Mess Hall, SGC

Even though she had breakfast not too long ago, Willow was still famished. The spell that transported her to this mysterious Air Force base in Colorado Springs took a lot out of her. Colonel O'Neill and Major Carter had escorted her to the Mess Hall where she took on two slices of blueberry pie. The two officers were having their own desserts: O'Neill was having a slice of blueberry pie as well, and Carter was eating a cup of blue jello.

While eating their desserts, Carter and O'Neill started to ask Willow questions about her life. They found out that she was a computer science student at U C Sunnydale and that she was a member of the local Wicca Club. Other than that, Willow claimed her life was pretty boring. Of course she couldn't tell them about demons and vampires.

'They would probably think I belong in the looney bin,' Willow thought to herself, 'heck, they are still trying to wrap their heads around magic being real.' So yes, it was probably for the best she did not mention vampires and demons.

Major Carter still had questions about Willow's claim to practice magic, but she thought it best to keep it to herself for now. After all, SG-1 had encountered the Nox who saved their lives using a form of highly advanced technology which acted as if they were using magic. However, Willow didn't seem to be using any highly advanced technology. 'Could it be a form of telekinesis?' Carter wondered. The Nox seemed to use telekinesis as well, so it was possible Willow was using a similar ability without realising it. But then again, using telekinesis to vibrate air molecules to create light should also theoretically create some heat. Carter did not feel any heat from the light during Willow's demonstration of magic. For now, Carter thought it best to push her thoughts of magic to one side.

The two officers continued to listen as Willow spoke about her life. They even found out that she was one of the students who survived an explosion at Sunnydale High School.

Willow explained that the police thought a gas main had been leaking in one of the boiler rooms, and a pilot light caused the massive explosion. She didn't want to reveal the real reason for the explosion. An explosion caused by their group of friends to defeat a giant demonic snake that had delusions of taking over Sunnydale after killing off the student body. Yes, they didn't need to know the Mayor of Sunnydale transformed himself into an Old-One... one of the original demons that used to walk the Earth.

Carter and O'Neill then asked about her family and friends. Willow said that her parents were in Europe on a lecture tour and they wouldn't be back until next year. As for her friends, Willow said that they were still angry with her about the fiasco with the wishing spell. She mentioned that they had every right to be angry. "I don't think they can forgive me. That's why I wished to be somewhere else. I wanted to get out of there and be with others who would accept me with my mistakes and faults." Willow explained she was the so-called research girl and that everyone thought she always needed saving from things.

"Things? Things such as?" Jack asked, his voice tinged with curiosity.

"Sunnydale has had a lot of... crime. So my friends think I can't take care of myself," Willow explained. 'Crime,' Willow thought to herself, 'the local papers would report gangs on PCP were the cause of vampire and demon attacks.' Again, Willow couldn't say any of that to the military. At the same time, she wondered what should she be doing when General Hammond allowed her to leave the base. Should she go back to Sunnydale now that she had calmed down, or should she go take a break from U C Sunnydale and take a year off backpacking around the world. 'Do I even know how to go backpacking?' Willow wondered.

They continued talking to each other for another forty-five minutes or so where Willow talked about staying in Sunnydale after High School, the places where she applied before accepting the offer from U C Sunnydale. The redhead tried to keep the conversation as easy and normal as possible without mentioning anything about the supernatural. Soon, an Airman approached O'Neill, the General wanted to see him. He told Willow he would be leaving her in the capable hands of Major Carter before leaving. After he left, Willow asked Carter if she could take a look at some of the rovers they were working on. Carter was apologetic while saying the work they were doing was classified.

"We do track space debris," Carter added, "you can not believe the mess orbiting this planet. Wanna take a look?"

Willow nodded her head. And a minute later, they were out of the Mess Hall and headed for Carter's lab.

General Hammond's office.

"Come in, Colonel," General Hammond said after O'Neill knocked on his door.

O'Neill walked into the General's office, took a seat, and then asked, "I take it you've spoken to the president?"

"Yes, we had a lengthy talk about our unexpected guest," the General continued, "he is in agreement that since Miss Rosenberg has displayed unique abilities, she could be a huge asset to this program." The General leaned forward, "although, he was concerned with how she was able to get into this facility. But for now, we keep eyes on her while she's a guest on the base." General Hammond tapped his fingers on his desk for a moment before continuing, "In any case, this incident will be classified as above top secret; only the president will have eyes on anything we file about Miss Rosenberg. We don't want the NID or Senator Kinsey getting a whiff of anything that's happened. Who knows what they would do if they ever found out about her talents."

The NID and Kinsey worried O'Neill a great deal. They were in the habit of going rogue, so there was the very possibility that they could harm Willow if they ever discovered her abilities. And O'Neill had to admit the redhead possessed some unique abilities whether magical or not. So Willow's method of arrival would be kept out of the reports, in addition to any mention of magic.

"Do we tell her about the..." O'Neill nodded towards the briefing room windows that looked out towards the Gateroom. It would be unusual to show a civilian the Stargate without having a background check. But if they absolutely wanted Willow to be a part of the SGC, then it may be a risk worth taking.

As if reading Colonel O'Neill's mind, General Hammond said, "After speaking to the President, I have decided to fast-track a background check on her, as well as a security check. You and Major Carter have been speaking with her, do you have any insights?" Colonel O'Neill then gave his opinions about everything Willow had said during their time in the Mess Hall. And once he was done, General Hammond nodded his head while whistling.

"So we've got someone who could be another Sam Carter?" the General asked.

"It seems like it, Sir. She's a bit nervous, a bit rough round the edges, but I think she's got what it takes to make it here," the Colonel said before continuing, "I get the sense she's holding something back. Maybe it's about magic, or maybe something else. But, I think given time, she'll open up more to us."

