AN: Morning campers! Hey so my gut was right. My DM being nice was nothing but a ruse. Called it. I might get fired and I pretty much don't care even a little. See I don't actually need the money from this job. I'm there because I love the company NOT because I need a paycheck. Also I'm kind of there for the 30% employee discount... I'll miss that. lol. Anyway any other job would give me better work life balance. And pay better. He seems to be unaware that the first goal of a training manager is frankly to weed out the crappy ones by working them too hard so they quit. He's bleeding managers and thinks its because he's culling the problem staff. In reality people good at their jobs are quitting because they don't appreciate the abuse. The race is on therefore as to I find another job OR does he get fired? Could go either way. Either way he's going to end up some kind of petty annoyance in a story somewhere. lol.

Chapter 6

James was getting ready for work when a large orange tom cat showed up in his house. "What are you doing here? Go home." He admonished the cat.

"Merow?"

"I don't need your help. This isn't that kind of assignment. They are just dumb goons, not aliens." James didn't know much about that incident not having the clearance but he knew the rumors and he was hunting an artifact that had been stolen from his division's private collection. The cat's connection was confusing to him other than the boss said the cat was in charge of guarding it… which was how the theft was discovered so quickly.

The cat just sat and stared at Jimmy.

"Tell the boss I have everything handled."

"Merf." Said the cat dismissively.

"I know about those other agents. I'll find out who they are."

The cat looked away from him as though he was rather incredulous.

"I can't believe I'm talking to a cat." Jimmy grumbled, throwing up his hands. "Go catch a mouse or something." He suggested.

The cat tilted his head, appeared to think about that for a bit and got up and left.

"That is one weird cat." Jimmy said, adjusting his tie. He worked as a courier as his cover both for his assignment and what he'd told his seller who had no idea he was trying to sell tech back to the people he originally stole it from. 'Susan' posed as his bodyguard/driver for those visits and she looked it.

Right now though, he needed to go to his day job. When he walked out the back door of his house to the garage, he saw Jack. "Heya neighbor. How's the new job going?"

Jack flashed the guy a grin. "Great. Yesterday I got to teach kids science." He'd be lying to himself if he didn't admit he'd had fun yesterday. Perhaps he should put some actual thought into that retirement thing again.

"That's great. Sounds like a lot of fun, shaping young minds." James said companionably. "You know I thought about teaching kids once." He shook his head. "I'm not sure I'd be cut out for that kind of responsibility."

"Well, it's not for everyone." Anyone else would have noticed Jack's sarcastic tone.

Jimmy was not anyone. "Sure isn't! Taking in a kid from a broken home isn't either. How's that going? Not cutting into the love life is it?"

Jack looked skyward for just a moment. "Nothing we can't handle."

"You guys should have some kids yourself. You're both clearly great at it."

"Yah… thanks." Jack said. "I really need to get to work…." He said, pointedly looking at his watch.

"Oh, yah, yah right. Okay. Well, see you around… neighbor." Jimmy said with a friendly wave and got into his car.

Jack just shook his head in exasperation. What a weirdo, he thought. Something bumped against his leg. Jack looked down and saw the orange cat that had strolled out from the back of Jimmy's home moments before. "Well, hello. Did you follow Sam home? You look like Shroedinger but he's all the way on another planet and I could be wrong but I'm fairly sure cats don't do space travel."

"Merumph." The sat said in disgust and sat.

Jack chuckled and reached down to stroke the cat affectionately. "Are you lost, buddy? I'll bring you home some cat food tonight until we find your owner." He told the cat who purred contentedly. "Can I look at your tag?" he asked the cat.

"Merow?"

Jack stroked under the cat's chin until he lifted his head enough for Jack to read the name. "Goose huh? Like Top Gun? I'm more of a Hanover Street guy myself. Don't tell Danny. It would ruin my rep."

Goose sneezed.

"It's dusty out here, isn't it, buddy?" Jack said to Goose. "Sam and Lisa already left. You going to be okay out here by yourself?"

Goose jumped up on the vintage work bench in Jack's garage next to the truck Jack had borrowed from the SGC rather than bring his own. He laid down and yawned.

"Yah, I guess there's nothing in here worth stealing. Be a good cat, Goose." He told him and jumped into the truck and left.

Goose was already asleep.

At lunchtime, Jack called Sam this time so he could talk to her the entire break and not just part of it. "So I made a friend today." He said laughing.

"Did you now? Are the single teachers already hitting on you?"

"What? Why would they do that?" Jack asked her, confused. "No, I think that cat followed you home."

"From yesterday? I wonder why he did that and how do you know it's the same cat?"

"I recognized the collar on him from your photo. He's got a tag that says Goose. I didn't risk flipping it over until I could bribe him with food first."

"Good plan. You know Jack, that's how you get a cat."

Jack chuckled. "I know. But he's clearly someone's cat already so we'll find out who he belongs to and return him."

Sam chuckled. "Just don't get attached, sir."

"Oh, it's already too late for that." Jack admitted which just made Sam laugh harder. He loved her laugh. "Lisa get off to school okay?"

"Yah. She's still not happy with the situation but she's not supposed to be so it reads right."

"Do you have any ideas how many toys I'm going to owe that kid for this one?"

Sam chuckled. "Yes sir." she agreed. "But you love it anyway so why fight it?"

