Chapter 18: The Storm

(Warning: mention of mild adult situations)

Sam had a cold chill run down her spine suddenly. Whatever her godfather had to say severely disturbed him. Sam put on her best military face possible. "I'll be strong as I can general. Does it have anything to do with Colonel O'Neill or Pete?" she said spitting out her ex's name. "Yes, it does unfortunately." the general replied. Sam stiffened up waiting for the bad news.

General Hammond picked up the vanilla file folder containing information Maybourne had printed out prior to his escape. "Major, I'm going to be completely honest with you. The contents of this file along with the damaged laptop are potential career ending for you." he stated plainly.

Sam was shocked to her core. What could possibly be that damaging. Neither Jack nor she ever violated the fraternization regulation. The time they spent as Jonah & Thera didn't count. They both agreed not to report their intimate relationship. Both officers also agreed not to continue the relationship despite their love for each other.

George watched as Sam started thinking. Whatever was going through her mind wouldn't come close to the truth. He spoke again bringing the major out of her thoughts. "Colonel O'Neill has a contact off base that monitors the NID. This person contacted the colonel 2 weeks ago about rogue NID targeting SG-1, you specifically." he said without emotion. "Kinsey! Again Sir! I assure you that Jack and I haven't violated the frat regulations." she stated flatly. "I know major; the colonel said the same thing." General Hammond replied taking a breath.

"Why wasn't I informed of this Sir, I deserved to know?" Sam said sternly. "Yes, you did. The reason you weren't told was because the colonels' contact recently discovered all pertinent information. Colonel O'Neill and I agreed it would be best to tell you after Osiris were captured. We believed that you would have been distracted by this matter." her godfather told her.

Sam didn't know how to respond to that. She looked at the file folder with mixed emotions. On one hand she wanted to know, the other frightened her. Jack lay in the infirmary dying from a poison. The reason why he was shot may be in that file. Now was not the time to be a coward…. "Whatever is in the file I can handle it sir." she finally responded.

George walked around sitting beside Sam taking her hand in his. This action scared her even more. The general had transitioned to godfather before her eyes. "Sam, this isn't going to be easy for you or me. I'm going to have to ask you some personnel questions about your relationship with Pete." he said in a protective way. She was very worried now. "I'm ready Uncle George." she answered with a whisper. George squeezed her hand taking a deep breath. "Have you had intimate relations with Shanahan recently?" he asked with deep concern. George knew he had to be strong for his Sammy; this was going to be like riding a Texas bronco from hell. Sam was stunned briefly followed by anger towards her ex. "NO! I made it perfectly clear to that… jerk off I wouldn't sleep with him at all! Not even in the same bed. The only thing we did do was mild ahhh…" she paused not wanting to say what they did. She felt embarrassed speaking of this with her godfather.

Sam felt like the time that her father caught Justin Brewster and her making out. She was 16 at the time and very rebellious. "You can tell me Sam, I'm not going to judge you. I promise nothing concerning intimate details will leave this room." he tried to reassure her. Sam sighed taking a deep breath. "There was some touching a few times…, just a few! That was the extent of our intimacy." she turned away as she spoke.

George reached out lightly grabbing her chin turning it back to him. There were tears forming in her eyes. Sam immediately put her head on Georges shoulder crying instantly. "Shh….shh, there's no need to be embarrassed Sammy. You're an adult. I'm very proud of you for not having sex with him. That means you're not pregnant like they wanted you to be. You stayed true to yourself. That's something to proud of." he said in a soothing tone.

George rubbed circles on Sam's back to calm her down. After a few minutes Sam stopped crying for now. She wiped some stray tears away asking. "Why did they want me pregnant with his child Uncle George?" and then it dawned on her. Sam's brain went into overdrive as she put the puzzle pieces together. George watched his intelligent and beautiful goddaughter figure out the first part of the NIDs plan. "Their plan was for me to get pregnant with…" Sam started then paused refusing to say Pete's name. "…his child. He would then deny the child was his. Mr. Potato head would then accuse me of sleeping with Jack. The next step would be to inform the Air Force causing an investigation." she surmised while pacing the generals' small office.

George watched with pride at her deductive skills. Sam could've made one hell of a detective. "I would be pulled off SG1, possibly transferred to Area 51. By the time we were cleared the damage would have been done. The rogue NID objective was to separate me from both SG1 & the SGC. The bonus to the plan would be separating Jack and I making us suffer. I'd be a single mother and Jack…" Sam paused again holding back a tear as she slumped in the chair. "Jack just might go back down that dark path Daniel saved him from all those years ago." she finished letting a few tears fall.

Sam leaned back wiping the tears away then spoke. "I am such a fool; I should've known I was being played." She said with regret. "Sammy, it wasn't your fault. These kinds of people don't care who they use or hurt. All that matters to them is their goal. You were true to yourself, never forget that." George told his goddaughter squeezing her hand.

"He warned me that I'd get hurt somehow. Now I may lose the one man that truly loves me. That's how they planned to hurt me, through Jack isn't it Uncle George?" she looked at him waiting for an answer. "Jack came close to the very same conclusion as you. He even told me that he does love you." George said waiting for the response he wanted. Sam shot up shocked but smiling "Jack said that he 'LOVEs ME'!" the general just nodded and added "I this very room." George got up making two cups of coffee leaving Sam to her thoughts. Sam was running her godfathers last words over and over through her head. A broad smile came across her face, one that George rarely saw these days.

