Chapter 16: Music is the Spice of Life (Part One)

Disclaimer: Only my stuff is mine.

A/N: This is it, guys! I'm out of dirty jokes. I'm kinda selling out on this one; it's one of the oldest in the books.

No double entendre in part one; it's in part two.

ENJOY!!!

Very rarely was there an occasion when SGC personnel could really just kick back and relax or blow off steam. Too rarely, General Hammond decided. He was leaving soon and, though Jack didn't know it, he would soon be his replacement. Actually, no one knew he was leaving.

He planned on breaking the news tonight. In front of everyone.

Hammond had arranged for a large get together at the Cheyenne Mountain Resort near the base. He had stayed there with his grandchildren over Christmas vacation and decided it would be the perfect place to officially announce his retirement.

The party was in the spacious Mountain View Restaurant, a beautiful restaurant located high in the hotel that provided a stunning view of the mountains. Dusk had fallen, turning the mountains a dusky purple-silver and the restaurant's balcony had lit their faerie lights, sending twinkling sparks of light to wash the terrace with warmth.

The whole of the SGC was in attendance, except for the back-up crew. They were still at the base, holding down the fort for the night. The resort had even been so kind as to comp rooms for all those who wished to stay the night.

George sat at the breakfast buffet turned bar for the evening. He twirled his gin and surveyed the room, looking for his flagship team. Lord knows, they deserved this party more than anyone. They faced death almost every time they went through that gate, yet they kept their strong bond and sense of humor. It was a true miracle.

George spotted Daniel and Teal'c sitting at one of the many tables, deep in conversation. Daniel had an almost worried expression on and, when he shot a furtive look at the General, George knew he knew. Dr. Jackson was not a stupid man by any means; of course he had seen straight through the pretense of this occasion. In fact, most of the personnel had probably figured out that something was off.

George raised his glass to Daniel and the man nodded back, an understanding look softening his face. Teal'c bowed slightly to George and Daniel, then excused himself from the table. He moved off into the crowd and was soon lost among the masses.

Hammond sighed and went back to looking around the room. A flash of gold caught his eye and he found himself focusing on Sam Carter. He had known the woman since she was a small child and it never ceased to amaze him who she had grown into.

The little girl who used to run around the house in her mother's high heels and wedding veil had grown into a remarkably smart, talented, courageous woman who saved the world on a daily basis. Without warning, an image of the present-day Sam wearing her own wedding dress and veil flashed through his mind. She was standing at the altar and flashing a bright smile at the man standing opposite her.

A man who also happened to be standing in front of George at that very moment.

"Sir."

"Jack." George smiled and gestured to the barstool next to him.

Jack took the seat and gave Hammond a calculating look. "Hm."

Hammond half-smiled. "What?" Obviously, Jack had figured it out too.

"Oh, nothing." The younger man spoke casually, shrugging his shoulders.

"Colonel." Hammond said in mock-warning voice.

Jack smiled. "Ah. There it is."

Hammond rolled his eyes. "I take it you know."

"Me, sir?" Jack blinked innocently and fiddled with his sleeve, eyes traveling the room casually, stopping only when he was looking straight across from him. Hammond didn't have to look to know who he was looking at. "I don't know anything."

Hammond rolled his eyes inwardly. "When it comes to certain things, no, you don't."

Jack flashed the General a slightly surprised look. "Sir?"

Hammond sighed and put down his drink, slowly meeting the Colonel's suspicious gaze. "You know what I'm talking about, Jack."

"Let's say I don't." Jack cocked his head.

"Don't play dumb with me, Jack."

"Who's playing?"

Hammond sighed and downed his drink. Clearing his throat, he stood up and gave the still-seated Colonel a veiled look. "The state of affairs is changing, Colonel…and so is the Air Force. Make your decisions wisely." And, without waiting to see the reaction his words would cause, George walked away, quickly becoming engulfed in the crowd.

Jack stared at the spot where he'd last seen the General before standing slowly. Straightening his uniform with a deliberateness that was out of character, Jack strode towards large panoramic windows that doubled as doors to the balcony. They were all standing open, letting the cool mountain air into the packed room.

The balcony itself was long, wrapping halfway around the building. It was wide too; thirty feet from door to wooden railing. Jack strode purposefully to the polished railing and looked out at the darkening sky. The mountains were an ominous shade of indigo, with streaks of red cutting across the craggy surface from the dying sun.

"It's amazing," a familiar voice said from behind Jack. "I've seen hundreds of alien sunsets…yet I still find Earth's to be the most beautiful."

"That was very…sappy," Jack turned. "Daniel."

"Jack." Daniel had his hands buried in the pockets of his trousers.

Jack rolled his eyes a little before turning back around and leaning his forearms on the rail. "Chilly." He remarked intelligently.