Jack harumphed. "It's really not fair that you know me so well." But he was grinning as he said it. He loved everything about her and he'd be a liar if he said he didn't. But the fact that she saw right through him and always had was really high on the list. He couldn't help but think sometimes had it been Sam not Sara that his marriage might have withstood the loss of his son. Being married to Sam would never be a hardship in his eyes even if he had vowed never to make that decision again. At first, Sam being his subordinate had made that easier. Now though…

"It probably isn't." Sam agreed, dragging Jack back from his unhappy thoughts. "But it does make things easier." She said cheerfully of their mission planning, having no idea of Jack's thoughts lately.

Jack shook his head. "Do you want to go out for dinner tonight?" He asked, deliberately changing the subject. "As a family."

Sam seemed to think for a moment. "Sure, but not the place with the spy for a waitress." She agreed with Jack. The way the woman moved marked her as an obvious agent with combat training. That was how he'd spotted her right away the first night he was here.

Jack chuckled. "Deal. There's a pizza place I noticed on the way home last night. We could try it out."

"I could go for pizza. And a beer."

"Sorry, Carter, I think it's family friendly but we can pick up a six pack on the way back and you and I can split it while we watch Nova tonight." Nova being one of those weird things they had in common before they met. He'd gotten her to admit she enjoys hockey. She'd dragged out of him that he likes schmaltzy romantic movies as long as she never ever told Daniel under pain of death. The only reason Teal'c knew was because Jack had suggested several as his cultural education. Kind of hard to hide the fact that you love the movie Sabrina when you loan it from your private collection to a guy.

"It's the Everest one tonight, sir."

"Frozen volcanos and beer. Sweet." Jack crowed.

Sam gigged. "Lost in the ice is kind of our thing."

"Don't remind me." he groaned. "Shit. Lunch bell. See you after work, Carter."

"Have fun with the remedial math class." She told him. Today was pre-algebra for the kids that were struggling to grasp the basics.

Jack groaned.

Sam giggled.

"This is great." Sam said of the pizza.

"Sure beats commissary food." Jack agreed and took a large bite of his extra meat pizza.

"Will grandpa make it home for the wedding?" Lisa asked them.

Sam and Jack looked at each other and shrugged. "We can try." Sam said.

"Good." She said and bit her own cheese pizza. "I hope mom and dad aren't mad at each other anymore by then."

Sam and Jack gave each other a concerned look. Jack reached over and hugged Lisa's shoulders. "Kiddo, I promise you your parents will be on good terms before your aunt and I get married."

"You're sure?"

"Oh yah. Really sure."

Sam snorted trying not to laugh. Jack's inability to outright lie to kids sometimes made for comical conversations.

"Uncle Jack and I intend to take our time planning our wedding, Lisa. Everything will be fine by then." Sam reassured the girl.

"Okay. Dad figured one day you guys would just sneak off to Reno." Lisa said casually and went back to eating her pizza.

Sam turned beet red.

"Something you need to share, Sam?"

"Nope." Sam squeaked.

Jack gave her a broad grin. Anything that freaked her out that much was going to be very entertaining to learn about.

After Sam joined Jack in bed, he rolled over and wrapped an arm around her waist. "All right. I know when you're playing dumb. What crazy thing did dad say about us?"

Sam looked into his eyes, startled that he'd take this approach. "Jack… it's nothing…" She tried to assure him.

"I know your weak points, Carter, and I'm not afraid to exploit them until you talk to me." He reminded her. They had both drank a couple beers and were comfortably relaxed though he wouldn't say either of them was drunk.

"I know yours too." She reminded him softly.

"All of my weak points are you." He admitted before leaning in and claiming her mouth in a searching kiss. When Sam moaned in submission, he lifted his head. "What did dad do?"

Sam sighed heavily. "It's nothing. Really." She'd stopped herself from calling him sir after a kiss like that. There was nothing professional about the way he'd been kissing her since the deal with the virus incident on P3X-797. The agreement was that kissing was all right but never in public and nothing further. No feeling up, no fooling around. Just kissing for fun. But things had progressed considerably beyond their previous agreement here.

"Sam." He said softly as his face nuzzled into her neck and started kissing her in a way that made her all but float off the bed into his arms.

"I can't think when you do that." she admitted.

Jack pulled back with a grin. "Tell me what dad said." He gave her a thoughtful look. "Please."

"Okay… fine… Mark said the only way I'd get married was if someone got me pregnant and Dad bet him fifty bucks it would be you." She huffed.

Jack blinked at her for a moment in utter flabbergast. "So are we on dad's side or Mark's here?"

Sam swatted at his arm and laughed for several minutes. "Neither!" She said, still laughing.

When she finally worked her way down to uncontrolled eruptions of giggles, Jack laid next to her and tucked her against him. Kissing her temple affectionately, he smiled and solemnly admitted. "Sam, if it wasn't for the regulations, I'd have already asked."

"That's the beer talking."

"Possibly." He said with a shrug. "But I still mean it."

"I know." she admitted and kissed the corner of his mouth. "We should get some sleep."

"Yah." He agreed.

When he didn't move to release her though, Sam smiled softly and wrapped her arm around his and closed her eyes. Content that at least he loved her back enough to want her that way. She could get used to falling asleep this way and that worried her. She wasn't supposed to get used to kissing him or playing house or falling asleep in his arms or waking up to him kissing her back until they were both burning with need.

They were really going to need to have a long talk after this assignment.