A/N – There's a slight homage to the movie 'Contact' (Which I'd recommend to any Stargate fan ;) in this chapter, just thought I'd point that out. Also, I know this one feels rushed, but I didn't want to get too involved in the 'gate going public' aspect…there are other things I've got to move on to…

Chapter 6: The Pains of Truth

"Major, Colonel, please sit down." Hammond gestured for Sam and Jack to take seats at the briefing room table.

"What can we do you for, sir?" Jack asked. Amongst all the chaos that had broken out in the past couple weeks Jack seemed to remain remarkably calm…at least on the outside.

"As you know there have been many responses to the president's speech," Hammond said slowly. "Most of all people are confused, a little angry. They need someone who isn't a politician that they can look to for answers."

"And this has to do with us…" Jack waved his hand impatiently for an answer.

"In two days you will be making an appearance at a press conference regarding the Stargate program in Washington," Hammond explained. "There you will answer questions about the program as well as Koranov's latest actions."

Sam frowned slightly. "What are his latest actions? We haven't really heard anything from him since the president's address."

"He's been shocked into silence by our move…we're hoping it'll last."

"Let me just clarify this," Jack said, putting one hand to his forehead. "By press conference you mean us sitting in front of a huge room full of people and answering their many and varied questions?"

Hammond nodded. "Now, you shouldn't worry about security, the president has assured me they're putting the best teams on the job."

"Wait, sir, security?" Sam looked mildly alarmed.

"There have been people who reacted adversely to the announcement," Hammond said. "They're the ones that are pushing the president towards declaring Martial Law, though it hasn't quite gotten there yet."

"General, I don't want to put the safety of my team in jeopardy for the sake of some media vultures," Jack complained.

"It'll only be yourself and Major Carter, not your whole team, Colonel." Hammond gave Jack a pointed look. "And two people are much easier to defend."

"What about Teal'c and Danny?" Jack asked.

"They don't think the public is quite ready for Teal'c yet, and Dr. Jackson has the luxury of refusing to participate."

Jack and Sam exchanged confused and slightly annoyed looks before Jack let out a resigned sigh. "When do we leave, sir?"

When she was growing up Sam sometimes wondered what it was like to be a celebrity. To get out of a limo and face a crowd of people who all knew your name. But when she and Jack stepped out of the limo in front of the large conference center in Washington she immediately realized she could do without the experience.

"Oh god…" She murmured to her CO as security agents pressed in on either side of them. "I'm not ready for this…"

"You'll be fine, Carter," Jack said, patting her on the back. "Just smile and wave and they'll all be happy."

Despite what Jack said it was obvious that not everyone in the crowd was happy to see them. Sam could spot several members of religious and political groups shouting things angrily, trying to be heard over the mass of adoring fans.

Once inside the building they were lead to the conference room and sat down behind a huge table. More security guards filed in on the sides of the room, eyes surveying the people now filing in from behind dark sun glasses.

Sam swallowed thickly as she saw the array of video cameras being set up. Jack reached under the table and comfortingly patted her knee.

The questions, when they came, were like snowballs hurled one after the other at Sam and Jack. Questions about Koranov and his plans came first, then the stargate program, why it was kept secret for so long, etc. Jack answered them with as much dignity and grace as he could muster, noticing how awkward Sam was.

"Major Carter," A man asked, stepping forward. "Being a scientist, have you had any contact with organizations like SETI or NASA? People who have already been searching for things like this?"

Sam shook her head. "Not really. We've dealt with NASA on certain issues but they haven't been fully involved in the program."

"Well, both of those organizations aren't too happy about that now. " he looked down at the pad of paper in one hand, then back up at Sam. "Also, there have been many religious repercussions because of this program…the Pope has made quite a few speeches already. What are your thoughts on this?"

"I think the Stargate program is a matter of science, not religion," Sam replied.

Murmurs ran around the room at this. Jack snorted, muttering 'nice job' out of the corner of his mouth.

"Major Carter, do you believe in God?" this was a woman standing off to the left. She stood up slowly, a faint smile on her lips.

"Excuse me?" Sam frowned.

"Do you believe in a higher power out there?"

Sam laughed nervously. "I'm a scientist. I find scientific explanations for why we're here and why things happen the way they do. So…I'd have to say no, I don't."

The woman smirked then turned to Jack. "What about you, Colonel?"

"Look, this could just be me," Jack said, putting one hand on the table. "But I'm really missing the relevance of that question."

" 95 of the population believes in a higher power in one form or another," the woman said. "We just want to be sure we're being properly represented."

"Higher power?" Jack grinned. "Sure I believe in them. They're about yea high, grey, called the Asgard. Really nice guys. There's also the glowing jelly-fish Ancients, but they don't really do anything."

"That's not what I was asking, Colonel."

"I know." Jack sat back in his seat, looking sternly at the woman. "But for cryin' out loud, right now as we speak there's a man plotting what could possibly be the end of the world. I would think that people would be more concerned about uniting to stop him than dividing ourselves over a matter like religion. So what if Major Carter and I don't believe in God? It's not going to change the way we represent our planet. Next question."

