The unexpected arrival of former Colonel Samantha Carter at the SGC didn't go unnoticed by the base's personnel. Rumors of her presence began to circulate, catching the attention of Daniel and Teal'c as they had breakfast in the cafeteria. Tom, still somewhat bewildered by the secrecy of the place and unaware of the Stargate, joined them a little later. To him, it was just another top-secret Air Force base. As they ate, they listened to hushed comments coming from nearby tables. Someone had spotted Sam entering the base and had started spreading the news.
"Well, I suppose it was a matter of time," Daniel remarked, sipping his coffee. Teal'c simply nodded, his focus on his meal. Tom glanced around, noticing that several people were discreetly looking in their direction. He took a sip of his orange juice and quipped, "Are you always this popular, or is it just me?" He offered a smile.
Daniel returned the smile.
"Oh, you have no idea," he replied with an enigmatic tone. Tom finished the rest of his breakfast in silence, curious about the mysterious world he had unwittingly become a part of.
As Jack and Sam hadn't appeared yet, Daniel decided to pay a visit to Jack's office. He found Jack on the phone, and with a gesture, Jack signaled him to take a seat. Jack continued his conversation for a few more minutes before finally hanging up.
"How is she?" Daniel inquired, concerned.
Jack finished writing something in a notepad and looked at Daniel.
"Tired, emotional, stressed. Do I need to go on?" he replied with a touch of frustration in his voice.
Daniel shook his head sympathetically.
"People are already talking about her," he warned.
Jack sighed, rubbing his temples.
"Yeah, figured as much. She won't leave her room anyway. Hammond wants her in Washington as soon as possible. He wants to talk to her. Debrief her," he explained slowly.
Daniel leaned forward, trying to offer some reassurance.
"That's good, right, Jack?" he asked.
Jack nodded, though his concern was still palpable.
"I trust him. I only hope that he has enough power and connections to help her," he admitted.
Daniel understood the gravity of the situation.
"Are you going with her?" he inquired, already knowing the answer.
"Yes," Jack replied simply.
"Okay. Need anything?" Daniel asked, wanting to be supportive.
Jack handed him a piece of paper he had been writing on.
"Take this. In case anything happens to me, this is my safety deposit box number and my bank account. I've already given my bank instructions to allow you to access them," he said.
Daniel was taken aback.
"Me, Jack? What are you talking about?" he asked, surprised by the responsibility being entrusted to him.
Jack tilted his head, a hint of a smile on his face.
"My will is in there. I leave everything I have to Carter. I just wanted you to know," he explained calmly.
"I won't need this," Daniel replied with determination, putting the paper in his pocket.
Jack smiled warmly.
"Hope you won't. Carter has never been to the cabin. I would like to show it to her," he said, his expression dreamy.
"You will. I'm positive things will work out," Daniel reassured him confidently, conveying his unwavering support.
Jack stood in silence, looking at his friend. He truly hoped Daniel was right, but he had learned to be prepared for the worst in life.
Jack had carefully planned their departure from the SGC when the base was nearly deserted. He had requested an armed escort to the airfield, where a waiting plane would take them to Washington D.C. General Hammond had taken similar precautions, emphasizing the need for security. They both understood the sensitivity of the situation.
As they rode in silence, both dressed in BDUs, despite Sam no longer being in the Air Force, Jack couldn't help but feel the weight of the moment. Hammond had specifically asked Sam to wear her SGC uniform, and Jack had brought his dress blues as well. It was a formality, but could also mean something else.
The trip to the airfield was uneventful, and when they arrived, the two of them didn't have a scratch and were surrounded by an armed escort. On the plane, Jack could sense Sam's nervousness, even though she hadn't said a word and had barely looked at him. Since they were alone in the cabin, he gently reached out and held her hand. She immediately looked at him, her eyes filled with caution.
"Jack," she warned, glancing around to ensure their privacy.
"Relax, we are alone. How are you?" he asked softly, his concern evident.
Sam looked down at the floor, avoiding his gaze, but she left her hand in his.
"Nervous," she admitted in a hushed tone.
Jack reassured her, "I'll be with you all along. Except when you're with Hammond. He wants to talk to you alone."
Sam bit her lip, her anxiety visible.
"Yeah, I guessed that part already," she replied quietly.
"Sam, please look at me," Jack implored, his tone gentle but determined.
