A/N: This is a pairing I've never seen before. Let me know what you think.
The Principle of Existence
Prologue
Daniel walked through the corridors of the SGC with his nose buried in the stack of papers. Not at all unusual. Naturally, he wasn't watching where he was going and ran into someone. The other person landed on the floor, the papers fluttering down like some strange snowfall. He looked down at a pretty face with big green eyes and long red hair in a ponytail. She was dressed in khaki BDU's and was covered in Daniel's research.
"Oh, sorry! Sorry!" He extended a hand and helped Captain Laura Cadman back to her feet. "I…"
"…wasn't watching where you were going? It's okay. The only thing injured is my pride." Laura crouched to help Daniel pick up the papers now spread all over the floor. "They warned me this could happen." She murmured.
"You don't have to…"
"It's the least I can do after getting in your way." She looked at some of the pages covered with unreadable script. Well, unreadable to her. "What is all this?"
"It's text SG-7 brought back from a survey of P99-X70 a couple of weeks ago. I'm trying to translate it." Daniel watched her eyes glaze over the longer she looked at the script.
"It's…interesting, Doctor Jackson." Laura passed the sheets back to Daniel. He's cute in a geeky kind of way, she thought.
"Daniel, Captain, uh…" He looked at her name stitched on the front of her uniform. "…Cadman. Could I buy you a cup of coffee as an apology for knocking you down?"
"Laura. And coffee would be great." They fell into step together. "Then maybe you can explain some of…" She handed him the last few pages she'd retrieved, "…whatever this is."
In the Mess Hall Daniel and Laura talked about everything but work. They were enjoying a companionable silence when Laura decided to introduce another subject they hadn't talked about.
"I was very sorry to hear about Vala." She toyed nervously with her nearly empty coffee cup.
The archaeologist dropped his eyes to the table. "Thanks."
"Were you and she…"
"Our relationship was…complicated."
"I'm sorry I brought it up, Daniel." Laura murmured with an apologetic frown.
Daniel reached across the table and wrapped his fingers around hers. "Don't be. It's been a while so it's better than it was." She turned her hand palm up and gave his a squeeze.
Laura checked the time and reluctantly released him then pushed back from the table. "As enjoyable as this was up until I put my foot in my mouth, I have to get back to work."
"I need to go, too." He stood as well picking up his stack of papers. "This stuff won't translate itself."
"I'm sure you'll figure it out."
"Thanks." He gave her one of his most endearing smiles, pushed his glasses back up his nose and was gone.
Laura watched him go then turned around and found he'd left several pages of his whatever it was on the table. She gathered them together so she could return them after the training session with her team.
Across the room, Sam watched from behind her PC tablet. She grinned and thought, They make a cute couple. I'll have to watch and see how it turns out.
A/N: Many thanks to LoneRanger1. I know he's busy with his Dark Frontier series so I am especially thankful that he was able to assist with this story.
The Principle of Existence
Chapter 1
Landry's Office
Laura knocked on the door and waited for General Landry to acknowledge her. He motioned her in and she noted idly that the cover of the report he was reading indicated that it was super top secret. For anyone below the rank of Brigadier General it was need-to-know only and even then it would be strongly questioned by the powers that be.
Standing at attention, Laura waited patiently. Finally, Landry set aside the report then folded his hands together in front of him. His laptop workstation was closed and in power saver mode indicating that he hadn't used it in a while. Not that it was any of her business when and how often he used his computer. It was just an observation.
"Thank you for coming, Captain. Please…" he gestured "…have a seat." The Captain perched on the edge of the chair as if preparing to jump up and run away like a frightened rabbit. "I'll get right to the point. You're being transferred."
Laura was almost too astonished to speak. "Transferred, sir?"
Landry smiled indulgently. "Don't look so glum, Laura. You're just transferring to SG-1."
"Um, why, sir?"
"You'll be replacing Carter who will be taking on another assignment." The Air Force Captain opened her mouth to speak but the General beat her to it. "Also, Teal'c will be leaving the team as well. Temporarily at least. Seems he has business offworld that will keep him away a while. His replacement will be…" he consulted a sheet of paper under his hands "…Gunnery Sergeant Jerry Brackman."
"I see. May I ask…"
"No, you may not." Landry chuckled softly at her wide-eyed expression of surprise. "All will be revealed at the formal briefing later today." He stood. "Dismissed, Captain."
