Order of Things

Summary: (SPOLIERS FOR SEASON NINE) Besides, we have waited nine years for this, what harm will only a few hours do? (Fluff. A lot of it)

Author's Note: If you are a diehard fan that has to check gateworld every day or so, you should know what this is about. If not, and you still want to read it, go ahead. This is unbetaed, because I would not force her to read it if she did not want too.

Disclaimer: Not mine. Never will be. : sighs :

The first thing I do after walking through the 'gate is look for Jack. Surprisingly enough, he isn't there, at least, not where I can see him. Daniel, Teal'c, and the apparent new guy are standing at the end of the ramp, waiting for me. Teal'c is impassive as ever, the new guy looks uncomfortable, and Daniel has this huge ass grin over his face. I'm not lying here, you know.

I'm allowed to clean up and take a shower, and I'll be debriefed in an hour.

But when I come into the briefing room, no General O'Neill at the head of the table, which is bad, very bad. I don't say anything, I just debrief the others. Daniel still has his grin on, and after a very long debriefing, I corner him as he is about to leave.

"Daniel, where is General O'Neill?" I'm demanding an answer from him, and I want it now.

"In Washington DC."

I want to roll my eyes. Could he be more cryptic?

"Doing what?"

"Working there. Major General Jack O'Neill is in charge of the Department for Homeland Security."

My mind digests this new information, and puts two and two together and gets WHAT! as an answer.

I am not in his direct chain of command anymore.

I must be doing a good impression of a fish because Daniel is laughing again. "He wanted to tell you in person."

Jack. Is. Coming. Here.

That registered fine.

"Hey Carter."

Good God. I turn, blinking at the wonder that is Jack O'Neill, and then, without even knowing it, I'm in his arms, and we are kissing. Not the little chaste kiss that first kisses are, but hungry and demanding.

And when I can properly form a thought again, I remember that my new CO, the new guy, Daniel, and Teal'c are watching. But when I look for them, it seems as if they have just disappeared.

How convenient.

So, I have a third thing to do know. Or rather… it's important. Really, but it can wait until after this kissing thing.

Yeah.

Third thing to do now that I'm back on earth: Kiss Jack more. No, wait, call Pete. That's right. But I'm thinking that this kissing thing just happens to be more pressing.

But we have to break apart sometime, and so we both do, hesitantly, not willing to let the other go after… nine, nine years of not being able to do what we just did. I'm afraid he'll just disappear, and from the way he is crushing me to him, he fears it, too.

"Jack."

He smiles down at me, brown eyes twinkling. "Say it again."

"Say what again?"

"My name."

I roll my eyes, I can do that now. "Jack."

He grins, and responds in like. "Sam."

Good God, whoever thought my name coming from anyone could sound that nice.

"Jack… even though this kissing thing is high on my priority of things to do, I really should give Pete a call, let him know that the wedding is off…"

I was going to move away and call, really, I was, but when the lips that you have been denied for so long are on yours, well, everything else just becomes less important.

Really.

And once I can breathe again, I try a different approach.

"While I enjoy this, really, I do, we have to learn about each other. You know, those things that we didn't dare ask…"

"I know. And we are going to have to work out this time and distance thing too, you know."

I figured that one. But as we lock lips again, I figure that can wait.

Besides, we have waited nine years for this, what harm will only a few hours do?

And, surprisingly enough, very little.