I first wrote this as a sequel to my story 'What Are You Doing New Year's Eve?' posted nearly three years ago. Since it makes better sense if you read that one first, I've decided to post it as a second chapter, rather than a separate story.

The President here is Mackenzie Allen, from the TV series Commander-in-Chief (2005-2006), starring Geena Davis—who played the part to perfection! I guess that makes this a bit of a cross-over. In this little AU, Allen succeeded Henry Hayes as President—which completely messes with the C-in-C premise, and thus I'm only posting it on SG1. The story takes place at some point after the end of the Stargate series. Don't try too hard to pin it down!

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

TEA AT THE WHITE HOUSE

Sam was utterly distraught. She sat on the bed cross-legged, fidgeting, almost in tears, as Jack was getting into his dress blues for his breakfast meeting with the President. She had been unable to fall back to sleep after he arrived last night. Even when they made love she was distracted. Her embarrassment outweighed every other emotion!

"I have to apologize!" she said for perhaps the tenth time. "I have to write her a note! God! Can you be court-martialed for hanging up on the President? Or... or arrested? Jack, what have I done! Should I send her flowers with the apology? Oh, God, Jack! What if she takes it out on you? What if..."

"Hush, Sam," he said softly. He paused in tying his tie to look over at her. There were tears on her cheeks and she looked absolutely adorable, with her huge, mournful blue eyes gazing at him in misery. He resisted the urge to grin—that would not be a good idea at this point! At the same time a wave of sympathy swept over him at her distress. He dropped the tie in mid-knot and went to sit beside her and wrap an arm around her. Even as upset as she was, she had the presence of mind not to cry into his shoulder and spoil his dress shirt, and instead kept her face turned away. He took a tissue from the box on the night- stand and handed it to her.

"Thanks..." she mumbled, turning even farther aside to blow her nose. "I'm so sorry, Jack. It was stupid of me! I should have checked the caller ID, or recognized her voice. I was just so exhausted and the phone woke me..."

He stroked his hand across her elfin-short hair—he thought she was so cute with it cut this way! "Will you stop—please. I told you she was not offended. She even teased me about who was in my bed!" When Sam cringed a bit at that, he hurried on. "It was her idea to have the Odyssey beam me back here. Of course, that way she could make sure I'll get to the meeting this morning. She sounded pretty pleased with herself about that, actually."

Sam covered her face with her hands. "Omigod! I'm so embarrassed." She looked up at him with eyes brimming, almost making him consider skipping the meeting! He leaned down and kissed her lips, and she accepted the comfort gratefully, but moved away after only a few seconds. "I don't want to leak all over you," she explained. "I'm going to write an apology right now. Will you give it to her?"

"Sure, I can do that," he said, dropping a kiss on her forehead and standing up. He returned to the mirror to finish with his tie. She got off the bed and headed out to find some notepaper. "Sam." His voice stopped her at the door. "I really think flowers would be overkill."

xxx

He handed Sam's note to President Allen when he first arrived and they were alone, before the Air Force Chief of Staff arrived. Allen opened it and read it through and then laughed heartily.

"That was sweet," she said. "But not necessary." She slipped the note into her jeans pocket as the door opened to admit General Benning.

xxx

When Jack arrived home around 10:30, after an excellent breakfast and a productive meeting, he found Sam, flushed and alternating between excitement and despair, in the bedroom with every stitch of clothing she kept at the Alexandria house spread out over the bed and chairs.

"What's going on?" he asked, looking around in confusion.

"The White House called; the President invited me to tea, Jack! At 3:30 this afternoon! In the Residence!" Her naturally large eyes were as big as saucers. "And I can't find anything to wear! What am I going to wear?" She was looking frantically from one item to another. "Her secretary said 'informal' but I'm sure that means more dress-up than anything I own! Jack! Did you give her the note? I mean..."

"Yes, of course I did... as soon as I got there. She read it and said it was sweet."

She breathed a sigh of relief. "Okay. I was afraid you might have forgotten, and she was summoning me to... to... to cut off my head!" she finished in an explosive mixture of anxiety and weird humor.

Jack laughed and shook his head. "She's not the Queen of Hearts, Sam." He put his arms around her. "Or was that the Red Queen? Either way, calm down. We'll find something. There's even time for you to go buy a dress if you need to."

"Jack, it's New Year's Day! None of the good stores will be open!"

"Well, you must have something here. How about this?" He picked up a sleeveless black mini-skirted number that he loved seeing her in.

"No! No, no! She'd think I'm a streetwalker! Jack! Don't you have any clothes sense?"

"Nope. Why d'you think I joined the military?" he quipped. "But I do know what looks good on you."

