Cameron shifted, trying to dislodge John's weight. "My arse does not feel like it's had its dominance reasserted"
"Bet your cock does though!"
Cam glared at the open bathroom door. "You're language is appalling considering you speak so nice!"
John huffed into his neck. Grace reappeared, towel wrapped round her. "Nice?"
"I think he's referring to your lovely accent sweetheart" John raised his head and grinned at her.
She raised a brow. "My accent?"
"Hmm, have you ever considered sex lines? You'd make a fortune"
Grace rolled her eyes. "What is it with American's and British accents?"
"It's not all British accents" John rolled off Cam and sat up, covers pooling round his waist "Just the delightfully posh ones"
She stuck her tongue out. "I am not posh"
"But you sound it which conjures up images of all girl boarding schools and repressed sexual desires"
Cam snorted. "She's never been repressed in her life"
"I am a little insulted Cameron"
Evan wandered in and handed her a beer. "What's he said now?"
"He inferred that I have whoreish ways"
"Whoreish ways?"
"Yes"
"Ah, and what are those?"
Grace took a sip. "Ask Cameron, I'm not supposed to say dirty words"
"This conversation seems to be hurtling out of control" Cam looked at her. "As usual"
"You started it"
"John started it"
"Did not"
Evan studied the ceiling. "You know my own place just keeps sounding better and better"
Grace nipped his jaw and made her way round to the side of the bed. "You'd miss us. And the lovely sex" She sat on top of the sheets next to John and took another pull.
"I'd just call in for the sex"
"He's using us"
"Bastard"
Evan glared at them. "Shut up"
"Ooh, angry Evan is kind of hot"
John sighed and pulled her closer. "Yeah, and it happens less and less now we're back on Earth"
"Why?"
"I'm not his CO anymore"
"Yes, but now he lives with you" Grace leant her head on his shoulder and took another drink. He dropped a kiss into her hair.
"But now we have you guys to spread the annoying parts around a bit more"
Cam pushed himself up and grabbed his sweatpants. "You mean the reason I get shouted at more these days is because I live with an annoying bastard"
"Pretty much"
"Then you don't get takeout"
"Uncalled for" John smirked at him. "I'll exchange sexual favours for takeout"
"All sexually exhausted at the moment Shep, sorry" Cam grinned at him and padded out the room.
Grace drained her beer and set it on the bedside before wrapping her arms around his waist. "You can share mine, and I won't even make you have sex with me"
"How very generous of you baby" He trailed a finger up her thigh, running it under the bottom of the towel. "Are you sure?"
"About the food part or the sex part?"
"Currently?" He pulled her into his lap. "The sex part"
"You can make it an IOU"
"I'm hurt"
"And I'm all clean from the shower. No making me dirty again"
"But that's the best bit"
Two months later.
Vala stretched and sighed. "Thank you"
"You're welcome"
"Time to go"
"Excuse me?" Dean glared down at her.
"Team meeting tonight darling"
"You know most teams meet in the team briefing room, hence the name"
"Not mine"
"So I've noticed" He raised a brow. "What exactly are you, my sister, and you're equally secretive teammates up to sweetheart?"
"I don't think I'm familiar with the term 'up to'"
"Bullshit. Spill the beans Vala Mal Doran"
"I don't have any beans"
Dean growled. "You know exactly what I mean"
"We are not 'up to' anything darling. We prefer to hold our meetings here that is all"
"Hmm, along with, if the contents of your fridge are anything to go by, margaritas"
"Would you like one before you go?"
Dean ran his tongue round her nipple and sucked gently. "Are you sure?"
"Oh, they don't take long to make"
He blew over her dampened skin and gently rolled his hips. "I mean, are you sure you want me to go?"
"Yes"
Dean huffed as he pulled on his jeans. "You know there was a time when it was me kicking hot women out of my bed…or sneaking out of theirs. What happened to my life?"
"You met a hot space pirate who was once host to a sex goddess"
He watched her grab a towel and make her way to the bathroom, eyes running down her still naked body. "You owe me for this"
"A space pirate never settles her debts"
"You will this one sweetheart, believe me"
"Princess?"
