AU: Sam arrives at Home World Security for her promotion and a set of orders that bring back bad memories.
TRIGGERS: Mention of Sam's relationship with John.
Chapter 11: Duty and Honour
Saturday, 19th June 2004 – Home World Security, Washington DC – General Hammond
My promotion to Lieutenant General had not quite happened yet, since the President and I were still in talks about how this posting would go and when I could conceivably retire. The plan was to give Jack a year in the job at SGC before bringing him to DC to take my place. My plan was to work from my home in Colorado Springs the majority of the time so that I could see my granddaughters every day. While the President would prefer my presence in the capitol, I had quite a bit of influence and the ever-evolving capabilities of online communication made remote working arrangements easier.
A soft knock on my office door heralded the arrival of Colonel Sam Carter. Since it was the weekend, I had given my secretary the day off. She had been reassigned from the SGC when I moved, and I could not afford for news of the new commander to get back to the base before we were ready.
"Come in." I called. The door opened and in walked my goddaughter. Well, an older version – though not as old as she had been – in a set of dress blues that were slightly too big – but not enough for anyone to notice – adorned with the Major's ribbon rack and a perfect coiffure of white, blonde hair, her cover clutched under her arm. I knew the look on my face was one of unexpectant shock but she either didn't notice or chose not to give it credence.
"Reporting for duty, Sir." She responded professionally with a crisp salute standing awkwardly at attention. The weariness of the flight shone through, though not as much as one would expect since she had 30 years on me. Funny, that she didn't look a day over 60. With a gentle smile, I rose to my feet.
"At ease, Colonel. Has Sergeant Jamison been of assistance?" I asked about the young, enlisted man I had taken upon myself to arrange for her.
"Yes, Sir." She smiled uneasily. "We drove by the Exchange in Fort Myer to arrange my uniforms. They will be ready this afternoon." She informed me succinctly.
"And which style have you chosen?" I asked. The corner of her mouth turned up mischievously just like I remembered from her young days, a particular memory of that expression just before she poured a bucket of water over Mark's head, and many other times when a certain Colonel made a joke especially for her.
"Sir?" She queried with bright eyes. When I smiled, she returned it. "As 2IC to General O'Neill for a year, Sir, the wearing of 'the monkey suit'…" she used finger commas, "…only happened for special occasions." She said partially quoting her former CO, and though I had yet to know him as a General, something told me that he would not be changing his stripes just to keep the upper echelons happy.
I recalled Jack's innate dislike of dress blues and his complaint – silent or otherwise – whenever he was required to wear it. That man would be the cause of a revolution in this place if he ever came here. I could just picture him now sitting behind this desk decked out in a BDU style uniform with three embroidered stars on his lapels, a clueless look on his face and messy hair while dealing with some intergalactic crisis.
"Please tell me you purchased at least one set of new dress blues."
"I did. It feels wrong to wear hers." She commented uneasily, "I may be her from the future, but still… this one deserves to be back on its hanger covered in plastic and hung on the hook Jack put up in his study." She confessed while running her fingers over the sleeve cuffs. "He has a shrine to her at his Cabin, Sir." Her lip trembled and she looked down and away. "If only I had known." The words were soft but spoke of years of longing and torment.
"You couldn't have Sam. He knew that. I have watched that man keep you at arm's length for six years." I told her. She breathed in and nodded, then looked up with a question in her eyes.
"Six, Sir?"
"Antarctica. He wasn't the same after that. Something shifted in that cavern. He started to care, so much so that when Jolinar sacrificed herself for you, I had to have the first of many difficult discussions." She sighed deeply in understanding, her eyes dropping again, though I didn't think she really got it. "He tried to retire for you at least once a year, but I couldn't let him." She looked up sharply and squinted, her face a mask but her eyes reflecting something else briefly until she couldn't seem to hold onto the façade anymore. A thousand emotions flittered across her face in that moment. Hurt, disbelief, anguish, and love.
I wondered briefly if there had been a stop loss order on John's file in her timeline and if so, did she know about it, though I dismissed asking the question because it was a closely guarded secret. Not even Jack knew about it, and for good reason. The original plan had been to have Major Davis deliver his orders, but since she was here, the President had decided to 'kill two birds with one stone' to use a cliché. I knew she had found the one thing she longed for with John, despite his physical age, though unfortunately, that would have to cease since the President – in his ignorant bliss – had decided that John's Academy training be brought forward and heavily supplemented with on the ground training at the SGC, specifically relating to anything Ancient. I had tried to tell Henry that confining someone like Jack to a science lab would not yield the results he was hoping for, but my words fell on deaf ears.
