Loose Threads
SERIOUSLY FOLKS - IF YOU LIKE SAM AT *ALL* THEN DON'T READ THIS FIC. I MEAN IT - THIS IS CATHARSIS AT ITS WORST. JUST REMEMBER - YOU PROCEED FROM HERE BY YOUR OWN CHOICE..... 'CAUSE I WARNED YA.
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"You don't have to do this, General. This deposition will go on with or without you there." Colonel Humphries closed her briefcase with a sharp snick.
"I realize that, Colonel." Jack straightened his blue dress jacket.
"While you have every right to be there, I think that opposing counsel will take it as an intimidation tactic . . ."
"Then they'd be right," snarled O'Neill as he headed toward the approaching staff car.
++++
"Lieutenant Colonel Carter, I want to remind you of the rules of this interview," Humphries said calmly. "You are to answer each and every question fully and to the best of your ability. Do not 'guess' or 'suppose' or make assumptions. This deposition is an attempt to get to the facts of this present matter. Do you understand these terms? Do you understand that going outside these terms could constitute perjury as you are under oath?"
"Yes, ma'am," said Carter quietly, her voice edged with anger.
"Very well. Let's continue. Please state the exact dates and times you witnessed General O'Neill engaging in sexual contact with civilian consultant Doctor Daniel Jackson." Humphries readied her pen to take notes.
"There wasn't any specific instances that I can . . . "
"Colonel Carter, again I ask you to answer the question as stated. Please state the exact dates and times . . ."
"There are no exact dates!" Carter barked. "There are no exact times!"
"Did you ever, at any time, witness General O'Neill . . ."
"No!" Carter yelled. She pushed herself back into her chair. "It was a long series of actions . . ."
"So you never actually saw the things you've alleged of General O'Neill?"
"I didn't have to! It was perfectly obvious . . ."
"Colonel!"
All eyes turned toward Humphries. The only sound that could be heard was Carter's breathing as she fought to regain her composure.
Humphries leaned forward onto the table. "This is an exquisitely serious matter we are engaged in here. You have brought charges against a highly decorated officer of the United States Air Force. Those charges stated that you were sexually harassed and pursued by my client for a period of over seven years. Furthermore, you state that there was an ongoing sexual relationship between General O'Neill and civilian consultant Doctor Daniel Jackson. You have stated you have proof of these allegations, yet at this deposition neither you nor your attorney has produced any such evidence." Humphries turned her gaze to the rather nervous looking female Captain sitting beside Carter. "Captain Maggart, I would put forth that there is no such proof."
"We are still going through our records . . ."
"I do not have to remind you that by Court rule, the date for production of any discovery is well past and we will bring a motion to preclude any such evidence, should any exist, if and when it becomes available. This deposition is over. General O'Neill, if you please, sir." Humphries motioned to the door.
O'Neill finally raised his eyes to Carter who flinched visibly under the weighty gaze. Without a word, Jack stood and left the room.
++++
"Hey."
"Hey," Jack said wearily.
"How'd it go?"
"About like I expected. Humphries shut down the deposition when Carter couldn't produce any evidence."
"This is walking such a fine line," Daniel said quietly. "You okay?"
"Yeah, I'm okay. Just . . . tired."
"You know I'm holding up my end of the deal, right? I've made all the arrangements."
"I know," Jack smiled. "Hopefully it won't come to that."
"Well if it does, everything will be okay."
"I know."
"Stubborn bastard. Look, I've gotta run. There's a briefing in an hour - we've got a team going out. I need to get to the base."
"How's Reynolds doing?"
"He's a good man, Jack. You picked a winner to hold the fort while you're gone."
"Good. I'm glad to hear that. You take care."
"I will. You too."
Jack hung up the pay phone and wished desperately he was back in Colorado. He pushed himself away and walked back through the rainy night to his hotel room.
