FIC: Drawing Straws 1/2
Title: Drawing Straws
Category: General; Team friendship
Genre: Missing Scene; Drama; Angst
Characters: Classic SG-1 Team; General Hammond
Summary: How does the team cope when one of their members suddenly acts differently from the man they've known for three years?
Spoilers: anything up to and including Shades of Grey
Rating: Family
Warnings: Minor language
Author's Notes: Yes, another "Shades of Grey" fic, isn't it a requirement for missing scene authors? LOL. Blame Travelling One and moonshayde, who separately insisted I write my apparently unusual fanwank on the episode when I mentioned it to them. "Drawing Straws" is dedicated to these two dear fandom friends and awesome authors. Thanks as always to my stalwart beta, Fabrisse.
Disclaimer: Not mine, Sony outbid me. Stargate SG-1 and its characters are the property of MGM/Sony, Double Secret, Showtime, Gekko Productions, and a host of other people that are not me. No copyright infringement expressed or implied, no money sought or received, and everything is borrowed with respect to the true owners and for entertainment purposes only. Anything not subject to those copyrights remain the property of the author.
"Unscheduled wormhole activation." Hammond strode to Sgt. Harriman's computer screen and looked for the expected code.
Harriman looked up at Hammond, puzzled. "It's SG-1, sir."
Hammond took a deep breath and nodded. "Open the iris, Sergeant." He left Harriman to his duties, and moved to the Gate room to meet his flagship team.
Said team strode down the ramp, still dressed their best: Jack O'Neill and Samantha Carter in Class A uniforms, Daniel Jackson and Teal'c both wearing suits. All wore similar dark expressions that Hammond both expected and dreaded.
"SG-1. You haven't been gone long," Hammond stated.
"Didn't need to stay long, General. We came, we saw, we left with a lovely parting gift." Colonel O'Neill waved a small rectangular device in his hand before handing it over to the General. It did not escape Hammond's notice how cold Jack's expression was as he did it. The rest of SG-1 looked no better. Major Carter's eyes were wide as they darted from Hammond to O'Neill, and she was biting the inside of her cheek. Dr. Jackson's face was flushed, his brow furrowed. Teal'c was as stoic as ever, but Hammond wondered if he was imagining the Jaffa standing stiffer than was usual.
Jack continued speaking before Hammond could say more. "If you'll excuse us, General, I'd prefer to change before debriefing."
Hammond once again took in O'Neill's class A uniform and his black expression. He took a deep breath and nodded. "Understood, Colonel. Change and get medical clearance, then report to the conference room for debrief."
O'Neill nodded curtly and practically stormed out of the Gate Room, his team stiffly following in his wake.
SG-1 moved quickly down the corridors. O'Neill was outpacing his team, but not by much, and they all met up outside the elevator.
Daniel kept his voice low, checking for passersby before speaking. "Jack, what is this?"
"Just what it looks like, Daniel." O'Neill purposefully spoke loudly and shot him a glare, but none of the team were cowed by it. The elevator doors opened, and they all piled inside.
"Sir, you stole technology from an ally."
"Not much of an ally are they, Carter? It's all 'don't call us, we'll call you. Thanks for saving our planet, but our toys are just too advanced for you. Wouldn't want you "destroying yourselves",' and even your buddy Narim says the same." Jack gestured with his hands to emphasize his point. "Are these elevators running slower?" he muttered.
As if in answer, the elevators pinged open, and they exited.
"But sir, those actions could be grounds for court martial. You could..." she blinked, "we...could be dishonorably discharged, even imprisoned. But all of that is beside the point. These actions go against every principle you have led this team with for three years!"
Jack spun on his heel, stopping Carter short. He leaned forward taking full advantage of the few inches he had over her. "You are taking liberties, Major. Need I remind you that insubordination is also a court martialable offense?"
"Sir." Carter's voice trembled, uncertain how to respond. Before she knew it, O'Neill had stormed further down the hall. Daniel and Teal'c, also in shock at their teammate's behavior, hovered near her protectively before all three followed. By the time they caught up with the Colonel, he was at the door to the locker room. Jack already had his coat unbuttoned and was loosening his tie. His jaw set, he sneered at her, "Men's room only, Carter."
Years of training kicked into gear. "Yes, sir. Permission to be dismissed, sir." If O'Neill noticed the insubordinate tone of her response, he didn't mention it, merely waved her away. Daniel and Teal'c were right on his heels as they entered the empty locker room.
"You may be able to shut Sam up with military protocol, Jack, but Teal'c and I aren't that easy." Daniel was trembling with fury by this time. "What the hell was all that?"
Jack opened the door to his locker, carefully tucking his uniform jacket and tie inside before beginning to unbutton his shirt. "All of what, Daniel?" O'Neill's voice was mild, almost calm.
Daniel spluttered. "Wh-what? You just chewed Sam's head off out there in the hallway, not to mention STEALING from the Tollans. You don't think there'll be repercussions from this?"
Jack spun around, his head cocked to one side as if considering something. "What, you think those all too superior Tollans will pull their heads out of their asses and attack us for stealing their toys?"
Daniel blinked, bewildered. "Attack? N-no. The Tollans don't use force except as a last resort. It's not their way."
"Right. 'Not their way.' Not their way to stop the Goa'uld, even though they can. They even have to have a 'trial' to protect the snake's rights. The goddamn snake's rights, Daniel!"
Daniel appeared shaken, but gamely regained his footing in the argument. "Not their way to use force as their first option, only as their last and only as defense. You know that as well as I do. And those weren't the repercussions I meant. Sam was right, you didn't just break Tollan law when you did this, you broke our laws. I-we... Jack, what were you thinking?"
"Indeed, your actions are out of character, O'Neill. Major Carter was correct. You have also violated your uniform code of military conduct."