She continued to gaze at the plane's floor, reluctant to meet his eyes.
"Please," he asked again.
Finally, she lifted her face, and her blue eyes met his. It was a vulnerable moment, and Jack wanted to convey his unwavering support.
"Just tell him everything that happened. Tell him the truth. We'll figure out the rest," he advised, his voice filled with sincerity.
Sam started to voice her concerns, and Jack was about to interrupt, but she shook her head and continued, "If, by any chance, they put me in jail, I want you to forget me, Jack. Let me go..."
Jack gripped her hand tightly, a physical manifestation of his determination. Sam didn't protest; she welcomed the connection. He moved even closer to her, indifferent to any prying eyes on the plane.
"You listen to me, Samantha Carter. No one is arresting you," he stated firmly. But his tone softened as he continued, "But if that ever happens, I'll be there every step of the way. I'll never forget or let you go. No matter what happens. Are we understood?"
Tears welled up in Sam's eyes, and she let them fall as she whispered, "Yes."
"Good," Jack said, his voice trembling with emotion and fear. He couldn't help but fear for her safety and the uncertainty of their future. "I love you, and nothing will ever change that," he declared passionately.
Ignoring the fact that they were both in uniform, he leaned in and kissed her, the embrace strong and deep, a testament to their love and the support they found in each other during this challenging time.
As Sam arrived at the Pentagon, her heart felt like it was pounding in her throat. These corridors were once her home before she joined the SGC, but now they seemed foreign and oppressive. Every step she took toward General Hammond's office felt like a heavy burden, and she was immensely grateful for Jack's presence by her side. He had been her unwavering support in the days leading up to this moment, and she couldn't help but reflect that he had been her rock for years, not just in recent times.
Finally, they reached the offices of Homeworld Security. Two armed airmen stood at the entrance, and as Sam and Jack approached, they nodded and opened the door. Sam's anxiety was palpable as she stepped inside, feeling the weight of the situation pressing down on her. The secretary immediately picked up the phone, and seconds later, the familiar face of George Hammond appeared on the opened door of his office.
Sam had to muster all her strength not to let tears well up in her eyes. She soldiered on and saluted her former CO. He returned the salute and nodded to Jack.
"I'll wait here," Jack simply said, his voice a steady reassurance.
With those words, Sam suddenly found herself alone in the office of her former CO and godfather, a man from whom she had received countless orders and guidance over the years. The room felt simultaneously comforting and intimidating.
George Hammond observed the woman seated in front of him, and it was clear that this wasn't the Samantha Carter he had known for so many years. The confident and charismatic leader of SG-1, the brilliant scientist of the SGC, now appeared as a nervous and pale shadow of herself. Her eyes lacked the spark he had always admired. Hammond decided to approach the situation gently.
"So I heard you've been having a few rough times, Samantha," he said with a hint of concern in his voice.
Sam swallowed, feeling the weight of the situation. She had preferred the straightforward military approach rather than the personal one.
"Yes, it has been complicated," she admitted, her voice trembling slightly.
Hammond leaned back in his chair, studying her carefully.
"I'm all ears. You can start with that outburst you had in Jack's office and that put you in the brig. I must admit that threw me completely out of balance," he said, his expression a mix of curiosity and understanding.
Sam looked down at her hands, biting her lip nervously.
"Not my best moment," she admitted in a low voice, feeling the weight of her actions.
Hammond remained patient, allowing her to continue.
"I was approached first by an individual offering me money to work outside the SGC. He didn't tell me what I had to do exactly, except that I was supposed to work with computer programs and systems. He offered me ten million dollars," she confessed quietly, her gaze still fixed on her hands. She had never told Jack how much money they had offered her.
Hammond's eyebrows shot up in surprise. "Ten million?" he repeated, clearly taken aback.
Sam nodded. "I refused. He said he could offer more. I told him I was happy working where I was," she continued, her voice revealing the genuine satisfaction she had in her work.
"Then one night, after a mission, I was at a bar, and a guy approached me. Not that I'm not used to it," she blushed, "but he was too insistent, too nice. It didn't feel right. I told him to get lost, which he did. And then another one did the same thing. I reacted the same way, but then another one approached me again. After the fourth, I left the bar and went home," she explained, her cheeks still flushed from the memory.
Hammond continued to listen intently. "Go on," he encouraged.
