A/N: Sorry for the massive delay. I've had a seriously sick household. Again thanks a heap to Chartreausean for her beta work!
…..
Chapter 4
'Wait, you're not telling him we're coming?' Elizabeth asked.
"No. Why?"
'Well, isn't it polite to call first? He is a general after all.'
"Not with Jack. Besides, he loves surprises… and cake."
Elizabeth mentally chuckled.
Sam smoothed her uniform, assured all her ribbons and medals were in perfect order on her dress blues. "Shall we?" Sam touched her earpiece and gave the order. Seconds later she was enveloped in a field of blue.
..
Jack looked up at the shimmering blue light before him as Sam materialized, looking like the perfect officer in her impeccable dress blues. His eyes had only widened slightly at her sudden appearance. After all this time, he was no longer surprised by people suddenly beaming in or beaming him out.
"General." Sam said with a playful edge as she saluted with a slight smile.
"Carter, do I really have to tell you again to drop the formalities when we're not in public?"
"Yes sir." She said smartly with a playful twinkle in her eyes.
"Sam." He warned coming around his desk.
Elizabeth watched with an amused curiosity. The feelings that washed thru Sam were so joyful and comforting that she wasn't sure if it was Sam or herself that was plastering the smile to their shared face. There were a few key emotions missing that Elizabeth had expected. There was no anxiousness or nervousness within her at all. And while there was love, it was more of a love for a best friend or favorite relative than the intense passion she had expected. Sam had, after all, usurped her authority to bring Jack back from stasis during her brief stint as commander of the SGC. She had seen then the barely contained feelings they had for each other. She had to wonder what had changed.
'We'll talk later' Sam mentally spoke to Elizabeth as Jack drew her into a tight hug.
"Good to see you Jack."
"Good to see you too Sam." He pulled back. "But, you know how I hate surprises."
Butterflies fluttered thru Sam in response to Elizabeth's slight case of panic. Sam ignored the feeling; she was getting better at accepting feelings running through her that normally wouldn't be there without Elizabeth's presence.
"Awww, c'mon. You know you love them!"
A grin threatened to form on his face but he held it. Yet, his eyes gave away his mirth.
"… and cake" Sam added.
At that Jack grinned brightly. "You know me too well Carter." He gave her a chaste kiss on the lips before moving back behind his desk and motioning for her to sit as well.
Elizabeth blushed at the contact even though Sam tried to assure her it was an everyday kiss between friends.
"Now, care to tell me what's up?" Jack asked.
"What? An old friend can't just stop by to say hi?" Sam retorted.
Jack gave her a look. "I also know you too well. And I know that if you drop by for a visit, it's not in dress blues nor do you beam into my office. Usually you pick the lock to my apartment and make yourself at home until I'm done with work. And, you don't usually blush when I kiss you."
Sam's face involuntarily burned hotter as she chastised Elizabeth with feelings of slight annoyance rather than words.
Suddenly, a flood of memories rushed forth. Images of tender moments between she and Jack from years past, stolen chaste kisses and a few passionate ones.
The sudden flood of memories was overwhelming and Sam winced as pain momentarily blinded her vision.
It only lasted a moment, but it was long enough for Jack to move from behind his desk to her side.
"Sam!" she heard him cry over the thrum in her head. She shook her head, willing the images away.
Jack reached for the phone but she placed a hand on his arm to stop him.
"No. I'm fine Jack, please" she looked up at him with those pleading sapphire eyes he could never resist and he set the phone down. "It was just a rush of memories, that's all. I haven't quite gotten control of it yet."
"Fine, but Sam, for the love of God, what happened now?" A million scenarios ran through is mind. But with the blushing and the 'memories' he feared another Tok'ra blending.
Sam cleared her throat and looked at him. "First you are sworn to secrecy."
Jack looked at her incredulously.
"I mean it; no one is to know, not the joint chiefs, not the IOA, not even the president. The only one who currently knows is Woolsey; I was acting primarily under his orders. Actually, I'm breaking his orders being here, but I needed you to know. Should anything happen, no matter how awry things go, you are one of the few people I trust. We've been through these things before and you know my wishes, you know what to do in any situation."
His gut didn't like it, and his face showed his concern. But, this was Carter and she knew what she was doing, usually more often than he did. He trusted her with his life as much as she trusted him with hers.
"Ok, Carter. But you're starting to worry me. If you have another snake in your head I swear to God…"
"It's not Tok'ra Jack. It's Elizabeth." She searched his face for a reaction, but he just looked slightly confused.