O'Neill rolled his eyes. "We've got to find you better reading material, Teal'c." He grabbed his BDUs and tried to ignore Daniel's glower for as long as possible. Sitting down and untying his shoes, he muttered to the floor, "If it makes you feel better, Daniel, I plan to tell Hammond exactly what happened. You won't take the fall."
"What?!? No. That's not what I mean at all." Daniel sat on the bench from the opposite side. His anger evaporated. "Jack, we just want to understand what's going on. Something's not right. We're worried about you."
Jack stood, changing his pants. He gave Daniel a sardonic grin. "Don't worry about me, Daniel. I'm a big boy." The smile disappeared. "One who's tired of getting a pat on the head when the Goa'uld are knocking at our doorstep." He finished buttoning his pants and slipped into his black t-shirt. Grabbing the overshirt, he started heading to the door. "Better hurry up, boys. Don't want ol'Doc Fraiser thinking you've been taken over by aliens...Junior excepted, Teal'c."
He left the door swinging as Daniel and Teal'c looked at each other in bewilderment.
"Do you think O'Neill has been infected with an alien presence, Daniel Jackson?"
Daniel merely shook his head as he pulled his tie free of his collar. "I don't know what to think, Teal'c. Not at all."
By the time Daniel, Sam, and Teal'c arrived at the infirmary, Jack O'Neill had already been through the requisite MRI and was teasing the nurse who was taking his blood.
Dr. Janet Fraiser stepped through from the lab studying a file. "Looks like everything checks out in the preliminary exam, Colonel. As soon as Lt. Bradley's finished with you, you're free to go."
"You found nothing?" Daniel asked.
"Barring anything showing up in the blood work." Janet's voice was puzzled.
"You sound almost disappointed, Daniel." O'Neill blandly replied.
"Well it would've explained a few things."
Janet blinked at looked from one SG-1 member to another. Daniel appeared angry, Sam upset, and Teal'c was staring at O'Neill in a very uncomfortable manner. "Is there something I should know...?" she hesitantly asked.
"Just a philosophical difference of opinion, Doc." O'Neill's voice was steel, daring argument.
Janet looked from Colonel O'Neill to his team members, bewildered. Daniel opened his mouth as if to speak, then seemed to think better of it. Teal'c's eyebrow raised, and Sam looked away, muttering "or something like that."
"Were any of you exposed to something while offworld?"
After a pregnant pause, all of SG-1 shook their heads. Teal'c responded. "Not to our knowledge, Doctor Fraiser."
"Then I'm free to go, right, Doc? Don't keep the gang too long. Hammond's waiting for the debrief." Colonel O'Neill shot her a charming smile, grabbed his BDU overshirt, and hopped off the gurney.
The rest of the team were uncharacteristically silent through their physicals and tests. They were polite, cooperative, spoke when prompted, but otherwise, said nothing, just darted uneasy looks between each other. Janet studied the scans a bit closer, but they appeared normal. Any attempts to get any of SG-1 to open up about the Colonel or further information were stonewalled. Teal'c was released quickly, Daniel soon after. With only Sam Carter left, Janet tried once more to find out what was troubling the flagship team.
"Sam? Is everything okay?"
Carter merely shook her head sadly and got up to follow the others. "I honestly don't know, Janet. I just don't know."
The team arrived at the debriefing, all as taut as wires about to break. They had to wait in the conference room while Hammond finished a phone call in his office. All remained silent, deep in thought. O'Neill fidgeted. Hammond's aide handed back the device to Major Carter, and she toyed with it absently. None of them spoke until Hammond entered the conference room and then it was only at his prompting.
But Colonel O'Neill kept his word. After a few tense moments as Daniel tried to remain both diplomatic and honest, Jack owned up to what happened before Samantha Carter either had to confess or cover for him. It was the pride and justification in his words that left the team shocked.
At least they knew they hadn't somehow shifted into some kind of alternate reality by how angry Hammond was at O'Neill's confession.
Numbly they followed Hammond's orders. Teal'c stayed with O'Neill, this time as a guard as much as a protector. After the Tollans' arrival, Daniel played the diplomat, trying to salvage what he could from this strange fiasco in meetings with Hammond and the High Council representatives while Sam ran a diagnostic of the Stargate to see if she could find any explanation for their commander's strange behavior.
There was no planned meeting, it was merely natural that they all ended up congregating in Daniel's office. Sam arrived first, looking around lost and wondering if she shouldn't have gone to her lab instead. She turned to go only to run into Daniel arriving.
"So."
"So."
"The Tollans are settled in, as calm as I could make them under the circumstances. General Hammond assured them Jack's actions would not go undisciplined." Daniel shifted uncomfortably upon making that statement. "Of course, Jack compounded things when he met me escorting Travell and the other High Council member to the VIP quarters and started antagonizing them." Daniel shook his head in shock. "He was baiting them like he does the Goa'uld."
"I had a pretty tense run in with him myself." Daniel's expression grew concerned, and Sam hastened to explain. "No, not like earlier. He didn't say anything bad...well, not too bad." Daniel raised a skeptical eyebrow, so Sam continued. "He was more stand-offish...He said he hadn't been acting like himself since he met me." She sighed deeply. "Daniel, you knew him a year before Teal'c and I...I mean, what was he like...back then?"
Daniel sunk onto a stool, weighing the question carefully. "Well, I don't know that I can give an accurate picture of his personality. I mean, I met him right after..." Daniel let his voice trail off.
Sam gave an encouraging nod. They both knew about Charlie O'Neill.
