Chasing The Wind

Jack tried to turn over but something held him in place. He realized there was no room and opened his eyes to a fluff of blonde hair. His heart swelled. He edged closer to her and tightened his arms around her. She was beginning to wake and tried to turn in his arms. He allowed her enough room to turn to face him. The smile on her face was bright enough to make up for the windowless room of his base quarters.

Jack’s heart jumped into his throat and he couldn’t say anything. Their eyes locked in a thrilling exchange of silent conversation that spoke only of the love between them. Sam moved closer and kissed him briefly.

“Need to get up,” was all Sam could vocalize. “Be right back.”

Jack watched as she got up and moved to the restroom. He lay back in the small cot taking up most of the space and rested his head on his arms. A grin stretched across his face and his eyes twinkled. Holy Hannah, how he loved that woman!

His cell phone beside his bed chimed the Simpson’s theme, picking it up and flipping it open he answered, “O’Neill.”

“I need to see you and Major Carter at 700 hours.” Hammond was brief and to the point. It seemed to Jack that he could hear the fatigue in his voice. He wondered just how much sleep the older man had been able to get in the last two day.

“Yes Sir. 700 hours, I’ll inform Major Carter.”

“Good.” Hammond put the phone down and eased into his chair in his office. “Walter,” he called over his intercom, “Will you get Teal’c and I need coffee and one of those cinnamon things from the mess hall as soon as possible. Bring the same for Teal’c.”

“Yes Sir, I’ll go now.” Walter pushed the intercom off and left. He first went to look for Teal’c.

0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o

Pete woke with a bad cramp in his neck from sleeping in the chair with his head leaning on the table. But at least he was alone in the room. He didn’t know when the bad looking soldier had left, but he knew it was a long time ago. He had already woke once and realized he was alone in the room. He wondered how long they planned to hold him.

He looked at his watch. It was 5:30 AM. Crap! He needed the rest room and a strong cup of black coffee. He wondered if it was worth asking the guards. He stood, stretching out his cramped muscles and walked to the back of the room. He had already found the small room with a sink and a toilet.

0o0o0o0oo0o

Sam stood in the door of the small restroom watching Jack. He was still lying on the cot smiling up at the ceiling. She felt a wave of joy run through her body. She walked slowly back to the cot and sat down by him. He opened his eyes and looked at her a smile still on his face. Sam leaned in and lightly kissed his lips then snuggled her head into his neck.

“I like waking up beside you.” All their feelings and emotions were raw and on edge. It had been so long since either of them had been in an intimate relationship that they felt like giddy inexperienced teenagers.

“Emmm. Me too. This makes two days in a row.” He held her tightly for a few more minutes. “Hammond wants to see us at 700 hours. Didn’t say anything else.” He added before she had time to ask.

“We need to get moving. I’m starving,” she said as she pulled away from his body and sat up straight. “You want to go to the mess hall with me?” She asked gently rubbing her fingers up his arm.

“You betcha,” Jack answered sitting up and pulling her to his lips. “Let me… just wait… need to pee.” He grinned. “Be out in a minute.” He kissed her once more before they both got up.

0o0o0o0o0o0o

Teal’c was standing in the serving line when Jack and Sam walked into the mess hall. Jack waved and they walk over and stood in line behind him. “Hi T. How’s things?” Jack asked. Teal’c nodded his head and Jack noticed his lips move up just slightly into an ‘almost’ smile.

“Major Carter, O’Neill.” Teal’c bowed his head in response to Jack’s greeting.

“Hey, Teal’c.” Sam added, “You look tired. Everything okay?”

“Just ‘peachy’ Major Carter,” he replied, nodding his head to her. Jack grinned and Sam giggled.

“The colonel rubbing off on you too, huh? You want to join us for breakfast?” She asked.

“Indeed.” Teal’c answered just as Walter came through the door and spotted them at the serving line.

“Teal’c, General Hammond needs to see you as soon as possible,” Walter informed him.

“T? What’s up? You beatin' up the new kids in the gym again?” O’Neill asked jokingly.

