A/N Well, I've taken a longer hiatus that I thought. A lot has happened since my last story wrapped up. My husband had surgery but it didn't fix his problem and we're having to sell our business, I started working, we're in the process of selling out house and moving, and some other things. I haven't had as much time to write as I would like. I do have a few chapters of this story finished, just not sure in which order I'll put them. This is more of a fluff story, just Jack and Sam and their dates. Hopefully it's cute and enjoyable. I don't know how regularly I'll be able to post so for anyone who happens across this please don't expect and every week update. I will update as often as possible but between working and getting ready to move I can't promise anything. I thank everyone in advance for taking the time to read this, I really hope you like it.

Disclaimer- I do not own Stargate (wish I did!) I do not profit from anything posted here

Chapter 1: Date 1 The Start

Jack pulls up to the restaurant a couple of minutes before the agreed upon time. He spots Carter's car in a parking spot a few cars down. She's always the first one to arrive.

Every single time SG-1 makes a plan to go out for dinner Carter gets there first and gets a table, Jack shows up right on time, and Daniel picks up Teal'c and inevitably arrives late, no doubt getting distracted by something. Teal'c always does a good job masking his annoyance, but Jack and Carter can tell. They usually snicker to themselves about how oblivious Daniel is to the whole thing.

Jack is just about to get out of his truck when his phone rings, "Daniel?"

"Jack, hey, it's Daniel," Daniel says, then asks after a minute, "Oh, how did you know it was me?"

"It's called caller ID, Daniel," Jack says sarcastically as he rolls his eyes.

"Oh, right, of course," Daniel says, then adds, "Um, I was calling to let you know that Teal'c and I aren't going to make it tonight."

Jack perks up at that, "What's going on?"

"Teal'c got a message from Bra'tac, something's going on with Rya'c. I don't think it's serious but Teal'c wants to check things out. I'm going to go with him," Daniel explains.

"Should Carter and I come back?" Jack asks. If something is wrong, Jack wants to be there to help. He is concerned, he likes Rya'c. He hopes everything is alright.

"No, no, it's alright, Bra'tac said that Teal'c doesn't even need to come. He only sent the message because he promised to keep Teal'c informed. Teal'c just wants to go anyway. Besides, with SG-1 on stand down for now it's a good time to visit," Daniel explains.

"Are you sure we don't need to come?" Jack asks, just for confirmation.

"Yeah, I'm sure. Just enjoy your time off," Daniel says before he hangs up.

Jack stares at his phone for a moment. He hates when Daniel abruptly hangs up. What if Jack had something more to say?

At least it sounds like Rya'c is alright. Jack doesn't blame Teal'c for taking the opportunity to visit his son. Jack would do the same in his position.

That thought fills Jack with a deep sadness. He wishes he still had a son to spend time with.

Jack decides that he can't dwell on that right now or it will pull him into a deep depression. He's been doing pretty good lately staying upbeat and positive and he'd like to keep it that way.

Jack debates on whether he should call Carter to let her know the guys aren't coming or just go in and talk to her. He decides on the latter, reasoning that there's a giant window that overlooks the parking lot so she may have seen him park.

Jack climbs out and makes his way inside. Good thing he did because Carter is at a table directly in front of the giant window. She definitely would have seen him.

She perks up as he approaches the table, "Hi, SIr."

"Carter," Jack says in reply.

He notices the confused expression on her face as he sits on the opposite side of the table. He normally sits next to her with Daniel and Teal'c on the other side of the table.

"Daniel just called, apparently something happened with Rya'c and now he and Teal'c are going to see about it," Jack explains.

"Is everything alright?" Sam asks, clearly concerned.

"From what Daniel said Bra'tac didn't think Teal'c really needed to go but I guess he wanted to go anyway," Jack says.

"Should we go too?" Sam asks.

"Apparently not. I think they were about to leave when Daniel called, I'm pretty sure I heard the gate dialing in the background," Jack says quietly so no one would overhear.

"Oh," Sam says, quietly.

