Who knew five words would start a war, Sam thought as she stuck her head out of her lab. Three days ago she had told Jack he could try to get her back for her little stunt over dessert in the commissary. He hadn't tried anything while her father was still around but after he had returned to the Tok'ra all bets had gone out the door. As a matter of fact people were already placing bets as to whether or not Jack would succeed. It didn't help matters that people had heard her call him Jack but, she couldn't do anything about that now.
Now she had to be alert every time she was on base, not even her quarters were safe. He knew better than to touch her lab but, that didn't mean he wouldn't and hadn't ambushed her coming and going. His first attempt at 'payback' had been to set up a bucket of ice water above the entry to her lab. By sheer luck she hadn't gone straight to her lab after her father had left but, Janet had expected her to and had been the one to set off the trap. While Jack hid from Janet at every opportunity even her threats hadn't been enough to deter his efforts.
Yesterday he had tried another trick with the elevator. She'd been looking for the tall tale signs of ambush from the moment her father had left though and she had been prepared. Instead, the booby trap had gone off on some of the other scientists. After that he had convinced one of the marines, one to new to know any better, to try and ambush her. She'd seen that coming and shot the poor fellow with a zat. The only reason she wasn't in trouble was because Janet had agreed to keep quiet, as it was ultimately Jack's fault anyways.
Today she'd been in her lab for the better part of the day and hadn't seen a hint of Jack or his antics, it worried her. She took a step out into the hallway and nothing happened; that worried her more. Nothing happened on her way down the hallway or at any of the stops she made on her way to the elevator but, at the elevator everything changed.
Once the doors opened the revealed a very concerned looking Jack and a very pissed off, wet, and smelly General Hammond. "Sir," Sam nearly squeaked in her confusion and concern.
"My office, now," Hammond ground out.
Without hesitation Sam stepped into the elevator and waited quietly as they made their way to Hammond's office. Once inside Hammond took a seat while she and Jack stood behind theirs, waiting. "Somehow you two have missed the memo that we have visitors on base today. Several members of the Joint Chiefs and the Pentagon are here for an update on the situation with Ba'al's planet. I'm sure they're here to unofficially check up on both you and the Colonel," Hammond offered at Sam's obvious confusion.
"Jack," Hammond offered with a sigh of exasperation. "You are lucky you got me instead of them. I doubt they'd let you get away with simply having to cover Walter's shifts for the next week."
"But Sir," Jack tried to protest. He'd be bored the moment he sat down, let alone a whole week of shifts.
"It's done, and it will give you time to catch up on paper work," Hammond said with a pointed glare. "Now Major," he turned to Sam and sighed again. "You know better than to egg him on, don't you?"
"Sir?"
"The incident in the commissary? Or the marine you zatted? Take your pick Major." Sam tried but, couldn't help but blush at the fact that he knew about both incidents. "For your 'crimes' the both of you are to go meet with the Joint Chiefs' and their party while I go and clean up. Am I understood?"
"Yes Sir," they offered in unison.
So far the tour they were giving to the Joint Chiefs' didn't seem to be going that bad. They had been a little too inquisitive to Sam's current state for her liking but, they had finally seemed to accept that she was alright. After that Sam had seemed to be the only one really giving the tour but then she had realized why. She had expected Jack to run off or at least hide at the back of the group. Instead he had stayed right next to her; the group of visitors seems to be shooting him death glares, probably for 'disobeying' orders and taking her and practically the whole SGC to Ba'al's planet …
"Unscheduled off world activation."
Sam and Jack shared the same concerned look before they hurried down to the control room. "Do we have an IDC," Sam asked as she immediately took a seat next to Walter.
"What's going on," Hammond asked as he joined the group.
"It's Bra'tac's IDC Sir," Walter offered.
Before Hammond could give the order Sam opened the iris. Sure enough Bra'tac stepped through with Rya'c and before anyone could say more both Sam and Jack left the control room to greet their friends. "Bra'tac," Jack smiled. "What brings you by?"
"Rya'c," Sam smiled warmly as she gave the young man a hug. "How are you?"
"It is good to see you both," Bra'tac began. "It is especially good to see you in good health Major Carter." Sam smiled for a moment but the grave expression on his face was enough to diminish her smile. "But, we do not bring good news. We must speak with you and General Hammond."
Jack and Sam shared a quick look before they lead the two up to the control room. They offered up introductions and called for Teal'c and Daniel before the entire group made their way to the briefing room. "Master Bra'tac," Hammond began while the Joint Chiefs and the officers from the Pentagon remained suspiciously quiet. "What's the problem?"
"Some of the Jaffa are taking offense to the Tau'ri's presence on the planet."
"But they pledged their services to us," a Pentagon officer offered.
"They pledged their service to you in Major Carter's name," Bra'tac offered coldly. "And Mal'tec made that pledge for the entire Jaffa," Bra'tac said as he looked to Sam.
"Not all of the Jaffa agree in serving the Tau'ri," Sam offered easily.
Bra'tac gave a short nod. "Ead'ogar is trying to start a rebellion. The Free Jaffa are working with Mal'tec to contain the situation but, even they feel it is wrong for Jaffa to serve the Tau'ri."
"Hey," Jack offered as he carefully watched Sam's brow furrow. "They volunteered. Besides it's not like we, or Carter, want servants. We're happy with allies' right?"
The question was for Hammond but one of the Pentagon officers tried to make the argument that it would be rash to just let them go. "Lieutenant," Air Force General Schwartz barked. "Do you honestly think it is a good idea to jeopardize the tenuous alliance that we have with the entire Jaffa Nation in order to subjugate a few hundred men?"
"Is he really suggesting that we start acting like the Goa'uld," Marine General Amos asked as he looked to General Hammond.
"Sirs," Sam interrupted them softly.
"Carter," Jack asked with a concerned tone. "Why do I have a feeling I don't like what you're thinking."
Sam chewed the bottom of her lip as she tried not to cringe. "Because I'm pretty sure you're not going to like it Sir."
"What is it Major," Hammond asked gently.
"Well Sir, the root problem seems to derive from the fact that –"
"Carter," Jack cried. "This isn't some doohickey you're trying to explain, spit it out already!"
"Mal'tec made the pledge in my name Sir. I might have killed Ba'al but that doesn't mean that they accept me. Honestly, how can they when I was only on their planet long enough to heal before disappearing for a month?"
"Carter …"
"I think their problem is with my absence, not the Tau'ri presence. They have no idea if I am an honorable person or not. If they think I have no honor and they have made a pledge in my name … it's obvious that would create friction for them."
"You want to go back," General Amos asked.
"Honestly Sir, no. I would be perfectly happy not to step foot on that planet ever again. But, if we want to keep our alliance from breaking I think I have to. We can't afford to have two opposing Jaffa factions."
"Are you certain Major," Hammond asked, his concern evident.
"Yes Sir. At least let me try."
Hammond, Schwartz, and Amos shared a silent look before they all nodded. "Alright, Colonel, you and SG-1 are to go back to the planet. We'll let Major Carter try. Get yourselves ready, you'll head out in an hour."