"Yes?" Grace looked up from her book.
"Dean just called. We're gonna hit the bar tonight with him"
"Ok Cameron"
"Does this mean there's another team meet tonight at Val's?"
"Uh huh"
She dropped her eyes back to her book.
"Hon?"
Grace sighed. "Yes Evan?"
"Any particular reason your meetings are held there? With seemingly increasing frequency"
She shrugged. "Vala makes good margaritas"
"Is that so?"
She looked up at all of them and rolled her eyes. "Yes. Now go away. I want to finish this chapter before I leave"
Sam hung up and threw his phone on the bed. "Fox and Hound?"
The other man rolled his eyes. "Another team meeting?"
"Yep"
"What do they do there? This is the second one this week"
"I think this is one of those 'ignorance is bliss' situations"
Graham snorted. "Not when it comes to them. I get the impression its safer to know exactly what they're up to"
"What who are up to?"
Sam stood behind her and folded his arms across his chest. "You, and your sneaky teammates"
"Sneaky?"
Graham eyed her from the bed. "Yes. Extra team meetings, held in private, little whispered conversations in the corridors of the SGC, and don't think I didn't notice you slipping out of McKay's lab the other day"
Laura raised a brow. "He's part of my team, there is nothing sneaky about visiting his lab"
Sam slid his arms round her waist and dipped his mouth to her ear. "We will find out"
"There is nothing to find out"
"Bullshit"
Dr Rodney McKay hit the send button on his email and grinned. Things were going to get a lot more interesting from now on, there was no way to stop the wheels they'd set in motion.
"And what are you looking so pleased with yourself for Dr McKay?"
He looked up at his lover. "I'm a genius, this look is a constant side effect"
Paul opened his mouth to reply and paused as his phone rang. He pointed to Rodney. "Stay"
Rodney rolled his eyes.
"Hello?"
"Oh hey Shep, whats up?"
Rodney rolled his eyes again.
"Huh, yeah sure ok. I'll see you there" He placed his phone on the table. "It appears I'm going to the Fox and Hound to get drunk which must mean there's another team meeting at Vala's"
"Your powers of deduction continue to amaze me"
Paul frowned down at him. "These extra meetings wouldn't have anything to do with me catching you flirting with my superior would they?"
"Your superior?"
"Landry"
Rodney wrinkled his nose. "Please, I don't think so"
"You were definitely flirting"
"Was not"
Paul sighed. "I hope not McKay, in case you hadn't noticed I'm a little possessive" He tapped Rodney's foot with his own. "And you're all mine"
"How delightfully manly of you Lieutenant Colonel Davis. If I wasn't due at Vala's in half an hour I'd prove it to you"
"You will when you get home McKay"
"Oh, yes Sir"
They spread out over Vala's two couches and looked at each other.
"The guys are getting suspicious"
"Shit, mine too"
"Dean is…curious"
Rodney held up a hand. "Mine too"
Grace tapped the side of her glass. "At least we kept it hidden long enough to get everything done we needed to for phase one. And they may be suspicious but it'll take them months to actually figure out whats going on"
"Please, no one could come up with your twisted little idea's except for you"
She flipped Rodney off. "You get the email done?"
"Oh yes, it's currently sitting in Woolsey's inbox waiting for him in the morning"
"Cool"
"You think bringing the IOA into this is a good idea?"
"They're steadily wheedling their way into the programme. We'll need contacts. And Woolsey's a good guy, once you get past the bureaucracy"
"As long as you don't make me flirt with him too. Landry is a creepy closet gay, and Paul's starting to notice"
Laura grinned at him. "Don't worry McKay, your part in that is done"
"So whats next?"
Grace smirked. "Recruitment drive"
Rodney raised a brow. "A little early for that don't you think?"
Vala refilled their glasses. "We need to uh, 'get them on side' as early as possible. Make sure their names are the first on the list"
"And how do you intend to do that?"
Grace grinned. "Our turn to flirt"
"Oh, they're gonna go mad"
"Who?" She looked innocently back at him.
"The rather possessive men you're fucking" He waved a hand at the other two women. "And yours too"
"I believe the saying is 'keeping them on their toes' yes?"
