Chapter 9
Jack wandered into Sam's office that morning. He expected to see her working as usual. Instead, she was looking at a auto trader publication. He walked up to her as she sat sipping her coffee with a pen and notebook. "Carter?" he wondered.
"Morning sir." she replied cheery.
"Auto Trader?" he asked.
"I'm going to help Eddy find a new, used…car." she declared. "I thought I would start with some used car ads. I know she's on a budget."
He started to read over the ads before Sam as he stood over his shoulder. He pointed. "How about that one?"
"Jeep Wrangler's are pricey, sir." she countered.
He looked closer at the price. "Holy! They used to be cheap." He looked closer at the publication. "She needs something with four wheel drive in this area."
"I was think a front wheel drive car would fine." Sam countered.
He stood even closer. "Lots of hills up here, Carter."
"She's not going off-roading, sir." she countered.
"We can get some heavy snow." he rebutted.
Sam then flipped the pages to the Sport Utilities Vehicle section. "Than how about a SUV." She grinned. "A Subaru. All wheel drive all the time on every vehicle."
He miffed. "How about an American made car? A Blazer or Explorer."
She rolled her eyes as they could not agree on what would be a good car for Eddy to drive.
Daniel walked into the lab next. He greeted. "Morning!" He noticed Sam and Jack standing very close together looking at something. He approached. "What are you two up to?"
Sam explained. "I thought I would go through some ads to help Eddy find a new or used car. I think a Subaru is a good option but the Colonel wants Chevy or Ford." she soured.
"Anything will a step up from what is driving now." Daniel insisted. He asked. "How about a jeep?"
Jack stated. "Those got pricey."
Sam insisted. "All wheel drive would be best."
Daniel came to the other side of Sam. He too looked over her shoulder at the trade magazine. "Wow, prices are up there." he agreed.
Jack nodded. "I remember when a used car was cheap."
Teal'c entered the lab next as he wondered where is teammates had gathered. He stood just inside curious. "Is all well?" he inquired.
Jack glanced up. "We're looking at used car ads for Eddy."
Teal'c approached. He too stood looking upon the ads before Sam. "What does she desire to operate?"
"Anything is better than that piece of crap she is driving now, T." Jack insisted.
Daniel asked. "What kind of options? Sunroof, leather interior?"
"Heated seats." Sam agreed. She then found herself circling vehicles she liked. Suddenly, the reality struck her. "I'm buying for me, aren't I?"
Daniel agreed. "Well, your car was totaled. Sam."
Jack still insisted. "Get an American made car, Carter."
She shook her head. "I want something with all wheel drive this time. Hmm…Honda CR-V."
Daniel asked. "You want one of us to go with you, Sam?"
She looked at her team. Each seemed eager to go shopping for cars. "Janet said she would go with me this weekend looking. I got the rental for two weeks."
"If you want I can go with you." he offered.
She stated. "I'm not going to buy some great big truck."
"But you could." he countered. "Get one of those great big flags and put in the back. Tootle around town with this big ass flag waving out the back." He looked to Teal'c. "Wouldn't that be cool, T.?"
The Jaffa smiled and agreed. "Indeed."
Meanwhile
It had been a slow shift for Eddy as there was simply not many medical calls that morning. She sat at the kitchen table looking through classified ads for vehicles as she knew her car would not last much longer. The Chief walked into the kitchen for some coffee. He spied Eddy. "What'cha looking at kid?"
"Use car ads." she told him. "Bubble bee is dying." she replied.
He stated. "Wanna buy a truck? The station is getting a new truck. The one I'm driving will be going up for sale."
She asked. "How much?" She understood the light bars and sirens would be stripped and the truck made into a plain red civilian truck.
"For you…I think five grand would do." he told her.
She agreed. "Sounds good. When is the new truck coming?"
"Couple of weeks. Think the old bumble bee will last that long?" he chuckled.
"I can keep it going." she told him. "I still got plenty of duck tape."
"Good." he laughed. "General Hammond just called me. He invited me and Harold in for a debriefing and tour. Just like you said."
"When you going in?" she asked.
"This afternoon. You wanna come with us?" he asked her.
"Sure." she grinned. "John and Mark can cover the EMS calls."