Laura stood, came to attention, made a perfect about face and departed.
Daniel was sipping his coffee, reading a newly published book on the architectural trappings of the early Etruscan people. He took a bite of a chocolate covered donut just as Sam sat down in front of him with a tray holding an orange, a small bowl of fresh vegetables and a brick of sugar-free black cherry Jell-O. Daniel raised an eyebrow and deadpanned, "That's an…interesting diet."
Sam shrugged and began to meticulously cut the Jell-O into smaller segments using her knife. "I've been sitting all day working at the computer. I don't need anymore."
Sensing a small rebuke at his own habits, Daniel set the book down. "I guess one of us has to be a health freak to offset everyone else."
Sam snickered as she reached out to snatch the book from under his hand and examine the cover. "Oh, don't worry. I'm not gonna start packing wheatgrass and noni juice on our next mission." Her eyebrows came together as she looked it over. "If you're not sleeping well, this oughtta do it."
He gave her a sarcastic grin. "No. Just some…" Daniel snatched the book back, "…light reading."
Peeling her orange, Sam gave Daniel an incredulous look. "Daniel…"
Given her tone of voice, Daniel knew right away what she was about to say and interrupted. "Sam…"
They both stared at each other for a moment, Daniel tried to get her to understand with his gaze that he was handling it, but Sam's almost giddy glee in her eyes broke through his defenses. "You could just ask her."
"And by her you mean…"
"Laura Cadman."
He could've pretended not to know what she was talking about but he just wanted get it over with. His right shoulder lifted in a shrug. "I'm…getting…around…to it."
Sam motioned at the book as she raised an orange slice to her mouth. "And the Etruscans can help…how?"
Daniel was proud that Sam could pronounce Etruscan, not like a certain Colonel whom he'd been avoiding on the off-chance he'd somehow found out about this. "It helps me relax."
Sam finished chewing the orange slice and shrugged. "Well…there's such a thing as too much recon."
Daniel furrowed his brow. "Huh?"
Sam reached for a piece of celery then explained. "I get it. You wanna know what's going on before you go on the offensive. The problem is accurate intelligence is impossible because you can't be in two places at once. Sometimes you just have to breach the border and launch an alpha strike." As if to emphasize her point she took a huge crunchy bite of the celery stick.
Blinking in confusion, Daniel didn't understand any of it, nearly choking on a bite of donut. "Excuse me!"
Sam continued. "An alpha strike is when you launch everything you have in one massive salvo. It's used as a first strike tactic in the hopes that there won't be any resistance afterwards…at least none worth mentioning. It sure as hell beats a long drawn out conflict."
Resisting the urge to scratch his temple in confusion, Daniel tried to understand what Sam was advising. "So you're saying…go on the offensive or else Laura and I will end up in a prolonged clash of opposing forces?"
A somewhat odd smile came to Sam's face, and she nodded gently. "Yeah…now you get it."
Still unsure of what exactly Sam was telling him, Daniel finished his coffee and picked his book up. "Right…I'll uh…get right on that."
Sam smiled and waved. "Good luck!" Laughing, she ducked when he threw his balled up napkin at her.
Later In the Gate Room
General Landry stepped to the podium, gripping the sides as he looked around the room at the soldiers and civilians assembled. Everyone was in their "Sunday best."
"Thank you for coming. This won't take long so let's just get to it." He stood up straight as he reached into his pocket and removed a small box.
"Colonel Carter, please step forward." Daniel gave Sam a questioning look but she responded with a slight smile as she came forward to stand next to Landry. He removed the silver eagles from her collar, picked up the box, flipped open the top and removed a pair of silver stars which he attached in their place.
"Samantha Carter, for your dedicated service in the United States Air Force above and beyond the call of duty, you are hereby advanced to the rank of Brigadier General." They saluted and Sam stood at his side. "At this time I must inform all of you that as of tomorrow…I will be retiring." The soldiers bore the news stoically and with military decorum but there was a slight murmur of shock among the civilians. "General Carter will be the new commander of the SGC. I know you will afford her the same courtesy and respect that you have shown all previous commanders. Ladies and gentlemen, civilians and military, I give to you, General Samantha Carter."
Carter's surprise washed over him but she'd been a soldier too long to fail in protocol. She stood up straight, her gaze focused straight ahead as her hand came up and executed a salute which General Landry and all military personnel present returned.