"Thats the one Val" Grace pursed her lips in thought. "Maybe it's time to bring Jackson in too"
Rodney frowned. "Daniel Jackson? Why?"
Laura waggled her brows. "Because he and O'Neill have been forced to hide their relationship for a very long time. And having two geniuses never did an already kick arse plan any harm"
"Who are you people?"
The three women grinned at him.
They sat round the table in the private room at the back of the bar. Colonel Mitchell frowned. "You mean that none of us still has any idea whats going on?"
"Nope" Lieutenant Graham Simmons took a sip of his drink. "They're good, I'll give them that"
Dean snorted. "What did you expect? Val's been swindling the entire galaxy for years, Grace is a kick arse hunter, Cadman's a highly trained marine, and now they've got your genius on side. It could take months to figure out whats going on, without resorting to kidnap and torture"
"No torture" John glared at him. "You and Sam not got any tricks up your sleeves from your hunting days? Something that makes you tell you the truth or something?"
"Yeah, but there's too many risky side effects" Sam swirled his glass. "You may as well just inject them with truth serum"
"Probably not a good plan. I enjoy having my balls attached to my body" They grinned at Simmons.
"So, we know their team meets are held at Val's which mean they don't want them recorded at the SGC, why don't we bug her apartment?"
Dean scowled at Evan. "Dude, I am not having my girlfriends place bugged, its bad enough my sister keeps walking in on us. Anyway, she's got a detector there"
Cameron raised his brows. "Really?"
"Yep"
"Where the hell did she get that?"
"How the hell do I know? Stole it from the SGC's storage probably" Dean tapped the table thoughtfully. "Anyway, I'm not sure they always stay there during these 'meetings'"
Paul raised a brow. "Why?"
"The one three nights ago…" They nodded "…I called round about 9pm cause I'd left my phone behind and they weren't there"
"Really?"
"Yep, place was in darkness"
"Huh"
Lieutenant Colonel Paul Davis walked in and took a seat. "Sorry I'm late. Did I miss anything?"
Cam snorted. "Nope, we're still all embarrassingly in the dark"
Paul grinned at him. "I think it has something to do with Landry"
"Really? Fucking hell"
He grimaced. "Yeah I know. I keep catching Rodney flirting with him, and the other day they were eating lunch together" He sighed. "Unless Dr McKay has suddenly decided he prefers ageing Generals over hot Lieutenant Colonels I'm guessing he's trying to find something out, or get something from him"
John smirked at him.
"Fuck off Sheppard, you and I are both proof he most definitely has the whole hot Lieutenant Colonel thing going on" He pointed at him. "Wait til it's your girl trying to extract information"
"Not gonna happen. She's not that stupid"
Dean snorted. "Man, she really is"
Three days later.
Lt Colonel John Sheppard sat in the mess and watched her over his coffee mug. She was leaning over the table, folded arms pushing her breasts together and up, smiling at the woman sat opposite her.
Grace laughed and sat back, flicking her hair over her shoulders.
He frowned.
Cameron eyed the man who'd just thrown himself into the chair the other side of his desk. "And why are we pouting so prettily Colonel Sheppard?"
John flipped him off. "My lunch was totally ruined by having to watch her flirt with Hardman"
"Hardman?"
"Major, leader of SG-9, ex-leader of SGA-5"
"Hmm, interesting. Hang on, isn't Major Hardman a woman?"
"Yes"
"Huh"
"And I swear her damn tops are getting lower. If she leant over any further she'd have flashed the entire mess"
"A little jealous are we Colonel?"
"Hardman's gay Mitchell"
"Ah"
Evan ripped the note off the fridge and frowned at it.
Hitting the bar with SG-9.
Don't wait up.
X
"Has the bit of paper mortally offended you in some way Lorne?"
He turned and glared at the other two men, holding it up between two fingers. "She's gone out"
"And?"
"With her team..and SG-9"
"Ok, now I'm starting to get a little pissed"
At a bar thirty miles out of town seven women and one man sat round a dimly lit table, tucked away at the back.