"They can cover it." he agreed. "I got a few more men signed up for the next paramedic class in spring."
"Good." she replied. "Need more."
He grabbed his cup of coffee. "I'll be in my office. Our debriefing and tour is scheduled for fourteen hundred hours."
"I'll got off duty at noon." she stated to ensure she would be free.
SGC
Eddy stood with Chief Morris and EMS Coordinator Harold O'Connor in the elevator. The three stood in uniform.
Harold asked. "How far down does this thing go?"
"Twenty eight floors." Eddy stated.
"So much for this place being a cold war bomb shelter." The Chief wasn't sure if he should laugh or cry.
The lift finally came to a halt and the doors slid open. Jack, Sam and Daniel all stood the greet the visitors.
Chief Morris stepped out. "Colonel! Good to see you, again." he offered a handshake.
Jack shook his hand. "Chief. Question. Can I drive the ladder?" he requested to drive one of the fire trucks.
"I suppose that all depends on what I am here for." he replied. "Hope it's okay. Eddy requested to come in for the meeting."
Jack told him. "She can come in anytime she wants. This way." he motioned for the group to follow.
Sam walked beside Eddy. She stated. "Janet and I are going car shopping this weekend. Want to come?"
"I'm good." she declined.
"They have some good used car deals." she urged. "I know your car is not going to last much longer."
"Fire station is buying a new chief's truck. I'm buying the old one in service now." she explained.
Sam seemed a bit stunned. "You are buying a full size pickup truck?"
"Four wheel drive, cap on the back, I get to keep the spotlight." she told her.
She confessed. "I thought you would want something more economical."
She shrugged. "I'm fine."
"Oh." Sam replied still a bit dumbfounded.
Jack overheard. He turned. "You are buying the Chief's truck?"
She nodded.
"Damn!" he sounded a bit down.
"Sir?" Sam cocked an eyebrow.
"I would have bought that truck too." he confessed. "Departments usually take real good care of equipment."
Harold walked next to Daniel. He didn't say much to the man. He was still suspicious of Daniel's intent. To Harold, Daniel could have been stalking Edna and he found that rather disturbing.
Daniel made small talk. "How long have you been a fire fighter, Harold?"
"Since I was eighteen." he told him.
"Right from high school, huh?" he asked.
"No, I was volunteer back then. I worked heavy equipment on farms. Eventually went professional." he explained.
The Chief heard the conversation. He added. "Harold is our green thumb. He can grow anything. Tell you what crop is growing in a field. He put in raised bed behind the station and grows fresh vegetables during the summer for us."
Daniel smiled. "Agriculture is a hallmark of civilizations. Whenever I would meet a people from a new civilization one of the most fundamental trades is food and agriculture techniques. That's a very good skill to have."
Harold gave Daniel a strange look. "I garden. That's all."
"It's fundamental." Daniel insisted.
Eddy added "Harold has a collection of antique books too. He's actually a real bookworm. You two actually have a lot in common." she concluded.
The Chief stated. "Harold is expert on all things that are useless. If want answers to the cross word puzzle, Harold is your man."
Harold had to agree. "It's all trivia." He tapped the side of his head. "Nothing really useful."
Jack confessed. "Daniel is my crossword puzzle expert."
"More like I'm you cheat sheet, Jack." he quipped.
Chief Morris confessed. "We love cheat sheets in the fire department."
Soon, they arrived in the briefing room. General Hammond was present along with Teal'c and Dr. Frasier.
Hammond motioned. "Please have a seat." He waited for the audience to get settled in. He spoke to the Chief. "I want to personally thank you and Mr. O'Connor for coming in on such short notice."
The Chief stated. "To be honest we have been very curious about what you guys got going on in here. Some say it's aliens." he made the allegations sound much like a funny rumor.
Jack stated. "It is!"
The Chief and Harold traded glances. They knew Eddy made the claim prior but hearing it from the Colonel cemented the rumors.
Sam spoke. "Why don't you two gentleman have a look out that window." She pointed to the area.
Chief Morris and Harold walked over to the window and looked at the Gate Room below.
"Wow!" Harold gasped.
"What is it?" The Chief asked.
Sam came to their side. "That is a Star Gate. If you will have a seat, I will gladly fill you in."
