Chapter 9: An Opportune Moment.

Spoilers: Window of Opportunity – Season 4

Pairings: Jack/Sam of Course!!!

Don't own it etc, don't make anything everything belongs to MGM, GEKKO etc etc.

A/N - Sam and Jack have sorted things out and are looking to a future neither thought they could have.


The constant ringing of Jack's cell phone awoke him and automatically he reached out to grab it "O'Neill" he barked

"Jack, its Daniel"

"Daniel, do you have any idea what time it is?"

"Yeh, do you?"

"Huh"

"Jack its 0930 and we have a briefing with General Hammond at 10am"

"Oh, crap"

"Um Jack, I haven't seen Sam around base this morning, I don't suppose she's with you?"

Suddenly realising what Daniel was asking, Jack turned over to find his bed empty.

Speaking into the phone again he said "I'll get back to you on that one Danny"

Wandering out into his kitchen, Jack came across a sight he could so get used to. He had the beautiful Samantha Carter bending over his kitchen bench reading the morning paper, showing more thigh than he thought possible. The t-shirt she had on barely covered her.

Flicking open his cell, he rang Daniel "The answer to your question Daniel, yep, she's with me – Cool Huh?"

Sam turned to watch Jack nodding into the phone "Ok, thanks Daniel, we owe you"

As he closed the phone, Sam asked "trouble?"

"Nah, Daniel just wanted to remind us that we have a briefing at 10am, we're gonna be late as it is, so we'd better move it, or we'll be inexcusibly late"

Sam claped her hand to her mouth before muttering"Oh, heck, I forgot all about it, General Hammond told me about it yesterday and I forgot to tell you last night".

With that Jack O'Neill grin she adored so much, he replied "Well listen, we were kinda busy last night, something so trivial was bound to slip your mind. But Sam, the next time we have an early briefing, do me a favour, wear a little more, otherwise we'll have no chance of ever leaving the house"

Sam didn't pay much attention to Jack's joke, she was more worried about the briefing they were going to be late for.

Seeing her nervous reaction, he reached out took her hand, "Sam, it's gonna be Ok, we're gonna be ok, don't worry baby".

"Jack, I don't have my car here, we're going to have to go to base together and sign it together, and General Hammond is going to find out"

"Sam, don't worry, he won't find out, if he does we'll figure it out – together"

Later at the SGC

Demanding an explaination, General Hammond, not quite yelling, but in his I'm a general voice said "Colonel O'Neill, Major Carter, nice of you to join us. I take it you both have some reasonable explanation as to why you are late"

Jack, standing at parade rest, replied "Please excuse our tardiness Sir; Carter's car wasn't available so I had to bring her in this morning. It won't happen again"

"See that it doesn't. Ok, down to matters at hand. We have received a transmission from the Tok'ra advising that we have been out of contact for almost 3 months"

Directing his gaze to Sam, the General asked "Major Carter, could this be the result of the time loop we were experiencing?"

"I don't doubt it sir" she replied, hoping she didn't sound nervous

"Ok then would I be correct in assuming that the time loop was affecting Earth for at least that period of time?"

"Well Sir, I'd have to say yes to that as well. What were the Tok'ra trying to contact us about Sir?"

"There has been a major shift in power amongst the Goa'uld System Lords; they wanted to tell us that Apophis has been successful in taking over the majority of Sokar's jaffa. He now has one of the largest armies in the galaxy"

Jack exclaimed "Oh great, just what we need, another snakehead with too much power"

"What do there Tok'ra plan to do about it Sir" asked Carter

"They advise that they already have an opperative on his ship. We'll just have to wait and see what happens. In the meantime, we will have to be extra vigilent on any and all off-world missions. Colonel O'Neill, SG-1 are scheduled for a mission to Px2 729 in 72 hours, you can remain on stand down until that time".

"Thank you General" Jack replied, then turning to his team "Ok kids, we're outta here, anyone wanna head to Minnesotta for some R&R?"

"Yeh, Jack that would be great" replied Daniel, who then turned to Teal'c, "what about you Teal'c?"

"Certainly Daniel Jackson, I would never forgo an opportunity to fish in a lake without any fish"

Turning to Samantha, Jack asked "Carter, how about you, up for some fishing"

"Um, sure sir, why not" she replied.

General Hammond did not miss this interaction, in every other circumstance, Major Samantha Carter had refused Jack's offer to go fishing. He had also noted her nervous behaviour since taking her seat in the briefing room. Another thing that did not escape his attention was the fact that she sat next to him, something she had not done in quite some time. He wondered if their had been a change in their relationship.


Jack, Sam, Daniel and Teal'c spent an idealistic couple of days by the pond in Minnesota. Jack and Sam slept together and Daniel and Teal'c just smiled knowingly at the change in their friends. Both seemed more content than they had ever seen them.

On their return to Colorado Springs, Jack dropped Daniel and Teal'c at Daniel's place. Teal'c was allowed to stay off base as long as he was in the company of another member of his team. After Jack dropped them off, he drove his truck around the corner and stopped at the red right. Turning left would take them to his house, turning right would take them to Sam's house. When the light turned green and Jack made no forward motion, Sam turned to him with a questioning look on her face.

"Left or Right?"

"Huh?"

"Right takes you home, Left takes you to my place"

"Oh right, left of course"

"Cool"

They were silent the short trip to Jack's place. Both contemplating a future that didn't quite belong to them yet.

tbc...