Jack stepped up behind Sam as she was putting the pizza box in the refrigerator. He put his arms around her and spun her as she straightened. His kiss was insistent and deep. She responded just as he had hoped. When they parted they were both flushed and breathing a bit faster. He took her hand and led her to bedroom.

Sam curled in tight against Jack's side. "That might just make it worth pissing you off once in a while."

He sighed and looked up at the ceiling. "I was never angry."

She tiled her head up, which left her looking at his jaw and ear. "Really?"

"Really." He turned his head and kissed her forehead. "I was scared we were over. Every day that passed left me more convinced."

"I'm sorry Jack."

"I know and you don't need to keep saying it." He rubbed his thumb across the edge of her bare breast as he pulled her slightly closer. Her sharp intake of breath and hip thrust made him smile. "Did you consider coming back to the Pentagon, when you were thinking about moving?"

"Briefly. I didn't want to risk ending up in your chain of command and all the good research has moved to the SGC and Area 51. If I had come back to the Pentagon I would be stuck at a desk."

"And being stuck at a desk is bad?"

She kissed his jaw. "Very, it makes you old and slow."

"Slow!" He rolled her over and trapped her hands over her head. "Are you calling me slow?"

Sam was laughing. "Maybe."

Jack rolled over and put his arm out when he woke the next morning. He was disappointed to find he was alone in bed. Sam was sitting in the kitchen sipping a small cup of coffee eating a pop tart.

"Good morning beautiful. Did you sleep well?"

"Morning. I didn't have any nightmares, if that's what you're asking. You really need better breakfast options." She held up the pop tart.

Jack grinned, "I don't often eat breakfast here, sorry. We could go out."

Sam shook her head, "You need to get to work and technically I've eaten."

"I could play hooky."

"No you can't, there's world saving stuff to do."

He bent down and kissed her head. "Last night you said I was just an old slow paper pusher."

She laughed again, "Then you proved me wrong."

"Damn right I did." Jack grinned, poured himself a cup of coffee and took it to the bedroom to drink while he got dressed. Sam was curled up on his sofa watching the morning news when he came back out. "How about I ditch work early and take tomorrow off?"

She looked up at him. "That sounds good."

His brow furrowed. "When exactly are you leaving?"

"Are you anxious for me to be gone already?"

He shook his head, "Not at all. I just want to know how little time I have with you so we can make the most of it."

She grinned, "Aren't you quite the romantic this morning. There's a transport to Area 51 Sunday midmorning."

"Alright, a long weekend it is. I'll be home before five. My secretary might dance when I tell her I'm going to take some time off."

"Does she dance often?"

"No, I should write a memo about that and push it around." He kissed her good bye and headed to work, happier than he had been in weeks. They spent a relaxing long weekend together. Sam only slept about five hours a night but her sleep was nightmare free. By the time Sam got on her plane Jack felt like they had a chance to make this relationship work. Sam's caffeine consumption didn't appear to be higher than anyone else working her hours in a stressful environment and for the first time in months her nightmares were gone. He still wondered if seeing his face on her attacker night after night had been part of what kept her from moving to Washington. No matter what she kept telling him it had to be hard to keep him separate from the man trying to kill her over and over each night.

They went back to talking each night. He often called her in the mornings when he got to work, which happened to be just about the time she was getting up. She made amends with Daniel and Teal'c. They both came to visit her new apartment after she had a couple weeks to get settled in. She fit in well with the geeks at Area 51 and her field experience was an added bonus that led more than one of them to seek out her assistance. By the end of her first month she was back to feeling like her old self, well rested without a sleeping pill and alert without too much caffeine.

Jack visited her once a month and she went to Washington once a month so they saw each other for a long weekend every couple of weeks. Cassie came to stay for a week and they went on hikes every afternoon. Cassie even talked her into a mani-pedi. Sam felt a little guilty living in Nevada because it was like being on vacation. Teal'c was working with the free Jaffa and Daniel was packing for Atlantis, which helped Sam feel better about running off to Area 51. All was going so well and then her phone rang.

"Colonel Carter, I'm Lieutenant Colonel Cameron Mitchell. I've recently been assigned to Cheyenne Mountain and I hoped you were about ready to come back and rejoin SG-1."

"SG-1 is on hiatus."

"I know but it's time for you to come back. There's a lot more that needs to be done."

"I'm doing good stuff here."

"I'm sure you are but you could be doing even better stuff here."

"What have Teal'c and Daniel said to this proposal?"

"You're the real key here."

"So that means you haven't convinced them either, right?"

