A/N – I realize there may be a slight anachronism here, because I don't know when the song "Don't Cha" actually came out in relation to when Season 4 of Stargate is set. But I'm using my creative license here, so don't get all touchy about it please :P

Chapter 3

"So, Jack, is it?" Daniel asked, glancing over at Sam. It was about two seconds after they'd both stepped into the elevator on their way down to the briefing room.

Sam looked at him, frowning. "Huh?"

"You were humming."

"Oh…" she could feel herself blushing. "Sorry."

"Don't be. There's absolutely nothing wrong with having a boyfriend."

She was outraged now, and glared at the archaeologist who was calmly sipping his coffee. "Daniel! Jack O'Neill is not my boyfriend. He's just a friend of mine who happens to be male."

The elevator came to a stop and they both got off. Daniel rolled his eyes and leaned a little closer to Sam. "A friend of yours who you constantly talk about and moon over…"

"I do not moon over Jack!"

"Oh, but you do, Carter, you do." Kowalski and Teal'c had appeared out of nowhere, Kowalski grinning as he caught onto what Sam and Daniel were talking about. He elbowed the large jaffa in the side. "Tell her, T."

"Indeed you do, MajorCarter."

Was the whole world turning against her?! Sam threw her hands in the air in disgust. "Do you guys have nothing better to talk about than my love life?"

"Aww…come on, Carter…" Kowalski walked over and put an arm around Sam's shoulders, which she promptly tried to shrug off. "I went to all the trouble to set you and Jack up, the least you can do is provide us with the nice little details."

"There are no nice little details except that I don't get to spend any time with him because saving the galaxy keeps getting in the way."

Kowalski chuckled, nodding. "Yeah…pity Jack isn't on SG-1 or something, then you wouldn't have to worry about not telling him anything."

"Oh yes, but then I wouldn't have any chance of dating him whatsoever," Sam pointed out as they walked into the briefing room where General Hammond was already waiting for them.

"Dating who?" The general asked, looking bemused.

Sam rolled her eyes. "No one, sir."

"Jack O'Neill." Kowalski said, then looked at Sam. "Is not no one."

"All right all right," Hammond said, chuckling.

"General Hammond, I do believe that DanielJackson and ColonelKowalski were harassing MajorCarter about her boyfriend," Teal'c said, unable to restrain himself from getting another jab in.

Sam glared at him. "He's not my boyfriend."

"Ok, people, lets settle down here," Hammond said. "For my sake at least try to act professionally for a few minutes."

"Yes, sir," Kowalski said, sitting down forcefully at his seat at the briefing table and shooting a grin over at Sam, who was still sulking.

Daniel looked up from the artifacts he was uncovering to glance at Sam, who was standing nearby, hands resting on the butt of her P90. "…Pussycat Dolls?"

"What?" Sam blushed furiously. "I was not."

"Were too. You were definitely humming Pussycat Dolls."

"The fact that you recognized it, Jackson, is what disturbs me," Kowalski said from nearby. "I mean, you're not supposed to recognize that sort of thing unless you've got a teenage daughter."

"Oh, and what ever would you be insinuating, Kowalski?" Daniel said, turning to smile sweetly at Kowalski.

"You tell me, Doctor Jackson."

Sam rolled her eyes, straightening up to take her hat off and run her hand through her hair. "Sir, I know you've got a huge crush on Daniel and all but I don't think he's gay."

"Hey! That is this close to insubordination, Carter!" Kowalski growled, wagging a finger at her threateningly before shooting another glare at Daniel, who smiled again.

"Don't cha wish your girlfriend was hot like me…" the archaeologist sang about an octave deeper than the original.

"Oh, beautiful, Daniel, just beautiful," Sam laughed at her friend as she readjusted her hat. "Anyway, I'm going to go see what Teal'c is up to. Sir, have fun trying to woo Daniel but I think he's got a little more class than what you're offering." She turned and set her hat firmly back on her head before stalking off through the grass.

"You're one to talk, Carter!" Kowalski shouted after her, then after a beat added hastily, "And I'm not in love with Jackson!"

Jack looked over at where Charlie was doing his homework. "Hey, kiddo…"

"What, Dad?" Charlie sounded a little exasperated.

"Would you mind if I had Sam over for dinner?"

Charlie rolled his eyes and looked back down at his work, shrugging. "She's your girlfriend. I don't care."

"Well…we're not exactly dating…per se…" Jack said, shifting around on the couch and trying not to spill the glass of beer that he'd so precariously balanced on the arm.

"Then why'd you bother asking me?" Charlie asked, eyes narrowed.

