"Ma'am with all respect this is shady as hell, you can't agree with it-"
"Can't I Major?" Sam snapped.
Lorne looked like she had slapped him, his face a combination of indignation and raw shock.
"I'm not happy about how it has happened or the IOA's unstated intentions but in the face of what we know of the wraith –"
"You want to weaponize a living sentient person Colonel." Lorne said softly.
"I want to protect the people of the Milky Way and free the people of Pegasus Major."
"Colonel, you defeated the Goa'uld thanks to the help of allies on and off Earth. We're doing the same in Pegasus now, how do you think our allies will react when they find out our little secret?"
"It's beyond –"
"Is it? Colonel I have seen you and Dr. Wier, even Mr. Woolsey blatantly defy the IOA for the greater good."
"I'm not happy about this Major, I am fighting it, but in the end it may be our only option."
"Here's a question for you Ma'am, what happens when a food source turns to poison?" He said softly then snapped to attention, saluted, didn't wait for the return salute, and marched out of her office.
She should reprimand, order him back and tear him to shreds for his near insubordination but instead it was herself she chastised. It took a hell of a lot for a dedicated airman like Major Lorne to disrespect a superior.
She tapped her headset and asked John to come to her office.
"Lorne?" John asked as Carter finished relaying the events.
"My thoughts exactly." She sighed.
John looked thoughtful.
"You agree with him."
"Well, I don't not-agree with him. You don't either." He pointed out.
She sighed and shook her head then slowly sat at her desk.
"When I was a kid I thought officers had the good life. Cool uniforms, tons of respect…" she trailed off into memories of her father.
"Eh I always thought we were assholes, turns out I was right – about most." He smirked at her.
"I'm not going to expose Jarod to the wraith."
John's shoulders slumped slightly as he relaxed, relieved.
"I can't send him back, for one they have a point about security."
"So keep him. Look Colonel, it's not exactly easy to capture a live wraith and bring it to a secure location in the first place. After that last kidnapping they're going to be on high alert anyway."
"So… stall."
"Stall!" He grinned.
"They'll know."
"Of course they will. They do the same thing when it suits them. But hey, at least they're used to it by now."
She chuckled remembering Lorne's words.
"I'll talk to Lorne, he knows better."
"Evan." John said as he slid into a seat across from the Major.
Lorne blinked at his commander and felt himself flush.
"Sir?"
"You do know that Colonel Carter outranks you?"
"I'm sorry I was rude, I'll apologize –"
"Take your time. Respect her, she's earned it and wears the eagles, but you made your point."
"Sir?"
"Take it from one stubborn insubordinate son of a bitch to another there's a time and a place for that crap, you just found one."
"Yes…sir." Lorne said frowning over his sandwich at his commander.