Kinsey's Last Stand (2/2)
Jan. 13th, 2008 08:04 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
fantastic_jackieTitle: Kinsey’s Last Stand, Chapter 2
Author: patriot_jackie
patriot_jackieRating: PG
Word Count: 4,449 Words
Genres: Humor/Romance/Drama
Genres: Humor/Romance/Drama
Spoilers/Season: None/7
Summary: Senator Kinsey attempts to break up SG1 by bringing up certain regulations that solely apply to the only 2 USAF officers of the team. When he starts presenting evidence, chances seem bleak except that Jack seemingly has something up his sleeve.
AN: Sorry for the longer-than-expected wait. Along with being pretty consistent for me, I couldn’t figure out how to finish it. It ended up being fluffier than I ever intended, making this more a comedic romance than a romantic comedy, if you get my drift, but at least it wasn’t a quick, silly one-liner! ;)
Chapter 2
Jack located his 2IC immediately upon entry into the Gate Room. Kneeling down, she was poking expertly at an opened panel of the MALP and talking with Teal’c who stood beside her, watching with detached interest, though his focus shifted quickly to the small entourage O’Neill led behind him.
“Carter!” he walked quickly over to her as she regarded him and the Jaffa moved to greet Daniel by the door, looking for an explanation.
Looking behind her, Sam was about to answer when she noted who had followed him into the embarkation room. “Uh… Sir,” she stood slowly as Jack reached her. “What’s going on?”
“It’s… complicated…” he began, searching for the right words. It had all seemed like a brilliant plan earlier, but now she was standing here, and with over half a dozen people in the room, let alone however many on the observation deck. For cryin’ out loud, he hadn’t thought there’d be so many onlookers. Walter, he thought, would be amused, as Jack was well aware of some dubious bets the man had placed regarding himself and Carter. He would probably leave the SGC today with enough money to make a car payment...
If Sam agreed to his plan, he reminded himself.
“Sir?” Carter asked again breaking his reverie, ever inquisitive.
“I can read lips, Jack,” Kinsey said threateningly from his position by the door. Jack closed his eyes in irritation as Sam peeked over his shoulder again, but he took her by her shoulders and steered her to the other side of the MALP, the large recon robot putting at least one sort of barrier between them and Kinsey. – At least, until Hammond and Teal’c stepped in. Literally.
“The h--- you can! – Teal’c! See that Colonel O’Neill and Major Carter have some privacy from the prying eyes of the government.”
Kinsey sputtered as the Jaffa’s heavy gait echoed through the room.
“With pleasure, GeneralHammond,” Jack heard his large friend say, and unless it was his imagination, he could hear the smile in Teal’c’s voice as he positioned himself to be a bodily wall in front of the Senator.
Carter looked to Jack expectantly, but for the life of him, he had no idea where to begin. He had the whole middle of his speeches planned out, but the beginning? He hadn’t even considered it!
When Jack still failed for words, Sam wisely started things off by questioning him. “I take it Senator Kinsey’s here to attempt shutting down the SGC again.” So it was more a statement than a question, but who was counting?
Jack nodded. “Yeah. Showed up out of the blue with no warning. Why else, right?”
Her own head bobbed in agreement. “Why else. What’s his plan this time?”
Well, there was a good question. Did she have to be good at asking questions? How was he supposed to tell her what was happening here? “He’s… got this folder…” he started unsurely. “With pictures of us…” he slowly rambled, frowning at his feet as if they had the answers, finding no easy way to explain the circumstances. He looked back up to her. Carter was smart; maybe she understood from just that little bit?
Her eyebrows were perched curiously upwards, beautiful blue eyes wide. “Of us? SG-1, you mean?” He could tell she didn’t think that, but she wasn’t going to be presumptuous. Ever the perfect, restrained Major.