The General agreed before saying, "I'll set up the Non-Disclosure forms. We'll meet in the briefing room once the background checks have come in."

Colonel O'Neill mentioned he would give Willow access to a phone so that she call her friends, so as to let them know she's safe.

The General agreed before saying he'll have the applications for the background and security checks prepared.

"Oh," the General said just before Colonel O'Neill left his office, "remember, Jack, no mention of magic. But I would like Miss Rosenberg to write a report on her magic use. I need to know the benefits and the downsides. That report will go direct to the President."

"Copy that, Sir," O'Neill said before making his way towards Carter's lab.

Sam's lab, SGC.

"So, what's going to happen to me?" Willow asked as she sat across from Major Carter who was working on a computer. She had shown Willow some photos of space debris orbiting the planet, as well as some recent pictures of distant dust clouds and nebulae. However, Carter couldn't allow Willow to see recent designs of rovers since those were classified; plus, those designs were not stored at the SGC.

Just as she finished asking that question, Colonel O'Neill stepped into Carter's lab with his hands in his trouser pockets.

"Sir," Carter said standing up from her chair, "What did General Hammond say?"

The Colonel nodded his head, turned towards Willow and said, "General Hammond's spoken to the President, and he wants you here."

"Here?" Willow asked pointing to the floor, "I don't even know where here is. I mean I know… I mean I was told I'm in Colorado Springs; I know I'm somewhere underground since the elevators were heading down… I mean this is the twenty-fifth floor and the elevator was going down…," Willow stopped babbling and took in a deep breath before whispering, "I don't know where I am."

Carter then jumped in, "I'm guessing General Hammond's decided to run a background check on you." Willow turned towards her, surprise on her face.

"And a security check," O'Neill added. He didn't miss the slight surprise on Carter's face, neither did he miss the look of worry etched on Willow's face.

"Really?" Willow squeaked. She wondered if they would ever find anything on her hacking activities for Giles and the others. But then again, she had not been caught, so there was no police report on file. 'Yep, I should be okay,' Willow thought to herself. But still, could that come up on a security check? She hoped not. She had to admit, for a group of military people, Carter and O'Neill seemed approachable and didn't seem eager to simply push her off to someone else. Plus, Willow guessed people needed to be somewhat smart to work in the facility, so there was less likelihood of being made fun of.

Carter nodded her head and said, "it's standard."

"He was a bit concerned about… you know… you wishing yourself here of… all places," the Colonel said, "thus the need for the security check."

Willow waved her arms about before saying, "I swear the spell doesn't work anymore." She then waved a hand at O'Neill and said, "I wish you would bake me a cake." There was a beat as everyone stood still, Willow had her eyes wide open, both Carter and O'Neill were looking at each other before their eyes shifted towards Willow, and then back to each other, and back to Willow.

"You feel like baking a cake, Sir?" Carter asked, her voice full of curiosity.

O'Neill shook his head, "no. But I am kinda craving the chocolate mud cake in the Mess Hall. But I've been craving that on my way here."

Willow let out a breath of relief. And the two officers eased up as well. Willow pointed out, "If it did work, you'd be baking a cake."

The Colonel clapped his hands once and then said, "alright then! We'll be meeting the General in a few hours… or whenever the background check gets in. So will the security check, we hope."

It was just then that a voice carrying through the intercom system called for Colonel O'Neill to call General Hammond. The Colonel walked over to the phone on the wall in Carter's lab and picked up the receiver before dialing the General's extension.

Willow and Carter were watching O'Neill go "uh huh" and "yes, sir" and "Carter's lab" and "planning to get some cake from the Mess Hall." He then placed the phone back down on the cradle and turned towards Carter and Willow.

"Hammond wants you to submit your fingerprints," O'Neill told Willow, "and you'll be getting a retinal scan."

"For the background check," Major Carter told Willow. O'Neill then turned towards Carter and said, "they'll be taking her prints and retinal scan here. Walter's on the way."

It would be twenty minutes later that Walter walked into the lab carrying a large case, as well as a folder. While he was setting up the printing station and the camera for the scans, Willow opened the folder to find several pieces of paper that needed to be filled out and signed. Of course, Colonel O'Neill reminded her... in a whisper, while Walter was busy... to keep out any mention of magic.

Taking a few breaths to center herself, Willow filled out the paperwork leaving out mentions of magic. She then had her fingers printed and her retinas scanned.

After all of that was done, Walter thanked her before rushing off with the prints and her retina scans.

After Walter had left, O'Neill turned to Willow and told her about Hammond's request. Willow listened, nodding her head in understanding for why she needed to write out a report. Willow said she would.

O'Neill then said, "now that's done...," then waved towards the door and continued, "I say we grab some cake." He then focused on Willow and said, "no more wishes, Red… not even fake ones."

"Got it," Willow answered, nodding her head.

"Anyway, Is there anyone you wanna call?" O'Neill asked.

Willow pressed her lips together, wondering if Xander, Buffy, and the others had calmed down. She wasn't sure, and even if they were, would she want to return to Sunnydale? She was away from Sunnydale, and she was experiencing something new. Truth was, she didn't know. If this place was checking her background, and if the President wanted her here, wasn't that a good thing? It was something different, something mundane compared to being in Sunnydale. Would she be okay with mundane? And if she wanted to move on from Sunnydale, what would she say to Buffy and the others? How would she explain her presence in Colorado Springs?

'If I tell them I made an accidental wish, then they may get angry at me again,' Willow thought to herself. With that in mind, she told Colonel O'Neill, "Let me think about what I wanna tell my friends and my parents. Can I call them later?"

"Sure," O'Neill replied before they were off to the Mess Hall once again.

To be continued.