Authors Note: Ok folks here is Jack and more about his weekend away with Sam. By the end of this chapter you may have worked out what was happening. More on that at the bottom. Thanks for reading.

Chapter 4

Jack O'Neill, unlike the rest of his team mates, had not only had a very restful, full night's sleep, but he'd been snuggled up on his own, very comfy bed. He'd arrived home from Minnesota as relaxed and refreshed as he usually did. He did, however, have a lot to think about.

He'd been shocked beyond belief when Carter – no, Sam, he corrected himself – had agreed to go with him to the cabin. He'd tried many times to get his team mates to go to the cabin with him, feeling that they needed a space to relax like he did, but they always had some excuse not to go. He knew their idea of fun was different to his, but he was sure that they'd find something with which to entertain themselves if they ever went. But this time Sam had finally agreed to go with him and they'd had a wonderful weekend, better than he could ever have hoped. He was even pleased that the regs, while being smudged, had definitely not been broken. In fact, they had only confirmed feelings that had already been acknowledged between them . . . on the base, no less. Of course, that still left issues that had to be resolved. Well, there was no time like the present to begin.

Jack got up and jumped in the shower, ready to face the day and his boss, with whom he planned to have a very in-depth, off-the-record conversation. He knew there had to be a way around this but he was worried that if Sam - the brightest person he'd ever met - couldn't figure it out, then there might not actually be an easy way. But then when had they ever had it easy?

He stuck his head under the water and shook it. If only those damn Goa'uld would go away! He had no problem with retiring . . . again. In fact, he actually believed he'd enjoy it, especially if Sam happened to be sharing his life, house and bed. However, he had no desire to leave her and the others to fight the worst enemy this country – this world - had ever faced. He really didn't believe that he could watch them go off somewhere without him to fight the war that he'd started. Yes, he admitted that he and Daniel had to take a lot of the responsibility for pulling Earth into the chaotic events in the galaxy. Jack O'Neill was not afraid to accept responsibility and he definitely wasn't going to run away from it. So that, realistically, took his retirement out of the equation.

He was also struggling with the idea of Sam giving up the military. He knew she could go far now that there was a combat zone where both her military skills and her brain were in high demand. However, she'd let slip that the Air Force was not exactly her dream job. No, it had been Jacob's. That was a can of worms that Jack really didn't want to open but if he and Sam were to ever be together, Jacob would have to be told. He shuddered at the thought. Maybe he could conveniently be somewhere . . . anywhere . . . off world when Sam told her dad. Yeah, that'd work. But then he thought of how Sam would kick his butt and he frowned, thinking that he'd have to be a man and face Jacob . . . but not without Sam there for protection.

He finished washing, turned off the shower, stepped out and dried his body, still thinking about what to say to Hammond. He could always just come straight out and admit his feelings. Jack expected that Hammond would know what he was going to say before it came out of his mouth, anyway. There were no flies on his CO.

Jack moved into his room and rummaged through the drawers at the side. He dressed in his civvies and strolled through to the kitchen. He hit the button on the small TV on the counter and began to think about getting his coffee ready. He didn't have to worry about eating as he'd made plans to meet Carter at the base for breakfast. Teal'c wasn't returning until later but Daniel was bound to be somewhere around the base, so could join them if he could be pulled away from his rocks. He got distracted by the TV and began flicking through the TV channels, trying to find the sport results from the weekend. He liked the fact that no one could reach him at the cabin but he did feel a little out of it now that he was back. He'd also missed the Monday night fixtures and his team needed the win this week. He went through more than 20 channels before finding CNN, where he'd most likely find the results.

He turned from the screen and began to make the coffee, reaching for the only clean mug in his kitchen. Perhaps he should have cleaned before leaving on Thursday, he mused. The kettle whistled and he made his coffee while occasionally flicking his eyes to the screen.

He was just cursing the lack of useful, helpful television when the newscaster got his attention. The pictures took his breath away and made his stomach turn in a way it hadn't done for several years.

AN: You may have realised which day this is based around. There will be a full warning on chapter 5 but the genre Tragedy was picked for a reason. I will give a fuller explanation tomorrow to help you understand where I am coming from. I hope you continue to read but understand if you choose not to.