Author's Note: Sorry again for the update. I needed to get my Washington D.C. Bearings. I actually live in VA, so I go to D.C. pretty often, but I wanted to make sure I got the geography (where I put Jack's apt. etc.) right as I don't live there. So I HAVE been working on the story, just in different way.
Chapter 10:
Sam woke up to the sound of traffic outside the windows and voices downstairs in the office, or rather, 'voice'. She could tell Jack was talking on the phone. The conversation didn't sound urgent or intense, so she snuggled back down into the covers and tried not to listen.
It was an exercise in futility. He was practically at the bottom of the steps. Trying to focus on her surroundings, she realized that she actually liked Jack's little apartment in Alexandria, VA. He hadn't really personalized it, though. Sam supposed that was because he wanted his house in Colorado Springs to still feel like home; she couldn't fault him for that.
She knew that he hadn't used most of his housing stipend from the Air Force. He could most definitely be living somewhere nicer, in a nicer neighborhood, but he had chosen this place. Sam suspected it was probably the first one he even looked at. That thought made her smile.
When she lived in D.C., she hadn't had anything THIS nice. He had an upstairs, two bedrooms and two and a half baths. The complex was even more than she could hope for: three pools, three tennis courts, numerous weight and workout rooms and a walking trail. They were close to everything and he was only 15 minutes from work. At least she wouldn't get bored if he did get caught up in meetings. She had never spent so long with him in D.C. She'd only been here for the odd weekend here and there. However, experiencing his little apartment, Sam was almost willing to give up the SGC and come back to Washington in the middle of it all. Almost.
Turning toward 'his side' of the bed, Sam squinted at the morning sun pouring through the doors that lead to the small balcony off of the bedroom. The last time she came, they had slept with the doors open. It was nice. Almost enough to imagine his apartment was their own, private, getaway. Albeit a get away that sounded like car horns and obese pigeons.
She spied some of the few things he had brought with him from Colorado: pictures. She picked up one of her and Daniel, covered in mud, giving the photographer a look that would make Ba'al tremble. Chuckling out loud, Sam placed it back on the bedside table. A small lump formed in her throat at one of Cassie, which instantly made her think of Janet.
"Well it's something I had considered before, but never seriously. I appreciate your help." Sam heard Jack say into the phone as he was heading back up the steps toward the bedroom.
She smiled sleepily at him as he stood in the doorway, barefoot in his "Duff Man" sweat pants. He rolled his eyes and pointed to the phone; the person on the other end obviously losing Jack's attention. She giggled and sat up against the headboard.
"Okay. Of course. Yes, of course." Jack nodded as he acquiesced to whatever the other person was saying. "Tomorrow, then. Thanks. Bye, Nick." Hanging up the phone, Jack tossed it on to the bedside table and hopped on top of the covers next to Sam.
"That your lackey?" Sam asked innocently. Trying to sound as if she wasn't trying to gain information about his phone call. Who is Nick? She had certainly never heard his name before.
"Plying for intel, Carter? You were much more subtle under my command." With a quick kiss, Jack sprung out of bed (as much as he could with a bad knee) and headed to the closet. "Although I guess I'm under your command now," Jack deadpanned as he ogled her exaggeratedly in a nightgown he had bought for her not long ago.
"Ready in ten, flyboy," she ordered over her shoulder as she walked toward the bathroom and a quick shower. "And I expect perfection in everything you say and do from here on out, airman."
"Yes, ma'am," Jack whispered softly, thankful that she let his phone conversation drop. She'll find out soon enough what she wanted to know. Then everything will be different.