Chapter 17 - Speech and Lunch
"Then it came my moment to talk. I was nervous as hell, you know? They gave me one of those horrendous long and boring speeches they love to write. I don't know how they didn't get the hint, until then, I had read none of the speeches they prepared for me. They were all… too structured," Jack said.
"Yes, according to my notes, your campaign speeches were one thing that people liked to most about you. Following by the way you answered things most directly," Malcolm said.
2020
After Alex had concluded her speech, she walked away and stopped when she met her father halfway.
"I'm thrilled too, honey," he whispered to her before walking to the center of the stage to deliver his first speech as THE MAN, and even that couldn't make him loathe this moment less. God, he hated giving speeches.
"Normally, I am a man of very few words," he paused, remembering the last time he started a speech with those same words and smiled. "I can tell you my daughter didn't get the writing skills from me, and that said, and for the sake of the people standing, I will keep this short. You all know, after all, why you voted me better than I do. You also know what my plan is. Well, there's all that and the fact I have to tell a hundred more speeches in a week. I don't know what I'll say in those if I talk long today.
So, I can start by saying a lot of things which will make you cheer and clap. Things which will have the press writing about the incredible speech delivered by the President of the United States while I am thinking the whole time 'God I can believe you voted me.'
You'll see if it wasn't for my wife convincing skills, I wouldn't be here today. Not only she told me I was right for this job, but she also convinced me - the most stubborn men in the Galaxy - that I had what is needed. Knowing she would back me up, I took the chance. For some reason unbeknownst to me, here I am.
Your decision showed me you believed I could make a change and that, maybe, you see what my wife sees. If you do, please tell me what it is.
Until today I remember the look on my Air Force instructors when they said nothing good could come from me, and I can say now they were trying to make me a better man. It took many years and many mistakes until I was found, and I became someone good.
I have to be thankful for all it was given to me; for all the problems I had, because those things made me the man you chose. I have to be thankful for my beautiful family, who will finally be together as it was supposed to ages ago.
I have to be thankful for those men and women fighting for our freedom. I can't say how proud we are of them because I don't know what you think. I can say, however, that my wife, my kids, and I; appreciate them. We are proud of you. We know what it feels like to be under enemy fire; we know what it feels to lose a friend. And above all, we are even prouder of the families because we know what it's like to see your loved one go to a place where you can't protect them; we know of what it's like to see them hurt or to lose them. So the families deserve my respect and yours.
Having said that, I could go on about improving the economy, and make structural changes that will cut the expenses; however, I am only a military man with a vast knowledge of how to make decisions and how to deal with people. So, whatever I can say about the economy or health would have been written for me, and I would have to memorize it, and let me tell you I am not good at remembering things.
Now, as a 'politician' I can promise you many things which after some months would be deemed as "never to be fulfilled, " or I can tell you one thing: My wife and I are here to do what it takes, and as we all know, action speaks louder than words, and thus, we will act.
So help us, God.
With that said, the only thing left is to thank you for your trust; I hope when this term is over, I can look back and say, well, that was a horrible speech, but I least I didn't lie and all that jazz.
Hey! Don't laugh! After all, you have been warned about our compulsion of using clichés. You have been hearing me talk for a while now.
So once again, thank you. God bless you and bless not only America but the World."
Once he finished, the Chief of Committee was up again, and before that, he noticed the thing was over, and he was The Man.
2050
"I liked that speech, Jack! I thought you said nothing that could come back and bite you. You were sincere and to the point," Sam said, and he blushed a little.
"People filled the social media of that time with pictures of a mystery woman standing next to President O'Neill as they were bidding farewell to the former President. Was it you?" Malcolm asked.
"Yes," Sam grinned.
"So, you made it to the luncheon, then?"
"No," Jack huffed. "She did not."
2020
It wasn't even a day, and Jack was starting to hate 'Hail to the Chief,' as it was becoming a common usage, the moment the doors for the Inaugural Luncheon opened, the song started, and he paraded in.