"As you know, I was engaged to Pete Shanahan. One day, I received a phone call telling me that Pete was cheating on me. Of course, I was upset and talked to him. He said that he had received a phone call telling him that I was cheating on him. Well, we argued, words were exchanged, and I decided to end the engagement. But by then, I had a nasty feeling that something strange was going on," Sam said, her voice growing more strained as she recounted the events.
"Some time passed and one night, when I arrived home, there was a man seated in my living room with a gun. He told me to sit and listen. Then he said that he was going to show me some photos, and based on that, I had to make a decision. The outcome of that decision would determine whether someone would live or die," Sam's voice faltered, and she quickly wiped away a tear that had welled up.
Hammond, seeing her distress, offered her a glass of water and a moment to collect herself. Sam gratefully accepted and took a few moments to compose herself before continuing her story. After taking a deep breath to steady herself, Sam entered the most troubling part of her ordeal. Her voice was low and weighed down with the gravity of her words.
"The photos showed General O'Neill's daily routine. His house, his truck, him entering and exiting the base. They had all the hours, the places he went to, all registered. And always, very next to him, a man, a shadow, following him. Despite all his military training, General O'Neill was completely unaware. The man pointed out they could kill him anytime they wanted," Sam explained, her gaze focused on General Hammond.
Hammond couldn't hide the shock and concern that washed over his face.
"You believed them?" he asked, his voice filled with disbelief.
"Yes, Sir," Sam replied, her gaze unwavering now. "I did. I said I would do whatever they wanted, as long as General O'Neill was left unharmed," she admitted, her sense of duty and love for her commanding officer evident.
Hammond nodded, understanding the difficult position she had been placed in. He knew the lengths to which Sam would go to protect her team and those she cared about. Jack in particular even though nothing between them had transpired so far.
"But you could have told Jack or even me about what was happening!", he pointed out.
Sam nodded and looked at her hands.
"Yes, Sir, I could have. I considered both options before I did what I did.", Sam said slowly.
"But you didn't tell me or Jack…", Hammond said.
"No, Sir. I'll have to live with that choice for the rest of my life but I honestly believed that if I warned either of you, General O'Neill would be dead by now. I couldn't take that chance, how minimal that was", she admitted.
Hammond sighed heavily but didn't comment. So Sam took another deep breath, preparing to reveal more.
"They told me that I had to leave the Air Force, force my exit. They left the details to me. Then I had to disappear from Colorado Springs without a trace and head back to Nevada. No one could find any traces of me so it wouldn't have any links to them. They would contact me then. So that's what I did," she continued, her voice steady despite the turmoil within her.
Hammond could now see the Samantha Carter he knew so well—the strength, resilience, loyalty, and, finally, the deep love she held for the man who had been her commanding officer for so long.
"What happened in Nevada?" Hammond asked his expression a mix of concern and curiosity.
"I sold my car figuring that would be my lost known trace and was immediately approached by some tattooed men who put me in a black SUV and drove me away. I was drugged and woke up in a windowless room. I had no idea he had taken me to New Jersey. That was when I met Vladimir Babanian. He introduced himself as the leader of one of the most influential Russian Mafia here in the States," Sam said with a pained voice, her experiences weighing heavily on her mind.
Hammond sighed heavily, realizing the depth of the danger Sam had been in and the complexity of the situation they were now facing.
Sam continued her painful narrative, revealing how she had been forced to work for Vlad and how he had obtained knowledge about the Stargate program through his family connections. She explained the Russian Mafia's desire to gain access to the Russian Stargate via the SGC, using the leverage of some Russian technicians already working for them. She recounted the constant threat to kill General O'Neill if she didn't hack the Russian codes, a task she had ultimately completed. Then she described her ongoing captivity, the day when she was dragged into Vlad's office to find General O'Neill there, and the daring escape that followed. She concluded her story, by simply stating, "And here I am."
General Hammond listened attentively, his face reflecting a mixture of concern and understanding as he processed the harrowing account of what she had endured.
"Now the question is, Samantha, where do you want to go?" Hammond asked in a calm and compassionate tone.
Sam sat in her chair, taken aback by the unexpected question. She had anticipated being told what to do, following orders, or possibly facing legal consequences. She hadn't expected to be given a choice in the matter.
"Excuse me?" she replied, confusion evident in her voice.
Hammond smiled, recognizing the enduring selflessness and concern for others that had always been a part of Sam's character.
