Interruptions
Chapter Twenty-Three
FIVE WEEKS LATER
"Okay, the ceremony'll start when the music begins."
Sam was listening to the woman who'd organised the ceremony. This was a practice, so they'd know what to do on the day of the wedding. Only one week to go! Unfortunately, Jack wasn't able to attend as he was busy in Washington.
"Once the music begins, Cassandra and Cameron will process down the aisle, and take their seats in the front row."
Everyone watched as Cassie and Cam did so.
"When they reach the halfway point on their walk down the aisle, the Maid of Honour will begin her walk."
Cam and Cassie walked back to the start of the aisle so they could do it again, this time with Vala walking down the aisle too.
The organiser, Shelby, smiled at Sam. "Then it's your turn!"
Sam smiled in return.
"When Vala reached the halfway point, you start with Murray."
They'd decided Teal'c should be known as Murray for the ceremony, seeing as he'd used the alias several times whilst in public.
"Places!" Shelby called, and everyone went to where they were supposed to be.
They heard music beginning to play, and Cassie and Cam started walking slowly down the aisle. Vala followed. When Vala reached the halfway point, Sam and Teal'c started.
That's when Sam's phone rang. Everyone stopped to stare at her.
"Sorry." She said, before answering. "Carter."
"Colonel."
"General."
"We have a bit of a problem." Hank said.
"What kind of problem?" Sam asked.
"One that I can't discuss over the phone." Hank replied. "And I'm really sorry to do this, but I need you back here. Now."
Sam sighed.
"And bring the rest of your team too."
"Yes, sir." Sam replied. She hung up and looked at Cam.
"What is it?" He asked.
"Dunno, but Landry want us all back on base. Now." Sam replied.
"But we're in the middle of a rehearsal!" Shelby said. "Can't it wait?"
Sam shook her head. "I'm afraid not. Can we reschedule?"
Shelby sighed. "I suppose we have to."
"Thank you."
"What's going on General?" Sam asked as she and SG1 walked into the briefing room. "I was in the middle of…" She trailed off when she saw who else was sitting with Hank.
"Colonel, I believe you know Detective Pete Shanahan."
"Yes, I do." Sam replied, not looking at Pete. "What's he doing here?"
"Good to see you too, Sam." Pete said, slightly sarcastically.
Sam sighed and looked at Pete. "I'm sorry, I just wasn't expecting to see you."
"Detective Shanahan is here regarding a spree of UFO sightings in Denver."
"What does that have to do with us?" Daniel asked.
"A lot, seeing as one crashed." Hank replied.
"Oh great." Sam muttered. "General, I might remind you that I am otherwise engaged for the next three weeks at least."
"I know Colonel, but I'd still like you to go with the rest of SG1 today to Denver to see what you can recover from the crash site."
Sam sighed. "Yes, sir." Truthfully, she'd like nothing more than to fly to Washington and spend the last week before her wedding with her fiancé. Instead, she'd probably be spending it in Denver with her ex-fiancé.
"Okay SG1, I'd like you back as soon as possible, but however long this takes…" Hank shrugged. "Hopefully it's nothing serious."
"Hopefully." Cam echoed.
Vala was looking curiously between Sam and Pete, who were both avoiding eye contact with each other.
"Well, shall we get going?" Pete asked.
"Yeah." Sam replied, and Vala heard her mutter, "As soon as this is over with, the better."
The curiosity grew.
They were all sitting in a large van, on their way to Denver. Sam was sitting in the back, as far away from Pete as possible. Vala was sitting next to her, shooting her curious glances, and Sam knew she'd be answering questions about this sooner or later. She also couldn't help but wonder if Pete was currently seeing anyone. Not that she would care. After all, she'd moved on, why shouldn't he?
After what seemed like hours and hours and hours, they finally slowed and pulled into a small clearing. It was shielded from the road by trees, and Sam noticed many local police looking warily at the large item sitting in the middle of the clearing. It looked familiar to Sam. In fact, she recognised it straight away. As did everyone in the van, with the exception of the driver, Pete. They all hopped out of the van and walked over to the Death Glider.
Sam turned to stare at Pete. "You couldn't have taken a photo to show General Landry? This is not the sort of job meant for other SGC personnel, not SG1."
Pete stared back. "How is this not your job? It's alien, and that's what you do."
"A simple recovery, much like this, is not done by SG1; it's more SG13's thing." Sam looked suspiciously at Pete. "What exactly did you tell Landry to convince him that we were needed?"
Pete said nothing.
"As for what it is, it's a Death Glider. As for why it's here, I don't know, and quite frankly, I don't care at the moment."
Sensing a personal shift to the conversation, the rest of SG1 left Sam and Pete alone and went to inspect the glider.
"What is your problem Sam? If it weren't for me, you'd be stuck in that mountain doing God knows what."
"Ha!" Sam laughed. "As a matter of fact, when I was called in by Landry, I wasn't even on base. Nor was the rest of my team. We were busy rehearsing for…" Sam stopped.
Pete raised an eyebrow. "Rehearsing for…?"
Sam looked away. "I'm getting married next week."
Pete blinked a few times. "Oh."
There was an uncomfortable silence.
"Well, congratulations." Pete said.
"Thanks."
"So, who…?"
Sam opened her mouth to reply, but didn't get the chance.
"Carter!"
She frowned and turned. "Jack?"
"Surprise!" Jack grinned and walked over to her. He glanced over her shoulder at the slightly shell shocked detective. "Shanahan." He nodded a greeting.
"General." Pete replied, then he looked at Sam. " 'Jack?' You never called him that when we were together. It was always General O'Neill this, the General that. I suppose I should've known."
Jack raised an eyebrow at Sam, who shook her head, silently telling him not to respond.
"Okay, let's check out this glider so we can all go home." Sam said, leaving the pair of men staring each other down.