Ch 50

Later, Bregman found his wishes fulfilled when he not only interviewed SG1 but Jack and Senator Kinsey.

"Senator Kinsey," Bregman started when he found his chance during the interview, "Can you tell me why General O'Neill dislikes you?" Kinsey looked at the director in shock

"How?" he asked surprised before returning to his political persona. "Well, Mr. Bergman, you will have to ask him that. Is there anything else I can answer you?"

"Ah, no. That is all," Kinsey stood up and walk away

"That went well," Bregman muttered to himself.

Half an hour after the interview with Kinsey ended, and to Jack's utter discomfort, the film crew and Kinsey were setting in his office as part of the interview

"General... As I'm sure you know, I'm here to be a part of this piece." Kinsey started, "these good men are putting together a piece that will document the fine work you're doing here at the SGC." Jack raised his eyebrows at Kinsey as he sat back in his chair

"No? Really? I didn't know that!" Jack added in his best dumb face

"Well," Kinsey waved. "I'm sure there was a memo," Jack looked and found that Emmett and Dale had started filming already. Jack turned to Kinsey with a calm mask.

"So, Senator, did you tell them about the time when you tried to get this place shut down?" Jack leaned forward conspiratorially as he said it. "Or, you know, that time when you."

"I'd suggest you watch what you say, General," Kinsey interrupted him getting red with anger. "Slanders are a serious offense."

"Yes, so I heard," Jack said keeping his cool

"I have always been an ardent supporter of this program, General," Jack raised his eyebrows. "I'll admit I was critical in the past, but that was only because of the unrealized potential I see this operation is having."

"Really?" He asked nodding in fake agreement.

"Anyway, how did your interview go, General?"

"Well, Kinsey… In case you can't see my desk," Jack wave his hand over his desk which was filled with files, "I've been busy."

"The President wants you to play ball with this, General. I hope you do not intend to disappoint our Commander in Chief. I would think you would want to show your appreciation for backing you over the years."

"Kinsey, what are you doing here? I mean, the last time anyone checked you were trying to discredit the guy." Jack said standing up

"His term's up. My running colleague and I, are merely pointing out to the American people that we think we can do a better job, and when that time comes, I know we can count on your vote, General."

"Yeah, that'll happen," Jack muttered.

"And I want you to know this, if I'm elected, this program can count on our full support," Jack turned to the camera and Bregman

"You want to get this?" Jack asked

"Sure," they grinned excitedly. Jack smiled brightly before he turned to Kinsey giving his best hard General look.

"You smarmy, self-righteous, opportunistic ass. You are nothing but a selfish slimy backstabbing son of a bitch."

"General!" Kinsey said yelling. Bregman and his crew were shocked with Jack's words.

"If you think that I or anyone here at the SGC will vote a slimy backstabbing weasel like you, let me set you straight, that's not going to happen. Not after the things you tried to do to this program and everyone involved. Now, I want you to get your ass out of my office!" Jack ended up loudly

"General O'Neill!" Kinsey yelled back

"Get out," Jack whispered in a very menacing tone with a matching glare.

"This isn't over, General," Kinsey announced before turning around and storming out of Jack's office. Jack sat down covering his face with his hands; then he ran them over his head as he let out a breath.

"General?" Bregman asked

"What?" Jack said in a tired tone.

"Why do you hate Senator Kinsey so much?"

"You heard what was being said?"

"Yes. There's one question I would like to ask you." Jack sighed, "It has to do with something that Senator Kinsey said, and I hope you can answer it."

"Sure, tell me. What did Kinsey say now?"

"He said that the reason why you are giving SG1 whatever they want and more, is because you are sleeping with their Commanding officer," he checked his notes.

"Colonel Carter and you both are keeping your exchange of favors quiet for the good of the program," he finished. By then, Jack's face was hardened and cold. He looked at the camera than at the director before leaning toward him.

"Let me set a few things straight for you, Bregman. Kinsey is an asshole. He has no right to talk about Colonel Carter private live or mine. Answering your question, I do give SG1 space because they all work in other areas besides the field team. Take Colonel Carter; she's not only the leader of the flagship team."

"No?"

"Nope, she's also the head of the SGC scientists and our foremost expert on the Stargate and computer systems associated with it. Hell! She, designed, programmed and build the dialing program among other computer systems and things that work in this place. Now, SG1 members… they are not only placing their lives at risk when is mandatory for them, but they are the first to volunteer to go if there's another team in trouble plus if it weren't for SG1 we wouldn't have important allies like the Knox, the Tok'ra or the Asgard."

