The Twelve Days of Christmas (11/12) – Jenny L- rating G

For disclaimers etc see part 0:

A/N: We're getting to the end now…. This is probably my favourite
Christmas song of all time. See you tomorrow for the final chapter.

12 Days of Christmas pt 11; Driving Home for Christmas

Day 11 – Thursday 23rd December 2004

***
I'm driving home for Christmas
I can't wait to see those faces
I'm driving home for Christmas
Yea I'm moving down that line
And it's been so long
But I will be there
I sing this song
To pass the time away
***

Siler had worked at the SGC ever since the stargate program had been
initiated. He had even been present when Daniel Jackson and Jack
O'Neill had gone through to Abydos the first time around and in all
that time he had never realized just how many people actually worked
at the SGC, until now. The meeting had been called to announce the
end of the Sam/Jack betting pool and everyone who had a stake was
invited. It turned out this was in excess of three hundred people,
not including those in Washington who had also invested money. Rumor
had it that even the president had contributed 20 bucks.

In the corner of the commissary where everyone was seated the final
touches were being put on to the base Christmas tree. People at the
SGC always made an effort at Christmas, aware that for some of them
it could be their last. However this year, with O'Neill in charge,
the preparations had taken on a new level. Everything that could be
had been decorated, and there was mistletoe in every doorway. Some
hopeful person had even done the doorways of General O'Neill's
office, Colonel Carter's office and every other room SG1 used.
Unfortunately all it had resulted in was a badly timed kiss between
Clare and an unsuspecting Teal'c.

In some ways, with so many people present, this gathering was more
like the SGC Christmas party than the official one tomorrow which
would have an air of sadness because of the wedding preceding it.
The marines had started some very tuneless Christmas carols which
more and more people were joining in with – much to everyone's
surprise Walter and a deep and beautiful base singing voice. Just as
he finished the last verse Siler stood on a table in the centre of
the room and hit his wrench on the table to get silence.

`Johnson, all clear?' He asked the airman who was keeping a lookout
at the door.

`Clear sir.'

`You all know why we are gathered here. We can't control people's
hearts and from tomorrow when Colonel Carter marries Pete Shanahan
he will be treated with the respect we would give to the spouse of
any officer. Today we are going to say goodbye to an old friend,
something you've all participated in. After going through all the
records I found that only one person bet on Sam and Jack never
making it to the altar.' Siler paused to make way for a round of
good natured boo's and hissing. `Graham Simmonds, make your way up
here.'

The embarrassed young officer made his way to the table and joined
Siler on top of it as people clapped politely.

`Thank you.'

`One more thing, as the winner you get to decide today's `Pete has'
which will be the last one.'

`I… I….' he stuttered and then paused to think of the answer Jacob
had helped him prepare. The Tok'ra definitely did not like his new
son in law.

`Pete has…..' Simmonds stopped again and then reached for the paper
in his pocket and read off it. `Necrotizing Fascitis. All the skin
on his face drops off – he scares the minister so much that he runs
away and no one else is qualified to perform the ceremony.'

This statement elicited a much bigger and noisier round of cheers
than the fact that Graham had won the money.

`Thank you Lieutenant.' Graham stepped down from the table as Siler
called for silence again.

`I'd like to propose a final toast. To Sam and Jack' Siler lifted
the wrench.

Across the room bottles of water, can's of soda and cups of tea and
coffee were all raised in unison.

`To Sam and Jack.'

***
Driving in my car
Christmas gonna take some time
Top to toe in tailbacks
Got red lights on the ways
But soon there'll be a freeway
My feet on holy ground
So I sing for you
Though you can't hear me
When I get through
And feel you near me
Driving in my car
Driving home for Christmas
***

Jack was running, getting faster and faster as he pounded his way
through the corridors, knowing there wasn't a moment to loose. He
reached the bridge of Thor's newest ship, named the `Enterprise' at
Jack's suggestion and almost shouted at the supreme commander.

`How fast can this ship get me home?'

`At maximum speed I could reach earth' Thor paused as if doing
calculations. `In time for Samantha Carter's wedding.'

`Then step on it buddy. I've got a wedding to get to.'

~
It had all started that morning at breakfast with the negotiating
team who Jack had been eating with. John Williams was the civilian
in charge and therefore the only person who wasn't officially out
ranked by Jack and who could speak his mind.

`You know that I'm gonna loose fifty bucks today?' John asked Jack
as he handed over the packet of fruit loops.

`On what?' The rest of the team had gone suspiciously silent,
waiting with baited breath. It was John who had told Jack to keep
his mouth shut in the negotiations and it looked like it was going
to be John who was going to give away the base's secret.

`On you and Colonel Carter.' He said it so matter of factly that you
would think it was nothing unusual, apart of course from Jack
spitting fruit loops across the table.

`Pardon me?'

`General even you can't be that blind.' The negotiator wasn't a
great fan of the military and every one else has skirted around the
issue when now was the time for straight talking. He might get
himself fired but he could always get another job and sometimes
someone had to be the one brave enough to say what everyone else was
thinking.

`I've only been at the SGC for six months and I feel like I know
everything about the pair of you. Your `will they, won't they'
romance has kept the gossip machine going along for nine years, so
much so that you have become an icon. And now you are going to nobly
sacrifice yourself and be a martyr just so she can marry someone she
doesn't love in hopes of having a normal life. The problem is that
although most people won't admit it they prefer something with a
happy ending to Romeo and Juliet.'