"He was hard as brass military. Only cared about the mission, no patience for distractions or scientists." Sam smiled briefly, remembering the colonel's caustic remark about scientists on her own awkward first meeting, but Daniel was lost in thought, remembering that first trip to Abydos. "He hated that I was ordered to come on the expedition, knew I was bull shitting about knowing the way back...well, I knew I would've figured it out...and I did...eventually. Somehow in the meantime, we connected with each other. But I honestly think Skaara was his saving grace. He snapped him out of the death wish Jack seemed to have. He..." Daniel bit his lip, his eyes expressing more than his words. "It was a pretty dark time then, Sam."
Sam nodded sympathetically. "I can't imagine what he must have gone through."
Daniel shook out of his morose reverie. "Nevertheless it doesn't explain what's happened to him now. Three years. He couldn't have been hiding this much of a personality change in three years. Something more must be going on."
"I stopped by Janet's office before I arrived here. She's still waiting on a few more lab results, but nothing is showing up that would indicate any alien possession, illness, infection or injury. According to her, Colonel O'Neill is 100% healthy." Sam shook her head at the irony of being upset at that conclusion. "I'm still not convinced there isn't something she's missed."
"Like what? You think Jack's under alien influence?"
"Well, look in our recent history alone. Aliens impersonated practically everyone on this base and almost infiltrated the Pentagon. Then Urgo of course. And then he was on that planet for over three months. I mean, we think he was only with the Edorans, but how do we know for sure? How do we know something didn't happen to him out there before we arrived?"
"What if it's something more basic?" Daniel mused.
Sam blinked. "What do you mean?"
"I mean he had grown to accept he probably was staying on Edora."
"He had to know we'd come back for him," Sam bristled. "I mean, we don't leave anyone behind. He knew that. He shouldn't have..."
"Settled?" Daniel shook his head. "It's different when you're alone on a different world like that, Sam. A different culture who welcomes you into their homes, their lives...", Daniel's voice trailed off and both knew they were venturing close to Daniel's still raw wound of losing Sha're.
Sam cleared her throat. "Well, alien influence aside, I don't see how settling down with an agricultural society transforms into stealing advanced technology. Do you?"
"No. And certainly not the 'take no prisoners' aggressive approach Jack's suddenly advocating." Daniel started drumming his fingers along the worktable. "In the briefing, Jack mentioned something about a Pentagon approval."
Sam shared his perplexed expression. "Yeah, and I have no idea what he was talking about. But then again, there are things that can go on between full bird colonels and generals that we lower ranks can't and don't know."
"You are a major now." Daniel pointed out.
"Yes, a shiny new one." Sam blushed slightly. "Still not brass enough for those levels, Daniel."
They both looked up at the shadow darkening Daniel's doorway. It was Teal'c, who gave a solemn nod before joining them around the center counter top desk. Daniel and Sam both seemed unsure whether to be relieved or upset that he arrived alone.
Daniel spoke up. "Hey, Teal'c. So, any hints of what's going on with Jack? Did he open up to you?"
"He did not. He ignored my numerous requests to explain his behavior. He refused to discuss the matter at all. O'Neill merely wished me well in the future as he was cleaning out his locker and hoped he'd 'see me around'."
Daniel blinked as Sam's jaw dropped. "What do you mean cleaning out his locker?" she gasped.
"O'Neill was escorted off the base and turned in his credentials. I escorted him as far as the Eleventh Level, where he then had to fill out paperwork with Personnel."
"Paperwork?!?"
"Personnel?!?"
The two teammates barraged Teal'c with equally incredulous expressions.
"O'Neill has retired from the SGC."
"That doesn't make any sense. Jack wouldn't just quit."
Sam paled. "Unless he had no choice."
"Major Carter is correct. I was present in General Hammond's office when he made the offer. After General Hammond listed several transgressions on O'Neill's file, he offered retirement as the only alternative to formal charges for court martial."
Sam gasped while Daniel sunk onto his stool. "This is insane," he muttered.
"A court martial. I mean, I knew it was possible..." Sam shook her head as if trying to deny this new reality.
"It won't stick. It can't stick. I mean, Jack won't...can't just quit. They've brought him back from retirement. How many times has he saved the world by this point?"
Teal'c opened his mouth to respond but Sam cut in, "and how many enemies has he made? How many corners has he cut? Daniel, I'm really worried."
Teal'c nodded. "General Hammond indicated something similar. I believe the expression O'Neill used was the 'proverbial straw'."
Daniel rolled his eyes. "And it still brings us back to the question of why did he do this in the first place."
"O'Neill mentioned a backup program that had been disapproved," said Teal'c.
Daniel's eyes sparked with interest and he began moving his hands in an agitated manner. "You noticed that too? Sam and I were just discussing it before you came. What kind of program could cause Jack to become so...so reckless in his actions? It wasn't just that he wanted to take action, he wanted to get caught. He stuck his finger in the Tollans' eye and bragged about it to Hammond. He knew this wouldn't be swept under the rug. Hell, he practically insured it."
"But why?"
That was the question they all came back to, and the response that continued to circle through all of their minds was "I don't know."
"Only O'Neill knows these answers. We will not learn why until he reveals it."
"So what are we going to do?" Sam looked from one to the other of her teammates.
Daniel spoke up. "We should talk to him. It's the weekend. We could have a team intervention at his house, force him to come clean."
"I'm not sure that's the best tactic in this case, Daniel. We want him to explain something, not acknowledge a fact we already know." Sam shook her head. "He hasn't responded to well to our talking up to now. The more the three of us have gone after him, the more defensive he's gotten."
"I agree with Major Carter. If all of us visit O'Neill, he will become more guarded, and we will accomplish nothing."
Daniel looked from Sam to Teal'c. "Okay, so just one of us; then he won't feel outnumbered and defensive. But how do we determine which one? It's not going to be the easiest job."
"No, definitely not."
Teal'c stiffened. "I will do it. I will speak to O'Neill one warrior to another."
Daniel shook his head. "No offense, Teal'c, but uh, didn't you already try that five minutes ago, with no success?"
