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Take a Hint
by Adelie King

Chapter One: Carter's Pesky Problem

Major Samantha Carter had gone out on one date with this guy her brother set her up with, Pete Shanahan. He was a nice enough guy but her heart was already lost secretly to her CO Colonel Jack O'Neill. But Pete was more interested than she was and very persistent, more than Jack ever was. Of course neither of them was ever allowed to show how they felt in fear of losing their careers and their lives.

Sam told Pete already that she wasn't interested and that she was already in love with another man. Since he was a cop with connections he had her checked out and saw no boyfriend whatsoever. So he wasn't going to end his pursuit of the unique beauty that his heart was lost to already. Pete was determined. He had sent her roses and everything.

Sam was nice about it and told him she loved another and wasn't interested. He let her know he wasn't dissuaded that easily and that he also knew she had no boyfriend. Being irritated and at wits end she finally went to see Janet Frasier for help since she'd had two husbands and was obviously an expert on how to get rid of men.

"Hey Sam, what's the problem?" Janet immediately knew from Carter's frustrated expression something was wrong soon as she came in the infirmary.

Sam put her hands on her hips and grumbled, "Guess?"

"A man..." Janet answered calm and casual while making notes on her clipboard.

"Yes." Sam groaned frustrated.

"And you're not interested?" Janet kept the same tone continuing.

"Very good…" Sam answered surprised and irritated.

"And you can't get rid of him…" Janet knew the whole scenario.

"Pretty much…" She was at wits end, "I've told him I'm not interested…I told him I'm in love with another man…" She turned around pulling at her hair, "He just doesn't get it Janet." Sam paused and added, "Then…"

"It gets worse I take it…" Janet was still on track even though to anyone else it looked like she was too busy to listen.

"Yes, he's a detective." Sam filled her in, "And apparently he had me followed…"

"Really?" Janet finally turned to look at her and inquired, "What makes you say that?"

"He knows I don't have a boyfriend and since I can't be publicly with the man I'm in love with…" Sam bit her lip as she always did when in thought or frustrated, "I've now run out of excuses or alternatives."

Janet then observed, "Sam, you're thirty six years old." She grinned and commented, "I find it funny that you don't know how to get rid of a man yet."

"Well if I was a citizen not in a classified military position it'd be a lot easier Janet." Sam then logically brought up her exact situation. "But since my job is what it is and he's a detective who can figure things out. It's going to make this more difficult."

Janet nibbled on her pen a minute and suggested, "Well I can see why you have a serious problem here…" She began to pace while thinking as Sam sat on the edge of one of the cots in the room. "This…guy is a detective which means he's going to be a lot more snoopy than someone in an average job with the resources to find things out a lot easier."

"So what do you suggest I do to get rid of him Janet?" Sam asked in desperation now thinking somewhat more clearly. She crossed her arms and bit her lip pouting again.

Janet then looked at Sam and made a logical conclusion, "Since you told him you're in love with another man but cannot prove it to him because of your situation." She paused a moment to make sure Sam was following and continued, "My suggestion is you produce the other said man to convince him so you can rid yourself of him."

Sam liked but disliked her suggestion, "That might work except Pete's not as stupid as he looks since he's checked out me and my background." She paused frustrated and asked, "Besides who could I possibly get that would convince him I'm in love with someone else?"

"Hey Carter…" Colonel Jack O'Neill comes into the infirmary the next second, "I've been looking everywhere for you…" Both women turned their heads and looked at him. Confused he asked, "What?"

Janet then looked at Sam with this grin on her face and suggested, "Maybe you should ask Colonel O'Neill's help on this since he's a man himself." She then left the room deliberately leaving them alone.

Jack went up to Sam and asked her, "So Carter, what do you need my help on?" She just looked at him with her adorable frustrated expression that could get him to do anything for her.