Set after The Nox

Interfering With the Job

Captain Samantha Carter did something that she promised herself she would never do…let her attraction for her CO interfere with her job. And it had gotten her killed…and if the Nox hadn't been there, well she really didn't want to think along those lines. The briefing with General Hammond was over and she was putting the multiple papers back in the folder.

"Uh Carter I was wondering if you could clarify something for me." Colonel Jack O'Neill said walking up to her uncertainly.

"Sure sir." She said nervously. 'I hope he doesn't bring up how I…' her thought trailing off at the Colonel's words.

"How exactly did you manage to get hit?"

'Damn.' Sam thought as she realized he had said the exact question she had wanted to avoid.

"You didn't mention how in your report." Jack reminded her.

'Oh sure he never pays attention, but today off all days he does.' She thought with a mental roll of her eyes. "Well sir I did say that I got shot with a staff blast."

"Yes I know but from your position you shouldn't have been hit." Jack said impatiently.

"I got up sir" she said honestly.

"Why would you get up?" Jack said confused.

"I saw you get hit Colonel so I got up to make sure you were okay."

~*~*~*~

Jack was seriously confused. His 2IC was a damn good officer and would know that in a hostile situation like that that she shouldn't have gotten up from her position. Whatever stupid reason she may have had for getting up, it would have, did in fact, end her life. If thing had been different… "Carter as much as I appreciate what you tried to do, next time I want you to keep you position." He said trying not to sound condescending but he figured he probably failed. 'She almost lost her life for you O'Neill.' He thought to himself. It didn't make much sense at all. Oh sure he was her Commanding Officer but if she saw he was hit, she knew he was as good as dead. "You almost got yourself killed and lets face it, I'm not worth dying over."

Sam straightened her spine but refused to look him in the eye. "We never leave people behind." She said softly.

Yeah okay she had a point there but she was supposed to be one of the smartest people on the face of the planet, she really shouldn't be sacrificing that brain for his sorry ass. They could always find another military officer to command SG1, they would never find another Samantha Carter. Jack sighed and placed his hand on her shoulder. "I can't really argue with you but next time use your judgment better. You got yourself killed today Captain as in dead." Jack said trailing off as he realized his thumb was moving back and forth across her shoulder, caressing it.

~*~*~*~

Sam was increasingly aware of her CO's hand on her shoulder, which really shouldn't be there. But they had died today that should make it okay, but it probably didn't.

Jack realizing where his hand was and what it was doing, pulled his hand away like he had just touched fire. Sam missed the contact instantly.

"Just be more careful next time okay?" Jack asked of her.

"Yes sir." She said slightly embarrassed.

"Good." Jack said smiling as he walked out of the briefing room.

Sam leaned her back slightly against the table, closed her eyes and sighed in relief. He hadn't said anything about if she had gotten shot because she had let her feelings interfere. The only thing was she had let her feelings interfere with her judgment. 'Yeah your attraction for him was what made you jump up like that in the first place.' She groaned to herself. She had been so scared when he had gotten shot, she knew he had been dead, a staff blast at that close of range… She had screamed out sir but in her heart she had screamed Jack. 'This is exactly the reason you can't have a …crush on him.' She berated herself. She had never had a crush on a CO, she knew it wasn't allowed and besides she liked keeping her professional life and private life separate. But there was something about Jack O'Neill that attracted to him to her, and she tried her best to ignore it but it was there nevertheless. And now it was interfering with her job. She shook her head to clear her thoughts and left the briefing room. She would just try harder she resolved.

~*~*~*~

She continued to be a good little soldier and did her duty, stifling the attraction. His personality unknowingly did nothing to help, only adding to what she felt. She was confident it was one sided, and she was content with that, because if she was the only one that felt something then nothing would come of it. But she was wrong. He did feel the same. He was a master at hiding his feelings but underneath the mask he was just as attracted to her as she was to him.