She rolled her eyes and went back to perusing her wardrobe, picking up one item after another, eyeing each one from different angles and tossing it back down.

Jack began removing his uniform.

"What was she wearing this morning?" Sam demanded after a few minutes. When he looked at her blankly, she said in exasperation, "The President! What was she wearing?"

"I knew who you meant," he defended himself. "I was just trying to remember..."

"God, Jack!"

"We had breakfast upstairs in the family dining room," Jack said frowning, "and she was wearing... a pair of... jeans? maybe? And a sort of... tan... sweater-thingy. Yeah. I actually felt kind of overdressed!"

"Jeans? Really?"

"Well, she said something about the holiday, and taking a day off... relaxing..."

It took another hour to choose, but Sam finally settled on a pair of black cashmere straight-legged trousers, and a deep cerulean blue silk tank-top with a matching cardigan. She slipped her feet into high-heeled black dress boots. She loved the boots, but seldom wore them, because they made her tower over any other woman around—as well as many men! However, President Allen was almost as tall as Jack, so she wasn't worried. Even if the President was wearing flats, the worst Sam would do was match her height. She slipped dangly lapis and silver earrings into her ears.

She was dressed and ready a half-hour before the car sent by the White House arrived. Jack proclaimed her 'gorgeous', finally pulling her away from the foyer mirror where she was checking her make-up for the tenth time, and wrapping his arms around her. "Stop fidgeting," he advised. "It's only a tea party, and she doesn't bite."

Sam rolled her eyes again. "Only a tea party," she muttered.

Jack brought his mouth to hers and kissed her quite thoroughly. "I like you this tall. Easier on my back," he whispered. His lips worked their way along her jaw and neck, leaving her glassy-eyed. She forced herself to push away from him. He let her go, grinning. "Tonight," he whispered a promise. "After you tell me all about your tea party."

In the car Sam clenched her hands together to keep from fidgeting. Her stomach felt a little unsettled; she wished she'd eaten something at lunch! The drive from Alexandria took forty-five minutes, and had been timed perfectly. She was deposited at the visitors' entrance of the White House at exactly 3:25.

She was greeted at the door by an attractive woman about her own age, who introduced herself with a smile. "Good afternoon, Colonel Carter-O'Neill. I'm Marilyn Vance, President Allen's social secretary. Welcome to the White House."

Ms. Vance took Sam's coat, handing it off to a waiting usher, and then led Sam across the entrance foyer. Sam's heels rang out on the pink and white marble tiles, causing her steps to falter as she tried to step more softly. Ms. Vance smiled. "A little intimidating, isn't it?"

"You have no idea," Sam admitted shyly.

"Don't let it bother you." The secretary led her around a corner, and into an elevator. "We're going up to the third floor," Ms. Vance said, pressing a button. "The President will meet you in the Solarium." The elevator rose swiftly and smoothly.

They exited into the wide third floor Center Hall, which was lined with bookshelves and furnished with small groupings of loveseats, chairs and occasional tables. Halfway along the hall, they turned to the right, into a narrower passage which inclined upward and emerged at the end into a large, octagonal room, with huge windows all around, and an opaque glass ceiling.

"Wow," Sam said softly, walking over to an outer window. Between the columns of the Promenade, she could see the Washington Monument, and the low profile of the Lincoln Memorial in the distance.

"First Lady Grace Coolidge called the original sunroom the Sky Parlor. It was renovated in the 1950s. The glass ceiling was added just this past year." Ms Vance said. "Feel free to step out on the Promenade, if you want—although it's a little chilly today. But the sun is nice."

"Thank you."

"The President will be with you very shortly. I'll be happy to bring you something to drink now, if you'd like."

"Thank you," Sam said again. "I'll wait."

"Please make yourself comfortable." Marilyn Vance smiled again and left the room.

Sam crossed to a sofa in front of one of the windows and sat down. She looked around her. The room was furnished in green and gold, with comfortable sofas and armchairs, simple in design. A Christmas tree, on the east side of the room was decorated with multi-colored ornaments and tiny twinkling white lights. In front of the sofa where she sat was a glass-topped coffee table. Potted plants of all kinds and sizes were placed around the room. On table behind the sofa were several blooming orchids. But the best thing about the space was the sense of airy openness lent by the large expanse of glass.

Voices in the hallway caught her attention—the voices of two women, who apparently had paused at the far end of the passage. After a few moments, she heard footsteps approaching, and President Allen walked into the room. She stood as the President came toward her, smiling.

"Colonel Carter!" Mackenzie Allen was dressed in dark green trousers with a matching vest and lighter green blouse. Her dark auburn hair was pulled back in a casual low pony tail. She extended her hand with a warm smile. "It's good to see you again!"

