GateSeeker2 wanted some awkward Pete conversation because, apparently, Carter's engaged or something... ;)
Reviews are loved! Just so you know.
Chapter 2: Day Two
Daniel followed Teal'c into the briefing room, and was surprised to meet two familiar faces.
"Teal'c, Doctor Jackson, good to see you both again."
"General Hammond," said Daniel, "good to see you, too. Major Davis," he said, nodding at the second new-arrival. Teal'c bowed to them both.
"Gentlemen," said Davis, nodding.
"Colonel Reynolds and Sergeant Siler have just been filling me in," Hammond told them. "I understand you have some information for us," said Hammond to Daniel.
"Yes, I did some digging on our friend here," said Daniel, indicating the frozen security video that Siler had been displaying. "Doctor Kevin Hartkans, eight months with the program, clean record, but suddenly missing. He failed to report for duty this morning. We checked his apartment; it was cleaned out."
"Sounds like a suspiciously familiar scenario," Davis said.
"You think it's the Trust," said Daniel.
"Kidnapping, blackmail, attempted murder," summarized Hammond, with a tinge of personal animosity. "I'd say it fits their profile."
"I think it's obvious this is more than a few rogue agents," said Davis. "The NID's clean now, as far as we can tell. But there are a large number of former agents unaccounted for, and they're still getting funded... from whom, we can't tell."
"Please," said Daniel, "if they can take the 'gate out from under us, they could empty the vault at Fort Knox."
"I don't think so, Doctor Jackson," injected Siler.
"Sergeant?" said Hammond.
"Sirs, the Prometheus doesn't have Asgard sensors, so it uses a signal, like the one placed on the 'gate, in order to lock on and use its Asgard transport beam. Whoever took the 'gate is probably in the same position."
"You think the signal was a locator beacon," said Daniel.
"Which Doctor Hartkans placed on the stargate for the Trust," surmised Teal'c.
"It makes sense, sir," said Davis to Hammond.
"So how do we find the 'gate?" asked Hammond. "They won't leave this beacon in place."
"Any continued use of the beam technology would require the use of the beacons," said Teal'c.
"NSA satellites might be able to pick up the signals," added Davis.
"Do it," said Hammond, coming to his feet and dismissing the group.
Sam and Jack slept peacefully through the night, the large bed allowing them to avoid any particularly awkward situations. Jack awoke first, slipping his boots on and trying to sneak out without waking Sam.
"You should not be about without your wife," said a particularly loud passerby as soon as Jack opened the door and stuck his head out.
"She's still asleep," said Jack truthfully. "And, um, I thought I'd bring her breakfast-in-bed," he added, doing his best to keep themselves isolated as much as possible from excitable, cheering crowds.
"Ah, then I will have something sent up from the butteries," said the man, turning immediately and striding away.
"Thanks ever so much," said Jack to himself, coming back inside the small apartment and closing the door.
Sam opened her eyes and sat up groggily. "Morning, sir," she said with a sleepy smile, reaching under the bed for her own boots.
"Morning. The bathroom's all yours if you need it, Carter," Jack said, taking a seat on a small sofa. "Breakfast is being sent up, then I'll see if we can't get a picnic lunch to take out to the 'gate."
"Any way we can keep from being followed all the way out there?" she asked, as she entered the bathroom and closed the door behind her.
"I can have a chat with his royal highness," said Jack.
Sam emerged from her ablutions just as someone knocked on the door. "Please be breakfast," said Jack, opening the door.
"Your meal, sir," said a young boy with a very large, covered tray.
Jack took the tray and set in on Sam's bedside table. "Thanks," he said, "do you think we might be able to get a basket to go?" he asked. The boy looked confused.
"A, uh, lunch, another meal we can take with us so we can go for a walk and eat somewhere else," he tried to explain.
"Oh, yes, sir. I'll be back, sir," said the boy, who then turned and ran back down the street.
"Excellent," said Jack. "Breakfast, m'lady," he said to Sam, gesturing at the tray by the bed.
Sam smiled, and sat gracefully on the edge of the bed, while Jack pulled the sofa around to the other side of the table. They finished off the small feast just as the boy returned with a couple of leather sacks filled with their noon meal. Handing off the breakfast tray and shouldering their provisions, the two made their way down through the city to find King Arkhan.
It seemed that most of the subjects were still asleep, or else out working the farms or something, because the streets were-fortunately-quite empty. Only one group of women, apparently housewives hanging up some laundry, gave them the "hurrah!" treatment, but Sam and Jack cooperated amicably enough, and continued on their way, arm-in-arm, just to keep the locals happy. Eventually, they found Harry taking the morning sun and sitting on the edge of a fountain with his wives.
