Sam walked into the briefing room on Monday morning, unsure of what to expect. Jack had been restless all weekend, and so they had shown up early that morning so that he could do whatever it was that he had wanted to do. Meanwhile, Sam had a few choice words for the woman who was so obviously Kinsey's new puppet.

"I don't really care." The woman said, as Sam walked in.

Sam raised her eyebrows and pursed her lips, indicating that even she was surprised at the brusque manner of the new commander.

Elizabeth turned and pointed to her earpiece, indicating that she had been on the phone. "What?" She asked, pausing for a reaction. "Well there's gonna be a lot of changes and not everybody's going to be happy about them."

"Yes, I'm about to step into one myself." She continued. "Ok bye."

Sam gave a tight smile.

"Sorry. I walk around with this thing, I look like a crazy person, talking to myself. Elizabeth Weir." She said, extending her hand.

"Samantha Carter. Head of the science department and Jack O'Neill's wife."

"I know who you are." She said, motioning to the files that piled around the briefing room table. "I guess I'm just surprised that you're not with him right now."

"So, you are aware of what happened."

"Yes. And I assure you that Colonel O'Neill's current condition is of serious concern to me."

"Is it?"

Elizabeth looked surprised at the pregnant woman standing before her. "Yes. He did what he did to save the planet. Now, whether or not the threat is real or not, I believe…"

"Whether or not the threat is REAL?" Sam asked, indignantly. "DOCTOR Weir, are you insinuating that my husband would put his life in danger when he has a loving wife at home, carrying a child less than three months from being born just to get some attention?"

"Major Carter, I am not making any assumptions right now…"

"I want you to know that my husband would only do something like that if the threat was very real and VERY dangerous." She said, interrupting the soft-spoken civilian. "And I will defend him to the likes of you until the day I die." She said, storming out of the room, tears of anger falling down her cheeks.

Daniel passed her on her way out, and he walked into the briefing room. "Dr. Weir, I presume?"

"Another friendly face?" She asked, dryly.

"I'm sorry…she's…she's kind of…"

"Emotional?"

Daniel bit his lip, trying the more diplomatic route. "Little light reading?" He asked, motioning to the files littering the briefing room with seemingly no end.

She turned and faced the pile again with a sigh. "Ah. I've been awake all weekend. The reality of this is...It's an adrenaline rush."

"Hey. At least I know you have a beating heart." Daniel said, a sarcastic edge to his voice.

"I don't expect the warmest welcome from the Military personnel."

"You're replacing a great man. Uniform not withstanding." Daniel said, clarifying his defensiveness.

"Okay. but I'm hoping you of all people, won't jump to conclusions."

"Like why someone like you is here?"

"Someone like me?" She asked, as if asking him to outright say his implication.

"Yeah, someone who started their career as a political activist. Lobbying against the government spending on the military."

"And how I end up working for those I was criticizing? I know, but I've decided that the best way to stop the proliferation of weapons is to try and end the need for them. So I'm going to be the voice of reason to whoever will listen."

Daniel raised his eyebrows in disbelief. "And you think that's why the President chose you to take over the SGC?

Elizabeth looked the archaeologist over with a careful eye. She leaned forward as if revealing a great secret to him. "I don't know why I've been given this job. I really don't, but I'm going to do it to the best of my abilities as long as I'm here. I'm going to start by examining the mandate for this program…"

"Don't underestimate the immediate threat." He said, quickly and carefully.

"No I'm not, but this country's history of manifest destiny cannot continue out to the rest of the galaxy, especially when this is all being done behind the back of the entire planet."

"Hey I'm not saying that everything that has been going on around here is right, I mean we have no right to play God, but neither do the Goa'uld. Now I know none of this may seem real to you on paper, but trust me, they're pure evil. Now if they had the chance they would either destroy us or enslave us all. You can read as many mission reports as you want but before you decide what should or shouldn't be done around here, why don't you go through that gate and see what's going on for yourself." He said, passionately.

Elizabeth looked at the Stargate and then back at Daniel, a certain coolness in her manner that hadn't been there before. "In good time."

Daniel rolled his eyes, but before he could retort, the Stargate began receiving a new traveler.

"Unscheduled off-world traveler." Walter said over the intercom.

Elizabeth took a deep breath before running downstairs. This was turning out to be a fabulous first day.