Major Marie Hardman grinned at the other team leader and raised her shot glass. "We're in. Here's to the start of a beautiful friendship Vala Mal Doran"
"And much more Major Hardman"
Eight glasses clinked together before their contents were thrown back.
Grace rubbed her hands together. "Now, how about another round, and possibly some dancing?"
One week later.
Dean rounded the corner and narrowed his gaze. She was leant against the wall, hands shoved in her pockets, ankles crossed.
The young engineer she was talking to was stood close, head bent as she murmured in his ear. He nodded and stepped back.
Vala pushed off the wall and began to make her way down the corridor by his side, her back to Dean.
He ran his eyes over her swaying arse. Since when were skinny jeans part of the uniform? He clenched his fists and walked away in the opposite direction.
Evan frowned as the sound of laughter drifted out of the sparring room. He stuck his head through the open door.
She was stood with her back to him, facing the seven marines who were part of her training group. Her hair was piled up on top of her head, exposing the bare skin of her back that the halter top didn't cover. He ran his eyes down and swallowed, he didn't even know they made workout shorts that, well short.
"So" Grace rested her hands on her hips. "Who wants to try to take me first?"
The men grinned.
Evan left before he punched someone.
There was a knock at the door of the office in the infirmary. "Dr Keller?"
The young woman turned. "Yes, can I help you?"
"I'm Lieutenant Cadman, Laura" The pretty redhead smiled. "You're new here?"
"Um, kind of. I just got back from Atlantis a few weeks ago"
"Ah good, so I heard right then"
"Excuse me?"
"Tell me Dr Keller, do you play poker?"
Sam stopped and pressed himself against the wall. She was coming out of the infirmary. He frowned, she hadn't said anything about feeling unwell, and her team hadn't been off-world for several days.
She turned to the open door and waved a hand. "I'll see you tonight hon!"
Sam looked at her thoughtfully as she walked away from his position. He was pretty sure her BDU's were a little tighter than normal, and since when did the SGC start listing leather halter tops as part of their accepted uniform.
"What are you up to?" he whispered to himself.
"Poker night?!"
"Yep"
Cameron narrowed his gaze. "You haven't been home for three nights in a row Princess"
"I am an adult Cameron"
"Well start acting like one"
Grace glared at him and stalked towards the front door, pausing as it opened and Evan walked in. He folded his arms across his chest. "Going out are we?"
She sighed. "Yes, and?"
"And maybe you'd like to take a minute before you dash off, again, to explain why it is necessary for you to train marines whilst wearing what might as well be your underwear?"
"You what?!" Cameron scowled at her.
She looked at Evan blankly. "Um, you mean my workout gear?"
"That is not workout gear"
"Then the man in the sports shop missold it to me" She grinned. "I'll ask for my money back"
"This is not funny"
"You're right, this is becoming exceedingly unfunny. I'm quite sure we covered the whole dialling back the overly possessive nature's a little while ago" Grace opened the door. "Perhaps you should consider some sex while I'm gone, you all seem awfully tense at the moment"
Cameron growled quietly. "Without you?"
"We don't all have to be together all of the time Cameron. Relax, have fun" She shut the door behind her.
Grace examined the cards in her hand and tapped the table. "The guys are starting to get pissed"
Rodney pointed at her. "Told you so. Sheppard nearly had a meltdown in the mess yesterday, watching you flirt with yet another marine"
"He'll thank me for it one day"
"If he hasn't dumped your whoreish arse"
She stuck her tongue out.
The newest member of their gatherings cleared her throat. "Um, would anyone mind filling me in on what's happening? I get the feeling I'm here for a particular reason"
"We like you"
Jennifer rolled her eyes. "And?"
"And we don't have a contact on the medical team yet"
"Uh, contact?"
"Yep, we're hoping you're gonna help us out with a little uh, recruiting"
The pretty Doctor raised her brows. "Recruiting?"
"Um hmm. You and those lovely bed partners of yours"
"Shit"
"Don't worry. We're not telling"
"You're not?"
"Nope. Want to know why?"
"Yes please"
John walked into the kitchen and eyed the two men sat at the table. "Jesus, who died?"