The general didn't want to ruin the moment. He needed to tell Sam about the possibility of her house being bugged. George new it had to be done despite not wanting to hurt his goddaughter further. "Sammy, they had a Plan B." he informed her. Sam sighed thinking; 'time for the other shoe to fall'. "I want you to remember that Jack loves you. He'll pull through, Jacks to stubborn to roll over and die." the general reassured her. "I'm not likely to forget that for the rest of my life. How bad is their Plan B?" she replied steeling herself against the news.

George handed her a mug of coffee sitting back down. "First I need to know if Pete ever was at your house alone for any period of time." he asked then took a drink of fresh coffee. Sam sipped hers thinking back over the last several months. Sam looked at her coffee cup enjoying the warmth. She thought of the few times Jack was able to hold her. She felt safe and warm with his arms around her.

"The only time he was alone in my house was about two weeks ago. Mr. Potato Head insisted on staying the night because of the late hour. We got into an argument about….sleeping arrangements. In the middle of our argument I was called in about a device SG-3 found. He made a snide comment about the colonel as I went to change clothes. Pete was lying on the couch when I left." she told the general. "How long was he there alone?" he asked in a concerned tone. "The time frame would make a big difference." He added. "He was there when I returned at 1800hrs the next day." Sam answered with worried look. "What did they do? Did they wire my entire house?" she asked anger building up.

George thought briefly on how to proceed. Deciding on his course he moved forward. "The file folder has a complete breakdown of their plans. I'll let you read it once were finished." the general said in his command voice. Seeing the majors understanding he went on. "His actual girlfriend, a Jessie Bell, is an audio visual expert. She specializes in surveillance. We believe that while you were gone they completely wired your house with audio/visual equipment." he informed her. Sam's face dropped at that information. "He has a girlfriend…! That good for nothing JERK OFF!" She yelled causing George to flinch. "I'm going to kill him my way!" Sam was furious to say the least. She fumed for a good 10 minutes before sitting down again. George just sat drinking coffee keeping one eye on her. Georges worry for her rose with each passing minute. He knew that she could kill the man and get away with it. That truly worried him.

While pacing she reflected on her situation. She had calmed down enough to coming to a conclusion. 'If it was true then….she was completely compromised. Her bedroom, the shower, living room and her many talks with her plants'. "I'm completely compromised Sir." Sam replied dropping her head into her hands. "Sam, there's a small chance they haven't put the plan in motion yet." he told his god daughter. "Am I going to be blackmailed or is it worse than that?" Samantha asked quietly. "Blackmail was one of their plans." George told her. "And if I didn't play ball with them…" she queried. "They would have submitted their recordings to adult web sites under your name. Once some time passed they'd report you to the Air force." the general informed the major. Sam gasped at the thought starting to cry. "Such actions would be considered 'conduct unbecoming of an officer'. I'd be given a dishonorable discharge. Everything I ever worked for down the drain." she said through her tears.

George tried his best to comfort his crying goddaughter. She shook with worry leaning into him. Once Jacob caught wind of this those responsible would be in a world of hurt. "Dad is going to hate me for this. Isn't he?"She asked. "Why on earth do you believe that?" he asked. "I've gotten myself into a horrible mess again. The first time was with Jonas and now Pete." Sam finished. "Your father won't be mad or disappointed in you. This is happening because rogue elements of the NID are trying to damage the SGC & SG1." George told her in a parental voice. "I hope your right Uncle George. Marks furious over the break up with Pete no matter what I told him I was in the wrong. We were just starting to get along really well too." Sam said with a heavy heart. "I know, this is going to be hard but we'll get through it like always. Mark will come around in time. He's never been a fan of the military." he told her.

George moved to where he could look Sam in the eyes. "I just need you give approval for Agent Barret and Maybourne to verify if the equipments in place." he asked knowing what her reaction would be. He couldn't let her go for obvious reasons. "I'll go with Barrett and…Maybourne! Maybourne is Jacks source!" Sam blurted out shocked beyond belief.

"Yes Maybourne. His exact words to me were 'I could never forgive myself if anything happened to Major Carter, she's done nothing wrong. Besides if Jack found out that I withheld information about this, he'd kill me'" he informed her. "He's right about Jack's reaction although I'm not that innocent." Sam replied still in shock over the news. She then looked at her uncle's tear stained shirt. "Sorry about your shirt Uncle George. I got it all wet." she apologized. "Don't worry about it, reminds me of old times." he dismissed the damp shirt.

"Major, I'm going have to keep you on base. I need you to look at Maybourns laptop, it took some damage during his escape." the general said in a no argument tone. Sam wanted to protest but knew better since her uncle reverted back to general. "Yes sir," she responded.

"May I ask a question sir?" Sam inquired. George had gone to sit in his chair before he dismissed the major. "Is that position of head scientist/ R&D still open." she asked with hope. The General grinned internally. "It hasn't been filled yet Major." he answered smirking. "When Jack recovers I would like to take it." Sam said feeling a little drained but hopeful. "Good, I'll see what I can do for you Major." dismissed. Major Carter walked out of his office with a neutral look clutching the vanilla folder. Samantha was very concerned for Jack and her career. She sent up a silent prayer to God placing her trust in him.

Ajani: I'll make you a deal, send me some Twinkies and I'll keep him alive (virtual is fine, lol). As for music Justin Bieber is meant for torture. CCR, AC/DC, Charlie Daniels and many other are what I listen to. Thanks for the review.