"Morning Jack, Colonel," he said as they approached. They took the bench to which Harry gestured.
"Hi, Harry," said Jack, sitting back and stretching out his legs in front of him. They had walked just about a quarter of a mile along the stone-paved avenues.
"How's married life treating you?" Harry asked, sensing a reduced amount of animosity since last night.
"We'll live," said Sam, not sounding quite happy with Maybourne, but not seething with venom, either.
"We were wondering," said Jack, "if there's any way you can ensure we're not disturbed today. We'll be heading out to the 'gate so that Carter can run her tests and whatnot..."
"Absolutely. Page!" he called, and a young man came forward from a corner of the courtyard. "See to it that these guests are not molested by anyone as they journey today."
The boy departed with a "Yes, sire."
"What's he going to do?" asked Jack.
"Well, he'll inform the patrol on duty of my wishes, and they'll take care of anyone who tries to get within earshot once you leave the gates," explained Harry.
"Nice," said Jack. Seeing that Sam seemed satisfied as well, he stood and helped her to her feet. "Later, Harry," he said, shouldering the packs once more and heading down to the city gate.
They reached the stargate well before noon, so Jack stowed their lunches in the shade of the ship while Carter set to work on the 'gate itself. Mostly, she just walked around, and around the base, trying to see if there were any external signs of damage. Finally, she suggested another manual dial, since the ring was still free-turning. They tried the Alpha Site coordinates one last time, but to no avail. She would have tried earth again, but the ring was now locked in place. Sam sat down defeatedly on the stairs. "If I had some of my instruments, sir, I might be able to figure this out, but I am really at a loss," she said.
It was now about one o'clock, so Jack led her inside the ship so that they could eat their lunch. "Take your time, Carter," he said. "If there's a way for you to solve this, it'll come to you eventually. And if there isn't," at this she shot him a disbelieving look, "if there isn't," he repeated emphatically, "then there's no point in beating yourself up over it."
"Yes, sir," she said, taking another drink of water from her canteen. "I just," she said after a moment, "I just hope Teal'c and Daniel are alright. And everyone at the SGC." Jack looked up, waiting for her to continue. "Anything could have happened, and this is a problem we've never encountered before, like you said, sir, but the more I think about it, the more I think something... catastrophic must have happened to the earth 'gate, as soon as they stepped through. Even if they made it to the other side -"
"No point, Carter," Jack interrupted. "There's absolutely no point in thinking like that. We do what we can and then hope for the best, you got it?"
She looked at him, and then nodded her acceptance. "Yes, sir," she said at last. She picked up her empty lunch pack, then stood, stretching. "I'll think I'll just have another look at the 'gate, though, before we head back."
"By all means," said Jack, collecting his own things, and following her down the ramp and around to the stargate.
After another five hours or so of poking, prodding, and even not-so-gently kicking the 'gate, Jack finally got Sam to agree to head back to town.
The front square was as busy as ever by the time they got back, just after sundown, and they were subject to three more choruses of "hurrahs!" for the happy couple, before they found Harry once again. He invited them to a more private dinner than the feast of the night before, but they found it was only slightly less in terms of the quantity and variety of foods. Quite satisfied, and having been very careful to use only their own glasses, Sam and Jack departed for their chamber.
It had been a long day, and Sam began leaning more and more heavily on Jack's arm as they went. Eventually, he pulled her to his side, and wrapped his arm around her back to support her. They continued comfortably, passing through about five more groups of chanting well-wishers before they got to their room.
"I'm sorry sir," said Sam, as they came upon what Jack hoped would be the last group before they could shut out the crowds for the evening. "That you've been forced to endure this because of me," she finished as they prepared to give the crowds the requisite kiss.
"There are many things in this galaxy that I may be loathe to do, Carter," said Jack, leaning down, "but kissing you is not one of them," he said, closing the distance and meeting her lips. They broke apart, both seeming shocked at what he'd just said, Jack not the least so.
The crowd clapped, and began continuing on their way, but Jack and Sam stood rooted to the spot outside of their door. Just as Jack was about to begin backing his way out of his last comment, Sam reached a hand behind his neck and pulled him back to her for a much longer, deeper, real kiss.
"Um," said Jack eloquently, after trying to catch his breath.
"Mm-hmm?" said Sam.
Jack let out a long, slow breath. "We, uh, we should talk. I guess," he said at last, still unmoving with his arms around her.
