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Screwed! Totally, absolutely, completely screwed. After all the years of leaving it in the room they had just brought it out and aired it in Technicolor in front of the world's most important and powerful people … and his bosses! Talk about hitting the fan – it had just come crashing full speed into it!
A first, there was nothing but stunned silence. Some of the men in the room hadn't recognized who Jack was kissing, so didn't really react too badly. After a moment, however, it became obvious to everyone that General O'Neill was kissing (and what a kiss!) his subordinate.
"Jack, what the hell are you doing?", this from General Jumper, Air Force Chief of Staff.
"Ah General, Sirs", Jack slowly let Sam go and stood to attention. He felt himself turn beet red (God, he couldn't remember blushing since he was a pimply teenager and Sally Marsden had grabbed him and kissed him after gym class in the 7th grade). He couldn't even begin to look over at Sam, although he could feel her standing straight and still beside him.
"Explain what you were doing. Why were you kissing Colonel Carter?" growled Jumper.
"Well, ah, it's a, it wasn't really a ah real kiss General." Damn! He could feel Carter go all tense at his words. How in the world was he going to get out of this one?
"Not a real kiss, General? What was it then?"
Crap, double …. no triple crap. Think fast O'Neill. You've saved worlds so saving two careers shouldn't be too hard.
As he glanced down, quickly trying to think what to say, he realized something. The aliens (little buggers!) hadn't given either Carter or him new clothes. They were still dressed in the – disgusting – and bloody clothes from Baal's planet. All right – this was something he could use!
"Well Sirs, Carter and I just returned from a 'close to cashing it in, near death experience'. We almost bought it, Sirs, as you can see from all the blood. What you just saw was pure relief and reaction. I can assure you that there has never been anything untoward between Colonel Carter and myself", (at least not before today – although he didn't say that!). "We were simply celebrating our victory over Baal and death … ah Sirs and got a little carried away! That's all it was."
Dead silence fell like a two ton weight over the room. Geez, you would think the air would be better in the Oval Office, thought O'Neill. It's way too hard to breath in here and the temperature must be over 100 degrees! He still couldn't look at Carter but, as his words spilled out, he had felt her body become tense. Imperceptibly, she moved farther away from him, distancing herself.
No Carter, he thought, I didn't mean it – you have to know that. This is to save your career. He wanted to turn and hold her – keep her close. He knew his words must be hurting her. He could only hope that she understood what he was doing.
"So Jack", said the President, "are you and Colonel Carter okay? You both look like crap."
"Yes Sir, we're fine. Nothing a shower and clean clothes won't cure."
"I assume then that this isn't your blood?"
"Well, yes actually, it is. But I'm okay now. I'm a fast healer."
"All right, - if you're sure you're okay? Well then, I guess we can all ignore what we just saw. We'll take your word for it, General, that this wasn't a usual occurrence?"
"No Sir, I promise you it wasn't. Colonel Carter and I have always maintained proper discipline and protocol."
"Colonel?", asked the President.
"Yes Sir. General O'Neill is correct. There is nothing between us other than the proper relationship between an officer and subordinate. What happened was, as General O'Neill said, an unusual circumstance."
Oh this is bad, thought Jack. He could tell from Sam's tone that she thought he was turning away from her. Shit, he'd have to fix this as soon as possible.
"Is everyone comfortable with that?", the President asked the Joint Chiefs.
Although General Marsden of the Marine Corp looked less than happy, he simply gave one sharp nod and didn't speak. The others all appeared more comfortable with the outcome and were obviously unwilling to pursue the matter.
"If that's the case then, why don't we get down to business - unless you'd like to shower and change first General?" asked the President.
"I'm okay Sirs. Maybe Colonel Carter would like to change?", he said, glancing over at her. Damn, she looked like she wanted to cry. Don't worry Sam, it'll be okay. Just hold on until we're outta here, he said to himself.
"I'm fine Sirs. I'm happy to wait."
"Just a moment then," the President said. He walked over and opened the door to his secretary's office. He quietly aksed her to get two folding chairs for O'Neill and Carter.
"Sorry – don't want to have to explain to security, or to the taxpayers, why the furniture in the Oval Office has blood all over it."
As they all waited for the chairs to arrive, Jack couldn't help but look over, surreptitiously, towards Sam. He wanted to catch her eye to let her know he hadn't changed his mind but she refused to look at him.
Finally, the chairs arrived and the two officers sat down, facing the President. Seated to their right and left were the Joint Chiefs. Uh oh, thought O'Neill, this didn't look good!
"Okay General O'Neill, there is a reason we wanted you here today. About a week ago General Jumper approached me to discuss something."
