2000

"Sir, wait up," Sam shouted as she chased Jack down the hallway.

Jack stopped and turned around, "Major, I think I made it very clear in the briefing. I'm retired. No more sirs. Now, if you'll excuse me, I've got to pack up my things. There's a lake with no fish just waiting on me."

"Sir-"

"Carter!"

"Jack, we need to talk. Can you come over tonight? It's not something we can discuss on base."

Jack sighed. "Carter, I'm pretty sure you have a date tonight. Didn't I just hear you making dinner plans with Faxon?"

"Dinner plans, yes, but not a date. Look, I can't explain here. Take a cab to my house and let yourself in the backdoor. You know where I keep the spare key. I'll be home by ten."

"Sounds a little clandestine to me, Carter. Not sure your new boyfriend would approve," Jack replied snidely.

"Not my boyfriend, Jack. Just be there and bring beer." With that, she was gone and Jack was even more perplexed than he'd been when she cozied up to the ambassador a few weeks earlier. What on earth was she playing at? Jack did know one thing. He would definitely be waiting for her when she got home from her evening out with Faxon. He needed to understand what was going on in that pretty little brain of hers.

True to her word, Sam was on the front porch at 9:50. Jack moved into the kitchen so her date wouldn't see him, but he chose a location where he could watch their exchange.

"Goodnight, Joe. Thanks for dinner. I'll see you Monday."

"It's still pretty early, Sam. Maybe I could come in for a few minutes. We can talk over coffee."

"I don't think so, Joe. I'm pretty tired. I think I'm going to go right to bed," Sam said with a smile.

Joe moved in to kiss her goodnight, but Jack noticed Sam moved her head slightly so the kiss landed on her cheek. "Can I see you tomorrow night?" he asked with unmistakable lust in his voice.

"I'm afraid I've got plans this weekend. I'll see you Monday morning. We have that big meeting at 9 then we can get lunch at the cafeteria if you want."

"Okay, Sam. Have a good weekend."

"Bye, Joe," Sam said, closing the door.

As soon as the ambassador was out of sight, Jack stepped back into I the living room. "I could slip out the back door and you could finish your date, Carter. It's pretty obvious Joe thought he'd be staying awhile longer."

"Not a date, sir. Did you bring the beer?" Jack nodded and grabbed a couple of Guiness. He handed one to Sam and Sat down on the couch. Instead of choosing the chair or loveseat, she sat beside him. "Quite a day, wasn't it? I really didn't think you'd quit."

"Not quit, retire. I'm a soldier, Carter. I did my job, and Earth is supposedly safe. My job's done."

Sam took a swig of her drink. "Supposedly safe," she repeated, "but you still don't trust the Aschen."

"Nope, but nobody cares what a broken down soldier has to say on the subject. Everybody's all about the new weapons, technology, medicines, and whatever else they're selling to look any deeper. I don't trust anyone who offers a lot without telling us what they want in return."

"I know," Sam said softly. "But, do you really think leaving is the answer?"

"I can't set back and watch the governments of the world make decisions that I believe put us even more at risk, Carter. Nobody is listening to me, so there's no point in fighting. Even you and Daniel can't wait to sign on the dotted line."

"That's not completely true, sir. I am very excited about the technological advances the Aschen are offering, but your gut isn't usually wrong. I trust your instincts," Sam replied, closing her eyes for a moment then looking Jack in the eyes. "I'm not dating Joe. I'm trying to gather intel."

"What?" Jack asked in surprise.

"I know he's interested in me, so I've been spending time with him these last few weeks trying to find out everything I can about the treaty. He's been pretty tight-lipped so far, but I'm hoping he'll slip up. I want you to be wrong about this, Jack. I want the war to be over, but if it's not then we will need you."

"Let me get this straight, you're telling me you believe me? All these weeks cozying up to Faxon, acting all excited about the treaty, and you don't trust them either? I never thought I'd see the day when Sam Carter went Mata Hari."

"Mata Hari! Jack, I've done no such thing, and I really don't appreciate the insinuation! I'm not sure if I trust the Aschen or not, but I do trust you. I thought you trusted me, too," Sam yelled, rising from the couch. "I won't deny that I'm using Joe to get information but to imply I'd be willing to sleep with him to get it is a low blow. Maybe you should go, colonel. Enjoy your retirement."

Jack rose to his feet. He'd hurt her. She might be the only person on the planet that believed his concerns about the Aschen were valid, and he'd let his jealousy over Flaxon get the better of him. He started to leave then he turned around and pulled her into his arms. "I'll go, Sam. I'm sorry. The idea of you with somebody else just made me crazy. It was worse than thinking you believed what the Aschen were selling. Just tell me why you wanted me to come tonight and I'll leave you alone."

"You aren't my commanding officer anymore. I wanted to see if, I needed to know if," she stopped talking and kissed him gently on the lips. It was tender, but Jack returned it with passion. Finally, breaking for air, Sam sighed. "I just don't want you to go. I need to stay with the program a little longer. If there's really something going on with the Aschen then I need to know. That means I need to maintain my friendship with Joe, but he will never have the chance to kiss me the way I just kissed you. Trust me, Jack. Trust me the way I trust you." Jack nodded, and he was rewarded with another kiss. "I told Joe I was going to bed. I don't want to lie."

"I understand I'll see you soon," Jack said as he let go of her.

"Didn't say I was going alone," Sam replied with a smile then she took his hand and led him to her room. "There's a reason I didn't want your truck parked out front. You were my commanding officer until a few hours ago after all."

"But not anymore," Jack said with a smile. This day had definitely ended better than it started. As long as Sam was on his side, he didn't really care what happened, and he wasn't about to let her go.

I had a hard time believing Sam would be seriously interested in Joe once Jack was no longer her commanding officer. This is my fix-it.