In keeping with the assumption that Sam and Jack first got together during The Light, it never made sense that Jack refrained from commenting on Cadet Hailey. It was well-established that Jack disliked science "geeks" except for his favorite kick-ass astrophysicist 2IC.
I mean, how could he not comment on Hailey? Not only did she break the nose of a fellow cadet while defending another cadet (talk about kickass), but she was clearly brilliant and confident. Not to mention a blonde powerhouse! Seriously, how could Jack NOT make a comment, unless he did so after the mission ended.
Jack opened the door with a grin just like he'd done every Friday night for the past four weeks since returning from the palace by the beach. The reason for his good mood was standing on his door step dressed in a pair of jeans, a low-cut halter top, and holding a six-pack of Bud Light.
"Hey, sir," she grinned back, breezing past him and into the house. He let her set the six-pack on the counter before snagging her around the waist and pulling her into a deep kiss. He registered the sound of her keys hitting the hardwood floor in the back of his mind, but the feel of her fingers snaking into his hair and urging him on commanded his full attention.
Jack couldn't get enough of her. That fact should scare him, but at the moment he simply didn't care. All that mattered was how the woman in his arms tasted and how the little needy sounds she made as his hands roamed over her body drove him crazy.
Their Friday night rendezvous had started the day after they'd returned from the three week imposed 'vacation'. Neither he nor Sam had discussed meeting up at his house; she had simply shown up on his doorstep with a six-pack and a smile.
"Hi, sir," she'd given him what Jack now called his own personal Samantha Carter smile. It was a sexy combination of confident Carter and sensual Samantha, with a hint of shyness that he couldn't resist.
"After the last few weeks, I think you can call me Jack when we're off-base, don't you?" He had leaned against the doorframe and smiled, enjoying the emotions running across her face.
"Hi, Jack," she had replied appeasingly, lowering her head to give him a sultry look through her lashes.
"C'mere," he'd pulled her into the house and immediately to his bedroom, picking up exactly where'd they'd left off.
But their Friday nights didn't just include beer and sex. Over the last four weeks, Jack had thoroughly enjoyed spending time getting to know her as Sam the woman and not just Carter the warrior. Their second Friday night together, he'd taken her to dinner at a new restaurant two towns over. It had seemed harmless enough, two friends having dinner together, but by the end of the night, Jack had realized it would take a lifetime to get to know everything about this brilliant and beautiful woman. A lifetime, he'd happily devote to her. Perhaps, that should have scared him, too, but it didn't.
On their third Friday night, he'd arranged for them to go horseback riding at a local stable owned by his buddy. They'd ridden a few miles into the middle of nowhere and camped out beneath the stars. He had told her it was because he wanted to wake up in the morning with her in his arms. Spending the entire night in his bed was something she hadn't dared since their first night together at the palace for fear of being caught. But the actual truth was he wanted to make love to her under the night sky just like he'd imagined during their many nights sharing a tent off-world.
Tonight, their fourth Friday together, came directly after their last mission to, what Jack had lovingly dubbed, mosquito hell. The off-world excursion marked the first time they had faced mortal danger since they'd started sleeping together. Judging by her actions, it was obvious they were both still hopped up on post-mission adrenaline.
As Sam tugged Jack's shirt over his head, she froze. Her frenzied need to have him stilled instantly as she delicately touched the round marks on his chest left by the flying electrical insects.
"Do they still hurt?" She asked tenderly, looking up at him with concerned eyes.
"Not overly much," he shrugged, a bit self-conscious. He had a multitude of other scars, but she'd never examined them this closely.
"I'm sorry," she pressed a kiss against the two marks on his chest, drawing a shuddering breath from him.
"For what?" He asked, desire burning through him as she continued caressing and kissing each mark she found.
"For not finding a way around you having to risk your life," she answered with regret. "I could have lost you."
"Hey," he tipped up her chin, forcing her gaze to meet his. "You weren't even supposed to be there, remember? You came into a supposedly benign situation and figured out a way to save everyone's asses. And you did all that with a mini-Carter in tow."
"A mini-Carter?" Sam cocked her head then asked, "Hailey? You think Hailey is a mini-me?"
Jack almost laughed at her disgruntled expression, but wisely swallowed that reaction.
"Well, yeah," he offered instead, cringing when Sam didn't seem to share his opinion.
"But she's hot-headed, used to being the smartest person in the room, and—"
"Blonde?" He interjected, earning himself a glare.
"Your point, Sir?" Sam asked warningly.
"Come on, Carter," Jack bristled at her indignation. He couldn't believe she didn't see the resemblance. "I remember a sassy Air Force Captain waltzing into the briefing room and offering to arm wrestle me."
"That was different," Sam prickled, but Jack could see the realization slowly dawning on her face. "Hailey's a good six-inches shorter than me," Sam added stubbornly.
Jack couldn't help but kiss her in that moment. With her eyes ablaze, she looked exactly as she had that first morning at the SGC. Back then he couldn't kiss the frown off of her face, but now he'd be damned if he missed the opportunity again.