Jack could only shake his head to the negative and confirm what he knew her other thoughts had to be. “His plan is… It involves… certain regulations…” he continued lamely. D---it! This was ridiculous! It wasn’t as if there was even anything in those pictures. Not really…
“Regulations…?” If she had had any doubts that this was regarding her strange relationship with her CO, the mention of regulations had to have blown them away as she and Jack were the only two they could affect. And it never took Carter long to connect the dots. “Sir, what kind of pictures are we talking about here?” Her arms came up to cross themselves over her chest protectively, an angry frown beginning to take hold of her features. He could tell what she was thinking: doctored photos.
That was it. He couldn’t keep stretching the inevitable out for eternity. For one thing, General Hammond’s patience, even with him, had its limits. For another, Jack didn’t think he could take the mounting nervous tension in the pit of his stomach much longer.
“You know what? You know what?” he said quickly, repeating himself and exposing his nerves. He reached into his pocket and withdrew the document he’d retrieved from his office, shoving it into her hands before he could stop himself. “Here. I should have showed this to you weeks ago.”
Her startled eyes were on him, the paper in her hands not of any concern as she considered her CO confusedly. “Weeks ago? Sir, I don’t understand. I thought you said the Senator arrived today without-”
“He did. He…” he trailed off, not sure how to explain how the document and Kinsey’s visit connected. She didn’t fully understand the current situation, let alone the unknown one in her hands, which she may or may not have embraced. His nerves were getting to him, so he said just barely short of snapping, “Oh, for cryin’ out loud, just read it, Sam!”
She blinked, eyes nearly bulging at the use of her first name given their location and current circumstances. With one last spared glance to her Colonel’s face, she unfolded the document and began to read.
He watched her eyes as she took in the words, the knot in his stomach twisting and turning without remorse. Again, her eyes widened in shock, and her mouth fell open as she read over the same place on the page again and again, quickly, and then slowly, and then quickly again. Tears leapt unshed into her eyes as she covered her mouth, which was forming into a surprised watery smile, with her free hand. He let himself breathe – a bit. At least she wasn’t repulsed, but she might have just been flattered. However she was on the verge of tears, so maybe it meant more.
Did women cry when they were flattered? They cried when they were sad and when they were happy. They cried when they were mad. They cried when they were scared. H---, women even cried when they laughed! D---it! Coming to the conclusion that women could find a reason to cry about anything, Jack’s nerves returned in earnest.
Of course, the real question was did Major Samantha Carter cry when she was flattered? Of all the times he’d known her to be so, she’d been embarrassed, but he’d never seen her cry over it. Did that mean anything?
“D---it, Carter, say something!” he finally said roughly, and she looked to him with startled eyes swimming behind tears. Eyes that were brimming with… His heart flipped in his chest. He’d been wrong to hold out on her; too much of a d--- coward. He wished like anything he could take her into his arms, and she looked as if she did, as well.
“I don’t know what to say, Sir,” she said softly. “I…”
“Carter, I didn’t mean to make you cry,” he joked lightly, though truthfully.
She smiled and wiped away the offending drops. – He almost wished she hadn’t. There was something about her vulnerability he found breathtaking. “It’s okay, Sir. These are happy tears.”
He huffed a short laugh. “D--- straight.”
She chuckled, handing the document back to him. “I can’t believe you convinced them. I mean… How? When?” Her gaze suddenly turned sharp. “And why did you wait so long to tell me?!”
Worried that Kinsey might hear her rising tone, he lifted his finger to his lips and shushed her. “I’ll explain later, but I was afraid you wouldn’t be happy.”
“Jack!” she chastised, quieter now, and he couldn’t stop the thrill he felt at hearing her call him by his first name. She’d always been a quick learner, but d---! That felt good! “Why wouldn’t I be happy?”
He rolled his eyes at himself. “I don’t know. I… Maybe I was afraid of what would happen.” He shrugged.
“If I was happy? Like I am?” she clarified.
“Yes! Carter – Sam – look,” and he noted the way her eyes flickered quickly between his at the use of her own first name. “I’d love to discuss this with you in depth, but later.”
