2 days later – SGC Command – Cheyenne Mountain
"Orders … I don't THINK so…" Jack muttered as he paced his office back at the SGC. This was ridiculous! The idea that Hammond thought his private life was any of his business. This was America by God and no way was he gonna obey that stupid, silly and STRANGE command. "I'm a General… I am in charge here! I'm a…CRAZED LOON!" He finished with a small moan, his thoughts erratic as he ran his hands through his already chaotic gray hair. A knock on his door sounded just before Walters' head popped through – his attitude nervous about interrupting O'Neill in 'one of his moods' which the crew were fast becoming accustomed to.
"WHAT is it? Better be good!" O'Neill glowered as only Jack O'Neill could.
"Uhh Sir, you asked to be notified when Col. Carter came on duty. She's on base. Sir."
"Already! She's not due back until…." What was he thinking! This was Sam Carter who had won the 'SGC Base Workaholic award' for the last four years straight. Of course she's back early.
Walter could have sworn he heard the General groan, and just as suddenly he thought not as the General's whole demeanor just as quickly changed -- as he quit pacing and moved to sit behind his desk. "Walter, tell Col. Carter that I need to see her as soon as possible."
"Yes Sir!" He hastily left the office of the most mercurial General he had ever met. It was never boring working for General O'Neill - that was a given. If he wasn't locking diplomats up in a room for days – then he was going on missions to retrieve old friends. He was a pain in the mitka, but still, he was 'their General' and he had everyone's total allegiance and respect.
With a very definite groan this time, O'Neill laid his head on his folded arms when an incandescent light in front of his desk became visible.
"What now…" O'Neil muttered – as he continued to keep his head down.
"O'Neill… are you sleeping?" A soft monotone voice ventured from the front of his desk where the light had been.
"O'Neill? Do you wish me to leave?" It asked again.
O'Neill raised his head slowly, his eyebrows above his dark eyes waggling as he slowly sighed, "Thor! What brings you to visit? Long time no see. What? Trying out your new talent of…
MATCHMAKING!" O'Neill's voice raised mightily on the last word as black-brown eyes glowered at the little gray alien standing in front of him.
Thor just blinked his large eyes three times slowly as he gazed back at the irate General.
"I am not familiar with that term, O'Neill… we haven't used matches on Othalla for thousands of years…"
"AAKK!" O'Neill's hand jerked up to silence the small alien – and it worked effectively as Thor looked at him with a perplexed look his dark intelligent eyes blinking slowly.
"Do NOT play 'dumb alien' with moi, ole buddy!" O'Neill's long fingers were wagging as he rose and came around the corner of his desk to stand looking down at the tiny gray figure.
"General Hammond has let me in on your shenanigans!"
If O'Neill had paid attention he would have noticed that Thor was completely flummoxed by the word, 'Shenanigan' and you could almost see the wheels spinning in his large head as he tried to figure it out. He evidently decided to forego asking and calmly continued.
"O'Neill your medical scan has alarmed your personal medical technician, Felspre and I have been asked to make sure that you are well.
"My WHAT!" O'Neill's voice was almost shrill – "Who the Hell is Felspre and what the hell are you talking about?" O'Neill's face was an unhealthy shade of red as he glowered down at Thor, waiting for his explanation.
"You did not answer the question. Are you feeling well? Felspre's heart monitor was displaying an alarming high number for you. Do you think you are dying?" Thor's calm tone was in stark contrast to the contents of his words. Almost hilarious, thought O'Neill if you weren't the one he was referring to as 'dying'.
"You are so gonna wish that I was dying when I get through reaming your little gray butt out!" O'Neill growled and turned away to stalk back around his desk.
Thor ignored him and walked closer – something in his hand that O'Neill had not noticed before glowed as he pointed it towards him. After checking the results of his apparent scan of the tall human – he turned back and touched the stone, talking quietly in Asgard and then the scanner disappeared in a white light.
"You are experiencing extreme stress, O'Neill" Thor said gravely.
O'Neill gave up – how do you fight a alien who never raises his voice – never succumbs to emotions – but always seems to have your back? You can't. You don't.
He dropped into his desk chair and leaned back – closing his eyes in weariness.
"Do you know why I am stressed? I have been ordered to do something that is waayyy beyond scope of what I should ever be ordered to do."