Jack detects disappointment in her voice, or maybe it's discomfort about being here alone with him, maybe both.

"So, I guess our team dinner is a no go," Jack says. Now he's starting to feel a little uncomfortable.

Sam nods, "I guess I'll just go back home then."

"Or you could stay," Jack says without thinking. He pauses for a moment and then says, "If you want to, that is. You don't have to. I was going to have a drink since I'm already here, so if you want you can join me. No pressure."

He's an idiot. Of course she's not going to want to stay. In fact, it was inappropriate for him to even suggest it. Then he stammers on like some bumbling fool.

"I suppose one drink wouldn't hurt," Sam says.

Jack whips his head up. She's really going to stay for a drink? He did not expect that.

"If that's alright, Sir," Sam says, uncertainly.

"Of course," Jack says. Now he's really uncomfortable. He's only got himself to blame, he's the one who suggested she stay.

He watches as Carter looks over the drink menu. He can't believe she's actually staying. She always says no when he asks her to accompany him anywhere. Well, usually he asks her to go to his cabin with him, she always says no to that. It's probably for the best now that he thinks about it.

One drink in a crowded restaurant isn't so bad. They can handle this.

Three hours later, Jack is waiting to take his shot on the pool table. One drink ended up leading to another, which led to an appetizer, which led to an entree, which led to dessert, which led to a game of pool.

So far Carter has been running the table. He won't be surprised if he doesn't get to take a shot at all. In fact, he's got half a mind to order her to wipe that cocky grin off her face.

By the time she's done, he's glad they weren't playing for money. He shudders to think how much she would have taken from him.

After another couple rounds, they decide to call it a night. Jack is pleased that he won one round, though she may have felt sorry for him and let him win, but he doesn't care.

"Tonight was fun, Sir, thank you," Sam says as they slowly walk out to the parking lot.

"You're welcome," Jack says. Her car is pretty close to his truck so he decides to walk with her.

"And thanks for dinner, you didn't have to pay," Sam says, brushing some hair behind her ear, something she does when she's nervous. Though he has no idea why she would be nervous.

"Don't tell Daniel and Teal'c, they'll expect it next time," Jack quips.

Sam smiles and says, "My lips are sealed." Jack is pleased that she seems less nervous now.

"We should do this again sometime," Jack says as they reach her car. As soon as he says that he realizes how it sounds. Maybe Carter didn't notice.

"We should?" Sam asks.

She noticed. Now he has to fix this before he goes and blows this fun night up with a comment that makes her too uncomfortable.

"Yeah, I mean, we're friends, there's nothing wrong with hanging out. I do things with Daniel and Teal'c all the time," Jack says.

What is he doing? He just said the complete opposite of what he should have said. What is wrong with him? Maybe those two drinks were stronger than he thought.

"That's a good point. I do things with Daniel and Teal's too," Sam says after a moment.

Wait a minute, did she just agree to hang out with him more? Maybe she had more drinks than he thought. Or maybe all the chalk from the pool stick messed with her head.

"There ya go. So as long as we drive separately, remember our ranks, and go to public places, there's nothing wrong with it," Jack says.

"Exactly, Sir. Though next time maybe we should go somewhere a little further out of town. Less likely to run into someone we know and give them the wrong impression," Carter suggests.

"Sounds good, next Tuesday then?" Jack asks.

"Yes, Sir," Sam says, "And Sir? I'll pay next time."

"Deal," Jack says with a crooked smile.

"Any suggestions on where to meet?" Sam asks.

"Buyers choice," Jack says with a wink.

Sam smiles, "I'll let you know what I decide then, Sir."

Jack smiles and bids her a goodnight. After he gets in his truck he thinks about the fact that he just went against his better judgement and basically asked her out. It's not a date, he reminds himself. It's just him having dinner with a friend, who happens to be a woman.

He tells himself again that there's nothing wrong with it. After all, he hangs out with all of his friends. Why should she be any different? They can do this, they can hang out as friends without it being weird and uncomfortable.

As he starts the truck and drives away, Jack finds himself looking forward to next Tuesday night.