Teal'c's jaw twitched and he glowered at Daniel before nodding his head in concession. "Persistence is a virtue, Daniel Jackson."
"Touché. And no one's proven as persistent as me in getting under Jack's skin. Like you said, earlier, Sam, I've known him the longest, maybe he'll open up to me, guy-to-guy."
"Possibly, Daniel, but Colonel O'Neill's wise to your standard disarming technique. He's witnessed it often enough when you pull it offworld."
Daniel raised a finger. "That's not to say it can't still be effective," he pointed out.
Sam smiled. "But there's still a disconnect in that you're civilian. I'm the only one of us who understands the Air Force mentality. I was raised on it. You may empathize Daniel, but I live it. I know what a military career means." She clenched her jaw; ever since Teal'c announced the retirement, she'd been more jittery.
"O'Neill may use that military mindset to your disadvantage, Major Carter. Your relationship has always been of superior/subordinate officer. I have manipulated that hierarchy myself in the politics under Apophis."
"Really?" Daniel looked surprised.
Teal'c raised an eyebrow. "Not many rise to the rank of First Prime under the age of one hundred, Daniel Jackson. However, we have all recently observed O'Neill abusing that relationship in preventing Major Carter from getting O'Neill to speak freely."
"It's different now." Sam forced out the next words as if distasteful on her tongue. "As you pointed out, he's retired."
"And the goal of this mission is to un-retire him and get him back on the team as C.O. You shouldn't put yourself in a position that may become awkward if we're successful." Daniel sighed. "Well, now we've just gone around in a big circle to explain why we're each the best and worst person to go."
Carter stiffened her spine. "It's not going to be easy for any of us to get through to him."
There was a period of silence, then all spoke as one.
"I'll go." Daniel said.
Carter spoke simultaneously. "I want to try."
"I shall try." Teal'c's words blended with his teammates.
Daniel deflated. "Yeah, that's got us nowhere fast. Are we all agreed we shouldn't go as a group?" He looked from one to the other, they both nodded their heads. Daniel pinched the bridge of his nose, his brow furrowed. Suddenly he jumped up off the stool, inspired. "We'll draw straws."
Teal'c cocked his head. "I do not understand. What is this fascination with straws? I fail to see their relevance to the current situation."
"Different idiom than what you heard in Hammond's office, Teal'c. It..." Daniel glanced up at Teal'c while pulling open a drawer. Then his voice trailed off and he shook his head. There were times even Daniel did not feel like lecturing. "Never mind that now. Drawing straws is just a way of choosing who will go. We each pull a straw, and the one that has been shortened will be the one to go."
"I see." Teal'c nodded his approval of the idea. Daniel turned back to rummaging through his drawer, not finding anything off-hand to suit his purpose, then he suddenly ran down the hall. He returned within moments, carrying some coffee stirrers.
"Department coffee machine," he waggled his eyebrows in triumph, then made a show of pulling out his scissors and turning his back to his teammates so they could not see what he was doing. When he spun to face them, three plastic sticks were sticking up from his clenched fist.
He turned to Sam. "Ladies first."
Sam stared at the straws, then at Daniel's face, trying to read any hint from his expression that would lead her to choose. His knuckles were white where he was clutching the makeshift straws. She put her finger near the one on the right, watching for his reaction. Daniel's eyes were blue steel, sealed shut from any reading. His expression was blank but confident. In the staring contest, Sam ended up being the first to look away. She sighed and grabbed the center coffee stick instead.
Daniel allowed a small sympathetic smile to grace his features as she looked in disappointment at the fairly long stick in her hand. He next turned to Teal'c. The two men matched each other in silent stare to stare before Teal'c took the straw from the far right.
Daniel let out the long breath he was apparently holding. Teal'c's coffee stirrer was the same length as Sam's. "Well, I guess that means I lost." He shrugged with equanimity and tossed his stick into the garbage. "Looks like I've got a big day tomorrow."
After the moment had passed, Daniel avoided Sam's or Teal'c's eye. "Don't worry, guys, I'll push until I get some answers." He gathered up some books and papers and stuffed them into his satchel, preparing to leave. "I think I've had enough of this military institution for one day." He paused near the door to look back at his friends. "I'll do my best, guys. Turn out the lights when you leave? Thanks."
He gave a grim smile at their nods, then was out the door.
Teal'c paced, frowning as Sam drummed her fingers on the worktable, contemplating the contest, Daniel's departure, and the strange day they had all had.
"Major Carter."
"Yes, Teal'c?"
"It was my understanding that the one with the shortest straw would be the one chosen."
"That's right." She replied calmly. She looked over to Teal'c, and saw him standing at the corner of the office, by the trash can.
"But the coffee stick Daniel Jackson discarded is the same length as ours."
"I know." Major Carter's expression was one of resignation, not surprise.
Teal'c tilted his head, considering this new information. "Daniel Jackson did not follow the rules. Should we not inform him we know of this subterfuge?"
"And do what?
"Redo the contest."
"We could, but if Daniel was so determined to see Colonel O'Neill, I'm not sure where we'll get with it. We're all so stubborn, Teal'c. Daniel went to these lengths to ensure he was the one to take on the mission. We'll end up in the same argument of who should go, and he'll probably go off on his own anyway. You know how he gets when he has something in his head. He was hoping we wouldn't call his bluff." She shook her head. "Teal'c, do you want to be the one to stop him?"
Teal'c paused for a moment. "I believe that endeavor would prove unsuccessful."
Sam leaned on the worktable. "Me too. If Daniel strikes out, we can always try something different." She reached out and squeezed Teal'c's arm. "C'mon. I think we need to get out of here as well. I'll buy you some pie up top."
"I am not hungry, Maj...", Teal'c faltered at seeing his friend's expression. "Pie would be nice." He nodded and followed her out, turning off the lights to Daniel's office.
