO

General Hammond would not allow Jack to spend too long deciding just who was worthy enough to fill Sam's shoes, and ordered him to make a decision quickly. Jack selected three candidates and interviewed them, taking each of them out on an easy mission to see whom he preferred, and could possibly work along side with.

Captain John Locke at 39 was the most experienced of the candidates. His coarse black hair was just a raised fuzz over his dark skin, his brown eyes tired and languid in their deep sockets, reflecting his 'laid back' character. A jagged scar ran the length of one cheek, pale against the brown flesh. He was tall; taller even than Teal'c by a couple of inches, making Jack looked much too short despite his 6'2" frame. Locke stood almost to attention now as Jack looked him over, checking his equipment for their mission.

"At ease, Captain. This isn't a parade, just a test run you understand. There are others here to put through their paces too."

"Yes Sir," he drawled. His southern accent, slow and lazy.

"Colonel O'Neill!"

Jack looked up towards the control room where the General was standing, his hand on the microphone.

"Everything in order down there?"

"Yes Sir. Just making sure we had everything."

"When you're ready Colonel!"

Jack raised his hand in a quick salute and waved the others on into the open wormhole. Teal'c and Jonas taking their cue, led the way, Locke followed leaving Jack to bring up the rear.

General Hammond watched, a growing bundle of nerves tugging at his insides from tension. Just how this mission was going to play out he had no idea, and knowing how long it took Jack to find a replacement before, he wasn't hopeful on the outcome.

TBC