Ex- USAF Colonel Jack O'Neill drifted back into the realm of the conscious, the arms of Morpheus releasing their strangle-hold and letting him wake. He rubbed his head without opening his eyes, comfortably warm and not quite sure if he wanted to wake up just yet. He stretched out his arms and the touch of a living, breathing warmth by his side coincided with his memory returning.
Carter was asleep next to him in bed, a slightly flushed pink, make up forgotten last night now smudged around her eyes and an errant strand of hair moving with every sighing exhalation. He turned over in order to watch her better, staring at her, smiling as the memories of last night resurfaced periodically. Her eyes snapped open and he wondered how long she had been pretending to be asleep.
"Good morning," she whispered, moving closer to him.
Their hands met under the blankets, his fingers entwined around hers and he grinned stupidly, unable to contain the happiness bubbling up inside him; a deep and fierce joy he hadn't experienced in a long, long time. "Good morning," he replied.
TAP TAP TAP. The sharp rap of an impatient knocker on their front door interrupted them just as their noses brushed before a sleepy kiss. They lay perfectly still for a moment. "Ignore it," Sam whispered.
O'Neill was perfectly willing to ignore it, the thought of getting out of bed right at this particular moment was absurd. His hand was snaking up the bed covers to Sam's face when-
BAM. BAM.
Someone even more impatient than the first knocker was hammering on their door so hard he marvelled it didn't crash off its hinges.
"I'm coming!" he shouted, turning his head away from Sam so he didn't deafen her. He rolled out of bed and hit the floor with a thump, accompanied by Sam's stifled giggle at his inability to get his legs working before making painful contact with the floor. "No giggling," he instructed, waving a finger as he pulled on the nearest dressing gown to hand and shuffled into some slippers. "Coming!" he yelled again, worried for the state of his door if the knocker had a third attempt at gaining entry.
He pulled open the door and blinked in complete surprise.
Daniel Jackson and Teal'c were standing on his doorstep, the Jaffa's huge fist raised as if he was about to have another attempt at smashing down the door.
O'Neill's mild irritation about being dragged out of bed vanished. "How the hell did you get here?" His directness did not, however.
"It's great to see you too Jack!" Daniel laughed, as Jack moved aside to let them in. "Helmont pulled a few strings for us. We thought you'd like a visit."
"Hell, yeah!" O'Neill responded, and was about to articulate, but Teal'c cut in; voicing the question that had been bothering him since O'Neill had opened the door.
"Is that not Major Carter's dressing gown?"
O'Neill looked down for the first time at his hastily assembled clothing. His dressing gown was a light pink, with a rabbit on the pocket. Glancing down further he realised that the slippers were fluffy, and a matching colour. He opened his mouth to utter some explanation and closed it again as none was forthcoming.
Daniel leaned closer to O'Neill, apparently also puzzled. "Is that lipstick?"
"It's not mine," Jack replied hurriedly, "Carter's-"
"Who's at the door Jack?" the owner of the lipstick asked, coming out of their bedroom dressed in pajama-shorts and a tee shirt. She spotted the two other SG1 members and practically squealed with delight as she enveloped first the slightly shocked archeologist and then Teal'c in a fierce hug. "What are you doing here?" she asked, clearly as delighted as Jack at their visit.
"Isn't that Jack's tee shirt?" Daniel asked.
Carter blushed as red as her pajamas, as Jack hurriedly tried to rub off the lipstick unintentionally transferred from the Major to himself during last night's... activities. Daniel's face cracked into a grin so large it looked as if he had swallowed a banana sideways. Even Teal'c was smiling.
"Yeah," said Jack, giving up on all pretence, "Yeah it is mine." His arm snaked around Sam's waist. "Why are you here at," he checked his watch, "Seven in the morning anyway?"
"Janet thought you might want warning," Daniel said evilly, "Jacob's coming to visit."
Carter was conscious of her thoughts moving very fast. Firstly: How dare Janet tell Daniel about her new relationship. She'd been looking forward to telling Dan herself. Second in line, and much *much* more terrifying was:
Dad.
Coming here.
Now.
State of bedroom.
Relationship with ex-CO
Not good.
The ashen look on O'Neill face suggested a similar train of thought was going through his own head. "Oh boy," he muttered.
Carter made the executive decision. "Okay guys. Look, I could do with a shower. Do you need putting up here? Yes? Well, go and speak to Rel. Tall and red headed, you'll easily find her. She can give you blankets and stuff. Bring 'em back and I'll set up three guest beds. Jack'll take you down the games field or Fel'Tak track."
"Fel'Tak?" Daniel asked, interested.
"Give us half an hour for a shower guys, and I'll explain everything," O'Neill added, marvelling inwardly at the sudden leadership shown by Carter. "Bye," he murmured as the other two men nodded and shuffled off, shutting the door behind them.
There was silence for a moment, before Jack started to howl with laughter; Sam having to hang on to his arm to stop herself from falling to the floor as she too laughed. "That," she panted, "Could only happen to us."
"I'll say," O'Neill snickered, "Where are they all going to sleep?"
"Your room," Sam offered.
"Okay. And the living room. But then where am I going to sleep?"
"My room?" Sam suggested.
O'Neill looked vaguely horrified at the suggestion. "With your father in the house? No thanks, I like my face the shape it is."
Carter laughed again. "I can't think why," she quipped, tweaking his nose as he looked hurt. "He's got to find out sometime Jack. Now is as good a time as any."
"No, now is not a good time. A good time would be far, far in the future. When I'm not around to be strangled."
Sam shook her head; he seemed genuinely scared and she couldn't understand why. "Best hurry up with that shower," she said, "You first 'cos you've got to show the guys around."
O'Neill suddenly looked coy, smiling slyly. "Of course," he said slowly, gripping her hand in his, "We could reduce the waiting time by showering tog-"
"You really think that'd be quicker?" Carter asked dryly.
"No," he replied ruefully, "But it'd be much more fun."
Carter giggled again, tempted, but intending to turn him down. Unfortunately at that moment Jack picked her up in one fluid movement, carrying her as she yelled and pounded his back only half-jokingly all the way to the bathroom, and the shower.