Disclaimer: I do not own the characters of Stargate, or any elements of the show. I did create this storyline however. Sequel to "A letter, or two".
No more
Consequences
With a contented sigh Jack signed his last request for the day. After an entire day of briefings, debriefings, memo's and requests he was totally done with it. He decisively pushed his chair back from the desk and stood up. The resulting sound from his knees caused him to wince and for the fourth time that day thoughts of an in house masseuse came up. Not on this budget, he thought sadly. 'Maybe the science department wouldn't mind a little cutback.' He stood there for two seconds, slowly blinking his eyes, before deciding that it probably was a bad idea.
He looked at the clock. 'Six forty. Okay, that gives me about half an hour at home to shave and shower. Should be enough.' He was about to switch off the light on his desk when Walter knocked on the door. Jack looked up and immediately felt his tired brain protesting.
"Ah come one, Walter, can't I just go home in time for once!"
Walter hovered outside his office. Jack thought he had come with another stack of requests, but the look on his face was far more serious than that. Coming round his desk Jack frowned and his gut was telling him this time something was very wrong.
"Walter?"
"Eeh, sir, there are two men to see you."
"Well tell them I'm going home right now, make an appointment for tomorrow morning."
Walter shifted a little, clearly nervously. And the ill feeling in Jack's gut grew.
"They insisted on a meeting. As in right now."
That made Jack's temper flare up a little. He was a friggin' General for crying out loud, he could go whenever he wanted to.
"I don't care. I'm going home. They're welcome to stay here, but tomorrow morning is the earliest I'll see them." He switched off the light and headed towards the door. Jack was about to pass Walter when he saw two men entering the briefing room. One was a Colonel by the looks of his uniform, the other a MP. Stopping dead in his tracks Jack surveyed them both through the glass. Without turning his head he addressed Walter.
"Who are they, and why are they here?"
Walter's voice sounded a bit shaky. "They're here for you, General. Wouldn't tell me anything else."
His frown growing a little deeper Jack waved his hand, dismissing his aid. Walter nodded and slowly made his way to the control room. For a moment Jack's mind was racing. All sorts of scenarios came up, one more ludicrous than the other. With an inward sigh Jack changed his course and walked to the briefing room. The moment he opened and stepped through the door the two men turned their heads and looked at him. Quickly they snapped to attention. Not in an easy mood Jack took another hard look at the two, holding back the order to stand at ease.
"General O'Neill, sir."
Jack shot the Colonel a withering glare, satisfied to see the junior officer flinch a little.
"Yes?"
"Sir, I am here to inform you your presence is requested in Washington D.C. as soon as possible."
Jack merely pulled up his eyebrow as a response. The silence lasted a second or so. Then the Colonel picked up his suitcase and laid it on the table. Opening the locks, he pulled out a manila folder with a white sheet attached to the front. He turned it in his hands and stuck it out, offering it to Jack. A little wary Jack extended his right hand and took it. He scanned the sheet on the front. He read the heading and then paused. Blinking he read it again. Jack's eyes shot up and gazed at the officer in front of him, giving him an incredulous look. But the Colonel simply stood there, waiting for him to say something. Jack looked back at the sheet and read the rest of the text. It took him a full minute to let the words sink into his conscience mind. Then the alarm bells in his head and gut started ringing and screaming.
'Oh crap.'
- ∞ -
On the way to Sam's house Jack was thinking about a million things. He was so preoccupied that he didn't even realize the car had stopped outside of Sam's house. Snapping out of his daze he opened the door. Off the backseat he grabbed the folder he had been studying for the past forty minutes. Shutting the car door he turned towards the front porch. Unconsciously his left hand patted the right side of his jacket, checking if it was still present in his inside pocket.
Several voices in his head were screaming at him again. Jack took a deep breath and closed his eyes for a moment. Then with determination he stepped towards the front door. The car was parked behind Daniel's car, so he guessed everybody was here. Good, he thought, that means I only have to do this once. He lifted his finger and pressed on the bell. Within seconds the door swung open, revealing his second in command.
"Sir!"
Jack forced a little smile. "Hey, Carter. Am I on time?"
"Yes, sir, you are."
She frowned at the sight of him, but he ignored it. He stepped past her into the hall. He heard her shutting the door behind him, and he could imagine the somewhat confused look on her face. But there were more important things to do. Jack continued on to the dining room, where he found Daniel and Teal'c sitting on the sofa both nursing a soft drink.
"Oh, hey, Jack." Daniel smiled and lifted his hand.
"O'Neill," Teal'c said, bowing his head slightly.