++++
Sam Carter paced back and forth in her room. She was furious with herself for losing control in the deposition; with her attorney for sitting by like a lump when things went bad; but mostly she was murderously enraged at Jack O'Neill. Every time she thought of him, her stomach clenched and her teeth set on edge. As she made another circuit of her suite, a sudden blinding light stopped her dead in her tracks until she saw her father materialize before her.
"Dad!"
"Sam," Jacob said, going to his daughter with his arms outstretched. "What the hell's going on?"
Allowing herself to take comfort in the warm circle of her father's embrace, she took a deep, shuddering breath before she began to speak.
"I'm in a lot of trouble, Dad."
"I went to the SGC to talk to Jack about some intel we've received and I find out all this is going on. What is it, Sam? Talk to me."
The tears Sam had been fighting all day finally worked their way loose and she hung her head. "It's all such a mess . . ."
"Start at the beginning, kiddo," Jacob urged.
++++
*Three months earlier*
Sam strolled into Daniel's office, her face the very epitome of smugness.
"Hey, Sam," Daniel said as he glanced briefly at her. "What's up?" He reached for another book from the shelf behind him.
"I just wanted to let you know," she said, leaning on her forearms on his worktable, "I won't be around much for awhile."
"Yeah, why's that?" Daniel asked distractedly.
"Because Jack and I are . . . getting together."
Daniel's hands stilled for a moment before they resumed leafing through a notebook. "Getting together?"
Sam gave a small, humorless laugh. "You just don't get it, do you?"
Daniel threw the book on the table and looked squarely at Sam. "Why don't you spell it out for me? I mean, it's obvious you've come here to gloat about something." He sat back, crossed his arms, and waited.
Sam stood and walked around the table, stepping so close to Daniel he could feel her body heat. "I won," she said in a low purr. "You've got nothing he wants. Nothing he's willing to risk everything for. I'm going to the cabin with him and we're going to start our relationship without you constantly being in the way." She smirked triumphantly. "And there's not a damn thing you can do about it this time. No galactic crises, no planetary emergencies. He's finally retired and he chose me. Not you. Me." She stepped back a few paces. "I guess I don't need to say it, but I'm going to just because it will feel so damned good. Back off, Daniel. Jack's mine."
"Are you finished?" Daniel asked blandly.
"Oh yeah," Sam said with a little nose crinkle. "By the way, my recommendation to have you permanently transferred to SG-11 is on the desk of General Fitzpatrick. I'll be meeting with him tomorrow first thing. I don't think I'll have any trouble convincing him you're worth more on a purely scientific team than you are on a front line team. Do you?"
"I don't know," Daniel said. "Depends whether or not you throw yourself at him the same way you threw yourself at Jack." He turned back to his work. "You know how to use the door, Sam. I'd appreciate it if you did."
++++
"You're running," Daniel said.
"I know," Jack answered.
"She's not the one you want. We both know that." Daniel stepped into Jack's personal space. "You're retired. You've got your papers and your pension. I can leave the program." He forced Jack to look up into his eyes. "Be with me. We'll go . . . somewhere. Where no one knows us. I can teach - you can do whatever you want. Just don't do this, Jack. It'll destroy you."
Jack swallowed hard. "I don't know how to be what you want," he said softly. "I don't know if I can be."
Daniel stepped away from Jack in frustration. "Then you remember what I'm about to say. Once you've done this - once this is out of your system . . . when you realize that being with her isn't what you really want . . . you remember that you can always come back here. All you have to do is say yes to that part of you that wants this and we'll work the rest out from there. Will you do that - will you remember?"
Jack nodded his head slightly but couldn't raise his eyes to meet Daniel's. He turned and opened the front door, his truck packed and still running by the curb in front of Daniel's house.
"I love you, Jack," Daniel said quietly as he watched Jack leave to go pick up Sam for their "fishing" trip to Minnesota.
++++
Sam stepped out of the truck and looked around her, eyes shining in the sunlight. "This is incredible," she laughed quietly.
Jack gave a nervous little shrug. "It's not bad."
"Teal'c must have gone nuts up here," she said with a broad grin. Stepping around to the back, she helped Jack unload their luggage.
