Summary : Jack slipped during SGU finale.

Characters: O'Neill & Carter

Aboard Destiny they are having their own share of problems and here on Earth I am having mine. I just got off a video conference call with Colonel Carter, but I slipped. I didn't call her Carter like I have numerous times in the past or even Colonel her rank. No I called her Sam. My feelings towards her, our relationship brought to the surface. I can't believe that I made such a careless error and broke our oath to one another not to use our given names. I could see it in her eyes, a fear that someone might catch it, but she being the wonderful Samantha Carter kept up the barriers and called me Sir. I was in for it when she came home.

I wait for her to come home, there has been no new word on Destiny and with the Hammond back in Earth's orbit, she was able to beam down and have a nice dinner at home. I pulled out the stops, her favorite meal even went so far as to personally go to the store for her favorite bottle of wine, I was not going to let some aide go and clean up my mistake. No this was my error and mine alone to fix. I hear her keys at the door and I stand and wait. She comes in looking exhausted, today was very hard on her. She lost people, even friends in combat before and I can tell you it never gets easier no matter how many times it happens. I watch as she places her bags down and walks over to me. I instantly envelope her in a hug and try to make as much of the pain go away as possible. She notices the candlelight on the dining table behind me and starts asking questions.

"What's all this?"

"Dinner, I thought you could do with something nice after today."

"I could, looks good. Let me get changed."

"Ok." As she goes upstairs I unwrap the food and open up the wine. She comes down a few minutes later in a pair of jeans and blue blouse. I always like her in blue, it makes her eyes sparkle. I just smile and my heart melts, this is the woman that I am in love with and have been for well over 12 years now. Its no wonder I slipped today, when I am around her I just loose all sense of everything.

"You went to a lot of trouble today."

"Not really, but I did try. Consider it as an apology."

"See and I knew you realized you slipped."

"I did not slip, I just used your given name."

"Which we agreed neither one of us would do while working."

"I know, I couldn't help it, I was looking at you, and I got lost in your eyes so sad with the loses of your 302's and I slipped."

"You sure did. Good thing no one realized it." She picks up her glass of wine and takes a sip. "My favorite?"

"Yeah!"

"Wow, you must feel bad."

"I do, can you forgive me."

"I'm not sure. Time will tell."

"Please Sam."

"I suppose I forgive you on one condition."

"And…?"

"You make it up to me."

"How?"

"I'm sure you will figure it out." She says as she leans over and blows out the candles. I watch as she turns and walks towards the stairs.

"You're not hungry?"

"Not for dinner."

"Ah, so you were never really mad at me were you?"

"Nope." I watch as she pauses at the bottom of the stair case. Then I realize she is waiting for me and I go to her. "I can never really be mad at you, annoyed yes, mad no."

"I love you Sam."

"And I love you Jack." We start up the stairs, halfway she stops and turns towards me. "Oh and if you ever slip again, it will take more than dinner to make it up to me."

And that ladies and gentlemen is why I Lt. General Jack O'Neill am in love with Colonel Samantha Carter.