Summery: A routine trip off-world has long-lasting effects for SG-1. Meanwhile, Jack has terrestrial trouble too, when his half-sister is recruited to the SGC and his worlds threaten to collide and all his secrets are in danger of being exposed.

Disclaimer: I do not own "Stargate SG-1" the series. I believe it is owned by MGM. No copyright infringement is intended. No disrespect is intended. I am merely intrigued by the possibilities.

A Matter of Degrees

by: Visions2share a.k.a. Vi

"Does Dr. Mallory have more than one half-brother?" the office door was barely shut behind Jack when General Hammond asked the first question.

"No, sir."

"Jack, your personnel file makes no mention of multiple advanced degrees," it was an open-ended statement.

"Sir?" this really confused Jack because he was positive at least the first few were logged. Maybe not the ones he'd added since joining the SGC, although he thought he remembered updating that form at least once. Odd.

General Hammond took his seat behind the desk and unlocked one of his desk file drawers while waving Jack to his usual chair across the desk.

"This file," Hammond waved a thin manilla file folder for emphasis, "mentions only a master's in chemistry. And nothing else." He passed the file over to Jack.

Jack didn't respond while he glanced through the file.

"I didn't realize it was this redacted, sir."

"Why is this the only file on you I've seen?"

"I assume you inherited this file from General West?"

"I did."

"That's why. Catherine was no fan of West – she would have done anything she could to protect my privacy before requesting I be reactivated and assigned."

"Catherine? Langford?"

"Yes, sir."

"Why would she bother to worry about your privacy? Or to request you be assigned to the project?"

"She was trying to re-interest me in life after Charlie died. Trying to give me a reason not to eat a bullet, sir."

"Why?" Jack knew he wasn't asking about the reasons Jack had contemplated suicide or the reason someone as kind hearted as Catherine would want to preserve a man's life, but rather why she'd known about the situation in the first place. And that was an answer Jack was desperate to avoid giving. But General Hammond had always been square with him and Jack felt that despite his very real reluctance – and very real reasons for that reluctance – he owed him the truth. Or at least some of it. The parts he was allowed to share.

"My grandfather was her older brother."

"So, she's your aunt?"

"Great aunt, technically, sir."

This had the same effect on General Hammond that his sarcasm had on Carter in the conference room earlier. Except, his mouth just hung open until he got himself under control.

"If I got my hands on your full file, would it contain that information?"

"Maybe," Jack shrugged. "The background check might mention that my mother was born a Langford."

"Hmm. I'm gonna need to see your full file. And you realize that when Dr. Mallory starts pulling shifts in the infirmary, it'll only be a matter of time before she deals with SG-1 – including you."

"Yes, sir, I'm aware."

"Is Miss Langford Dr. Mallory's aunt as well?"

"Yes. Although they've only met a handful of times."

"Jack?" were generals given special powers to know when there was information left unsaid?

"Susan's father didn't encourage our mother to keep in contact with anyone from her old life. Even family. And the Langfords liked my father a lot but had little use for Susan's."

"I see," gee, Jack hoped not – he'd tried to be as vague as possible.

"I am going to make a formal request for your full, unredacted file from the Pentagon. After I've reviewed it, we will talk again about Major Carter's recruitment ideas."

"Yes, sir," Jack took it as the dismissal it was and left the office via the door behind him. He had been given a reprieve by the general's wish to read his full file before the next inquisition. Not that he was confident Hammond had the clearance to even request the full file. But Jack wasn't sure and was therefore anxious to postpone that talk as long as possible and consequently felt no guilt at not informing General Hammond he'd have to look more places than the Pentagon for his complete file. Several more.

Author's Note: Super short chapter today, I know. Tomorrow the story jumps forward in time and something happens that means Jack's secrets aren't the biggest hurdle between SG-1 and happily ever after. Thanks for reading! ~ Vi