Title: The Embassy

Author: Carhop

Email: R multiple POV, Sam/Jack UST, angst, RST, sexual situations

Pairings: Sam/Jack, suggestion of Sam/Other and Jack/Other, Janet/Daniel

Archive: SJD, yes; Heliopolis, yes; Gateworld, yes; others please ask.

Summary: Earth sets up an embassy on a neutral world, alongside those of many other worlds. After Jack's knee finally gives out, the President reworks SG-1 and assigns them to work out of the embassy.

Disclaimer: Stargate SG-1 and its characters are the property of Showtime/ Viacom, MGM/UA, Double Secret Productions, and Gekko Productions. I have written this story for entertainment purposes only and no money whatsoever has exchanged hands. No copyright infringement is intended. The original characters, situations, and story are the property of the authors. Do not archive without permission of the author.

Time Frame: Season 7 or after.

Minor Spoilers: Children of the Gods, Broca Divide, The Nox, Point of View, 100 Days, Small Victories, Redemption, Disclosure, Fallen, Homecoming, Changeling, Orpheus, Birthright.

Status: Complete

Author's Notes: I know Janet dies in late S7, but I've ignored that little fact for this fic and taken her in another direction. I've also totally ignored Pit Shanahan. Feedback is always much appreciated. Profuse thanks to my excellent beta readers Shane, Fulinn, and Eleri. I offer special thanks to San Brontecook for reading this (among others) with a clear eye and setting me straight about inconsistencies. You're the best San. Any remaining errors are my own.

Week 1 Day 4

Jack O'Neill grimaced and groaned as his left foot hit the ramp harder than usual and the extra stress on his knee caused him to stumble.

"Sir, are you alright?" asked his second, Sam Carter, her hand supporting his elbow, genuine concern in her voice.

"Yeah, just my bum knee after so much walking." His grimace belied the lightness of his tone.

"And which one of your bum knees would that be, Jack?" interjected a snickering Daniel Jackson, archeologist, linguist and former ascended being.

"Very funny, Daniel. You can only pray you're in such good shape when you're my age." He stumbled again as his left knee gave out with an audible pop and dumped him gracelessly on the metal grid. Jack groaned from the pain, clutching at his knee.

"Uh, maybe not, Jack." Doctor Jackson immediately handed his weapon and pack to a waiting airman, and then unclipped both of his teammates' packs to tender them as well. With a glare at Daniel, Major Carter helped her CO to his feet and supported him as he hopped on one foot toward the large doors leading out of the gate room.

"Daniel!" snapped Major Carter as the younger man stood tiredly at the foot of the ramp. She knew Teal'c would have gladly taken the weight of their commander, but she felt Daniel should do it after his little display of unsympathetic sarcasm. He scurried to catch up and took Jack's other arm across his shoulders, sharing the weight of his friend as they walk-hopped to the infirmary.

"This is a switch," commented Doctor Janet Fraiser, base Chief Medical Officer, as she watched three quarters of SG-1 bounce its way into her infirmary, followed by Teal'c. "For once, it's not you being helped in here, Daniel." Speaking to Sam, she indicated a bed to her left, "Put him there, if you please." Turning to Colonel O'Neill, the doctor asked, "What happened, sir? You weren't shot again, I hope."

Grimacing again in pain and annoyance, Jack snapped, "No, just my damned knee. I hit the ramp hard on the first step out of the gate and it gave out on me. It doesn't help that we marched at least ten klicks between the Stargate and the city today and ten yesterday, all hills."

"Well, let's take a look and then get an MRI, sir." He sighed in frustration, knowing from experience the regimen of physical therapy this little injury would cost him. By the time his subordinates' post-mission exams were done, the MRI image was in Janet's hands and she was almost clucking over the damage such a minor accident had caused. Teal'c, Daniel and Sam hovered around their commander, exchanging worried looks.

"Okay, give it to me, Doc. What's the verdict?" Jack shifted uncomfortably on the bed and moved the icepack on his knee to a more effective position. The doctor glanced at the colonel's teammates, silently asking if he minded them being present. "They might as well hear it now. It affects them, too."