She peered over his shoulder where the others still stood, Teal’c resolutely before Senator Kinsey. She frowned, and then turned her gaze back to Jack. “What are you planning? I don’t understand.”
He sighed, now hoping that she wouldn’t object to this. “I do have a plan, but it’s…” he trailed off, looking for the right word. “It’s… Well, it’s not your normal, average plan. It’s probably stupid, actually…”
Sam caught his eyes immediately with hers, suddenly determined. “Whatever your plan is, I’ll do it, Colonel.”
Again with the military front, but he realized that she was saying this for his benefit. She never liked it when he referred to himself as being less than intelligent, having complete faith and confidence in him as a military officer and SG-1’s leader. But this plan didn’t require a military officer; it required Jack. Just Jack. And Sam.
“You sure about that? Maybe you should wait until you hear it,” he replied.
She shook her head and smiled. “I don’t need to hear it to know that I’ll like it. I trust you, Sir.” They were discussing more here than just trust in military leadership; she trusted him with her heart and character and future. He felt his heart swell; G--, he loved this woman.
Shaking his head in silent disbelief, he said, “All right,” and stepped toward her. He leaned forward and began to whisper in her ear his thoughts on how to take care of the Senator.
She nodded in agreement, and he could see the goosebumps rising on her neck. He smiled at the thought, but continued, getting to a particular part of the plan: Sam giggled. “Sir!”
“I told you! You should have waited!”
“No, no!” she said back. “I’m all for it!”
“Really?” he asked, surprised, and she nodded excitedly, beaming.
“Colonel?” Hammond called, growing impatient.
“Coming!” he sing-songed over his shoulder, but he held Sam’s gaze for another moment. “Are you ready for this?”
She grinned. “Am I ever.”
It took another moment for them to school their features in order not to reveal any of what they had planned. Jack was still reeling with the happy knowledge of her accepting him, let alone his plan. This was going to be so good.
“I take it that you’ve now been briefed on the situation, Major?” General Hammond asked upfront when they stopped before the small group, Teal’c standing aside away from Kinsey who huffed irritated.
Sam gave a quick sidelong glance to the Colonel before answering. “Not really, Sir. Colonel O’Neill gave me a heads up, but I’m still a bit confused.”
Nodding, though no doubt wondering what they had been discussing if not that, he said, “Well, let’s go back up to my office and-“
Jack interrupted him. “No, Sir. Excuse me, Sir, I think we should finish this here.”
General Hammond’s eyes, narrowed at first from the interruption, settled sharply on the Colonel. “Come again, son?”
“I agree, General,” Carter backed him. “I know enough of the situation to understand what I’m agreeing to.”
Hammond frowned at her. “Major, I’m really not sure that you do.”
“With all due respect, I am, Sir, really,” she said back. “I know Senator Kinsey is not the only one who maintains these beliefs, and I’d like to dismiss them once and for all. The more witnesses, the better.”
He could kiss her. – And with a start, Jack realized that he really could. But more than that, she was performing admirably, completely convincing General Hammond. He had worried that she would do this just for him, but he could now see that she wanted to do it as well. The silly thing was that he knew that had to be the case in order for her to agree to his crazy plan in the first place, but he supposed hearing her say so really drove the point home in a way he couldn’t believe before.
The General sighed and looked between the two SG-1 officers. “And you’re both sure you want to finish this discussion here?”
“Yes, Sir,” Jack answered for the both of them. “It’ll get around the base, anyway.” The comment he made was lightly stated, but his gaze was as serious as ever on the General.
Hammond frowned, clearly not agreeing that this was a good idea, but he had to acknowledge that as the two subjects of this… trial, or whatever it was, were content with where they were. He could have ordered them, but it seemed as if he was curious as to what his 2IC and Major had up their sleeves. So he sighed in his own defeat, and said, “If that’s what you want.” And then addressed Sam, Daniel, and Teal’c, who were waiting to be filled in: “This all started when Senator Kinsey here made the accusation that Colonel O’Neill is all but in love with Major Carter.”