“I have not, O’Neill. I do not know ‘what’s up.’ I’ll see you both later.” Teal’c answered grabbing a bowl grapes and a banana.

“It’s okay, Teal’c. I’ll get that. Go…. Go find out what Hammond wants.” Jack offered. Teal’c bowed his head again and left.

“He really does look tired.” Sam added as she watched him walk away. She turned to Jack and noticed the twinkle in his eye. Suddenly she realized, “You told him!”

Jack swallowed a frown and his eyes grew large. ‘I… I… did…. I didn’t mean too. It just came out! How did you know that? Are you mad?”

“No. I’m just surprised that you told him, really. You! Talking about something personal? You and Teal’c?” She was looking at him with a strange expression. Jack said nothing only watched her. “I guess now is a good time to tell you… I told Daniel too.” She added as his expression changed from fear to horror.

“You didn’t! Daniel? Carter! You know he’s gonna tell Janet and first thing you know everyone on base will know!”

“Keep your voice down or we won’t have to worry about Daniel and Janet.” She glared at him. “You know neither of them would never do anything to hurt us. They won’t say anything. Will they?” There was doubt in her eyes as well as his.

0o0o0o0o0o0o

Senator Kinsey sat in his office waiting for his assistant to get the private detective that he used on occasion on the phone. This PI was good at getting the job done and the Senator never bothered to ask how. All he knew was that in all the years he’d used Ben Keen he had always gotten what he paid for and he paid a lot. Now it would be worth any price Keen asked to find out what O’Neill and Carter were hiding. Kinsey knew that there had to be something really bad for the FBI to run those searches. He wasn’t the military brass’s fool. No, he was much smarter that any of those order following robots.

0o0o0o0o0o0o

Teal’c made his way to the general’s office. He’d eaten all of the grapes and had peeled the banana and was eating it as he walked down the last corridor to Hammond’s office. He was tired; he hated this feeling of weakness that now invaded his body when his required rest. Even after all this time without his symbiote he still was not used to the changes in his body. As soon as he was finished with this meeting he planned to go back to his room and get a couple more hours of sleep, or so he hoped.

The cost of freedom from slavery from the Goa’uld came with many costs. For the big Jaffa learning to live without the enhanced healing power and strength that his symbiote gave him had been surprisingly hard. But it gave Teal’c much more understanding of his human peers. He had also come to realize that freedom itself was enough to fuel one’s fight against oppression and injustice.

Being able to fight freely for his principles gave him energy from somewhere deep within, a place he’d never known existed without the power of his mediation and symbiote. It somehow made his body’s weakness in his current state seem like an honor achieved through much sacrifice. And what sacrifices this man had made to help free his people.

0o0o0o0o0o0o

Daniel stumbled almost blindly into the mess hall. He was studying the writings on one of the stone tables SG-12 had brought back for Px1-951. He looked up just as Jack called to him.

He walked to the table where Sam and Jack were finishing their breakfast. “Whatcha got there, Daniel?” Jack asked noticing that Daniel’s eyes were shining as bright as a child’s playing with a new Christmas toy.

“I don’t know yet, but it’s not like anything I’ve seen before. Seems to be similar to Celtic.” Daniel stated smiling at Jack. Daniel didn’t miss the contented look on Jack’s face. He smiled at his friend and spoke in a low tone and voice where no one else could hear, “I’m happy for you both.”

Jack glared at him, “Daniel we’re in the mess hall. Let’s not talk about that here.”

“Not talking, Jack. Just congratulating you and Sam. ‘Bout time!” He smiled at Sam then.

“Daniel, we’d like to keep it down for a while. Give Hammond time.” Jack commented, but Daniel couldn’t help but see the difference in Jack. He actually looked happy, really happy.

0o0o0o0o0o0o0o

“Daniel! Are you telling me the truth? Why didn’t Sam tell me?” Janet exclaimed, excitement spilling out of her. “Where is Sam, I have to talk to her!”

“NO! Janet. No. You can’t. I’m not supposed to tell you! You have to wait for Sam to tell you.” Daniel begged as he grabbed her arm and pulled her back into her office.

