"Nice place," Sam said with a smile as she looked over at her unofficial date as they walked into the hotel lobby.
"Yeah." Jack agreed as he took her wrap from her shoulders.
"Thank you," she said as he checked his coat and her wrap at the coat check.
"I'll hold onto this for you," he said, showing her the claim check before he put it into his pocket.
"After all, there are few places I could put it in this dress," she teased as she suspended her small evening bag in front of him in jest.
"See if I ever try to be chivalrous again," he pouted, goodnaturedly.
She winked. "It's cute. Keep it up."
"Yes, ma'am." He teased as he led her into the hotel ballroom.
"Jack!" George Hammond greeted, warmly.
"General!" Jack cried, looking away from Sam surprised.
"Sam," General Hammond said, looking over at her.
"It's good to see you, sir." She said with a radiant smile.
"You look lovely," he said, seriously.
She blushed lightly. "Thank you, sir."
"Please, it's George." He said with a twinkle in his eye.
"What are you doing here, sir?" Jack asked, looking from Sam to the General again.
"I was invited." He said with a grin.
Sam looked over at Jack with a chuckle. "As was I..."
Jack coughed uncomfortably before he looked over. "I think I see punch."
Sam bit back a chuckle as he looked over at her. "White wine?"
"Please." She said with a winning smile as he left.
"I hear you're at R and D," General Hammond said, looking back at Sam.
"Yes, I am." She said with a smile.
"And you're enjoying yourself?"
"Very much." She said, nodding. "It's given me a little more flexibility to help Cassie."
"Help Cassie with what?"
"She was recently in a car accident." Sam said, soberly. "Her boyfriend was killed, and she had knee surgery. She's still in physical therapy once a week."
"Let me know if I can do anything." He said, seriously.
"I will." She said with a grateful smile.
Jack returned, offering Sam the wine glass. "Here you are."
"Thank you, sir." She said, returning a smile.
"How's Homeworld Security?" Hammond asked, looking over at Jack.
"Very...secure..." Jack said, taking a sip of his beer.
George laughed heartily.
"What about you, sir?" Sam asked with her own amused smile.
"Yes, sir, you haven't taken me up on my offer to let you borrow the cabin." Jack said, seriously.
George smiled. "I've been pretty busy with Tessa and Kayla."
"How are they, sir?"
"Growing like weeds." He said with a smile. "Tessa's graduating from high school in the spring."
"Is she that old already?" Jack asked, wistfully.
"Unfortunately, yes." He said, nodding.
"Make sure we get an invite." Sam said with a grin.
"We?" Hammond asked, looking between the two officers.
"Cassie...and me..." Sam coughed uncomfortably.
"Yes," George winked. "You and Cassie."
Sam turned an uncomfortable grin to Jack.
-
"I still can't believe you invited General Hammond to this event," Sam laughed as they walked in the front door of his townhome.
"I invited you, didn't I?"
"And I was completely useless," she laughed.
"Not useless," he teased, kissing her nose. "You were gorgeous."
She blushed. "Jack..."
"Welcome home," Cassie said from the top of the stairs, waving at the couple who quickly jumped away from one another.
"Cassie!" Sam said, looking up.
"Sam." She returned with an amused chuckle.
"Have a nice date?"
"It wasn't a date," Jack said, shaking his head.
"Right..." Cassie said, rolling her eyes goodnaturedly.
"We saw General Hammond," Sam said, changing the subject. "He wanted us to make sure and say hello."
"I hope you said hello from me too," Daniel said, poking his head over the upstairs railing to peer at the couple.
Sam walked up the stairs, holding the train of her gown to keep from tripping over it. "We did, and he wanted to offer his congratulations on your upcoming trip to Atlantis."
Daniel beamed.
"I, of course, told him that it would only happen over my dead body." Jack said, unbuttoning his jacket, removing his tie, and loosening his collar.