"Have you seen your father yet?" I asked, trying to change the subject and to lighten the atmosphere. I failed spectacularly. I knew that because her sombre expression turned a little more introspective. That ruled out mentioning how much she looked like Debra. It was astonishing just how good she looked. When she arrived in January, she had been… well, 90 years old. If I didn't know better; I would say she had wound back her clock somehow. Maybe it was just clean living from her time at the Cabin. Jack always returned from that place looking healthier and better after his down time there.
"No, Sir." She replied, sadness edging her response.
"You know, you can call me George. You have earned the right to do so." I said with a smile as I came around my desk and pulled her in for a hug. An action I had not performed with her since before she came to serve at the SGC. She deserved it and as her honorary uncle, being unable to offer her such comfort as her ultimate commanding officer, it was about time I showed her how proud I was of the woman and officer she had become, despite not being warm towards her when she first arrived. She stiffened but still accepted the hug, albeit at arm's length before moving back to her at ease position.
"Sir…" She paused, "…technically, in this timeline, I am still a Major." She duly informed me.
"While that would have been correct if you were our original Major Carter, she had been slated for promotion in early March, but due to unforeseen circumstances…" her gaze hardened and I wondered how much of what we had experienced mirrored her timeline, "…that had to be delayed."
"I don't know what you mean, Sir." She ground out just as my office door opened and in walked General Kennedy. She turned and looked at him with steely eyes as he spanned the distance in his stiff legged almost march. "The Major was killed. That halts things, not delays things." She added, her steely gaze dancing between to two of us. "I am still a little confused as to why my rank was misrepresented three months ago."
"Perhaps Martin can explain." I gestured towards the man.
"General, Colonel." He greeted then turned to Sam. "Indeed, I can explain, however first..." He turned to me, "…George." He gestured, referring to the main reason why we were here.
"Of course. Shall we?" I motioned to the empty space on her jacket epaulettes that still bore the indentations of the Major insignia that had rested there for so long. "You'll have to forgive us, but since you are still highly classified by your very nature, the President and the JCS decided it best that we do this here."
"I understand, Sir." She responded still using the honorific I offered for her to drop. Standing before her, I held my hand out. Slowly, she retrieved the two stars given to her by General Kennedy and dropped them into my hand. "I see, you have another set, Sir." Sam gestured to Kennedy's epaulettes.
"Indeed." He replied with a wry smile but did not elaborate any further on his new posting now that Kinsey was no longer deemed as a credible threat. She would find out soon enough.
Originally, I had considered just having her reaffirm her oath, but this woman – this outstanding officer – deserved more than some mundane hidden promotion. So, I turned and pressed the play button on the small recorder that sat on my desk.
When the patriotic instrumental rang in, we three automatically placed our hands over our hearts as the words of our most sacred song, borne from our struggles as Americans from a time when our young country had stood its ground in the face of adversity, filled the office and our hearts. We stood in calm silence giving credence to the sacrifices of the people who died that day while those who lived prayed that our flag would remain strong and true through the night. It brought tears to my eyes every time I heard it, and it made my heart swell with pride that I had given my life in service of our great nation.
At the cessation of our anthem, I pressed the pause button and picked up the small card I had prepared, even though I would probably not need it. There was a comfort in knowing the words were in my hand should I require them.
"The President of the United States, acting upon the recommendation of the Secretary of the Air Force, has placed special trust and confidence in the patriotism, integrity and abilities of Colonel Samantha Carter. In view of these special qualities, and her demonstrated potential to serve in the higher grade, Colonel Samantha Carter is promoted to the grade of Brigadier General, United States Air Force, effective the 19th day of June 2004, by order of the Secretary of the Air Force." I finished and handed one star to Kennedy for him to pin on while I pinned the other.
Sam smiled brightly with tears of gratitude and pride in her eyes, and I wished – not for the first time – that both Jack and her father could have witnessed this day. Jacob would be delighted and Jack, well he would have been ecstatic to see her welcomed into the realm of General Officers. He had always maintained that she would make it this far, even as a Captain, he insisted she had what it took to climb the ladder. All she needed was a push to get there.
"How does it feel, General?" I asked her softly as we adorned her shoulders with the new insignia.
"Overwhelming. I never thought I'd make it this far." She confessed as two tears slipped down her cheeks.
