In case anyone is still following this .. finally here's a new chapter! Life has been crazy with a move across the country, starting a busy new job and trying to buy a house. My brain has also suffered some SG1 fatigue and my mojo fled. The last few nights (while sick at home with flu) I started to reread some old SG1 fics and started to feel the muse return. So - here is another chapter. I'll also be working on my other one and trying to finish it. So here's hoping you enjoy .. again, if you're still reading! Thanks. Vini

Jack was allowed to go home the next day, which pleased him immensely. What didn't please him was having to be wheeled out, down the long corridors of the SGC.

He still looked like something out of a horror movie – no matter how often Sam told him the swelling had gone way down – and he was dreading the looks and teasing he'd get.

He knew his comrades. They'd just love the chance to harass him and torment him about his swollen face. They would never do it he was in real danger, of course, of even if it had been a permanent disability. They were good guys – but now that he was on the mend – hell, he didn't want to even think about it.

"Sam, thank God! Help me get this pillow case off!" He was sitting on the side of the bed wearing loose scrubs, as he was still too sore to wear his own clothes. He was struggling with his pillow and so far, it seemed to defeat him.

Sam gently took the pillow from him, removed the case, and handed it to him. "Can I ask why you need the pillow case Sir?"

His answer was to put it over his head. A muffled voice sounded from underneath. "There. If you just get me my boots we can go."

"Uh - ?", she laughed. "Colonel, why are you wearing a pillow case?"

"Because if Ferretti or Griff or Dixon or any of the guys see me I'll never live it down. I wouldn't be surprised if they're waiting in the hallway with a camera!"

"And you think that it'll be better seeing you with a pillow case over your head?"

There was a short pause. "Yes," he answered. "I can deny it was me."

She laughed out loud at that, surprising Janet who walked in at just that moment.

"What are you laughing - Sir?" Janet had obviously caught sight of the Colonel. "No, don't tell me – you're hiding from the guys."

"Right," the soft voice responded as the white linen covered head nodded. "You get it Janet, right?"

The good doctor rolled her eyes at her friend, who was trying hard not to laugh again. "Yes, I get it Colonel, although I don't know if this is much better."

"That's what I was trying to tell him," Sam answered with a grin. "I could just make sure the hallway is clear Sir."

There was silence, as if the Colonel was thinking about this, but then the pillow case made a motion, obviously a negative shake of the head. "Nope. They'll have it all figured out. I wouldn't be surprised if they have Security involved and plan to get the tapes from the cameras."

"The General wouldn't let them do that Sir," Sam told him.

"You don't know these guys Sam, not like I do. Nope, the pillow case stays on."

In the end Jack was convinced to wear one of Teal'c's big hats with a scarf pulled up over the bottom of his face. He still looked strange – like some kind of 1940's gangster – but Sam told him it looked better than the pillowcase.

A few people did come by to see him and Sam was pretty sure that some of them were disappointed not to be able to really see him. She also caught Louis Ferretti trying to sneak a picture.

She shook her head at him, from behind the Colonel's wheelchair, and frowned, silently promising extreme retribution if he followed through. Everyone in the SGC knew that if you really riled Major Carter you could be in for some very creative payback. She also had Teal'c on her side – a person (or Jaffa) never to make angry.

So, with a sigh, Louis took his hand out of his pocket, sans camera. "Just wanted to check and make sure you were okay Jack. It sounded pretty painful."

"Piss off Ferretti," Jack mumbled through the heavy wool of the scarf. "And if you so much as think of telling people about this, or taking pictures, you will be very, very sorry."

"Jack! How could you think that my motives are so bad? I'm just seeing a friend who was hurt – nothing else."

Jack snorted. "Let's get out of here Carter, before any of my other friends decide to come and take a peek."

"Take it easy Jack," Ferretti called after him. "And if you decide on a change of career, I've heard that Universal Studios is hiring some extras for their new Zombie movie."

"Go F …. ..urself, Ferr -" Could be heard faintly as the elevator closed on the Colonel and Sam.