"Not yet but once you come back they'll…"

"Sorry but you're barking up the wrong tree. There are plenty of good folks there. Make your own team and go do all that stuff that needs to be done."

"I'll be calling again."

"Good bye." Sam stared at the phone for a moment before pulling up what records she could find online about Lieutenant Colonel Cameron Mitchell. He had a good record with a few interesting highlights along the way. He had been very helpful in Antarctica. She hoped he got what he wanted from General Landry. Two days later when Jack called her she was surprised to hear about Mitchell again.

"Hey sexy, how was your day?"

"Productive. You?"

Paperwork and meetings, nothing new. So did you get a call from Mitchell the other day?"

"I did actually. How did you know?"

"He called me today. He's been spinning his wheels trying to get SG-1 back together."

"That's what he said when he called."

"He's driving Daniel nuts."

Sam laughed. "He's a big boy, he can handle it."

"So you aren't ready to go back?" Her silence worried him. "Sam?"

"I'm doing well here. We've made a lot of upgrades on Prometheus."

"I know. Your reports are impressive. I just wanted to check and make sure you're not regretting your decision."

The underlying level of guilt for having abandoned her team rose to the level but she refused to admit it. "As I've told you many times, I'm very happy."

Her tone made it clear he had pushed as far as was safe. "Your happiness is my goal."

"Thank you. I better get some sleep."

"Sleep well. We'll talk again tomorrow. I love you."

"I love you too."

Her desire to go through the gate had not diminished but her fear of that damn nightmare was also eating at her. She stared at the ceiling for two hours before she gave up on sleep and turned on her bedside lamp and grabbed a meaningless book. She read for an hour before falling asleep. She was tired the next morning so she splurged by having a second cup of coffee. She stayed busy working on multiple projects at Area 51 and the days ticked by.

"So I hear Daniel has a new best friend."

Jack laughed out loud. "He sounds downright miserable."

"I should feel worse for him."

"This is what he gets for being so friendly and trying to communicate with everyone."

"So can he really not be separated from her?"

"Not a bit. Daedalus left without him."

"I bet he's devastated."

"He does get to go on a treasure hunt. Mitchell may have convinced Teal'c to join them. Did he call you again?"

"He did but I'm really very busy here."

"You could join up with them later."

"I'm good here."

"If you say so."

"Don't start Jack."

"I didn't mean to start anything. I'm sorry if it sounded like I was."

"I guess I'm a bit sensitive. Sorry."

"It's ok. I'm still headed your way this weekend, as long as nothing big comes up. I'm looking forward to seeing you."

"Same here. I'll make us dinner."

"Mmmmmm, yum."

"Is that sarcasm?"

"Absolutely not." Jack was glad she couldn't see his grin.

Jack seemed very serious when Sam picked him up from the airport. He put his duffle in the backseat and kept his briefcase at his feet.

"Have you read Daniel's report about the Ori?"

"I've heard about it but I haven't been able to read it."

"I brought it with me in case you said that. I think we have a big problem and I want your take on it."

"I can do that. Why do you think it's so bad?"

"You should have heard Daniel. It's another group of people who believe they are all powerful and want lots of people to follow them. That's always a bad combination."

"It doesn't usually work out well for us or the poor slobs being led to damnation."

"Damnation sounds about right. The report says they literally burn people to death."

"Oh God!"

"Exactly, nuts right."

"Mitchell still hasn't picked new people for SG-1 but I've given him a deadline."

"I know. He already left me two more messages. He's very persistent."

"Not a bad quality."

"I guess not."

Sam read the report as soon as they got to her apartment. She was appalled at the brutality displayed by the Ori. She agreed with Jack's assessment and knew the Ori would have to be dealt with very soon. She feared this meant she wasn't going to be able to stay at Area 51 much longer. She knew that what was now a request was soon going to become an order.

"Hey Sam, I wish I could say this was a social call but…"

"But it's not. I've been expecting this for a while now."

"According to the snakey guest at the SGC there's a gate that has been open for more than two days. When something defies the laws of physics you're the person I call."

"I'll be there ASAP."

"I'll see you there."

"Really?"

"Really, now get going, and Sam…"

"Yes?"

"I love you, never forget that."

"I love you too. Now I gotta catch a ride."

"Bye."

Sam didn't need to collect any belongs, she had left everything she needed in her home and technically she was heading home. A ride was waiting at the airport so she quickly changed into her dress uniform and left. She went straight to General Landry's office when she got to the SGC. She was only mildly surprised to find Jack was already there. She assumed he called her while he was on the way there.