“What? You’re kidding right? I’m supposed to just play dumb until they decide to make it public? Not on your life Daniel Jackson. Sam’s my best friend and I want to talk to her. I want her to know how happy I am for her.” Janet’s eyes were big and bright.

”Uh… Have you told her about us?” Daniel asked softly. He wasn’t sure if she had but he couldn’t believe that if Sam knew she would have said something to him by now.

Janet stopped still and locked eyes with Daniel. “No. No, I haven’t.” She realized what Daniel was getting at. “I didn’t tell her yet because I didn’t want it to get all over the base. Daniel you know how this base is about gossip.”

“Yes, I do. I think that’s why you shouldn’t say anything to her. They are trying to work things out with General Hammond, but Jack’s still her CO. Janet you know what could happen if the wrong people find out.”

She looked up at Daniel, “Hammond knows?”

“Yes.”

“You’re right I won’t say anything yet. It’s just that I know how long they’ve care for each other. Daniel, I’m just happy for them.” Tears of joy filled her eyes.

“I know.” Daniel wrapped her in his arms and smiled into her hair. Daniel knew how happiness felt with this sweet, compassionate, spit fire of a tiny woman in his arms. Yeah, he knew. He was happy that Jack and Sam had finally found this together. “Me too.”

0o0o0o0o0o

“Teal’c knocked on the door and heard General Hammond call him, “Come.”

“General Hammond, Sgt. Harriman has informed me of your request for my presence.”

Teal’c expression of the English language always made the general smile. It was so formal, and since George was Texan born and raised his own speech patterns often contained several Texan and sometimes southern slang, never mind his accent.

“I did, Son. Have a seat.” George waited for Teal’c to sit, “Walter brought us some coffee and cinnamon buns. Help yourself.” Teal’c reached for the cinnamon rolls. He’d found that he enjoyed the fruit and sweets of the Tau’ri much. They were different from his world’s confections and fruits and were so much more plentiful. Even after being on Earth for most of seven years it still thrilled him to be able to eat as much of them as possible.

“I do not wish to drink the coffee, General Hammond. It does not appeal to me.” Teal’c answered. General Hammond handed Teal’c a glass of water he’d poured in anticipation of his comment. He knew Teal’c didn’t drink coffee, but he knew that SG1 had a way of convincing Teal’c into trying things they all liked and coffee kind of grew on a person’s tastes. No matter George would drink it. He felt he’d need more than one cup during the next few hours anyway.

“Teal’c, how’d it go? Shanahan talk any more or say anything that we should check into?” The general asked.

“No he did not. He said nothing of importance, but I did not question him. It was my understanding that you did not wish me to do so, only that I needed to make him see that there could be consequences of his actions.” The General snickered at that comment. Having to sit in a room with a silent Teal’c half the night should make the rest easy.

“That’s right, Son. Just wondered if your silent stare had broken him.” George chuckled, “It would most folks.”

“I do not think there is anything to break Detective Shanahan from, General Hammond. I think he has told you the truth and he is just in awe of Major Carter’s beauty. He wanted to know about her. He seems to be a simply man. Major Carter has had that affect on many others since I have known her.”

General Hammond smiled at that. She sure had, especially one Colonel Jack O’Neill. Truthfully who wouldn’t notice sure a beautiful and talented woman?

“Teal’c, you have any suggestions as to what we should do next? I don’t want Shanahan hurt, but I don’t trust Kinsey’s people either. If we let him out whose to stop them from taking him and if that happens we don’t know what will come of all this. Kinsey has ways of making things exist that don’t. I don’t like the odds right now. But I don’t have any grounds to hold him. I’m at a loss right now.” George finished.

“I understand General Hammond. I offer my services. I will be honored to track him for you if you find it warranted.”

“I thought as much. How’s the driving coming? You had time to practice much?” George knew that Teal’c would need a car if he was to tail Shanahan. Maybe he’d assign his best SF as his driver; one he knew had driving skills and had been in Special Forces. They’d need such skills to keep up with a trained police officer.

“I have not. I do well with the controls of your Tau’ri driving machines, but I would prefer an assistant. I am only familiar with the areas of Colorado Springs that my friends reside.”

TBC

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