"Oh, I did. Jack did as well, in fact he insisted after you left the briefing room on that first day that you would be running the place in 10 to 15 years' time." I shared with her the grumbles of a jaded Colonel without revealing his exact wording to her, "Of course, then you arrived and revised that timeframe to seven years." She chuckled with a full smile and wiped her cheeks.
"What can I say, I am an overachiever."
"That you are. Now, for the next part." She nodded and stood tall. "Repeat after me." I said, then motioned for her to raise her right hand so that I could re-administer the oath of office.
"I, Samantha Carter..."
"I, Samantha Carter…"
"…having been appointed a Brigadier General in the United States Air Force…"
"…having been appointed a Brigadier General in the United States Air Force…"
We made our way through the oath of office one line at a time, first read by me, then repeated by her, each line – no matter how long or short – instilled with great honour and duty.
"…do solemnly swear…"
I read and she repeated just the same as last time, just as it would have been had she not given her life at the Alpha site, though it had been our plan to promote Jack first and allow him to promote his Major.
"…that I will support and defend the constitution of the United States…"
Our most sacred doctrine, the document which forged our great country from its humble beginnings to the powerhouse it had become, achieved through the dedication of many.
"…against all enemies, foreign and domestic…"
"…that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same…"
"…that I take this obligation freely…"
She always had given herself over freely even when we could see how much being emotionally separated from the man that she loved was affecting her. Even now, she still bore the pain in her eyes, even though her body seemed extensively healed since the last time I had seen her.
"…without any mental reservation or purpose of evasion…"
"…and that I will well and faithfully discharge the duties of the office which I am about to enter, so help me God."
At the end, she saluted crisply as always, and I returned the favour marginally after her. For the final part, I turned once again and pressed the play button. Within moments, our song "Wild Blue Yonder" rang out causing our newest General to smile brightly, look down and then back up. I couldn't help but smile broadly back at her.
"Couldn't resist." I commented.
"Thank you. George." She said taking great pains to use my name rather than the customary Sir she had been required to use for so long. "Though for us, it probably should be a vast empty yonder." She replied with a wry smile referring to the blackness of space. I laughed and walked back around the other side of my desk, taking the opportunity to press the stop button since I could sense Martin's need to get on with the briefing.
"Well, I believe we owe you an explanation." I said, gesturing for them both to be seated. "Martin." I offered for him to start with the cover story he had constructed for her.
"Thank you, George." He said, then turned to Sam. "With your posting to the SGC, we find ourselves in a position of declassifying parts of your mission at the Alpha site." She narrowed her eyes, though she said nothing. Martin laid out the fabricated plans of a sophisticated and make-believe underground laboratory built using Tok'ra crystal technology. Unfortunately, the Tok'ra had said no to our proposal, so the plans had been locked away.
"The incident and consequent destruction of the Alpha site allowed us to keep the lab hidden. Your body was removed from the SGC and taken back where we had an experimental sarcophagus style pod…" Her eyes fired up at Martin's words.
"Excuse me?" She ground out. I knew this had been a bad idea, but trying to explain her reappearance from the future would be even less believable, especially now that she seemed to be younger than she should be. A situation that I hoped to get to the bottom of before she left here today. At least with our track record of modifying Goa'uld technology and failing, this story would be more convincing.
"We placed you in an experimental sarcophagus to bring you back. Unfortunately, there was a glitch, and it artificially aged you in the process." He explained without any emotion on his face. "Though, it seems that we have to modify how many years you were aged." Martin added with a questioning look, though Sam did not offer any explanation.
"Wow. Interesting story and completely ridiculous since the Tok'ra would never give us access to that technology." She shot him down causing me to grin inwardly because I had told him already how she would react. "You have also conveniently forgotten that Colonel O'Neill brought me back to the SGC from a different planet." That was true, though Martin did not seem to consider that a problem.
"Indeed. Though explaining time dilation field malfunctions and time travel is somewhat more… ridiculous, as you put it, than the SGC experimenting with modified Goa'uld technology with unintended results." He stated, alluding to the near loss of Colonel O'Neill and Teal'c in the X-301.
"Martin." I cautioned. He looked at me, then nodded once. "Sam. If the President and the JCS knew you were from the future, your stay here would not be so pleasant, especially since Anubis' attack. They want another ship, something bigger and better than Prometheus." I explained, hoping she understood that this story was her best option. She nodded in reluctant agreement and looked between Martin and me.