“Which he denied,” Kinsey continued and, producing his manila folder again, split it open. “But I have evidence.”
“Yes. Evidence. Always good,” Jack drawled with casual sarcasm. “But I’m not all but in love with Major Carter.”
“You’re not?” Daniel asked, looking to him suddenly in alarmed disbelief.
“I’m not…” Jack replied slowly, as he glared at Daniel. Sure, he was obvious and they’d discussed it before, but did he really need to be so blunt when he was about to be court-martialed? He tried to impart his own disbelief with the archeologist’s CLM on his behalf.
“Jack!” Daniel raised his voice while Teal’c raised his eyebrow. Even Teal’c! And Kinsey… Kinsey, the b----d, had the nerve to look smug.
“I’m not!” Jack repeated more insistently, noticing then the way his teammates’ gazes flickered from him, and he turned to see Sam, with veiled hurt in her eyes. She glanced quickly at him and then looked away. “Oh, for cryin’ out loud…” he said, drawing her tepid attention.
He rolled his eyes and smiled crookedly, drawing out the document once again. He watched his meaning dawn on her, and she had the good grace to blush as he handed the paper to the General. Senator Kinsey attempted to take it himself, but Jack didn’t allow it. “Here you are, General. A few weeks late, but this should explain and excuse everything. – That hasn’t happened. Yet.” Turning back to Sam, he met her gaze as he said, “You’re all wrong. I’m completely in love with her. No ‘all but’ nothin’.”
Mouths gaped all around at the brash, open, forbidden comment. – Even Sam, who looked as if she was about to fall over in happiness or disbelief. Maybe both. Those tears were there again…
“Colonel!” Hammond rebuked after a stunned moment. “You can’t be serious!”
“You know I am, General!” He turned to face him and noticed the still unopened paper in his hands. “General, the letter?” he nodded to indicate it. Still frowning, Hammond unfolded the paper and began to read. Jack shifted his glance to the positively gleeful face of Kinsey. “Glad to see you’re so happy for us,” he said sarcastically, and he knew he looked smug.
That did the trick, and Kinsey’s face immediately lost all trace of happiness. “If that’s your resignation-“ he started to protest, becoming worked up, but General Hammond cut him off.
“It’s not.” The General’s mouth twitched in amusement, and his eyes peered over the crest of the document, silently inquiring of the Colonel, How?
Jack only grinned.
“Then what is it? Because I fail to see how anything short of your resignation or Major Carter’s promotion, which clearly hasn’t happened, would explain or excuse anything,” Kinsey charged.
Hammond replied all too cheerily, reading part from the page, “It’s a pardon signed by the President and the Joint Chiefs granting Colonel Jonathan “Jack” O’Neill and Major Samantha Carter to engage in a romantic relationship without fear of consequence.”
“What?!” Kinsey exclaimed.
“OR,” Hammond continued reading, “Any needed change to the makeup of SG-1.” He was smiling openly now, in bemused surprise. “In recognition of their outstanding achievements and sacrifices to protect this planet and the galaxy and creating and maintaining unprecedented alliances that will protect us and push us forward in the future, and for their honorable service to their country in following the regulatory rules and bylaws of the United States Air Force…” he skimmed down a little farther. “Signed this day, April 7, 2004.”
Daniel’s mouth hung open as he looked between Jack and Sam, the latter who was now smiling prettily, though her face was a slight shade of pink. He looked to Teal’c, the Jaffa’s expression exuding happiness for his two friends, and then turned to the General and asked almost giddy, “Are you serious?”
“As a heart attack, Doctor,” Hammond confirmed. “Says so right here.”
“Give me that!” the Senator demanded, grabbing the document from him and reading it for himself. “What the h--- is this?!” Kinsey demanded irately after a moment.
Sam was the one to shrug and answer, surprising Jack. “Seems like a new-found right to the man of my dreams.”
Jack grinned inanely, looking quite pleased between Daniel and Teal’c first, and then General Hammond, and finally the Senator. He could so get used to this.
