Sam waited until all the men had joined her. She'd known they would however much Jack had protested.

The SF's had been ordered only to allow the SG team leaders, General Hammond, Dr Fraiser or herself into the room. As she started the tape she took notes on behaviour, attitude and enthusiasm. There were a few laughs as they stumbled around and as a few of them flashed their underwear.

"So Mom how are school reports going to read?" Jack asked as the video ended.

"I'd say you all passed sir. You were incredibly good sports. But before you all go General Hammond wants to talk to you all."

Hammond ordered them all to appear at the largest hotel in Colorado Springs at 1900 on Saturday, they would be able to bring wives and current girlfriends who understood that they would work erratic hours. There had been a few questions as to why, which had only been answered with a reminder to wear their dress uniforms.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

"Colonel." Sam stood in Jack's office doorway.

"Come in Carter, what can I do for you?"

"I was just heading out for a few hours I wonder if there was anything you needed me to do before I left."

"Tell me what's going on Saturday night."

"What and spoil all the fun? I don't think so sir."

"You're not going to show that video are you?"

"Of course not sir. Firstly that would be embarrassing, secondly it was a military training exercise and thirdly the exercise was off world so therefore it was highly classified."

"Good. I'll see you later."

"Yes sir."

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

"Turn around." Janet instructed. "Slowly. I like it."

"You don't think it's too." Sam couldn't find the word.

"Revealing, sexy, gorgeous?" Janet offered.

"All of the above." Janet smiled.

"No. I think it's perfect and just the right shade of blue."

"I don't know if I have the courage." Sam stated.

"You got fifteen guys in skirts and heels and survived to tell the tale, I think wearing a dress on Saturday night might be slightly easier."

"But you forget I had General Hammond backing me up and threatening to throw them in the Brig if they didn't do what I told them." Sam pointed out.

"Well we've taught them how to be good officers, why not how to be gentlemen? Besides one look at you in that dress and you'll be forgiven."

"I thought the whole point of this training program was to teach them to see us as equals and not to think of us as women?"

"Honey, that's at work, outside the base I'd be upset if they didn't. Besides which what do you think of that red dress?"

"I think Daniel likes red." Sam said hiding a smile.

"And just what do you mean by that Major?" Janet asked.

"Come on you would have killed to see him in a skirt, Teal'c too?"

"Sam, the amount of time Daniel spends in the infirmary I get to see his legs enough as well as ever other part of him."

"I think I became the wrong sort of doctor."

"What and miss out on long hours we three gorgeous men. I don't think so. Beside which you like your job way too much."

"It does have some perks."

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

"So where's Carter?" Jack asked as they had all gathered in the ballroom of the hotel. "I take it she's behind all this."

"She might have had a slight influence. She'll be here soon sir, she had a few last minute things to do."

"But she is coming since she got us all into this?"

"Yes sir. It looks like the General is going to give a speech." She pointed out.

"If I may have your attention for a few minutes." General Hammond said standing by the microphone. "I would just like to say we've had a difficult year but everyone has worked hard and it has been a pleasure and an honour to serve with all of you." There was a round of applause. "Before I finish I have a note from the President he would like me to read out." He paused. "I serve as President in a great age, we have the ability to look farther beyond our own lives and to search for the answers from beyond our planet. The men and women of this command are an asset to the United States Military and I wish to congratulate you all on your sterling work over the past few years." He paused again. "Now Major Samantha Carter would like to say a few words. Major."

Sam stepped onto the stage. There were a few wolf whistles from the crowd, but they were shot down by a look from the General.

"Thank you General. For those of you who don't know in the past few months I have been placed in charge of a special training program within the facility. This has involved asking people to go above and beyond the call of duty. They have worked hard with very little complaint." A few people looked at Jack, who shrugged. ". and accept the task of what was presented to them. A special round of applause should go out to a group of men who know who they are, who in the past week did exactly what was asked of them under difficult circumstances with grace and dignity." The staff the SGC knew what she was talking let out a loud whoop. "And just to inform you this is phase three, you had a chance to prove your worth as officers, now you can prove that you are gentlemen. Thank you."

One of the SF's helped her step down from the stage as the music started to play.

"Nice speech Sam." Janet said as she joined them.

"It was the best I could come up without have to reveal information which means I had to kill everyone." She remarked.

"By the way Sam you look beautiful." Daniel commented.

"I must agree Major Carter." Teal'c bowed his head.

"Yeah nice dress Carter." Jack paused. "So how did you talk Hammond into this shebang?"

"Guilt is a terrible thing sir, beside which as the General says we all have had a difficult year we needed to kick back for a few hours and besides which I needed a new dress."

