Chasing The Wind

The next morning SG1 sat at the briefing table waiting for General Hammond. He was on the phone with the President. Jack kept watching Sam. They’d spent three hours yesterday in the storage closet on level 11 making each other very happy.

For her part Sam was trying not to look at Jack. She knew by the warmth of her cheeks and the heat pooling in her stomach that the looks passing between them would tell all. But she couldn’t help herself from stealing peaks but just as quickly she lowered her eyes. What she saw in Jack’s eyes was exactly what she was feeling.

Neither Daniel nor Teal’c missed the secret looks between their teammates. It came as no surprise to either of them. They both had known for a long time what Jack and Sam felt for each other. They also knew both Jack and Sam well enough that this new thing between them spoke silent volumes to all of SG1. Daniel was grinning and trying not to comment. Teal’c would occasionally look at Daniel with a raised eyebrow.

They all had been in the briefing room for over thirty minutes and Sam and Jack had reached their limits. Daniel was about to burst trying to stop his chuckles. He loved that they were finally together, but it was just too funny to watch them act like two hormone charged teenagers. “You guys need to get a room,” he whispered to Jack, his eyes twinkling.

“What?” Jack looked at him surprised by his statement. “What does that mean, Daniel?”

“Oh I think it was quite clear, Jack,” Daniel answered. Teal’c bowed his head as a very soft spoken, “Indeed,” accompanied his gracious head movement.

Sam was blushing to her hair roots, “Guys, please. Not here.”

“Sorry, Sam. It’s just that you two are just too cute.” Daniel smirked and shrugged his shoulders.

General Hammond entered the briefing room as Daniel finished that statement. He didn’t want to know the whole of that conversation so he chose to ignore it. Sam and Jack both stood as he entered. “At ease,” he said as he took his seat.

“As you all know we’ve had quite a mess with Shanahan’s snooping. I just learned from the President that these two we have here in holding are on the payroll of Ben Keen, a less than honorable PI. The President suspects he was hired by Kinsey. The finger prints identify these two. But we’ve not been able to get either of them to talk. So far no one has been able to locate Keen or tie him to Kinsey for certain.” Hammond paused and looked at his first line team.

He suspected that there was going to be changes coming down to break up SG1, and he hated even thinking about it because he had no idea what would happen if SG1 was separated. He’d stated his case to the President and the Joint Chiefs; but with the change in the Oval Office coming so soon, he had no idea what the President would do at this point. Hammond just prayed that the decision made now would be good for the SGC and SG1 and maybe by the time the new president was in place all this would be behind them.

“How about Shanahan and his partner?” Jack asked. He knew that they had been knocked around considerably but had not heard if they were seriously injured. Teal’c had filled him in on the details of the incident, but Teal’c had not known how badly they were hurt. He didn’t think it was anything serious.

“They’re both okay. Bruised. Their informant was beat up pretty badly. He’s in the hospital but he’ll be okay. He stated that he was jumped as soon as he entered the warehouse and when he woke up he was tied and gagged. He thought it was more than an hour before the detectives found him. He heard some of the talk between Keen’s men while he was playing sleep. He’s willing to testify to what he heard.” Hammond explained.

“That’s good. You think it’s enough?” Jack asked.

“We’ll have to wait and see. So far there’s nothing that Nick heard that could indicate Kinsey, but they did mention Keen. But I intend to have the two we’re holding questioned again before I turn them over to the Denver Police Department. Colonel, I think you and Teal’c can handle that. If the two of you can’t scare them enough to get anything from them this morning we’ll have to turn them over.”

“Kinsey’s too good at covering his tracks; he wouldn’t have talked to them. He probably only talked to Keen.” Daniel added. “I’m willing to bet Keen won’t say a word about Kinsey either.”

Hammond looked at Jack then at Sam. “Now as for the two of you.” He paused long enough to make them all nervous.

“Sir?” Jack looked square into his eyes waiting to see what would come next.

“I’ve had several conversations with the President and the Joint Chiefs. We’re all in agreement that we won’t lose either of you. Since you came to me as soon as you decided to be together, there won’t be anything put in your files nor will there be any kind of reprimand. The only thing we’re still discussing is if we can afford to let you stay on the same team. To be honest, Jack, Sam, I’m torn. I trust the two of you and I know you’ve done a lot of things to prove you can and do put your team and your country first. It’s just that this thing with Kinsey……, and now a new President will be on board soon.” He looked at Jack first then at Sam.