Sam took the offered hand. "Madam President. Thank you for inviting me." She had met Allen twice before, both times briefly at official functions. "This is a wonderful room!"

"Isn't it!" Mac agreed enthusiastically. "I think it's my favorite. Sit down, please." She took a chair opposite the sofa.

"Thank you, ma'am." Sam lowered herself onto the seat and went on hurriedly; "Madam President, I'd like to apologize again for my rudeness on the phone last night..."

"Don't think about it again, Colonel," the President said, chuckling. "It was presumptuous of me to call at that hour."

"Oh, no, ma'am!"

"Jack told me about the mix-up with your New Year's Eve plans."

"The problem was that we didn't make plans. If we'd just talked to each other... But we each wanted to surprise the other." Sam gave a rueful smile. "That didn't work out so well."

"It was sweet that you both tried, though."

"Thank you for suggesting that the Odyssey beam Jack home, Madam President."

"Pure selfishness," Allen assured her. "I needed him at that meeting this morning. Thanks for letting him come."

Sam couldn't help but smile at that. As if she'd had a choice!

Tea arrived just then; a choice of English garden party tea and several varieties of herbals. There were also a number of finger foods; stuffed mushrooms, tiny chicken salad sandwiches, cheeses and English crackers, petit fours, and chocolate dipped strawberries.

"Do you visit Washington often, Sam? Do you mind if I call you Sam?" Mac asked as they sipped their tea.

"Of course I don't mind, Madam President," Sam assured her.

"Good!" The President flashed her by now world-famous smile. "Please call me Mac. I think we're going to be friends."

"I'm flattered, Ma'am... er... Mac," Sam managed, the color rising in her face. "I... uh... No, I really don't get to D.C. very often at all. I'm afraid my responsibilities at Cheyenne Mountain keep me very busy."

"Yes. I've read all the reports of your projects and missions. They're absolutely fascinating! You really seem to have a lot going on."

"It's always been that way," Sam said. "There are so many new artifacts being brought through..." She broke off abruptly as the server reappeared with another plate of goodies.

Mac nodded. "I understand. So tell me, exactly when did you and Jack get married?"

Sam blinked at the abrupt change of subject. "In October. The last weekend."

"So you're really still newlyweds, then!"

"Um... yes, I guess you could say that..." Sam stuttered, as an awful thought occurred to her. "Ma'am, we were not in the same chain of command then," she hastened to explain. "We still aren't since I'm technically on loan from Area 51..."

"I wasn't making an accusation, Sam," the President assured her. "And it's Mac, remember."

"Yes, ma'am... I mean, Mac." She rolled her eyes, frustrated with herself. "I'm sorry."

Mac sat forward in her chair. "Sam. Please don't be intimidated—certainly not by me! Why, I haven't accomplished half the things you have in your career! And my job isn't nearly as dangerous or demanding as yours."

"I'm sure that's not true, Ma…er, Mac. I can't imagine dealing with some of the things you've had to!"

"But I've never faced an alien enemy."

"And I've never faced an angry Congressman," Sam replied, thinking of Speaker of the House Nathan Templeton, Allen's arch-enemy.

The corners of Mac's mouth tipped up in a smile. "Come to think of it, maybe they have a lot in common."

The two women laughed together, and from there on the conversation flowed easily. They talked about each of their jobs, and about their families. Sam told Mac about Cassie, who was currently attending university in California, and Mac related some of the amusing stories of having teen-agers in the White House. A quarter of an hour passed quickly and pleasantly.

At last, the President got down to business. "Sam," she said, and from her expression, Sam realized this was the point of the meeting. "I have a job offer for you…"

xXx

Jack was napping on the couch when the sound of the front door being unlocked stirred him from a very naughty dream! Before falling asleep, he'd been thinking of how sexy his wife had looked before she left for her tea party. The black trousers made her legs appear to go on forever, and the high-heeled boots were just icing on the cake! He was wondering if he could cajole her into wearing the boots the next time they made love. He also loved the fact that the heels made her nearly as tall as he was. In addition, the deep blue of the top she was wearing enhanced the color and sparkle of her eyes to an incredible degree.

With that picture in his mind, it was no wonder his dream had strayed into M-rated territory! So when he opened his eyes to find Sam kneeling beside the couch like a dream come true his first instinct was to reach for her, and draw her down into a kiss that quickly turned passionate...

"So what did the President want?" It was over an hour later when Jack asked the question.

"Whaaat...?" Sam slowly opened heavy eyes and looked at him blankly. They were lying naked and exhausted in their bed, and the furthest thing from her mind was the meeting with MacKenzie Allen. "What president?"

Jack chuckled. "The President you had tea with today... "

Oh.

