Déjà Vu

Tag to Children of the Gods

George Hammond thought he was hallucinating – just like that very weird day in 1969.

That can't be the fourth one, he thought as he watched the huge man with the gold tattoo hand his staff weapon to Captain Carter.

Yet he knew it was. He'd been waiting for this moment for years.

Just like he knew he'd eventually be part of the Stargate program. Just like he knew Sam would start working on the possibility of time travel using the 'gate, even if that part was of his making. Just like he knew Jack O'Neill would cop to the half-truth about the bomb he'd detonated. Just like he knew Dr. Jackson would be there on Abydos and come back home to Earth.

Just like he knew SG-1 would be back today, even when they'd missed the deadline.

Finally he had the team he encountered nearly three decades ago together.

He worked hard not to show the grin he felt ready to erupt when the four people comprising the team known as SG-1 stood at the foot of the ramp. Instead, he played the role of an Air Force general struggling to control the mayhem in the 'gate room and show the expected surprise and exertion of command at O'Neill's request to have an alien assigned to SG-1.

Once everyone but the detail assigned to 'gate room duty and SG-1 were out, Hammond caught up his second in command. "Samuels, see to it that the alien named Teal'c, the one with the gold emblem on his forehead, gets a room of his own. He'll be staying here."

"But General –"

"Under the proper guard and surveillance, Major," he interrupted. Hammond knew that was unnecessary, but he still had a show to put on and the orders from his superiors that would surely follow. "In fact, have Colonel O'Neill get him squared away. Understood?"

Samuels knitted his brow enough to telegraph to his CO that he didn't approve of that plan. Nevertheless, he said, "Yes, sir. I'll take care of it."

The general shook off the urge to boot Samuels off base. Something about that man had never sat quite right with him. Too much by the book. Not much of a critical thinker or one to take risks. That wouldn't fly in this command. This command needed people like Jack O'Neill and Sam Carter. Yes, even an alien and an archeologist. Thankfully, Samuels was due for a promotion – and he'd most likely be out of here.

"See to it that you do. I'll be in my office. I've got a few phone calls to make."

Minutes later, while he was waiting for his superior at the Pentagon to leave his meeting to take his call, Hammond mindlessly wrote on a pad of paper. As usual, he wasn't surprised to see two sets of dates and times written there. He'd written that information countless times over the years when he wasn't consciously thinking about it. Someday, when O'Neill's hair was a bit gray, while Sam was still a captain, he'd write those dates and times one final time, adding "Help them" to the note.

Now he let his big grin come out of hiding. This was going to be a spectacular ride, the best E ticket ever, into a retirement that he hoped wouldn't come for many years.

The End

Thanks to CoriKay for once again taking on beta duty.