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As I've been busy today, I post you a second chapter so soon to be forgiven - I hope !

Chapter 37 - The General

"I knew it ! You see Carter, I told you so ! "

Sam sighed.

"You wouldn't believe me! "

"I never said that, sir. "

"Sir, the problem is not who's right or wrong " Janet began .

"But I don't agree ! With Carter, when I'm right, I prefer highlighting ! "

"It's true, it's so rare , Jack! " Daniel remarked .

"Daniel, you 're supposed to be on my side ! I would like a little support here, especially since your little scene this morning! "

Daniel gave a shy smile, because Sam had told him that since his intervention in the elevator, everyone looked as if she was covered in Jello ...

"Oh no ! "

"Why not? "

"Because Sam is sexier ! "

"Hey , that doesn't count ! And I order coffee for the mess ! "

"Jack , Sam wins anyway. I remind you that she can blow up a sun ! "

"You have a point ! "

Sam watched them , like a tennis match.

"Gentlemen, can we continue ? " Janet suggested .

"Indeed, I think the debate can wait " Teal'c pointed out .

So Sam spoke again , thanking Janet and Teal'c with a nod.

"So it seems that our friend Ba'al - "

"He's not my friend!" Jack growled , cutting Sam's speech again.

Spite, Sam sank into her seat. Jack shook his lips and took a little boy look - as caught by his mom making a big mistake. With a wave of his hand, he invited his 2IC to continue .

"So very known and hated Goa'uld Ba'al - if you prefer - seems to inoculate us various diseases, as soon as he gets the chance . "

"It's probably why the Jaffas surrender so easily! " Daniel said.

Sam frowned.

"Hmm , it seems logical after all, Ba'al attempts to decimate the human with other means than the conventional ones."

"This is a long battle " Janet remarked.

"It's a strategy that can pay off in the long -term course" Jack added.

"But I don't understand, nothing has killed humans yet. What is he expecting ? Finding the good disease ? ? " Charles asked.

"It's a theory, but keep in mind that while we are in quarantine or our teams infected with a debilitating or fatal disease , we aren't operating. He knows enough about the SGC to know our health protocols" Sam explained.

"And during this time, Jaffas are free to move " Teal'c added thoughtfully.

"But we must stop him before it goes too far and we must continue our missions" Jack said.

"And all this trying to avoid the risk of bringing the plague or any deadly disease ! " Charles said and Janet approved his words.

Jack ran a hand over his face, from top to bottom, then slid on the back of his neck. Sam watched intently. He was visibly exhausted and overwhelmed by the magnitude of the task , but she never had found him more desirable.

The last time she had seen Colonel O'Neill, he had been installed in a stasis box . Just after the battle against Anubis, she approached her face so close to his, so she felt the warmth of his skin against hers. So close she could have kiss his lips by moving just a few millimeters. Nearly a year later, she had found another O'Neill - General this time . His hair had turned a little whiter but it still more suited him . She had almost forgotten how beautiful and sexy he was. She remembered her feelings for him and the butterflies he awaken inside her. She knew he was beautiful and attractive, but she received a slap in the face when he opened the door of the interrogation room , with his high stature and his straight posture - worthy of the general he was. The weight of responsibility didn't seem to bent his presence - on the contrary , he seemed almost taller.

That day , Sam was therefore observing his left hand, stroking his face, as if to erase fatigue, as if this gesture would give him more perspicacity. Sam had almost opened her mouth facing the sensuality of this attitude. When his hand passed over his neck before joining the back of his neck , Sam shuddered . She already imagined that hand on her, providing the same caress, the same soothing gesture but oh so sensual . He lowered his arm.

However, while Sam wondered if he was aware of his appeal, she noticed something. His left ring finger was bare . And as questions began to shake her head - Was it an oversight? Had he done it on purpose ? Should she make him a private remark? - Her eyes went up along his wrist to get to his forearm . He had rolled up the sleeves of his jacket and she was detailing every inch of his skin. The sun had left its mark , creating brown pigments , and other lighter, the color palette was infinite . She dreamed of caressing his warm skin tanned by the sun. Her eyes still ascended quickly from the covered part of his arm, to get to the collar of his black shirt , letting out a few hairs of his manly chest. Sam shrugged on her chair as the vision had awakened her butterflies in large quantities . She looked at his neck, detailing every curve of his jaw, his dimples and every feature of his face. When she arrived at his eyes , Jack's questioning gaze met hers, curious.