Disclaimer: Stargate SG1, characters, settings etc. are property of their owners. No copyright infringement is intended. Original characters and plots are property of the author. No profit is being made from the fiction.

Carter's Journal
By Adelie King

Chapter Four: Plan of Attack

Jack was outside glaring up at her on the porch. "I told you I was going to see her and I'm not leaving until I find out what's going on." His jaw was black and blue and he gestured to it. "My jaw demands it." Jack came up the stairs to Sam's porch.

Janet called to Sam, "The Colonel is here. I think you'd better talk to him because he isn't going away any time soon." Sam finally came up to the door and saw him her heart pounding hard. Janet granted, "She will see you now Colonel." Then she smiled and told him, "We know the drill tomorrow." That comforted him as she left.

He came in and Sam shyly but nervously greeted him, "Hey Sir, how are you?" She knew the answer by his jaw and the serious look on his face as he came in.

Jack closed the door calm in a scary fashion, "How do I look to you Carter?" He gestured to the black and blue on his face. "Hurt confused and by now extremely irate that you won't even see me."

Sam answered her remorse clear, "I know I'm sorry. I was embarrassed and guilty and just couldn't face you after what I did." She then thought not to mention I'm in love with you and was jealous of Laira.

"You unable to face it..." Jack said with disbelief, "Miss face and kick the shit out of anything that gets in your way Carter." His hands were on his hips now. His voice lowered an octave, "I don't buy it Carter." Then he demanded confused, "I want to know why you hit me and what got you pissed off at me enough to do it!"

"I already told you at the bar Sir!" Sam finally stood her ground argumentatively, "I worked hard for three months to get you home and you didn't even acknowledge what I did!" Her hands were on her hips now, "You didn't even acknowledge my existence or anyone else when we showed up." Then she added, "All you did was give attention to her instead of us you ungrateful jackass." Sam told him, "If you wanted to stay! Why didn't you just say it?"

"I didn't want to stay!" Jack clarified loudly, "I had gotten to the point of accepting I had to if you didn't get me back!" He reminded, "That's what happens in a situation like that! We all accept that in the field Carter!"

"Well you certainly did the way you were hanging all over her like that when we got there!" Sam stated the obvious, "You complain about Daniel but you don't waste time whenever you get the chance!" She paused and added, "Look at when you slept with Kynthia and you aged rapidly." Sam reminded, "That was our first year on missions."

"I was drugged so that doesn't count!" He argued angrily. "Why would you give a rat's ass who I'm with Carter?"

"Because you risk the team and the planet every time you do sleep with someone." Sam reminded him and added, "Soon as you get trapped on a planet you jump the first skirt you're offered."

"No I don't! You know that!" Jack barked back, "I thought I wasn't coming home! What am I supposed to do not get close or get involved with people the rest of my life?" He asked her and stated, "That's not fair Carter!"

Sam knew he was right and had to calm down or he would figure it out and she pretty much told him blabbing off. That still didn't make her heart feel any better and she couldn't tell him what was bothering her. "I'm sorry…I don't know what's wrong with me?" She sat down on her couch looking down.

"Maybe you're worried about Hammond throwing you out on your ass." Jack guessed and logically, "You punched your commanding officer in the jaw. That's not taken lightly." He then told her, "And I'm willing to protect you and cover this up. I would like to have some appreciation." Jack added, "I think this should make up for what I did that was wrong to you."

She calmed and agreed, "Yes it should…I'm sorry." Then Sam sighed and asked, "What do I have to do?"

"Stay calm which I know is your specialty and when Hammond asks the questions we act like it was a situation that anyone could be in and it was over exaggerated" Jack laid it out, "It was a brawl you dove in. I grabbed your arm to pull you away. You reacted on instinct as you would off world and hit me by mistake." He calmly added, "Plain and simple. I think you can handle that." Unsure he asked, "Can't you?"

"Yes Sir…" Sam agreed with a sigh and asked, "Why are you doing this?"

"Because you're my best team member and I need you…The planet needs you." Jack stated and asked, "How are we to protect it if you're court-martialed and in a jail cell?"

"You've got a point Sir…" She sat on the arm of her sofa, "But anyone else you would've prosecuted in a second for it." Sam asked, "Why am I so special to you?" She started to feel some hope when he was having trouble answering.

"Because you are and I care about you…" Jack calmly answered, "I can't be responsible for one silly incident destroying your career." He instructed, "If Hammond calls you in or me we know the story."

"Yes Sir." Sam closed her eyes feeling reduced in rank.

"And the next time you do hit me it'd better be an accident or I'm possessed by something." Jack warned his sense of humor returning.

"It won't happen again." She assured him, "I'm sorry." Then he was out the door and she just about passed out. "Oh thank God." Sam could rest finally and be ready for tomorrow. She opened her diary and began her newest entry.

That was so close. Jack showed up and tore me a new one but it wasn't as bad as expected. I almost bled my heart to him and after what I said I'm surprised he didn't figure it out. But thank God he's as naïve as ever once in a while and I managed to cover my feelings again. My anger was a sure giveaway and mentioning Laira should've tipped him off.