"Oho now we've done it!" Jack said as they got back into the car after the conference. "The newspapers are going to be all over us and it won't be because we've saved the fucking galaxy, either, no, it'll be because we don't think there's a big man up there controlling everything."

"Sad but true," Sam mumbled, then grinned at him. "That speech of yours was pretty impressive."

"Yeah, well…" Jack stretched his feet out, folding his arms behind his head. "I just pulled that outta my ass. I had to say something."

Back at the hotel Sam was just changing into her civilian clothing when he phone rang.

"Carter."

It was one of the security guards. "Major, there's a man down here claiming to be your brother, Mark Carter."

"Oh!" Sam's eyes went wide. "Send him up."

A few minutes later there was a knocking at the door and Sam opened it to find Mark standing there. She threw her arms around her brother.

"I didn't know you were coming!"

"I had to see you," Mark said as Sam gestured for him to take a seat. "I pulled a lot of strings and got a pass for the conference. I was way at the back of the room, but…" his voice trailed off and he stared at his sister. "Sam…I had no idea…you and Dad…"

"I'm sorry." Sam managed a little smile and laugh. "You didn't have to come all the way out here to see me, though!"

"I've been trying to get a hold of you for the past week," Mark admitted. "But so has the rest of the world, and you haven't been at home at all. You're answering machine is probably full of messages from me."

"Yeah, well the past week's been hectic to say the least…"

"Sam, I have to get back to Carol and the kids, they're waiting at our hotel, but…" Mark looked up at her nervously. "Can I just ask you something?"

"Sure."

"Is Koranov really going to start a nuclear war?"

Sam was silent for a long moment. She took a deep breath and let it out before replying. "I don't know. It's what he's threatening to do. But, Mark…" she reached out and touched his arm. "You can't tell anyone this…but there are lists. If it comes to nuclear war there are lists of people to be evacuated through the Stargate to another planet. I'm on one of the first ones and I am sure as hell not leaving without you."

"It's the kids I'm more worried about," Mark murmured.

"I'm not leaving without any of you." They both got to their feet and Mark threw his arms around Sam, hugging her tightly.

"My little sister the space ranger." He said with a laugh. "And my own father a host to an alien…" Mark shook his head in disbelief, stepping back. "Tell him I said hi."

"I will." Sam opened the door. "And I promise I'll come visit you soon."

Night fell slowly over the city. Sam and Jack ate dinner in his room and then went to talk quietly on the balcony.

"It's all changing," Sam murmured, leaning on the railing and watching the sky turn from deep blue to inky black. Stars appeared, and she wondered vaguely which ones they'd been to. "All around the world people's lives are changing and it's partially our fault."

"At least we're all still here," Jack walked over to stand next to her. "At least we all have lives to change. I mean, it's frightening to think that there's one man out there who can push a button and all this – " he waved his hand, encompassing the cityscape before them, "all this will go up in smoke."

Sam shivered slightly, though the night wasn't cold. "I want this to be over."

"We all do."

"I wish the president hadn't gone public," she heaved a sigh. "it just made things worse."

Jack nodded, giving Sam a wan smile. "He had no choice, it was the best thing to do."

"Even you're different, sir," Sam looked up at him, smirking.

"Am I?" he laughed.

"Mmmm."

They fell into silence as the night darkened. Sam clasped and unclasped her hands, lost in her own thoughts.

"This is one planet." Jack said after a while, his voice breaking through the distant hum of nighttime noises. "One little planet. One man threatening to drop a few bombs. The Goa'uld system lords make Koranov pale in comparison. We've saved the whole goddamn galaxy, this is one planet!"

Sam watched him gesture at the city again then slam his fist down on the railing. "This is our planet." She said quietly. "For so long this is all we thought was out there. I think in a way that makes it far bigger to us than a galaxy."

Jack turned to her with a light sigh. "Carter…"

"Sir?" She turned when she felt his hand on her shoulder.

"C'mere." Jack pulled her into a hug, embracing her not only with as much comfort as he could muster but also with all the fear he was feeling but was too proud to admit.

Sam rested her cheek against his shoulder and loosely wrapped her arms around his waist. For a few minutes they just stood there as the cool night breeze ruffled their hair and far below them families in their homes discussed the Stargate program and some people went on disbelieving what Koranov was threatening to do was real…

"I'll always be here for you, Carter," Jack murmured. "No matter what. If the world turns into a huge ball of superheated plasma and you need a hug…" he paused to give her a comforting squeeze. "I'm here."

Sam lifted her head from his shoulder to look at him. "I know."

His brown eyes were warm, glowing in the faint light from the city. "And, Carter, just in case Koranov is as crazy as he claims to be, I just wanted to tell you that…" But his voice seemed to catch in his throat. It'd been years since he'd said it to anyone and now he felt out of practice.

"I know." Sam whispered, her voice only barely audible above the wind that now blew strongly about them.