"I don't think he had much fun," came the answer in a slightly distracted tone of voice.
"Hey," she said softly, rubbing her hand gently along Jack's back. "You okay?"
"Sure," Jack answered without meeting her eyes. "Couldn't be better."
He led her inside the cabin and began opening windows to air out the musty, unused smell. Sam followed him down the hall and into the single bedroom. "Shall I . . ." she said, motioning with her suitcase toward the bed.
"Yeah, make yourself at home." He set his own bags down beside the bureau. "I'll go get the food."
Sam's brow furrowed as she watched Jack leave the room and walk back down the hall. The man had grown more and more quiet the farther away from Colorado they'd gotten until, for the past few hours, he hadn't spoken at all. She'd been too excited to notice at the time, the butterflies in her stomach keeping her preoccupied all through their trip. But now, standing here in the middle of the small bedroom, looking at the spartan furnishings and the rickety old bed, her mind hearkened back to three days earlier when she'd stood in front of Pete and handed back the engagement ring. She hadn't shed one tear - her mind so focused on the pending trip with Jack.
Pete, of course, had been utterly decimated. She remembered getting a little angry at him when he wanted to talk about it, telling him she'd never really loved him. She'd left with a rather cold "I'm sorry," after which, she'd gone home to pack.
Fear began to creep up her spine as she pondered Jack's increasing quietness and his obvious lack of physical affection during the trip up here. They'd stayed in motels - always in separate rooms, despite her suggestions to the contrary, and they'd driven until Jack was nearly asleep at the wheel.
"Probably just nerves," she muttered to herself. "There's one way to fix that." She smiled and opened her smallest suitcase, removing a sheer teddy, trimmed in velvet and satin, closed the door and quickly changed.
A few minutes later, she heard Jack putting the canned goods and cold food stuffs away as she opened the door. Approaching on tip toe, she wrapped her arms around him from behind and felt him tense immediately. "Hey soldier," she breathed in his ear, "wanna have a good time?"
Jack turned slowly when he felt her arms release him. "Jesus, Carter!" he exclaimed and turned back around. "Going for subtle?"
"You don't like it?" she asked, stunned.
"Can you go . . . put something on? I think we need to do some talking first, don't you?" Jack fussed with a few cans on the counter.
Feeling her face heat from embarrassment, she hurried back into the bedroom and slammed the door. Her throat constricted and she began to shake. This wasn't going at all as she'd planned - not at all.
When she emerged from the room again, she was dressed in loose sweats. Walking into the kitchen once more, she found Jack sitting stiffly at the table, hands molded around a steaming cup of coffee. She pulled out a chair and sat down beside him. "I'm sorry. I shouldn't have done that."
Jack rolled a shoulder in response but wouldn't raise his eyes to meet hers. "Carter . . ."
"Sam," she corrected firmly. "If we're going to have a relationship, the first thing that needs to happen is you need to stop calling me Carter."
"Relationship?" Jack asked. He looked up and his eyes narrowed slightly.
"Yes," she said with a slight laugh. "I mean . . . after all these years, after all that dancing around each other, we're finally here . . . fishing." She made exaggerated quotes in the air with her fingers. A look passed over Jack's face and Carter's stomach tightened just that little bit more. "That is why we're up here, aren't we? To finally get this . . . thing . . . started between us?" She reached out to take his hand and stared when he yanked them away and down into his lap.
"I thought so," Jack said quietly.
"But?"
"Car . . . Sam," he said, finally, almost tripping over the word. "I think maybe this was a mistake. I think maybe I made a mistake. A monumentally bad one."
"Jack," Sam said, moving closer, "I know you're used to keeping me at arm's length, but you're retired now. There's nothing stopping us from . . . being together. It's what I've wanted ever since . . ."
"Don't," Jack stated flatly and stood up. "Don't start with the Harlequin phrasing and declarations."
"Well then what the hell is this?" Sam demanded. She pushed herself away from the table and stalked him into the small living room. "You said you cared about me . . . a lot more than you should."