"Hey guys."
Daniel quickly grabbed a beer out of a cooler next to the sofa and extended it to Jack. Stopping half way he waved it around a little, pointing it at Jack.
"What's up with the—"
"Never mind that, Danny." Jack turned his head and saw Sam coming into the living room.
"I wasn't aware it was a formal party, sir, I—"
"It isn't. It's not about the party. Look, Carter, I—"
"Why hello there!"
Jack spun around and came face to face with a slightly chubby looking man. Inwardly he groaned at the sight of him, even though it was entirely possible the man could be here. But he couldn't keep the surprise out of his voice.
"Shanahan"
"General, good to see you."
Pete's voice sounded cheery and … irritating. Numbly Jack shook the offered hand. He was aware of the fact that Daniel and Teal'c were eyeing him, trying to judge his response. So he conjured up another smile.
"Yeah, you too."
By the way a few eyebrows were raised Jack thought he did well. He let go of Pete's hand.
"So, I'm glad Sam thought of having a party here. I was dying to try out the new grill. I bought it for Sam and me. It's great for having backyard parties."
Jack just stood there, trying to take in the man's rambling.
"Pete, the General knows that, he has a grill himself," Sam interjected.
"Really? What kind?"
Jack had to mentally shake himself in order to answer. "Oh, eh, a regular one."
Pete nodded knowingly, and it suddenly annoyed the hell out of Jack.
"Yeah, I was looking at a few of those in the store. But the man there told me it was better to buy the one we have now, it's better at preserving the heat and all. Makes the meat cook quicker."
Jack's retort would have been quick and sarcastic, but Sam cut him off.
"So, General, can I get you a drink?"
Daniel quickly gave her the bottle he had offered him before, and she extended it towards him again. Jack took it, but made no move to open it.
"Look, guys, I'm sorry. I really wanted to celebrate tonight, but I have to go to Washington D.C. ASAP. They requested my presence."
"That's too bad. So you're gonna go to Washington with who?" Pete jumped in.
"Pete, don't end with a preposition." Sam's voice sounded distracted. Jack looked at her out of the corner of his eye, and found her looking at him. Naturally with an inquisitive look on her face. He switched his gaze back to Pete.
"Listen, ... Pete, could you check on that wonderful grill of yours? Give us a moment of privacy."
"Oh you can say anything in front of me, I don't mind."
He had to grit his teeth a little. What is this guy, dense or just too simple, he thought. His paranoid side opted for sneaky.
"I'll bet," Jack responded sarcastically. "But it's work related."
He saw Pete's face lit up with some goofy expression. "You can say that too, I mean I do know what you do down there."
Jack narrowed his eyes. This time he settled for dense, while his paranoid side was screaming too nosy for his own damn good. Luckily someone in the room caught on.
"Pete, could you go check on the grill. We really need to talk in private."
Pete looked at Sam with a hint of puppy dog eyes. Which looked ridiculous to Jack, and it obviously wouldn't work. He knew the only way Sam would be persuaded by puppy dog eyes if he or Daniel did it. And the exclusive club didn't expand this day.
"Pete, please, just go out for a few minutes. I'll come get you when we're done."
Pete looked unhappy about it for a split second, but he quickly nodded and shrugged, grabbed his beer and went out to the garden. Jack had to give him points for covering his emotions. Almost believable. Sam followed him a few steps and closed the sliding doors behind him. She turned on her heels and opened her mouth to speak, but Daniel beat her to the punch.
"Sooo, Jack. What's up?"
Jack looked each of the persons in the room in the eye. Then he dropped the manila folder on the coffee table, twisted the cap off his beer and took a long swig. Daniel pulled the folder to him and started reading the front sheet. Looking at his face Jack could tell the exact moment Daniel read the word on that sheet that did it. His eyes grew wide and his mouth opened a little. If Daniel weren't so astonished he would have instantly started talking, Jack thought. But the archeologist sank back into the sofa, with a deep frown and slightly unfocused eyes. Teal'c took the opportunity to lean over and read the paper. His eyebrow rose high, but his eyes displayed a sense of confusion rather than numb bewilderment.
Sam quickly crossed the room and pick up the folder off the table. Her eyes quickly scanned the paper, and again he could pin down the moment she read that word. Her eyes grew even wider than Daniel's, and when she was done she looked at him. The look of complete confusion, fear and dread shocked him. He wanted to say something to sooth her, comfort her, but he couldn't find the words. Suddenly the truth of the situation began seeping into him, and he started feeling uncomfortable.