"Mr. President," someone said, stopping him to shake his hands. "When do we meet your famous wife?"
"If her schedule goes as planned," Jack grinned. "She will be here in a few more hours."
"Where is she anyway?" Another one asked.
"Doing something critical which couldn't be postponed," Jack answered.
"Mr. President, what..." another one started, but Jack sighed.
"What do you all think of me getting seated so everyone can stop clapping their hands off? Then I can salute you, or you can come and greet me and ask whatever you want to ask," he said loud enough as he walked to take his place at the honor table.
"Jack?" Daniel asked, leaning over the empty seat. "Where is she?" Jack sighed.
"She is coming, Daniel. Don't worry," Jack said.
"She isn't missing anything…" Vala said loud enough so Jack could hear her. "Daniel, you didn't tell me this would be excruciatingly boring."
"Vala!"
2050
"You and Daniel did excellent work answering the press about my MIA status," Sam grinned.
"Yeah, a 'she's not here' was a brilliant answer," Jack rolled his eyes. "It took an eternity for you to get there finally."
"It did."
"Why?" Malcolm asked.
"First, it was the standard procedure. The CMO should certify that I was healthy and would not endanger Earth. That was the tricky part of that case, I was, after all, expected to join a room full of our government representatives."
"I can see the issue, how did you solve it?" Malcolm inquired.
"Well, I was already late, and it wouldn't be a fast way out if the Ivanhoe weren't in orbit. Due to the extent of my injuries and the fact we didn't' know for sure what the aliens had given me to heal them, I ended up winning a trip to the medical bay of Ivanhoe. I got there when the parade was already halfway done."
"And she scared the crap out of the Security Service," Jack chuckled.
"Not really, it's not that I beamed myself right in front of them. I beamed myself in the bathroom of our room so I could get changed first," Sam grinned.
2020
"Ma'am, you can't be here," a security officer of the White House said to a woman who had her head inside the refrigerator.
Ignoring her words, the woman picked something from inside the fridge, before she turned to face the security officer. The lady who was wearing a white female suit with a tight black blouse continued walking towards the island, doing an excellent job of ignoring the other woman. She was balancing a plate full of different things in a hand, while the other one found the way to one of her pockets to grab something.
"Aha!" she said as she picked something, lowered the plate, and handed to the security officer an ID.
"Madame Chairman," the woman blushed. "I didn't know it was you."
"You couldn't know," she shrugged. "Do you know if the parade already started?"
"Yes, about two hours ago," the woman answered with a puzzled expression.
"Great," the Chairman huffed as she fished a knife and started cutting some vegetables and putting a salad together. "A piece of advice, take a seat. At least if you pretend to keep me under watch. I have all the intentions in the world of having lunch, seeing that I already missed the Inauguration Luncheon, which I was supposed to assist."
"You didn't assist the Luncheon, Ma'am?" the other woman asked, remaining standing, and keeping an eye as the Chairman who was now making herself a sandwich.
"Please, it's Sam," she said, taking a bite and humming in delight. "So, what's your name?"
"It's Burton, ma'am. Do you mind if I ask what are you doing here, General?" Sam shook her head at the use of her rank.
"I told you, Burton. I am eating lunch," Sam offered and held her smile when the officer tried to keep herself from rolling her eyes at her.
"I mean, there's no other place you should be at, General?"
"Yes. I was supposed to be at the Parade, as you can tell, I didn't make it on time. Since I haven't had breakfast yet and much less lunch, I figured out that there's no better place than here right now," Sam grinned. Burton felt silent, and Sam took the chance to eat.
"So, you work in the house, Burton?" Sam asked after a while. The girl nodded, "I take you've known the Presidential family then?"
"Yes, General. Well, not all of them, ma'am. I've met their kids. Very polite kids, some of them have some strange names."