"I know what I said," Jack bit back.
"Well?" Sam pushed. "Now you've got me - and you sure as hell aren't acting like a man who's finally gotten what he wants after years of wanting and not being able to touch."
"That's a little over the top, don't you think?" Jack asked sharply.
"Is it?" Sam came to stand directly in front of Jack. "What the hell is it you were thinking by bringing me up here?"
"That we could finally fuck and get over this . . . whatever it is between us. That's what I was thinking when I signed my resignation papers, and that's what I was thinking when I asked you up here."
"We could fuck?" Sam spat. "That's it?"
"I thought so," Jack answered and tried to turn away.
"Do you have any idea what I've given up for you . . . for the chance I thought you were offering me?"
"I never offered you anything," Jack snarled. "And I sure as hell never asked you to give anything up."
"I broke off my engagement with Pete!" Sam yelled. "I told him I didn't love him because he was just a substitute for you!"
"That's not my responsibility," Jack said.
"Well this is a goddamned sorry time to let me know what this really is." Sam walked over to the fireplace and braced her hands against the hearth.
"Once we got on the road, I finally realized that this was gonna all get very real, very fast . . . and I didn't want it to."
"Well why the hell didn't you just turn around?"
"Because I would have had to admit some things to myself I wasn't ready to admit . . ." Jack said, stopping in mid-thought.
"So you were just bringing me up here to fuck me and then, what? Dump me, is that it?"
"I knew I wasn't gonna be alone in that bedroom, Carter."
"I love you, you sonofabitch, and my name is SAM!" She picked up a picture from the mantle and hurled it at Jack's head. He ducked and the glass-framed photo exploded against the wall behind him.
Straightening up, he looked at the woman across the room from him and suppressed a shudder of revulsion. "I'm not driving anywhere tonight. You take the bedroom, I'll sleep out here on the hide-a-bed. I'll take you to the airport tomorrow, buy you a ticket back home."
"You're not buying me anything," Sam said. "I'll buy my own damned ticket." She stormed back into the bedroom and flung the door shut hard enough that it shook the entire cabin. A few seconds later, Jack saw his luggage fly out of the room to land randomly in the hall.
++++
The drive the next morning was icy and silent. Sam was seated as far away from him as humanly possible. Black smudges under her eyes indicated that she'd hadn't slept at all the night before and the set of her mouth was such that he knew to try and talk to her would probably cost him a limb. He stepped on the gas and accelerated, wanting to get to the airport in Minneapolis/St. Paul as soon as possible.
When he'd pulled into the passenger unloading zone, Sam bolted out of the truck, grabbed her bags and flagged down a Skycap to help her. He'd pulled away without so much as a backward glance from her. Guilt settled over his shoulders like a weight and the trip back to the cabin seemed to take much longer than the drive to the airport.
Finally admitting to himself that he'd been running away for long enough, he flicked open his cell phone and hit speed dial. He heard the phone on the other end ring three times, then the receiver was bobbled before a warm, familiar voice spoke.
"Daniel Jackson."
"It's me."
A long, sad sigh. "You okay?"
"No, I really don't think so."
"I'm sorry about all this."
"Wish I'd listened," Jack said, his breathing slowing now that he could hear the voice he really wanted to.
"Yeah. Me too. But we both knew you weren't going to."
"I know."
"So the reason you're calling?"
"Yes," Jack said simply. "I'm calling to tell you my answer is . . . yes."
++++
Sam arrived back in Colorado Springs seven hours after her departure from Minnesota. Her first stop after getting home to her car was to drive to Denver to the house where Pete lived. When she pulled up outside, the first thing she noticed was the 'for sale by owner' sign stuck in the yard. The second thing was the mess laying scattered around on the yard and by the garage - as if someone had thrown things into a moving van and left bits and pieces out for the next load. She rubbed her forehead and got out of her car, walking slowly up the sidewalk to the garage. A young woman saw her approaching and stopped her.
"Can I help you?"
"Is Pete here?" she asked.
"No. Who are you?"