Here is comes, thought Jack. I've done something! It was probably that Russian diplomat that I threw of my office!
"General Jumper told me, in confidence…"
Jack took a deep breath …!
"….that his wife is very ill."
Whaaa? What is he saying? Jumper's wife is sick? What did this have to do with him, with anything?
"Uh, I'm really sorry Sir," he said looking over at his direct CO. "I hope she's going to be okay?"
"We hope so, Jack. She's undergoing treatment right now and it looks good but it's still early."
"General Jumper has indicated that he wishes to be able to be with his wife and family at this time", continued the President. "For that reason, he has tendered his resignation effective the end of the month."
Jack sat stunned for a minute. Jumper retiring? That was a shock. He'd always figured the General would die with his boots on. He was a life-long Airman and loved the service.
"I'm sorry Sir, but I wish you all the best, and your wife too. But excuse me Sirs, what does this have to do with me? I know it will mean a new Chief of Staff – and a new CO for me – but the whole Air Force will be affected."
He heard Sam take a quick breath and could feel her sit up sharply. He looked over at her and, this time, she was looking at him directly. What he saw in her eyes terrified him. He saw realization – she knew what this was about – he also saw defeat. It was as if something had died and she was already starting to grieve.
He turned back to the President and saw him looking very serious but with an expectant expression on his face.
"I'm offering you the job Jack. I want you to take over from Jumper and be the next Air Force Chief of Staff. The other Joint Chiefs all agree – you are the only man for the job."
His first reaction was one of absolute incredulity. He, Jack O'Neill, the airman who was told, by so many CO's, that he would never make anything of himself – that he would never get ahead in the Air Force – that he was too much of a maverick, too irreverent, too uncaring of protocol or of kissing ass to get ahead. Most days he still couldn't believe he'd made it as high as he had. But now, he Jonathan O'Neill was being offered the top job in the Air Force. He would not just be 'the Man' he would be THE MAN!
He couldn't help but feel a sense of pride … and okay … if he were honest … more than a little feeling of vindication. There were a few people in the Air Force he would love to go visit as Chief of Staff … It would be the ultimate "up yours!".
The feelings only remained for a moment, however, as reality seeped back in and the pleasure and pride quickly dissolved. No, he thought, not now. Not when happiness finally appeared to be around the corner for him.
He looked at Sam and saw that her head was bowed. She was no longer looking at him.
"Of course, General, you realize that this means that your personal life must be squeaky clean. There is no way we can have any kind of scandal or the appearance of improper behavior?" this from General Smithson, who looked at Jack with a very knowing, and yet not uncompassionate look.
He knew, realized Jack. In fact, he bet they all knew but they were going to let it go as long as nothing more happened. As long as Jack and Sam didn't continue with any kind of relationship, they could sweep it under the rug and pretend that there was nothing to worry about.
"Jack, continued the President, "with everything that's happening out there, with the Ori and who knows what other threats, we need someone who can really see the big picture. But not just that, you also have experience in the Middle East, in Asia, in S. American. You understand what's going on in the world – hell, in the whole galaxy. And what's even more important for me is that I can trust you, Jack. I can trust you to tell me the truth, to be concerned about what's right, not about what I want to hear. As I said, you are the only man for the job – the only one both I and the Joint Chiefs trust enough to do the job right."
What do you say to that, thought Jack. How do I say, "sorry folks, nice offer but no thanks. I'm planning to become a househusband and let my much younger wife continue to fight for earth while I stay home and bake muffins!"
"Sir … General", a soft voice from his right broke into his thoughts. "Congratulations Sir. The President is correct. You are the right man for the job. You are the only man. I'm proud to have served with you General – and will be proud to continue to serve under you."
Her words said one thing, realized Jack, but actually meant another. He knew, beyond a shadow of a doubt, that what she was really saying was goodbye. This was it. A few short hours of happiness, of hope and again, duty and honor got in the way. Again he had to put his country, his planet, his universe against his desire for a bit of personal contentment.
Why did I think it would be any different, he laughed to himself ironically. Why would I possibly think that I had any hope of a different life.
It suddenly came to him, in a flash of insight, that this was the most difficult test of all. Everything he had been through was as nothing compared to this. This was the ultimate test and one he knew he had to pass.
He looked over again at Sam and gave a small smile. Closing his eyes for a moment, he took a deep breath. Letting it out slowly, he opened his eyes, stood straighter and looked directly at the President of the United States.
"Sir" he began. (A small sob, barely audible, reached him.)
Oh dear God … how was he ever going to survive …..?