Sam nodded, and they slowly stepped out of their embrace and entered their room.
Sam stood facing away from Jack with her head bowed, after he closed the door behind them. Jack came up to her, but stopped about two paces away. Eventually she turned, not looking him in the eye. "I'm sorry," began Jack, "I shouldn't -"
Sam raised an eyebrow and looked at him, "You?" she said with the beginnings of a grin.
"Okay, maybe we shouldn't," corrected Jack, with a bit of a smile, "shouldn't really have done that just now."
"Yes, sir," said Sam, looking back down at the floor between them.
"Carter," said Jack, taking just a single step forward and touching her arm, "I took advantage. Of you," he said, causing Sam to look back up.
"How do you mean?" she asked.
"Well... I... " began Jack, "I know you must be missing what's-his-name, and with all of this acting married stuff -" he stopped short at the shocked look Sam gave him. "Carter, I'm sorry, I'm really sorry," he said, trying figure out just how much damage he'd done to their friendship, let alone to their professional relationship.
Sam sat heavily on the bed, seeming stunned.
"Talk to me, Carter, please," said Jack, dragging over the light sofa and sitting in front of her.
"I," she began, then looked at him and smiled, "I just realized... I haven't thought once about Pete since we've been here."
"Really?" was all that Jack managed after a while.
"Really," said Sam. "Is that bad, do you think?" she asked him, now looking him in the eye... and still smiling, darnit.
"Well," began Jack, "I can't say it bodes extremely well for the engagement, if, when on an alien planet where you're accidentally wedded to another man, you don't even remember a fiancé back home -"
"That's what I was just thinking," said Sam, her brow furrowed in mock-seriousness while grinning infectiously.
"Carter," said Jack hesitantly, "are you in any way considering," he continued with increasing confidence the more she smiled at him, "that you might not want to be engaged to... that guy anymore, and that," cough "maybe, somehow, you might consider actually being," he swallowed, "with me?"
"Yes," she said simply.
"Wow," said Jack.
"Yeah," said Sam. "Which would mean," she said after a moment, her face growing more serious, "that we still really need to talk, sir."
"Right," said Jack. "But first order of business, you've really got to stop calling me 'sir,' and second... I really need to kiss you again," he said, cradling her head and bringing his lips to hers. After a few moments, he pulled her onto the sofa with him, without breaking the kiss.
"Jack," Sam said at last, when they parted for air.
"Hmm?" said Jack, completely satisfied with his oxygen level, and moving on to her neck.
"Jack," said Sam, more emphatically, but giggling.
"No giggling," Jack murmured against her skin.
"Jack!" Sam semi-shouted, finally squirming away enough to bring his face up in front of her own.
"Yesh?" said Jack, his face somewhat smooshed with Sam's hands on either side of his head.
"We still need to talk," she said, red-faced and beaming.
"Right. Leshs talk," he agreed, still held at bay by Sam.
She let him go, and he leaned back on the sofa, with an arm around Sam's shoulders.
"Courts martial," she said simply.
"Not an issue," said Jack confidently.
"Why?" asked Sam.
"Fraternization regulations do not apply to married couples, so long as a professional relationship is maintained in the workplace. Even officers married to enlisted are perfectly acceptable. It's just usually a pre-existing relationship," concluded Jack, wondering if she knew how often the entirety of the frat regulations had played through his mind, almost as a mantra...
"And with us?" asked Sam.
"There was absolutely no inappropriate conduct before we were married. So, we didn't do anything wrong to be court martialed for. And the fact that we only went along with it for the sake of interplanetary relations, well, that just adds to the nobility of our plight," he said, smiling.
"Jack," said Sam after a moment's thought, "do you really want to be... to stay... married?"
This brought Jack up short. "Well, I... " he began; embarrassed, now that he was questioned on it, at how unconsciously he had made the assumption, "we don't have to be. If you'd... of course we don't have to be; that's crazy. We only just -"
Sam turned enough to put a hand on his chest. "'Cause I don't mind if you don't," she interrupted.
Jack felt his face split into a huge smile, and he leaned in to kiss her, but stopped suddenly. "I'm sorry," he said, pulling back, and standing up.
"What?" said Sam, concerned.
"This isn't right," he said, but before Sam could argue, he turned towards her, took her hand, and carefully got to one knee. "Samantha Carter," he said, "will you marry me?"
"Oh, Jack," she said, tears welling in her eyes. "Yeah," she whispered, "yes," and she pulled him back to her and kissed him again.
To be continued...