Find Part 2
Category: General; Team friendship
Genre: Missing Scene; Drama; Angst
Characters: Classic SG-1 Team; General Hammond
Summary: How does the team cope when one of their members suddenly acts differently from the man they've known for three years?
Spoilers: anything up to and including Shades of Grey
Rating: Family
Warnings: Minor language
Author's Notes: Yes, another "Shades of Grey" fic, isn't it a requirement for missing scene authors? LOL. Blame Travelling One and moonshayde, who separately insisted I write my apparently unusual fanwank on the episode when I mentioned it to them. "Drawing Straws" is dedicated to these two dear fandom friends and awesome authors. Thanks as always to my stalwart beta, Fabrisse.
Disclaimer: Not mine, Sony outbid me. Stargate SG-1 and its characters are the property of MGM/Sony, Double Secret, Showtime, Gekko Productions, and a host of other people that are not me. No copyright infringement expressed or implied, no money sought or received, and everything is borrowed with respect to the true owners and for entertainment purposes only. Anything not subject to those copyrights remain the property of the author.
"Unscheduled wormhole activation." Hammond strode to Sgt. Harriman's computer screen and looked for the expected code.
Harriman looked up at Hammond, puzzled. "It's SG-1, sir."
Hammond took a deep breath and nodded. "Open the iris, Sergeant." He left Harriman to his duties, and moved to the Gate room to meet his flagship team.
Said team strode down the ramp, still dressed their best: Jack O'Neill and Samantha Carter in Class A uniforms, Daniel Jackson and Teal'c both wearing suits. All wore similar dark expressions that Hammond both expected and dreaded.
"SG-1. You haven't been gone long," Hammond stated.
"Didn't need to stay long, General. We came, we saw, we left with a lovely parting gift." Colonel O'Neill waved a small rectangular device in his hand before handing it over to the General. It did not escape Hammond's notice how cold Jack's expression was as he did it. The rest of SG-1 looked no better. Major Carter's eyes were wide as they darted from Hammond to O'Neill, and she was biting the inside of her cheek. Dr. Jackson's face was flushed, his brow furrowed. Teal'c was as stoic as ever, but Hammond wondered if he was imagining the Jaffa standing stiffer than was usual.
Jack continued speaking before Hammond could say more. "If you'll excuse us, General, I'd prefer to change before debriefing."
Hammond once again took in O'Neill's class A uniform and his black expression. He took a deep breath and nodded. "Understood, Colonel. Change and get medical clearance, then report to the conference room for debrief."
O'Neill nodded curtly and practically stormed out of the Gate Room, his team stiffly following in his wake.
SG-1 moved quickly down the corridors. O'Neill was outpacing his team, but not by much, and they all met up outside the elevator.
Daniel kept his voice low, checking for passersby before speaking. "Jack, what is this?"
"Just what it looks like, Daniel." O'Neill purposefully spoke loudly and shot him a glare, but none of the team were cowed by it. The elevator doors opened, and they all piled inside.
"Sir, you stole technology from an ally."
"Not much of an ally are they, Carter? It's all 'don't call us, we'll call you. Thanks for saving our planet, but our toys are just too advanced for you. Wouldn't want you "destroying yourselves",' and even your buddy Narim says the same." Jack gestured with his hands to emphasize his point. "Are these elevators running slower?" he muttered.
As if in answer, the elevators pinged open, and they exited.
"But sir, those actions could be grounds for court martial. You could..." she blinked, "we...could be dishonorably discharged, even imprisoned. But all of that is beside the point. These actions go against every principle you have led this team with for three years!"
Jack spun on his heel, stopping Carter short. He leaned forward taking full advantage of the few inches he had over her. "You are taking liberties, Major. Need I remind you that insubordination is also a court martialable offense?"
"Sir." Carter's voice trembled, uncertain how to respond. Before she knew it, O'Neill had stormed further down the hall. Daniel and Teal'c, also in shock at their teammate's behavior, hovered near her protectively before all three followed. By the time they caught up with the Colonel, he was at the door to the locker room. Jack already had his coat unbuttoned and was loosening his tie. His jaw set, he sneered at her, "Men's room only, Carter."
Years of training kicked into gear. "Yes, sir. Permission to be dismissed, sir." If O'Neill noticed the insubordinate tone of her response, he didn't mention it, merely waved her away. Daniel and Teal'c were right on his heels as they entered the empty locker room.
"You may be able to shut Sam up with military protocol, Jack, but Teal'c and I aren't that easy." Daniel was trembling with fury by this time. "What the hell was all that?"
Jack opened the door to his locker, carefully tucking his uniform jacket and tie inside before beginning to unbutton his shirt. "All of what, Daniel?" O'Neill's voice was mild, almost calm.
Daniel spluttered. "Wh-what? You just chewed Sam's head off out there in the hallway, not to mention STEALING from the Tollans. You don't think there'll be repercussions from this?"
Jack spun around, his head cocked to one side as if considering something. "What, you think those all too superior Tollans will pull their heads out of their asses and attack us for stealing their toys?"
Daniel blinked, bewildered. "Attack? N-no. The Tollans don't use force except as a last resort. It's not their way."
"Right. 'Not their way.' Not their way to stop the Goa'uld, even though they can. They even have to have a 'trial' to protect the snake's rights. The goddamn snake's rights, Daniel!"
Daniel appeared shaken, but gamely regained his footing in the argument. "Not their way to use force as their first option, only as their last and only as defense. You know that as well as I do. And those weren't the repercussions I meant. Sam was right, you didn't just break Tollan law when you did this, you broke our laws. I-we... Jack, what were you thinking?"
"Indeed, your actions are out of character, O'Neill. Major Carter was correct. You have also violated your uniform code of military conduct."
