Disclaimer: Stargate SG-1 is the property of MGM, Gekko, etc. No infringement in intended. This story was written purely for my own amusement and not for financial gain. If anybody else enjoys it too, then all the better.

Rating: PG, for mild language.

She looked up when he entered, but went back to her computer screen when she saw it was him. Her eyes were dry but her jaw was set. He wondered how hard she had been trying not to cry. He stood there for some time, but she would not look up again. He finally broke the silence.

"You're angry with me."

She didn't look up. "That would hardly be my place, sir." Emphasis on the "sir."

"Damn it, Carter. Don't you dare back down from me."

"That's not what you were saying an hour ago." True enough. But an hour ago he had been angry himself, not at her, but at those back-stabbing, snakey Tok'ra. The fact the Carter had tried to get him to be "reasonable" just didn't sit well with him at that particular moment and he had said some things. Things he now regretted.

"If I apologized, would you accept it?"

Now she looked at him, her face expressionless, but her eyes hard. "I would rather know why you did it."

He winced. He tried to think. He started to speak, then stopped. She waited. Finally he said, "I can't…"

She scowled and looked back to her work, dismissing him. He knew she thought he was just being, well, him. Not talking about feelings.

"It's not that I'm not willing to tell you. It's just that…I don't know myself. I really haven't a clue." Why had he taken it out on her?

The admission seemed to surprise her. She looked back up at him, searching his face. His look was pleading. Her expression didn't soften. But she said, "Then, I guess you can start with the apology."

"Carter…"

She waited. She was not going to make this easy.

He continued, faltering. "I wish I could say I didn't mean to hurt you, but…god help me, I think that's exactly what I meant to do. I'm a bastard. I have no excuse. I just...I'm sorry."

She was silent for an eternity. Then, "You said some pretty awful things."

"I know."

"Are you saying you didn't mean them?"

He could see now she was on the edge of losing it. He quickly turned and shut the door, locking it. Then turned again to face her.

"All lies; mean, cruel, malicious falsehoods. Every word of it. I told you. I'm a bastard."

"So, you don't think I'm disloyal." Her lower lip was quivering.

"God, no. I…"

Her hand had come up to her face, her fist pressing against her mouth as she tried desperately to keep it together. He crossed the room to her in two strides and pulled her toward him.

"C'mere."

"No." She pushed him away. Hard.

Her eyes were glistening but her voice was edged with anger. "You are a bastard. You are a self-centered son-of-a-bitch. You think you can just run people over and we're all supposed to accept that its just O'Neill being O'Neill. But YOU DO NOT DO THAT TO ME. Not to ME. Do you understand? I don't deserve it. I won't take it."

He was dumbfounded. Absolutely astounded. It wasn't that her words weren't true. He just never expected them from her. And she had actually raised her voice. He didn't know what to say. So he said the first stupid thing that came to mind.

"Are you done?"

Her answer was a right hook. He landed on his ass.

Her jaw dropped in horror as he just sat there, dazed.

"Oh, god. Colonel." She dropped to her knees beside him, pulling his hand away from his face, surveying the damage. She had connected with his cheekbone. It was already starting to swell up. "Shit."

"It's okay, Carter. I'm not going to press charges."

"Sir?"

"On one condition."

"Yes, sir?"

"You accept my damned apology."