“I don’t want you to lose hope, but it may not be possible. Even if we decide to let SG1 stay together now, that could change after the new president takes over in January.” Hammond sat still with his hands folded and his bright blue eyes staring out into the room.

“I just hope there aren’t too many changes after January.” He finished with an absent minded tone.

“Well, with Kinsey as Vice President I guess we all know there will be changes. Let’s just hope this Hayes knows the real Kinsey.” Jack added.

“You know what Kinsey as Vice President will mean for all of us as well as the Stargate Program, Jack. It’s not a pretty thought.” Hammond answered.

“Won’t his connection to Keen and all this shadiness be brought out? Have some effect on him?” Sam queried.

“No, Major. I don’t think so. We don’t have any proof that he’s in bed with Keen. Even if the two down in holding talk, it’s more than probable that they won’t know a thing about Kinsey. They’re at the bottom of the food chain as far as Kinsey is concerned. Keen has already denied that they have worked for him in the last year.” Hammond answered Sam.

“General Hammond, are you saying that Kinsey will not be held accountable for his part in this matter?” Teal’c asked.

“He won’t, Teal’c. We just don’t have any proof that he’s involved. But rest assured that sooner or later he’ll get what’s coming to him. But until then, we have to be on our toes and stay alert. He’s a dangerous man and he’s been out to gain control of the SGC from the first time he was told about it.” Hammond answered.

0o0o0o0o0o0o

“Keen, you mean to tell me you hired idiots!” Kinsey screamed into the phone. He was using a cell phone that had minutes purchased and could not be traced. He planned to throw the phone away as soon as he finished with Keen. “No, YOU LISTEN. I don’t give a rat’s ass what they know or don’t know. I want them eliminated. Tonight…before eight o’clock. You hear me. I want this finished! Call me by nine on this phone. I don’t want even a slight possibility that they can be traced back to me. You got that.” Kinsey’s face was blood red. He was mad enough to have a heart attack, but there was no such luck that would happen.

He snapped the phone shut. Cursed out loud several times, then opened the phone and keyed in his next number. As soon as he heard the voice on the other end he said, “Ben Keen. You can find him at 111392 Oak Court Drive, Washington, DC. Tonight after midnight.”

He didn’t wait for a reply. He knew the person on the other end well enough to know tomorrow’s paper would headline the obituary of a prominent Washington private investigator. He also knew Keen well enough to know that the two gunmen would be eliminated as soon as they were released from the SGC. He smiled the self satisfied smile of the damned. Only he had no idea he was one of the damned or that he would end his life as a Goa’uld in less than a year. Right now he was on top of the world.

0o0o0o0o0o

“Hi, Sir.” Sam smiled at Jack as he stood in the door of her lab. “You and Teal’c finished with the interrogation?” She asked shutting off her lap top and closing the top. She moved off her stool and walked toward the end of the work table meeting him there. Sam could tell by the glint in Jack’s eyes that he wanted to touch her or kiss her. She swallowed hard and moved back a little. “Sir, the camera is on,” she voiced in a husky tone.

“I know, Carter. And yeah, we’ve finished with those two thugs. We didn’t get a thing out of them either. Even Teal’c evil eye and my short fuse couldn’t get them to talk. Seems Kinsey’s PI knew who to use.” Jack was having a hard time not pulling her into his arms. He pushed his balled fists deep into his pockets and danced back and forth on his heels.

“Lunch, Carter?” He asked smiling at her, desire evident on his face.

“I am hungry, but I’m not sure if it’s a good idea.” She answered.

“Why not?” He looked confused and dejected then she changed her mind. She wanted to get him alone just as badly as he did her. She wondered just how long she could keep him to herself. They had spent three hours together yesterday afternoon, and now she felt like it was weeks since he last kissed her. Her body was beginning to tingle.

“Let’s go get lunch. Then maybe we can take that box to the storage room on eleven.” She smirked at him.

“On second thought can we get a couple of sandwiches and take them with us?” He chuckled as he led her out of her lab and into the corridor.

0o0o0o0o0o

Jack and Sam were in the serving line when Walter stopped in front of them. “Colonel O’Neill, General Hammond asked that you report to his office as soon as possible.”

“Right now?” Jack was definitely disappointed. He had plans for Sam and a little glass dish filled with blue jello cubes.

“Well, he did say as soon as I could find you, Sir.” Walter replied not knowing exactly how to respond to Jack’s obvious complaint.

“Crap.” Jack looked at Sam and then handed her his tray. “Take care of this Carter. I’ll meet you in your lab as soon as I can.”