The Next Afternoon
Daniel appeared in the doorway of Sam's office leaning casually against the doorjamb with his arms crossed. He watched her packing personal items into a pair of boxes on the desk. "Congratulations, Sam."
Sam's head snapped up. She hadn't heard him come in. "Thanks. It's, um, a bit much to take in all at once."
The archaeologist stepped forward scratching his head glancing around as if unsure of his location. "I'm sorry but I thought I was in the soon-to-be former office of Samantha Carter. The same Samantha Carter who blew up a sun, spent a year as commander of Atlantis, and had a big hand in the defeat of the Goa'uld and the Ori."
"It's not that. It's…well, I knew I was up for a promotion but I…didn't expect to be given command of the SGC."
"Jack didn't say anything about it the last time you saw him?"
She stopped with her hand still in the box and an expression that was part confusion, part annoyance. "What makes you think I've seen him recently?"
"You were in DC a few weeks ago and I assumed you talked to him while you were there."
Thrusting a hip to the side she sighed giving in. She was too tired to play their usual game. "You're right. We went to dinner with my brother and his wife…" she looked down at the floor then turned back to her packing "…and Jack's new girlfriend. She's the liaison between Homeworld and Homeland Security."
Daniel realized too late that he'd stuck his foot in his mouth. "Oh, uh, I'm sorry."
"No, it's fine. It's not like he and I were anything but…"
"Co-workers? Friends?"
Sam nodded reluctantly as she reached for the last piece of memorabilia on the credenza behind the desk. It was a framed photo of SG-1 with the Stargate in the background. She and Jack were in the middle, Daniel to her right and Teal'c to Jack's left. It was taken after their first official mission as a team. She stared at it for all of eight seconds then placed it face down in the box. "Make yourself useful and get that other box for me."
"Yes, General." Daniel did as she asked and followed her out. "You realize this means you won't be going offworld as often."
"I know and I'm going to miss it but I knew this day was coming. I just didn't think it would be quite so soon."
"So you had no idea that Landry was considering retirement?"
They reached a T-junction and made a left. "None. But then he and I have never made small talk. It's always been about the job."
"I've noticed that he and Carolyn have worked out most of their differences since they've been here." Daniel said by way of observation. "Part of it may be that…"
"…that no one knew they were father and daughter when they were offered their posts at the SGC?" Daniel nodded. "Yeah. Carolyn got here on her own merits and not because her dad put in a good word for her." She was remembering when Jacob had tried to do the same for her with NASA totally ignorant of his daughter's real job. "That went a long way toward healing any rift they had."
"True."
They both lapsed into silence. After a quick look around to make sure they were alone Sam asked, "So, uh, all still quiet on the Western front?"
Daniel's mind had drifted. "Huh? Oh, uh, yeah, so far." He avoided looking at her.
Sam bumped his shoulder with hers. "You haven't even made a tentative strike on her borders, have you?"
The archaeologist shifted the box to one arm so he could push his glasses back up his nose. "If by strike you mean…"
Sam snorted in frustration. "Have you asked her out yet?"
"Then no, not…exactly. We, uh, did bump into each other in the Mess Hall the other night…but Cam invited himself to sit with us before…" He kept his eyes averted from her intense blue gaze.
Sam rolled those blue eyes. "That's not the same and you know it."
"Yes, but…" Daniel said as he followed Sam into the office. They both came up short when they saw that the previous occupant was still in residence.
"General Landry, sir! We thought you'd gone. We'll just…"
"No need. I'll be out of here in short order." They all turned toward the door at a knock. It was a Corporal with a flatbed cart. Landry nodded and the young man began stacking boxes on the cart. "Have these shipped to my home address."
Sam and Daniel noticed that their former commander was in civilian dress, khakis, a long-sleeved t-shirt, fishing vest and deck shoes. At their dazed expressions he explained. "I have a weekend of fishing planned. General O'Neill has generously offered me the use of his cabin."
Daniel exchanged a look with Sam. "Uh, General…"
"Call me Hank, Daniel. The General part ended as of…" he glanced at the clock on the desk before setting it in the last of the boxes and replacing the lid, "…right now."
"Okay. Hank. About Jack's lake…"
"There're no fish in it."
Daniel's eyebrows rose to meet his hairline as he and Sam placed the boxes on the now uncluttered desk top. "Yeah. That's right."
