617 Disclosure
General Hammond and Major Paul Davis spent over a week preparing for an important Pentagon meeting with international representatives. Sg-1 and especially Colonel O'Neill were consulted. Colonel O'Neill was tasked with briefing and inviting the Supreme Commander of the Asgard Fleet Thor. Thor did owe him one.
When all was ready including a PowerPoint presentation, Hammond and Davis decamped to Washington D.C. and Sg-1 went their separate ways for some well deserved R&R. The international conference was billed to SG-1 as one of sharing information and that it was but O'Neill knew better. It just might change things, possibly everything. But disclosure was inevitable.
Samantha Carter had booked a flight to San Diego to visit her brother and his family. It was a sunny week and Sam thoroughly enjoyed the warmth of family but after a week she was ready to get back to work.
Mark wondered why his brilliant sister wasn't doing more with her life. She could have a position with any renown university, or name her price in any top tier company. He couldn't understand how she could subject herself to the restrictions and limitations of the military. Mark's wife, after many heart to heart talks with Sam late at night, saw a loneliness in her sister-in-law. Sam talked glowingly about the men she worked with and the stimulating work but while there were many close friends there was no special someone. Both husband and wife could see how much Sam enjoyed their children and wondered why she would forgo a family. Perhaps she hadn't met the right someone. Too much work and not enough play.
Sam wished she had her motorcycle so she could blow off steam from her visit. There were too many emotions swirling within her to be squashed in a crowded commercial flight. The pilot was tall and from the back looked way too much like the colonel. Sam's sister-in-law said she worked too hard and didn't 'play' enough. She knew exactly who she wanted to 'play' with. God, why didn't she take her motorcycle.
Teal'c took this precious time to visit Bra'tac and his son Rya'c. He was still dismayed by the conditions of the Jaffa camps but the population was growing beyond their means to provide resources.
Bra'tac arranged for meetings with different factions all with differing views on the future structure of the governing body for the Free Jaffa confederation. A few radical leaders were emerging, some in the image of Kytano. Some argued against any form of governance at all. There was tribalism based on their previous service to the Goa'uld. Many, facing imminent death of themselves or loved ones, pleaded for symbiotes.
Teal'c and Bratac were looked to by many to guide the future of their people and were pushed and pulled in so many directions Teal'c was relieved to return to the Tau'ri base.
Daniel chose to honor a request and visited Catherine Langford and Ernest Littlefield. They were both well into their eighties, gracefully aging but unfortunately Ernest's health was failing. Catherine wanted all the news and Daniel told her what he could and bits and pieces of things he shouldn't. He did trust her.
Catherine wanted Daniel to look through all the artifacts that she and her father had collected through the years. She wished to give them either to Daniel or to bequeath them to various museums where they would be appreciated. He pressed her to keep the eye of Ra and helped her sort those that were scattered throughout her spacious home. Daniel hoped this would not be the last time he saw Catherine. She had changed his life and given him a gift more priceless than these artifacts.
After he left Catherine arranged with her lawyer to leave most everything of her vast collection, much of which was yet in storage, to Daniel in her will.
Jack was happy to be off to his cabin and eternally grateful he wasn't ordered to accompany General Hammond to the meeting in Washington. Unfortunately he hadn't had much time to enjoy his favorite get away this year.
On the way up Jack listened to Bob Dylan sing about mixing things up in the basement and thinking about the government. Yeah, he was thinking about what the government was mixing up in their basement right now. After this disclosure would the government be forced to muster out the old guard and politics rear its ugly head. Was it time for him to hang it all up? He was rather possessive of the SGC. He fought for Earth so long and had wanted to see it to the end if there was ever going to be an end to the interminable war.
As he drove further north the temperature continued to drop. He heard a song reminding him of Samantha Carter.
If you go when the snowflakes storm
When the rivers freeze and summer ends
Please see if she has a coat so warm
To keep her from the howlin' winds…
I'm a-wonderin' if she remembers me at all…
She once was a true love of mine*
He didn't need much to bring her to mind. He did feel very protective of her and so much more. He fought this attraction so long. Was it time to see if there was anything there, anything left? Or was it just fantasy - cue Freddy Mercury.
Music helped him on the long drive, not to think too much, not to dwell. And every now and then a song had a lyric in it that poked at him. Opened a wound that refused to heal no matter how much he ignored it. He could always change the channel but couldn't change his heart.
Finally arriving and breathing deep of the fresh brisk air he stretched his weary bones, looked out at his north country oasis and planned his stay. First he had to evict the resident mice and make his home away from home winter worthy. He checked all the appliances and the roof, windows and door frames. He chopped wood to have a supply in case he had a break in the winter. The generator was given its yearly overhaul. He also got reacquainted with his neighbors and his buddy the police chief in case there were any problems he needed to be aware of while he was away. Once everything important was taken care of Jack got out the canoe and paddled out onto the local lakes and did a bit of fishing. He enjoyed the tranquility of the early morning as the sun rose. Peace filled his soul displacing the turmoil of the warring factions of the galaxy. It was good to occasionally lay down your weapons and appreciate what you were fighting for.
While he enjoyed the solitude and serenity he found here, he wouldn't mind a certain someone for company to share the peace and the beauty of his favorite place.
Now after a week of peace, it was time to return to the SGC and pick up those arms again and fight for the safety and freedom of Earth and her people. And he hoped he still had a job.
*Bob Dylan - Girl from the North Country