"Sir?" Her voice was soft, and he could hear a trace of fear in it.
"I'm sorry," he whispered.
"Jack, what the hell is going on?" Daniel almost jumped off the sofa.
"Daniel, listen. I did what I did to get you two back. Now somehow someone got wind of this and now they're trying to stick it to me."
"Jack, what are you talking about? You organized a rescue mission, what's so wrong about that?"
Jack clamped his jaw shut and failed to meet Daniel's gaze. He knew they both had every right to hear the whole story, but he couldn't find the words. Realizing there was nothing to be accomplished here he decided it would be best to go. He was responsible, he would deal with it.
"Listen guys, I don't know how this got out. And I don't know what will happen. But the important thing is that you're safe. That's all I wanted." He sat down his beer, still three quarters full. "I'll let you know what's up when I find out more in Washington." He turned and walked to the door, leaving behind his three best friends.
"Jack!"
Jack kept walking, ignoring Daniel's cry. When he reached the front door he opened it and stepped out. He was about to shut it when a hand on top of his own stopped him. Sam slipped past and pulled the door closed behind her. It didn't escape Jack that their hands had touched and a small shiver ran through him.
"I could've known something was up, you never wear your dress blues unless there's something big."
Jack's hand self-consciously smoothened the lapels of his uniform. She was right, he never was a fan of this outfit, no matter how good people kept telling him he looked in it.
"Yeah, well, you know the bigwigs in Washington love uniforms."
"What did you do to deserve this?"
Jack looked away. He was afraid that looking directly at her would aggravate his fears instead of calming them.
"Look, Carter, I owe you and Daniel an explanation. About all of this. But I can't now. I have to do this first."
"But, sir, they can't court-martial you, you haven't done anything!"
And there was that word again. A word that had haunted his dreams for so many years, ever since a young captain challenged his authority in the briefing room.
"Carter, I haven't been exactly the most perfect role model in the air force. Something like this was bound to happen."
"But you brought us back."
The frailty of her voice brought him to his knees once more, and he looked deep into her blue eyes. There he saw desperation, confusion and fear. Without thinking he cupped the left side of her face with his right hand. He could see her eyes glisten with small tears. And right in that moment he forgot all about the court-martial, his future, and the whole damn situation. With his left hand he reached into his inside pocket and pulled out an envelope. Gently he pressed it into her hands. He leaned closer until their bodies were practically touching.
"Sam, whatever happens … it doesn't matter. I would have done it all again without a doubt."
Leaning even closer, his lips were almost touching hers. He could see her closing her eyes. He nearly lost his resolve when he saw her standing there, open and vulnerable. But he couldn't. So he moved a little and placed a soft kiss on her cheek, just next to her mouth. He drew back and noticed a shiver ran through her. 'Good, I'm not the only one then.'
"Goodbye, Sam."
Rubbing her cheekbone with his thumb once he let go of her and walked away. He turned his back to her so she wouldn't see the emotion playing in his eyes. Jack walked up to the curb and signaled the car. The MP started the car and pulled up next to him. Unable to resist he turned his head over his shoulder, and in his peripheral vision he saw Sam still standing there, clutching the letters in her hands. Closing his eyes in defeat he opened the car door and got in. The driver changed gear, and they were off to the airport.
- ∞ -
'Holy Hannah!'
She watched as the car pulled up to the curb. She wanted to scream, grab him and never let go, but the soldier in her was keeping her rooted to the spot. When Jack glanced over his shoulder her tears nearly dropped. Then he got into the car and it drove away. Trying to hold back the tears she wiped her eyes with the back of her hand. And finally noticed she was holding an envelope. Unsurprisingly her mind had simply shut down when Jack had leaned in so close and nearly kissed her. Well, he did kiss her, but he nearly kissed her! She could still feel the electric charge that went through her when his lips touched her skin. Her fingers touched the spot next to her mouth, trying to prove it hadn't all been a dream.
Suddenly she remembered there were people in her house. She turned and headed back inside. There Daniel and Teal'c were looking through the papers. Immediately she felt the knot in her stomach tighten. When Daniel looked up the knot became a noose, ready to string up her heart. Readying herself for the shock she sat down on one of her chairs.
"Sam, are you okay?"
She nodded, but who was she kidding? Daniel probably thought the same, but knew things had to be clear.
"Sam, did Jack say what it going to happen?"
The only thing she managed to do was weakly shake her head. Daniel frowned deeply again and took a deep breath.
