Disclaimer: The usual disclaimer applies. I don't own anything, don't sue, so on and so forth, etc, etc…I know this is pretty stupid and lame but I had a sudden idea for it and decided to try it out. Positive and negative reviews accepted. (I still haven't gotten one of the latter…)
Jack signed in at the base entrance and made his way down to General Landry's office. Jack had retired years earlier, before Hammond moved on to Homeworld Security. Daniel and Teal'c still went through the Gate with other teams, but Jack barely came around the base anymore.
Except for this day. He came every year on this day. Jack checked in with Hank and talked with him for a while, then went to find Daniel and Teal'c. They were waiting for him at the elevator doors on Level 20. They said their greetings and made their way to the commissary.
The people they passed had somber faces. They knew what day this was and what these men were on their way to do. It was an occasion marked on many SGC personnel's calendars. Someone always made sure to tell the new people about this date and the story that went with it. It was a day you, as part of the SGC, were supposed to remember and honor.
Seven years ago on this day, Major Samantha Carter was killed off world trying to save a planet's population. She succeeded but never came home. It was an unspoken tradition, code, that on this day, the anniversary of her death, you were to remember Major Carter and honor her in some way- even if you had never met her. The SGC science wing was dedicated to her on this day, one year after her death.
Her three teammates tried to go on with their lives the best they could, but were doing quite poorly. They survived nonetheless, though only fractions of who and what they used to be. Jack started this tradition and he and Daniel and Teal'c followed it every year without fail and would continue to do so.
They walked through the doors of the commissary and Jack went to the line while Daniel and Teal'c sat down at a corner table. Jack returned with a tray loaded with three dishes and set it down on the table. Each man took a cup and spoon. Daniel and Teal'c looked at Jack to say something- that was how this worked. He said the same thing he always did: To Major Samantha Carter, brilliant scientist, skilled soldier, beloved and sorely missed friend. Rest in Peace Sam.
All eyes were upon the three as they slowly ate their tribute to their fallen friend. It was the only time of the year they ever ate blue Jell-O™.