Author's Notes
-Firstly I would like to make a note of thanks to 7 League Boots who posted a review that made me smile! With the free Jaffa thing; I have to confess I wasn't being clever or original when I used it; it just seemed a good idea at the time! Shows that following your heart and mind in writing is the best way you can go!
-I would also like to remind everyone that I haven't mentioned that I will be making a large thanx to all my most regular reviewers and the ones who have put forward reviews that gave me a boost on a bad day or contributed to the story – I can imagine I will be typing for a while!
-If I can I would love to get some of your msn addresses, I am a constant presence on messenger and you all seem so nice! I have already found one brilliant Caroline O'Neill through I am longing to meet more of you!
-Finally I would like to mention a teaser for the sequel is at the bottom of the page for all who are interested. Enjoy!
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Chapter 18: Sacrifices
'Okay, thanks Cam, I'll get back to you,' Jack placed the receiver back on it's hook as Sam entered his office, He promptly took his feet off of the memos piled on his desk and stood to greet her
'Are you sure you should be up?' he almost tripped over several piles of confidential files on his way to support the woman leaning on the doorframe, amusement lighting up her face as he crossed the mountains of paperwork and stationary to get to her
Not much of a hello,' she scowled 'I'm not an invalid you know,' when they finally did meet the real greeting came in the form of interlocking hands and gentle kisses
'We can't keep doing this,' Sam breathed as they drew apart, it was a muted statement but it was easily heard, one's gaze traveled barley inches to be caught by the other and their bodies remained close, almost as one
'Well I think the broom closet is actually quite roomy, even more so if I clear the paperwork…' Jack's joke was only replied by a serious stare 'actually, I agree… I've been thinking…' maybe out of discomfort at the news he had to disclose Jack stepped away and rather haphazardly returned to his desk
'That phone call was to a good friend of mine – he's called Cameron Mitchell…he was at the top of the list I wanted to suggest to General Hammond as my replacement.'
Sam was forced to clutch the doorframe as she became momentarily lightheaded
'Replacement?' She choked 'wh-why?' Jack hung his head as he responded dejectedly
'Sam, I need to leave…if I don't we could get court marshaled…If I retire I can look after our daughter when she is born while you remain at the SGC, It also means I am not your CO anymore and we can maybe pursue…whatever it is we have,'
'Jack, no, you can't, I should quit the air force, I'm the one that is pregnant, not you.' Sam begged for him to stay, he could not be swayed though; his retaliation came back in a harsh tone
'I was the one that couldn't control myself Sam! I was the one that persuaded you to keep the baby! I will not be responsible for forcing you into retirement before you get every single damn thing you deserve! You are a national treasure…It can't go down any other way,'
'I might be desired but I am not needed…I'm sure MacKay would jump to fill my shoes, you have the ancient gene though, you are the most advanced human on this planet and you have years more experience than I do,'
Jack did not hesitate to snap another quick comment
'And how many times have you been the biggest part in saving the world? A monkey could shoot out Jaffa! I barely know what a Naquada Generator looks like let alone how to work one, we already have Teal'c for the brawn-'
'We already have Daniel for the brains…' Sam suspected if another person was at the door at this point they could have easily have compared this argument to a tennis match, the comments bounced back and forth and just when you thought it was game, 40 love started a whole new round, head to head, crossed lovers battled for the win and despite all their affections one would have to take it. In this case the game went to Jack
'Sam, there is no argument. My resignation is already written and signed. There will be a new CO of SG-1 by the end of the week.'
Sam tried to snatch the resignation from his grip as he passed into his corridor on the march to Hammond's office, once again she fell in battle though and despite a furious "follow-the-leader" through the corridors, Jack soon stood with his hand on the door handle of Hammond's office with no intention of turning back
'Jack wait!' Sam charged towards him, the result being two decorated US Air force officers tumbling through the door of their COs office and landing in a crumpled heap on the floor – Jack once again having the common sense to soften Sam's fall
'Colonel, Major! May I ask what the hell you are doing on the floor of my office?' Hammond stood abruptly, his hand cupping the speaker of a bright red telephone receiver – they were in trouble now, there was only one man who could be on the other end of that call…
'Okay then Mr. President, I will address that right away,' the receiver turned to hook and for a while that sound merely echoed in Sam and Jack's minds, Hammond had turned from a pinkish color to magenta which might even have been amusing if this wasn't going to be a conversation that could change SG-1 and even the SGC as they knew it, moments more passed before General Hammond decided to speak
'I find it disgraceful that two of my most senior officers have the nerve to barge into my office while I am on the phone to the President…' there was another second of silence before he continued, a lighthearted edge appearing in his voice 'It was just fortunate that we were merely discussing golf plans…I don't have a love of the game myself but I am rather fond of my job… what can I do for you?'
Both Sam and Jack released a breath they did not realize they held, Jack took his turn immediately after this action, feeling what he had to say was best placed before Sam's announcement
'It is respectfully; General that I give you my two weeks notice…I am resigning from my position at the SGC,' Hammond did not reach forward for the resignation, even as it was placed on his desk he stared at Jack as if this was an April Fools joke
'Why?' He uttered, his knuckles kneading the desk, Jack noted these actions and took a second to decide how best to phrase his excuse
'I have family matters that need my full attention…my position here is…unsuitable for the new situation,' Jack was not lying, simply dancing around the truth
'Family matters?' Hammond's gaze still held the same degree of disbelief it had with the passing of his previous question, Jack's behavior became fidgety and uncomfortable, the truth was on the tip of his tongue…
'I'm pregnant sir…we're pregnant,' Sam could swear she heard guns arming as the firing squad stood before her… there was no explosion though, no sharp pain, just…silence. The resignation General Hammond had just picked up fluttered gracefully to the floor and the knuckles spread into palms to use the desk in full support of his weight, in contrast with his previous reaction the color drained from his face in shock, but nothing near disbelief now.
