AN: This is not your average Jack/Sam ship. I tried to keep the events and the follow through as close to the SG-1 Jack and Sam as originally casted as I could. Also I have tried to keep this from getting too angsty and keep it T rated as it is more about their dynamic that anything else and how they handle an unexpected situation.

SUMMARY

It was the last weekend before Jack started his commission at the brand new Stargate Command and to be perfectly honest he wasn't looking forward to being back in a position of responsibility. So deciding he had nothing left to lose he headed out for one last night on the town where he bumps into the most beautiful woman he has ever seen. But who is she and if he can pluck up the courage to approach the first person since Charlie died to make him feel anything other than grief, will she even speak to him?

oOo

Sam's life had just been disrupted in the most fantastic of ways. Finally she was going to get the opportunity of her dreams. After two years she was sure it was never going to happen and had settled into her new Jonas-free life. Then her phone had rang and now she was hectically preparing for a whole new chapter. But at this very moment in time all she wanted was food, would O'Malley's bring her what she was looking for or a whole lot more?

Set in (the original) S1:1, starts just after Hammond says "Consider yourself recalled to active duty Colonel." and follows through with what I think is a plausible reason for delaying the 08:00 briefing. Like I said I tried to keep it as true as possible but for some it will still have an element of 'na-ah, no way' about it. Unavoidable I'm afraid or the fic wouldn't exist. Please just enjoy it and like all of us I really appreciate reviews, they give me what I need to keep going :)

Jack/Sam. Romance/Humour. Rated T with some non-explicit adult content expected.

BEAUTY AND THE BEGINNING

Jack O'Neill was feeling restless. Why had he agreed to do this? He was so sure he had left it all behind him and just could not find it in his heart to even consider giving it everything it needed. He shrugged, it was too late now. He had been tracked down – which involved the mammoth task of looking up his current address – and taken to account for himself and the actions of his Abydos team. West's replacement, General Hammond had very efficiently cornered him into coming clean and basically after that he had managed to talk himself into being recalled to active duty.

"General, let me take a team through that gate..."

For just a moment the thought had excited him and the prospect of a new and worthy cause pulled the old Jack O'Neill out to play. The one with integrity and self-worth, the guy all his teams could depend on. In essence, the man he used to be. He knew his eyes had shone bright, reflecting the enthusiasm that he saw on Kawalsky's eager features. But the truth was he had lost all of his fight and fire along with everything else that made him who he was in the moment that he had lost his son. Now he was supposed to just forget about that and head out into the galaxy looking for trouble, firstly in the form of Daniel Jackson. He did not know how he could possibly find enough energy to look after himself out there never mind keep everyone around him safe.

Sighing he pushed up out of his chair in his new sparsely furnished home and headed for the fridge. The light turned on and absolutely nothing looked back at him. He had not even so much as a mouldy piece of cheese or a single bottle of beer left. He slammed the door shut and headed for the bourbon bottle, but even that was empty. "Crap." It was Saturday night and due to the on-going delay in getting the President's authorisation to go through the gate, the mission briefing had been reluctantly pushed back until Monday morning at 08.00 hours, he had no food in and he was sick of take-away. Suddenly O'Malley's was not such an unattractive proposition, it was his last proper night as a retired man after all. Tomorrow meant an early to bed for an early to rise.

Gathering up his coat he thought about ringing Kawalsky or Ferretti but decided against it. He really did not feel like making small-talk with his reacquainted friends and the mere knowledge that both men were happily married with kids stung more than just a little. He did not think he could stand up under the burden of his own loss in the face of alcohol and the understated sympathy of their company. Besides at six pm on a Saturday he had no business interrupting their happy family lives. So he went alone, ordered a rare steak minus the rabbit food then attempted to drink as much beer as he could. Oddly it made no difference, he remained sober and that did not seem like such a good thing. He paid the waitress and was about to leave when something unusual happened.

As he held the door open the most beautiful woman walked through. Initially she frowned at him but when she realised he had not deliberately held the door for her she smiled and Jack thought his heart might explode right there and then. Her crystalline blue eyes seemed to light up the room and her youthful features glowed. It was a fleeting moment and he gazed after her as she stepped out onto the floor and glanced around. Jack let the door swing shut, all intentions of leaving banished from his mind.