“I just spoke with the President this morning! He made absolutely no mention of this… pardon,” he shook the document fiercely as if he could strangle it out of existence, “And you’re claiming to have had it for weeks?”
“Hey! I intend to frame that!” Jack chastised, ignoring his question. “’Lot of important signatures on there. Don’t wave it around like a lunatic…!” He reached across the way and attempted to snatch the letter from the Senator, but Kinsey deftly dodged causing a frown to mar Jack’s features.
“So help me Colonel, if this is your idea of a joke…” Kinsey snarled, looking between him and Sam.
“The real joke is you being left out of the loop, Senator,” Jack stated directly, his tone serene and gaze hard.
“Which would never happen,” Kinsey snapped back. “The President trusts me implicitly; he wouldn’t knowingly allow me to come here only to make a fool of myself!”
But that was the funny thing, because it was apparent that that was exactly what the President had done – a well placed rebuke to the Senator’s opinions of the SGC and Stargate program. The President backed them, not the Senator.
“Ya want proof?” Jack asked as if irritated. Really, he just wanted to rub it in the Senator’s face; he was having way too much fun with this. He also had always wanted to do this. – Well, always since knowing Sam. “Here!” And he turned suddenly to Carter, placing his hands on either side of her thin waist and pulling her flush against his body. Sam, anticipating his move, cupped his face in her hands and brought his eager lips hungrily down on hers. They kissed with open passion and a reckless abandon in which they’d never engaged.
Jack was only vaguely aware of the whoops and cheers that broke out around them as others clapped and Daniel wolf-whistled. His attention was focused on Sam, the way she felt in his arms, fingers in his hair, mouth on his, and tongue… Finally, after seven years of waiting, and in the Gate Room, no less. It couldn’t have been any more perfect.
They broke apart as abruptly as they had come together, both out of breath, flushed, and slightly embarrassed. But this victory of theirs was more deserving of a celebration than any other they’d had in a while, and it encompassed more than just them as they noticed now the SGC around them still excitedly buzzing. Sam and Jack turned, in each other’s arms, to see the Senator’s reaction.
He was livid, face red and arms shaking at his sides. “This,” he began, but he got no further. “This!” he tried again, but then he gave up. “I need to make a call. – General, I’ll be using your phone.” And with that, he stormed out of the Gate Room, tossing the letter to flutter down behind him.
Another cheer echoed through the gate room, and looking up, Jack noted that the control room was engaging in the same sort of celebration. He couldn’t help the upturn of his lips as he faced the General again.
“Well played, Jack! And Sam!” he congratulated.
She laughed lightly, but said nothing and laid her head on Jack’s shoulder, arms wrapped around his waist.
“But… You know… I’m just wondering…” Daniel began, looking almost bereft. “I mean, how… When…?”
“O’Neill.” Teal’c spoke over the flabbergasted sounds Daniel was making. “I believe DanielJackson is just as curious as I am to learn what transpired for these events to occur.”
“As am I,” Hammond input as Sam nodded and, with a quick squeeze, stepped back from Jack, putting a respectable distance between them.
Jack shifted his glance between the four of them. “Well, ya’ know, originally, Thor wanted to eliminate all evidence of the frat regs ever existing. I talked him out of that, though; I kinda thought Carter and Daniel would point out that it might mess up that whole…time…continuum…thing if frat regs never existed. Extra babies and the elimination of others….”
“Thor?” Daniel asked incredulously.
“Thor?” Sam echoed.
“You didn’t know?” Daniel turned to her in surprise.
“I just found out like you did!”
But Jack was still telling his story, “Then then he wanted to issue an intergalactic marriage license, but I figured Carter shoulda’ been there for that…”
Sam choked, and a quick glance confirmed that she was blushing fiercely.
“And Earth probably wouldn’t have recognized it, anyway,” he continued.
“What’s Thor have to do with this?” Hammond wanted to know.