"Yeah..." Sam frowned and tried to pull her thoughts together. Gradually, it all fell into place. "She offered me a job," she said finally.

He blinked. "A job?"

"Yes. As liaison between the White House and the Stargate Program. To keep the channels open..."

"What does that involve?" Jack asked, frowning.

"Well, among other things, a lot of traveling. But I'd be spending about half my time here in DC. I'd also be checking in at Area 51, and with the Prometheus, Odyssey and Hammond when they're in Earth orbit. But mostly, I'd be letting her know what's happening at the Mountain, and carrying feedback from her to the SGC." She paused, propping herself up on one elbow and looking closely at him. "What do you think?"

"I think half of your time here sounds really good," he said. "Much better than we've had so far. But this is up to you. What do you want? Would you have to give up SG1?"

"I'd certainly have to cut back on gate travel. But Mac wants to know about missions, too. So I wouldn't be completely Earth-bound."

"Mac?"

She looked faintly embarrassed. "She asked me to call her that. I don't know what that means."

He laughed. "It just means she likes you and trusts you."

She blew out a breath. "Well, that's good, right? I mean, how many Presidents ask you to call them by their nickname?"

"Not many," he agreed. "What are you going to do?"

"I told her I needed a little time to think it over. She gave me a week." She smirked, and teased a little, trailing one hand across his chest. "So... you'd like me to be here more often?" she asked, playing idly with the hairs on his chest.

Distracted by her fingers on his skin, he took a moment to respond. "I would definitely like to see more of you, yes." He caught her hand and brought it to his lips, kissing the palm, and then the wrist. She smiled. "But don't ask me to make the decision for you," he added.

"Tell me about Mac, then?" she suggested. "How is she to work for? She was charming and friendly today."

Jack considered for a moment before he spoke. "Yes, she's very charming. But she's also very demanding. A perfectionist, like you." He grinned a little. "And smart—nothing gets past her. She's got her own point of view, and it's not that of your typical politician. She's honest, and she never does what you expect." He cleared his throat. "And she's stubborn as a rock."

"Oh, my," Sam said with a smile. "The two of you must get along well."

"So far we've managed," Jack said wryly. "But seriously, she's a good person. I like her."

Sam looked at him closely. This was an unusual accolade for Jack to give to anyone—especially a member of the DC Establishment! "Do you think I'd have any difficulty working for her?" she asked, settling down with her head on his shoulder and his arm wrapped around her.

He thought about that for a minute. "Not really. You might have to adjust the way you... uh... explain things." He saw her frown. "She's like me. Not a scientist."

Her face cleared. "Oh. Then if I can communicate with you, I can communicate with her."

He smiled. "Yeah. Except, she's lots smarter than I am."

"I doubt that," she murmured into his shoulder.

"What was that?"

"Nothing," she said. "I do kind of like her, you know."

He smiled. "So you're considering taking the job?"

Her expression grew serious. "Yes. I think I am." She paused, considering. "I'll miss being part of SG1, but I think this is an important step. The President has always been kept apprised of what happens at Stargate Command, of course, but this is a much more direct link."

Jack nodded. "Yes. Not to mention more time here with me."

She raised an eyebrow. "We keep coming back to that, don't we?" She puckered her lips and blew lightly on the skin around his nipple, causing him to shiver delightedly.

"Well, it's a big plus..." he admitted when he could speak again. He raised himself on his elbow, then leaned kissed and kissed her, tightening his arms around her, making the kiss as sensuous as possible. His lips played with hers, caressing them with velvet softness, and his tongue stroked gently, seeking entrance into her mouth. She opened to him and their tongues twined and explored. After a bit, he moved away from her mouth and dropped tiny kisses along her cheek until he reached her throat and the sensitive spot below her ear. He sucked lightly there, drawing a moan from deep in her throat. Returning to her mouth, he deepened the kiss even more, until they both lost themselves in the erotic experience…

Eventually he drew back and looked at her, seeing the dazed and widened pupils and suppressing a satisfied grin. "No, don't let me influence you at all," he whispered, kissing the corner of her mouth, teasingly. "It's entirely your decision."

"Sure..." she muttered, gazing into his eyes. "After kissing me like that you expect me to believe you?" She smiled. "Go ahead… influence me…"

xXx

It was two days later when Sam placed the call to the White House and spoke with President Allen's secretary, saying that she would be honored to accept the position offered to her by the President.

xxxXXXxxx

Thanks for reading! Happy New Year, everyone!

If you're interested in seeing what the White House solarium looks like, go to:

.org (fwd slash) floor3 (fw slash)

You know how that works, a period, (fwd slash) with / and eliminate spaces.

Oh BTW, I made up the glass roof!