"But that doesn't answer the accusation Kinsey did about Colonel Carter and you, General." Jack huffed.

"We are not sleeping together in exchange for favors," he answered.

"But you are sleeping together," Bergman pointed. Jack smirked at him, and his hand moved to the only photo frame he had on his desk.

"You are a smart man, Bergman. I can't deny that we have been and we are," he grabbed the photo frame, looking at the two pictures it held, "for ten years now," Bergman's eyes widened with shock.

"You are?"

"Don't look that surprised, Bergman. Isn't that what you are supposed to do with your wife?" He asked, passing him the frame.

"Your… wife?" He said looking down at the frame which contained a picture of Sam and Jack on their wedding day and one of the whole family the last Christmas.

"Is it that difficult to believe?" Bergman shook his head, but his eyes never left the picture as if he couldn't. "We are doing nothing wrong, the President and all those who need to know have been informed."

"And Senator Kinsey?" Bregman asked

"He also knows, he had known it for years now." Jack stretched his hand to take the frame back and placed its spot. "And know so do you."

"Well, thank you for clearing that up for me, General."

"Anything else we can do for you?"

"Well, I would like to ask you and Colonel Carter some questions together if that is ok?" Jack picked up the black phone and pressed two numbers, "Sam, can you come to my office. Yup, meet me in the briefing room."

A few minutes later, Sam entered the briefing room, and after a quick survey of the situation, she walked towards Jack and sat next to him. They both turned around at the same time to face each other, and at the same moment, the camera started rolling. Jack raised an eyebrow and Sam placed her hand on Jacks giving it a small squeeze.

"What did Senator Kinsey say to tick you off this much, Jack?" Bregman's eyes widened again in shock at Sam's question.

"You know, the usual…" he waved with his free hand

"Jack," Sam said in a tone that Bregman couldn't decide, but Jack knew exactly what it meant.

"he back stabbed the SGC and everyone in this country. He claimed he's our foremost supporter as if we don't know what he's truly like." Jack groaned.

"Nothing new then," Sam's eyes twinkled, and this time Jack was the one squeezing her hand.

"There's more."

"Oh?"

"He told Bregman some boloney story about us."

"And you told him?"

"Yes, the truth is out for him." Sam frowned.

"Then why am I here?"

"He wants to question us together," he offered. They looked at each other for a while before Sam turned towards the director with a smile

"We are ready," she announced

"Good," Bregman said smiling.

For a good amount of time, the director had Jack and Sam in front of his camera answering a good amount of questions. Some answers made Bregman and his crew smile, especially with things Jack said.

"General O'Neill, Colonel Carter," Bregman said as he couldn't come up with any other question. "Thank you, both for taking time in your busy schedule for this interview. I didn't realize how busy you both are with the work you do. I must say that I'm in awe of the excellent job you and the SGC personnel have been doing on keeping Earth protected."

"Don't forget our allies, they help as well," Jack said.

"That's true, General," then he stood up and shook both Jack and Sam's hands, "and cut." He said. "Again, thank you." They nodded politely and observed as the crew picked all their things up and along with Bergman, left the room.

"That went well," Jack said

"Yes, it did." Sam nodded beside him before turning towards him squinting.

"Now they are gone, care to tell me what did Kinsey said to tick you off?" Jack smiled

"For that we need cake," he grinned and Sam shook her head. As he grabbed her hand to pull her towards the mess hall.

"So?" Sam turned towards Jack, three days later when the first take of the SGC documentary was over. "Whatcha think?"

"It was good, I guess," he shrugged. "But we both know if the SGC is going to be made public."

"Dreaming is free, right?" Sam grinned, and Jack nodded. "What about this other disk?"

"I have no idea what's about," he shrugged. "Let's put it on. Damn! I should have brought popcorn," Jack said making Sam laugh.

The second disc was… unexpected to say the least. It featured SG team leaders and others including General Hammond, talking about what they thought of Sam and Jack and how poorly they thought about Senator Kinsey. Mixed with it, there was what Jack had said to Kinsey in his office and the first part of the interview of Jack and Sam together.

"That was… interesting" Jack said

"Yeah"

"Now, all we can do now is wait until November."

"True"