"Strange? I think they are quite beautiful, especially when you consider their meaning." Sam grinned.
"You know the meaning of their names?" Burton frowned.
"Yes," Sam gave her a mysterious smile. "Alexia Grace means the defender of grace. The boy is Terran Osei, and that means an honorable man from Earth. Then the twins Sasha Keona and Alistair Matthew."
"See, ma'am," Burton interrupted her. "What kind of names are those for twins? Shouldn't they be called something like Alice and Alistair? Or something more twin-like?"
"It's kind of clever the way they are named, both sets of names mean almost the same. For instance, Alistair and Sasha mean men's defender. While Keona means a precious gift from God, and Matthew means the gift of God. Therefore, the twins are men's defenders and gifts of God," Sam pointed.
"I didn't know that," Burton said in awe.
"No one does," said Jack, entering the room.
"Mr. President," Burton said, standing straight.
"Madame Chairman," Jack grinned at Sam. "I had the nagging feeling I could find you here."
"You were right, Mister President," she beamed at him." Have you met Burton?"
"I don't think I have," Jack said and offered his hand. "It's a pleasure to meet you, Burton."
"It's an honor to meet you, Mr. President," she said, shaking his hand and blushing under his attention.
"It's Jack," he said.
"I tried that too, Jack, and it doesn't work. She keeps calling me ma'am or General, she even let out some Madame Chairman," she smiled.
"I knew someone who used to do that all the time," Jack grinned, his eyes twinkling in merriment.
"Only at military facilities or under military protocol, sir," Sam said, winking at him.
"And to annoy me," Jack pointed out.
"There's that too," she smiled mischievously, "sir." Jack chuckled but walked closer to Sam, observing her thoroughly. Sam held his gaze with a bright smile. Burton felt the temperature of the room go up a few degrees and cleared her throat.
"Sir, hmm, do you mind if I ask you something?" Burton asked, bringing them out of their bubble.
"Sure, fire away," Jack grinned, leaning on the island by Sam's side.
"I've been reading all the news, I met the kids, I mean your children," she started.
"Go on," Jack encouraged.
"Well, with your daughter's speech and then, your speech... I was wondering, when do we get to meet your wife?" Burton asked hopefully.
"Hey, Sam?"
"Yes?"
"How long have you been here?"
"An hour, maybe," she shook her head amused.
"You've been here for an hour?" Sam nodded. "And you still want to know who my wife is?" Jack squinted at the security girl who nodded. "You've been talking, or at least, watching her for an hour, Burton."
"What?" Burton blinked, confused.
"Sam's my wife," he said, pecking his wife's cheek. "So, do I need to say you look like crap today? How many hours?" Jack asked seriously.
"No need to remind me. I've slept around four hours," Sam checked her watch. "Around thirty-six hours ago. Well, four hours plus some untimed blackouts," she shrugged. "I sure hope to have enough makeup to cover the black under my eyes."
"Why? It looks sexy in you," Jack said, wriggling his eyebrows. "Who knows, maybe you can start a raccoon-like fashion, honey," he chuckled.
"Jack! If you aren't nicer to me, I will play the 'I-am-exhausted' card, and then you would end up going to the ball alone tonight," Sam threatened him playfully.
"You'll be the death of me," he whispered to her ear. "Burton, you can close your mouth now," he added
"I... sorry, sir, ma'am… I, it's..."
"Don't worry, Burton. We understand the surprise," Sam said.
"We are sure you won't be the only one we will surprise today," Jack added. "We have to ask you not to say anything until it happens."
"It was bound to be a surprise for today's luncheon or parade, but apparently, we must move it to the Ball," Sam sighed.
"That sound's perfect, ma'am, sir."
"Perfect? Why is that?" Jack asked with a small frown.
"Yes, I think it's perfect for introducing the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs as your wife at the Commander-in-Chief's Ball. I mean, no one will expect her to be your wife, and I'm sure they will be astounded knowing that not only the President was a military man, but that the First Lady still is one."