"So, I am in charge of the SGC for one month." She stated earning herself a nod from Martin. "What is it that you aren't telling me?" She added with suspicion. I looked at Martin, but he silently gave me the job of telling her.
"Upon your return to Colorado, you are to deliver this document to Jonathan O'Neill." I said as I flipped open the cover of the file that had been on my desk. "He is part of the 'another ship' plan." I explained. She looked at the folder contents, gave it a brief once over and then closed the file without so much as reading the contents.
"No." She said unequivocally, then pushed the file away. "He is too young." She added her tone brimming with indignation as she looked between the both of us. It was then that I had my answer about the order on his file from her timeline.
"Physically, yes." Martin agreed, "But mentally, he is a 52-year-old man under the auspices of the United States Air Force. He has access to potential Ancient abilities and knowledge that we plan on unlocking." Martin stated as he pulled the file closer. "He will split his time between the Academy and the SGC reporting to directly to you. After your retirement, he will report to me." Martin continued as if he had not heard her refusal to go along with his plan.
"Oh, well, in that case… hell no!" She almost yelled. "He deserves his own life. I won't let you do to him what…" She stopped and clamped her mouth closed.
"Do what?" I prompted.
"Nothing, Sir." She ground out, the anger in her demeanour palpable.
"You don't have a choice, General." Martin said, "This is going to happen whether you are on board or not." He closed the file and held it out to her. She took it gently then stood from her chair.
"Sir's, with all due respect. I will not be a part of any plan that sees that young man locked away for the rest of his life. He has been given a second chance. He deserves to live it on his own terms, not spend his life confined and used." She stated, then turned the file long ways in her hands and deftly ripped it in half, dropping it on my desk.
"Confined and used… Sam, that's not…" I began when she speared me with a look that was all her father.
"You forget where – or rather when – I am from, Sir." She interrupted, then gave Martin a glare of distaste. "He trusted you. They both did." She said to him though his face remained completely impassive. "I will not let you or that planet killing scum hurt him." She growled.
Though Martin didn't say anything, his serene mask faltered enough for me to see that perhaps there was something I wasn't privy to. Something from Sam's original future, and there was only one man that she would ever refer to like that.
"George, it was good to see you again. I'll see myself out." She said making it clear that this conversation was over. With finality, she almost slammed her cover snug under her arm, executed a sharp yet insubordinate salute before turning and leaving without waiting for dismissal, not that she had to any longer. Just before she reached the door, Martin spoke.
"General Carter." She stopped and looked over her shoulder, "I believe I told you to use those stars well." He said cryptically, though the flash of recognition in Sam's eyes suggested she knew what he was talking about. With a silent nod, she opened the door and retreated.
"What was that all about?" I demanded moments after the door closed as I gathered together the two pieces of ripped folder. He merely raised an eyebrow and lifted his chin to direct an expressionless look at me that I had seen often enough in my dealings with him.
"She's talking about Henry Bauer. Now why would she bring him up?" I asked bluntly since I was sure he had resigned after the debacle with the Naquadah bomb. Martin's mouth twitched slightly but he remained silent which was not unusual. He always played his cards close.
"Last I heard he was in Area 51, though that was some years ago." He replied, but didn't comment on why Sam would have specifically mentioned Bauer in Martin's presence.
"I told you she would never have agreed to anything that would hold John O'Neill back." I continued when he refused to answer my question about a man who very nearly jeopardised the safety of this entire planet.
"Perhaps if she weren't sleeping with the kid, she'd have been more objective." He commented with a sneer of disgust on his face. He had been absolutely adamant that we needed John for whatever department he was planning on heading up.
"If you think that, then you really don't know her at all, Martin." I said without hesitation. "Besides, what makes you think she is – as you say – sleeping with the kid?" I asked because unless his spy network was closer than reported, he wouldn't be privy to that information.
"I have my ways, George. Suffice to say, there is more than a professional relationship between them." He replied, then stood stiffly the only way I suspected he knew how.
I couldn't help the smirk that grew on my face remembering how they had danced around each other for years. It wasn't until they had taken that next step – despite its illegality – that they became more comfortable around each other. The moment Jack told me he had asked John to watch out for her at Cascade, I knew the lack of regulations governing them meant that it was only a matter of time.
"Good day, George." Martin said then turned and left my office. Sam had refused to deliver the orders, but I knew whoever was running this show would not be discouraged. Either way, John would be expected to report for duty to Stargate Command before the end of the month and she – as his new commanding officer – would have to cease her personal relationship with him.