THE HERE AND NOW

CHAPTER 15

"SGA"

Stargate Alliance. The name had changed, the place had changed, more security and new scanners that detected any and all kinds of hazards and possible dangers. At first Samantha Carter didn't know why the increased precautions, yet as soon as she stepped inside, it became clear why such high measures were taken and why the SGC was now SGA.

The first few floors were nothing new, yet the deeper she went the more she realized how things had changed. Jaffa were dressed in SGA BDUs, while aliens that she both knew and didn't know were walking around, discussing matters she didn't understand and she was thankful her skills were more technical than political.

"Mrs. Carter, this way please."

"I thought we were going to see the General."

"Change of plan, ma'am."

In another room Jack closed his eyes and shook his head. He was supposed to be meeting with Sam. Instead the Re'tu had surprised him with a visit. Something he always loved, seeing as how half the time he didn't even know where they were.

"So is this a meeting?"

"We are waiting for the relocation."

"Ah how is the new home world coming along?"

"It is going quite well O'Neill."

"Great!"

He was bored and Samantha Carter was astonished. The lab was a masterpiece of engineering. Not only was it the most advance technical thing she had ever seen, it had every thing she had ever wanted and some machines that she didn't even know what they did. Taking a deep breath she noticed that the petite woman was smiling up at her, yet the smile was hollow and without warmth.

"Mrs. Sanahan welcome to the SGA."

"Hailey, hello... ah thank you, but it's Carter. I kept my name."

"Oh, ok. Well since you're going to be working here, your work area is over there."

In A small corner on the far off wall, a desk was clean and ready for use with all the materials and machines she would need. It was perfect and yet it felt as if she was being punished, as if she was back in the first grade and sent to the corner for something bad she had done.

"What will I be doing?"

"Well we will start you off doing diagnostics and catching up with the new technology we have here."

"This is ancient tech?"

"Yes and now well… we kind of have a diversity of technology. The General is the most qualified in that area but he is busy enough as it is. So it is up to us to deal with all this."

"The General?"

Hailey groaned and slammed her hand to her forehead. Of course she wouldn't know and now she had just blurted one of the SGA's most important secrets to a civilian. She shook her head and was about to answer when none other than Jack O'Neill entered her lab. The man smiled at her and raised an eyebrow while the tall gray skinned man beside him looked at her with confused eyes.

"Why is she harming herself?"

"Probably did something wrong."

"I... well… ah Doctor Carter is here."

She smiled and pointed at Sam who smiled and waved shyly at the General. He nodded and turned to the gray skinned man beside him. Something about him was familiar to Sam. She just couldn't remember were she had seen him before.

"I think you remember Carter right?"

"Indeed although her name has changed has it not?"

"Yeah well… not really." Jack didn't explain further. "Ah Sam this is Thor."

The tall gray skinned alien bowed and stood. Sam now remembered where she had seen him. The body was different but it still resembled that body which had been shown to her by Freir right after Daniel had ascended. It had been in stasis then, but now it looked as if that body had been unfrozen and was walking around, as if it had never been frozen in the first place.

"Thor? So I guess that frozen body did help?"

"On the contrary, it was O'Neill's…"

"A-ah! That's enough, remember buddy, civilians."

"I see. Very well then."

She frowned but understood she wasn't allowed to know what had happened. Even though she thought she had a pretty good idea what was going on, she decided to abide by the rules. She wanted to be on their good side after all, not their bad side. Taking a deep breath she stood there, watching Jack and Hailey talk and Thor glancing at the two with wonderment.

"So here's the report and Carter is officially your responsibility."

"Ah, okay Sir."

"Now Carter, you and Hailey get along ok?"

"Ah, yes Sir."

"O'Neill, Janet Frasier will be most upset if we are late."

"Right, well Sparkplug, see ya latter. Oh and you still owe me for that last game."

"I paid you back in full!"

