Sam sat on one of the couches in the Oval Office next to the President while Amos and Schwartz sat opposite them. The rest of the Joint Chiefs had went back to their own duties after Sam had filled them in on the last three months of her command but, apparently her debriefing wasn't over yet.
"Here we are Colonel," the President offered as he handed her a cup of coffee that an aid had poured.
"Thank you Mr. President."
"Now, you should know that I've had to put up with Allen and Sean's arguing for the last three months in your absence."
Sam looked to the two General's who didn't even look ashamed. She looked back to the President with her confusion evident on her face. "I don't understand Sir."
"Ha," he laughed. "Everyone told me you wouldn't. General Amos still wants you to work for the Marines."
The expression on his face evidently said that he was amused and holding something back but, Sam was growing tired of the joke. "With all due respect to General Amos," Sam started with a glance to the man in question before looking back to the President. "My loyalties are to this country and I serve my country through the Air Force. It would take retirement or death for me to leave this service."
"Pay up," Schwartz offered as he held out his hand to Amos.
"Sirs," Sam asked as she watched Amos pull out his wallet and hand Schwartz a check.
"I told Sean that you would never abandon the Air Force willingly," Schwartz offered as he smiled at the check. He looked up to her as he pocketed the check and his smile widened.
"Is that why you felt the need to bribe me with a promotion and my own command?" Sam eyed the general not caring to keep her expression in check. In spite of her calm features she knew he could see the anger hidden in her eyes.
"That wasn't actually a bribe Colonel," the President offered with a smile. "We've had several recommendations for your promotion for over a year. We were going to promote you but then Ba'al abducted you and put a hamper in those plans. You earned this before that son of a bitch ever entered the equation."
Sam offered a sheepish and apologetic smile as she looked from the President to Schwartz and then to the untouched coffee still sitting in her hands. "Colonel," the President interrupted her thoughts. "We want you to continue your command of Eleftheria for three month intervals until further notice." Sam kept her head lowered as she closed her eyes tightly; that was not what she had hoped to hear and she didn't need the President to know that.
"And what of SG-1," Sam asked as she found herself looking at her coffee again.
"You're spot will be kept open until we feel that things on Eleftheria are calm enough for you to return."
Sam licked her lip as she leaned over to set her coffee on the table in front of her. She took a few breaths, willing herself to remain calm and to say what she did not want to say. "That's not really fair to the members of SG-1, is it Sir," she asked as she looked to the President, her gaze unflinching. "They haven't needed a scientist yet but they will eventually. I know it's been recommended that I be recalled in that event but, there's been plenty of times that SG-1 has gone on missions where we didn't expect my expertise to be needed and in fact my expertise has been what has saved us all. It's not safe or practical for the flagship team to operate without the security of all the necessary team members."
"What do you suggest Colonel," Amos asked as he leaned forward.
"I recommend that my spot on SG-1 be filled Sir. It would be wonderful if it could be a temporary placement but it should be filled either way. And I recommend Lieutenant Hailey for that position Sirs."