Chasing The Wind

0o0o0o0o0o

General Hammond spoke to the guards in front of the room where Pete Shanahan was being held. He opened the door and took a few steps into the room. Pete had finished eating the breakfast provided and was holding his coffee cup. As soon as the general entered the room the detective stood.

“General, I think you need to let me go. You don’t have any right to hold me here. I’m a police officer I know my rights.”

“Now you just hold on Shanahan. I can hold you here as long as it takes for me to determine if you’re a security risk. Not a thing you can do about it. But actually I’m here to let you go and I have a few things to say first. Sit down.” Hammond commanded.

“It seems your little jog into my officer’s military files has alerted a power hungry senator. One you don’t want to get tangled up with. He’s dangerous and desperately wants to control this facility. I can’t tell you anything about this facility because it’s all classified. But Senator Kinsey knows.

Now you listen, Shanahan and you listen well. He’s dangerous. I don’t really know what lengths he’d go to gain control of this facility. He’s been after it for years. If he thinks he can use anything at all about any one of my officers, especially the team that Major Carter belongs, to get what he wants I dare say he’d stop at nothing to get it. You need to watch your back. It won’t be us coming after you, but I can almost promise the senator will send his goons. He wants information. He’ll use you to get it. You should memorize those numbers I gave you. You’ll probably need them.”

Pete stared at Hammond. He instinctively knew this was a man he could trust even though he knew he was royally pissed at him. He couldn’t blame the general. He had stumbled into a classified military situation and had caused trouble he’d never meant to by getting the FBI involved in his personal affairs. Now, he was sure the general was holding back parts of the truth he’d probably need to know, but he did get the gravity of this situation.

“I’ve already memorized them. General? This senator, what would he want with me? I don’t know anything about this facility. Hell, I don’t know anything about Sam. I can’t tell him anything.” Pete queried.

“And that is the danger for you Shanahan. Watch your back. Keep your eyes open. Tell your partner and make sure he knows where you are at all times. Give him my numbers. If I can protect you I will.” The general’s eyes had turned that stony crystal blue that indicated he was serious or mad. “Problem is; I don’t know all his angles or his contacts.”

General Hammond’s gut burned the way it did when he was certain that something was about to happen. He’d relied on this feeling so many times in his life and it always proved true. It had saved his life more than once or caused him to stop trouble in the middle of bad situations. Trouble was this time he didn’t have control of this situation.

“I’m assigning two of my best people to keep a watch on you for a couple of days. Don’t try to lose them. They just might be around to save you life.”

“General, are you saying this senator would have me killed for information I don’t have?” Shanahan’s eyes were bright and large.

“I wouldn’t put anything past Kinsey, son. He’s a dangerous--out of control man. He won’t believe you didn’t know what you were doing. Neither you nor the FBI agent is safe. His superiors are taking care of him.” General Hammond stood up to leave and stopped long enough to look at Pete.

“Look, Shanahan. I believe you. I’m certain you didn’t mean any harm by searching my people’s files, but Kinsey won’t. I’ll tell the guards to let you go as soon as Teal’c gets back up to escort you out of the facility.”

“Sir?” Hammond turned around and looked at Pete. “Thanks and Sir, Teal’c, is he the guard you had posted here with me last night?”

General Hammond smiled. “Yeah, that would be Teal’c.” Pete felt a little better knowing that the strange soldier would be watching out for him.

0o0o0o0o0o

“You okay?” Jack asked as they walked down the corridor toward Hammond’s office. “We need some time alone,” he whispered moving a little closer to her but not touching her.

“Yes, we do. Maybe after we meet with General Hammond, we can get out of here for a while?” Her eyes twinkled as they looked at each other. Jack’ face immediately turned into a smug grin.

“I can’t think of nothin’ I’d like better, Carter.” He gently bumped into her side then back away fast. He knew he couldn’t touch her here or he’d never be able to control his actions. It was hard enough just walking this close to her and being able to smell her perfumed scent.

“Then it’s a date? Soon as we’re dismissed. My house?”

“Yeahsureyabetcha! You know, Carter, it just may be time to go fishing.” Jack whispered winking at her just as they stood in front of the general’s office.

0o0o0o0o0o0o

Teal’c and Sgt. Green had just left the motor pool after selecting the vehicle they would use to follow Shanahan. “Sgt. Green, General Hammond has requested that we have everything ready by 900 hours,” Teal’c spoke in his baritone voice.

“It’ll all be ready, Sir. General Hammond gave me his orders before we left to come here. As soon as I have everything in place, I’ll have you paged.” Sgt. Green informed.

“Indeed.” Teal’c bowed his head in a slight nod and left the sergeant to his assigned tasks. Leaving the elevator he walked toward General Hammond’s office.

Jack knocked on the door of Hammond’s office and waited for him to answer. They waited a couple of minutes and Jack turned to Sam, “Don’t think he’s here yet. Let’s wait in the conference room. Jack placed his hand behind the small of her back to guide her. It was the one small touch that he’d allowed himself since early morning. Sam signed at the pressure from his hand, but said nothing. She longed to be alone with him and her plans were to do just that as soon as the general dismissed them from this meeting.