"Because this involves you…"

"So you are dating her. Dad…" Another eye roll, this time accompanied by a heavy sigh. "Just make up your mind, ok?…I don't care…she can come for dinner…"

"Great." Jack stood up, half turning towards the phone. "I'll…give her a call…"

Sam looked up at Jack's house with a little anxiety as she tried not to twist her ankle getting out of the car, silently cursing the high heels she'd chosen to worn. Standing in the golden halo of a streetlamp she checked the address on the piece of paper in her hands before striding up the front walk as confidently as she could. The house was nice, comfortably small and all spread out on one floor with woods surrounding it.

She rang the doorbell and it was answered by Jack, looking all preened and rather anxious in a loose button up shirt and khakis.

"Hey," he said, grinning and stepping aside to let her in. "You find the place alright?"

"Uhuh," Sam looked around as she took off her jacket and handed it to him.

Jack couldn't help but stare for a moment. "Wow…you look great."

"Oh…thanks…" Sam looked down, blushing slightly.

A brown haired boy with a strong resemblance to Jack poked his head around the corner, eyeing his father and Sam with narrowed eyes.

"Oh, hey," Jack put a hand on Sam's lower back, gesturing towards the boy. "Sam, this is my son Charlie, I think I've mentioned him."

"Yep," Sam held her hand out to Charlie and he stepped forward suspiciously to shake it. "Nice to meet you."

"Yeah, you too," Charlie replied rather coldly. He glanced at Jack. "Is dinner ready yet?"

"Uhuh," Jack motioned for Sam to follow him. "Let's head into the dinning room shall we?"

It took Charlie a while to warm up to Sam and throughout dinner he watched her warily over the top of his plate. Jack seemed to notice the tension forming and tried to get Charlie to talk, but the boy would only answer any questions with little half sentences.

After the dessert had been cleared away Jack gave Charlie a meaningful look and Charlie rolled his eyes before scuttling off in the direction of his room. Sam and Jack went to sit on the couch.

"So, yeah, sorry about the kid." Jack said. "He's just being a little cranky."

Sam smiled, shaking her head. "It's no problem. It must be hard for him…I mean, the divorce and then…"

"And then suddenly seeing another woman in the house?" Jack tilted his head to one side.

"Yeah." Sam looked up and their eyes met for a moment; a slight flush rose in her cheeks.

Jack leaned forward, smirking. "Something wrong?"

"Not exactly wrong, per se…" Sam scooted a little closer, eyes half lidded. They stared at each other for a moment before Sam reached up, lightly touching her fingertips to his cheek as she leaned in and brushed her lips over his. When Jack didn't respond she sat back, looking a little embarrassed. "It's uhm…getting late, I should probably be going…"

"Sam…" Jack stood up with her. "When are you going to be off next?"

She shrugged. "No idea…a few days, probably, maybe a couple weeks…I could always…"

"Call me?" Jack suggested hopefully, reaching out to lightly touch her shoulder.

"Sure, if you want me to."

"Of course I do."

They walked back to the front hall and Sam pulled on her jacket, staring fixedly at her shoes. She reached for the doorknob but Jack caught her wrist. Sam looked up at him questioningly as he pulled her to him, dipping his head to place a light but searing kiss on her lips.

Sam laughed quietly as she pulled away. "Good night, Jack."

"Night, Sam."

"Is she gone?" Charlie asked, walking back out into the kitchen where his father was loading up the dishwasher.

Jack looked over. "Huh? Yeah. Why? Didn't you like her?"

"No."

Sighing, Jack closed the dishwasher and walked over to his son. "Why?"

"I dunno, she just seems…fake, I guess. Like she's hiding something."

"Of course she's hiding something, kiddo," Jack said with a roll of his eyes. "She works for a top secret military project. I'm sure she's hiding plenty of things."

Charlie scowled, folding his arms over his chest. "Yeah, and I don't like that."

Jack sighed, walking over to the kitchen table and sitting down. He looked up at his son. "I think it'll get better once you get to know her."

"Why do you even bother asking me if I like her then?!" Charlie cried, throwing his hands in the air. "It's not like it matters to you."

"Charlie."

"She's not Mom, Dad."

"I know she's not," Jack said, leaning forward and resting his elbows on his knees. "But, Charlie, the only person who is Mom is Mom."

"That's my point." Charlie said, pouting slightly. He wrinkled his nose and spoke in a sarcastic tone. "Permission to speak freely, sir?"

"Not if you're going to take that tone with me." Jack stood up and furiously grabbed the rag from where it was draped over the faucet, then wiping down the table though it was already clean.

"Fine." Charlie turned and stomped out of the kitchen.

Jack sighed as he heard his son's bedroom door slam a moment later.