“Sir, do I need to come with?” She asked. Jack looked at Walter.

“He only asked for you, Sir.” Walter replied.

“Okay, Colonel. I’ll be in my lab.” Sam watched with a sad longing as Jack followed Walter out of the mess hall. As Jack and Walter made their way through the corridors in silence, Jack was thinking about the problems that would be facing Sam and him.

Walter was thinking about the two men waiting to be released. They frightened him almost as much as some of the aliens that had been on base. And they looked much more dangerous than Shanahan. He hoped Teal’c or Sgt. Green would be there when he took the general’s orders to let they go.

Jack knocked on Hammond’s door, “Sir, you wanted to see me?” He asked as he entered the open door.

“Come in colonel and close that door, will you.” Hammond commanded. Jack stood in front of the general’s desk. “Have a seat.” Hammond was finishing up a file. He signed the front sheet and then put it in his out basket.

“Jack, I just talked with Barkley, the President's assistant to inform him of our lack of progress with Keen’s men. I can’t say he was surprised. He said he felt Keen had warned them what would happen if they were caught and what to do. The President wants them turned over to the Denver PD. I’ve warned them to stay away from my people and Shanahan. Don’t really know how much good it did though. They seemed to be afraid of the consequences if they talked. We didn’t scare them either. I don’t like it. They’re more afraid of what Keen will do than what someone as scary as Teal’c could do? That just don’t sit right with me.” Hammond said shaking his head. He leaned his portly body back in his chair and had one arm propped on the arm of the chair. His hand waved and pointed as he spoke to Jack. Jack could read his agitation from his posture alone.

“If Keen is working for Kinsey he has to be someone to be afraid of. Sir, they know that he’s dangerous. They don’t know Teal’c is. He may look scary, but they don’t know him.” Jack reasoned. Both men were silent lost in their own thoughts for a few seconds.

“Sir, have you made any decisions about SG1, uh.. Sam and me? I want to marry her if she says yes.” Jack couldn’t think of much of anything else. He trusted Hammond to take care of the thugs. His mind and heart were so filled with Sam he really didn’t want to think of Kinsey. It put too much of a damper on his happiness.

Hammond smiled at Jack. “Son, I know it’s difficult to wait. I’ll have an answer soon, should be no later that the end of the week. Jack, you need to be prepared. We may have to break up SG1. What are your suggestions? I know Sam is more than ready for her own team, but does she want that? I would love to have her in charge of the Science Department full time. I’ve always thought she was too valuable to risk losing through gate travel. But I also know how much all of your team means to this planet. I’m not sure if any one of you moved off SG1 it would be good for us, for the planet.”

“She is too valuable, Sir. But she’s too valuable on our team too. I don’t have an answer to that. I would hate to break up SG1, but if it’s the only way I can marry Sam, then I don’t have a choice. I’ll retire or move to another team if you want that. I’ll do whatever you say, General, as long as you understand Sam and I are getting married.” Jack’s look stated his seriousness. “And I don’t want her hurt or for her to have this affect her career. Sir, Sam is destined for great things.”

Hammond chuckled but shook his head at Jack’s last comment about Sam. He certainly agreed. “Most would say she’s already achieved great things. Okay, I need to talk with Sam. Then I’ll talk to you both. I’ll have my decision for you as soon after that as I can. Oh, and Jack. Don’t leave the base tonight. I don’t trust Kinsey to leave this alone just yet. He won’t give up on getting to the both of you unless he thinks he has no choice.”

“Yes Sir.” Jack answered and stood waiting for Hammond’s word of dismissal.

“I’m sending Walter to pick up my lunch then I’d like to talk to Sam, say in one hour ask her to report. Dismissed.”

0o0o0o0o0o

Jack walked through the corridors deep in thought. What if he’d spoken out of turn? What if she didn’t want to marry him? She never answered either way. Jack’s hands were sweating and his heart was beating fast as he walked into Sam’s lab.

“Sir,” she greeted smiling her brightest smile at him. “Everything okay?” She could see the anxiety on his face.

“Just peachy, Carter. Hammond wants to talk to you at one hundred hours. He’s going to eat first.” Jack wouldn’t meet her eyes.

“Sir, what’s wrong? Something’s off.” Sam was worried and he didn’t know what to say.

“I… I may have said something to Hammond I shouldn’t have.”

“What? What did you say?” Sam asked watching his face, wishing they were somewhere other than her lab.

“I don’t want to discuss this here. We have one hour can we take that box to 11?” Jack’s eyes finally met hers and what she saw scared her.