"I'm, uh . . . I'm Sam, his fiancee."
"You're the bitch that dumped my brother to go off with that General?" snarled the woman.
"Your brother?" Sam asked.
The girl stalked forward and before Sam knew what was happening, she found herself sprawled on her butt in the driveway, the side of her face stinging hotly from the slap she'd just received. "You get the hell away from here!" shouted the girl. "You broke Pete's heart and if I had his gun I'd shoot you where you sit!" She pushed the button to the garage door opener and Sam had to scurry backwards to keep from getting trapped underneath.
The drizzle that had been threatening to turn to more all day suddenly let loose from the clouds, soaking Sam to the skin within seconds. She struggled to her feet and hurried to her car, glad the rain was hiding her tears.
++++
"Colonel Carter?" asked Reynolds as he stepped into Sam's lab.
"What?" Sam snapped.
Reynolds surveyed the woman coolly. She was pale, her eyes were glassy and the dark circles beneath her eyes had become a permanent fixture.
"I'd like you to report to the infirmary. Get checked out."
"What for?" Sam demanded.
"You are scheduled to accompany SG-9 on trade talks with the citizens of PX1-826 the day after tomorrow, and frankly, I'm a little worried about your fitness for duty."
"There's no need," Carter said and turned back to her work.
"That wasn't a request," Reynolds said.
"By whose order?" Carter challenged.
"Mine," Reynolds replied.
Carter threw the spanner wrench she'd been using down into a toolbox beside her. "O'Neill call you and tell you to keep me off active duty?"
"I've had no communication with the General since he retired and left base, Carter. Now report to the infirmary, or I'll call some SFs up here to help you find your way."
Carter brushed by him and made her way to the medical level.
++++
Daniel walked out onto the dock behind the cabin and looked over the still water in the early morning light. He heard footsteps behind him and smiled as strong arms went around him in a firm, warm hug.
"Morning," Jack said, nuzzling into the side of Daniel's neck.
"Morning to you, too," Daniel said, turning to accept Jack's kiss. "How are you feeling this morning?"
"Oh, you know. Confused . . . bewildered . . . ecstatic." He shrugged and Daniel laughed in response.
"Yeah, I'm pretty much all those things myself. Mostly the third one, though. You got breakfast on?"
"Yep. Hungry?"
"After last night I'm starving," Daniel said, walking with Jack back to the cabin.
"We did work up an appetite," Jack drawled.
++++
. . . it is a clear and imminent threat we're facing, Jack. You're being called back to active duty. We're ordering you to take command of the SGC until this crisis has passed.
"Dammit, George, you can't do this," Jack protested over the phone. He looked at Daniel, eyes full of anger and frustration. "There are more people than me out there who can handle . . ."
The Asgard and the Tok'ra don't see it that way, Jack, and if we expect to come out of this in one piece, we're going to need them. I'm sorry to have to do this to you . . . but we need you back in Colorado in two days.
Without saying goodbye, Jack slammed down the phone and leaned heavily against the kitchen counter.
"What is it?" Daniel asked.
"I've been recalled." Jack's voice was flat and emotionless.
"What? They can't do that . . . you're retired."
"Since when has that ever mattered to them where I'm concerned," Jack said as he pushed himself to his full height and went to the bedroom to start packing.
Daniel followed him in a few minutes later. Jack turned to face him across the bed that was still rumpled and messy from their recent love making. "Jack . . ."
"I know," Jack said, his voice shaking. "I know."
Silently, the two men packed to return to Colorado Springs.
++++
Jack walked into the briefing room, eyes scanning the folder he held in his hands. Daniel looked up as he walked in, trying to hide the pain he felt at having to be separated from Jack due to his reinstated position.
"Alright people," Jack said as he sat down, "what do we know?" He looked up and around the table. "Carter?"
"I believe all the information is contained in my report . . . sir."
Jack looked up from making notes to see her staring at him with hatred in her eyes. "Humor me," he said pointedly. "Pretend I'm a big, dumb GI and I don't know anything."
