A massive thank you to Stanbrooksarah for her general awesomeness and being my beta on this!

Lieutenant Colonel Samantha Carter leaned over the desk in her lab, completely absorbed in the experiment she was running. She stuck her tongue between her teeth as she concentrated on the sample she was extracting. Carefully holding the syringe she didn't notice anyone coming in until a pair of arms encircled her from behind and a voice murmured in her ear, "Hey Carter."

Startled, she gasped and lost her grip on the syringe and petri dish she was holding, which crashed down to the bench and shattered as she whirled around, instinct causing her to raise her on the way, to see General Jack O'Neill in full dress blues standing behind her.

"Woah Carter! Easy, it's just me," he said taking a step back and pulling his hands away from her and holding them up.

"Sir! Hi. Sorry, you just took me by surprise is all."

"That was kinda the point," he smirked.

"You probably should make sure I'm not working with something toxic or radioactive though before you surprise me," she said picking up the pieces of the broken dish and tossing them into the trash.

"Why? Is that going to kill us all?" Jack asked, waving a hand towards the bin.

"Well, no," she admitted. "It's plant samples, for Daniel."

"Then I don't see what the problem is," he said, taking a step towards her again and pulling her into a hug. "I missed you."

"Missed you too," she said against his chest. "How is Washington?"

"Shit storm as usual," he murmured. "Spent the whole time thinking about getting back. And doing this." Suddenly he leaned her backwards against her desk. She gasped softly as he trailed a line of kisses across her jaw. Sam grabbed onto his black tie and yanking it pulled his mouth onto hers, drinking him in. She reached her free hand up to twist into his hair, and he wrapped an arm around the small of her back and pulled her hips tightly into his. He tipped her back farther so she was almost laying across the desk, papers crinkling underneath her.

God she missed him, missed this. The smell of his aftershave was filling her head, intoxicating her. She closed her eyes and breathed it in, savoring the way it made her feel. She was lost in his smell, in his eyes, in his mouth.

"Sam!" came a voice from just outside her lab. Her eyes flew open and widened and they both stood up quickly just as Daniel walked into the room shuffling through a stack full of papers. "Do you have those samples for me?" He looked up as Sam ran a hand through her hair trying to push it back down. "Oh Jack!" Daniel said. "I heard you were here. Uh, I actually need to talk to you about a recon mission I proposed to P4X-773.

"Daniel," the Colonel growled out, inclining his head towards Sam.

The archaeologist hurried on, completely oblivious. "Jack, there are some incredible ruins there with enormous intrinsic value and I really think if you'd just authorize it it would be incredibly worthwhile and give us a ton of new data."

"Why are you even asking me? You know I'm not in command anymore here. Go talk to Landry about it."

"Oh I did, last week. He said no, kicked me out of his office. Something about not being a priority now and having to divert resources but I thought if you talked to him then…"

"Fine!" Jack interrupted. "Consider it authorized!"

Daniel looked taken aback. "You sure? I had a whole speech prepared."

"No need. Go. Have fun. Excavate. "

Sam bit her lip to keep from laughing.

"Great!" Said Daniel brightly walking back out. "Maybe see you at the briefing then."

"Goodbye Daniel!" Jack called after him.

He let out a breath and went to reach back towards Sam just as Daniel poked his head back into the room. "Oh Sam, the samples? Are they done?"

She looked down at the desk. "Ah, almost. I'll have them done by the end of the day," she hurriedly added.

"Thanks!" he said before disappearing once again.

"Okay, enough of this!" Jack said as Sam broke down laughing. "It's time you and I got away."

Jack had left her with strict instructions to be ready to leave in the morning.

"But Sir, I actually have a lot…"

"Ah!" He interrupted holding up a finger. "Carter, no buts! Tomorrow, you, me, Minnesota. Not another living soul. Did I mention that's an order?"

She smirked and leaned closer. "Oh well in that case, yes Sir."

He looked out into the hallway before pulling her in for a long kiss that had Sam ready to float away and melt into the floor all at the same time.

"I'll pick you up at 0800," he said, pulling away much too soon in her opinion.

"Mmm," she replied, for once not able to form a coherent sentence.

"And don't you dare bring a laptop or work of any kind!" He said as he walked backwards out of her lab.

She heard the truck pull up outside her house the next morning precisely at 0800. Peeking through the blinds in the front window of her house she saw the General open the door and climb out of the truck. He leaned against it, one leg propped up against it, arms folded across his chest. Even though the sun was hiding behind a thick blanket of clouds, he had his sunglasses on.

She ran her tongue over her lips. After having spent so many years trying to ignore the irresistible tug of appeal he had on her, she appreciated any chance and excuse to just stare for a moment.

She was tempted to walk out, grab him by the front of his perfectly tight in all the right places black t-shirt, pull him into her house, and just skip the whole journey to Minnesota altogether. But she knew him. Once he had his mind set on the cabin, only world ending scenarios or the Asgard beaming him off the Earth could prevent him from going.

She grabbed her bag from where it sat by the front door, locked it behind her and walked down to the General's truck.

"Hi Sir," she said.

"Sam," he quipped, "you know we talked about that when it's just us."

"Sorry S...Jack," she quickly corrected. "Old habits."

"Ready to go?"

"Yep."

He held out his hand for her bag and she reluctantly let go and handed it to him. He frowned, "there better not be a laptop or anything else remotely connected to work in here."

"Of course not!" she said lightly.

"No naquadah generators or gate diagnostic materials?"

"Actually I did bring a technical manual on…" His eyes narrowed and she couldn't help but break into laughter. "Just kidding."

"Good," he said leaning down. She looked up into his dark eyes right before closing her own. His tongue swept lightly across her lips and warmth poured into her as she kissed him back. She loved the way he tasted. Like honey and coffee.

He turned his head slightly so he could nibble her earlobe before murmuring, "Because you know, lying to a superior officer is a serious offense."

"Wouldn't dream of it Jack," she said. She stepped back and grinned widely at him. He reached behind her and pulled the door to the passenger side of his truck open and she slipped under his arm and climbed inside.