Arriving at the SGC John and Elizabeth were greeted by General Landry. "Colonel, Dr..." His voice trailed off as he got a look at Elizabeth.
"Morning General." Elizabeth greeted, her lips twitching in amusement.
"I was expecting Dr. Heightmeyer to be accompanying you today." Landry recovered his voice.
"In light of your earlier call I decided to accompany my wife this morning." John spoke up.
"Your...?" Landry blinked glancing between John and Elizabeth - who held up her left hand so Landry could see the ring.
"We we're married before Elizabeth..." John hesitated for a second then continued. "It was kept private, only a small handful of people know. We had planned to make an announcement but..." He trailed off not needing to finish, they all knew what had happened to prevent that announcement.
"We've decided not to hide it anymore." Elizabeth finished. "Now General I believe I have more questions to answer. And after that, if the SGC would care to prevent the rumors that the press is sure to start on their own, I will make myself available to them at an approved press conference before reporting for my physical this afternoon."
Landry gazed at Elizabeth levelly for a long moment, then chuckled, shaking his head, "You haven't changed a bit Doctor."
"And I wouldn't have it any other way." John smirked sliding an arm around Elizabeth's waist, "Shall we?"
"I'll go take care of the arrangements for later today." Landry turned to lead them down a corridor, but paused glancing over his shoulder, "You have adequate security for...?"
"Kate and Rodney are there and additional security patrols have been arranged for." John nodded.
"Good, you'll let me know if there's a need for any additional assistance." Landry continued down the corridor towards the conference room.
Three hours later, General Landry was stepping away from a podium letting Elizabeth take his place as he moved to stand next to John. Watching as Elizabeth deftly answered the questions being thrown at her, he leaned towards John whispering, "Is she really as calm as she appears?"
John shook his head slightly, "I think she's OK for now, but look at her hands..." he directed Landry's gaze to Elizabeth's hands, one of which was clenching the edge of the podium, knuckles white despite her calm tone of voice and the other nervously fidgeting with the hem of her shirt, the podium blocking that hand from view of the reporters. "If she loosens her grip on the podium and the hand starts shaking, we need to get her out of there." John fell silent again as Elizabeth once again answered that yes, she was glad to be back and no, she wasn't sure of her plans for the future.
Landry glanced up sharply when one of the reporter asked about her time as a prisoner. He'd clearly defined to the whole lot of them the boundaries of their questions and her imprisonment was way out of those boundaries. Watching as Elizabeth froze, her hand on the podium loosening its grip and start shaking, Landry stepped forward deftly easing Elizabeth away from the podium, back towards John.
"That's enough questions for today. Any further conferences on this topic will be announced and you will be welcome back at that time." Turning on his heels Landry strode through the door near the podium, ignoring the questions that flew at him. As the door closed behind him Landry joined John and Elizabeth. John had an arm around a shaking Elizabeth's waist offering both physical and moral support.
"In here, some of those leeches are bound to find away back here." John looked up at hearing the familiar female voice, seeing the person standing in an open door way John guided Elizabeth towards the door. Entering the small lab/office John led Elizabeth over to the couch against the back wall, while Landry secured the door.
"Do you know if Beckett has come through the gate yet?" John directed his question to Landry.
"I'm not sure, but I can find out." Landry moved over to the phone.
John gently rubbed Elizabeth's back trying to calm her down. Elizabeth was still shaking slightly and had a far off look in her eyes. John looked up, feeling a hand on his shoulder, "Thanks Sam."
Sam raised an eyebrow, "Hey I of all people know what it's like to deal with the unwanted attention. Unlike the people living in Atlantis those of us here on Earth have to deal with the media on a daily basis." Sam shook her head, "I caught a glimpse of her in the hall yesterday...I have to say she looks a bit different today."
"She decided that if she had to face the press, it would be on her terms and with style." John turned his attention back to Elizabeth. "Head strong as ever."
"You missed that, didn't you?" Sam sat on the small coffee table in front of the couch.
"Yeah, I did." John smiled softly. "You should get to know her. I know she was in charge of the SGC briefly, but not nearly long enough for you to really get to know her."