Jack smiled and left her fuming. Sam wondered at how much things had changed and what kind of role each of her friends now played at the SGA. But before she could start reminiscing and thinking of what ifs, her attention was drawn back to her one time apprentice turned teacher. The petite girl smiled and told her what to do and before long Sam felt like her old self, working on devices alien to her and trying to figure just how they worked. She was back and she liked it.

"I don't like it."

"Janet!"

"With all due respect Jack O'Neill, butt out."

"But April was looking forward to…"

"I do believe the small lady was…"

"No. You, Jack O'Neill, and you, Thor, should know better than to bring her here when we're in the middle of a conference."

"But Jan."

Oh she knew the sweet talk and charms of Jack O'Neill and she was well guarded against them. So it did not work and April's visit would not happen. Instead she would go pick up the girl and take her out with Jacob. After all, the old man still had to make up for messing up dinner. She smiled at the way Thor's eyes became down cast.

"Don't worry Thor, you can always visit her or beam her up if you will."

"That however requires my ship which I do not have at the moment."

"This might help."

A small mimic device appeared in Jack's hand and he smiled at his friend. Handing Thor the device changed the gray skinned alien into a tall man. He smiled and gave his friend a thumbs up.

"Ah, now may I join you, Doctor Frasier, in picking up April?"

"Of course you can. Go get Jacob."

Jack smiled and left. He needed to deal with some other delegations and he still had the whole Daniel and Teal'c thing. Taking a deep breath he walked towards Daniel and Teal'c who smiled at him at the same time and he groaned. He knew what those conspiratory smiles meant. Shaking his head he groaned as Daniel's smile gave away their plan.

"Soo Jack, you ready for this Thursday?"

"Ah guys, not again!"

"I do believe you are in need of a night of guys."

"That's guys' night out Teal'c, and yes beside its girls' night and Janet has offered to baby sit."

This was getting on Jack's nerves. Blind dates set ups and now hanging out in places where women went to look for dates. He was too old to be picking up women and not to mention he was not into the whole dating business. That part of his life was over and Daniel should know that. Teal'c should know that, but it appeared that both of them were interested in neither what he had to say, nor what he thought of the whole thing.

Truth was he felt too old to be doing this and frankly, he was tired of being set up with women who were as interested in him as he was interested in them, which was not at all. Sure he had some promising starts but they all fell apart as soon as they found out about April. And that was a done deal for him. Others were more honest and when they saw him either he could tell or they told him that he wasn't what they were expecting.

"Here I was hoping I could spend some time with Janet and April."

"Oh come on. You spend more time with those two than you do with us. Besides, Jacob has to make it up to April remember?"

"You guys will be the…"

"Death of me. I tell you the death of me!" Hailey entered the room.

Hailey rushed towards them and stopped right in front of him with a worried Sam following behind her. They seemed to be in a hurry, but Hailey stopped when she saw the General and as always saluted him.

"Hailey come on, stop that!"

"You think she would learn after the tenth time!" Jack sighed.

"Its proper conduct you know?"

"Indeed it is."

Hailey smiled and thanked Teal'c who bowed and then froze when he saw the blonde ex-colonel. His whole demeanor changed and he glanced at Jack who closed his eyes and took a deep breath. This was going to happen sooner or later. Daniel gulped and l waited for something to happen, anything.

"Ah well we ah… got to go. Walter and Siler… you know sir, how they are… and yeah…" HaileySam mentioned.

"Its okay, go ahead. Nice to see you too Carter"

"Thanks... thank you, good to see you... all of you."

"Yeah, we'll see you around Sam."

"Mrs. Shanahan."

"It's still Carter…" Sam said, but Teal'c had already bowed and left, leaving the explanation for Daniel and Jack's ears. There was a fraction of a second before Hailey snapped them out of their small shock and took Carter with her to help with whatever Siler had done to the Gate. Jack looked at Daniel who just shook his head. Yeah, it had been harsh, but Hell, both of them had been expecting something much worse.

"That was…" Daniel said.

"Unexpected? Weird?"

"Something else."

"Yeah. This is going to be a lot harder than I thought isn't it?"

"Oh yeah!"