The quietness of his tone – was in total contrast to his yelling a moment before, but Thor seemed uneasy by this change to quietness as he moved to stand in front of the desk.
"What is this order?" Thor asked with apparent curiosity.
You KNOW."
"No. I don't."
"Yes you DO."
Thor was opening his mouth to retort that indeed he did NOT know, just as O'Neill interjected,
" STOP! - -I already have to do this.. this.. with one persnickety archeologist – and I'm not playing 'argument tag' with you too!"
Thor closed his mouth and blinked – filing away another unknown Earth word…. Persnickety, would that be a good name for an Asgard ship?
Finally he quietly continued, "Please elaborate O'Neill – I am … how do you say… out of the light on this."
"In the dark Thor, in the dark… " Jack cleared his throat, his flushed face embarrassed he looked to the ceiling and closed his eyes and recited as if by rote – so quickly the words ran together as if he didn't say it fast then he would not get it out at all. "To-confront-Samantha-Carter-regarding-how-I-feel-about-her-personally-and-to-find-out-how-she-feels-about-me. To-understand-and-resolve-our-relationship." His eyes were still closed as he finished with a groan.
"Yes. This is a good thing." Thor's face was serene and it was almost possible to see a small satisfied smile if you were looking closely, but Jack was not, as he was once again enraged by Thor's comment.
"WHY is this 'A Good Thing'?" His tone spewing sarcasm as he used air quotes around the phrase.
"Tell me Thor, why is this anybody's business but my own?" His dark brown eyes squinting in serious perplexity as he gazed back. "I REALLY want to know! "
Thor suddenly vanished in a bright light.
"Coward!" O'Neill yelled at the ceiling and then slumped forward, putting his head down on his desk.
Just as suddenly the brilliant light blazed again, depositing Thor once more in front of O'Neill's desk. "Long time no see – " Jack's sarcastic comment could be heard muffled through his downcast head, as he did not even look up to acknowledge that the small alien was indeed back.
"I left to obtain permission from my superiors to further discuss this matter with you, General O'Neill." Thor's tone was even more formal than normal along with the salutation that he hardly ever used. Noticing this made Jack raise his head warily to study the High Commander of all the Asgards.
'Okaaayyy' he said slowly as he leaned back in his chair, crossing his arms – his dark eyes never leaving Thor's … "Please, expound, explain, and even illustrate! I await hearing this." His sarcasm still very evident but curiosity was definitely there.
"We have knowledge of the future of the Tauri through our studies of the Ancient library we downloaded from your brain." Thor stopped and blinked slowly.
"And … this is relevant ... HOW?" O'Neill retorted with one eyebrow raised, very Teal'c-like.
"This future is a good one for your world and mine. Some would say an exceedingly beneficial one, but it is not fully certain to happen -- due to the effects and machinations of the timeline that were done by different groups." Thor did not elaborate on what groups he was referring to.
"Oh, I do not want to hear anything, ANYTHING about time travel, time loops, time relativity and effects!" O'Neill's hands were moving around his desk, rearranging his yo-yo, moving his Homer figurines – even as he emphatically made his point. "That stuff does not compute -- here!" He said as he pointed to his graying head.
Thor slowly nodded, "I understand. I will NOT try and explain the concept – the only thing that you need to know O'Neill is that you are very much an integral part of the process – as is Colonel Carter. We are concerned enough that we feel we must speak up to ensure this event."
"Could you possibly be a bit more obtuse?" O'Neill asked even more sarcastically if possible.
O'Neill noticed with satisfaction that Thor's patience seemed to be leaving him.
Was that a slight flush of red in those gray cheeks? Nahhh… These thoughts as he studied his effect on Thor were sent scrambling as Thor's next sentence left him bereft of speech.
"O'Neill and Carter must have children." Thor said simply – and then deafening silence followed this simple statement as for once, Jack was speechless, his face frozen in shock and disbelief.
Thor seemed to think of something and added, "Together". As if he wanted to make everything crystal clear for O'Neill. Then, as if to make SURE the message was getting across as O'Neill appeared to be a bit dense today, he added two more words, "And soon".
"For crying out loud!" was finally heard, muttered in complete weariness by the tall, gray-haired General who had finally met his match when facing the inexplicable of the galaxy.
End of Part 2 – Change Happens