"Well, sir, I can't make a definitive diagnosis based on one MRI and an external exam, but it looks like the anterior cruciate ligament is torn. At the very least, you'll need surgery to repair the damage; and you have a slight sprain in the other knee from the fall on the ramp. You'll be in a wheelchair until the swelling in your right knee goes down. I'm ordering a set of tests and scans of your knee and will send everything to an orthopedic surgeon I know at the Academy hospital. When I get her diagnosis back, maybe as early as tomorrow, we'll talk about your options."

"Options? I don't think I like the sound of that." Jack lay back on the bed with a groan, an arm thrown over his eyes. It had been such a good day. How could it have turned so bad so quickly?

Week 1 Day 1

SAM

A casual comment Thor, the Asgard fleet commander – pardon me, that's Supreme Commander - had made to Daniel became the basis for not only our mission to PJB-007, but so much more. The little gray being had mentioned a world where the Asgard and other species kept embassies. Daniel hadn't been able to follow up on the lead until several weeks later so he recruited my help to finish his research in time for a presentation to General Hammond. Daniel and I were in his lab looking for anything on the planet when Colonel O'Neill poked his head around the door jam.

"Whatcha workin' on, kids?" At Colonel O'Neill's sarcastic remark, Daniel unburied his nose from the laptop and I turned away from the other computer to face my grinning CO.

"Researching a new planet Thor told me about," Daniel replied tersely.

"Am I gonna like it? Don't tell me. Let me guess. It has trees," joked O'Neill with a twinkle in his sable eyes.

Daniel snorted softly and grinned at his best friend, "It's a meeting place, neutral territory and embassy row all rolled into one. Several of our allies already keep a delegation there along with others we've never even heard about. Even the Goa'uld use it to deal with each other."

"Sounds cool. It got any good restaurants? Beaches? Sightseeing?" The colonel was in rare form and I found it remarkably charming. Unfortunately. Keep your mind on your work and not on forbidden fruit, Samantha, I chided myself.

"We'll know that, Jack, if General Hammond approves my proposal for a mission."

DANIEL

Two days later, all four of us left for PJB-007, Teal'c having returned from a brief visit with his son, Rya'c. After Doctor Fraiser declared Teal'c fit for duty, we received a "Go" from General Hammond.

As the four of us paced up the ramp, Jack was going on and on and on about the planet's designation. "It's got to be a joke, right? PJB-007 as the name for an embassy planet probably full of spooks. What bozo picked that name - Ian Fleming's grandson?"

"Jack, we've already heard this at least ten times. Can you just let it go?" It was really, really getting on my nerves.

Clearly feigning hurt, Jack harrumphed. He walked silently through the event horizon, pointedly ignoring Carter's mimed and obviously heartfelt "Thank you!" to me. The corner of Teal'c's mouth lifted ever so slightly. Jack remained silent through most of the long walk from the Stargate to the center of a rather large city, perhaps sulking at our lack of appreciation of his humor. I certainly didn't care, so long as he stayed quiet.

As we walked through the streets, I kept up a continuous lecture on what I saw. "The city looks faintly Polynesian in origin with a bit of country French influence thrown in. Note that the neighborhoods are a hodgepodge of wood houses with wide covered porches and large windows, as though built for a hot climate, right next to angular stone and painted stucco walls."

"It makes for a rather odd mix, Daniel, if you take into account the fact that France didn't colonize Polynesia until the 19th century, thousands of years after the Goa'uld left Earth," Sam commented, avidly glancing around at the houses to either side of the quaint cobbled streets. Parks dotted the cityscape, filled with lush displays of exotic flowering plants, and people with dark hair and deeply tanned skin.

"There's no analogous culture in Earth's history, although the closest would be French Polynesia. That's one reason I needed your help in researching similar cultures. The little hints Thor dropped gave me almost nothing to go on in preparation for the mission."

"Do you think the Asgard ambassador will assist us, DanielJackson?" Teal'c spoke for the first time since leaving the SGC.

"I'm hopeful that he will. It's to their advantage to help us become less dependent on Asgard protection."