"We're almost there Sir. How are you doing?"

Jack had been dozing quietly, his head resting against the passenger window. Janet still had him on some pain killers and antihistamine medicine that made him feel foggy and drowsy. "Hmm?" He turned his head slowly to look at her.

"Just wondered how you were feeling Sir," she gave him a quick smile and then turned her eyes back to the road.

"Like a sleepy sardine Major," he said, sounding grumpy. "Why don't you get a real car?"

"This is a real car Sir. In fact, it's a classic."

"A classic is just another word for a junker. I mean – it doesn't even have room for my legs!"

"Well, you're tall."

"And so are you – and so are a lot of people and this car wouldn't work for any of them!"

"Well I like it," she said. "My father let me save up and buy myself a car when I turned sixteen -"

"And don't tell me," he rolled his eyes, "this was that car?"

"No," she laughed. "But it was a similar model. And I grew to love it. So when I moved out here to Colorado Springs and I saw that this was for sale, I knew it was an omen."

"Of what? Knee surgery!"

She laughed again. "Look, we'll be at your house in just two minutes and then you can stretch those gorgeous legs of yours!"

The silence that followed this was profound – profound and charged and very, very embarrassing. Sam closed her eyes – briefly as she was still driving – and cursed herself.

"Uh – I'm sorry – I -"

"Hey, don't apologize," he grinned. "No middle aged man is gonna get upset at being told any part of him is gorgeous!"

She let out a small laugh and turned and glanced at him. "Yes, well, there are lots of parts of you that are gorgeous – Sir," She refused to look at him. God, what had gotten in to her?

Jack was actually feeling embarrassed. It wasn't often – hell, it was never that his 2IC said something like that. And of course he immediately thought back to the time, not so long ago, when Sam had seen all those – according to her – gorgeous parts.

Damn it! Now he was beginning to feel all hot and bothered. And he closed his eyes and sent a prayer that the science department would screw up and send the orb to his house by mistake – and not to Area 51. He really, really wanted to experience that whole thing again and a little help from the orb wouldn't go amiss.

"I'm sorry," she said softly, as she turned into his driveway. "I don't know why I said that."

"Hey, don't worry about it," he answered quietly, pretending that he wasn't thinking about the orb and what they had done on that planet. "I'm flattered and -" ah hell, just do it O'Neill! "And I think the same about you!"

It took her a second to understand what he'd just said – and she cursed at feeling herself blush. This was ridiculous. "Uh – thanks," she said. "Do you need help getting inside?"

He sighed. "I don't think so. I just hope I still fit through the door."

"You're not that swollen Sir," she said, giggling slightly. "And Janet says in another day or so you'll be back to normal."

"Mmm – except I'll look like a scaly fish. God, I hate bugs."

"I don't blame you. It must have been awful."

"It was – rather creepy."

The two of them made their way to Jack's front door. He was still stiff and sore, and dopey as hell, so they walked slowly. By the time he'd unlocked and opened the front door he was yawning, ready to go back to bed.

"Why don't you go and lie down Colonel. Do you want something to drink?"

"No," he answered, trying to blink his tiredness away. "I'm fine."

"You sure? I could fix you some Kool Aid – it's grape!" she said with a snigger.

He rolled his eyes. "Are you laughing at me Carter?"

"Yes Sir," she told him formally.

He laughed at that and headed towards his living room. "I'll have you know I stocked up on juice and iced tea and lots of good stuff so you don't have to drink any Kool Aid."

"Thank God," she said in relief. "I thought I was going to get an instant case of diabetes. How could Cassie drink that stuff?"

"She didn't." he grinned, "She said it was awful too - although come to think of it, Daniel liked it just fine."

"You gave it to him?"

"Mmm hmm – he was explaining something about Babylonian laws or something and I handed him a glass of Kool Aid. He drank it down – I don't think he even noticed what it was and I must say his mustache was quite - purple."