I still don't understand why he's covering for me. I deserve to be court-martialed for what I did but he won't do it. Jack sure wants to protect me and my career in every way. He said because he cares about me but I doubt it's the same way I feel for him. He's held me when I'm scared but more like a sister or daughter before.

Janet knows that I hit him out of jealousy but he can never know. That will change his opinion of me totally if what happened hasn't already. I'm not as angry or jealous anymore and he was right about moving on if we ever got stranded. Too bad me and him couldn't get stranded alone someplace. Then he'd definitely find out I loved him.

I can't risk him finding out after what happened because if he did others will too. After tomorrow things will get back to normal and it will be easier to conceal to the casual observer. The only time I can tell him I love him will be in my dreams or my writings…

Sam had arrived on base early and immediately went in her lab to work on some research and projects. She was making headway on a piece of technology that had her head spinning and no thoughts of Jack to get in the way so far. She smiled as results came through.

Jack had arrived on base, changed and went for breakfast in the commissary with Daniel and Teal'c. He came in and asked, "Where's Carter?" He took his seat, "I haven't seen her this morning yet."

"She's in her lab. She's making a real breakthrough on the ancient device we found." Daniel answered, "Sam was so immersed she couldn't break away."

Jack casually asked, "So anything about?"

"Nope…not yet." Daniel answered him looking relieved, "It's been a usual morning."

Jack looked at Teal'c and he answered calmly, "I have heard nothing as well O'Neill." He paused and added, "Perhaps it may pass without incident."

"I've got to go to the bathroom." Jack stood up and walked away. As he was casually walking he heard some voices which made him stop,

"Did you hear what happened Friday? Major Carter decked Colonel O'Neill in the jaw at O'Malley's." One of the men was gossiping.

"No way, what happened?" The other man was anxious.

"They say there was a heated argument between her and O'Neill. She was angry about something dealing with Edora." The first one continued, "Some woman he had gotten with or something…"

Jack remained out of sight listening for more Intel his eyes wandering as they continued.

"Then what?" The second one even more curious glued to it.

"She claimed she was mad about how she worked three months to get him back and he never acknowledged it which if she hit him I wouldn't have blamed her in the slightest." The first officer said.

"I wouldn't have blamed her either. Day and Night Major Carter labored barely sleeping and what he did while he was gone…sleep with some other woman." The second one speculated, "I would've broken more than his jaw if I was her and did that to me." Their voices were deadly serious now.

Jack knew this was gossip but it was vital to find out what was being spread because he knew that's what Hammond would probably hear.

"Are you saying she's got a thing for Colonel O'Neill?" The first one asked casually asked as if was ludicrous.

Jack's eyes grew and his jaw fell open.

"Well after the way she hit him at O'Malley's it would sure be an indicator she is." The second one sounded dead serious about it. "I mean who would hit a man for just being unappreciated especially Major Carter." He explained, "She's one of the most disciplined officers in the Air Force."

"That's the point." The first one argued, "She wouldn't just hit her CO over another woman, especially one he was involved with. For Major Carter that would be asinine."

The second one then pointed out, "Jealousy can change a woman from controlled to dangerous. You know the old saying 'Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned'"

The first one commented logically, "That's true but Colonel O'Neill isn't the type to grab her interest anyway. She could have whoever she wanted if she decided. Why would she even consider him?" He paused and added, "Her in love with O'Neill that's ridiculous. Him in love with her that's more plausible."

Jack rubbed his hand down still sore his face and closed his eyes calming down as they went back in the cafeteria. Then next minute he went back in himself and sank down in the chair rather quietly.

"What's wrong Jack?" Daniel asked concerned by his expression.

"We spoke to soon Daniel." Jack informed him, "Everyone knows and the rumors are already everywhere."

"What kind of rumors are we talking here?" Daniel wanted to know lowering to a loud whisper.

"Ones that when Hammond hears are going to make him very upset." Jack answered in a deadly tone with a glare to go with it.

"Well what are they saying?" Daniel asked getting by worried his friends expression.

"That Carter hit me because she was jealous of Laira that she's in love with me." Jack wasn't happy about it, "We know that's not true but you know how gossip escalates to an extreme level." He predicted, "By the end of the day we would've been having an affair." He paused and determined, "When he hears it Hammond is going to explode you know it."

Daniel concluded, "So does Sam know about it?"

"If she doesn't someone should tell her." Jack stressed, "And before Hammond."

Teal'c broke his silence and disagreed, "I would go see General Hammond about it first. Seeing Major Carter before him may look like a cover up leading him to believe the rumors are true." He calmly stated the facts, "If you do not an investigation may be ordered by your authorities which could result to the end of both your careers."

"I agree…" Daniel realized the gravity of what Teal'c brought up. "You should see Hammond first while I go see Sam." He paused and stressed, "She has a right to know."

"Good plan…" Jack agreed and they were up from the table.