Cameron rolled his eyes. "If this isn't part of whatever they're up to I would say our relationship with one Grace Winchester is in its death throes"
"What?"
"She's never here anymore, she's flirting with anything that has a pulse and she just made it quite clear that we are to continue fucking without her presence"
"Um, ok" John frowned. "Not sure about the first two but we don't always have sex with all of us there anyway"
"It was the way she said it"
"You pissed her off"
"She pissed me off"
"Right" John took a seat. "She's out again?"
"Yep"
"Right" He tapped his fingers on the table. "And she's not flirting with anything with a pulse"
"Bullshit"
John rolled his eyes at the other two men. "I'm not sure about all of them but I would say at least 70% of them are gay or bi"
"Really?"
"Yep. Quite a few of them were on the first wave in Atlantis"
"Huh"
Two days later.
Grace dug a piece of paper out of her pocket. "Here are the last of my names" She grinned. "Bagged them today at training"
Vala raised her brows. "Well done, has the outfit been helping?"
"Oh yeah, however my men do not seem to be appreciating it"
Rodney snorted. "I should think not. Even I got a little hard watching your arse going down the corridor this morning"
"Euw!" Grace wrinkled her nose. "Anyway, it's being packed away for now. I'm all done putting myself about for the good of the cause. How about you guys?"
They all placed their lists on the table.
"Did we miss anyone? Anyone say no?"
"Nope"
"Uh uh"
"Please, I'm irresistible"
Vala grinned at Rodney. "Time to make up our 'official' list Dr McKay"
He opened his laptop. "It'll be my pleasure Miss Mal Doran"
Later that night.
Colonel Mitchell took a bite of his dinner and groaned as his phone rang. "For fuck's sake"
"Hello?"
"Mitchell?"
"Uh, yes"
"It's O'Neill"
"Oh, uh, hello Sir. Is there something wrong?"
"Any chance you, Lorne and Sheppard can get your arses back to the mountain? Something we need to discuss"
"Shit"
"Pardon?"
"Uh, sorry Sir. Yes, of course. We'll leave now"
Evan raised a brow. "Landry?"
Cameron closed his eyes. "O'Neill"
"Shit"
They sat along one side of the briefing table and looked warily at Brigadier General Jack O'Neill. He looked like he'd just been dragged out of bed and shoved into his uniform. He also looked a little pissed.
"I am a little pissed"
"Um, sorry Sir"
"What the hell you apologising for Sheppard? Not your fault"
"It isn't?"
He grinned at them. "For god's sake, relax. You're here because of your connection with Atlantis and knowledge of its personnel"
"This is about Atlantis?" Cameron frowned. "I was never there"
"But you're leader of SG-1, kind of.." Jack smirked at him "…and technically second-in-command of this base"
"Huh, guess I am"
Evan rolled his eyes. "You never read the small print"
"Bite me Lorne"
O'Neill cleared his throat.
"Uh, right, sorry Sir"
"Drop the Sir Mitchell, you two as well. O'Neill will do"
They nodded.
He tapped the files in front of him. "We're in a bit of shit gentlemen. This meeting is an attempt for it not to hit all of us square in the face when the Presidents office finds out. I'm delaying that call for as long as I think I can get away with"
They raised their brows and waited.
"Caldwell and Landry have been removed from their posts following a phone call made to me an hour ago by Richard Woolsey of the IOA. He chose to contact me rather than go through the official lines and for that I'm bloody grateful" He sighed. "They have been skimming the budget"
"Skimming the budget?"
"Yes, and selling off information"
"Shit"
"Precisely. We're still investigating the extent of Steven's embezzlement but Hank has in the region of $15.3 million hidden away in off-shore accounts"
"Fuck. Uh, sorry"
"Oh no Sheppard, I totally agree with you" He looked at Cam. "I'm afraid Mitchell that this means you'll need to step in for a while here, hand over SG-1 to Carter. We'll slip in a little promotion for you of course. Can't have a base like this run by a Colonel"
"Uh…"
"You can thank me later Mitchell" O'Neill waved a hand at the other two men. "I need recommendations for someone to temporarily step into command out in Pegasus. I know many of your lot are back here now, it seems Caldwell pissed off a lot of people, not just you. But if you could go through the names in this file I'd be grateful" He slid it down the table.
