It was exactly seven pm when Sam walked out of the elevator, dressed in a dark brown suede a-line skirt that hit just below her knee, stiletto boots that hit her mid-calf, and a lightweight cream-colored cashmere sweater. Her hair was carefully styled while her gold hoop earrings matched the bangle-style bracelet on her wrist.
The color of her eyes was brought out by the slight pop of midnight-colored eye shadow in the crease of her eye.
"I thought you said you couldn't do it." A familiar voice said from behind her.
She turned. "Sir..."
"I believe it's Jack for the evening." He said, dressed in a dark brown jacket that Daniel (who had become surprisingly fashion-conscious after his return to their plane of existence three years ago) or Teal'c (who had become equally conscientious about his appearance when he ventured further into Earth's culture) had clearly purchased for him. His khaki chinos were not baggy like he would have chosen, she thought to herself. He had tucked his light blue button-down shirt into his pants, and left a couple buttons at the top unbuttoned so that he was still seemed fairly casual.
"You look very nice, Jack." She said with a small smile.
"So do you, Sam." He said with a grin.
"Did Daniel or Teal'c buy your outfit?" She asked, biting back a small smile of amusement.
He pretended to be offended by her insinuation. "Neither!"
"Oh, I'm sorry." She said, apologetically.
"Lieutenant Powell." He finally admitted.
"Huh?" She asked, confused.
"My secretary?"
"Yes, I remember her."
"She picked this up while I got the flowers that are being delivered to your room."
"Flowers?" She asked, surprised.
He nodded. "Nothing particularly fancy..."
"This is...another side of you, Jack..." She said with a small smile. "I think I like it."
He shrugged. "I try."
She grinned widely. "So...where are we off to?"
"The car." He said, leading the way to the valet station.
"You're really not going to tell me, are you?" She asked with a chuckle.
"Nope." He grinned.
"Surprise number 2 for the week." She said, shaking her head. "I think I'm going to have my quota filled by the time I get home."
He shrugged. "You never know with an ex-magician."
"An ex..." She looked at him surprised. "Magician?"
"Well...not really...unless you count my magic set when I was six..."
She laughed.
He grinned, grateful that after all their years dancing around one another, he could still make her laugh. When she finally let her hair down and laughed with her whole soul, as she was doing right now, he found himself forgetting that there was anything else with which he needed to concern himself. The problems of the world fell away in her laugh.
His classic red Camaro was waiting for them, and he opened her door for her without waiting for her reaction to the car. She slid into the car, almost shell-shocked as she ran her fingers over the tan leather interior.
He took his place in the driver's seat, and a moment later, she turned to him. "You have a classic Camaro?" She asked, wide-eyed.
"Yep." He grinned.
"This is fantastic." She said, earnestly.
"It ought to be with what I paid for it." He grumbled.
She tried to hide her soft giggle.
He shook his head as he drove down the interstate.
"Jack, where are we going?" She asked after a moment. "For real, this time."
"Hang on, Sam. We're almost there."
"Sir..."
"Carter..."
"Okay, I'll be quiet. For now..."
"Good."
A few moments later, he drove into the parking lot of a hotel.
"Jack!" She cried, surprised. "A hotel? What are we? Teenagers?"
He laughed loudly. "That's SO not what we're here for, Carter."
"What then?" She asked, blushing.
"Dinner." He said, pulling up to the CityZen valet parking.
The valet opened her door, and helped her out as Jack handed another valet the keys. He quickly joined her, and she heard the whispered mutter. "If anything happens to that car..."
She bit back a chuckle.
Jack smiled as he shrugged as if to say that he couldn't help it before he turned to the maitre d'. "We have a reservation."
"Name?"
"O'Neill. Two L's."
Sam bit back another chuckle as she remembered the number of times he'd given various reporters, ambassadors and senators grief about how to spell his last name. After all, the "other" Colonel O'Neil had NO sense of humor.
"This way, please." The woman said, grabbing two menus as she led them to a cozy, corner booth.
"This is great." Sam said as he sat across from her.
"I thought it might help you relax."
"You were right, sir."
"Carter..."
"Sorry." She said, apologetically. "Habit."
"I know." He said with a chuckle.
"You said you had some exciting news?"
"Yes." He said, nodding. "After we order."
Twenty minutes later, their wine and appetizers had arrived, and Jack looked at Sam. "The President's going to go ahead and brief the United Nations."
She visibly deflated. "Jack..."
"Ah..." He said, holding up a hand.
"What?"
"Any further briefing will happen at a later date - once the reaction from the United Nations has been gauged. Also, it would probably be best if the nations of Earth put up a united front when it's presented to the general public. I don't think that will be for another few years."
"What about the exhibit?"
"It's going to be sent back to R&D. Thor, on the other hand, will join the SciFi realm, introducing people to StarTrek, Star Wars, The X-Files, Ray Bradbury, Orson Scott Card, and other Science Fiction icons."
"Thank you." She said, seriously.
"Sam, I didn't disagree with you." He informed her soberly. "I just wasn't sure what the best way of handling the situation was."
"And?"
"I told the President that I had complete confidence in your abilities as a leader, tactician, and moral compass."
"That's all he needed?"
"I think you had convinced him once he got past the whole 'Hank Landry was president' thing..."
She chuckled softly as she sipped at her wine.
"What about this place?" He asked, looking around at the sophisticated hotel restaurant. "Do you like it?"
"I love it." She said, honestly. "You kind of look like a fish out of water here, though."
He shrugged. "It's not about me."
"If it was, we'd be in Minnesota, fishing in your beloved pond." She said affectionately.
"Or skinnydipping." He said, honestly.
"Oh, please..." She laughed. "We have enough trouble keeping Cam's pants and Vala's shirts on. I don't think we need any more wardrobe malfunctions on the team."
"That doesn't sound like the team I left behind." He said, looking at her strangely.
"Oh, trust me." She laughed. "It's not."