He watched as she made her way over to and sat in the very seat he had just vacated. It made him smile because it really was the best seat in the house. Secluded, defensible and close to the bar if the waiters were too busy. She took a single menu, indicating that she was alone, ordered a jug of water and a glass of riesling. Somehow Jack knew from that moment on he would never forget that she drank white wine. Without warning she looked up and stared straight at him.

oOo

Sam Carter had been having a hell of a day. Her reassignment request had come in unexpected and fast causing her to literally have to drop everything and run. Even with the forty-eight hour delay it was tight getting everything organised. She still had to fly back to DC tomorrow, pack up the last of her boxes of research notes and get the details of her new address. She sure as hell hoped that she could make the earlier flight that got her back in plenty of time for the 08.00 briefing. How unacceptable would it be to arrive late on your first day...God, she could not imagine that, she had never been late for anything in her life. She supposed she had her father to thank for that. Her heart constricted as her thoughts once again turned unbidden to the estranged man that she actually missed more than she could describe. Then the cab pulled up outside some place called O'Malley's that had been recommended to her and she was thankful for the distraction, from the outside it looked alright. Her stomach rumbled loudly.

Some guy held the door for her and she found herself smiling. It seemed chivalry was not dead...even if it was accidental. Looking around the room she saw that the perfect table was just being cleared. She waited for a moment and then made her way over. The vacated seat was still warm and a single empty beer bottle remained on the table. The waitress cleared it as she handed over the menu and Sam's eye could not help but pick up on the fact that whoever had been drinking it was obviously a fidgeter. Every piece of the label had been picked off making it completely anonymous. She ordered her favourite wine and began to look at the specials. Then something tugged at her senses. She was being watched. Instantly she zoned in on who it was. The guy who had held the door open for her was avidly staring. Well that was not at all creepy. She arched an eyebrow and he quickly looked away.

But even as she shuddered Sam's mind picked out the more handsome aspects of his features, like that sudden cheeky smirk that lay behind the surprise at getting caught. He was well built, tall and even at this distance it was clear he had a good body. He was also a little older though and his dress sense left a lot to be desired. I mean white jeans? Come on!

From behind her menu she watched him as he drifted back across to the bar and sat on the end stool. Twice she saw his eye run in her direction and if she had been any less of a woman it may have bothered her, but she was military and by the way he moved so was he. She ordered a steak, medium rare and side-salad, then deciding to push the boat out ordered another glass of wine. It was her last night before she got stuck into what she hoped would be the biggest and most exciting project of her life and she knew if she did not try to relax now she never would again. She just hoped that this Colonel J. O'Neill character was not going to be a chauvinist like her last CO. Or even worse a creep like the guy at the end of the bar who was still watching her.

oOo

Jack felt himself flush as she openly glared at him again. It was obvious she was not impressed, but then he had been gaping like a schoolboy. He just could not help it she was gorgeous and it was the first time he had actually felt...anything, since Charlie died. The realisation caused him to down the contents of the glass in front of him and order another. More discretely he watched as the beautiful woman polished off the last of her wine. He liked the fact that she was not shy about drinking alone in a strange place. Suddenly he realised that she reminded him of Sara. Like his soon to be ex-wife she was slim with blonde hair cropped short with an almost boyish charm. Her eyes were bluer though and her face was a little softer. He smiled as she absently thumbed one of her turquoise earrings, clearly they had sentimental value.

When her meal arrived Jack thought it best to stop staring and let the woman eat in peace. It was painfully obvious that no matter how careful he was she was aware of his attentions and it briefly made him wonder if she was military. He shook his head, deciding against the idea. She was far too graceful and refined to be running around in the mud playing with claymores, he just could not see it.

Jack shook his head and frowned to himself when she ordered blue jello and ice-cream from the kids menu and what he recognised as a very pricey dessert wine to match. It seemed the woman had somewhat confusing and expensive tastes. Before her last course arrived she glanced at him as she walked past on her way to the restrooms. He was sure he had seen her smile, it made his heart flutter. Taking a chance he moved down to the other end of the bar where he was half hidden by the palm tree but could still see her and if he could manage to bring himself to do it, would be within talking range. Briefly he wondered if his behaviour could be misconstrued as stalker-ish but then decided it was not. Someone as beautiful as her must be used to all sorts of different kinds of attention. Besides, he always sat in this seat when he was here and not eating he tried to justify to himself.

AN: And so a gentle beginning, what comes next? Will Sam speak to Jack or will she tell him in no uncertain terms where to stick his unwanted attentions..?