O'Neill rolled his eyes. "We've got to find you better reading material, Teal'c." He grabbed his BDUs and tried to ignore Daniel's glower for as long as possible. Sitting down and untying his shoes, he muttered to the floor, "If it makes you feel better, Daniel, I plan to tell Hammond exactly what happened. You won't take the fall."
"What?!? No. That's not what I mean at all." Daniel sat on the bench from the opposite side. His anger evaporated. "Jack, we just want to understand what's going on. Something's not right. We're worried about you."
Jack stood, changing his pants. He gave Daniel a sardonic grin. "Don't worry about me, Daniel. I'm a big boy." The smile disappeared. "One who's tired of getting a pat on the head when the Goa'uld are knocking at our doorstep." He finished buttoning his pants and slipped into his black t-shirt. Grabbing the overshirt, he started heading to the door. "Better hurry up, boys. Don't want ol'Doc Fraiser thinking you've been taken over by aliens...Junior excepted, Teal'c."
He left the door swinging as Daniel and Teal'c looked at each other in bewilderment.
"Do you think O'Neill has been infected with an alien presence, Daniel Jackson?"
Daniel merely shook his head as he pulled his tie free of his collar. "I don't know what to think, Teal'c. Not at all."
By the time Daniel, Sam, and Teal'c arrived at the infirmary, Jack O'Neill had already been through the requisite MRI and was teasing the nurse who was taking his blood.
Dr. Janet Fraiser stepped through from the lab studying a file. "Looks like everything checks out in the preliminary exam, Colonel. As soon as Lt. Bradley's finished with you, you're free to go."
"You found nothing?" Daniel asked.
"Barring anything showing up in the blood work." Janet's voice was puzzled.
"You sound almost disappointed, Daniel." O'Neill blandly replied.
"Well it would've explained a few things."
Janet blinked at looked from one SG-1 member to another. Daniel appeared angry, Sam upset, and Teal'c was staring at O'Neill in a very uncomfortable manner. "Is there something I should know...?" she hesitantly asked.
"Just a philosophical difference of opinion, Doc." O'Neill's voice was steel, daring argument.
Janet looked from Colonel O'Neill to his team members, bewildered. Daniel opened his mouth as if to speak, then seemed to think better of it. Teal'c's eyebrow raised, and Sam looked away, muttering "or something like that."
"Were any of you exposed to something while offworld?"
After a pregnant pause, all of SG-1 shook their heads. Teal'c responded. "Not to our knowledge, Doctor Fraiser."
"Then I'm free to go, right, Doc? Don't keep the gang too long. Hammond's waiting for the debrief." Colonel O'Neill shot her a charming smile, grabbed his BDU overshirt, and hopped off the gurney.
The rest of the team were uncharacteristically silent through their physicals and tests. They were polite, cooperative, spoke when prompted, but otherwise, said nothing, just darted uneasy looks between each other. Janet studied the scans a bit closer, but they appeared normal. Any attempts to get any of SG-1 to open up about the Colonel or further information were stonewalled. Teal'c was released quickly, Daniel soon after. With only Sam Carter left, Janet tried once more to find out what was troubling the flagship team.
"Sam? Is everything okay?"
Carter merely shook her head sadly and got up to follow the others. "I honestly don't know, Janet. I just don't know."
The team arrived at the debriefing, all as taut as wires about to break. They had to wait in the conference room while Hammond finished a phone call in his office. All remained silent, deep in thought. O'Neill fidgeted. Hammond's aide handed back the device to Major Carter, and she toyed with it absently. None of them spoke until Hammond entered the conference room and then it was only at his prompting.
But Colonel O'Neill kept his word. After a few tense moments as Daniel tried to remain both diplomatic and honest, Jack owned up to what happened before Samantha Carter either had to confess or cover for him. It was the pride and justification in his words that left the team shocked.
At least they knew they hadn't somehow shifted into some kind of alternate reality by how angry Hammond was at O'Neill's confession.
Numbly they followed Hammond's orders. Teal'c stayed with O'Neill, this time as a guard as much as a protector. After the Tollans' arrival, Daniel played the diplomat, trying to salvage what he could from this strange fiasco in meetings with Hammond and the High Council representatives while Sam ran a diagnostic of the Stargate to see if she could find any explanation for their commander's strange behavior.
There was no planned meeting, it was merely natural that they all ended up congregating in Daniel's office. Sam arrived first, looking around lost and wondering if she shouldn't have gone to her lab instead. She turned to go only to run into Daniel arriving.
"So."
"So."
"The Tollans are settled in, as calm as I could make them under the circumstances. General Hammond assured them Jack's actions would not go undisciplined." Daniel shifted uncomfortably upon making that statement. "Of course, Jack compounded things when he met me escorting Travell and the other High Council member to the VIP quarters and started antagonizing them." Daniel shook his head in shock. "He was baiting them like he does the Goa'uld."
"I had a pretty tense run in with him myself." Daniel's expression grew concerned, and Sam hastened to explain. "No, not like earlier. He didn't say anything bad...well, not too bad." Daniel raised a skeptical eyebrow, so Sam continued. "He was more stand-offish...He said he hadn't been acting like himself since he met me." She sighed deeply. "Daniel, you knew him a year before Teal'c and I...I mean, what was he like...back then?"
Daniel sunk onto a stool, weighing the question carefully. "Well, I don't know that I can give an accurate picture of his personality. I mean, I met him right after..." Daniel let his voice trail off.
Sam gave an encouraging nod. They both knew about Charlie O'Neill.
"He was hard as brass military. Only cared about the mission, no patience for distractions or scientists." Sam smiled briefly, remembering the colonel's caustic remark about scientists on her own awkward first meeting, but Daniel was lost in thought, remembering that first trip to Abydos. "He hated that I was ordered to come on the expedition, knew I was bull shitting about knowing the way back...well, I knew I would've figured it out...and I did...eventually. Somehow in the meantime, we connected with each other. But I honestly think Skaara was his saving grace. He snapped him out of the death wish Jack seemed to have. He..." Daniel bit his lip, his eyes expressing more than his words. "It was a pretty dark time then, Sam."
