A/N: Well, although I didn't get any reviews on the last chapter, I figured I'd post this, to keep the story going. There's a little Carter/Mulder action coming up in about a chapter or two, and I hope that that will pique more interest. In any case, this next bit is a little Jack/Sam interaction. I had two versions of this scene written out, and I settled on this one for the story, but I liked the other one better, so I re-wrote it a little and posted it as a one-shot, so if you've read "A Moment in the Park", this may look a little familiar. Anyway, I'd like to apologize for the upcoming scene, and once you've read it, you'll see why. But I just felt that it furthered the story more than the other version. I'd love any feedback anyone has to give, though.

I know I've been making this promise for a while now, but there is definitely some action coming up very soon, and from there on out, it's pretty much all action.

Disclaimer: I don't own anything.

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Carter was satisfied with the progress that she had made with Agent Barrett, to the point that there was a slight, though barely noticeable, bounce in her step as she walked through the halls of the Pentagon. Carter had only to complete her mission for General Landry before she headed back to the SGC to continue her research into the F.B.I. Agents and the threat they posed to the program. She was a little disappointed that Agent Barrett had not seemed happy when she had left, but she also wasn't ready to go out on a date; she had to get out of that office.

As she turned the corner, she heard a familiar voice behind her. "Carter?"

Carter turned with a slight wince. She had been hoping to avoid the situation that was now unfolding in front of her. "General O'Neill," she responded. She glanced around and realized her position, so she saluted. It was not something she often did with General O'Neill, but, as they were in the Pentagon and not at the SGC, protocol had to be followed. Her superior returned the salute, told her to stand at ease, and then pointed towards his office, indicating that she should follow him there so that they would be able to talk in private.

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Major General Jack O'Neill was surprised, to say the least, to see Carter at the Pentagon. She had not called him to let him know that she would be in town, nor had anyone at the SGC informed him that one of their officers would be in Washington. O'Neill did not know how to feel about the situation, though, he admitted to himself, emotions were not exactly his strong-point.

O'Neill entered his office and closed the door behind Carter. He rounded his desk and sat down, motioning for her to take a seat across from him. She sat down slowly, appearing as if she wanted to be any place other than where she was at that moment.

"Hi," he said, looking at her almost wistfully. It had been quite some time since he had seen his old teammate and friend.

"Hi, sir," she responded, with a small smile.

"How are you doing?" he asked.

"I'm fine, sir. How are you?" she asked, wondering where this conversation was headed.

"Fine, fine…" O'Neill responded absent-mindedly. He paused and then said slowly, "so…" O'Neill said slowly. "What brings you to Washington, Carter?" he asked.

Carter raised an eyebrow, surprised that the General did not know. "National security, I believe, sir." At O'Neill questioning look, she continued. "Some F.B.I. Agents came to my house yesterday and started asking questions about what I do. I didn't say anything, but they seemed like they wouldn't give up. We're trying to find as much information as possible on them. See what kind of threat they pose," she explained.

"And no one thought to inform me of this?" O'Neill asked, wondering what Landry was up to, not telling his commanding officer about a possibly compromising situation.

"Sorry, sir. There hasn't been any time. General Landry was going to call later on today," Carter explained.

O'Neill visibly relaxed a bit and then looked more deeply at Carter. She hadn't changed since he had last saw her. Still the same beautiful, intelligent, and over-worked Carter. O'Neill almost sighed in contentment before realizing where he was. Bringing himself out of his own thoughts, he said, "Visiting some old friends?" he asked, wondering what had specifically brought her to Washington.

"I came to see Agent Barrett," she explained.

"The NID guy?" O'Neill asked.

Carter nodded. "He gave me some background information on the agents." She took out one of the folders that she had with her and gave it to the General.

General O'Neill took the folder and opened it. In it were a picture on a man and a woman, each Special Agents in the F.B.I. He flipped through the pages quickly and then looked to Carter for further explanation.

"Apparently, these agents are working on some project known at the X-Files." Carter noticed the puzzled look General O'Neill gave her, and added, "I've never heard of it either, sir. Agent Barrett says that they deal primarily with paranormal phenomena."

General O'Neill raised an eyebrow at this. "You're saying the F.B.I. is trying to investigate little green men, Carter?"

Carter nodded slowly. "Yes, sir."

"Wait until they find out that they're grey," he responded.

Carter smiled at the joke. "Well, sir, I'd better get this information back to General Landry," she said, eager to escape the office that seemed to be shrinking by the second. "I'm scheduled to leave at 1700 hours."

General O'Neill glanced at his watch. "That's two hours from now, Carter," he said. "Why don't I take you out for an early dinner before you head back to the Air Field? Give us a chance to catch up," he added, hoping that he wasn't sound too forward.

