'…and then you'll greet the President…'

Jack tuned out the rest of Sergeant Harriman's briefing. They'd barely arrived back at the base before the Sergeant had insisted on taking them through the details of the Presidential visit. Jack glanced down at the briefing pack and out of the window where Sergeant Siler and his team were making preparations to the gate room. Walter must have worked his socks off the whole weekend. He felt a twinge of guilt at taking the vacation. He couldn't deny though that it had been a good two days and exactly what the SG1 team had needed. Their return had been tinged with sadness though; Teal'c had quietly announced that morning at breakfast his intention to as he had put it 'take my leave of the Tau'ri.' It had been emotional for everyone. He suspected even Teal'c had wiped away a tear or two. God knew what his actual departure was actually going to be like; it was scheduled for directly after the President's visit.

'…and then you take the lectern and make your speech.' Sergeant Walter Harriman ticked off another item on his list.

'You're making a speech, sir?'

Jack jerked his attention back to the briefing and Sam's amused comment. 'I am.'

'Really.' Daniel said dryly. 'You have it written already, I take it.'

'I've got a few things in my head.' Jack said defensively.

'Yes but would you want to say them out loud?' Daniel shot back.

Sam hastily turned her laugh into a cough as Teal'c schooled his features from showing the amusement that gleamed in his eyes.

'I just need to write them down.' Jack insisted.

'Right.' Daniel shook his head. He resigned himself to being woken up early to give Jack a hand with the speech.

'Uh, sir, the President's Chief of Staff felt that it would be appropriate for you to focus on a few things in your speech.' Walter swallowed hard as Jack's brown gaze snapped to him.

'He did, did he?' Jack muttered. Politicians. Always had to be something.

The Sergeant indicated the as yet unopened blue folder in front of the General. 'The list is in your briefing pack.'

'Thank you, Walter. I'll take that under advisement.'

'Yes, sir.' Walter checked his list. 'At the end of your speech, you should direct people to the commissary where the celebratory lunch will be held.'

'That I can do.' Jack leaned back in his chair. 'What's on the menu?'

'It's a buffet, sir. Chef finalised the details this morning and a full list of included items is also in your briefing pack.'

Jack flipped the blue folder open and shuffled to the right sheet of paper. His eyes widened at the dessert options. Pots of blue jello? He raised his eyes and met Sam's across the table. He re-examined the list. A number of things on it were Sam's favourites. It looked like Chef had a soft spot for the Colonel or maybe he, like everyone else on base, simply wanted to take care of one of their own knowing about her recent loss. Jack felt a warm glow. Some days he just loved the people he worked with.

'So, the President will probably not stay for the whole lunch period which is scheduled to finish at fifteen-hundred.' Walter concluded, ticking the last item on his checklist.

'Excellent work, Walter.' Jack said.

Walter risked another glance at the General and at the sincere look of gratitude felt his chest swell with a little bit of pride. 'Thank you, sir.'

The rest of SG1 added their own words of praise and the Sergeant practically floated out of the briefing room as the General dismissed the gathering.

Daniel lingered behind as the others filed out. Sam was heading to her lab to catch up on the ZPM analysis. Teal'c had gone to pack up his room.

'You need something, Daniel?' Jack asked as he shoved his chair back and headed for his office.

'Well, I was wondering whether you wanted to work on the speech now rather than early tomorrow morning.' Daniel slouched in the office doorway and folded his arms over the briefing pack he held. 'That way I might actually get a full night's sleep before I meet the President tomorrow.'

'I told ya, it's under control.'

'Yeah.' Daniel pushed his glasses up his nose. 'That's what you said the last time.'

'And the time before that if my memory serves.'

The heads of both men swivelled to the open door on the other side of the office at the Texan accent.

Jack grinned widely. 'General Hammond, sir.' Hammond entered the office fully and shook Jack's outstretched hand enthusiastically.

'Jack.' His blue eyes smiled warmly at the other man before they shifted to smile just as warmly at the younger man standing in the other doorway. 'Doctor Jackson.'

Daniel took a couple of steps forward to shake Hammond's hand. 'It's good to see you.'

'Likewise, son.' Hammond smiled at both men.

'You're here for tomorrow's ceremony.' Daniel stated.

'I wouldn't have missed it for the world.'

Daniel gestured at the door. He figured Hammond would want to speak with Jack alone. 'Well, I have some translations…it was good to see you.'

'Please don't go on my account.' Hammond said. 'Actually, your assessment of the situation I'm here to discuss would be appreciated.'

'O-K.' Daniel glanced at Jack and saw he was just confused.

'If you could close the door…'

'Oh.' Daniel slipped the door to the briefing room shut as Hammond did the same with the door to the corridor.

'This looks serious.' Jack noted as Hammond indicated for him to sit down.

'I've had a request from the Joint Chiefs, Jack.' Hammond took the chair on the opposite side of the desk as Daniel leaned against the wall.

'Oh?' Jack picked a pen and twirled it through his fingers nervously.

'The head of Area 51's SG Research and Development department, Colonel Mayhew, resigned yesterday.'

'So?' Jack asked wondering how that affected him and his command.

'He's recommended Colonel Carter as his successor.' Hammond tapped the arm of his chair; the only outward sign of his unease.

Jack folded his hands together around the pen; tried to keep his expression blank. 'I see.'

'The Joint Chiefs would like to approve the transfer.' Hammond gestured at him. 'From their perspective, a scientist with the Colonel's abilities would never normally spend so much time out in the field; she's too valuable an asset to risk.'

