Note: Finally up to the good bits... Let me know what you think. I decided to skip what they did during the day because I thought it might drag it out a bit too long plus, I think I'm up to the parts that everyone wanted to read...
The night was in full swing when Daniel and Teal'c arrived. They immediately headed towards the bar at the opposite end of the room. They stopped at the bar, with Daniel ordering a guiness and Tealc an orange juice. "I have been hanging around Jack way to long" Daniel thought and he took a swig from the bottle.
Surveying the room, Daniel and Teal'c took in the surroundings. The banquet hall of the white house was a long rectangular room with cream walls and high ceilings, in the centre of which hung an extravagant chandelier. The room was adorned with around 25 tables, each with crisp white linen and blue balloons escaping from the middle. They sparkled in the light produced from the chandelier.
To the right of the bar, was a large stage, which took up the entire length of the wall. A black curtain hung to hide whatever lay behind, and a small wooden lectern stood in its centre. To the left, was the doors leading out to the outside garden and entertaining area, where a number of guests had now gathered. The gardens were spectacular, and seemed to stretch endlessly into the night, with only the white stone path highlighted by hundreds, if not thousands of lights. Somewhere in the distance, the trickle from a small stream could be heard.
"Daydreaming again are we Daniel" Jack had been standing directly in front of Daniel and Teals and neither of them had noticed.
"Just taking in the surroundings Jack, Can I get you a drink?"
"Sure, Guiness" Jack answered, turning his back to the bar and resting his elbows on it and surveying the room. A lot of military types wandering around he thought, in amongst the dress blues, there were a few suits, and a few tuxes. Jack himself had decided to stick to what he knew best. He hated dressing up, hated wearing suits, so he stuck to his dress blues.
Daniel and Teal'c both decided to go formal, but not so far as to be wearing a tuxedo, Daniel wore a black suit with white shirt and black tie, Teal had gone for something a little different, a brown suit, that perfectly complimented his brown hat.
"So O'Neill, have you seen Colonel Carter this evening, we have not seen her since we arrived" Teal asked, gazing across Daniel to hear Jack's answer.
"Nope, haven't seen her, though I am sure she is here somewhere, it's not like Carter to be late to anything"
"I'm not sure Jack, I haven't seen her since we got here" Daniel jumped in.
"Well Daniel, there are a lot of people in Uniform, maybe you just couldn't see her with all the blue in the room"
"It's hardly like Sam to blend into a crowd Jack plus, who said anything about her wearing a uniform, I thought it was optional"
"Well you know Carter, there are a lot of military big-wigs here Daniel and she will want to impress them with her good solider girl routine"
"I hardly think so Jack"
Teal's stood and watched the two men debate. Personally, he didn't care what Colonel Carter wore, she always stood out in a crowd no matter what, and she was an exceptionally beautiful woman.
"General Hammond approaches" Teal'c said sternly interrupting the two men who were still busying themselves on the topic of Carter's dress choice for the evening.
"General" Jack spoke First "Good to see you Sir".
"I'm retired Jack, loose the Sir" he replied, whilst shaking the younger mans hand.
"Good to see you George"
"Likewise Daniel"
"General Hammond" Teal'c lowered his head as a sign of respect for the man who had taken him under his wing all those years ago and allowed him to become part of the infamous SG-1.
Jack continued…
"So, George, how's retirement, by the way I love the office, had to change a few things round though, there's a great view out that window, not sure why you had your back to it, I could stare out of it for hours"
"Well Jack, if I did that I would have the chance to read any of your reports now would I"
"There's that…." Jack looked embarrassed.
"Well, I will leave you three to it, have a good night, oh and Jack, if you see Sam can you tell her I said it's now or never"
"Sir?" Jack looked at him questionly
"She will know what it means Jack, have a good night"
General Hammond turned his back one final time to the three male members of SG-1, it was hard, they were like family, and though he tried to treat everyone under his command as equals, he would always hold a special place in his heart for the four members of his favourite and without a doubt best, front line unit.
Jack, Daniel and Teal'c remained at the bar watching the older man walk back across the room from the direction he came. Jack begun thinking about what he had to pass on to Carter, what did he mean by It's now or never?..
"Sam!" Daniel interrupted his train of thought as always.
"I do not see her Daniel Jackson" responded Teal'c looking around the room.
"Over there, she went out the doors to the garden; at least I think it was her"
"I believe you may be seeing things Daniel Jackson, I id not see anyone matching Colonel Carters appearance exit through that doorway."
Before the two men could continue the debate the older, wiser Jack intervened. "I will go and check it out, you two stay here, and if it was Carter she was probably looking for us anyway"
Jack started walking towards the doorways leading to the outside garden area, as he walked, he dodged a number of people, nodding to those who glanced in his direction and occasionally saluting the younger, newer officers." Wow this place is certainly getting crowded" Jack thought to himself as he dodged a final group of officers chatting to some very well dressed women, as he headed towards the door he was lucky enough to grab two glasses of champagne of a passing waiter and he stepped out into the cool night air..