"Jack! We've been over this..." Daniel whined, following Jack into the kitchen.
Sam chuckled as she sat down on the couch and removed her shoes and earrings.
"Did you at least have fun?" Cassie asked, looking over at Sam.
"Yes, Cassie, I did." She said with a grin. "What about you and Daniel? I thought you were going to see a show..."
"Yeah, but my knee was acting up again, and Daniel suggested that we order Chinese and hang out here. Something about how Jack was paying for it all anyway..."
Sam snickered. "That's Daniel for you..." She laughed as they heard Jack's voice from the kitchen. "What do you mean you didn't go? I paid a hundred dollars for those tickets!"
"And that's Jack for you..." Cassie muttered wryly, winning an appreciative giggle from Sam.
"Knee feeling better?" Sam asked, sobering slightly.
"Yeah. I think it's just...gonna rain...tomorrow..."
"Can I get you anything? Ibuprofen? Ice?"
Cassie shook her head. "Nah. I'm headed to bed."
"Sounds like a good idea." Sam said, approvingly.
"Have a good night, Sam."
"I will, Cass."
The young woman stood and entered the kitchen, saying her good nights to the men inside before she headed down the hallway to the guest room.
Daniel appeared a few moments later, beer in hand. "Well, I think I'm gonna turn in."
"You sure?" Sam asked, surprised. "I thought we were going to try and finish that game from last night."
Daniel shook his head. "Nah. Let's face it, none of us have any hidden talents. We're too obsessed with our jobs."
Sam smiled as she nodded, wryly. "You have a point there."
"Good night, Sam."
"G'night, Daniel."
Daniel passed Jack. "Good night, John Boy," he murmured.
Sam giggled as Jack looked at the archaeologist's back in confusion. "Did he just "John boy" me?"
"Yep." Sam teased.
"Why I oughta..." He mock-growled.
"He's already in his room. He can't hear you," she said with an amused half-smile.
"Ah...what're ya gonna do?" He asked, shrugging as he sat beside her on the couch with his beer in hand.
"Exactly."
"Beer?" He asked, offering her a swig from his own bottle.
"Thank you." She said, accepting the gesture.
"So...Hammond..."
"Is a very perceptive individual." Sam said as she maneuvered herself into a position so that she could rest the back of her head on his shoulder as he rested a hand on her stomach, protectively.
"Too perceptive."
"Never been a problem before." She said, looking up at him.
"True." He said, nodding.
She wove her right hand fingers with his fingers as she sighed contentedly. "Tonight was good."
"Yeah." Jack agreed.
"And I felt pretty."
"You looked pretty." He said, kissing the top of her head, gently.
They were silent for a moment before Sam sighed, obviously fretting over something in her mind.
"What, Carter?"
"How long is this going to last?" She asked after a moment.
"Hm?"
"How long are you and I going to be able to do this?" She asked, soberly.
"Sit on the couch and drink Guinness..."
"You know what I mean," she reprimanded, gently.
"I don't know, Sam. A while yet, I hope."
"Me too." She admitted, softly. "It's nice."
"Yeah. It is."
She swallowed as she hesitated.
"What is it, Sam?"
"There's talk about sending me on a tour with the Prometheus."
"I know."
"It's a great opportunity..."
"It is."
"Cassie's getting along better, and I could check in with her from time to time."
"She is, and you could." He agreed.
"I don't know if I want to go." She admitted.
"It's a great opportunity," he reminded.
"I know."
"I'll be here when you get back." He soothed.
She looked up into his eyes. "Promise?"
"Cross my heart and hope to die," he assured.
"I'd be gone for three months." She continued.
"You could check in from time to time."
"I'd need you to make sure Cassie's being taken care of."
"Always."
"I'd leave in two weeks." She whispered.
"I'll be there this weekend." He promised.
Silence passed for a moment before she managed a small half-smile. "Thank you."
"Anything for you, Carter. You know that."