"Sam, I know I'm not exactly an officer and I'd have to question the gentleman part too but would you do me the honour of dancing with me?" Daniel asked.

"Of course, I'd like that." She shot Janet a sympathetic glance. Janet nodded.

"Since when has Danny boy been able to dance?" Jack asked.

"For a while by the looks of it." Janet muttered.

"Doctor Fraiser do you wish to dance with me?" Teal'c asked.

"Sure. Sir, can you hold my drink?" Janet asked and handed Jack her glass.

"So Jack, what do you think of the evening so far?" Hammond asked him.

"It seems like a good way to kick off steam sir."

"Major Carter has been busy. Organising this in less than a week and the training exercise."

"She always was resourceful. Analysis of Deep Space Radar Telemetry can be very stressful, but Carter always manages to find the time." He continued with the cover story as they were intermingled with civilians.

"She's a remarkable woman. Strong brave and intelligent."

"Yes sir." Jack was trying to figure out where the conversation was going.

"Jacob is very proud of her."

"He has every reason to be. She's very good at her job." He took a sip of her beer.

"I don't think you get my point son."

"Which would be sir?" Jack asked.

"Just ask her to dance."

"Yes sir." General Hammond left him alone and went to talk to some other people.

"You look slightly confused there Jack." Ferretti said coming up to him.

"Yeah I am. Does the General ever say anything that confuses you?"

"Not usually. Though Sam that's another matter. What did he say?"

"He kept on about Sam's talents then told me to ask her to do dance?" Ferretti laughed.

"If you can't figure that one out for yourself Jack then you're worse a pretending to be dumb then we all thought. I'll see you later." He slapped him on the shoulder and walked passed him.

"I'm sure I didn't just give you a mission report sir, what's with the confused face sir?" Sam asked a few minutes later.

"Sorry Carter just thinking."

"About anything specific or just in general terms?" "Just wondering if you planned anymore phases to this little training scheme of yours." "I could be tempted depends on whether we need them. I wanted to talk to you, do you think we could go out in the hall way?"

"What had enough of dancing with Daniel?"

"He's dancing with Janet. Teal'c's off talking to someone and there's something I need to say to you."

"Let's go." He put the drinks he was holding on the table. "So?" He said when they were alone.

"I wanted to apologise to you personally."

"What for?"

"Everything, when you asked me what I felt guilty about last week I lied, I didn't remember to water your plant, but that wasn't why I was feeling guilty."

"Everything encompasses a lot, and I knew you were lying about the plant, which for your information I do remember to water occasionally."

"Yes sir. What I was meaning to say was I wanted to apologise for the training exercises and putting you through that embarrassment, it wasn't my intention you're a good CO and you are good with the women of the base you just managed to catch me on bad days. I'm sorry sir, this party is my way of making up for it."

"That's a lot of babbling about something non-scientific Carter. Look you're forgiven as long as you go and find me a beer."

"Yes sir. Thank you." Sam smiled and headed off in search of a beer.
"Is everything alright Colonel?" Major Paul Davis asked.

"Yeah. I think so, Carter was just apologising for embarrassing a few of us." He wasn't quite sure what Davis knew.

"The training exercises, from what I heard it was an interesting experience sir."

"And what exactly did you hear?" Jack asked as they entered the ballroom.

"Someone thought the Pentagon should know what was going on and they showed me the security camera footage."

"That was supposed to be classified." Jack mumbled.

"Sorry sir, but that was only Major Carter's tape. The footage of the hallways is a different matter sir. If you'll excuse me."

"Here's your beer sir." Sam handed him a bottle of beer.

"Carter, about the security cameras."

"I can't do anything about those sir. I did try."

"Sorry to interrupt sir, ma'am." Sgt Siler interrupted. "Major, did you want to dance?"

"I'd like Sgt, if you'll excuse me sir." Sam left with Siler.

"So Jack enjoying the party so far?" Daniel asked.

"You'd think a party wouldn't confuse the hell out of me." He downed his beer.

"What happened now?" Daniel asked.

"Hammond's acting weird, Ferretti thinks I'm playing dumb and Carter's apologising."

"Let me guess Sam apologised for embarrassing you and General Hammond told you to ask her to dance and Ferretti thought you were dumb for not figuring out why. Sound about right?"

"Yes. How'd you guess?"

"Sam idea was to apologise to everyone and to have fun. But it was also about teaching you to be gentlemen as well as airforce officers. Gentlemen ask women they're in love to dance especially when they're in beautiful dresses."

"I'm not in love with her."

"Yeah tell that to someone who doesn't work with you everyday. Now I promised Janet I'd dance with her some more." Daniel walked off leaving Jack agasp.
A/N: There will be a phase 4 when I think of one because Jack definitely needs a lesson in love.