She continued to giggle as she followed the Colonel down the stair into his main room. She watched as he lay down with a sigh and closed his eyes. A moment later he was asleep.

Sam decided to indulge herself by sitting and just watching him sleep. It wasn't often that she got the opportunity to look at the Colonel like this.

His face was still rather swollen, and his skin was starting to peel after having been put through so much. But even so, he was a handsome man and she couldn't help but remember that brief but intense time in that alien temple.

She knew she shouldn't be thinking about it since it did no good, but hell, how could a woman not think of that. It had been amazing, like nothing she'd ever experienced.

A sudden thought occurred to her and she frowned. She wondered if the experience had been heightened because of the alien technology, or whether it had been because of being with the Colonel. She'd been in love with him for a long time and had often fantasized about what he'd be like as a lover.

So sue me, she thought defiantly, when her conscience told her she shouldn't be thinking such things about her commanding officer. It wasn't like she'd jumped him for God's sake … wait, she had jumped him.

Oh God! What the hell was she doing? Sam suddenly stood up, feeling flustered and guilty. She had to get out of here and get back to the SGC. She shouldn't be putting herself in these –

"Hey, what's wrong?" The Colonel's soft voice startled her, and she looked over to see him regarding her out of half-lidded eyes. "Your thinking woke me up," he complained.

"I'm sorry," she answered, flustered, although a second later she frowned. "How could I have woken you up by thinking Sir?" she asked.

"Your thinking is really loud Sam," he answered, his eyes opening fully. He sat up and swung his legs back over the side of the couch. "Sorry for falling asleep on you there. Janet still has me on these damn antihistamines and they make me drowsy."

"That's okay," she answered, glancing down at her watch. "Holy Hannah! It's almost 4 o'clock."

"That's bad?"

"Uh – I didn't realize I'd been here so long. I must have dozed off too."

"That's good," he nodded. "You need your rest. I always thought you went too hard Sam and now with junior you have to look after yourself."

"Junior, Sir?" her eyebrows went up.

"Sorry," he grinned. "I guess that's not the best thing to call him – it. Uh – baby Sam?"

"I'm not naming the baby after me," she told him definitively. "How about baby – uh, maybe not," she suddenly choked.

"If you were going to say "Jack" you're probably right it's not a good idea," he grimaced. "It would kind of give things away."

"Yeah," she nodded, but then a moment later lifted her head and looked directly at O'Neill. "What are we going to say Sir? I'm going to be showing soon and people will be curious."

"And probably imagining the worst," he agreed, running his hands through his hair and leaving a chaotic mop on his head.

"Uh – I kind of think this is the worst." She stared at her hands for a moment but then looked up, only to catch the last second of what looked like dismay on Jack's face. It took her a second to realize what had happened. "Oh God – I don't mean in that way Sir," she told him. "I just meant that they're going to be imagining that we had an affair or something – and we kind of did. I didn't mean at all that I thought this was the worst because of – you know. Only that they'd be right." She frowned and then shook her head. "O hell, please tell me you know what I'm trying to say?"

By this time the Colonel's face had cleared and a grin had started. "Yes Carter – I get it." After a second the grin left and he again looked serious. "I'm not hiding the fact that the kid is mine," he said, sounding slightly belligerent or as if he thought she would argue.

"I wouldn't want you to," she agreed. "This baby will need its father and I couldn't think of a better one. But that still leaves us with what to do. Did you want to tell people immediately that the baby is yours?"

"I – think so," he sighed, again running his hand through his hair. "I think it will be better that way – get it over with, otherwise they'll be a lot of wild speculation. I guess we'll just have to bite the bullet and tell everyone sooner rather than later."

"How about just telling Walter," Sam said suddenly.

"Walter? Why just him?"

"Because he knows everything that happens in the SGC and is always a source of news about what's going on. Don't tell me he hasn't given you some of the latest gossip?"

"I wouldn't call it gossip," Jack defended. "It's more about keeping an eye on what's going on."

"Gossip Sir, pure gossip and you know it!"

