A MATTER OF POWER – I. The Power of Politics by Betty Bokor
Sam/Daniel. Sam deserves a promotion and Daniel is willing to help her. Sam has her own plans.
Spoilers: All seasons, including 9 and 10.
Disclaimer: The Stargate original characters belong to MGM/Showtime, Double Secret Productions, and Gekko Film Corp. This was written strictly for the purpose of entertainment. No attempt at copyright infringement has been made.

The Power of Politics

Chapter 1

"Okay, Daniel. Can you tell me what could be so important that you had to drag me out here? What's with all the secret?"

"This is something very important, Jack. I don't want anyone to hear us talking about it."

"Fine; you got me here. Nobody can hear anything we say. We've talked about the Goa'uld and the Ori in less secure locations before."

"This has nothing to do with the gate and if someone heard us, it could ruin her career."

"Whose career?"

"Sam's."

"Sam? What's going on with Carter?"

"Nothing is really going on with Sam, but I found out something that worried me very much."

"What? For cryin' out loud, Daniel! Just tell me what the heck is going on!"

"I recently found out that when the Stargate Program becomes public in two months, General Landry will join you here in Washington."

"Yes, that's true. He'll come work at the Pentagon. He's going to prepare to replace me when I retire. How the hell did you find out that? Nobody's supposed to know yet."

"It doesn't matter how I found out, Jack. You just confirmed it and that's what matters."

"So Hank is leaving the SGC; what does that have to do with Carter?"

"She should succeed him as the head of the SGC," Daniel said very calmly.

Jack kept very quiet for a moment, staring Daniel in the eyes, and then replied, "I don't think that's going to happen, Daniel."

"I know that, too, but I think that's wrong. She deserves it. She was in this Program even before us and she's been in SG-1 longer than anyone but me."

Jack kept silent again for a while. Then he sighed and made a gesture of impatience. "I don't know where you get all your information, Daniel, but it's almost certain that she won't get it and there's nothing you can do about it."

"You can do something about it."

"What do you think I can do? That's a political position. There are many people above me who have a say about it, but I don't."

"I know why they won't give it to her."

"For cryin' out loud, Daniel," Jack said getting exasperated again. "Where, tell me, where the heck do you get this from?"

"I told you; it doesn't matter. I know that the main problem is that Sam is single, that she doesn't have a family. You said it. The head of the SGC is a political position and they want someone with an image suitable for public consumption now that they're coming out with it."

"Okay. So you know all this. Then, you also know that there's nothing I can do, so I don't know where you're going with this conversation."

"Marry her."

"Are you out of your mind!"

"I know how you feel about her. Marry her, give her a family, make her happy and at the same time give her the chance to get what she deserves."

"I can't marry Carter. Even if I wanted-"

"Oh, come on, Jack, don't tell me that you haven't been flirting with her since the very beginning," Daniel said getting impatient.

"Listen to me, Daniel. I won't deny that I like Carter, she's a hell of a woman, but I haven't made any plans to marry her. I don't know if marriage would work for us. Besides, I can't do anything about it until I retire and I'm not retiring yet. I have much to do when the gate becomes public. We'll see after that."

"Then, I'll marry her."

"What!"

"I don't mean marry-marry her, Jack. I'll just offer her the chance to look like the right candidate. After she gets the SGC and you retire, we get a quiet divorce and you're free to go."

"She'll never accept that, Daniel."

"Why not? We're best friends and she can trust me. It will just be a temporary arrangement, until you're ready. I'm sure she will feel comfortable with me knowing she will not have to carry on anything but a simple pretense of a marriage. The guys above you are not asking for a big family with kids. Landry is divorced and so are you, so I don't think they will find any other excuses to deny Sam her rightful position."

"You don't know that."

"It's worth a try."

"I still think you've lost your mind."

"Well, I'll talk to Sam and we'll see. You'll just have to go with the charade, so that it looks like the real thing."

"You won't ask me to be your best man, will you?"

"Why not? I'd probably ask you if I were marrying anyone else, not that I'm planning of ever marrying again, but-"

"Okay, okay, Daniel, I get it. It's only going to be a make-believe marriage and I'm going to be the make-believe best man. Are you happy now?"

"Actually, yes. I'll call you and give you the news, whatever it is. Just go with it, all right?"

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