We stopped periodically to ask directions. People were amazingly friendly and helpful, freely pointing the way and offering advice on where to stay. The Asgard "embassy" turned out to be a plain-faced façade, behind which was a room, bare of furniture and ornamentation.

"I, uh, guess we just wait until someone shows up," I hazarded, looking around the room.

Jack spoke, finally. "Nowhere to sit either. They must not get too many repeat visitors." He turned to open the door we'd just come through and found no knob. "Great! Carter, get us out of here."

"Yes, sir." Sam was already pacing around the perimeter of the room, skimming her hands across the walls, searching for who knew what. Just as she finished her inspection, a flash of light preceded the appearance of a small gray-skinned large-eyed being. He made a small, graceful nod in our direction.

"Greetings. I am Bragi, the Asgard Ambassador to Hawai'iki. How may I assist you?"

I whispered an aside to my teammates, "Norse god of poetry and eloquence. Good choice for an ambassador." I stepped forward to address Bragi. "We are representatives from Earth. I'm Daniel Jackson. This is Major Carter, Colonel O'Neill and Teal'c. Our mutual friend Thor mentioned this planet to me. We hope to establish an embassy and would like to ask for your assistance. Particularly, we'd like advice on where to start."

"Yes, Commander Thor said I should expect you sometime soon. Others claimed the best locations in Hawai'iki many decades past, but the Lojan deserted their embassy a few weeks ago, after Anubis destroyed their world. No planet, therefore no reason for a delegation." The little being paused as though to gauge our response to what I assumed was his attempt at humor. I smiled encouragingly. "If you hurry, you may be able to stake a claim to the compound before someone else does," Bragi advised and quickly gave us directions to his suggested location.

Sam asked, "Won't the owner of the building mind if we just plant our flag on the front door?"

Shaking his head, Bragi replied, "The Lojan were the owners. Now, whoever gets there first will own the facility." Blinking, Bragi glanced around at us humans. "It is a system that works. Seldom is there strife over such a transition. You will find that there are well-defined rules on this world that you would be wise to learn and follow."

I interjected, "We very much appreciate your guidance, Bragi. I hope that you will be willing to assist us while we learn. We're a young race, but eager to learn the proper etiquette of the wider community."

"Well spoken, young human. I think I will find instructing you most entertaining. Now, if you will excuse me, I must return to some rather pressing duties. One last word of advice, do not eat the food you find in the Lojan building." Bragi glanced at Sam. "It would taste worse to you than our food." Sam winced, most likely at the thought of food more revolting than that of the Asgard. The diminutive alien bowed his head and, before we could say goodbye, vanished in another burst of light. The door swung open with an audible snap as the latch released.

"At least he opened the door," Sam said genially.

O'Neill piped up, "Let's go find the place Braggy talked about and lay claim, if someone else hasn't beaten us to it."

Bragi's directions were very good, guiding us through opulent neighborhoods and wide tree-lined avenues to a slightly narrower street that ran along the crest of a hill overlooking the city. About a quarter mile along the street, we could see a tall stucco wall about a hundred feet long, in the middle of which stood a pair of elegant wrought iron gates. Moving closer, we saw that the gates opened into a stark cobbled courtyard littered with dead leaves.

"Shall we go in?" I suggested. Glancing to my left, I saw Sam was picking through her vest pockets. Finding a pad of florescent green paper and the marking pen she used to label samples, she wrote something in block letters, one character to a page. "Daniel, find the surgical tape, would you?" she mumbled with the pen in her mouth.

"What is the purpose of that, MajorCarter?" inquired Teal'c as I searched for the medical kit.

"Be patient and you'll know what it's for as soon as Daniel finds the tape." She softened her words with an affectionate smile for the Jaffa.

I held out the adhesive tape at last. Sam took the pages and stuck their adhesive strips in three parallel lines to the wall by the gate. She grabbed the tape and applied four strips to secure the pieces of paper to the wall. With a flourish and a grin, she said, "With this sign, I lay claim to this compound for the planet Earth." The makeshift sign read "Embassy of the Planet Earth."

"You are amazing, Carter. I never would have thought to use Post-its to take ownership of an embassy." Jack flashed his best grin and she blushed slightly around her smile. Sam had never been able to take praise well, however slight, especially from Jack.