"Yep." Daniel had that distinct 'I-have-something-that-I-really-wanna-say-but-I-wanna-lord-it-over-your-head-first' kind of tone.

"Uh-huh." The Colonel's tone was carefully measured.

"So…Hammond's leaving?"

"Looks like."

"Right."

A few minutes of heavy silence passed. "Alright, Danny-boy. Out with it."

"Hmm? Sorry, out with what?"

Jack turned around and gave the archaeologist a look that clearly said, 'I am not amused.'

"Oh." Daniel said as though it had just hit him. "Out with that."

"Yes, that." Jack leaned back on the railing.

"What?" Daniel frowned.

"This."

"This what?" Daniel gave Jack a triumphant little half smile.

"Daniel!" Jack barked.

Daniel raised his hands in mock surrender. "It's about Sam."

Jack opened his mouth, but quickly shut it. Daniel sighed. "I found some papers on her desk. Transfer papers, Jack."

Jack's heart jolted. 'What?' he thought, suddenly standing up straight, his face rigid. 'Transfer…?'

"What?" Jack managed to stutter out.

"Yeah." Daniel looked past Jack, towards the still menacing mountains. "To the Pentagon. Some sort of liaison position."

Jack shook his head. "Daniel…I would have been notified if a member of my team was being transferred. It would have to get my approval first."

Daniel sighed and gave Jack a 'you poor clueless man' look. "They weren't from the Pentagon, Jack." He paused, seeing if the older man was getting it. When the silence stretched Daniel continued. "They were in Sam's handwriting. She's asking for a transfer."

Jack stood in shocked silence for a moment. "But…it would still have to go through me."

"Yes, after she sent them to Hammond. Far as I know, she just wrote them up a few days ago." Daniel gave him a meaningful look.

With the most monumental mental and physical effort of his life, Jack reigned in his emotions. He schooled his face into a hard mask and measured his voice carefully. "What would you like me to do, Daniel?" the words came out harsher than he had intended.

Daniel's jaw dropped and, for a moment, he was doing a wonderful impression of a goldfish. His mouth reacted without consulting his mind. "Are you kidding me?! Jack, you have to--!" he broke off abruptly and cleared his throat.

Jack raised his eyebrows. "Have to what, Daniel?"

Daniel squeezed his eyes closed and lifted his shoulders as though asking 'why me?' "Nothing, Jack. Forget it."

"Forget--?" Jack stared at the younger man in disbelief. "You just told me that my second is transferring and you want me to forget about it?"

Daniel just shrugged. "A piece of advice, Jack…get your priorities straight."

"They are." Jack nearly growled. Where was Daniel going with this?

Daniel frowned slightly. "I hope so." He said quietly. "Something's gotta give, Jack. Make sure you don't do something you'll regret." With that, Daniel walked back across the deck and disappeared inside.

"What is it with people leaving on dramatically ominous notes?" Jack sighed to himself. "I swear…" he continued to grumble.

"O'Neill." A deep voice said to his left.

"Teal'c." Jack copied the Jaffa's monotone voice. "You aren't here to give me some weird…cryptic advice…are you?"

"Indeed, I am not." Teal'c looked at the shadowed mountains.

"Oh…good." Jack followed Teal'c's gaze. When it became disturbingly apparent that the big man did actually have something to say, Jack gave in. "What?"

"I merely wish to express my concerns." Teal'c bowed slightly.

Jack looked from side to side when he didn't continue. "About what?" He annunciated each syllable, making it clear that he was annoyed.

"For you." Teal'c said. Jack opened his mouth to protest when Teal'c continued. "And Major Carter."

That stopped Jack in his tracks.

"T," Jack spluttered, desperately trying to regain his composure. "If this is about the transfer papers…I already know."

Teal'c cocked his head and looked as close to confused as he ever did. "It is not."

"Oh. Well, okay then." Jack cleared his throat and bounced on his heels.

"I am concerned for the path you and Major Carter are traversing. It will only lead to unpleasant things, O'Neill. You are both competent warriors in matters of battle, but when it comes to matters closer to the heart, I fear that you will never realize the full potential of what lies inside."

Jack blinked once.

Twice.

Three times.

"Whoa, buddy, I think that's the most I've ever heard you say."

"Indeed, O'Neill. It is the most I have ever said." Teal'c inclined his head.

Jack frowned. "Are you feeling okay?"

"Indeed, O'Neill. I have, however, found champagne to be quite…" Teal'c paused, searching for the right word. "Enlightening."

"Enlightening?" Jack almost choked. What was with everyone tonight?

"Remember what I have said, O'Neill." And then Teal'c walked away.

Jack stood for a moment, staring into the restaurant, but not actually seeing anything. He wished George would hurry up with his speech. Jack really wanted to get out of there before anything else happened…or anyone else had more advice.

