A/N

not mine. Don't own Em.

This follows straight after the events of 'A hundred days' and how I imagined Sam may have reacted to what happened on Edora.

I have absolutely no idea why this story popped into my head today so that I just had to write it down - except to say that I thought this was never dealt with on the show even though i have read some good fics about it.

also, I realise I'm right in the middle of 'All Grown Up' and I promise those of you that are following that, that this story won't slow that one down. This one will only be about 3 chapters.

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"You leaving Carter?" Jack asked as she came towards him in the corridor.

"Gee Sir," Sam replied caustically. "What gave you that idea?"

Jack raised his eyebrows at her clipped response as she stormed past him towards the elevator. He watched as she repeatedly jabbed the call button. Hard. "That would probably be the bike helmet and the leathers," he responded carefully as he shoved his hands in his pockets walking slowly back towards her.

"Nothing gets past you Jack," she mumbled, keeping her eyes resolutely trained on the floor indicator above the door.

"What was that Major?"

Sam breathed out a sigh of relief as the elevator door finally pinged open. "I said have a good night Sir," she lied as she boarded the car.

Jack stared at the closed door of the elevator as the red numbers clicked up towards zero above his head.

"Jack?"

"Daniel?"

"Whatcha doin?"

Jack frowned at the archaeologists use of his phrase. He shook his head slightly as if to clear it, still getting used to being back on Earth.

"I was just trying to figure out what's up with Carter," he answered finally.

Daniel turned his head slightly giving him a look. "Really?"

Jack shrugged. "Yes Daniel," he replied, slightly annoyed by the younger man already. "Really!"

"O-kay," Daniel replied as he turned to go. "I'll just leave you to think about that one."

"Stop!" Jack ordered.

Daniel stopped but didn't turn back to face the other man, waiting for him to walk around and face him.

"Spill Danny," Jack said. "What's going on?"

Daniel thought for a while about how to answer that question, not really knowing how Jack couldn't figure this one out for himself. Finally he came out with it. "We missed you Jack."

Jack smiled. "Well I missed you too Daniel."

Daniel closed his eyes, his faced scrunching up slightly. "We all missed you," he said. Then more softly he added, "tonight is the first time Sam has left the Mountain since you got stranded."

Jack scoffed at that. "I was gone over three months Daniel!"

Daniel raised his eyebrows. So now do you get it?

Jack felt his face fall as he realised his friend was telling the truth. "Aw crap," he mumbled rubbing a hand through his hair.

"Day and night for the last three months all Sam has done is try to get you back...and you just blew her off on Edora..." He shrugged. "I kinda think she has the right to be pissed."

Jack grabbed for the phone on the wall beside the elevator. "Sergeant," he barked when the phone was picked up on the other end. "This is Colonel O'Neill. I need you to detain Major Carter when she reaches the surface."

"Sorry Sir," the man's voice replied. "The Major has already signed out."

"Damn it!" Jack yelled as he slammed the phone back down. He pushed the button for the elevator nearly bowling over the young airman that went to step out when the doors opened. Jack impatiently pushed through the elevator doors when it reached the surface.

"Sir," called the sergeant on the desk as Jack raced past him. "You need to sign out!"

"I'm just going to the carpark," Jack yelled back over his shoulder as he flew out the opening outer door. He heard Carters bike before he saw it. "Carter!" He called, already knowing that she would never be able to hear him over the noise of the big engine.

"God damn it!" He yelled frustrated as she tore off out of the parking lot in a shower of gravel. The woman is going to kill herself on that thing one day!

He watched her taillight disappear into the darkness then turned to go back inside.

Jack went straight to General Hammond's office tapping on the door frame lightly before entering uninvited.

The General looked up from his paperwork. "What is it Colonel?" He asked mildly, by now used to his 2IC's lack of regard for convention.

"I assume I'm cleared to leave the base Sir?" He asked without preamble.

Hammond placed his pen on his desk and regarded his friend for a moment. "I don't have Doctor Fraiser's report yet," he replied. "But if you really want to go I could call her and get a verbal clearance."

"I'd appreciate that Sir," Jack replied knowing that he was being somewhat cryptic.

"Is there something you want to tell me Colonel?"

Okay, so don't want to have this conversation, Jack thought.

He shook his head. "No Sir."

Hammond watched him for a moment longer before he picked up his phone to call the infirmary.

Fifteen minutes later Jack was changed into his civvies, his truck keys in his hand signing out of Cheyenne Mountain.

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"Damn it!" He breathed as he cut the engine. Carters bike wasn't in her driveway, but that didn't mean it wasn't in her garage he reasoned. Then he noticed there were no lights on in her house either and his heart constricted. What if she'd had an accident on that winding road between the base and town? Then his more rational side took over realising that he'd just driven that same stretch of road himself and he'd seen no evidence of an accident.

Jack checked his watch for the fourth time since he'd parked down the street from Carters house. "Forty minutes," he mumbled. "Where the hell is she?"

As if on cue the sound of the big bike echoed down the quiet street and he saw headlights in his rear vision mirror. "So, no way she's going to miss this thing sitting here," he said quietly.

He half expected the bike to stop next to his window, Carter demanding what he was doing there. But she surprised him by idling past to pull into her driveway, the automatic door lifting to allow her entrance to her garage.

"Huh," he said, mildly stunned as the door clanged to the ground behind her. He watched as first one light and then another sprang to life outlining her silhouette as she moved through her house. Jack sighed realising what he had to do. Getting out of his truck he thumbed the lock button on his remote and made his way across the street.

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A/N

hope you have enjoyed so far :) lemme know if you like it. i tend to write faster if I know people are enjoying reading the stories the way I enjoy writing them :)