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Carter was a little shocked by the suggestion. There was nothing that she would love more, but she sincerely felt that part of the reason that she been glad about General O'Neill's transfer, as well as hers, was that they would not have to be taunted by the fraternization regulations every day, while they were working side by side. She did not know if she would be able to sit through dinner with him without her feelings for him resurfacing with a vengeance. It had been hard enough to say goodbye once, and she did not want to go through it again. Still, he was her old teammate and friend, and she hadn't seen him a while. Her heart won yet another battle with her brain and she said "Sure, sir." That's right, Carter, she thought to herself, maintain the professional distance. He's still your commanding officer. Then she remembered that she still had a task to complete for General Landry. "I just have to stop off and see Major Davis before we go," she said. "General Landry asked me to give him something."

They left the office a minute later and O'Neill locked the door behind him. "Going to dinner," he said, by way of explanation to his secretary, who stared after the general, wondering who the woman with him was and why the general was leaving so suddenly.

O'Neill and Carter walked down the hall to Major Davis's office together. O'Neill stood back as carter knocked and was told to enter.

Major Davis stood and greeted the Lt. Colonel. She handed him the papers after ensuring that he was doing well, and then bade him a good night. She tried not to appear to eager as she exited the office again and rejoined General O'Neill.

"What are you in the mood for, Carter?" General O'Neill asked, relieved and elated, if not somewhat surprised, that Carter had accepted his dinner invitation.

"I don't know, sir. Wherever you want to go is fine with me," she responded.

"Right, Carter," he said and led her out of one of the many doors and to a restaurant close by that he favored.

Carter took in the restaurant with interest. It seemed to be frequented by Pentagon personnel. Many were even in uniform. She was glad that she now had the motivation to not say or do anything that would tread on breaking fraternization regulations. She relaxed a bit, ready to enjoy spending some time with her old friend.

O'Neill followed the waiter as he led them to a table, and he pulled out a chair for Carter. "Thank you, sir," she said, taking a seat.

O'Neill nodded and took a seat across from her. "So…" he started.

"So…" she responded, with a nervous smile.

"How've you been, Carter?" he asked.

"Good, sir," she said, still smiling. "You?"

"Fine, Carter. Miss the SGC, though," he responded.

"Understandable, sir," she said.

"Yes, Carter," he replied, unsure of what to say next. "Look, Carter, could you stop acting so… nervous?" he asked. "It's me, for cryin' out loud."

"I'm not nervous, sir," she responded, trying to convince herself more than him.

"Sure, Carter. Anyway, how are things around the old base?" he asked.

"Fine, sir. The team's taking a little time off to investigate these agents. Colonel Mitchell's being keeping tabs on them," she told him.

"And how about you, Carter? How are you holding up?" he asked, concerned for her after everything she had been through in the past year.

"Well, sir," she answered, not sure again of whom she was convincing. It had been difficult, she admitted, and she did avoid her house like the plague when she could, but she was recovering from everything that she had faced. At least, she felt like she was.

"You know, Carter, you don't always have to be the brave soldier," O'Neill told her.

"I know, sir," Carter responded. She paused and then continued. "I'm not trying to be brave, sir. I'm really okay."

O'Neill nodded.

The waiter approached to take their orders. After giving them, Carter filled O'Neill in on the goings on at the SGC that weren't in the mission reports that he most likely wasn't reading carefully anyway. She told him about how Daniel was taking to Mitchell. Not well, she informed him. They constantly fought. O'Neill reminded her that he and Daniel were quite the same when they had first met. She informed him of how the personnel were taking to General Landry; they liked him and respected him, though their relationship with him was certainly different than it had been with General Hammond and General O'Neill.

As their food arrived, Carter had finished her babbling about the SGC. She concentrated on the food in front of her, and the two ate in silence, occasionally looking up to catch the other looking away quickly.

Part way through the meal, O'Neill's phone rang. He sighed as he put down his fork and then answered it. "O'Neill," he said into the receiver. He listened for a moment and then barked "I'm busy, Lieutenant," which captured the attention of every other person in the restaurant. Oblivious to what was going on around him, O'Neill said, "I'll be back in half an hour, Lieutenant. We can talk about it then." With that, he hung up his phone and turned it off.

"Sir," Carter said. "If you need to go…" she trailed off, realizing that she really didn't want the General to leave.

"No, Carter. They'll just have to wait for a little longer," he said, offering no further explanation.

They continued their meal in silence. When they were done, O'Neill paid and they made their way back to Carter's car, which was waiting nearby. Before she got in, she turned back to the general and said, "it was great to see you again, sir." She wanted to give him a hug, tell him that she had missed him a lot over these past few months, but she stopped herself. The good soldier in her would not allow her to break regulations. Instead, she settled for a polite salute, which O'Neill returned sadly. He too wanted to embrace Carter, go back with her, even, but he couldn't. He watched as she got into the car and left him yet again. He whispered "Bye, Carter," and then turned back to head back inside the Pentagon building.

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Carter turned back as the car drove away and watched as General O'Neill disappeared into the distance. Carter whispered, "Bye, sir," and then turned back and sat in silent thought as her car made its way to the Air Field.