Work Text:
How Many Aliens?
CJ Cregg stepped into the Lodge at Camp David and shook her head at her three co-workers. Glancing down at her slacks and sweater, she said of her three-piece suited friends, “I was positive we were told the dress was casual.”
“This is casual,”Josh protested.
“You've got jeans, I've seen them. And all you preppy college types wear khakis or chinos or whatever they're calling them these days.” She helped herself to a coffee and a pastry before lounging on the couch. The memo said casual, dammit, and she entirely intended to be as casual as she could. “Does anyone know, I mean, really know, what this is about?”
“Not a clue...” Josh started but was interrupted when the President, Leo and two strangers entered. They all sprang to their feet, only to have the President to wave them back to their seats.
“Okay, folks, this is Air Force General Jack O'Neill and Dr. Daniel Jackson. Guys, help yourself to coffee, you're going to need it.” The President took a deep breath. “In exactly twenty-one days, I am going to make a speech revealing one of the most closely guarded secrets held by this government. And probably a lot of others. We have briefing books for you. When I say 'Eyes Only', I really mean it. Don't let them out of your sight, don't leave them in the next room. If you go to the bathroom, take them with you. Now that I've scared you properly, I'm turning the stage over to Dr. Daniel Jackson, who holds multiple PhD's, archaeology is the one that got us here. Dr. Jackson.” The President took the coffee Leo offered and sat.
Dr. Jackson cleared his throat. “In Giza, in 1928, an artifact was unearthed by Dr. David Langford …..”
*
Josh was the first to find his voice. “Aliens! I knew it had to be something big but aliens? So like how many aliens are out running around? On Earth, I mean?”
“I told you,” O'Neill crowed. “The first question! Didn't I tell you? You owe me fifty!”
“Whatever.” Dr. Jackson shook his head. “To answer your question, there are three...”
“Four.”
“Three. He is not an alien, he's a clone.”
Sam sat up with a start. “A clone? We're cloning people?”
“No, wasn't us.” Jack piped up.
“The clone was created without permission from the....donor. And the.... person responsible was apprehended and the unauthorized experiments were ceased.”
“So when you say unauthorized, does that mean there were authorized ones?” Josh asked.
“Told you they'd catch that,” O'Neill nodded with satisfaction.
*
“Parasites that are bent on total world domination? Can someone get the Minority Whip tested, cause that sounds a lot like him.”
Dr. Jackson abruptly left the room, O'Neill, with a glare at Josh, started to follow. “Let me,” Leo said quietly. “Josh,” he admonished softly before heading for the door.
“What?”
“That's how Dr. Jackson lost his wife.” Bartlet replied.
“I'll apologize, of course.” Josh offered immediately.
“He won't thank you for it,” Jack told him coldly.
“What happened?” CJ said softly.
“Let me make it clear. Sha're was totally, completely devoted to Daniel, would have laid down her life for him. The demon who took her was totally, completely devoted to making Daniel's head explode.”
Bartlett nodded. “Tell them the rest, Jack.”
O'Neill sighed loudly. “We had to choose between her and Daniel. We picked Daniel. And I have to say, right here, right now. Daniel's story is gonna get out there but you cannot use it to make political hay. That's just all kinds of wrong.”
“I would never allow that, Jack.”
“With all due respect, sir, you don't control everyone. Someone is gonna think it would make a good movie of the week. Or a Greek tragedy.”
“You're right, Jack, and I apologize for what is about to happen to his life. Let me just say that no member of my staff will use Dr. Jackson's history to make hay of any kind.”
“I hope that goes without saying, sir,” CJ nodded.
*
Leo found Daniel sitting on the steps of the Lodge, he slid down beside him. “The Lord knows we've leaned on you a lot over the past ten years. And I know it's hard, but we're gonna need you through disclosure. Can you manage that?” Leo knew the answer but the question had to be asked.
“I knew it...that Share's story is going to come out. I just don't want it to be front and center.”
Leo ignored the fact that Daniel hadn't actually answered the question. “ We'll do our best to control the story. I'm sorry but you know that's the best we can do under the circumstances. And I'm gonna need you back in there. Who knows what O'Neill has told them.”
Daniel sighed then rose. “I could tell them the story of the marriage cake.”
Leo barked in laughter. “Yeah, Jack always gets a kick out of that one.”
*
“Maybe we went about this the wrong way,” The President said after Leo and Daniel returned. “We're trying to ease you into it, maybe we should have just scared the shit out of you right away.”
“Like we did with you, Mr. McGarry?” O'Neill asked with a cheeky grin.
“Well, I'm still mad that they told him first.” The President pointed at Leo.
Josh got it immediately. “So Leo and Mueller-Wright Aeronautics were making spaceships for the Air Force?”
“We didn't call them spaceships. They were F302's.”
CJ raised a hand. “Hasn't anyone even considered that the first thing that happens is that Egypt calls and says 'we want our big.....stone ring thing back.'?”
“According to our archaeology consultant, that is almost certain to happen. But that's a you problem,” Jack pointed at the White House staff, “Not a me problem.”
“You work for me,” Bartlet pointed out. “And I say it is a you problem.” O'Neill slumped in his seat.
*
“My cabin,” CJ snapped when the President was called away and they took a break. Her co-workers followed her. “Wow. Just wow.”
“Aliens would have been nowhere on my list.” Toby said.
“You have a list?” CJ asked.
“Don't you? A 'what can possibly go wrong next list'.”
“They've got to use Jackson for the disclosure, right?” Sam paced. “He's educated, articulate, passionate...”
“Not military,” Toby pointed out.
“Gotta make it easier to take, coming from a civilian.” Sam mused.
“I don't know if that makes him less of a threat. He's been working for the Air Force for ten years, he's picked up some stuff, surely.” Toby got yet another coffee. “This is gonna be a nightmare.”
“Let's go have some dinner, Dr. Jackson will, hopefully join us. And we can pick his brains.” CJ led them to the door. “Don't forget your briefing books!”
*
Leo frowned as his staff surrounded Dr. Jackson. “Can you get him to take a few days off maybe? I know he's on the edge, but we need him sharp.”
O'Neill nodded. “I have to send Carter to put out some fires at The Alpha Site. I can persuade Daniel to go to Minnesota, close the cabin up for me. Hell, I'll send Teal'c and Mitchell, they can ride herd over Daniel.”
“Twenty-one days, Jack.” Leo longed for a scotch and he was pretty sure this wouldn't be the last time during the next three weeks.
“This is gonna be fun.”
“You can say that again.”