John stopped it with his hand. "Of course Sir"
"We also need to look into everyone who worked closely with both men, or were involved with them. They couldn't have done this alone and we may as well make a clean sweep now the shit has truly hit the fan" He eyed them. "You got some people you trust?"
Mitchell grinned at him. "Oh yes"
"Bates"
"Excuse me?"
John tapped the list of names. "Major Dean Bates, put him in charge for now. He was on the first wave and I trust him. He hated Caldwell too"
Evan nodded his agreement.
"He's only a Major"
"So was I when I had to step in. And you said it wouldn't be permanent? You'll be recruiting a new Military Commander?"
O'Neill tilted his head, smiling slightly. "Oh yes Sheppard, we will"
John shifted slightly. "Right, uh great" He frowned "How did Woolsey find out about this?"
"Ah, good, I was wondering if any of you would ask" O'Neill tipped back in his chair. "An anonymous email apparently, with dates, account numbers and security footage. He received it over a week ago and I'm a bit pissed that he sat on it for so long but he wanted to be sure he made the right decision"
"Security footage?"
"Yes, whoever sent it wanted there to be no doubt that we would investigate"
"Can it be traced?"
"Not according to Jackson and Carter. They say whoever sent it must be some kind of technological genius"
"Genius eh?" Mitchell frowned and drummed his fingers on the table.
"Yes Mitchell, got an idea have you?"
"Um, no. But I'll think on it O'Neill"
"Good man. Now, lets pull together an investigative team"
She knocked on the door of the condo.
"Ah, Vala" He smiled at her. "Come on in hon"
"Thank you Daniel" She looked around as she stepped inside. "Jack is not here?"
"Nope. Got a call from the mountain, swore a lot then left" He smirked at her. "Apparently your plan is going according to, well, plan"
"Of course it is darling" She pulled a file from her bag. "Here are the names of our recommended personnel"
He sat down, gesturing her to the recliner, and flicked through. "Wow, good job Miss Mal Doran"
"Thank you Daniel" She grinned at him. "Tell me, will you be joining us?"
"Absolutely"
"Good night sweetheart?"
Grace looked up at him from the bed. "Yes, thank you John. You decided to go out?"
"Got called back to work"
"Oh, alien invasion?"
"No"
"Oh ok, good"
She dropped her eyes back to the book.
"You're not curious?"
"Should I be?"
"I'm surprised you're not"
Grace raised a brow. "This is a very strange conversation John"
"Just be thankful there's no yelling"
"Yelling?" She widened her eyes at Cameron as he stepped into the room.
"Oh yes Princess. Tell me…" he stretched out beside her '…if you wanted a technological genius on your team who would you recruit?"
"Um, Carter..or McKay. Why?"
"You're very smart aren't you? Smarter than you like to let on"
"Cameron, this is starting to get a little weird"
"Some would say a tactical genius"
"Then I guess Val's lucky to have me"
"Grace?"
"Yes Evan?"
"Why did you do it?"
"Do what?"
"Games up sweetheart. No one but McKay could have sent that email and made it untraceable"
"Oh, Woolsey called O'Neill" She placed her book down. "He's so wonderfully predictable you know?"
John raised a brow. "And how would you know this about him?"
"Richard was kind enough to buy me a coffee some weeks ago after accidentally knocking mine all over me. He was thrilled to learn that I worked at the SGC. We had a lovely chat"
"You're a fucking nightmare"
"Thank you Cameron" She raised a brow. "Was there something else?"
Evan rolled his eyes. "Why?"
"They were breaking the law Evan"
"As have you"
"But now I am an upstanding citizen"
"Bullshit"
Grace smiled innocently up at him.
Cameron sighed. "Woolsey received the email nearly two weeks ago"
"Ok" She looked curiously at him.
"So why are you still flirting with half the personnel on base?"
"Flirting?"
"Yes Grace, flirting, and wearing highly inappropriate clothing"
"I'm a little insulted Cameron"
"And we're a lot insulted Gracie. Time to dial it back, you hear me?"