"That's not too far a stretch," she sneered.
"Colonel!" snapped Reynolds.
Carter looked away from O'Neill but didn't apologize.
"Look, let's get something straight," Jack said angrily. "I don't want to be here any more than some of you want me here. I was recalled for this mission, and once it's resolved, I'm gone. Until then, I expect all of us to act professionally and deal with this situation. Do I make myself clear? Because if not, I'll tell you right now . . . there are transfer papers in my office that I'm more than willing to sign and turn in. Understand?"
Those few people around the table that weren't glad to have Jack back and in command at the SGC nodded slowly and amended their attitude. Carter merely folded her hands over the table top.
"Now, once again, I'm asking . . . what do we know?"
++++
*Present day*
"And so you brought him up on charges of conduct unbecoming?" Jacob asked, completely appalled at what he'd just heard.
"I was so angry," Sam cried, "so hurt. I thought he and I were going up there to be together and I find out Daniel . . . he and Daniel . . ." She broke down again and held her head in her hands.
"Sam, he was retired," Jacob said. "And from what you said, he and Daniel put things on hold when Jack was reactivated."
"I went back through *years* of security footage. I'd spend my nights reviewing the logs. It was so obvious to me once I started looking for it . . . the way they'd stand together, how Jack would look at him."
"But you never found anything to indicate anything inappropriate?"
Sam shook her head in defeat. "I was so certain."
"Why, Sam? Why are you doing this? What do you have to prove or gain?" Jacob was trying to understand how his daughter could have come to such a place as this.
"I wanted him to hurt," she yelled. "I wanted him to be in as much pain as I was . . . as I am. He couldn't deny that he and Daniel had gotten together. I saw the bite marks on Daniel's neck myself."
"You asked Daniel?"
"Daniel isn't bound by the regs . . ."
"No, but you are," Jacob yelled back. "What part of 'don't ask' didn't you understand?" Jacob stood up and walked to the windows overlooking the lights of the city. Sam's sobs were the only sound in the room for long minutes. "I can't help you with this one, Sammie. There's nothing I can do."
"Can you stay? Be here with me?" she asked quietly.
Jacob shook his head. "No. There are matters I have to attend to and I need to get back." Disappointment coming from every pore of his body, he turned to face his daughter. "How could you have done this, Sam? Didn't I raise you better than this? When did you become so vindictive?"
Sam slumped down against the back of the couch and studied her hands. "I don't know," she whispered.
++++
"We are convening this special session to determine if the charges against General Jonathon O'Neill are sufficient to proceed to court martial. As the judge assigned to preside over this matter, I must say that the evidence presented is scant at best. I am also faced with the task of sifting out what is allowable in a military court of law and what is not.
"General O'Neill, you are charged with conduct unbecoming an officer. You are also charged with the sexual harassment of a junior officer and discrimination based upon a private relationship with said junior officer. These charges are serious and far reaching. Before I make my final decision on this matter, I have some questions to which I would like your answers. Considering that my questions will be in direct contradiction to the recent government policy known as 'don't ask don't tell,' and due to the exceptionally sensitive nature of the duties of all those involved, I will make these comments classified and they shall in no way directly reflect in the record of General O'Neill. General, are you in agreement with this?"
"Yes, sir," Jack said quietly.
"Very well. At what point did you actually pursue a relationship with Colonel Carter?"
"The day after I received my release papers, sir."
"I see." The judge made a note in the file before him. "And how long after that did you determine that this relationship would not take place?"
"Three days, sir."
"When did you call Doctor Daniel Jackson and let him know that the relationship between you and Colonel Carter had not worked out?"
"The next day, sir."
"So, four days after your release papers were received?"
"Yes, sir."
The judge set his pen down and looked directly at Jack. "Can you tell me when, on the day of the phone call from General Hammond, was the last time you were . . . in close physical contact with Doctor Daniel Jackson, and if you can, please make the time in Eastern Standard Time."
Jack gritted his teeth and willed himself to be calm. "Between twelve hundred and twelve thirty hours, and I heartily object to the nature of that question, sir."
