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The first thing on their schedule was a delicious dinner, with a glass of champagne to go along with it. Even Sam was permitted some alcohol, provided she watched how she reacted to it and had only limited amount. Finally sitting in a real chair, instead of the usual wheelchair, Sam wasn't really focused on that. She was still on a high from her earlier walk, just soaking up the atmosphere around her. The music in the background gave the kitchen more friendly feel and the smell of the food made her mouth water.
"So, what would you like to eat, Carter?" O'Neill asked, while handing out the plates. His heart was still racing from the physical contact with Carter's body. While she was walking on her own, she still couldn't see, so he had to guide her to the chair after her glorious entrance. He gently laid his hand on the small of her back, walking beside her and carefully leading the way. The memory was still rolling around in his brain.
"I'm not really sure what's on offer." Sam said, shrugging her shoulders. She only had a couple of crackers for lunch, not being hungry then. Well, she was hungry now.
"Well, there's pizza, some steaks, potato chips and salad. If you want something sweet, I think there are doughnuts somewhere as well…" His voice trailed off, but she picked up where he left off.
"No, I think I'll stick to pizza for now. Only a slice or two, though." She heard some movement to the right of her, wondering who was doing what. Her tongue darted out, watering her lips in a nervous gesture. "What kind of pizza do we have?"
"Oh." A surprised yelp escaped O'Neill's lips. "I just gave you two slices of your favorite." For a moment only the music was heard. He took a few breaths, wondering how to play this.
She shifted uncomfortably in her chair, catching her lower lips between her teeth. Clearing her throat, she laid her hands on the table and then smiled timidly. "Thank you, sir."
"Please sit down." Laura's voice sounded from afar, somewhere behind Sam. "The birthday boy should not be doing the work."
"I don't mind, especially when it comes to…" O'Neill started speaking while chewing and had to stop to swallow. He sneaked a quick look at the Colonel who was looking beautiful, but slightly out of her comfort zone.
Seemingly longer than necessary pause followed, but maybe Laura was mistaken about that. The general then finished his sentence, pronouncing the final word. "Food."
"Alright." Laura agreed, passing a plate to Teal'c, who immediately started piling food on it. She watched him for a few seconds with a smile on her face and then turned to the general. "Want to open the champagne as well?"
"Of course." O'Neill took the champagne from her and walked closer to the glasses. "Since we're being so classy." Before opening the bottle, he pointed at Laura's plate and told her to get something to eat as well.
She responded with mischievous smirk and an eye-roll, her mood partially spoiled by the shock of the cork whizzing around her. She never heard that sound before and hadn't expected it to be so loud and travel so fast. Sam let out a little yelp too, not expecting the sound.
"Let's drink to me, people." O'Neill distributed the glasses, carefully directing Sam's hand to it. Slowly she took hold of it, waiting until someone made a toast or told her to raise the glass.
Laura, Teal'c and the general were standing, but to be safe Sam was sitting down. The trio exchanged a few looks and then sat down too. Teal'c raised the glass and congratulated O'Neill in his typically succinct manner. When he finished with the stereotypical cheers, they drank to the general's good health. Sam held her glass and let the others come to her, waiting for three clinks to sound. Afterwards she took the smallest sip of champagne, wanting to test the taste and how her body reacted. It tasted divine.
"Hmmm… That's good." O'Neill said, biting into another slice of pizza. His grumpiness from before was all but gone.
"Most acceptable." Teal'c agreed.
"So, are you glad I talked you into the celebration?" Laura smiled, looking over the various option to pick another pizza slice. She reached over and grabbed an extra cheese slice, putting it on her plate.
O'Neill gave an uncharacteristic giggle, almost choking on the last bite of his pepperoni slice. "I have to say it has been great so far."
Laura shot him an amused look, sipping on her champagne. "And you haven't even gotten any gifts yet."
"There are gifts? Oh my." O'Neill said, getting up to see what else was on the menu. He wondered if he maybe could get a little steak inside himself as well when he saw Laura getting up and going to one of the boxes, rummaging for something. "What are you looking for?"
"I thought I might take some photos." She pulled out a polaroid camera, one of flashily yellow color that shone even in the middle of a light room. "Wouldn't it be nice to have something to remember this? I can also put it into an album for Sam to see when her eyes are okay."
"Good idea!" O'Neill said, getting up to sit closer to Carter, so Laura could take the photo.
"Teal'c, smile from ear to ear!" Laura called, before pressing the button. The Jaffa raised his eyebrow at the request, before sliding a little closer to O'Neill. "Ok. 3, 2, 1. Nice!"
A quiet buzzing echoed in the room as the photo slid from the bottom of the camera. Laura grasped it, shaking it from left to right for a few seconds. It worked out nice. "Awww, look at you three."
"Let me see." The general demanded, reaching out. "Oh yeah, kids, we look really good here." His eyes immediately darted to the woman in the picture, who was smiling vaguely in the direction of her colleagues. She looked gorgeous, and what's more – healthy. She had her usual alabaster complexion and her beautifully shaped lips were pink again.
He may have known her for a long time, but still he wasn't used to see her in civilian clothes, especially in such a breath-taking getup. He knew Carter wasn't usually comfortable showing her feminine side, wearing dresses or skirts and so on. But to him she looked stunning no matter what she was wearing.
"Is there some water or juice?" Carter asked, interrupting his thoughts. Before he could answer, Laura beat him to it.
"Sure, which juice would you prefer?"
"It doesn't matter." Sam said, lightly shrugging her shoulder.
"Get the orange juice if you have it. We can mix it with the bubbles for you." O'Neill proposed.
"Sounds good. Thank you." Sam smiled, pushing her plate away since she finished her pizza. She wasn't used to eating a lot as a general rule, but after she woke up on a ship and was able to digest solid food, her portions were especially small. Laura encouraged her to eat, saying she needed energy to heal and discussing with Sam what she liked to have for meals.
"What would you like now, Sam?" Laura asked, prompting Sam to think 'oh, here we go'.
"I'm fine for now, thank you." She said, aware Laura would probably argue.
"Saaam…" Laura said, just as O'Neill brought the orange juice for Sam.
He sat down next to Sam and filled up her glass to the top with the nonalcoholic drink. "There you go, Carter."
Even without her eyes, Sam knew what happened. The sound of liquid pouring into the glass was unmistakable. She thanked the general again, bringing the glass to her lips.
"Don't mention it. Cheers." O'Neill waved it off, of course going back to the meal.
"Cheers, sir."
"You really don't want to eat anything else, Sam?" Laura insisted, not willing to be distracted by the chitchat.
"Maybe later."
She actually did eat another slice with a big serving of mixed salad on the side only dozens of minute later. The tomatoes, peppers and cucumbers painted a nice colorful picture on the plate, one which unfortunately escaped Sam.
"Going after the vitamins, Carter?" O'Neill quipped, almost finished with his steak.
"I don't know what came over me, I suddenly got this earning for vegetables, sir." Sam explained, hunting the pieces of salad with her fork.
"Well, it's better than what you've been eating." Laura mocked the general, giving him an amused look accompanied by a smirk.
"I resent that! Your food is just sooo irresistible." O'Neill gulped down the rest of his drink and sat back in his chair. "Now, you said something about some gifts?"