Chapter 7: Waiting At The SGC

General Hammond was harassing the Stargate technicians. He knew that he should go back to his office to wait, but he just couldn't. The small private office was too closed in when he had to wait, especially when he had to wait for a retrieval team.

Hammond had given SG-1 and SG-3 six hours. He hoped that they could accomplish their goals in that time. Mostly he hoped that they could accomplish their main goal, the retrieval of Colonel O'Neill and Major Carter. He could care less if the goa'uld queen would find sanctuary with the Tok'ra. He just didn't want his old friend Jacob Carter to get stuck in the middle of a Tok'ra hunt.

The general glanced at the clock again and cursed at how the minute hand seemed to crawl around the face. It had only been four hours.

Out of the corner of his eye, he saw SMSgt Walter Harriman glance sideways at him. He almost smiled as his senior gate technician carefully turned and grabbed a stack of folders, oh so conveniently, stacked next to his terminal.

The bespectacled NCO stood with confidence and approached him, "Sir, if you have a moment I have a few reports that need reviewed and those requisitions that you told me to type up."

The general did smile then and he gave him an accepting nod, "Of course, Harriman. Lead the way."

The sergeant breathed a sigh of relief and led the general back upstairs through the conference room to his office. No sooner did he sit down when the alarms went off.

"Off-world activation."

General Hammond and SMSgt Harriman jogged back down to the control room.

Walter's confident voice took over the overhead announcements, "Closing the iris."

Hammond continued to watch the terminal, waiting.

"Receiving IDC."

Hammond was sure that the waiting is why Doctor Frasier kept complaining about his blood pressure. Hell, let's see her blood pressure during a retrieval mission.

"It's SG-1, Sir," Walter's voice shouted from only a foot away.

"Open the iris," he ordered abruptly.

Walter operated the iris control and the iris slid away smoothly.

This was the worst moment for the general, this limbo between accepting the IDC and waiting to see who would step through the Stargate. General Hammond had never been so precise with numbers, letting his accountants count the beans. But then he had been put in charge of Stargate Command and suddenly found a new passion for counting.

The first one through the Stargate was Jacob/Selmak, closely followed by SG-3, 1, 2, 3, 4. The suddenly Major Carter and Daniel stepped through smoothly and finally Colonel O'Neill and Teal'c.

General Hammond slowly let out the breath he had been holding.

Walter, bless his soul, voiced the general's thoughts, "All present and accounted for."

Hammond nodded and finally found his voice, "Welcome home, people. We'll debrief after medical. Good job."

Hammond continued to watch his people, especially Colonel O'Neill and Major Carter. They didn't seem to be injured. They would occasionally wince for no obvious reason, but nothing serious. He watched as Major Carter cornered MSgt Siler while Colonel O'Neill stood guarding her back a few feet away. His angry glare enough to send SG-3 on to the infirmary without them. Teal'c and Daniel waited but gave them some space.

Suddenly, Siler nodded and took off running in the opposite direction from the infirmary. The Major nodded to the Colonel and they both fell into step in the direction of the infirmary followed closely by their teammates.

Maybe SG-1 had dodged the bullet again. Their luck seems to have held out one more time. Maybe now he could relax enough to get some work done.

Hammond noticed Walter watching him with concern, "Uh, those forms can wait, Sir."

The general gave him a genuine Texas grin, "Walter, I'll be in my office if you need me."

"Yes, Sir," was the sergeant's happy reply.

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