"Well, I don't know how perfect it will be, but is this ball or the next one and..." Sam said.
"We are good at grabbing the bull by the horn," Jack added with a grin.
"We are."
"Anyway, I'm about to go bid farewell to the former President. Care to join me?"
"Sure, just let me finish this, and we can go," Sam said, jumping out of the bench and clearing her plate.
"Here, let me help you," Jack offered, and they quickly disposed of everything she had used.
"It was nice to meet you, Burton. I guess we will see you around," Sam smiled as they started to walk towards the exit.
"Yeah, nice to meet you," Jack said. His hand found the small of her back before he leaned closer to her. "We bid them farewell, and then you go and sleep, woman. You need it, or you will fall asleep on your feet tonight," he shook his head.
"Well, I have two hours before I have to go for a last-minute staff meeting," she grimaced.
"Today?"
"What can I say? I didn't mark the appointment. Hell, I wasn't even on Earth when they did," she shrugged.
Then, with Sam by his arm, they walked out to meet the former Presidential Couple and accompanied them to the Tarmac, where the helicopter that would take them away was waiting out. Reporters piled up to take pictures of the farewell, but sadly for them, no one got a clear view of the First Lady.
2050
"Cassie, our niece, and my assistant at that time had called me to the SGC, as soon as she learned I was Earthbound. She announced to me that the Vice-Chairman had asked for a meeting that same afternoon. They scheduled it for 1700, and the ball was at 1800," Sam explained.
"Sam arrived at the White House around 1500. So, after the farewell, I held the press, and she went to sleep for a little while. I was still with the press when she left for the meeting," Jack said.
"So, you barely saw each other that day?" Malcolm asked.
"Exactly."
"The good thing was that I saw the kids before I collapsed in bed." Sam chuckled, remembering something.
"What?" Jack asked.
"I almost killed Vala that day," she confessed.
"What happened?"
"Well, she got me a makeup artist. Don't take me wrong; the woman was excellent at what she did. It was just the way we met. Anyway, it all worked up."
2020
Sam was getting out of the bathroom after a nice warm shower that relaxed all her still tender muscles. She was about to pat herself dry when she spotted a young woman she didn't know in the middle of her room.
"Who are you? What are you doing here?" Sam asked, hoping the woman wouldn't try to take a picture of her in that state of undressing, and then noticed that she was more worried about a picture than about her possible demise. The woman could be anyone.
"Hi, I'm Tina, the makeup artist," the young woman said, petrified in place.
"And?" Sam squinted. Tina blinked. "What are you doing here?"
"I was told to come here and wait for Sam. I'm supposedly getting her to make up done for the night?" Tina explained. Sam pinched the bridge of her nose and jumped when the door opened again.
"Sam, you look like hell! " Vala said, entering the room and closing the door behind her.
"I'll take you are the responsible of this?" she said, pointing to the girl.
"Tina," the girl offered again.
"Yes! Tina is amazingly good," Vala grinned.
"Well, Tina can be all the amazing she wants, Vala, but I am not getting any makeup on me now," Sam said, turning around and walking towards the dressing room.
"Why not?" Vala asked, following Sam.
"Because I have an appointment at the Pentagon in less than an hour," Sam huffed.
"Well, then afterward," Vala smiled to her, and Sam rolled her eyes. After all the years since they had met, Sam was sure Vala had seen all there was to know from her, so seeing the alien wouldn't leave, Sam started getting dressed in her dress blues.
"I'm probably getting dressed at the Pentagon, Vala. Security clearance will be an issue for her," Sam pointed.
"Oh, you don't worry about a thing!" Vala grinned. "I'll call Cassie, and we will find the way."
"Okay, thank you, Vala!" Sam said.
"Don't mention it, you look like crap, and you'll need all the makeup we can get on you," Vala said and finally left the dressing room.