'I knew it could be only a matter of time…' The General's weight was transferred from the groaning desk to his chair as he sank into it solemnly
'Excuse me sir?' Sam was taken aback by the comment, which if taken the wrong way could indicate the General had expected her to get "knocked up"
'I am not a naïve man Major Carter, nor am I an unloved one. I know when there is potential for something more…You know that I am supposed to make sure you are court marshaled?'
'Yes Sir,' The glimmer of hope extinguished in Jack's eyes as he stepped forward, ready for whatever speech Hammond was going to give concerning the regs, Sam still stood back, she could see the mind of a great man working…
'But I won't…' Smiles lifted the atmosphere in the room sky high, their lives may not be a fairytale but at least Sam and Jack would be given a shot at a happy ending 'If you are going to retire Jack-'
'Again,' Jack added, every comment could help the decision to be set in stone
'If you are to retire,' Hammond pushed on with a twitch from the corner of his mouth 'then the regs no longer apply to you and can not force you and Major Carter apart, as there has been a decision made to end one career for the sake of the other, I feel no need to end a great path that seems destined to continue,'
Sam threw her arms around Jack, thankful for a weight lifted off of her shoulders and the confirmation that her career would not be meeting an undignified end, there were a few moments of celebration in which Hammond could not help but laugh and another kiss proved their partnership. Once this had passed Sam asked to be excused, most likely so she could rush to tell Daniel and Teal'c the news and Jack also turned to leave
'I take it you had help with this little covert operation?' the General asked, clearly desiring details to how they had pulled it off, Jack saw no reason why he could not know
'Frasier has been looking after Sam and our unborn daughter,' Jack's smile was returned as he paused to see Hammond's reaction to the confirmed sex of the baby 'Sam told Jacob when we were off world and Daniel and Teal'c found out after Nirrti had captured her, there were very few people who knew sir'
'George.' he corrected. It would be nice to get on more friendly terms with Jack, terms in which he wasn't Jack's superior 'Well I hope all goes well for you Jack, no one deserves this more than you do,'
'People keep saying that…' Jack replied dubiously, he just considered himself lucky; Samantha Carter was far more than he had ever thought he deserved 'Anyway, if you don't mind…George…I have a couple of bits of paperwork piled up in my office that I probably need to get down to.'
Hammond smiled; he had always loved Jack's humor, even when inappropriate
'Of course.' He gestured for Jack to leave before grabbing his attention for a second longer 'Oh and Jack…God Speed.'
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- I'm sorry, I couldn't help myself! I love the whole Hammond / God Speed thing! Probably a bit cliché as far as endings go!
- You have no idea how excited I am! I have only 3 chapters until I have completed the only decent story I have…well ever actually completed! Not only that but I have had massive support! Over 80 reviews now I believe, I have picked up some amazing friends on the way and believe it or not learnt a few things about myself as a writer and a person – thanx to all those reviewers who have got me here!
Next Chapter: Sam is taken off of active duty and worries for Jack when he is offworld. The pregnancy starts to really take its toll physically and emotionally and she has to get to grips with the fact she is only a thread away from being a mom. Sam, Jack, Daniel and Teal'c gather in the briefing room to meet the new CO of SG1…
Baby Counter: Only 1 and a half chapters until baby O'Neill/Carter makes her way into the world!
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TEASER FOR CONVICTON (warning! These are spoilers for the next story, if you wanna keep it a surprise, don't scroll down!)
This isn't an extract, these are lines I will most probably be using in the chapters, give you the general gist of what I'm throwing at you next!
"Like a wisp of smoke she was there no more, she had been drawn to the soft lullaby but now, not unlike her daughter she wished for sleep to overwhelm her…"
"I'm what Jack? A good mom? Don't you say that because we both know it isn't true! She doesn't need me! Who's the one that sings her to sleep each night? The one who feeds her, changes her? Not me! I'm not a mom, I'm not even a soldier anymore, I'm nothing!"
"General, I think we should give her a chance, if not for who she is, than for what she can be!"
"I couldn't tell you Jack, I'm not the one with the love of my life at my finger tips, I'm not the one with a ring…"
"Do you reckon I should add to my report that it only takes a glass and a half of cheap champagne to leave an azguard hammered?"
"Ba'al knows, he knows about her, what she is and what she can do…it will only be a matter of time before he decides to act on this information…"
"Don't you dare! Don't you dare die on me now dammit! You are stronger than that!"
"I hate you Jack! I HATE YOU! You can die for all I care! I think it is time you face the fact that I could never love a man who killed his own child!"
"I am Ba'al, leader of the Goa'ould system lords, back down and worship your GOD!"
"We are the Ori, come to purge the galaxy of all those poisoned by evil, bow down and allow origin to lead you to your true path or you shall burn in the fires of celestus as a poser and as the defeated…"
There you go! It was a bit like a promo reel but with no pictures! (I have to warn you that these quotes may change when put in the actual story, also I want to clarify that the baby is totally fine through the whole of the next story but I will slip that she is rather extraordinary!)
I will be putting the next chapter up very soon!
Sesa
xxx