Author's Note: I know that something similar was already addressed in the episode itself, but I had this little scene in my head on how O'Neill might tell Sam he's sorry about Martouf. Among other things. :) This is meant to be a missing loop from the episode "Window of Opportunity." Happy reading!
"Look, why don't you just go back to the mess. Eat some Jell-O," O'Neill suggested with a dismissive wave.
"Jell-O?" Teal'c asked.
"Yes, Jell-O," O'Neill said. "I need to talk to Carter. Alone. And – you know, you might want to go back to your quarters and do your little kumbaya thing. If we loop again, you're going to need it."
"Colonel O'Neill, if we do indeed loop again, the positive effects of my kel'no'reem will most likely have not occurred yet."
O'Neill stopped walking. "Say what?" He held up a hand to forestall an explanation. "No, you know what? Forget it." O'Neill continued down the hall. "I am going to talk to Carter, and you are not following me!"
The Jaffa watched him walk away with a perplexed look.
Major Carter glanced up at a soft knock on the doorframe of her office. "Sir! I think I've made some progress on these markings on P4X-639. Daniel had a crack at them, but we've never seen anything like this," she said. Carter looked around. "Here, have a seat." She shifted a few piles of books and assorted papers to leave a chair open for him. O'Neill didn't sit down.
"Carter . . ." O'Neill began, rubbing the back of his neck. "We never really talked about what happened to Martouf."
Sam looked up at him, surprised. "Since when have you been the 'talk-it-over' type?"
"I'm not, it's just . . ." O'Neill's face went through a series of uncomfortable grimaces. "I know you liked Marty. And I'm sorry that he was a zatarc."
Sam stared at him, her blue eyes wide and clear. "Thank you, sir," she said.
O'Neill glanced over his shoulder and, seeing no one, closed the door of Carter's office with a muffled click. He moved closer.
"You know what I told you about Teal'c and I reliving this day over and over again?"
Sam nodded. "Yeah. Groundhog day." She grinned mischievously. "Have you thought about doing anything, you know . . . crazy? Since there's no consequences and all?"
O'Neill smiled, putting one hand on the side of her neck. "See, Carter," he said, his voice low and rough. "Here's the thing: that's all I've been thinking about."
Sam gave a shrill gasp of surprise as he pulled her in, but it was lost as his mouth covered hers. She had carefully schooled herself never to think about the colonel in this way, but this moment was the culmination of her deepest, most repressed desires. He felt exactly as she had imagined he would, all hard planes and leathery calloused hands, one buried in her short-cropped hair, the other firm on her waist. His mouth was strong, just like the rest of him, and his stubble brushed against her cheek, the delicious texture causing her to shiver against him. She twined her arms around his neck. If she could have just this one moment –
"Anyway, I'm sorry, but that just happens to be the way I feel about it," Daniel said emphatically. "What do you think?"
O'Neill stared at him, a spoonful of cereal halfway to his mouth. He looked to Daniel's left, where Sam was giving him a concerned look.
"It's just a question," Daniel grumbled under his breath.
O'Neill continued to stare at Carter, a slow, knowing smile spreading across his face. He slurped up the spoonful of milk and fruit loops.
"Sir? Are you alright?" Carter asked.
"Oh yes, Carter," he said, scooping up the last of his cereal with gusto. "I'm fine."