"So what do you get an astrophysicist like Captain Carter for her birthday?" Jack asked as he sat down in the commissary with Daniel.

"Well if you stopped think of her as 'the astrophysicist' and 'Captain Carter' and started thinking of her as Sam it might be easier." Daniel pointed out.

"But she is an astrophysicist and is a Captain in the United States Air Force." Jack retorted before taking a bite of his red Jell-o.

"She's also a woman and our friend. And she's pretty good at saving us." Daniel pointed out.

"It's her job, she's supposed to save us, and it's what she gets paid to do."

"Not enough." Daniel mumbled.

"What was that Daniel?" Jack asked.

"I said she doesn't get paid enough. Do you have any idea how much work she does around here?"

"What she's supposed to?" Jack said.

"Jack not only is she on a field team, she's head of the science department and in charge of the gate maintenance. Which at this point includes reprogramming the gate dialling computer to allow for Doppler's shift. She puts in at least eighteen hour if not twenty hour days. She's the first one here and the last one to leave. She knows more about the gate than anyone on the base and apart from the seventh symbol which I figured out this project is her baby. Catherine used to talk about the awe inspiring Sam who was the life behind the project before our first mission to Abydos."

"I never heard her name mentioned." Jack mumbled.

"Jack her name was on half the reports that crossed General West's desk, and probably yours too. She was less than happy that she wasn't allowed to go on the first mission. She practically begged them to let her go, but they insisted that she was more useful at the Pentagon and to forget about the project. All she got for her hard work were copies of your mission reports. That's why she fought you so hard the day you first met."

"I just figured she was on a feminist kick." Jack said.

"Well she wasn't she was trying to prove that she should be here and that she wasn't going to take any crap because you didn't like scientists and thought that you shouldn't have a woman on your team. She's been trying ever since to prove it to you."

"She doesn't have to prove anything to anyone. As long as she does her job nobody cares about her proving anything."

"Jack, you're not stupid you know there are still men in the military who don't think women should be allowed to serve their country let alone defend the world. Even if her Dad is a General, Sam's had to prove something to somebody everyday of her life and she still thinks she has to prove herself everyday here too."

"Her Dad's a General?" Jack questioned.

"Yeah. Major General Jacob Carter. But she doesn't want that spread around; she got here all by herself with no help from her father."

"Colonel, Dr Jackson would you mind if I joined you?" The petit Dr Janet Fraiser asked.

"Take a seat Doc." Jack encouraged. "Maybe you can come up with a suggestion."

"For what sir?" Janet asked.

"What are you supposed to get an astrophysicist for her birthday?"

"Not thinking of her as the 'astrophysicist'?" Janet suggested.

"Let me rephrase do you have any suggestions what SG-1 should buy Captain Dr Samantha Carter for her birthday?"

"She could do with a day away from the mountain sir. Why don't you all take her out for the day and have fun with out the worry of being shot by angry Jaffa?"

"I know just the place." Jack said with a smile. "I'll just go and see Hammond about having the day off."