"Well, you should know this. The front sheet only said he is being court-martialed, but didn't state the charges." He picked up the folder, and averting his gaze from her he started reading out loud. "Jack O'Neill, Brigadier General in the United States Air Force, is hereby summoned to a general court-martial, concerning his recent actions during the situation of the disappearance of Lieutenant Colonel Samantha Carter and doctor Daniel Jackson." He skipped a few lines. "The accused is charged on several accounts: article 85, desertion, article 86, absence without leave, article 92, failure to obey order or regulation, and under general article 134 with fraternization. On all accounts the accused shall be punished as the court-martial shall direct."
The noose looped around her heart and her insides froze. Her ears were hearing the words but her mind was screaming, trying to deny everything Daniel just said. Daniel slowly placed the folder back on the table. His hand was shaking a little but he didn't seemed to notice.
"He came back for you because he was the only one who knew."
Daniel and Sam both looked up in surprise. Teal'c was staring at the window, his gaze a million miles away. Although she was standing on the edge of an emotional breakdown Sam had to know what he was talking about.
"Teal'c, tell us what happened."
"He knew it wasn't you." Teal'c told them how the two fakes replaced them on the planet, and how they came back with him. He told them Jack was the one who found out about them being imposters, and how they tried to escape through the Gate. After a short hesitation he told them about how the imposter Sam had died in the infirmary and how Jack had seen it lay there on the gurney. Sam couldn't believe what she was hearing. Of course, they have had some experience with clones and such, but this sounded creepy even to her.
"O'Neill would not believe that the body in the infirmary was you, Colonel Carter. He told the doctor the tests were wrong, and we set out to find you on the planet."
Luckily Daniel's brain was working, because Sam couldn't form a coherent sentence if her life depended on it.
"So Jack went on the mission, even though there was no evidence to proof the two bodies in the infirmary weren't us?"
Teal'c nodded. "Indeed"
Sam and Daniel could hear the suppressed rage in his voice, and finally understood why Teal'c had felt guilty about this situation.
"And Jack probably didn't ask for permission to go because he knew it would have been denied …," he softly finished.
By then the room was slightly swaying before her eyes. Her heart was breaking into little pieces, and there was nothing she could do about it. Her analytical mind had already connected all the dots, but the rest of her had gone numb, and refused to think. Or feel, something much more dangerous at this time. Daniel however became agitated and started pacing. Teal'c made no move to stop his friend but kept an eye on him. For a few moments the room was silent, as each of them was lost in their own thoughts. The sudden noise of the patio door opening startled them.
"I'm sorry, but I've got some great burgers out here. Anybody hungry?"
- ∞ -
'This man truly has no instincts. Can he not see how upset Colonel Carter and Daniel Jackson are? Maybe O'Neill's distaste of him is not undeserved.' Teal'c felt anger run through his blood when Daniel had explained to him what a court-martial meant, and it was obvious that Daniel and Sam were equally stunned and shocked.
"Perhaps it was best that we returned to the base."
Daniel was still pacing a little and Sam kept staring off into the distance. Pete looked at Teal'c with a somewhat disappointed look. But Teal'c knew there was no way they could sit here and eat this man's burgers when their best friend and fellow warrior was in trouble.
"I apologize, Pete Shanahan, but we must leave."
Teal'c stood up and caught Daniel's shoulder with one of his large hands, effectively stopping his pacing.
"Daniel Jackson, this will not help O'Neill," he softly said to Daniel. He could see the younger man's mind catch up with his words, and Daniel finally nodded.
"Colonel Carter, Daniel Jackson and I will return to base. We will find out more, do not worry."
As if suddenly stung by electricity Sam jumped up from her seat.
"I will come too. We need to fix this situation right away."
Her appearance surprised him, and with a raised eyebrow he tried to figure out if she was all right. But her face gave nothing away, and so he had nothing to say to stop her from coming. He nodded and proceeded to the door, softly guiding Daniel with his hand still on his shoulder. Teal'c knew he needed to keep his composure and stay calm in order for his friends to survive this. Daniel was shocked to the core, and even though she did not look it he knew Sam was breaking down on the inside. They needed to support each other. He balled his hand into a tight fist until he could feel his nails dig into his calloused flesh. 'I will not fail you, O'Neill. We will bring you back and restore your honor.'
- ∞ -
"What? You have to go? Why?"
"Pete, it's just something important came up and I need to go." Sam swiftly moved to the hall to find her jacket.
"Is that why the General stopped by?"
Although Pete's words were innocent enough she could still hear the sting in them, and she felt her temper flare for a second. It hadn't been a secret that Pete disliked Jack, but Sam often grew tired of the small remarks and innuendos he was constantly making.
