A/N: *peeks from beneath writing desk* erm, hi? so sorry I failed to update yesterday O faithful readers! that's what happens when evil workmates, a.k.a. ScottL, DC and JoyS, drag you out to the pub for "a couple of drinks" which actually turn into "a lot of drinks, banter and out the whole night, and a sore head the next day"!*brushes dust off and sits down at the desk* Anyway, thanks a lot for your patience my lovelies!

As usual, many thanks to all readers/reviewers/followers/favorites, you guys are geniuses! A special cyber-hug to (in no particular order) dpdp and LoneWolfOneill for getting in touch as usual, and of course a gigantic I-heart-you to the awesome Demetra83 for her amazing storyline!

Chapter 36 – Clarification

General O'Neill was looking right ahead, his eyes level with the Stargate as he was standing in front of the briefing room windows; Carter was quite far away but at least he wouldn't have to twist his neck to pay attention to what she was doing. He was infuriated she'd put herself in danger despite the concussion she'd suffered less than a week before, or the fact that they were at only a few days from their tenth wedding anniversary, or that she was expecting his child; he was however unsure as to what angered him most...

He knew he shouldn't take it personally, but... she was his wife first and foremost, not just his Lieutenant Colonel, for crying out loud! He sighed as he acknowledged she was only doing her duty, the work she was extremely skilled at, even while suffering from amnesia. She did seem happy once she finally decided to leave her beloved Stargate behind! Jack gritted his teeth while she rappelled down the 'Gate, Siler looking out for her from the bottom, until she stepped foot on the ground once more.

She'd sketched a smile at first, but it quickly disappeared at his cold glower. She made her way to the control room next, and Jack decided to remain upstairs, waiting for her to report to him. He entered his office, discovering it squared away and organized, a neat pile of folders the only sign she'd been hard at work there while he'd been away. Jack took the files Harriman had deposited in his to-sign mail basket and forced himself not to think of her. He did hear the 'Gate being activated and the familiar kawoosh of the vortex snapping into place: he had to grant Sam she knew what she was doing, as everything seemed to be back in order.

Sam contacted SG teams 1 and 3 to let them know normal 'Gate operations could now resume, and eventually mustered all her courage before ascending the stairs to her CO's office so as to hand in her report; she knocked at the door and entered at his invitation.

"Hello Sir, glad to see you're back with us!" she started.

"Well, I am glad to be back in time to see you pull off a stunt 20ft off the ground, Colonel!" he wrily replied.

"It was all perfectly safe, Sir!"

"Really? And what if the 'Gate had been activated in the meantime, hmm?"

"Impossible, Sir, I had deactivated the master crystal. No wormhole, incoming or outgoing, would have been able to form."

"We can do that?" Jack asked, surprised.

"Yes, Sir."

"Yeah, well, it's not enough to justify your reckless and suicidal behavior, Colonel!"

"With all due respect, Sir, it was not suicidal, and certainly not reckless! I did take all necessary precautions beforehand, Sir!" an outraged Sam retorted.

"Well, what do you call putting on a Cirque du Soleil show then? And not withstanding your... delicate state!"

"Is it more of a personal matter then, Sir?"

"Not at all, Carter! I just thought a clever woman like you would take all matters into consideration, and I didn't know you were so thoughtless as to risk your own life!"

"I think you're the one not taking all matters into consideration this time, Sir. I seem to remember my presence here is due to being an expert on the Stargate. My job is to make it work, repair it when it's broken and find new practical applications. I was just doing my job, Sir!"

"You are a Lieutenant Colonel in the United States Air Force Carter! Your job is to find solutions, and to delegate! Or at least learn how to. As far as taking all matters into consideration, very well, I will start right now!"

Sam struggled to swallow after the thinly-veiled threat her husband had uttered.

"Please excuse me, Sir, I got a bit carried away I think."

"No Carter, you're right. Somebody told me the same thing while I was in D.C.," Jack answered in a stark tone.

He was just about to dismiss Carter, just to take some time to recover his temper, but he unexpectedly laid eyes on Siler's report about the provisional cost of the lab incident.

"Carter, care to explain this?" he arched an eyebrow while handing her the sheet of paper.

"Well, erm..."

"Actually, no need to explain, I think I got it! But by all the fires of Ne'tu Carter, you blew up nearly half of Sub-Level 19, do you realize how much this is gonna cost to replace?" Jack spat, incensed again. "It's already difficult to get the higher-ups to approve the usual budget, how do you think I'm gonna get them to sign off on such an expense, for crying out loud?"

Sam lowered her head.

"I... I don't know, Sir," she replied, looking at her feet.

He had not offered her a chair: she was thus standing at parade rest, arms squared behind her back.

"It's late, you should go home and get some rest. Dismissed," he sighed.

Sam almost answered she didn't know how to get home, but it was her husband's business, not her CO's. Even if Janet were angry at her, she would not refuse to console her or drive her home. Sam swallowed her tears as she made her way to the infirmary after she'd left General O'Neill's office.

Janet intended to read her the riot act as soon as her friend arrived but decided not at the sight of Sam's downcast face, as General O'Neill must already have thoroughly admonished her.

"Ma'am?"

"It's Sam!" was her friend's ferocious retort.

Jack had just made Sam aware they'd have to re-instate protocol and a certain distance between them at work, no need for it to happen with Janet too!

"Will you take me home Janet, please? General O'Neill wants me to sign off..." Sam softened.

"Yes, of course. You should go shower and change, I'll join you in the locker room."

Sam followed her friend's advice, and Janet made her way from Sub-Level 21 to Jack's ajar office door.

She rapped on the doorframe and looked at the base commander.

"Sir, permission to leave the premises to get Colonel Carter home?"

"Why?"

"Well, she doesn't have a car, and I did pick her up yesterday too, Sir."

"Oh. Yes, of course, permission granted. And, erm, Doc? Don't be too hard on her, please, I think I went a little bit too far already..." Jack winced.

"Of course not Sir, the thought hadn't crossed my mind," Janet reassured him. "May I be excused?"

Jack dismissed the petite doctor with a grateful nod, silently thanking his lucky stars to have brought Janet back into Sam's life again.

A/N2: ouch... I think Jack will be sleeping on the sofa later... thank heavens for Janet! hope you liked it, let us know either way: don't forget to R&R! See you Friday! Much love to all x Mwah xxxxxxxxxxx