"Ok"
John raised his brows. "Ok?"
"Yes John. Ok, and I apologise"
"You do?"
"Yes"
"What the hell is going on?"
"Just say thank you Cameron"
"For what?!"
"You're promotion" She smiled at him.
Three days later.
Sam pushed back his laptop and swore quietly. The other men looked up from their papers. "What now?"
He rubbed a hand over his face. "I don't think this is their endgame"
"Endgame?"
"Yes, you know, the conclusion of their plan"
"Yes, I know what it means Winchester" Mitchell glared at him. "What makes you say that and what is their endgame?"
Sam rolled his eyes. "I'm no McKay but I'm better than most at this shit and I can't find any possible way that they would have just stumbled over this information. In fact it must of taken weeks of digging"
"Shit, they were looking for something on them" John pinched the bridge of his nose.
"Or one of them, and happened to find the other was involved"
"Why the fuck would they be trying to take down an Air Force General?" Davis tapped his pen against his lips.
"And which one were they originally aiming for?"
"If it was Landry maybe they were doing it to get Mitchell in charge?"
"What for?"
"He's prettier"
"Fuck off Lorne"
"Ok, so lets say it was to get Mitchell in charge. What now? What difference does it make to them?"
"Pretty much fuck all. Although we should thank them for giving us all a CO who already knows we're screwing half the base between us"
Mitchell rolled his eyes at Simmons then rubbed his temples. "Fuck. They're fucking lucky we're only officially looking into Landry and Caldwell. McKay's email was so untraceable every tech department are ignoring it through sheer embarrassment"
Paul grinned. "Yeah, I don't know whether to be really pissed or incredibly impressed, and maybe a little turned on"
"Gross, too much information dude"
"Come on Dean, don't tell me you're not even a little proud?"
The older Winchester smirked at him. "Of course I am. And very grateful she's on my side, most of the time"
John snorted.
"It's not fucking funny Sheppard. There's a good chance even more shit is about to happen and we have no idea what!"
"Calm down Cameron. Like Dean said, they're on our side. Personally I'm looking forward to it"
"You're a dick"
"Thank you Cameron"
Sam looked around them all. "Uh, has anyone noticed that the um, over-friendliness, has stopped? And the team meetings are back to once a week?"
"Yep"
"Uh huh"
"Oh yes"
Cameron frowned. "So, it wasn't just Grace?"
"Nope" Dean took a gulp of his coffee. "Glad whatever they fuck they were after they've apparently gotten, I nearly beat the crap out of some engineer last week"
Evan grinned. "So, anyone have an idea what they were after?"
"Nope"
"No"
"Huh. Perhaps we should pull together a list of everyone we know has been subject to their, uh, attentions?"
One week later.
Cameron knocked on the door of the condo.
"Uh, Jackson?"
"Oh hey guys, come on in. Jack's out back"
They followed him through the house. He passed them a beer each and gestured to the back door. "He's out on the deck. If you'll excuse me I have a ton of packing to do"
They gaped at him as he winked and left them standing in the kitchen.
"Uh?"
"For fuck's sake Cam, come on"
"Uh right" He followed John and Evan towards the door. "Shit"
General O'Neill looked up from his chair. "Ah, excellent, you're here. Please grab a seat gentlemen. Make yourselves comfortable"
Murmuring their thanks they all sat and waited.
Jack cleared his throat. "I am going to Atlantis. Washington have decided that they need a representative there that they trust" He snorted. "But apparently I'm all they've got at the moment"
Evan risked a small smile.
Jack grinned back. "As the currently highest ranking officer officially connected to the expedition it has fallen to me to replace the personnel that we were forced to recall back to Earth due to their connections to Caldwell and Landry. I asked Carter and Daniel to draw me up a list of recommendations, cross checked it with your list" he waved his beer at John "and began interviewing three days ago"
"I'm pleased to say that over the past three days I have met some extraordinary and brilliant people, who are more than suitable for the positions. However nearly each and every one of them have refused the opportunity to go to Pegasus"
"Uh what?" John frowned. "I.."