"Rodney tells me the same thing all the time." Sam smiled faintly.
"Rodney tells you what all the time?" The soft voice from next to John had Sam and John looking at Elizabeth.
"Hey there," John brushed a strand of hair out of Elizabeth's face, softly kissing her on temple. "Welcome back."
"What happened?" Elizabeth leaned into John, enjoying the feel of John's arms around her.
"You kind of zoned out on us for a bit-." John started to explain but was cut off by Carson entering the room.
"You were supposed to come to me not the other way around." Carson nudged John out of the way so he could take a look at Elizabeth.
"Sorry," Elizabeth shrugged. "I'm fine-."
"I'll be the judge of that." Carson interrupted before turning to John. "Has she eaten anything today?"
"I wasn't hungry this morning and we were supposed to go to lunch after the conference." Elizabeth spoke up. "I am more than capable of answer your questions, Carson."
"Elizabeth I've treated you before, you're almost as bad as John is when it comes to being honest with me about your health." Carson continued his exam.
"Hey! I resent that." John protested.
"Oh don't give me that hurt puppy dog look." Carson gave John a pointed stare. "What about dinner last night?"
"She ate..." John frowned trying to remember just how much Elizabeth had eaten, "Some."
"Carson, really I'm fine, it's just been a long couple of days. I'm taking all the supplements I'm supposed to, and I'm generally eating as often as I feel hungry." Pulling away from Carson a bit Elizabeth noticed Sam sitting on the coffee table, "Colonel?"
"Actually it's doctor now, I turned in my commission a few years ago. I'm now working here as a civilian consultant." Sam smiled. "My office was closest and being as sympathetic as I am to others who are mobbed by the press I had John bring you in here."
"I'm sure there's an interesting story to all that." Elizabeth looked around the room a blush starting to rise in her cheeks, "How many people know that I...zoned out?"
"Just us." Landry moved to stand behind Sam. "Elizabeth I apologize for the way that conference ended. The guidelines had been clearly set out and that last question had been way out of line."
"It's alright," Elizabeth sighed. "To be honest I was actually expecting more questions along those lines, just not the way I'd react to them. But it's done and over with now and I could use some lunch."
"If you're sure you're alright..." John frowned slightly.
"John I'm fine, right Carson?" Elizabeth looked at Carson as she stood up.
"Like the lady said she could use some lunch, but other than that I'd say she was fine." Carson stood up too.
"I took the liberty of arranging for food in the private Officer's Mess." Landry indicated towards the door. "Sam, Carson you're both welcome to join us."
"I'd like that." Sam stood up and Landry along with Carson went a head to make sure the hall was clear, "It'll give us a chance to chat."
"Oh joy more girl talk, just what every guy wants to be a part of." John joked, he knew what Sam was trying to do - this was her way of trying to get to know Elizabeth and he appreciated the effort.
"Hey you should feel honored, we woman don't girl talk around just any guy." Elizabeth kissed John playfully, then let out a soft sigh shaking her head. "I can't believe I zoned out like that."
"Don't worry about it, you're just not used to that many people ganging up on you all at once." Sam comforted as the three left the room. "It gets better."
"Can't get much worst, I guess." Elizabeth paused a second letting out a rueful laugh, "It's probably a good thing the general talked us out of making our little announcement."
"What announcement?" Sam turned questioning eyes on Elizabeth and John.
"Her name change, which has now been officially been announced to her board of inquiry." John stated, slipping his arm around Elizabeth's shoulders as they continued down the hall, ignoring the occasional staff member that passed them.
"So the rumors were true," Sam chuckled. "Wait 'til I tell Jack."
"Speaking of the general where is he?"
"DC, he wanted to be here when you guys came through the gate, but when the president wants a meeting, he wants a meeting." Sam grinned.
"You know I still can't believe the president made O'Neill an ambassador to our off world allies." John shook his head. Seeing the confused look on Elizabeth's face John smiled giving the side of her head a loving kiss, "Don't worry you'll get caught up soon enough."
"It seems like that's all I'm doing, that and answering questions." Elizabeth sighed.