'An asset?'

'Yes, Jack, an asset.' Hammond's calm tone contrasted with Jack's anger. 'You and I both know in normal circumstances she would never have served in a frontline team. The Stargate programme provided her with a unique opportunity.'

'They've left her in place until now so what's changed?' Daniel asked before Jack could reply.

Jack pointed his pen at Daniel. 'What he said.'

'It was believed that whilst the danger to the planet was high, Colonel Carter's talents were best placed at this facility. However, the latest reports indicate that there is a low threat assessment at the present time.'

'At the present time.' Jack shot back. 'We could have another Goa'uld, or Replicator, or God knows what, knocking on the gate tomorrow.'

'I know that.' Hammond sighed. 'But you're going to have to provide me with more than that for me to be able to refuse a transfer request at this level.'

'It is a request though and not an order?' Daniel checked.

Hammond nodded. 'For the moment.'

Jack searched for a reply. 'General, you know yourself that Carter's just lost her father. She's broken off her engagement. Teal'c's leaving tomorrow. The last thing she needs right now is a transfer away from her support network and everything familiar to her.'

'Is that your professional opinion?' Hammond challenged.

Jack froze at the question. 'My professional opinion, sir.' He shot back. 'As is my assessment that she is too valuable an asset,' he spat the word out, 'for the SGC to lose.'

'I agree with Jack, General Hammond.' Daniel said quietly.

Jack could have hugged Daniel at that moment but he kept his attention on Hammond. 'Permission to speak freely, sir.'

Hammond nodded. 'Go ahead.'

'What the hell is going on?'

Hammond sighed. 'As you know the SGC is considered to be a maverick organisation by some members of the Pentagon.'

'Maverick?' Daniel asked.

'It's felt that we don't maintain the same level of discipline and order that the rest of the military adhere to.'

Jack frowned. 'That's just a crock of…'

'Truth, Jack.' Hammond inclined his head slightly. 'If we did maintain the same level, you would never have made it to that chair. Hell, you'd probably be doing time in a jail cell right now with some of the stunts you've pulled.'

Jack winced. 'We're a unique organisation with unique challenges, sir…'

'You don't have to convince me of that, Jack.' Hammond stabbed a finger on the top of the desk. 'I helped build this place.'

'Yes, you did, sir.' Jack murmured recognising that what Hammond should have said was that he had built the place.

'However, the Pentagon has a different opinion and the truth is, Jack, that the SGC had more leverage with them when Earth was continually under attack. Now that the Replicators have been vanquished, the Goa'uld, and in particular, Anubis, have been effectively neutralised as a threat especially with the Jaffa rebellion, there are some people who feel it's time to flex their muscle and bring the SGC in line regardless of it's unique mandate.'

'So you're saying because we did our jobs and got the results doing it our way, they're going to come in and change everything?' Daniel checked. 'Is it me or does that not make any sense?'

'I don't think you're wrong, son.' Hammond said. 'Truth is that some believe the ship-building programme should get greater priority than the Stargate at this point.'

'Then why are you retiring? Why aren't you staying to fight this?' Jack asked.

'If I thought it would do any good I'd stay but the truth is I know I won't get through to them.'

'But you think I would?' Jack asked alluding to Hammond's recommendation of him as his successor.

'I think you have the practical field experience that even the Joint Chiefs would have a hard time arguing with, yes.' Hammond said.

Jack sighed and threw down his pen. 'I can't take the job.'

'Why not?'

'Seriously, sir? Let's face it; a week in a desk job dealing with the Joint Chiefs and I would be facing a court martial.' Jack said.

Hammond laughed. Jack's sense of humour was one of the reasons he just downright liked the other man so much. 'But that's not the reason why you're turning it down?' He asked perceptively.

'Not the complete reason, no.' Jack admitted without expanding further.

Hammond suspected that Jack's feelings for a certain blonde Colonel were factoring somewhere in the mix but he determined this was one of those times when it was better not to ask. 'Well, I can't say I'm not disappointed with your decision.'

'Ah come on, General, you have to have a better candidate than me waiting in the wings.' Jack protested unconsciously picking up the pen again. He had a lot of respect for Hammond and hated the fact that he was disappointing the other man.

'You'd be surprised, Jack, at how few candidates there are with your unique combination of skills and experiences, not to mention familiarity with the uniqueness of this facility.' Hammond sighed.

Daniel saved Jack from having to make a reply. 'So, how do we get the Joint Chiefs to back off transferring Sam?'

Hammond looked at Jack. 'Do you have any medical evidence to back up your command perspective on her state of mind?'

'No.' Jack said. 'Our new CMO arrives tomorrow though and I could order Carter to take a full physical and psych evaluation.'

'Do it. I'll delay my decision to the Joint Chiefs until I receive the medical report.' Hammond said. 'But if the results don't back up your own position, Jack, it's going to be difficult to keep her at the SGC as much as I don't want to see her transferred either.'

Jack nodded. 'I understand, sir.'

Hammond got to his feet and Jack automatically rose to his. 'Well, it's been a tiring day. I'm going to head to the VIP room Walter set up for me. I'll see you both tomorrow for the ceremony.'

'Yes, General.' Jack slumped back into his chair. He sighed and rubbed his hands furiously through his short crop of grey hair. Carter just being transferred because of military politics…now there was a possibility he hadn't considered.