"I asked you what you want to do. Do you want to remain a civilian? Would you like to return to the Air Force and SGC?" he clarified.
Sam struggled to hold back tears that threatened to overwhelm her.
"I didn't know that possibility was available. After everything that I've done," she said, her voice tinged with regret.
Hammond retrieved a file from his desk and opened it.
"Well, you've always taken very little credit for your actions, Samantha," he said with a warm smile. "I've discussed your situation with other members of the staff who are aware of the Program. The discussion was a divided one, I have to say. There were the ones who wanted to keep you out of the Air Force for good, saying that when you exited you shut the door definitely, and the ones, like me, that advocate that your actions were done under extreme duress and for the benefit of the SGC, particularly its commanding officer, General Jack O'Neill. As such, there was a voting and a final say from the President who had the last word. It was decided that you be reinstated into the Air Force with your former rank, effective immediately if you wish to do so," Hammond stated formally.
Tears streamed down Sam's face, and she hastily wiped them away.
"What do I have to do, Sir?" she asked, her voice trembling.
Hammond placed both hands on his desk, looking directly at her.
"If you choose to return, we will pursue that Russian scumbag, if you'll pardon my language," he said. "If you choose to remain a civilian, we will have to initiate legal proceedings and deliver your case to federal authorities with the necessary redactions, and you'll become a witness. Probably under the witness protection program. The likelihood of success in the latter option is considerably less than in the former," he added.
Sam swallowed hard, knowing that choosing to remain a civilian meant she might never see Jack again. The decision was painful, but ultimately clear.
"I want to return to the SGC, Sir," she said, her voice filled with determination.
Hammond smiled with satisfaction. He had his Lieutenant Colonel Samantha Carter back, and he knew she would continue to make invaluable contributions to the Stargate program.
Sam left General Hammond's office in a daze, the weight of the conversation still settling in. Her thoughts were a whirlwind of emotions, and she couldn't find her voice to express them. Hammond had requested that she sit while he spoke privately with Jack, who had been looking increasingly concerned about her pale and distressed appearance.
As Hammond led Jack into his office and closed the door behind them, he didn't waste any time addressing the matter at hand.
"Jesus, Jack. You better start making an effort to disguise it. Not everybody is as 'blind' as me," Hammond said as he took a seat behind his desk.
Jack, caught off guard, blushed and sat down, feigning ignorance.
"I don't know what you're talking about, Sir," he said, attempting to hide his emotions.
Hammond sighed, recognizing the delicate nature of the situation.
"Of course you don't. Consider it a fair warning. Or do something about it," he advised, giving Jack a moment to collect himself.
Jack managed to blush even more, feeling somewhat exposed. However, Hammond decided to shift the focus.
"Well, I have good news. Effective immediately, Lieutenant Colonel Samantha Carter has returned to the Air Force and the SGC," he announced with a smile.
Jack's reaction was nothing short of disbelief.
"What? She what?" he exclaimed, clearly stunned by the unexpected turn of events.
"Calm down, Jack," Hammond urged. "I made her the offer, and she accepted. I had the clearance to do so. So she's back." Hammond continued, "With that said, we are now committing our full resources to finding that Russian and bringing him down. That is our number one priority. I'll inform our Russian counterparts that they are compromised and should take action, but I'm more concerned about you. You have a target on your back as long as he is alive, and I believe that, after all this, Samantha also has one. I want that base on a full alert. Use your contacts again, if necessary, as it has been proven effective. We'll pay them, but find that damn weasel."
Jack nodded in acknowledgment.
"That's all, General. I'll call you as soon as I have news from our Russian friends," he said.
Jack stood up, saluting his former CO.
"Thank you, Sir. You'll have my gratitude for eternity," he said with solemn gratitude.
Hammond dismissed him with a wave.
"You did your share for me too, Jack. I haven't forgotten," he said, his thoughts briefly flashing back to the time when Senator Robert Kinsey had threatened his granddaughters.
Outside the office, Sam was still seated with a distant expression on her face. Jack cleared his throat loudly to bring her attention back.
"Ready to go, Colonel?" he asked, trying to break through the reverie.
Sam blushed deeply, snapping back to the present, and quickly got up.
"Yes, Sir," she replied immediately, and they left Hammond's office, walking side by side towards the uncertain future that awaited them.