"And you want to know why I would go fishing where there are no fish." He came out from behind the desk as the Corporal pushed the cart out the door and down the hall. "It's not about catching fish, Doctor. It's about relaxing, taking stock, letting your mind wander. Sort of like rebooting the operating system." While they digested his words he extended a hand to each of them. "Sam. Daniel. Good luck."
"You too, sir."
Landry gave them both one last smile and nod then headed for the elevator without looking back.
"Unscheduled offworld activation!" Walter Harriman's voice resounded from the PA system. Two squads of soldiers entered from both sides of the Gate Room and took up defensive positions just as Sam arrived to stand beside the worried looking Sergeant. His worry deepened as he announced, "I'm getting Captain Cadman's IDC. SG teams one, seven and fourteen are coming in hot with wounded!" Behind the squads of Marines stood medics with gurneys and an assortment of medical gear.
At Sam's nod Walter lowered the shield and bullets began pinging off the walls and reinforced window of the Control Room making the occupants duck instinctively.
During their run to the Stargate, Laura, the first to arrive, had taken refuge behind the DHD. The rest of her team, SG-7 and -14 were hiding within the treeline covering her back while she dialed. Unfortunately, the Earth humans were outnumbered at least three to one-a conservative estimate on her part-making it very difficult to dial home without getting shot.
An idea popped into her head. She patted her pockets then pulled out a couple of smoke grenades. Tapping her headset she informed the group and told them to wait for her signal then run like hell.
In the bushes twenty meters to the left of the DHD Mitchell rolled his eyes and got his feet under him in preparation for the run to the 'gate while he pulled out grenades of his own. He muttered under his breath something about "that crazy redhead" and hoping Ethel was at home with Fred.
Daniel was on the ground next to Mitchell. Blood trickled from a cut on his forehead and his left arm was wrapped around his waist. He was certain he'd bruised or cracked a couple of ribs. In response to Laura's plan he sent good thoughts in her direction vowing that he would ask her to dinner…as soon as he could walk upright unaided. He had to do it before Sam took the initiative and did it for him…and she would!
On the opposite side Gunny Brackman snorted while he too pulled out grenades. He handed one to Captain Deever who'd taken a round in the thigh.
Laura sent the signal, pulled the pin on a smoke grenade then rolled it down the path. It detonated and provided instant cover, her signal. She fired in the general direction of the enemy to discourage them then waited for a lull. In the periphery of her vision she saw that the others had put her plan into action and smoke had completely obscured the surrounding area. The shots that had previously pinged and ricocheted off the Stargate and DHD began missing. She popped up and quickly dialed Atlantis. The wormhole shot out of the 'gate and settled into the blue puddle illusion. She sent her IDC then returned fire turning left and right. "This is SG-1. We're coming in under fire with wounded!" The wind kicked up and began blowing the smokescreen away.
She didn't wait for a reply, just swore as she dove to the ground when a concentrated barrage of fire whizzed over her head. Seconds later, they made their run. A few of the injured were supported by their comrades though most of the others were able to make it to the 'gate under their own power.
Lieutenant Smythe and Doctor Jones of SG-7 and all of SG-14 did their best to protect the others. Major Labonte, though injured, was doing his best to protect his people, firing first one way then another and shouting for them to hurry.
Mitchell brought up the rear firing as he walked backwards while trying to assist Daniel who could barely stand on his own. When they reached the stairs to the Stargate Daniel called out, "Laura! Come on!"
"Go! I'm right behind you!" She continued to fire at their attackers but the men refused leave her.
"Cadman! Now!" Mitchell shouted above the noise.
"Yes, sir!" Laura let off another volley of fire, turned, slipped her arm around Daniel's other side and the three crossed the event horizon into the SGC. Mitchell used his superior strength to throw the three of them down out of the line of fire. They rolled down the ramp and the 'gate shut down seconds later but not before one last round of gunfire pinged off the walls and railing.
Daniel lay on the floor moaning in pain, Laura half on top of him. She pushed herself off while Mitchell climbed to his feet. Together they helped the scientist to stand. "Ow! Man down!"
"Medic! Doctor Jackson's injured!" Laura shouted as a pair of medics came forward to take Daniel in hand and help him to a gurney. They gave him a quick examination then wheeled him away.
TBC