201 Tag to The Serpent's Lair

General Hammond wondered if they were still alive and if Earth had a snowball's chance in hell of surviving this menace from space. He saw Jack O'Neill lead his team through the Stargate to the unknown. That man was crazy enough to go on a suicide mission, risk his career, his life, the life of his team on a chance to save Earth. He hoped he was right.

Simmons had great faith in the naquadah tipped warheads and was deflated when they failed to destroy the enemy battleships currently in orbit. When he requested to be sent to the Alpha site Hammond was tempted to drop kick that weasel through an erupting wormhole.

Although in fact sending people to the Alpha site was a joke. Hammond and O'Neill had an extensive plan thoroughly worked out but due to budget constraints and a tightfisted over site committee the upgraded Alpha site was reduced to 3 Quonset huts with limited facilities on a remote planet with no indigenous population. The wildlife had not been fully examined though it was thought there was enough game to provide sustenance and no large carnivores had been observed. Did they really think this was suitable as the Eden to save the population of Earth?

After the first few mission mishaps the idea of the Alpha site had been formulated. All SG teams would have been advised to detour to it in case of a fear of infection or if they were coming in hot and the Earth gate was unavailable. This would have saved Carter and O'Neill many a frigid night in Antarctica if it had been available and if they had thought of it.

And then there - it was two massive explosions in the night sky and Hammond though he might just live to see another day. They had done it. They saved Earth and all her billions of inhabitants even thought these billions hadn't a clue. The bright lights in the evening sky were glossed over by some supposed celestial event. But here at the SGC there were people hugging and hooting and celebrating – they had survived, all of them and better than that they were victorious.

After a spectacular save by the space shuttle Endeavor, O'Neill silently begged forgiveness for mocking the trusty crafts. After a flight from Houston to Peterson, an elated SG-1 was finally back in the gate room. Jack hugged Daniel, Teal'c and Sam Carter. Matter of fact he kept his arm around Sam as he made the rounds through the crowd accepting praise and slaps on the back. After a quick trip though the infirmary, half the SGC, all but the skeleton crew who were left on duty, agreed to meet in O'Malley's to continue the celebration with food and drinks. Teal'c and Bra'tac had stayed on the base needing to meditate. After a drink or two Daniel was exhausted, dying and being resurrected can wear a body out. He caught a ride with some others back to the base.

Jack, still on a high from their incredible success, regaled the crowd with the exploits of his team, speaking proudly of their courage and smarts. He even mentioned how without weapons and sight Carter attacked with her teeth.

One of the wiser airmen called for a few cabs to take the party goers home. A little tipsy, to drunk to drive and sober enough to know not to, Jack and Sam, last ones to leave the restaurant, left to pour themselves one of the cabs. It was the only one left and the weather was beginning to turn nasty.

"Let's share" he said, his arm still around his captain, as if she had a choice. But she would not have chosen differently given the opportunity.

When they got to his house he invited her in for an night cap. If she had been thinking clearly she probably would have demurred. If she hadn't been still on the high of their success she would have just gone home to her empty home but tonight without a second thought she walked into his house, into his arms and into his bed.

They both had moments of clarity. The SGC had been closed when they left for the unknown, their team was disbanded, their offices and labs were packed up and the mothballs had been rolled out for the Stargate. So it was alright, wasn't it. It felt right. In fact it felt wonderful. And Jack didn't ever want it to end nor did Sam.

Sam woke during the night thinking, thinking about theses past few days and about this man she lay next to. She thought about how she had wanted to be an astronaut once upon a time. And she had a ride in the shuttle but entered in a Death Glider. What could top that! This man beside her, were so many sides to him – the professional, the lover, the goof, the tactician, the man who loved children, the ruthless warrior, the enemy of Goa'uld. She wondered if she showed this many sides of her personality to him. The warmth of the man spooned around her lulled her back to sleep.

Later she woke to the gaze of those chocolate brown eyes, appraising her, accessing her. His smile let her know she was found more than just valuable but precious and desirable. His smile as well as his inquisitive hand and the onslaught of kisses gave her proof.

The sun poured in the windows into his bedroom and found them still happy, ebullient, exhilarated from the victory. Each still touting the accomplishments of the other "and then you threw the grenades down the shaft..." And afraid, afraid the new posting would lead each far from this new thing between them; afraid it will cool his ardor, afraid he will fade as the hero she now saw, afraid she would just become an annoying geek to him. Would this bright burning flame fade and cool just as quickly as it had flared up?

They had a ten o'clock debrief. Jack had talk Hammond down from a meeting at 0700. Hammond was no fool he knew there would be celebrating so he readily agreed. Jack surmised he would be dressed down for disobeying orders and commended for an award for saving their bacon. Sometimes the military was so bizarre. He figured then they would receive their transfers. It wasn't superior weapons or tactics or forces that had won the day. It was luck, pure luck. The enemy had been eliminated – for now. So what would they do – close the door. They shouldn't fool themselves.

He had told Sam during their night together he wanted to be with her, have a relationship, even though he hated that term. Wherever they were stationed, him probably in Antarctica and she in DC or wherever, he wanted to be with her. This was no one night stand, he cared about her and maybe they could make this thing work.

His eyes were brighter in battle. She wondered if he just enjoyed killing. Did she want to align herself with this man? Perhaps it was time to stop thinking, perhaps it was time to leap.

Then the news came, they were back in business. What now?