Chapter 14
Monday came and a excited Mac and a nervous Sam caught a lift to base with Jack and Teal'c. Arriving at the base Jack vouchered for them getting them through the bottom gate.
He parked the truck and they all got out. Sam was wearing a smart suit, Mac her full dress uniform, both Jack and Teal'c had opted for BDU's which had only raised Mac's curiosity.
Outside the base General George Hammond waited patiently. Sam approached him nervously, Mac, Teal'c and Jack hanging back.
"Sir"
"Sam it's good to see you" he greeted pulling her in tightly for a hug.
"You too Sir, I mean George, and thank you" Sam said sincerely. Letting her go George turned his attention to Mac who saluted. He returned it before ordering her at ease.
"Right, here are your ID's, Doctor I hope you don't mind we put yours as Doctor Carter"
"No thank you" Sam said relieved she would be going back to her pre married name.
They began walking into the base going down the 23 levels that would take them to the briefing room. Mac looked surprised to see how many levels the lift went down but didn't comment.
Arriving in the briefing room Walter smiled and greeted Sam welcoming her back before handing over the non-disclosure agreement. He handed it to Mac who read through it before signing it.
Daniel joined them, "In 1928…" he began. Everyone watched Macs stunned reaction, her mouth dropped open.
"This is a joke" she claimed
"No joke" Jack smirked watching as his unflappable friend became flappable.
"So for the last 14 years the Air Force has been going to other planets" She clarified,
"And Marines" Jack reminded Sam nudged him reminding him to play nice.
"Well of course the marines have been going though" Mac agreed coming out of her shock to defend the Marine Corps.
"You ready to see it Major?" Hammond asked Mac nodded enthusiastically. They all moved to the briefing room window. Hammond pressed a button, the screen lifted up revealing the Stargate. Mac's mouth opened in surprise as Sam's curled into a soft smile.
"Wow" Mac whispered.
"Just in time to see SG14 go through, one of our Marine recon teams"
The gate began dialling and Mac took an involuntary step back, when the event horizon whooshed out she gasped.
"Wow" she whispered,
"Incredible right?" Sam whispered. "I noticed the dialling sequence was running slow, is there a problem with it?" she asked
"Captain Haley of SG1 will explain it to you" Hammond said, Haley entered on cue.
"Wow you made Captain" Sam said hugging her tightly. "And SG1"
"Thank to you Major" Haley replied "Come on I have some amazing things to how you" Sam left with Haley. While Daniel and Teal'c excused themselves, Jack, Mac and Hammond sat down to discuss why she had been brought here.
"We need a lawyer to help draft treaties between earth and our off world allies, draw up wills for our base staff covering usual occurrences, investigate any issues of discipline and generally advise staff as to the rules of engagement" Hammond told her.
"Wow thank you Sir" Mac said honoured and slightly scared she would be drafting intergalactic treaties.
"Jack recommended you to the joint chiefs" Hammond told her, "Just to remind you, the acting JAG nor the SECNAV have been briefed on the Stargate they know you're on assignment and that it's classified. Also your friend at the CIA Mr Webb knows nothing about this project"
"They won't hear anything from me Sir" Mac promised
"We know Major" Hammond responded, "Jack will show you around the base, Major Chapman left some notes in your office to help you"
"Major Chapman?" Mac asked
"Our last JAG officer Airforce unfortunately more suited to behind a desk not on active duty, he didn't duck fast enough" Jack told her.
"Ok, so I'll actually get to go through the gate" Mac said excitedly, looking again at the silver ring
"Yes it will be called for on occasion"
"How long is my assignment here?" Mac asked having only just been ordered to report to the base
"You'll be splitting your time between Colorado and Washington, as part of your duties you'll be reporting to the joint chiefs. As for how long initially 6 months."
"Ok" Mac said nervous about briefing the joint chiefs but looking forwards to the challenge.
They left Jack enjoying showing Mac around the base before leaving her in her office.
Lunchtime came, Jack collected Sam from the lab then together they collected Mac.
"How is it being back Sam?" Mac asked. Sam smiled
"It's like coming home, the science has moved on so far and I feel rusty but I love it, how about you?"
"It's different I've been looking at treaties and wills, were giving colouring crayons for physics knowledge"
"Ah Orban, how is Mernin Sir, a young girl we met there" Sam explained for Mac's benefit.
"Good Sam, still going to school but she wants to become a teacher"
"That's nice" Sam mused
"And the wills, the strangest I've ever since, I mean if an alien parasite invades me, if a computer entity invades my mind then kill me, if I get cloned, if I die and come back from the dead…. I mean when does this happen?" Mac wondered aloud
"Cater has been possessed twice by symbiotes, and once by an alien entity, we have all died once but Danny boy makes a habit of it,"
"Ok I really need to read those mission reports" Mac decided finishing her Marine portion of food.
They all went back to work and finished early enough to collect Lizzy and Jake from school.
The week passed quickly both Mac and Sam settling into the SGC. Sooner than Sam would have liked the Court case raised its ugly head.
Sam had to testify first, then Mac, Janet, Jacob then Lizzy. Jack, Teal'c and Daniel sat in the observer's booth.
Sam swore in trying not to shake at seeing Pete again. The defence objected to her testimony initially they claimed she was mentally incompetent to stand trial, the prosecution submitted 2 reports stating Samantha wasn't mentally ill causing the judge to dismiss it. The prosecution then asked Sam to run through the events. She did the military briefings she had been through helping with recalling the events in order and unemotionally. She began with the abuse and ended with the police station. The defence tried to rebuff but each time they were shot down.
Mac was next the defence again tried their tricks bringing up some of her past, and the fact she was a recovering alcoholic easily Mac shot them down having expected something dirty.
Janet was next giving a clear but detached view of Sam and Jake's injuries using photos to emphasise how severe they were. She had managed with little difficulty to gain Sam's past medical records.
Jake was next. He took the stand looking petrified due to his young age and the sensitive nature the defence was ordered to tread carefully. They ignored this asking Jake what he hated about his dad and how much mummy was paying to get him to lie. Jake stuck to the truth and left crying.
Lizzy was next, the defence had been reprimanded again and reminded to tread gently. They asked Lizzy about her mum. Lizzy told them she was dead. They pushed asking how, the prosecution objected querying its relevance, the judge disallowed it. Lizzy testified telling them she saw Pete hitting Sam and threaten her before being allowed to step down.
With their part done the SGC crew left to get ice cream the trial was predicted to continue for another 8 days with the next witnesses being various police officers that had volunteered to testify in exchange for lessor sentences or because they opposed Pete.
8 days later Sam returned to court, Jack, Daniel, Teal'c, Janet and Mac by her side. Pete was found guilty on all counts filed from corruption to attempted murder and was sentenced to 3 life sentences, he was also ordered to sign the divorce papers.
2 weeks later Mac returned to Washington, she caught up with Harm, Bud and Harriet having come to the agreement with General Hammond she would spend 2 weeks in Washington every month. Although they were extremely curious as to what she had been doing and why she couldn't tell them they were glad to have her back. But like Admiral Chegwidden said once you get a Presidential Order telling you one of your lawyers is needed elsewhere you don't question it.