"What about her?"
"She is here." Sam said tapping her forehead.
"Come again?"
Sam sighed. "You know that Caldwell destroyed all the human form replicators at the insistence of the IOA right?"
"Yeah."
"Well before Caldwell got there I was trying to figure out a way to save Elizabeth. Woolsey asked me actually, even though I had been working on my own solutions for a long time."
Jack said nothing and just let her continue her explanation.
"Long story short, I was unsuccessful in finding a solution with the time I had. As a last ditch effort I 'downloaded' her consciousness to me, actually to the area of my mind mapped out by Jolinar when she blended to me."
"Okaayyy." He didn't quite know what to say. He was never all that eloquent with words. Pulling out his default wit he asked, "So how's she doing?"
Sam grinned. "Why don't I let her tell you herself?"
'No Sam, I'm good. I haven't talked to anyone but you since this happened. I don't think I'm comfortable with this.'
'It'll be alright. It's just Jack.'
'He may be 'just Jack' to you, but to me he's General O'Neill.'
Jack just watched as Sam's expression glazed over as if she was waging an internal war.
"Uh… Sam?" Jack said waving a hand in front of her face? "Care to let me in on this little conversation?"
"Elizabeth is playing shy."
'Am not.'
'Are too.'
'No' 'I'm just not ready to let my voice be heard is all.'
'Fraidy cat' Sam chided with a grin.
'Fine."
Jack watched Sam's face transform from a teasing grin to a petulant frown.
"Happy now?" Elizabeth said aloud.
"Uhhhh, are you talking to me or her?" Jack said now thoroughly confused.
"I'm sorry General. I just haven't' talked to anyone but Sam since my banishment to space. Plus I haven't really gotten the hang of this yet."
Jack noted the complete change in demeanor. "Elizabeth?" he asked cocking an eyebrow.
Elizabeth smiled. Even though it was Sam's face smiling at him, it might as well have belonged to a completely different person. The mannerisms just in the facial expressions alone were different. Maybe someone who didn't know Sam backward and forward like he did wouldn't be able to tell. But to Jack, it was most definitely a whole other person.
"Yes. I know this is confusing, but it is me. I still haven't gotten used to it. It's strange, hearing Sam's voice when I speak, or seeing her reflection in the mirror."
"I know what you mean… well sort of. 12 years in the Stargate program and you experience a lot of strange things." Jack just looked around uncomfortably. "So… ummm… hey, how are ya?"
Elizabeth smiled warmly and the gesture turned his stomach into an unpleasant knot. He was never fond of seeing Sam acting out of character. It unsettled him to the core.
"I'm alright." Elizabeth replied. "It's not really as bad as it seems. I mean I wish I had my own body and all, let Sam have some peace. But for the most part, it's not bad. Comforting actually, in a weird way."
Jack raised an eyebrow in question.
"Sam's great company. She's smart, funny and wise." Elizabeth giggled before adding, "And at the moment chastising me for the praise."
At that Jack's expression softened slightly.
"She's actually been a soothing comfort through all of this. I'm sure a lot of it has to do with having been there and done that before. Plus, seeing her dad with Selmack, but I have to admit, this whole experience can be overwhelming and scary at times. Sam keeps me on track and in good spirits despite it all though."
"Yeah well. She's good at that. She's always been the one to keep the 'family' together. Making sure we see each other and survive debates. Mostly she puts Daniel and I in our places when we start to bicker."
An almost motherly love washed over Elizabeth. This is what she missed about her own team. And even then, she wasn't as close to them as Sam was to her team. Sam got to actually be part of her team for ten years rather than playing the role of commander and subordinates.
"So anyway, it's good to see you again General."
"You too. And its Jack. Maybe you could even nag Carter for me into laying of the 'sir's' for a while, yeah?"
Elizabeth smiled. "I'll try my best." With that Elizabeth faded back into the shadows while Sam's consciousness once more reemerged.
..
"I have to get going Jack. I just wanted you to be aware of the situation."
"Well I appreciate the heads up before I noticed too many unnatural personality quirks and had you detained.
Sam grinned.
"Oh and next time I expect cake. And since they're two of you, better make that two cakes."
"Absolutely." She hugged him tightly.
"Take care of yourself." He whispered in her ear.
"You too."
She looked at him a moment longer before tapping her headset. "Carter to beam."
In a flash she was gone. Jack shook his head and returned to his desk. Just another day at the office.