Having staked our claim to the compound with her homemade sign, Sam regally preceded her teammates through the gates and stopped just inside.

"Wow." Jack gaped after he passed the ornate barriers. Spinning on one foot through 360 degrees to see the whole space, Jack scanned the substantial area around us. Following his example, albeit with a little more dignity, I saw that the building comprised three of the walls surrounding the courtyard. The fourth side was the outer wall and gateway through which we'd just passed. Many shuttered windows, underlined by window boxes full of dead and dying foliage, punctuated the stone walls.

"Let's check out the inside," Jack ordered as he strode to the double doors across the courtyard and pushed the left door inward.

"Right behind you, sir," Sam noted, her P90 rifle at the ready to defend her CO, if need be.

The deserted structure somehow oppressed any desire to speak. As we silently surveyed the empty spaces, I filmed each echoing room and Sam, apparently having decided there was no immediate threat, sketched a floor plan of the mansion. I watched as Jack and Teal'c noted the placement of windows and gauged the defensibility of the building, using gestures rather than words to point out features. Our years together removed all need for speech.

Through windows on the rear, beyond faded formal gardens, we saw more structures, probably outbuildings for the main house. Finally, finished with the last unlocked room in the basement, we returned to the courtyard. The lowering sun threw long web-like silhouettes of the spidery gates across the space, lending it the atmosphere of a place deserted for years rather than mere weeks.

Jack spoke for the first time since beginning the tour of our new acquisition. "Let's set up camp in the foyer. Sorry campers, no fire tonight. I don't think the new ambassador will approve of us scorching his or her pretty floor."

I spent an uncomfortable night in the echoing grand foyer, tossing and turning on the ornate and oh-so hard stone floor. The amount of thrashing about of bodies inside the other sleeping bags led me to believe that my companions fared no better. The next morning, after using zip-ties to secure the gate, we hiked the ten kilometers, mostly downhill, back to the gate.

"O'Neill, you are limping," Teal'c observed as we neared the Stargate.

"Just my knees. They truly hate going downhill. Now me, I don't really care, but they have a habit of making their opinion known. Well, we're almost to the Stargate. I feel the spa and a beer calling my name." Unfortunately, a loose stone on the 'Gate platform spoiled his plans.

Week 1 Day 5

JANET

"I'm sorry, Colonel O'Neill, but it looks as though you are in for some months of recovery and therapy to rehabilitate your knee. One of the most important elements in your successful recovery after this type of surgery is following an exercise and therapy program for four to six months. Even then, you won't have the same functionality as before due to the excessive amount of scar tissue and damage left from previous injuries." Captain Casselle, the orthopedic surgeon I'd called in, gave her bad news with a detachment that grated on me, as though she couldn't be bothered to feel bad for Colonel O'Neill.

"Thank you, Doctor Casselle. You've given me a lot to think about. I guess I'll go … think about it now." He grimaced, wheeled his chair around and left my office abruptly.

"Not too big on social amenities, is he?" quipped Doctor Casselle.

"What do you expect, Doctor?" I snapped at the younger officer. "You just told a man who lives for action that his years in the field are over." With that, I practically pushed Doctor Casselle out of my office, alluding to preparations I needed to make for a returning team.

I walked to the colonel's room, but there was no sign of him. Searching, concerned for his state of mind, I made my way to Daniel's lab, Teal'c quarters, the colonel's office, and then Sam's lab. Sam was the first member of SG-1 I found.

"Sam, I haven't been able to locate Colonel O'Neill and have to get back to the infirmary. SG-11 is due back soon and they always need my services. Would you try to find him? I can't give you any details without breaching patient confidentiality, but he really needs someone right now." Her immediate expression of concern for him gave me hope.

"Of course I will." I quickly told her where I'd already been and could see Sam mentally crossing them off her list of places to look.

SAM

Making an educated guess about where he'd be, I headed for the surface. He couldn't get far in that wheelchair, but there were several paved paths through the small park-like area up top.

The sentry greeted me, "Morning, ma'am."