"Pete, I'm sorry, but I can't ignore this, it's my duty."
"I know, I understand."
But his voice held no understanding in it. And this irritated Sam. Ever since she mentioned she was an officer in the Air Force he had been a little patronizing about it, an attitude probably encouraged by his buddies at the police station. When he found out she was part of the Stargate program he had changed. He thought she shouldn't be working on such a dangerous program, and tried to get her to change her duty station. Something that made her blood boil with indignation and defiance. But right now she didn't have the energy to argue with him.
"I don't know how long it'll take. I'll cal you when I can, okay?"
Pete opted for staring out into the garden, at the barbeque that was still happily burning.
"Seems a shame to waste good meat."
It struck her as an odd thing to say, who could care less about meat at this moment?
"Put the raw meat back into the freezer, it should be fine."
"Yeah, nice and cold."
She had pulled a jacket from the hall closet and was about to put it on when he made his last comment. With the jacket hanging halfway her arms she stopped. Was that bitterness she heard in his voice? It made her temper flare again, but she realized he was looking for an argument. Not unlike the last time he was here. She quickly shook her head clear. This is not the time to discuss this, she thought. Grabbing her keys and purse she headed to the front door. Behind her she heard Pete call out.
"Sam?"
She turned sideways and glanced back over her shoulder.
"I love you," he said.
"I'll call you when I get back," she softly answered. Then she pulled the door open and stepped out. With determination she walked to her car. She unlocked the car door and got in. The engine came to life and within seconds the car left the curb and headed down the street.
She knew Daniel and Teal'c had left about a minute before her. So they should be on their way to the base, probably just a few blocks ahead, she thought. She turned onto Market Street and stopped at the stoplight. Relaxing a little in her seat she tentatively reached out to explore her thoughts. Ever since Daniel had read the charges she had felt numb, somehow cut off from her feelings. Some little things stirred on the surface, but they felt almost insignificant. Now her insides were melting again, and an indescribable tension was building. Without realizing it she was gripping the steering wheel tightly.
'There is so much we don't know. We need to call General Hammond, perhaps he has more information. Oh God, we can't lose him. Not after…' She closed her eyes briefly. 'Don't think about that. Focus, Samantha. We need to help him, to … need to …need him. I need him.'
She let go of the steering wheel to adjust her seatbelt but stopped when she hit something folded up in the pocket of her jacket. She took it out and unfolded it. For a second she didn't recognize it. Then it hit her. With shaking hands she opened the envelope and pulled out three sheets of paper. With a slight frown she started reading the first two, who were stapled together. It was a resignation letter. She never knew Jack had seriously thought of resigning, again. Some of the reasons made her laugh (so he obviously knew words like iota), some of the reasons made her think. The 'never mind' remark at the end relieved her greatly. It meant a great deal to her to have him at the SGC. And now he could be leaving forever, she promptly thought. She quickly folded up the letter and laid it on the passenger seat. Thinking about the pending court-martial seemed to increase the tension in her body, and she tried to steer away from it. Unfolding the last piece of paper she immediately began reading, anxious to get her mind off the subject of court-martial. But the moment the words started registering in her mind she felt her body go rigid, and the tension coiled.
"Dear Sam,"
Every word on the paper burned into her memory instantly. Everything around her faded until she could only see the words and sentences Jack had written her.
"Just wanted you to know that.
With all my love,
Jack"
After reading his name she froze and closed her eyes. Her mind stopped and focused on his name and repeated it a few times. She opened her eyes when she felt something wet on her cheek. A single tear rolled down her cheek, past her jaw and down her neck. Quickly she wiped it away with her left hand. But a second one appeared. She tried to stop it, prevent herself from crying her eyes out like some frail woman. 'I am not weak, I won't break down. I will not allow it.' But a third and fourth rolled down her cheek, and her hand kept wiping. Still fighting it she literally burst into tears. Curling herself up in a fetus position as much as the seatbelt would allow her she cried and cried, violent sobs wracking her body. Years ago Janet had told her that keeping her emotions locked up as tight as she did was unhealthy. One day they would break all the locks and burst out, she had predicted. Sam hadn't believed her until now. Now the dam had broken, and she felt all her emotions trying to find a way out, forcing her to experience each and every one of them. The whirlwind of feelings left her raw and shaking, with eyes that wouldn't stop tearing. All the while her heart was assaulted with her suppressed feelings her mind settled on one single thought.
'No more. No more, no more, no more …'
- ∞ -