"Okay fine – but what does that have to do with telling him?"

"Don't' you see? He's the source of all sorts of information and he can let people know about the pregnancy, and how it happened and we don't have to say a thing. And he'll make sure that everyone gets the story right. You know how much he respects you."

"And he's a little bit in love with you," Jack said, his face puckered in thought, looking as if he wasn't paying too much attention to the conversation.

"What? No he isn't," Sam squeaked.

"Huh?" Jack lowered his head and looked at her. "What?"

"Walter – he isn't."

"Isn't what?" Jack frowned, confused.

"In love with me."

"Oh," Jack's face cleared. "Of course he is. All the men are – at least all of the men that aren't gay. Those guys are in love with Daniel."

"Jack!" she screeched. "That's not true."

"Of course it is Carter," he sighed. "Daniel's a good-looking guy so it's no wonder he's got admirers, from both sexes."

"I don't mean Daniel, Sir," she said, rubbing her hands through her hair. "I mean Walter is not in love with me. He's – he's -"

"He's what?" Jack's eyebrows went up and he looked expectantly at his former 2IC. "I don't think he's gay."

"No, he's not."

"Then he's in love with you. Sam, all the guys are. You're – uh – you're an attractive woman."

She stared at him for a moment and knew that she must be turning pink from embarrassment. "There are lots of attractive women at the SGC Sir," she pointed out.

"Yeah, but none quite so -"

"Quite so - ?" she couldn't help but ask.

"Spectacular," he grinned. "Carter, you're brilliant and beautiful – and you can seriously kick ass. What's not to love?"

"How about you?" she asked softly

"Me?" he looked surprised.

"Well, you did say "all" the men – at least all the straight ones."

This time it was the Colonel who could feel himself turn red. He'd walked right into that one! "Uh – well – Carter, you know -"

"It's okay Sir," she laughed suddenly, enjoying the rare moment of having "got" the Colonel. "That was mean of mean. And anyway, I still think you're wrong. I know for a fact that Captain O'Rourke is in love with Janet."

"Really?" he answered, sounding way more interested than he actually was. But it was a relief to move away from the subject of love and Carter. He still felt rather – warm – from having almost stuck his foot in his mouth. "How do you know?"

"By the number of times he's hurt himself lately," she answered, making air quotes around the word hurt. "He seems to need to go to the Infirmary every day. I've also seen him staring at her when he didn't think she'd notice."

"Hmm – O'Rourke eh? He's a good guy. I hope he gets the courage up to ask her out. Janet needs someone."

"You think so?"

"Sure Carter. Hell, everyone needs someone." Again his tongue seemed to move without his mind kicking into gear and he wanted to groan. Instead he slapped his thighs and quickly sat up. "I'm hungry. What about you?"

"Uh – I guess," she frowned. "But I should be going."

"Why?" he asked in surprise.

"I – well, I've been here a long time and -".

"And? So what? Do you have anywhere you need to be?"

"I guess not."

"Then stay. I'll order pizza – or Chinese if you'd prefer. We can even watch a movie. Come on Sam," he begged when it looked as if she'd argue. "You're not going to leave me here alone, all by myself are you? You wouldn't be so cruel."

She laughed. "I guess I could stay Sir – although I'd like to point out that you do live alone. I mean – you are used to it."

"Yes, but that doesn't mean I like it," he said as he hobbled his way to the phone. "It's much nicer having company." At that he stopped and lifted his head, looking somewhat contrite. "I mean – you don't have to stay. Of course I'll be okay. It's just that it's nice – you know – to have company."

"It's okay Sir – I'm happy to stay. I just didn't want to overstay my welcome."

"You never could Sam," he smiled at her and then turned and picked up the phone and dialed for pizza.

They spent a fun evening together – eating pizza, drinking beer (soda for her) and watching a silly movie. It was almost midnight before Sam realized how late it had gotten and it was only then that she noticed because the Colonel had started to yawn.