"Good morning, Sergeant Tunnyhill. Have you seen Colonel O'Neill pass this way recently?"

"Yes, ma'am. He took off for the trails. Little chilly today, if you ask me ma'am, to be wheelin' around on top of a mountain, even if it is spring down below," the young E-3 volunteered.

"Thanks," I threw over my shoulder and set a quick pace, almost jogging, to catch up with my CO. From his past experiences, he really knew how to make that chair fly around the curves and hills of the pathways. After several minutes of walking, arms wrapped around my body in the chilly breeze, I heard the telltale sound of wheels on the gravel edge of the path. Walking more quickly, I caught up to him. He sat staring out over the valley below.

Kneeling next to the arm of the wheelchair holding my colonel, I said, "Sir? I won't ask if you're okay, because it's pretty obvious you're not. You're starting to turn blue, sir. Can we go inside?"

He shook his head. "I need to be alone for a little while, Carter. Go in before you get cold, too." His voice was as devoid of emotion as his blank face.

"Too late for that, Colonel. Besides, I'm not leaving you alone. Friends don't do that." I rested my hand on his arm and asked softly, "Talk to me."

He looked at my hand and sighed in defeat. Not looking at me, he told me what was bothering him. "Janet and the ice queen surgeon just dropped the bomb. No more fieldwork or combat for me. I just can't cut it with this knee any more, even with surgery and months of physical therapy."

"Sir, what can I say? I won't tell you there are many things you can still do for the Air Force. You know that already." Impulsively, I leaned forward and put my arms around his shoulders. The colonel froze when I hugged him, apparently startled, then relaxed into the embrace. I don't imagine his last second, Kawalsky, ever hugged him. The contact made my heart race.

Pulling back at last, I felt my face heat up. "I'm sorry, sir. That wasn't very professional of me."

"Don't be silly, Carter. I really needed that hug … much more than a phony pep talk. Thanks, Sam." He still looked as though he wasn't feeling at all good about his future, but at least he wouldn't be alone. The other members of SG-1 and I would make sure of that.

He flashed a grin at me that took my breath away. There was something in his smile I couldn't identify, but made me want to see it again. Turning the chair sharply away, he quipped, "Race you to the elevator. It's cold out here!"

DANIEL

Within the week of our return, I gave my proposal for an Earth embassy on PJB-007. The initial presentation to my teammates, Major Davis and General Hammond was a practice run for the presentation to the President.

I opened the speech with some background, the sort of thing that routinely puts Jack into a coma but builds the foundation needed for the remainder of the talk. "If the inhabitants of Hawai'iki were truly transplanted from Earth, then their planet is named for the fabled homeland of the Hawaiians. We're hopeful this ancient kinship may be to our advantage with the Hawai'ikians." The presentation continued for another 45 minutes until I was ready to wrap up my argument.

"The presence in one city of so many species and cultures could save us years of searching worlds for possible allies. Moreover, the intelligence gathering opportunities appear limitless. The Hawai'ikians have built their economy on trade in information. Earth's presence on Hawai'iki represents an opportunity unparalleled in our short years of interstellar travel."

With some reworking and rewording of the talk, General Hammond gave his approval. A week to the day later, he and I made our pitch to the President via videoconference.

After a lengthy question and answer session, the President remarked in his clipped New England accent, "I'm quite captivated by the idea, Doctor Jackson. However, I have a number of people to speak with before I can give you an answer. Now that our Earth allies are aware of the existence of the Stargate and the program, they must be included in the decision to place an embassy off world. I'll get back to you within the week. Thank you again, Doctor Jackson, General Hammond."

"How do you think it went, sir?" I nervously asked the general after the President dismissed us.

"As well as it could have, son. I'd have been extremely surprised to get an answer right away. Like the President said, things are a lot more complex now that we've let the cat out of the bag." The portly general chuckled, evidently satisfied we'd done our best. "Now, we just have to be patient."

Week 3 Day 7

JACK

I uncertainly clutched, in the hand not occupied by a crutch, my transfer paperwork. Procrastinating, I thought, Hammond's been more than patient with me. It's time to give him my answer. At least I'm out of that damned chair.