They took their usual seats and waited for the general. Teal’c entered the room and sat down in his usual chair. “O’Neill, Major Carter,” he bowed his head as he greeted them.

“Hi, Teal’c.” Sam greeted Teal’c.

“Teal’c.” Jack replied in response with a slight nod of his head. “Hammond called you too?”

“Indeed.”

“What about Daniel? He wasn’t invited to this shindig?” Jack asked just as Daniel walked into the room.

“You guys not meeting without me? Are you?” He teased Jack.

“Don’t look like it. Hammond just asked me to bring Carter. I didn’t know he’d invited you guys too.” Jack wasn’t sure what this was about. ‘Did Hammond tell his team about him and Sam?’ He wondered. He wasn’t too happy to discuss his new feelings for Sam with the whole group either. Good thing they had already told them both, maybe it would cut down on the personal talk.

General Hammond entered the room and Jack and Sam both stood. Sam was a little nervous, she had no idea what the general had on his mind.

“General.” Jack greeted him as did Sam with a, “Sir.”

“At ease. We have a situation on our hands and you all need to be made aware. Senator Kinsey has begun an investigation into these personal file searches. I’ve had Detective Shanahan detained here in a holding room all night mainly for his protection.”

“Here Sir, on base?” Jack asked. “And I didn’t know he was here?” Jack looked at his superior officer with is quirky grin.

“That’s right, Jack. I had no intention of you finding out. Right now I can handle what’s happened between the two of you,” he informed Jack, “So I didn’t need to add anything to it.” Hammond’s stoic gaze locked with Jack’s. Sam swallowed hard.

“The Joint Chiefs and the President have agreed to back any decision I make concerning you two. But I don’t want Kinsey or his goon involved. That will bring it out and I don’t want that. As you all are well aware, Kinsey has power and a strong backing. The President feels that the best way to handle this is as quietly as possible. I agree. But there’s Shanahan.” Hammond paused and it gave Jack enough time to ask his next question.

“What do you mean, General? What’s his involvement?”

“Nothing other than he is truly infatuated with Major Carter and has stepped on toes he shouldn’t have.” Hammond answered. Sam blushed and looked at Jack. He quickly looked away.

“Ya think?” Jack said softly looking at his hands. His thoughts were if only he could get his hands around his neck!

“Jack, Shanahan could be in danger. Kinsey’s out for blood and we both know he’ll stop at nothing to get what he wants. And he wants the SGC and us out. If he thinks Shanahan knows something then he’ll want the information. Right now my source tells me that he thinks you two are doing something that he can use for just that purpose.”

Hammond focused on Jack. “He has no idea, yet, of the truth. He’s only speculating. So I’m asking the two of you to put off any plans you may have made until this is cleared up. Then we’ll set up something that will benefit your plans as best as we can. The Joint Chiefs and the President all agree that the SGC can not lose either of you.” Hammond stopped and smiled at his premiere team. He truly was happy for his officers.

Jack looked unhappy. “Right. Put it off.” He looked at Sam and she nodded her head sideways as she did when she really had no answer. “You know how long we’ve put this off, Sir?” Jack asked.

“I do, son. Probably known longer than you have.”

Jack looked up sharply at Hammond. “So I’m asking you to wait a few more days, maybe a couple of weeks until Kinsey settles down. I’m sure once he realizes there’s nothing to find out, he’ll back down.” Hammond’s blue eyes were like lasers targeted onto Jack’s. “Then you’ll have my blessing.”

“Of course, Sir.” Sam answered before Jack could say anything else. “We’ll respect your orders and do what you ask. But I don’t understand about Pete. What could Kinsey possible to do him? Is he in danger? I’m sure he really didn’t mean to start anything like this, he’s really a nice enough guy.”

“I agree, Major. And as for danger, I’d say Kinsey could do anything. That’s why I’ve asked Teal’c and Sgt. Green to keep a close watch on him for the next few days. I don’t want Kinsey to get him.” Hammond answered.

“Nice guy my a..” Jack started but Hammond interrupted.

“Colonel, that’s enough. Now, Teal’c you and Green can get things ready and I’ll ask you to escort him out of the base as soon as you have everything in place. The rest of you are on down time, but Colonel, Major, stay away from each other off base until this is resolved. That’s an order. Dismissed.” Hammond couldn’t bring himself to look at Jack this time.

Hammond stood. Both Sam and Jack chimed, “Yes Sir,” as they stood. Teal’c left the briefing room and Hammond went to his office. Jack was not a happy camper and Sam looked at him sadly.

“It’ll be okay, sir. At least now we know we don’t have long to wait.” Sam reasoned.

“A hell of a lot longer than I’d planned.” The sharpness in Jack’s voice made both Sam and Daniel look at him. “I’m sorry. I’m just disappointed.” His eyes held Sam’s with such love that she had to look away.

“Me too.”

“What now?” Daniel asked.

“We wait.” Jack answered.

“Well, I’m back to the translation on the tablet I was working on. It’s really fascinating.” Daniel added.

“No doubt, Danny boy, no doubt.” Jack teased as they all left the briefing room together.