A big shout out to all who reviewed Chapter one! Thank you for your kind words.

I was originally not going to post this next chapter so soon, but you asked for it!

This chapter is mostly fluff – not being at the angst-y stage just yet, so enjoy it for all its fluffy goodness!

Universal Consequences – Chapter 2

Previously

~*~*~*~

Left with no other options, Samantha Carter could do nothing but concentrate on the steady dripping and hope that her situation would become apparent to her sometime soon.

~*~*~*~

-SIX MONTHS BEFORE-

Tires screeched against the pavement as the small car was put in park. Sam had jumped out of the vehicle almost before she had switched the engine off and had begun making her way into the mountain like a bat out of hell.

Samantha Carter was late.

Never, in her long military career had she been this late to a briefing. Always leaving more than enough time for all her morning rituals, including stopping for coffee and any short errands she had to do in town, including travel time. Some would call this habit obsessive compulsive, but she simply thought it was being prepared, who knew what could creep up on you and throw a spanner in the works? And in the event of such things, Sam Carter was prepared.

This morning, however, was another matter.

Today had started out normally, with the exception of Sam forgoing her normal morning run in order to prepare for the important briefing, that ironically she was now running very late for. She had gotten up, done her morning rituals, Kissed her husband goodbye as he left for the mountain before her and proceeded to dress in her class A's for the 'super-high-tech-important-meeting-thingy' as Jack had so affectionately called it. No matter how many times she had corrected his explaining that it was a briefing to the joint chiefs regarding the hyperspace capabilities of The Hammond and its practicality for further application in the next series of earth's space vessels.

She had counted on having time to go over her notes several times. She had also counted on having more than enough time to get to the mountain and prepare some more before the meeting.

What she hadn't counted on was last night's mu shoo pork coming back to haunt her for the majority of the morning.

So that was it. Instead of having time to relax before having to brief the most important Generals in the country, she barely had time to head to the locker room for a clean set of BDU's (her class A's had been an unfortunate casualty in her bout of food poisoning that morning) and make herself look halfway presentable before heading to the briefing room, knocking down airmen and scientists in her path as she basically sprinted down the halls.

In the end, she was only ten minutes late. Small in the grand scheme of things and unlikely to cause any major dramas in their busy General schedules. But still, these men were not ones to be kept waiting. She quickly tucked a strand that had fallen from her regulation braid back behind her ear and entered the room.

Sitting at the table was Jack, Landry, an IOA representative whom Sam had not met, but should have known his name, and three imposing looking Generals with more stars on their collar than was comforting to admit.

Landry had obviously been mid-animated conversation as he was gesturing with his arms widely with an enormous smile on his face. She noticed that the other Generals wore matching grins and did an internal sigh of relief.

Good. She thought to herself. They were in a good mood.

"Colonel Carter!"

"My apologies, Generals. I was unexpectedly detained." She managed to stutter, but tried to cover it with confidence in her voice.

"Never mind that, Colonel, I was just telling these men about your latest narrow escape aboard the Hammond. Those Lucian Alliance pests know better now than to mess with you on board what is our highest class warship. You are somewhat of a legend to these men for getting our guys out of tight spots at the last second."

Great... if she hadn't already been nauseous, she certainly would have been now.

She barely heard herself mumble something along the line of a commander is only as good as those they command, something she had heard from someone during her years of service to the Air Force, before she moved to the computer set up for her presentation. She fiddled for several seconds before taking a deep breath, ready to begin.

Then, suddenly, it hit her again.

The rolling of her stomach as it tried hard to reject the clearly spoiled food she had consumed the previous evening. The nausea mounting within her causing bile to rise in the back of her throat. The General closest to her inched slightly backward at seeing the green look on her face and Sam tried hard not to think about how quick of a career ender it would be if she threw up on one of the highest ranking military generals in the continental US.

Ok, that seems to have done it.

The thought seemed to have done the trick as the nausea that had swept upon her so suddenly dissipated just as quick, and Sam preyed that it would stay that way for the remainder of the briefing.

Managing to convey a fake smile at Landry, who had seemed oblivious to her plight, and catching a brief look of confusion and concern from her husband she began her presentation.

~*~*~*~

Jack found her two hours later hunched over a waste bin that had been the closest thing she could find in her lab before the nausea caught up with her once more. He quickly, with all the grace he could muster for a Lieutenant General, moved beside her and squatted down to rub her back gently as she continued to dry heave. Trying hard not to let it show that he was totally grossed out, he comforted her without words until the sickness had passed.

