Disclaimer: I still don't own the characters, though I certainly wish I did.
Author's Note: This is set in early season one, right before "Fata Morgana". It's unbeta'd so all mistakes are, as always, my own.
"That was rough."
Helen Magnus watches as the Sanctuary's resident psychologist heaves a sigh and lowers himself into the chair in front of her desk. He looks tired, which isn't terribly surprising considering he's just done a there-and-back on a commercial flight - never fun - to attend the military funeral of a woman he's never met. Resting her pen on the open pages of the journal she's been writing in, Helen gives him a sympathetic smile and dips her head.
"I imagine it was rather difficult," she says, motioning to the pitcher of water at the edge of her desk. Will Zimmerman shakes his head and Helen pours herself a glass of water before continuing. "Samantha Carter was an incredible scientist and her loss is a blow to the scientific community at large."
"What was it you said she did again?" Will asks, leaning back in his chair and stretching out as he speaks. "I never did catch it at the service."
"She worked on a top-secret project under Cheyenne Mountain," Helen replies and picks up her pen to tap it thoughtfully against the edge of her journal.
"Nothing's under that mountain but NORAD." Will pops his neck and groans happily. "I have friends I went to college with who know about it."
"Well they're incorrect, William. There's more to Cheyenne Mountain than meets the eye." Helen's tone is knowledgeable and firm.
"And that's why you want Doctor Fraiser? Because you think she'll be able to handle the idea of the Sanctuary because of what's under the Mountain?"
Helen smiles and lifts an eyebrow as she says, "My security clearance extends to the highest levels across the globe because of my work here. I'm privy to things no other civilian would ever have a hope of hearing whispered about in the dark. There's quite a lot under Cheyenne Mountain, William, and Doctor Fraiser is more than qualified to work for me, more than any other person on this earth - and off it."
"Off it . . . yeah, right." Will laughs but stops abruptly at the serene smile on Helen's face. "Wait, you're serious?"
"Quite," she replies, standing and smoothing her skirt as she lifts a hand towards the door. "I do believe my friend has supper ready, so we can continue our discussion after we've finished."
Will's brow is furrowed as he eats his lasagna and Helen smiles into her salad at the look of consternation he's had since they left her office. Thanking Bigfoot for another wonderful meal, Helen heads back to her own sanctuary and counts down the seconds in her mind. Just as she reaches 'one', Will's voice rings out in the hallway.
"Magnus, wait!"
Helen stops and waits for her new protege to catch up with her. Will's only been at the Sanctuary for a few months but she knows she made the correct choice in pursuing him for employment. Of course, he doesn't know that he's Helen's protege - that discussion hasn't happened yet - but he's perfect for work at the Sanctuary and does his job well.
"So this whole not-on-Earth thing, is that for real?" Will asks when he catches up and Helen nods as she starts to walk again.
"Indeed. The United States Air Force has a secret base under Cheyenne Mountain where there is a piece of alien technology called the Stargate that allows a user to travel across the galaxy to other planets," she explains and stifles a smile at the incredulous look Will gives her before continuing. "Samantha Carter was a member of the main team, SG-1, and served as both scientist and soldier. Janet Fraiser is the Chief Medical Officer of Cheyenne Mountain and has treated numerous wounds to both humans and aliens alike."
"And you think you can convince her to leave that and come work here?" he asks, his eyes wide as he stares at her. "I mean, no offence, Magnus, but it wouldn't be hard to choose."
"I think she'll leave the Mountain on her own, William," Helen says and waves a hand. "No offence taken, of course. I think Doctor Fraiser will leave the SGC now that Major Carter is no longer there. I've been following her for a very long time, you see, and her potential is incredible. But while she works at Cheyenne Mountain, Janet Fraiser is untouchable. I'm very sorry for the loss of her wife, as a person and a scientist, but I'm hopeful she'll leave the SGC now and will agree to work for the Sanctuary."
Will's got his hands shoved in the pockets of his jeans and he looks at his feet as he walks. Helen waits patiently, knowing that he'll have input and that it'll be valuable in the acquisition of Janet Fraiser's talent. After scuffling his feet against the rug with each step, Will looks over at Helen and shrugs.
"It'll have to be completely her choice or she'll feel like she's doing this out of a rebound reaction to losing Major Carter and she'll resent both herself and you for the work. You may have to wait, you may not, but I'd say give her time and then approach her," he says quietly.
"Thank you, William." Helen stops at her office door and smiles softly as she lays her hand on his upper arm. "Get some rest. We leave for Scotland to investigate several abnormal sightings in three days and I need you at your very best."
"Will do," he says and throws a sloppy salute at her as he walks away. Helen watches him and inhales deeply, closing her eyes for a moment at the ease with which he accepts things so smoothly - recent introductions to abnormals aside. It's unusual but certainly one of the main reasons she's so confident that she's made the right choice with him. Slipping into her office, Helen sits at her desk and pulls out a thick file labelled 'J.F.' and begins to read through it again, using a pad of paper to make notes.