Unfair Game

Author: BadgerGater

Email: [email protected]

Category: sequel to Fair Game

Pairing: None

Rating: PG

Season: Three

Summary: A few thoughts, and a few words, from Jack about the negotiations

and Carter's promotion

Warnings: A few adult words; Jack thinks, and makes a speech

Disclaimer: Stargate SG-1 and its characters are the property of Showtime/Viacom, MGM/UA, Double Secret Productions, Gekko Productions; all the powers that be, not me; This story is for entertainment purposes only and no money exchanged hands. No copyright infringement intended. The story is the property of the author and may not be posted without the author's consent.

Author's Notes: This little ficlet has been on my harddrive for a really long time

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What had I done?

Just doomed the whole damn planet?

Why me? Why couldn't these damn aliens leave me alone? Why couldn't they pick somebody who was a diplomat, somebody who was good with words? Somebody who didn't hate the damn Goa'uld? Somebody who didn't shudder just to be in the same room with the friggin' snakeheads, because I remember what it was like to have one of them trying to crawl inside my own head?

Somebody whose brain didn't feel overloaded by all the briefings that were designed to stuff it full of last-minute information?

Did they *want* these negotiations to fail?

I'm not a diplomat. I'm not good with words. I'm no good at compromise. I see things in black and white, good vs. evil, us vs. them. I'm not the man you ought to have negotiating for the future of the planet.

Why me? Why not Daniel? General Hammond? The Secretary of Defense? The President? The gateroom technicians? The janitors? Anyone but me. Please.

Lord, I have a headache.

How could such a good day have turned into such a disaster? The other day, the one that started with the Secretary visiting, and all of these good people here getting honored, honored for saving my sorry butt. If they hadn't found us when they did, thank God, I'd be a Goa'uld myself, I remember with a shudder.

Funny, I don't actually remember how we got ourselves into that mess with Hathor, but I'll never forget how we got out. The General told me about his calls for volunteers and how the whole gateroom full of them stepped forward, all those good men who came to rescue us. A lot of them, far too many, didn't come home. Yeah, I remind myself it wasn't just to rescue me, it was Daniel and Carter and Teal'c, too, all invaluable assets to the SGC.

And we did need to put an end to Hathor, so there being one less Goa'uld in the universe may have been worth a few of those lives. Still, it was a huge price to pay for my screw up. Hammond said it wasn't my fault that we got into that mess, that Hathor's trap was unavoidable, but I'm not sure. I was the commander, and my team got captured, so I'm culpable, no matter what the General says.

So I stood on that platform, next to Mr. Secretary, with very mixed feelings. Sorrow, over the lives lost. Gratitude, for what my fellow SG personnel had done for us. Relief, that SG-1 was still alive. Pride, over my 2IC's promotion, relishing the little secret we were springing on her.

And why do these damn aliens have to have such bad timing, huh? Ruining Carter's big day, our big surprise, and that party we had planned. You know, I spent like three days working on that damn speech. I wanted it to be just right, to let her know how much I respect her. To maybe take back a little of that shit I gave her the day she walked into the SGC.

I don't think I'll ever live down that damn arm wrestle comment. Ferretti won’t let me.

So okay, at the time I first met Carter, I had uttered a little white lie. Right about then, what with what had happened between me and Sara, I actually didn't much like women, any woman, anywhere. Didn't want to see one, be with one, have to look at one and I sure as hell didn't want to have to work with one. No sirree, not this guy who'd just gotten kicked in the guts, or maybe a tad lower, to put it delicately, by some nasty little papers titled divorce decree.

I give Carter a lot of guff, okay, I give everyone a lot of guff, but I'm harder on people I like, and respect, those people I know can take it. I know I expect a lot of her, but that's because I also know she can do the job. How many times has she pulled our behinds out of the fire? She's rescued the team, the SGC, the Earth, me, more times than I can count.

