AN: Oh my god, I can't believe it's been SO long since I last posted. I AM SO SORRY. Life got int he way but, now that I've got this 'transition' chapter done (took forever for such a short thing) I will be posting A LOT either this week or weekend to make up for it. Thanks for you patience, sorry again!

Sam walked through the halls of the SGC and expertly ignored the smiles and winks that the other officers had sent her. As drunk as everyone had been when she and Jack had left the bar everyone had still seen them leave together. But the truly telling point had been that no one had heard from either him or Sam the last two days, downtime or not. They had probably figured out that she and Jack had spent the two days in bed but, she didn't care to confirm that for them; she had more pressing matters to take care of.

She approached Hammond's office, not surprised to find the door open, and knocked on the door way. Hammond smiled brightly at her and moved from behind his desk. "Hello Uncle George," she smiled as she kissed his cheek. They both sat in the chairs in front of his desk and his smile held true.

"How's the downtime coming Sammie," George asked. Not Hammond but George.

"One week after three months doesn't feel like enough time."

"I'm sure," he nodded in agreement. "So what brings you back to the mountain today? Shouldn't you be off relaxing?"

"I was hoping you might join me for lunch. We haven't really had many chances to talk. After everything that's happened I think we should take the opportunity to do so."

George eyed her critically a moment before he agreed. He led her out of his office and was a little surprised when she looped her arm through his. She knew it didn't bother him that she had never told anyone of their relationship, he had never cared one way or the other but, flaunting it was not her style either. Sam just smiled at him as they made their way down the stairs to the control room. "I'm not on duty," Sam shrugged easily.

"Walter," George began and ignored the others that looked to him and Sam. "Is Colonel O'Neill on base?"

"Yes Sir," Walter offered as he eyed the two. "I'm not sure where at the moment."

"Please find him. Let him know I'm going off base for lunch and he had better not let my mountain blow up."

"Uncle George, he's still on downtime," Sam giggled at him. "Besides, I thought you only worried about the scientists blowing things up."

"If he's here then I'm taking advantage; and, I worry about anything that man gets his hands on," George offered before he nodded to Walter. "So Sammie, where are we going for lunch?"

Sam and George went to a little Italian place that they had frequented in the past and found themselves chatting happily about all the little things. How the assignment 'overseas' was going, all the things she missed while away, and he even got her up to date on the SGC gossip that she'd missed the last three months.

As lunch came to an end Sam had begun to play with what little was left on her plate. "Sammie," George asked as he took her hand in his. "What's wrong?"

"Nothing," she smiled sadly. "I wanted to thank you Uncle George."

"Thank me?"

Sam set down her fork and smiled softly at the man in front of her. "I should have been declared MIA a lot sooner than I was, we all know that. I also know that it took so long because you fought for me. That means a lot to me Uncle George and I want you to know that."

George grumbled a little as he stared down at the table. After a moment Sam placed her hand on top of one of his and she could see the hardness leave his face as he studied their joined hands. "It wasn't enough," he whispered, still not looking at her.

"It was everything to me Uncle George. You and SG-1, you never gave up on me even when it was reasonable to do so. I know you wanted to protect me, to take away the pain, but that's not what I needed from you. I needed you to simply be there and you always have been."

"I should have protected you … somehow."

"You couldn't have Uncle George." Sam squeezed his hand and when he finally looked to her she offered him a smirk and a raised brow. "Is that why you felt the need to share my personal letter to you with Jack; to protect me?"

"Ah," George offered as Sam removed her hand from his and leaned back into her chair. "So he told you about that."

"Yes, we've talked about a great deal of things actually. Is that what you were doing, trying to protect me?"

"He never told anyone what your letters to each other were about I … I needed him to know how you felt Sammie. I couldn't risk him hurting you."

"Jack would never hurt me Uncle George, not intentionally and you know that."

"I know; and, I know that his feelings for you have only intensified over the years. Just like your feelings for him have but I –"

Sam interrupted him as she placed her hand on his once more. "You needed to make sure … I can understand that." She smiled brightly at him as he studied her. "And since you played the Uncle role so well you get to keep Dad in check when I tell him. As much as he like's Jack he's still going to go a little crazy."

"Ah Sammie, couldn't I let you take Bill to the outpost instead?"