This story was written as a gift to the Sam/Jack Ship Family at Gateworld for the fourth annual Sam & Jack Ship Day (July 28, 2006).
They were all laughing as they left the briefing room…..the original and the new SG-1. One member, the team's first leader, hung back, finally stopping in the hallway as he watched the others round the corner toward the elevators.
Except one.
She always could sense his presence. Just before she was about to follow the others around the corner, Sam, without stopping, slowly turned, aware that he was no longer with the group. "Sir?"
He sighed, saying nothing, and returned her gaze.
"Sir?" she repeated, as she started to walk toward him, a look of confusion on her face. "The rest of the team is headed out for dinner. I thought you were coming along."
"Yeah," he replied, glancing down at the floor. He twisted his hat in his hands.
She knew that look. It was the look he got when he was searching for the right words. What was bothering him? He had seemed glad to see them all. He had been laughing as hard as everyone else as they came up with different scenarios for Martin's project. Her mind raced back to the last discussion before they all entered the hallway. Had someone said something that bothered him? She couldn't think of anything.
Suddenly, she became aware of the length of the silence and took another step toward him. She reached her arm out to touch his. "Sir?"
He sighed as his eyes rose to meet her gaze. He could see the concerned look in her eyes. He sighed again. "Carter, I've known you for 10 years. We've saved each others' butts more times than either of us can count. I'm not your commanding officer anymore. Do you think we can drop the 'Sir'?"
A hint of a smile began to spread across her beautiful face, and her arm dropped back to her side. He felt a sense of disappointment at the loss of contact. "I believe we can drop the 'Sir,' if we can also drop the 'Carter.'" His heart skipped a beat as her smile lit up her face. How he had missed those looks!
"I think we can arrange something, Ca---Sam," he grinned in return. He took a deep breath. Their connection was re-established. He could feel it. All was right in his world. He continued to smile as she smiled, simply enjoying being able to look at her. He then realized he should say something before she began to wonder about his sanity. "Let's go catch up with the others," he began, motioning down the hall.
She didn't move. "Are you sure that's what you want to do?" She rocked back on her heels as she glanced at the floor.
"I thought you wanted to relive old times."
"Oh, I do," she said, still not looking up. "I was just thinking about a smaller group."
"Ah…well…that would be…even better." She rewarded him with another smile.
"Mind if I put on some civvies? I could run to the locker room…"
"I'll wait…no problem." She saw his grin, but heard a bigger smile in his voice.
"Just a few minutes," she called back. "Meet you at the elevator."
"Ok!" he returned, as she jogged down the hall. He watched intently, enjoying the view until she disappeared around the corner. He was still savoring the moment when someone came up behind him and spoke.
"Jack?"
He spun around, coming almost nose to forehead with Hank Landry. "Hank!"
"I thought you were going along with SG-1 to dinner. I'm going now. Want to ride with me?"
"Uh, no, Hank. Something came up. But have a good time."
Landry looked puzzled, but decided against questioning his fellow general. "Walk with me to the elevator?"
"Sure."
The two men wound through the halls of the underground complex. "This has been some day," Landry said. "What we do in the name of plausible deniability!"
"Well, Hank, until the mucky-mucks think the public is ready to know what you do here, I guess we have to do what we can to maintain secrecy. Although I never thought a failed TV show would end up becoming a movie."
"Well, Jack, you know what they say about stranger things have happened!" Landry chuckled as he reached out for the elevator button. As the light indicated that the elevator was about to arrive, he said, "Last chance! I know the team will miss you if you don't come."
"Another time," Jack smiled. "Good to see you, Hank."
"Same here," Landry replied, as the doors began to slide open to reveal Teal'c. "Teal'c, I was just coming to join you all for dinner. But I can't get Jack here to budge. Seems he's made other plans."
Teal'c exited the car, casting O'Neill a suspicious glance. "General O'Neill's time in Colorado Springs is limited. I am sorry if he won't be able to join us."
"Going up!" Landry said, pushing a button on the inside of the elevator. "All aboard!"
"I will join you and the others on the surface shortly, General Landry. I came to retrieve something." Teal'c made a slight bow in Landry's direction.
"Make Jack come with you," Hank leaned toward the center of the car as the doors closed.
"Why have you decided not to dine with us, O'Neill?" the tall Jaffa asked. "I came back to determine at what point our group had lost you and Colonel Carter."
"Yeah, about that, T. Carter…." That's when he realized Teal'c's attention was no longer focused on him. Jack turned to see what had caught his friend's attention…and saw…Sam coming down the corridor…in jeans, a short leather jacket…and was that a little midriff peeking out from under a pink tank top? Yikes!