The hefty cast made maneuvering around corners at speed an exercise in logistics, but it beat trying to maneuver a big hurkin' hospital wheelchair around halls and elevators. Stopping in front of my commander's door, I knocked and heard, "Enter." Taking a deep, cleansing breath, then another and another, I opened the door before I hyperventilated. Clomping my way over to his desk, I placed the letter before the general.

"I've come to give you this, sir. It's my request for a transfer from SG-1 to another position. Assuming you have one for me." I really wasn't sure what I wanted to do now that my field days were over, but sitting at home in retirement wasn't it. I'd been there, done that. I wasn't the same man who'd spent an entire year brooding over things I couldn't change.

"Thank you, Colonel. I know it wouldn't have been your choice to leave SG-1 this way, but we do have need of your talents here." Hammond smiled encouragingly and gestured for me to sit.

A sigh of relief escaped my lips before I could stop it. Hammond had already said the Air Force wouldn't force me into retirement, but I was well aware of the enemies I'd made in high places. "Thank you, sir. Doctor Fraiser says I'll be off duty for another six weeks, but I'm making good progress, all things considered. As soon as she clears me for light duties, I'd like to return. There's only so much cleaning and fixing up around the house a guy can stand."

He chuckled in sympathy. "That's good news, Colonel. We'll be happy to have you back." Hammond withdrew two folders from his desk drawer and handed them to me. "I have a couple of positions here you might want to consider. You're more than qualified to do either, so the choice is yours. Read the job descriptions and let me know within the next two weeks if you'd like either one. I assume you'll want to tell your team yourself."

"Yes, sir, just as soon as we're through here."

He noticed I was hesitating before turning to leave. "Is there anything else, Jack?"

"Yes, sir. I know we've discussed this before, but I wanted to make my recommendation again that Major Carter be seriously considered to lead SG-1 and for that next promotion. She's more than qualified and has proven herself repeatedly over the past seven years."

Hammond smiled and asked, "Since I forced you to accept her on your team, you mean?"

I returned his smile. "Yes, sir. Best thing you ever did for me … uh, and the team."

"You recommendation is duly noted, Colonel. For the record, I agree completely, but it's up to the Joint Chiefs and the President." Dismissed, I clomped my way out of his office and toward a meeting that I dreaded.

GENERAL HAMMOND

Later that day, the President replied to our proposal. "General Hammond, Doctor Jackson, I'm pleased to report that we have a tentative agreement from our allies, so long as they are included in crucial decisions. I'm sure I can trust you, Doctor Jackson, to do that as the new ambassador to Hawai'iki."

Doctor Jackson started, obviously taken aback. "B-b-but sir, I wasn't asking for the job for myself! There are many others much more qualified than I am. Beside, I'm a charter member of SG-1, a–a job that I love."

"You'll still work with SG-1, just not in the same capacity as before. As the new ambassador of Earth, you'll be leading your companions now," the President announced with a self-satisfied smile.

"Sir! No, really, I couldn't take that opportunity from Major Carter. She should be leading SG-1."

He smiled smugly. "And so she shall, with some changes. I've explained everything in your orders, which the general should have in his email inbox by now. Good luck, Doctor." The screen went blank and the President was gone.

A stunned, newly made ambassador sat back while I searched through the morning's email. "Here it is." I scanned the documents, my smile growing as I read. "Let me print you a copy, Doctor Jackson. I think you're going to like this."

SAM

"Carter, team meeting, my office, 1400 hours." Before I could say a thing, Colonel O'Neill was gone, skillfully pivoting around the door jam on his crutch tip, using the weight of his cast to slingshot him into the hall. I listened to the squeak-clomp of his steps as he hobbled down the hallway toward Daniel's lab and then, presumably, Teal'c's quarters.

At 1355, I stood nervously outside my CO's office. The meeting had to be about his future with SG-1. Sucking in a deep breath, I knocked and entered when invited.

"Hey, Carter, sit down. Daniel and Teal'c should be here any time." Searching for a place to sit, I chose the straight-backed, barely padded guest chair over the scruffy sofa on the right wall. Relaxing was the last thing on my mind just then.