I can't imagine how much harder it's been for her as a woman, to earn what she's earned and do what she's done. And smart? She's so smart it's downright frightening.

So there was her moment to shine, to be in the spotlight, to get the honors she deserved, and the damn Roswell guys had to jump in right then and snatch me right off the podium.

But what happens? Good old Thor yanks me out of the gateroom right in the middle of Carter's promotion ceremony and dumps into my lap the fate of the Earth negotiations with those over-dressed, under-principled snakeheads. And then he won't give me any hints, any clues, not even one single, solitary card under the table to help me out. Bad enough to make me the negotiator, then on top of it leave me in the dark about what's really happening.

Thor's people, sure they're cute little guys, but sneaky. Very sneaky.

The fact that in the end it all turned out so well had nothing to do with me. It actually had a lot more to do with Daniel's ability to grovel, Carter's ability to use that nifty little hand-held healing device, the Goa'ulds inability to work together on anything, and plain old fashioned pure dumb luck.

I talked on the phone to the President this morning, he thanked me, and then the Secretary of Defense, he thanked me some more before he left, but I wish they wouldn't have. I don't deserve it. See, I'm just a military man, a warrior, not a negotiator, not an intermediary. Of course, that is the military for you, promote a guy out of a job he's good at, and into something he hasn't got a clue how to do.

So, speaking of promotions, General Hammond set up this little gathering today, sort of a peace offering to Carter, because she never got to hear my speech and have her promotion party. Maybe the General just wanted to make me give that speech, probably thought I didn't actually have one written. Wanted to know if I could do it. Huh. I'll show him.

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I tugged at the collar of my shirt, smoothed my spiky hair back into place and stepped to the podium once again.

"You all know I am usually a man of few words, and I won't disappoint you today.

"Some of you here may also think I can be a little difficult to work with <chuckles from the audience>, Major Carter, on the other hand, *knows* I can be a little difficult to work with, because for over two years she has had to work with me. She knows I expect a lot of the people on my team.

"Some of you here may also know that I initially didn't exactly want the then Captain Carter on my team <more chuckles, big ones from the General, and Ferretti>. Today I'm here to tell you I was wrong about that.

"Captain Carter pulled our sixes, my six, out of the fire more times than I care to remember. Her technical knowledge, her never-quit attitude, her enthusiasm and constant quest for knowledge, and her quiet courage are credits to her as an officer and a teammate. Her skills are invaluable to the Air Force, the SGC and SG-1.

"Whether our battle was against an alien enemy out there <I shiver, remembering Hathor> like the Goa'uld, or a force of nature, like the black hole, we have all relied on Captain Carter to perform above and beyond the call of duty. And she has always responded, even when asked to accomplish the impossible.

"I know I don't have to tell you that what we do here is of truly incredible importance. It has required the utmost from all of us; it has never been easy, and as we continue to explore out there," I said, waving at the Stargate behind me, "it will not become any easier. We have found many wonders out there, but we have also found danger and intrigue; enemies as well as allies; and our lost brothers and sisters from long ago." I nod at Teal'c.

"Yet, though the dangers are many, the rewards are beyond measure, and we must continue to seek them: new allies, new technologies and new knowledge.

"Captain Samantha Carter, now Major Carter, has proven herself to be an exemplary officer and it is with great pride that we salute her past accomplishments and look forward to her continued excellent work in the service of her country, and her world.

"Major Carter, it is indeed an honor serving with you." I saluted, putting a little extra snap into it, to show my pride and respect, and she responded likewise, before I turned and walked away from the podium.

As I walked past her, I whispered, "kind of nice not to get snatched out of the middle of the speech, this time."

Carter grinned.

I did too, relieved the speechmaking and the negotiating was over and SG-1 could get back to doing what it does best, exploring the universe.

After the party, of course, big honkin' blow-out bash party. We don't get much chance to have those, and she deserved it, Major Carter.

Major Carter.

It will take a bit of getting used to, but it sounds damn good.

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