"Oh heavens," she said, standing up and gathering up the glasses. "You're tired and I've stayed way too late. Just let me put -"

"Sam – stop! Don't worry about those. I'll tidy up in the morning. And don't worry either about staying late. It's been fun and I'm fine. I can sleep in as late as I want tomorrow and I'm getting better. I'll be back at work on Monday."

She ignored him and continued to put away the remains of their dinner. He rolled his eyes and simply watched her, too tired to get up right then – and this way she would stay for a few more minutes.

It had been a great evening and Jack hated that it was coming to an end. What he'd said earlier was true – he missed having someone around. He'd loved being married, loved sharing the house with another person, having someone to talk to – or simply to be with. He'd gotten used to being on his own the last few years, but that didn't mean he liked it. No, having Sam here had shown him what he was missing, how much he'd forgotten what he was missing.

He sighed.

"Are you okay Colonel?" Sam asked, concerned.

"I'm fine Carter," he replied wearily. "Just tired."

"I shouldn't -"

"Oh for heaven's sake! It's not because of you! I loved having you here – and I'd rather you didn't have to leave. I'm just tired because of these damn pills."

"Oh." She stared at him in surprise. "Uh – I liked – loved it too," she admitted. "It was fun – nice – no, more than nice." She closed her eyes in embarrassment, not sure how to get out of this one. "I should – go."

"Yes – no," he suddenly said. "Look – you're tired too and it's late. Why don't you stay in my guest room? That way -" He stopped. He had been about to say that that way she'd be there when he woke up, but he realized that probably wasn't the proper thing to say to her. "Uh – that way – you won't have an accident driving home."

"I'll be fine," she frowned. "It's not that late and I'm a careful driver and I haven't had any alcohol."

"I know but – still – I'll uh – worry."

Her eyebrows ascended at that. He'd seen her in deadly situations many times and hadn't particularly worried – and yet he was concerned that she couldn't drive home safely on a beautiful, clear night?

"It's just – what will people say?" she finally said, trying to remind him that it wasn't appropriate for her to stay at his place.

He shrugged. "I don't know – does it make a difference? Hell, you're carrying my baby and people are soon going to know we – uh – already -" he waved his hands around, trying not to say the actual words.

Of course that immediately made her giggle, and then start to laugh.

"What?" he asked, looking rather put out.

"You're sure we did that?" she asked breathlessly, waving her hands in imitation of him.

He slowly began to grin, and then to chuckle. "You know exactly what I meant Carter," he said. "Or do you want me to say that we already had s-"

"No," she gasped, still laughing. "You don't have to say it. It was just your – gestures. Oh heavens, why am I laughing? This is a serious matter."

"No it's not," he grinned in reply. "I mean – yes, of course it is, but we might as well laugh. It's better than crying. So come on – I'll loan you some sweats and you can bunk in my spare room. No one is going to know and even if they do, what are they going to say?"

She finally agreed and followed him down the hallway. She had to admit – to herself only – that it was a strange and rather wonderful, and yet slightly sad, feeling to walk towards Jack's bedroom. She waited in the hallway while he found her some clothes.

"Here," he said, handing her the folded sweat suit. "There's a new toothbrush in the drawer in the bathroom and clean towels in there. I have my own ensuite so make yourself at home. And – thank you for staying." He grinned again. "I feel much better knowing you're safe."

She smiled and nodded and then turned towards her bedroom. It was only as she reached the door did she turn back. "But what about you Jack?" she asked.

"Me?" he frowned, looking at her curiously.

"Are you safer with me here?" With that she entered the room and closed the door behind her. She leaned back against the door and closed her eyes. "What the hell is wrong with you Samantha Carter?" she whispered. After a few moments her eyes opened and she stood straight. She laughed softly. She didn't know what had gotten into her but hell – she was sure going to enjoy it.

Jack stared after her for a long time after she'd gone. "What the hell?" he muttered. What had they done with Samantha Carter? And whom did he have to thank?

With a grin he turned to his own room – knowing he was going to have a helluva time falling asleep – and that it would be totally worth it!