Sam nodded sympathetically. "I can't imagine what he must have gone through."
Daniel shook out of his morose reverie. "Nevertheless it doesn't explain what's happened to him now. Three years. He couldn't have been hiding this much of a personality change in three years. Something more must be going on."
"I stopped by Janet's office before I arrived here. She's still waiting on a few more lab results, but nothing is showing up that would indicate any alien possession, illness, infection or injury. According to her, Colonel O'Neill is 100% healthy." Sam shook her head at the irony of being upset at that conclusion. "I'm still not convinced there isn't something she's missed."
"Like what? You think Jack's under alien influence?"
"Well, look in our recent history alone. Aliens impersonated practically everyone on this base and almost infiltrated the Pentagon. Then Urgo of course. And then he was on that planet for over three months. I mean, we think he was only with the Edorans, but how do we know for sure? How do we know something didn't happen to him out there before we arrived?"
"What if it's something more basic?" Daniel mused.
Sam blinked. "What do you mean?"
"I mean he had grown to accept he probably was staying on Edora."
"He had to know we'd come back for him," Sam bristled. "I mean, we don't leave anyone behind. He knew that. He shouldn't have..."
"Settled?" Daniel shook his head. "It's different when you're alone on a different world like that, Sam. A different culture who welcomes you into their homes, their lives...", Daniel's voice trailed off and both knew they were venturing close to Daniel's still raw wound of losing Sha're.
Sam cleared her throat. "Well, alien influence aside, I don't see how settling down with an agricultural society transforms into stealing advanced technology. Do you?"
"No. And certainly not the 'take no prisoners' aggressive approach Jack's suddenly advocating." Daniel started drumming his fingers along the worktable. "In the briefing, Jack mentioned something about a Pentagon approval."
Sam shared his perplexed expression. "Yeah, and I have no idea what he was talking about. But then again, there are things that can go on between full bird colonels and generals that we lower ranks can't and don't know."
"You are a major now." Daniel pointed out.
"Yes, a shiny new one." Sam blushed slightly. "Still not brass enough for those levels, Daniel."
They both looked up at the shadow darkening Daniel's doorway. It was Teal'c, who gave a solemn nod before joining them around the center counter top desk. Daniel and Sam both seemed unsure whether to be relieved or upset that he arrived alone.
Daniel spoke up. "Hey, Teal'c. So, any hints of what's going on with Jack? Did he open up to you?"
"He did not. He ignored my numerous requests to explain his behavior. He refused to discuss the matter at all. O'Neill merely wished me well in the future as he was cleaning out his locker and hoped he'd 'see me around'."
Daniel blinked as Sam's jaw dropped. "What do you mean cleaning out his locker?" she gasped.
"O'Neill was escorted off the base and turned in his credentials. I escorted him as far as the Eleventh Level, where he then had to fill out paperwork with Personnel."
"Paperwork?!?"
"Personnel?!?"
The two teammates barraged Teal'c with equally incredulous expressions.
"O'Neill has retired from the SGC."
"That doesn't make any sense. Jack wouldn't just quit."
Sam paled. "Unless he had no choice."
"Major Carter is correct. I was present in General Hammond's office when he made the offer. After General Hammond listed several transgressions on O'Neill's file, he offered retirement as the only alternative to formal charges for court martial."
Sam gasped while Daniel sunk onto his stool. "This is insane," he muttered.
"A court martial. I mean, I knew it was possible..." Sam shook her head as if trying to deny this new reality.
"It won't stick. It can't stick. I mean, Jack won't...can't just quit. They've brought him back from retirement. How many times has he saved the world by this point?"
Teal'c opened his mouth to respond but Sam cut in, "and how many enemies has he made? How many corners has he cut? Daniel, I'm really worried."
Teal'c nodded. "General Hammond indicated something similar. I believe the expression O'Neill used was the 'proverbial straw'."
Daniel rolled his eyes. "And it still brings us back to the question of why did he do this in the first place."
"O'Neill mentioned a backup program that had been disapproved," said Teal'c.
Daniel's eyes sparked with interest and he began moving his hands in an agitated manner. "You noticed that too? Sam and I were just discussing it before you came. What kind of program could cause Jack to become so...so reckless in his actions? It wasn't just that he wanted to take action, he wanted to get caught. He stuck his finger in the Tollans' eye and bragged about it to Hammond. He knew this wouldn't be swept under the rug. Hell, he practically insured it."
"But why?"
That was the question they all came back to, and the response that continued to circle through all of their minds was "I don't know."
"Only O'Neill knows these answers. We will not learn why until he reveals it."
"So what are we going to do?" Sam looked from one to the other of her teammates.
Daniel spoke up. "We should talk to him. It's the weekend. We could have a team intervention at his house, force him to come clean."
"I'm not sure that's the best tactic in this case, Daniel. We want him to explain something, not acknowledge a fact we already know." Sam shook her head. "He hasn't responded to well to our talking up to now. The more the three of us have gone after him, the more defensive he's gotten."
"I agree with Major Carter. If all of us visit O'Neill, he will become more guarded, and we will accomplish nothing."
Daniel looked from Sam to Teal'c. "Okay, so just one of us; then he won't feel outnumbered and defensive. But how do we determine which one? It's not going to be the easiest job."
"No, definitely not."
Teal'c stiffened. "I will do it. I will speak to O'Neill one warrior to another."
Daniel shook his head. "No offense, Teal'c, but uh, didn't you already try that five minutes ago, with no success?"
