Briefing Room, SGC - 1997
There are days like that when you tell yourself you would have been better off staying in bed; the kind of day when, if you dared to think it couldn't get worse, the universe seemed to take it as a challenge. That was exactly the kind of day Samantha Carter was currently experiencing.
Following General Hammond and General Carter into the briefing room, she waited in front of the windows while SG1 was called over the intercom.
Daniel and Teal'c arrived first, the archaeologist raising his eyebrows questioningly at Hammond, who gestured for him to sit with a nod.
Jack arrived shortly after, looking equally surprised to have been summoned. "Sam?" he asked uncertainly as he stood at attention in front of the generals.
The young woman realized he probably still thought she might report him for what had just happened in the storage closet. Hammond didn't acknowledge the familiarity between the two officers and spoke directly to Jack. "Colonel Jack O'Neill," he nodded, "this is General Jacob Carter."
Jack turned immediately to Sam. "Carter? As in…?" He shoved his hands into his pockets, and the two exchanged a look far more telling than words, a look that did not go unnoticed by Jacob.
"As in my father, Sir, yes," she replied quickly, hoping he would understand the urgent need to restore the proper distance between them to limit the damage. Because while she was ready to disobey a direct order, she was not ready for her father to realize that the perfect soldier had fallen in love with her CO. And to grill her about it.
"Get outta town," Jack responded, raising an eyebrow. "Sam's dad? I've heard nothing about you, Sir." He extended his hand to shake Jacob's and appreciated the firm grip of the man before him.
Jacob inspected the man in front of him and gave a nod of approval, much to Sam's surprise. "What's there to say about an old general waiting to retire?" he asked with a slight smile.
Sam quickly regained her composure, and Captain Carter surfaced once more. "May I ask what you're doing here, sir?" she finally asked.
The Carters had always had a somewhat unique relationship. Sam and Jacob didn't act like Captain and General; the military barrier between them often helped them overcome many problems. General Carter had raised his daughter where the man had been lost after his wife's death—it might not have been the best upbringing, but it had worked for them.
Everyone took their seats around the table, Jack sitting next to Sam, while her mind raced, trying to understand why the Air Force would send a General sporting four stars on his uniform. She briefly thought back to when she had last seen her father, when he'd had only two stars, and suddenly realized she hadn't given any sign of life since announcing her marriage to Jonas.
Jack placed his hands flat on the table as Jacob sized him up from head to toe. He glanced curiously at Hammond. "Not that I'm not thrilled about a little family reunion, but could we know why we're being called to the principal's office?" he finally asked, his tone raising an eyebrow from Jacob.
"I was sent by the President of the United States," Jacob explained. "My military assessment of this base will determine whether the Stargate program can continue."
Silence immediately filled the room, and Jack leaned back slightly in his chair. "Oh," he replied simply.
Cafeteria, SGC - 1997
Checking her uniform one last time, Sam entered the cafeteria and navigated between the tables until she reached the one where General Jacob Carter was sitting. Stopping in front of him, she immediately stood at attention.
"At ease, Captain," he instructed before getting up to kiss her. "Hello, Sammy," he murmured, his tone softening.
Sam smiled at him. "Hello, Dad," she said as she kissed him gently on the cheek before taking the seat he gestured to with a nod of his head.
She smoothed her uniform with the palm of her hand and finally looked up at him. The conversation wasn't going to be easy. Playing it tactically, she waited for him to speak first.
"The SGC, then," Jacob began directly. "I should have known you'd be involved in a program like this." He paused, pushing a cup of coffee toward her before continuing. "I didn't see your name in the file, though."
Sam accepted the cup and remained silent for a moment. "I accepted the transfer under the name Hansen," she finally explained.
Jacob raised an eyebrow. "Hansen," he repeated, his tone making his judgment on the matter perfectly clear.
"No need to go over it again," she said, taking a sip of coffee before deciding to face the issue head-on. "How long are you staying, Dad?"
Recognizing his daughter in her reaction, Jacob smiled slightly. They might not have the best relationship, but he had to admit he was proud to see her standing like this in front of him. Proud to see the soldier she had become.
Jacob had accepted the mission that had been offered to him—not that he would admit it, but George had turned to him for help saving the program, pulling a few strings to make it seem like the President was behind his transfer. His old friend had hinted that it would be an opportunity for Jacob to reconnect with his daughter and spend some time with her. He might have been playing on multiple fronts at the moment, but he knew exactly where he wanted to go.
"I came to speak with George," he finally explained. Sam stayed silent, letting him continue. "As I said in the briefing room, the Pentagon sent me to conduct a military assessment of the program to determine its long-term viability."
Frowning, Sam glanced briefly around. "I thought General Hammond had settled this issue recently."
Jacob nodded. "On the surface, yes. The government just wants to ensure the program's validation." He paused again to drink his coffee. "I was chosen for my previous experience, they approved my clearance, and I received a full briefing on the SGC and the Stargate, extraterrestrial threats, and the military operations conducted through the gate." He watched his daughter critically, probably waiting for her to respond, but Sam said nothing. "You cross the galaxy every day, Sam?" he finally asked, sounding surprised.
"Not every day," she replied with a shrug. She remained silent for a moment, her eyes scanning the faces of the military personnel present in the room before returning to her father.
"Dad, the scientific advancements made possible by our encounters with different civilizations are an indescribable boon for our researchers," she continued, her eyes sparkling. "Everything we thought we knew about the universe was redefined in an instant by the Stargate." Sam paused. "Hyperspace, teleportation, time manipulation… There are so many things we still don't know, so many boundaries we can push."
Taking a deep breath, she dug her spoon into her jello. "This program, Dad, is the future. It's everything I want to invest in."
Jacob nodded slowly. "I knew you'd try to convince me." He smiled. "But I never said my goal was to shut down the program, Samantha." He paused, appreciating that Sam stayed silent to let him continue. "George convinced me enough on the subject. I'm submitting my report to the Pentagon tomorrow morning."
Before Sam could respond, alarms blared, and Janet's voice rang out over the intercom. "Captain Carter is urgently needed in the infirmary."
Finishing her coffee, Sam quickly stood up, glancing at her watch. She seemed to hesitate for a few seconds and finally asked, "What did General Hammond say, Dad?"
"He doesn't know my decision yet. For now, I have unlimited access to the facilities."
Nodding, she turned to head to the infirmary. "Then come with me, I have someone I want you to meet."