"Thought you seemed a little... off in the briefing." He noted, with a tiny smirk tilting the corner of his mouth.

She simply sat back on her haunches recovering from the exertion that the dry heaves had on her body, feeling as miserable as she guessed she looked.

Jack moved to sit beside her, drawing her close with one arm as the other fished out a clean tissue from his dress pants. She graciously took the tissue and moved into the one armed embrace seeking the comfort that only he could offer.

It was a moment before either of them spoke.

"I totally blame you for this." She said through deep cleansing breaths and lips that were beginning to chap.

He managed a snigger, wondering how exactly her genius brain had come to that conclusion. She answered the confused look on his face.

"You and your showing up last night, distracting me from my briefing and dragging me into the bedroom until the wee hours of the morning." She said with conviction.

He grinned wickedly pulling her impossibly closer to him, allowing her to draw comfort from his presence.

"I thought you liked it when I went all cave man on you." He stated simply. Then after a beat "but I still don't see how I could have caused that!"

"Well as it was the wee hours of the morning, I couldn't order food as I had planned to do because I have spent the last three weeks working around the clock on this presentation that I had forgone any actual grocery shopping. Therefore – all I had to tide my voracious appetite with was a left over carton of Mu Shu Pork from three nights ago. Which, clearly was past its sell-by."

"Huh… well, then I guess I should apologise." He chuckled at her insane logic.

She smiled slightly as she snuggled closer to him, wondering how they would be perceived to any passersby who happened upon them. A three-star general in his impeccable dress blues and a slightly divellished Colonel in BDU's that had seen better days, sitting curled up on the floor of her lab.

"Yes, well… I guess I can forgive you this one time. Although, in futu-" She was cut off by her stomach rolling, anticipating another dry heave. Jack once again grabbed the waste bin and guided it up under her chin in time to catch the small amount of bile she had brought up. Clearly she had not eaten or drank much this morning and was now struggling to cope with her stomachs revulsions.

She continued her slight dry heaving for a few minutes before she returned stationary once more. Jack swiped delicately at the few strands of hair that had fallen in front of her eyes and offered the tissue once again.

"I'm glad you're here... And I'm glad you came last night. I miss you when you're not here."

And it was true. Over the three years they had been married, most of their time had been spent apart. He in Washington and her in Colorado (not to mention her year on Atlantis- now that was a long distance relationship)

So every moment they could spend together was incredibly precious.

Jack had made Lieutenant General a little over a month ago and that had been the last time he made the trek to Colorado for the weekend. Sam had also taken the weekend off just to spend time with him, as they knew that he would have to return to Washington once Sunday came and went.

Sam thought back shyly to that night. They had hauled the current SG1 out from under their respective rocks and gone out to belatedly celebrate Jack's promotion.

Never normally one to make a fuss, Jack had opted out of the standard ceremony/reception and instead had chosen to receive his newest star in a private ceremony in the oval office. Sam had been the only one of 'The Gang' in attendance. She had surprised him by being beamed into the office of the president a full three days before the Hammond was due to make it back from their latest run to the Icarus base.

FLASH BACK

"You think I would miss this?" She smiled brightly answering the question in his eyes as she moved closer to him. The heels of her dress uniform putting her slightly taller than normal, yet not quite as tall as he, while she moved to brush a speck of lint from his own jacket.

Jack just smiled the little grin that showed that cute little dimple and always made her swoon. He reached over to touch her, just to reassure himself that she was really there and she reached up to straighten his tie.

He was momentarily put off by the intimacy of the gesture, both of them being very private with displays of affection, but quickly remembered that they were alone. He snaked his arms around her while she straightened his lapels, his eyes taking in her face, shining with pride for him, her complexion glowing. She finished straightening his uniform and ended with a soft peck on his lips. Slow and soft, chaste, yet incredibly intimate.

"I am so proud of you." She said simply.

Jack simply looked away with a secret smile, and Sam swore if he wasn't as tanned as he was, there would be a feint blush on his cheeks.

"Yes, well... Henry said it was too early for me to retire... so thought he'd make me want to stay by promoting me. Joke's on him though… I still want out."

"You? Retire... you'd be bored within a week." She teased as she made a move to step away from his embrace.

"Yes, well... not if it meant spending my days waiting for my super hot wife to come home to me..."

It was Sam's turn to blush and smile coyly.

