DISCLAIMER: I only borrowed them for a while. MGM and whoever can
have them back whenever they want.
SERIES: The eleventh in a series of vignettes from those close to Sam/Janet.
SPOILER: None really. Set end season 7 BUT in my AU universe for
Darkspell/Dawnspell ie. Janet is alive and Sam has the download.
ARCHIVING: Only with the permission of the author
Outside Looking In:
Dr Elizabeth Weir
By Celievamp
What the hell have I got myself into?
I stare at the faces around the table. I'm used to talking my way through life or death situations, arbitrating on disputes that could mean the needless bloody death of thousands, sometimes hundreds of thousands but here I'm in the middle of something that could mean the death of every man, woman and child on this planet.
But first of all I have to arbitrate a pissing contest between the Vice President of the United States and an Air Force Colonel who obviously have way too much history between them and a backstory I don't have time to deal with right now.
If what that man – Master Brata'c – said is true, and I have no reason to doubt him, a being called Anubis will arrive from space in three days time and will wipe us all out. There can be no reasoning with him, no negotiation. We fight or we die. Given what I have just found out in all probability we will fight and we will still die.
I'm not sure that I can work with O'Neill. Given that Kinsey tried to prejudice me against him as much as possible on the way down here I am trying to give him the benefit of the doubt. He is brash, sarcastic and doesn't suffer fools gladly. But his record tells me that he is loyal, inventive, a damn fine commander in the field and not afraid to do the wrong thing for the right reason. And vice-versa. His team members Major Carter, Dr Jackson and Teal'c would (and have) follow him into hell before now if he said it was necessary.
I am pleasantly surprised that given the military setup I am not the only woman in the room. The two women sitting opposite me are here by right, most definitely on merit. They are both highly decorated officers, renowned in their respective scientific disciplines. Dr Fraiser I know by reputation – an incident in the field last month where she very nearly died precipitated my arrival here. As for Major Carter… apart from Daniel Jackson she is most probably the reason that we are all sitting here today. He may have opened the Stargate but she keeps it running. Like her Commanding Officer she is not afraid to do the wrong thing for the right reason. Hence her current medical condition.
They are a still point in the room. Physical opposites yet even given the need for decorum in this military setting the closeness between them is palpable. Major Carter looks tired, almost frail. Dr Fraiser's concern for her is written into every fabric of her being. Her body language is fascinating. Remind me not to get on her bad side. So far during this meeting I have been the recipient of several perceptive assessing looks from both of them.
Another couple of snarling asides from Messrs Kinsey and O'Neill. I watch the two women glance at each other. A lot of unspoken communication there. They're very comfortable with each other. Kinsey hinted at something, how did he put it `unnatural' going on between them. I will have to make it clear to these people very quickly that although I am Kinsey's appointee I do not share his agenda or his prejudices. I stand alone here. But I need allies.
Dr Jackson will be an ally. Teal'c is an unknown. Our battle is his battle but not his primary concern any more. Colonel O'Neill – it depends how he takes any stand I make against Kinsey. If it feels genuine to him (and it will be, believe me) then I could just be his new best friend. But I have three other big hurdles to cross with him before we get anywhere: I am not military, I am not a man and I am not George Hammond.
I hope Major Carter and Dr Fraiser will be allies. I hope they will be friends. For us all to survive the coming days we are going to need all the friends we can get.
The End