Chapter One
Leaning back in her chair, Sam closed her eyes for a brief moment, in an attempt to block the paper work currently cluttering her desk from her view. Sighing in defeat, Sam opened her eyes and was just about to start on the next stack when Chuck called over the comms.
"Off-world activation!"
Knowing exactly who was scheduled to visit Atlantis, Sam smiled to herself as she made her way down to the gate room. Coming to stand next to her flag ship team, Sam nodded to them each in turn before casting her eyes back the gate just as the wormhole activated and the shield went up.
"Receiving IDC, Ma'am. It's the SGC."
Smiling gratefully up at Chuck, Sam retorted.
"Thank you, Chuck. Deactivate the shield."
Waiting for the traveller to step through, everyone was distracted as Dr. Keller came rushing into the gate room, coming to a standstill next to them.
"Sorry I'm late. Is he here yet?"
Smiling in understanding, Sam replied calmly.
"Not yet." Just before Major General Jack O'Neill stepped through the event horizon.
As the wormhole disengaged behind him, Jack cast a quick look back before facing his welcome party with open arms.
"I'm back."
"It's good to see you, sir. Welcome back to Atlantis." Sheppard retorted.
"Thank you, Colonel."
Turning to the new base commander, Jack smiled.
"So Carter, I see the place hasn't fallen down yet."
Smiling in kind, Sam replied.
"No sir."
"Good..............well, it's good to see you all again. Carter, I take it there's a room for me someplace?"
"Yes sir. This way."
Watching the two officers leave, Sheppard, Ronan and McKay left shortly after, leaving Teyla and Dr. Keller standing in the gate room.
"So............that's General O'Neill huh."
"Indeed he is."
"Seemed friendly enough."
"He is very easy to be around. He does not hold to any airs or graces. I've found him to be a very competent leader."
"I can imagine.................is it me or was there something going on back there?"
"Yes. I sense there are feelings that run deeper than friendship between them. Though it appears they have never been consummated."
"Really? Wow. Talk about self control. I mean, even with the silver hair, he's quite a catch."
"I agree. He is quite handsome."
Sharing a knowing smile, Teyla and Dr. Keller made their way out of the gate room to attend to the day's work.
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As the doors slid open to the guest quarters, Jack's face immediately lit up with a smile as he spotted the adjacent balcony to his room.
"Nice."
Smiling in triumph, Sam followed him into the guest quarters as he placed his bags down.
"Don't suppose I can interest you in the ten cents tour, sir?"
As a slow smile spread across his face, Sam regretted her words momentarily, as she saw the potential trouble it could cause. Luckily for her, he saved her from taking them back as he waved a hand absently whilst saying.
"Nah. Pretty sure I've seen enough of this place's corridors to last me a lifetime, Carter."
Smirking at his reference to his 'brief' stay before when the Replicators took over the city, Sam nodded in understanding before adding.
"Maybe I should just leave you to get settled in, sir."
Seeing her start towards the door, he stammered slightly.
"Uh........actually I uh...........I was gonna say I................."
Smiling warmly at his nervousness, Sam took a step back towards him before asking.
"Yes?"
Unsure of how to voice his thoughts, which if he was honest with himself, were not exactly within his control either, Jack shook his head with a smile as he replied.
"Nothin'."
Glad to see she wasn't the only one having trouble, Sam smiled in understanding before making her way to the door. Stopping just before she got to the motion sensor, Sam turned round to face him as she said in a gentle tone.
"Sir.................it's really good to see you."
Turning up the corner of his mouth in a lop-sided grin, Jack retorted.
"Yeah........you too."
Nodding in silent communication, Sam flashed him a bright smile before turning back and leaving through the motion sensor doors. Cursing himself for getting tongue-tied around her, Jack kicked the nearest bag half-heartedly before going about the task of unpacking.
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Resigning herself to getting her paper work done before the end of the day, Sam spent the better part of the afternoon trying to get through it all before finally falling asleep at her desk.
Walking along the small bridge to her office, Jack smiled to himself as he neared it once he noticed she was asleep. Noting the position she was in, he winced in sympathy as he knew it was going to hurt when she woke up. Unconsciously rubbing his neck, Jack stepped into her office as quietly as he could so as not to wake her yet. Seeing how peaceful she looked, Jack thought it was a shame to wake her. But knew if he didn't do it now, it was only going to hurt even more when she did wake up.
Placing a hand to her neck, Jack very gently began to work the knotted muscles in what he hoped was a soothing motion. Watching her start to come back to a wakeful state, he eased up on the pressure slightly, so as not to startle her.
Sighing softly at the gentle pressure being applied to her neck, Sam hummed her approval as she finally came to. Feeling the hand still over her neck, Sam silently cursed herself for voicing her enjoyment of the treatment she was receiving and began to sit up.
Not entirely surprised to find General O'Neill standing there, Sam quickly put two and two together as she saw him slip his hand swiftly into his pocket as if burned.
"I just thought I'd help, being as though I know exactly what sleeping at your desk can do your neck." he injected nervously.
Smiling warmly up at him, Sam nodded gratefully before saying softly.
"Thank you."
Feeling a little less self-conscious, Jack rocked back on his heels before adding with a wave of his hand.
"Shall we then?"
More than happy to get away from her mountain of paper work, Sam rose to stand beside him as she replied.
"Come on, I'll have some dinner sent to my quarters for us."
TBC..............