John was getting truly worked up now, feeling like he was getting a
weight of his chest, and everyone else's to. `And don't try and talk
to me about giving her the chance to be normal. You travel through a
giant blue puddle, visiting other planets and fighting aliens. Her
life will never be normal and she knows that. All that it would
take' John paused for breath and raised his hand to point at the
general. `Is for you to do what you are so good at and fight for
what you believe in. No one gets left behind huh? Well don't you
think that by quitting the SGC and letting Carter get away from you,
you are leaving not only Sam but all your friends behind as well?'

You would have heard a pin drop in the room as John finished and
waited for the General to land a fist in his jaw. Instead, Jack
threw back his chair and started to run.
~

As soon as Thor hit the accelerator to propel the Enterprise to
earth a green light flashed on his control panel, indicating that
someone was trying to communicate.

`Thor. This is the SGC.'

`General Hammond. As I informed the base yesterday I have all your
personnel and we are making good time on our return to earth.'

`Thank you.' The General replied. `Although that isn't why I called.
Is it possible I speak with General O'Neill on a personal matter.'

`Of course General. He is right here.' Thor motioned for Jack to
step forward.

`Jack son, this is awkward but I promised Jacob I would say
something.' Hammond's voice came clearly over the com link.

`Let me guess, sir' Jack interrupted. `I'm an idiot. I should have
told her I loved her years ago, I should have retired the moment she
offered to arm wrestle me so that we could go out and now I have to
do something before the wedding. Does that cover it?'

***
With a thousand memories
I take a look at the driver next to me
He's just the same
Though you can't hear me
When I get through
And feel you near me
***

As it was the night before the wedding Pete had temporarily moved to
a friend's house leaving Sam alone with her father.

`I think it is traditional on the night before the wedding to talk
about childhood memories. I just wish I could have made yours
happier.'

`Don't do this dad' Sam sat beside him. `You did a fantastic job
bringing Mark and I up.'

`I should have done more though. I should have been there more.'

`I couldn't have had a better father.' Sam reassured him by taking
his hand. `And I know Selmak would agree with me.'

`Tell me something Sam, what are your memories of Jack?' Jacob was
determined to try this one more time.

A little startled by the question Sam answered anyway, not wanting
her father to get any more depressed. At the moment Sam was angry at
Jack for the orders he had given about his capture, she knew now he
had been rescued. She was also deeply confused about her
conversation with Sara, something she hadn't talked about with
anyone.

`The first time I met Jack was in the briefing room. I thought he
was another chauvinist pig for about the first ten seconds. You know
I think that was the moment I knew our relationship would be
something special. I've grown so much under his command, I remember
really seeing him for the first time, when we were trapped together
in Antarctica and he kept me going.'

Sam's eyes took on a glazed appearance; she was lost in her
memories. `He was so good with Cassie, we've been through so much
together over the past nine years, it's hard to know where to start.'

`But he has hurt you?'

`Oh yes, Laira in particular, but I hurt him with Narim, Martouf and
Pete.'

`And the Zatarc detector?' Jacob queried.

`You know that is probably one of my best memories? We had an excuse
to tell each other that however well hidden the feelings were they
existed.'

`What did you tell Anise?' The question was irresistible.

`That he meant the world to me, that not only that I would die for
him but that I would live for him. And that that wasn't allowed.'

`Jack's retiring.' Jacob stated. `When did you fall in love with
him?'

`The first time I looked into this eyes.'

`And when did the feelings change?' Jacob was on a roll.

`They haven't' Sam admitted.

`Goodnight Sam.' Jacob turned from his only daughter, she had a
great deal of thinking to do and this was a decision that she needed
to make herself.

`Night dad.'



***
Driving in my car
Driving home for Christmas
Driving home for Christmas
I'm driving home for Christmas
With a thousand memories
***

Getting in to work that morning had been difficult. Getting in on
time had been impossible. Luckily there had been a heavy fall of
snow that Jen could blame traffic on and so no one really minded. If
she was honest she hadn't really got that much work done today, for
some reason her mind wasn't on the job, it kept floating back to
last night.

After Paul had let her into his house they had sat on his sofa,
talked, pretended to watch a movie and kissed a lot more. Then he
had taken her to bed. She swore she could still see the fireworks.

It was four o'clock in the afternoon now and she was just waiting
for Paul to collect her. It had been a strange day today, first her
new relationship which half the base already seemed to know about,
and then saying goodbye to Sam and Jack. As one of Sam's friends she
couldn't believe that that relationship was actually over.

`Hey.' Paul smiled as he walked into the office.

`What do you look so happy about?' Jen joked.

`I've just spoken to General Hammond. As of ten minutes ago I'm
retired.'

`Oh yes?'

`Yes. So now I can do this.' He walked over, kissed Jen in front of
all her colleagues and picked her up. `It's time to go home.'

Unfortunately Paul's romantic gesture was interrupted by Walter who
was literally bouncing down the corridor shouting something
incomprehensible. Davis felt a duty to stop him before he hurt
himself or someone else.

`Slow down Walter.'

The technician turned to them and babbled incoherently.

`Take a deep breath and start again.'

Finally Walter was speaking clearly enough to be understood.

`I was in the gateroom when General Hammond came in with a message
for General O'Neill. Then the General, General O'Neill that is, said
that he was an idiot and he loved Colonel Carter and that he was
going to stop the wedding.'

`Are you serious?' Was the only response that Hailey could give. As
Walter nodded she turned to her new boyfriend. `Then this is going
to be an interesting Christmas.'

I'd love feedback if you feel so inclined…......... Jenny L
bray_4_amber@...