Teal'c's jaw twitched and he glowered at Daniel before nodding his head in concession. "Persistence is a virtue, Daniel Jackson."
"Touché. And no one's proven as persistent as me in getting under Jack's skin. Like you said, earlier, Sam, I've known him the longest, maybe he'll open up to me, guy-to-guy."
"Possibly, Daniel, but Colonel O'Neill's wise to your standard disarming technique. He's witnessed it often enough when you pull it offworld."
Daniel raised a finger. "That's not to say it can't still be effective," he pointed out.
Sam smiled. "But there's still a disconnect in that you're civilian. I'm the only one of us who understands the Air Force mentality. I was raised on it. You may empathize Daniel, but I live it. I know what a military career means." She clenched her jaw; ever since Teal'c announced the retirement, she'd been more jittery.
"O'Neill may use that military mindset to your disadvantage, Major Carter. Your relationship has always been of superior/subordinate officer. I have manipulated that hierarchy myself in the politics under Apophis."
"Really?" Daniel looked surprised.
Teal'c raised an eyebrow. "Not many rise to the rank of First Prime under the age of one hundred, Daniel Jackson. However, we have all recently observed O'Neill abusing that relationship in preventing Major Carter from getting O'Neill to speak freely."
"It's different now." Sam forced out the next words as if distasteful on her tongue. "As you pointed out, he's retired."
"And the goal of this mission is to un-retire him and get him back on the team as C.O. You shouldn't put yourself in a position that may become awkward if we're successful." Daniel sighed. "Well, now we've just gone around in a big circle to explain why we're each the best and worst person to go."
Carter stiffened her spine. "It's not going to be easy for any of us to get through to him."
There was a period of silence, then all spoke as one.
"I'll go." Daniel said.
Carter spoke simultaneously. "I want to try."
"I shall try." Teal'c's words blended with his teammates.
Daniel deflated. "Yeah, that's got us nowhere fast. Are we all agreed we shouldn't go as a group?" He looked from one to the other, they both nodded their heads. Daniel pinched the bridge of his nose, his brow furrowed. Suddenly he jumped up off the stool, inspired. "We'll draw straws."
Teal'c cocked his head. "I do not understand. What is this fascination with straws? I fail to see their relevance to the current situation."
"Different idiom than what you heard in Hammond's office, Teal'c. It..." Daniel glanced up at Teal'c while pulling open a drawer. Then his voice trailed off and he shook his head. There were times even Daniel did not feel like lecturing. "Never mind that now. Drawing straws is just a way of choosing who will go. We each pull a straw, and the one that has been shortened will be the one to go."
"I see." Teal'c nodded his approval of the idea. Daniel turned back to rummaging through his drawer, not finding anything off-hand to suit his purpose, then he suddenly ran down the hall. He returned within moments, carrying some coffee stirrers.
"Department coffee machine," he waggled his eyebrows in triumph, then made a show of pulling out his scissors and turning his back to his teammates so they could not see what he was doing. When he spun to face them, three plastic sticks were sticking up from his clenched fist.
He turned to Sam. "Ladies first."
Sam stared at the straws, then at Daniel's face, trying to read any hint from his expression that would lead her to choose. His knuckles were white where he was clutching the makeshift straws. She put her finger near the one on the right, watching for his reaction. Daniel's eyes were blue steel, sealed shut from any reading. His expression was blank but confident. In the staring contest, Sam ended up being the first to look away. She sighed and grabbed the center coffee stick instead.
Daniel allowed a small sympathetic smile to grace his features as she looked in disappointment at the fairly long stick in her hand. He next turned to Teal'c. The two men matched each other in silent stare to stare before Teal'c took the straw from the far right.
Daniel let out the long breath he was apparently holding. Teal'c's coffee stirrer was the same length as Sam's. "Well, I guess that means I lost." He shrugged with equanimity and tossed his stick into the garbage. "Looks like I've got a big day tomorrow."
After the moment had passed, Daniel avoided Sam's or Teal'c's eye. "Don't worry, guys, I'll push until I get some answers." He gathered up some books and papers and stuffed them into his satchel, preparing to leave. "I think I've had enough of this military institution for one day." He paused near the door to look back at his friends. "I'll do my best, guys. Turn out the lights when you leave? Thanks."
He gave a grim smile at their nods, then was out the door.
Teal'c paced, frowning as Sam drummed her fingers on the worktable, contemplating the contest, Daniel's departure, and the strange day they had all had.
"Major Carter."
"Yes, Teal'c?"
"It was my understanding that the one with the shortest straw would be the one chosen."
"That's right." She replied calmly. She looked over to Teal'c, and saw him standing at the corner of the office, by the trash can.
"But the coffee stick Daniel Jackson discarded is the same length as ours."
"I know." Major Carter's expression was one of resignation, not surprise.
Teal'c tilted his head, considering this new information. "Daniel Jackson did not follow the rules. Should we not inform him we know of this subterfuge?"
"And do what?
"Redo the contest."
"We could, but if Daniel was so determined to see Colonel O'Neill, I'm not sure where we'll get with it. We're all so stubborn, Teal'c. Daniel went to these lengths to ensure he was the one to take on the mission. We'll end up in the same argument of who should go, and he'll probably go off on his own anyway. You know how he gets when he has something in his head. He was hoping we wouldn't call his bluff." She shook her head. "Teal'c, do you want to be the one to stop him?"
Teal'c paused for a moment. "I believe that endeavor would prove unsuccessful."
Sam leaned on the worktable. "Me too. If Daniel strikes out, we can always try something different." She reached out and squeezed Teal'c's arm. "C'mon. I think we need to get out of here as well. I'll buy you some pie up top."
"I am not hungry, Maj...", Teal'c faltered at seeing his friend's expression. "Pie would be nice." He nodded and followed her out, turning off the lights to Daniel's office.
Find Part 2