"Sir, is there anything you can tell me before they get here? I assume this is about where SG-1 goes from here."

"Sorry Major, no advance hints. Besides, I don't know all the details myself yet."

I tensed and reflected to myself that the news mustn't be good. The Joint Chiefs must not have decided to give me SG-1 and they're looking for a replacement. Not hearing a word the colonel said, I fidgeted anxiously until my two other teammates arrived.

"What's up, Jack?" Daniel asked as he flopped down on the ancient sofa and Teal'c took a seat more gracefully.

"Well, I'll make this short. As of midnight, I'm no longer your CO. I gave Hammond my request for transfer this morning." He paused to glance at each of us. I followed his gaze and saw resignation and disappointment on my teammates' faces. "Until they make a permanent assignment, Carter is in charge. My knee is shot and Hammond's generously offered me a couple of other positions from which to choose. I have two weeks to give him my decision." The colonel looked at each of us again. "Any questions?" We sat for several seconds in shock at his barebones announcement.

Daniel recovered first and cleared his throat. "Uh, yeah. I hate to overshadow your announcement, Jack, but has General Hammond showed you the orders I got a couple of hours ago from the President?" The colonel shook his head, so Daniel handed out copies of the multi-page document, a look of annoyance marring his handsome face. "The long and short of it is that I'm now the Earth ambassador to Hawai'iki. The, uh, President apparently mistook my proposal for a job application."

"Daniel, congratulations!" I hugged him and the others shook his hand. Then it struck me that we were really breaking up after seven years together. SG-1 was dissolving.

He sat down again. "And there are new opportunities for you, Sam and Teal'c, if you want them. The President was very thorough in his planning."

I'd been scanning the orders since I sat back down, absorbing every syllable relating to SG-1 and my future. Stunned, flabbergasted and thunderstruck don't begin to describe how I felt and I sat gaping at the pages in my hands.

"MajorCarter, you are quite pale. Are you alright?"

"I think so, Teal'c, but you may want to ask me again after I absorb all these changes. The colonel leaving and the rest of us offered jobs off world."

JACK

"Come on, you three. Drinks at O'Malley's, on me, no argument. We need to celebrate all of our new jobs. I'll see you at the elevator by our quarters in 90 minutes." I shooed them out the door and collapsed in my chair, thinking about what I hoped to get out of this change to our lives.

I mused, Just my luck, as soon as we're free of the regs, she goes off world. At least there's no one else to compete with for her affections. I hope. No more delays, I have to speak with her tonight.

The thought of losing Sam after waiting what seemed like forever was too much. We'd given up so much for the war against the Goa'uld. Now we finally had a chance to be together, assuming I didn't screw up this relationship too.

Hey, no pressure.

JANET

"Sam, are you alright? You're white as a sheet," I asked my best friend.

She looked up at me, blue eyes huge, from her seat on the locker room bench. "I-I'm not sure. My whole world is upside down. The colonel just told us he's quit SG-1. Then Daniel showed us our new orders."

"May I ask what the new orders say? Are you getting command of SG-1?" I slid onto the bench next to Sam.

She drew a shaky breath and let out a little laugh. "SG-1's charter is changing and … I do get command. It's now a team of four to five scientific specialists, plus Teal'c. We'll be based out of the new embassy on Hawai'iki."

"Hawai'iki, where's that?" I listened in stunned silence as Sam summarized the events I'd missed.

"No wonder you're in shock, Sam. What an opportunity." Slightly in shock myself, I turned to face Sam. "Are you going to take it?"

"I don't know just yet. I have to talk it over with the guys and the general - and Dad, if I can find him. I need more details."

"Cassie and I'll miss you, Sam." I wrapped my arms around her for a congratulatory hug. We both knew Sam would jump at this opportunity, regardless of what those details turned out to be.

JACK

Drinks at O'Malley's were more sedate than the last time SG-1 was there; no fistfights, no being tossed out and barred.

"I think this calls for champagne," I announced after sitting down at our table. When all four of us had a glass, we toasted our seven years of companionship and our futures.

Then Daniel turned to me. "So, give. Tell us about the two positions you have to decide between."