“Thor, little grey buddy. Abducted me one night a couple weeks ago. We went to see the President. Who d’you think helped me?” He quirked a curious eyebrow.
“Well, actually, I was thinking…” The archeologist’s eyes flitted briefly in Hammond’s direction, but the shock on the General’s features must have confirmed that he had not been involved.
“I can’t believe this,” said Sam, and Jack turned immediately to her.
“Yeah, I know. That’s what I told Thor when he brought up wanting to… help us… in that way…”
“No, no, I mean….That too, but they have that kind of technology to erase certain regulations and laws? That’s incredible.”
“Time travel is a wondrous thing…” he offered sarcastically.
“Yeah, but we’re not talking altering simple events here, Jack,” Daniel agreed with Sam. “We’re talking… how a society functions and thinks.”
“Indeed,” Teal’c said. “It is quite a gift the Asgard wished to bestow on you, ColonelO’Neill and MajorCarter.”
Jack hadn’t thought of it that way; he hadn’t wanted to, though he had internally acknowledged it in some form or fashion. He supposed he just didn’t believe he deserved to be thought of so highly, though he couldn’t help relishing in the apparent perks of such a position, sneaking a glance at the woman at his side.
“I’ll say,” Hammond agreed. Then he directed his eyes to the observation deck, somewhat resignedly. “Well, I’d best hurry up to my office and make sure the Senator hasn’t destroyed any of my personal belongings.”
“Do you really think he would, Sir?” Carter asked seriously.
Hammond shrugged. “I only know that he’s human like the rest of us, and embarrassment doesn’t cover the half of what he’s feeling right now.” The way he put it, Jack actually felt a pang of remorse for his actions.
Then he remembered they were talking about Senator Kinsey.
“You’re too soft, General,” Jack replied with a lopsided grin.
General Hammond regarded him with a surprised expression, something lurking in his eyes. “You’re just now discovering that, Colonel?” The smile was twinkling in his eyes, and Sam gave a light giggle, drawing his attention. “If you’ll all excuse me,” Hammond said regarding his flagship and favorite team. “Excellent job, Colonel. Major. I have a feeling that this is the last we’ll see of the Senator for a long while.” He smiled at them both, almost grinning, and it occurred to Jack that perhaps he and Sam had had a silent romantic fan in the base commander. Too soft, indeed.
“Congratulations, both of you. Let me know if there’s anything I can do to help you adjust to this new dynamic. – All of you,” he said, addressing Teal’c and Daniel, as well, and with a start, Jack realized he hadn’t even considered their opinions on he and Sam starting a relationship together. After all, this would irrevocably affect the team. Jack, with a quick glance over the three SG-1 members, realized they needed some time.
“Some time off, Sir?” he asked immediately. “Just a couple days?” he clarified, looking between Teal’c and Daniel, the latter who frowned at him.
Hammond thought over it for a second, and then nodded. “Granted. SG-1, you’re on stand-down for the remainder of the week.” And with that, he left to see what was left of his office after hurricane Kinsey.
“So…” Jack said looking between Daniel and Teal’c. “You guys okay with this?”
“Are you kidding?!” Daniel asked in disbelief, still beaming.
Teal’c inclined his head. “I am more than okay, O’Neill, MajorCarter. I could not be more pleased for you both.”
Sam’s smile widened almost self-consciously. “Thanks, Teal’c.”
“Me either!” Daniel heartily agreed. “I can’t believe you, Jack! I never would have believed you’d do something like this!”
Jack shrugged, smiling fondly at Sam. “Well, you know. Some things are worth the risk of breaking rules and the Chain of Command...”
Sam smiled lovingly back, her heart in his eyes.
Quickly looking away before he gave into the urge for another what would forever be known as a “Gate Room Moment,” he led the way out of the Gate Room; it was time to get back to work. “And nighttime visits from little grey men. And trips to the President himself at 0400...” He continued enumerating, his team snickering behind him. “Oh, and waking the Joint Chiefs at 0430! H---, yeah! My favorite part!”