'I understand and your objection is duly noted." The judge turned his eyes and to look at General Hammond. "At what time were the reactivation orders signed, General Hammond?"
"Thirteen thirty hours, sir," Hammond said.
"And at what time did you call General O'Neill?"
"Fourteen thirty hours." Hammond sat tight lipped in his chair.
"General O'Neill. Did you have any further physical contact with Doctor Daniel Jackson beyond fourteen thirty hours on the day or after the day of your reactivation into active duty?"
"No, sir."
"Are you currently in a relationship with Doctor Daniel Jackson?"
"I am not, sir."
"And why is that?"
"Because I'm active military and it's against the regulations, sir."
The judge nodded. "Colonel Carter, you allege that your experience with General O'Neill prejudiced him toward you in the missions in question, is this correct?"
"Yes, sir," Sam answered.
"At any time, did General O'Neill mention the trip to Minnesota?"
"No, sir, not directly."
"I'm not asking for your speculation, Colonel."
"No, sir."
"Can you produce any witnesses who can verify this charge - that General O'Neill based his decisions during the aforementioned missions on the fact that the relationship between the two of you did not work out?"
"No, sir."
"Can you provide any documentary evidence?"
"No, sir."
"Can you provide any witnesses that will state that they witnessed General O'Neill disregard you for duty assignments based upon your relationship or lack thereof?"
"No, sir."
"Can you provide any concrete evidence that General O'Neill, formerly Colonel O'Neill, carried on a personal, romantic, same-sex relationship with Doctor Daniel Jackson that was beyond the regulations imposed on them by the United States Air Force? And consider your answer very carefully, Colonel."
Sam sat back in her chair and shook her head. "No, sir, I cannot."
"Then this military court will not rule on a matter that is outside its jurisdiction. As far as I can tell, General O'Neill did not break any military regulations pertaining to conduct during his time on active military duty. This Court will not rule on the lives of private civilians outside military jurisdiction. What Jonathon O'Neill did as a private, civilian citizen is not up for discussion in this Court. There is no evidence that there was any sort of improper relationship conducted while General O'Neill was on active duty. Therefore, I find for the defense in this matter.
"As to the allegations of sexual harassment, I find no evidence that General O'Neill treated Colonel Carter any differently than any other member of his command. I do find the reports of poor attitude and insubordination by Colonel Carter, as witnessed by other members of said command, very distressing and were any counter charges filed, I would have sufficient evidence to find against you, Colonel Carter. As it stands, my decision is also in favor of the defense on these charges. General O'Neill's record will be cleared of all charges, and his request for an honorable discharge will be granted, effective today at seventeen hundred hours. This Court is adjourned."
Jack looked at his watch and saw that it was seventeen fifteen hours. He stood and saluted the presiding judge. "I am a civilian now, sir, is that correct?" he asked.
"That is correct, General," said the judge as he carefully put the papers of the hearing into an 'eyes only' envelope.
Jack unbuttoned and pulled off his coat before walking over and laying it across the table in front of Carter. "Hope it was worth it to ya." Head held high, he marched from the courtroom and outside to Daniel who sat waiting for him in the hallway. "Let's get outta here, Daniel."
The last sound Sam heard was two set of feet walking down the marbled floors of the hallway . . . in perfect unison.
++++
"You sure about this, Daniel?" Jack asked. He stood in the middle of his living room surrounded by boxes and shrink wrapped furniture. "That planet Thor found for us is a long way from the local Starbucks."
Daniel smiled up at him as he taped the last box shut. "Positive." He handed Jack a small device. "Make the call."
Jack looked down at the object in his hand and ran his thumb over it. "Thor, you there?"
"I am here, O'Neill."
"Good. Looks like we're ready down here. So . . . any time . . ."
Neighbors reported seeing a brilliant white light emanating from Jack O'Neill's home. When the security forces reached the house, however, all they found was an empty dwelling and a note on the kitchen counter.
Gone fishing was all it said.
~finis~