I shifted to face him. "First, the Academy is looking for a new instructor of strategy and tactics. Second, the SGC is adding more teams again and seriously needs to start a formal in-house training program. The second job would also involve tactical consulting."

"So?"

"Well, Daniel, I'm getting to that. Hammond did well by me, but it took all of 30 seconds to decide. Can you really see me in that group of stuffed shirts? No, I'm taking the second job."

"Congratulations, sir. You'll do a wonderful job. And we'll still be able to see you whenever we're on Earth." Carter's smile was breathtaking. She was seriously happy for me.

She talked excitedly, eyes shining, about the missions she'd like to lead and the type of team members she hoped to recruit. "I already have two people in mind I'd like to steal from other teams." She glanced sidelong at me and said evilly, "Just creating some openings for your trainees, sir." We laughed together, still working as a team. "We'll investigate leads to new archeological and scientific finds and actually get to research the items we bring back instead of sending everything to Area 51. Plus, we'll have access to all sorts of new technology on Hawai'iki."

Daniel went on and on about the plans he had for building beneficial relationships with the various factions on Hawai'iki and the opportunities this would provide him for some research of his own. Frankly, my mind zoned out after about two sentences. Watching Carter was much more fun. She practically oozed eagerness for the four of us. Her cheeks glowed, no doubt helped by the wine. I tried not to stare, but she was stunning that night.

Teal'c was his usual stoic self at first, but he was positively boisterous after one glass of wine. No more Junior to spoil his fun, so we could tease out his plans for the future. Along with his duties on SG-1, he'd be running the security for the new embassy. His real hopes were for helping to rebuild the aborted Jaffa rebellion.

They all had such exciting prospects; I was a little envious. I'd just have to make my own domain exciting, too, or live vicariously through them.

Teal'c and I excused ourselves briefly for a bio-break. Later, hobbling back, I approached our table from behind a fancy partition. I stopped for a moment to relieve the pressure of the crutch on my arm and overheard them talking. Ashamed of eavesdropping, I started to walk again, but stopped at what I heard.

"Sam, what about your relationship with Jim? How can you leave now?"

"I don't know, Daniel. I don't even know if he loves me. What if he just wants to be friends?" The depth of emotion in her voice surprised me.

"Do you? Love him, that is?"

She paused shortly. "Yes, I do, Daniel, more than I ever thought possible."

My stomach fell through the floor. So, Sam has someone else. I've waited too long to say something. Maybe it's been too late for some time and she was afraid to tell me. Daniel obviously knew. Who else knows?

My thoughts ran in circles until I shook myself out of the trance her words had induced.

Daniel shifted in his seat. "What are you going to do about it? You should talk with him."

Carter snorted softly. "You're asking the wrong person to do that. I haven't had a personal life for so long I wouldn't even know how to start the conversation. What about you and Janet?"

"Come on, Sam. There is no me and Janet, you know that. It's not as if I have a life either. What would she and Cassie do on an alien planet?"

"Cassie's a pre-med student now, Daniel. She can get along just fine without her mommy, and I happen to know that Cassie's mom likes you an awful lot." She paused and changed tactic. "Well, anyway, we'll have each other and Teal'c's shoulder to cry on. His shoulders have gotten pretty damp over the years. Even if we can't have the colonel there, we'll have the three of us."

Their conversation had shaken me badly, but it was time to join them before Teal'c came back from the men's room and caught me listening. Taking up my crutch, I rounded the corner and slid in across from them. Carter's eyes were a little red. "What'd I miss?"

"Nothing much, sir." She made a face as she glanced at Daniel and he stayed silent.

"I must take my leave now," Teal'c said, suddenly appearing beside our table. "MajorCarter, I will take a taxi back to the base. You need not go back there tonight."

"I don't mind at all, Teal'c." Carter started to gather her things. "I have a couple of tests I ought to check anyway."

"I should go, too. I have an early meeting tomorrow." Daniel stood to leave as well. Then, turning back toward the table, he asked, "Coming Jack?"

"What else can I do? You kids just have no stamina," I quipped to hide my powerful sense of dread.

Continued in Part 2