Jack walked out of the commissary.
Daniel looked at Sam questioningly.
"Is everything ok, Sam."
"We're just tired. We've been stuck in the same day for months now. It's just go go go; the latin never stops. Col. O'Neill is worn out, his brain can't handle it." She paused, and glanced at Daniel. His face was a picture of confusion. She smiled ruefully. "Sorry Daniel, I need a break too." Being too thrown off to say anything coherent in return, Daniel gave up and decided to finish his coffee instead.
Sam walked out of the room, following Jack's example. She wasn't sure what to do, but attending the briefing was definitely not on the list. As for Janet's exam, well too much time with your best friend is. . . tiring, especially when she is doing tests on you.
Sam headed for O'Neill's office. She knew that he wouldn't be there, but she had a plan. She was going to have some fun, some REAL fun.
Sam turned into his office and a bright blue box reading, "I love woo." greeted her. Jack looked up, and thrust the box under the desk.
"Aren't you supposed to knock?" He asked guiltily.
"When did you start hiding things?" Sam returned in her own defense.
"I'm only hiding it from you." Jack quipped, Sam broke the mood and started laughing.
"Carter, I've decided not to attend the meeting today, not to get poked and prodded by Dr. Evil needle, and not to practice my Latin." He paused and pondered as to what he should say next, " As your CO I need to know, will you fight this battle with me?" He said in mock seriousness.
"Yes, sir!" She said with a salute. "Now what?"
"Let's go ice skating with Cass."
"Sir, its summer."
"Indoor rink."
"How are we going to explain how we got off work and her mom didn't?"
"Don't know, but we can wing it. C'mon Carter, live a little, we can always try again." He said with his cutest persuasice face.
"Alright, sir, but next time I get to pick."
"Ya'sureya'betcha'." He said leading her out of his office. They slipped into the elevator, and stealthily pushed the ground floor button. Nine floors left to go, General Hammond stepped into the elevator with them.
"Good morning Colonel, Major." He nodded to both in turn.
"Good morning, sir." She said a bit too nervously.
"Don't forget about the meeting today." He said complacently.
"Of course, sir." She said.
"See ya' then, bye." He said stepping out of the elevator just as he had stepped in.
"Bye George." O'Neill said. He must be in a good mood, Jack thought to himself, he didn't bat an eye at being called by his first name.
"What's with the General this morning? He didn't even budge when you called him George!" Sam said suspiciously.
"Maybe his granddaughter lost a tooth?" Jack guessed.
Sam looked at him doubtfully.
"What did I do?" He asked innocently.
"Uh huh." she said smiling wide. Jack feigned a hurt expression.
"I'm gonna tell Cassie on you." He said childishly sticking his tongue out.
"You do that, sir, but I promise she'll side with me." She said matter-of-factly.
"Carter? I know no one will remember this, but are you feeling all right? Cassie always sides with me. I'm her favorite." Jack shrugged.
"Really? I happen to disagree with you, because Cassie and I both know that girls are always right." O'Neill just rolled his eyes. "You're not right any more than boys. Well maybe you are, but girls in general aren't."
"You're just jealous, because I'm smarter than you." She said rubbing it in his face.
"Hey, but we're both just as good-looking." Jack pointed out.
"That's true sir, but you are definitely more strategic than I am." She conceded that.
"Don't sell yourself short, Carter. I'm sure your strategies off the battle field are fine." He teased.
"Well, they're certainly better than your plans for the future." She returned, as the door opened. They hopped off the elevator, and signed themselves out. The opressive summer heat hit them, and the decision of who would be driving was fast upon them.
"So, Carter are we taking your car or mine?"
"Yours, it may be a truck but it is larger. We'll put Cassie in the middle."
"Sounds good to me."
"Can we stop by my house; I have to get my skates?"
"Sure, no problem." Jack said , getting in, and turning on the AC. Sam jumped in on the other side, and buckled up.
When they had cleared the first gate, Jack nonchalantly asked, "So what's wrong with a white picket fence, and an isolated cabin in the mountains?"
"Sir?" Carter asked, totally lost as to where this came from.
"You said I didn't have a good plan for my life. Well, what do you have against the familly life? The white picket fence, ya know." Jack said paying a little too much attention to his driving.
She thought for a moment. "Nothing, sir." She said quietly. She looked at her hands which nervously sat in her lap. "It sounds perfect." She mumbled, looking out the window. Her feeble attempt at hiding her answer failed terribly.
"You should give it a try when you get the chance." Jack said as they came to a red light. She turned her eyesto him, and he caught her sight with his intense glance. "That'll always be open to you, Carter." He said as the light struck green. Sam blushed miserably. The possibilities of what could be rolled through her mind, again. She sighed despondently. Jack reached over andbrushed her twitching hands. "Don't give up hope Dorothy. Your emerald city is just around the corner." They spent the rest of the car ride in silence; finally they pulled up to Carter's home.
"Come on in, sir, it's not much, but this is my home." Sam said walking up to her house and unlocking the door. She opened it for him, and Jack stepped through the door to find himself inside a pristine home withsmall little trinkets todecorate and not many of those, but it had a Carter-like feel none the less. "Haven't had a lot of time to decorate, but oh well." She said marching into her room and shuffling through a closet.
"No, I like it. It is very simple." Jack said trying to be helpful, coming into the doorway of her room. He paused uncomfortably.
"Thanks, sir." she said giggling, she looked behind her, "Come on in sir." She said casually. "I'm having some trouble finding them. I don't usually look for my iceskates in the summer." She bantered.
Jack looked around her sparse room. Simple was good, but her bedroom was simply baren.
She pulled out her skates from the back of her closet and motioned for them to go.
When they got to the Fraiser's home they found something unexpected.