"I believe I understand, O'Neill," Teal'c smiled. "Apparently, a smaller gathering is planned." He punched the elevator call button. "I will tell the others that both you and Colonel Carter were interrupted by other commitments and will be unable to join us."
"Thanks, buddy." Jack laid his hand on the big man's arm. "It's just...it's..."
Teal'c stepped into the waiting elevator car. "Sometimes, it is unnecessary to offer any explanation, O'Neill, except to say that forces of nature are inevitable. I will see that we are gone before you reach the surface." He smiled at Jack's bewildered gaze as the elevator doors clicked shut.
"Why didn't Teal'c hold the car for us?" Sam asked. Jack turned, a bewildered look still covering his face. "Si---Jack?"
"Yeah?" He was thinking about Teal'c's words. "Yes!" he recovered, spinning around to face her. "Teal'c had to go. The others…were waiting for him."
"Well, another car will be here in a few minutes," Sam smiled. Jack was still torn between Teal'c's understanding of the situation and that little bit of midriff appearing intermittently above Sam's belt. Sam's midriff was definitely winning. He would think about Teal'c later.
The elevator car arrived, and Jack motioned for Sam to precede him. Once they were inside, he turned to look at her. She smiled. "Only 28 levels to go. I guess you've gotten used to a shorter elevator ride at the Pentagon."
He knew he was staring, but he couldn't help it. Twenty-eight levels. Approximately three minutes.
She touched his arm. "Jack, are you all right?"
"No, I'm not, and I haven't been since I met you." The elevator car moved slightly to the side, jostling them closer. Instinctively, he reached out to take her arm, and before either of them knew it, they were in each others' arms. Hands caressed unfamiliar territory as lips touched, then melded into a kiss that had waited far too long to happen. Holding, touching, they deepened their embrace until one body fit tightly against the other. She raised an arm to encircle his neck, and as her hand entwined in his hair, his hand met the bare skin of her waist where the midriff top ended. She gasped and he tried to pull her closer, realizing there was no space left between them.
It could have been minutes…or hours. He wasn't sure. But finally, she pulled back slightly, looking back at him with a dazed expression, and glanced at the indicator light. "We're almost to the top," she whispered, untangling herself from his embrace.
"Yeah….right," Jack muttered, putting a hand to his tousled hair. They stood silently, waiting for the doors to open. Jack cleared his throat and Sam shuffled restlessly as the car came to a stop. They stepped into another corridor, where an SF sat waiting to sign out SGC personnel.
"Good evening, General, Colonel," he smiled, rising to attention in honor of the special guest to the mountain.
Jack motioned him back into his chair. "At ease, airman," he smiled. "Just visiting old friends. No need for ceremony."
"Yes, sir. Thank you, sir, ma'am. Oh, General O'Neill, I have a note here about your luggage."
Jack slapped his hand to his forehead. He was about to leave his luggage! Well, he had been…distracted. "Ah, yes, thank you," he said.
The airman handed Jack his bag. "Have a good flight, sir!"
Jack smiled and nodded his thanks before turning toward the entry where Sam was standing. Wordlessly, they walked in step as they breathed the evening air. "So," Sam finally said, "heading back tonight?"
"That wasn't my plan. I had hoped to spend the weekend…reconnecting with old friends." He cast her a sly sideways smile that made her stomach do flips. They reached her car. She unlocked the doors, and Jack tossed his bag in the back, then settled into the passenger seat. "Where shall we go for dinner?"
"What's near your hotel?" she asked.
"Uh…I didn't make a reservation. I figured I could crash with Danny…or stay on base."
The smile started in her eyes before it spread to the rest of her face. "Confident, aren't you?" She put the key in the ignition and started the motor.
He cleared his throat nervously. "No," he said as he gazed at the floorboard. "Not confident. Just…hopeful."
"What about my house?" she asked.
What? Was she suggesting he stay with her? All right! His dreams were finally coming true! "Your house. Sure. That'll work."
"For dinner, Jack." Seeing his crestfallen look, she grinned. "I could be wrong, but I think we may have some things to discuss that would be better said outside a public place."
"No, you're not wrong," he agreed. "Not wrong at all."
She pulled her cell phone out of her jacket pocket and handed it to him. "I have sodas and beer. Let's call and pick up a pizza on the way. It's the first entry under recently dialed numbers."
"Works for me," he grinned, as they drove off into the sunset.
Author's Note: This story could end here...but I feel there's a part two just itching to be written. It won't be today, however. If you want part two, just let me know, and I'll write it over the weekend!
P. S.: Sam & Jack FOREVER!