Jack held out a finger. "Unless Lieutenant Colonel Sheppard is reinstated as Military Commander"
"Uh Sir, I can't," John shifted "Um, I'm…"
"And with Major Evan Lorne as his 2IC"
"What the fuck?"
"Mitchell!" John glared at him.
"Right, sorry Sir"
"They were my first thoughts exactly Mitchell. And I can only come to one conclusion"
Cameron closed his eyes. "And what would that be Sir?"
"Unknown to us the large number of homosexual and bisexual members at the SGC have finally pulled their heads out their arses, excuse the pun, and decided to do something about DADT"
They stared at him.
He grinned again. "Good for them. It's about time. Now I'm fully prepared to reinstate you both" He waved his beer at John and Evan. "Also the expedition will need a Commander, and seeing as I've promised Daniel I'll take more of a relaxed role out there, that leaves Mitchell as the obvious choice. Carter is long past due a promotion, she'll do a fabulous job of running the mountain "
"What is happening?" whispered Cameron.
Jack snorted. "Daniel has also been most insistent that Dr McKay returns there, and Dr McKay is being most, vocally, insistent, that he will not leave his new team. So we'll take them too"
Cameron rubbed his temples. "Will someone please explain what's going on?"
"I thought it was quite clear Cameron. We're all going to Atlantis, and we're all going to be able live how we want, with whoever we want, without having to worry about being disgraced and thrown into jail" He sat back and laced his fingers together in his lap.
Evan tapped his bottle and studied the top of the table, John appeared to find something interesting over O'Neill's right shoulder, Cameron closed his eyes.
"Gentlemen?" They looked at Jack. "As much as I would like to say that this was my doing, I would never, in a million years, have been able to formulate a strategy like this. I may have bent the rules to suit myself over the years, and here, in the safety of my own home, I break them" He waved a hand at Daniel who was now propped in the doorway. "with much frequency"
Daniel smirked at him.
"But this was a terrifyingly insane and genius plan. From the taking down of two top ranking Air Force officers to the selective recruitment of certain personnel. Somebodies, who I think you know of, have taken incredible risks to hand you the opportunity of being happy. To live with whom you want, openly and without fear, for the foreseeable future. And they've done it all without involving you, which means none of you will ever have to answer to anyone about what has happened over the past few months"
"Fucking hell"
Daniel chuckled and moved to sit in the chair by Jack. "So.." he raised his brows. "..will you be joining us?"
Two hours later.
Cameron stalked up the stairs to the apartment, the two men trailing after him grinning at each other.
"I'm gonna fucking kill her, this is insane. The risks…shit. I'm gonna fucking kill her"
"Cameron"
"What John?"
"She's right you know?"
"What?!"
"You are hot when you're mad" John smirked at him.
"Shut up Shep" He turned and resumed his stomping up the stairs.
Pushing open the door he threw his keys down onto the hall table. "Grace! Get you're arse here now!"
"Oh, good, you're home"
"Now, you lis…" he blinked. "Uh, what…?"
Grace's black dress was short, really short, a deep 'v' running down to a point just below her breasts, the expensive material, structured shoulders and 3/4 length sleeves preventing her from looking too much like she was touting for business. She slid into her black mesh peep toes and smiled at him, fastening the back of her earring. "You had better get changed Cameron, we're going to be late"
"Um, what?"
Grace rolled her eyes and gathered her hair over one shoulder. "Reservation is in half an hour"
"Reservation?"
She sighed. "You know you're all very lucky that I am an awesome girlfriend. Any other woman would be throwing the nearest available household objects at you by now"
"Excuse me?!"
John raised a brow. "I'm pretty sure we should be the pissed ones sweetheart"
"I have no idea what you're talking about. And if you hurry up we can all be pissed in about.." she glanced at her watch. "..forty-five minutes"
Evan sighed. "Baby, we need to talk"
"And we can when we get there, they've booked a private room"
"They?"
"My team and my brothers, as a birthday present"
They looked at her, she raised a brow.
"Shit"
"Precisely General Mitchell"
"Grace, I'm s…"
"Save it Sheppard. Just go and get dressed"