"Yes, well... just think of all the favors the president now owes you now."

"There is that..." He jokes, but in his mind he began ticking off those things on 'the list' that was ever expanding.

She smiled as the President and his Aid entered the office, along with the Air Force chief of staff and a few other delegates from the armed forces and the IOA.

"Ah, Colonel Carter. Glad to see you made it, I wasn't sure if my invitation got lost in the latest data burst to the Hammond." Henry Hayes beamed at the arrival.

"Yes, sir, Mr. President. I had to push her to the maximum, but she handles pretty well. Glad I made it on time."

"Good to hear our top space vessel is in tip top shape! Although, I'm sure I couldn't expect any less with you at the helm. Well, then... lets get this show on the road. You and your husband are very busy people..."

And so he began the swearing in ceremony, accompanied with a small surprise that neither Jack, nor Sam had expected. According to The will of One General George Hammond, The Stars that featured on the prominent member of the SG family were to be bequeathed to Lieutenant General Jack O'Neill in the event of his next promotion. General Hammond's Grand-daughter, Kayla, had shipped them to the White House specially for the ceremony.

Sam smiled proudly as her husband's jacket was adorned with the stars of the man who had meant so much to both of them in the fifteen years they had known him.

The party they had two weeks later in Colorado more than made up for the small formal affair.

Sam giggled minutely as she toppled precariously on her heels. The sturdy presence of her husband followed her as she led him up the front path by the lapels on his coat - Not an easy feat for a champagne laden Colonel walking backwards in a pair of classy stilettos that were far from practical. She wondered for a moment what on earth had possessed her to wear something so outrageous, before remembering that they looked fantastic on her and the appreciative gaze she received from her husband was more than enough to outweigh the subtle nuisance of being able to feel her toes.

She was vaguely aware of Jack paying the fare of the cab they had caught from in town and under normal circumstances would probably have been a bit embarrassed at the way the cabbie was leering at the two of them knowingly, but in her current state she couldn't care less. If she wanted to ravage her husband in their own home, then she damn well would.

The cabbie pulled away from the curb after a suggestive 'have a good night' leaving Jack and Sam alone. She continued to tug at the lapels of his jacket as she guided him up the narrow path towards the front porch, giggling helplessly as she stumbled slightly and his hands went out to steady her.

She sighed in contentment as a delicious shiver went up her spine at the thought of his hands. His wonderful, magical, pleasure giving hands. She wasted no time dragging him up onto the front stoop all the while thinking about his hands.

While he searched for his keys to unlock the door she hung on to him, hindering his movements somewhat while pressing her lips on the underside of his jaw. He had shaved earlier that evening, before there night out with the guys to celebrate his promotion to Lieutenant General, but the skin of his cheek was a little scratchy.

Addictive.

She wanted to devour him. She could feel their mutual desire radiating off their bodies. Her fun and flirtatious, his serious and intense. She stumbled once again as she attempted to nip at the skin just under his Adams apple and giggled raucously.

"You're drunk." Jack stated calmly as he steadied her once more. Even though it was clear that he was more than a little tipsy himself as he fumbled with the keys in his hands

"No I'm not!" She cried indignantly, knowing her argument was futile yet wanting to stir him on despite it.

"Yes, Colonel... you are drunk."

"That's Mrs. O'Neill to you General... and if I'm drunk... then so are you!" She declared just as Jack's fumbling managed to open the door before them.

She must have managed to gain her footing again suddenly because as soon as they fell through the doorway she had the door closed and him backed against it, her hungry mouth on his, her hands gripping the collar of his shirt. He snaked his arms around her frame, drawing her body flush against his while his lips found purchase on her own.

He liked this side of her, the playful domineering side who took what she wanted. Perhaps it was because for years he was so used to her following his every order, doing what she was told with her 'yes sir' 'no sir' 'how high sir' attitude that he caught so much more of the real Samantha Carter when her put her in charge.

She giggled as they tripped over his feet in the hallway, not severing the connection of their lips as he led her to the bedroom. Her hands pulling his shirt from the waist band of his pants while his own reached around her frame and began unzipping her dress.

He growled lowly as her cool hands met the heated flesh of his sides and he pushed her against the wall by their bedroom door in retaliation and to gain some much needed leverage. God this woman... the things she did to him, the ways she made him feel.

"Jack..." She mumbled while his lips left hers and began their way down her jaw.

"Mmm?" he questioned, without removing himself from his task of taking down the straps of her dress and nipping at the newly exposed flesh with his teeth.