"Sir." Jack started and looked to see his second staring at him with concern.

"Carter." Jack countered automatically, clearing his throat.

"Are you alright, sir?" Sam leaned against the railing and studied her CO. He looked distinctly troubled and he wasn't meeting her eyes.

"Carter…you'd tell me if you were…making any life-altering choices…right?" Jack raised an eyebrow, but focused his gaze somewhere above Sam's left shoulder.

Sam considered for a minute. "Like what, sir?"

"Like a job transfer."

"Of course, sir!" Sam exclaimed, surprised.

Jack finally moved his eyes to meet hers. He knew Carter as well as he knew himself, meaning that he always knew when she was lying. Instead of her eyes being guarded, he found them to be clear and genuinely surprised. Something clicked in Jack's head and he found himself whirling toward the doors.

"Daniel! You little--!" He started as he set off to move across the balcony.

"Colonel!" Sam called, grabbing his elbow. Jack stopped abruptly, but didn't turn around.

He opened and closed his mouth a few times, attempting to sort out the jumbled mess that was currently his brain. He settled for trademark sarcasm. "Carter…assaulting a superior officer is a serious offense."

Sam sighed, but let her hand drop. "Yes, sir." Her voice was low and…disappointed?

Jack furrowed his brow and turned around. "Carter? What's up?"

Sam shook her head and gave him a small, brave smile. "Nothing, sir."

"It's not nothing, Carter." Jack took a few steps closer to her.

"Colonel, I…nevermind. It's nothing to worry about." She smiled again, but quickly averted her eyes to the dark landscape.

Jack sighed heavily. This was truly a night for the books. "Sam." His voice was pitched low, like he was trying to coax a stray cat out of hiding.

Sam closed her eyes briefly, but knew it was no good. Once he said her name, she was lost. "I've heard some things, sir, about the SGC."

"What kind of things?"

"Changes, Colonel. Changes in the chain of command and…changes in protocol."

"Ah." Jack cocked his head. He had also heard the whisperings of these things as well.

Sam fixed him with a calculating stare. "So, you've heard them too." It was a statement, not a question.

"I may have." Jack copied her stance.

Sam had to stop herself from rolling her eyes. "Colonel…are they true? I mean, I know General Hammond is leaving and I know that you're the person he's put up for his replacement, but the regs--?"

Jack's face dropped into such an expression of comical surprise that Sam stopped abruptly. "I must have had too much champagne." Jack said quietly, shaking his head.

"You haven't had any champagne, sir." Sam said before she could stop herself.

Jack's eyes jerked to hers. "Been keeping tabs on me, Carter?"

"No." Her answer was spoken with an almost petulant air.

Jack opened his mouth to respond, but thought better of it. He settled for, "Now, what was this I hear about me…and replacement?"

Sam narrowed her eyes. "You don't know?"

"Does it look like I know?"

"No."

A very long pause.

"Well, then?" Jack raised his eyebrows.

Sam coughed and looked like she was caught in fight or flight mode.

And flight was looking really good.

"What, sir?" 'Ah, good.' Sam thought to herself. 'Good old playing dumb.'

"Carter." Jack growled, drawing himself up to his full height. Anyone else would have been spilling their guts, but Sam knew better.

"Yes, sir?" Sam jumped to a cheeky salute.

"Major--," Jack started threateningly.

"Dad!" Sam's eyes widened.

Jack sighed. "Ouch, Carter. That hurt. I'm not that old, you kn--,"

"Hi, Jack." The voice came from behind him.

Jack froze and squeezed his eyes shut, praying that he had imagined Jacob's voice from behind him. When he opened them, he saw Carter giving him a semi-pitying, semi-amused, and semi-'serves-you-right' look.

Taking a deep breath, Jack put a big smile on and spun around. "Dad! Hey, how's it been? How's it going? What are you doing here?"

Jacob's smile was placid, but his eyes were hardly amused. "Jack, nice to see you too. Did I…interrupt…something?" Jacob raised an eyebrow.

"Not at all, da—I mean, sir." Jack gave a charming grin.

"Great, so you won't mind if I borrow my daughter for a minute, would you?" Without waiting for an answer, Jacob continued. "Didn't think so."

He took Sam gently by the arm and led her back towards the inside restaurant. "Carter! We'll finish our little discussion later." Jack called after her.

Sam turned around just inside the door and flashed him a smile.

Jack didn't even bother to try and suppress the warm feeling that spread through him.

END OF PART ONE

A/N: No double entendre, I'm sorry! It's in part two. I just wanted to introduce the setting and hint at the direction before getting into the funny stuff. Also, this way you won't have a ridiculously long chapter.

Please R&R!!!!