"Bedroom... now." she enforced, attempting to push him in the direction of their bed. They had done the frantic lovemaking session against the wall a few times previously, and while satisfying, it always led to more aches and pains the next morning.

In a move that surprised her entirely he bent at the waste and suddenly lifted her off her feet. She squealed excitedly and in surprise before placing her arm around his neck and resuming her sweet torture of lips on his jaw as he carried her into the bedroom.

He gently lowered her to the bed, capturing her lips softly before pulling away to look at her.

She truly was a marvelous creature. And this view of her he had now, Lips swollen from his kisses, face flushed and panting lightly with desire, hands roaming his shoulders, trying to bring his body back into contact with her own... She was never more beautiful to him - something he continued to prove to her as he made love to her tenderly until the wee hours of the morning.

When they were sated, limbs tangled together hands lightly caressing skin as their bodies cooled, exhaustion slowly creeping up on them, he asked her sleepily.

"Are you happy?"

She snorted, in the most ladylike of ways, which he found even more endearing than the light giggle she let out next.

"Oh yeah... you were really on top of your game tonight, mister. I think I need to get you drunk on Guinness and have my wicked way with you more often."

He grinned wolfishly and let out a grunt of approval as she reached up and captured his lips with her own, pulling away slightly, he felt her breath mingling with his as he began again.

"No, I meant... in general. You, me... us? Our lives."

She thought and after a few seconds, giving him the most honest answer she could.

"Happier than I ever thought possible."

"Why do you ask?" She wondered, before a startling thought crossed her mind.

"Are you not happy?"

"God, no... Sam, you are more than I ever though I deserved. I love you so damn much and I'm happy."

"But?" She asked, knowing there was something he wasn't saying.

"No buts." He kissed her soft and demanding, warm and passionate, and she almost forgot about his original question as she lost herself in his kiss. He broke it off before sighing, looking pensive.

"Our lives are hectic. We hardly see each other. That's why I wanted to retire, but the President wouldn't have it, so he promoted me instead."

She reached for his hand as she spoke her next words.

"Well, you're invaluable to the program, and Hayes knows that. Us little people need you out there fighting for us. Dealing out blows to the pesky IOA and politicians - O'Neill style."

He chuckled again, but this time it didn't reach his eyes. She lifted her hand from where it was intertwined with his and stroked his cheek lovingly, taking an extra second to trace the tiny scar over his eyebrow that shone brightly in the dawn light.

"I know it's hard. And it DOES hurt being away from you all the time. But we both know that this is the way it has to be, at least for now, anyways. In a little more than a year, my tour on the Hammond will be up and I can request an earth based assignment. Maybe the President will let you retire then and we can have more time together."

"Mmm." he sighed non-committaly.

"It's not forever Jack... You an I know both know that our jobs are important, but the program is making leaps and bounds in technology and support from the IOA. Soon we can step back and let the young guns take the reins. And when that day comes... you can bet I'll be right here with you. Whether Colorado, Washington or that pesky little cabin in Minnesota... Right here." She finished with a chuckle.

She was right. She was always right. Their jobs weren't forever. But they were. And that was all that mattered.

END FLASHBACK

She was brought back into the present by another rolling of her stomach and struggled to reach for the waste bin again.

"I'm gonna go and see if Doc Lam has something that can help settle your stomach. You okay here for a minute?" She nodded slightly and breathed in deeply, grateful that the feeling of nausea had begun to pass.

She watched Jack manoeuvre himself into a standing position and allowed him to assist her with her own standing up as he rubbed her back again, comforting her with his gentle touch.

"And then I'm gonna tell Landry that you're taking the rest of the day off and I'm going to play nursemaid." He stated with finality.

"But Jack-" She began to protest, Thinking of all the work she had to do. Her presentation had only been the beginning of her newest project on The Hammond, and now with the go ahead from the joint chiefs, she had to begin to put her plans in motion.

"Ah!" he cut her off with a finger. "No arguments Carter!" She smirked and silently resigned herself to taking the rest of the day off as he sauntered towards the infirmary.

She smiled slightly as she admired his six as he left the room. Maybe she was feeling a little better, after all.

~*~*~*~

Okay, that's it for chapter 2. Next chapter we get into the Angst, so be warned! Although I can tell you now that I am a big fan of happy endings, so as big as the angst may be, you can rest easy knowing that there will be some kind of happy resolution!

For now though, if you liked – Please review!