CHAPTER THIRTY-FIVE: TURNING THE BIG ONE
Just as Ales reached for the phone it rang scaring the crap out of him. He picked it up, "Schmidt."
"Alex, you sure as hell are a hard man to fine."
"Carla, I was just getting ready to call you."
"Why? What have you done now?"
"What makes you think that I've done something?"
"Alex, I'm your therapist. Why else would you call me?"
"Well I did want to talk but first why did you call?"
"After going over some of your generalized case histories I came up with a great idea. It seems to me that while they give a lot of training on what not to do when someone is captured, they don't do anything to psychologically prepare them to be captured. How would you like to start a pilot program at West Point?"
"I would love to have the chance to do that, however, there are two patients here who I can't leave just yet."
"Well, you're at Cheyenne Mountain, right? I can arrange it to set up the program at the Air Force Academy. That way you won't have to leave your patients."
"That would be great."
"Now, why were you going to call me?"
"Actually you've already solved my problem. I am falling for one of my patients and now I won't be treating her I can ask her out."
"Damn, I'm good! I solved your problem even before I knew about it. Seriously though, it's not like you to be interested in a patient. She must be something else. Tell me about her."
"Oh, she is. She's an Air Force Major and has a PHD in Theoretical Astrophysics."
"What the hell does that even mean?"
"I don't really know, but I do know that she's really smart and beautiful."
"Just make sure she knows that she isn't a patient BEFORE you ask her out."
"Oh, I will...and, Carla, thanks."
"Anytime."
~X~X~X~X~X~X~X~X~X~X~X~X~
Jack tapped on the General's door and went in. "George, you know Vicky's birthday is on Sunday?"
"I had forgotten, Jack. I was used to trying to forget it because..."
"I understand. Anyway, this year she turns fifty and I wanted to throw her a surprise party. This year is not only a big year for her but for us, too. I kind of want to try to make up for all the one's she missed."
George beamed up at him, "I'd be happy to help, Jack. I take it things are going well between you?"
Jack bounced on the balls of his feet a couple of times, "Yeah, they are. It looks like we are working everything out and will stay together."
"That pleases me no end. You know if you hurt her..."
"Make my life a living hell, yadda, yadda."
"Just so that we understand one another. Just let me know what you need."
"Thanks, I will."
~X~X~X~X~X~X~X~X~X~X~X~X~
Jack had gathered the members of his team as well as Chang, Gunny, and Ferretti in the briefing room while Vicky had a session with Alex. He had gotten Alex to promise to call him when she left his office after explaining the reason.
"I know you are wondering why I have called you here today."
Several of them rolled their eyes at him and he grinned. "So, sue me, I always wanted to say that. Anyway, Sunday is Vicky's fiftieth birthday and I wanted to throw her a surprise party. I'll need all of your help."
Lisa got a big smile, "you can count on me, Sir. After all she has done for me, it's the least I can do."
"Good, Chang, I want you to print up some nifty invitations and maybe help decorate."
"Carter, I want you to co-ordinate everything, it will be good for you to practice your leadership skills. You also have to make sure that she is occupied at all times. I don't want her to be suspicious."
"Yes, Sir. But I would have done it anyway. Do you really think that I need the practice?"
Jack rolled his eyes this time, "No, Carter, I don't think you need the practice. I think that you've been ready for your own team for a long time now." With that she beamed at him.
"Daniel, I want you to arrange for the cake, or maybe cakes since it will be for the whole base make sure there is enough."
"Ferretti, I want for you to arrange for the food."
"Sure, Jack, we Italians know about food."
"That's what I figured."
"O'Neill, I to wish to participate."
"T, you will be in charge of logistics. Have everything brought to the base and hidden. I will also need your help in decorating." Teal'c gave him one of his little bows.
"Now, the hard part will be to get everything done and not have her suspicious. She's very smart and has black ops training. That's why your part is so important, Carter, you will really have to be on top of this."
"You can count on me, Sir. I think that I will have security help in keeping an eye on her whereabouts."
"Good idea, Carter." The conference room phone rang and Jack answered, "O'Neill." He listened for a moment, "OK, thanks, Alex." Jack hung up the phone and turned back to them, "She just left Alex's office so we better scatter. If any on you have any questions see Carter."
They all hurried out and went their separate ways before they could get caught. Sam went to the security monitoring post and Daniel and Ferretti went to use the phones while the rest went back to their normal jobs.
~X~X~X~X~X~X~X~X~X~X~X~X~
After Sam talked to the SF's and was walking to her lab she ran into Alex in the corridor, "Hey, Alex."
"Sam, I'm glad that I ran into you. Do you have a few minutes so that we can talk?"
"Sure, why don't you walk me to my lab. Shat did you need?"
"I wanted to tell you about my new assignment."
Sam turned to him surprised, "you're leaving?"
"Not exactly, Jack and Vicky still need my services so I am going to be attached to the academy. I won't be your therapist anymore."
"Gee, that's to bad. I liked talking to you."
"That's very flattering, I know how you weren't very impressed with my profession."
Sam looked a little sheepish, "well, you know we had a bad experience with Dr. Mackenzie in the past."
"That's OK, I know a lot of people are uncomfortable with Psychiatrists. Anyway, you can still talk to me if you want, as a friend, not your doctor. We can have lunch or dinner sometime if you want someone to talk to."
Sam gave him her trademark smile, "I'd like that."
//God, she's beautiful\\
They got back to Sam's lab and went in and Alex closed the door. "Now that there's no chance of running into Vicky I wanted to tell you that if you need any help with the party just let me know. My ex-wife said that I'm good at that sort of thing. As a matter of fact that's about the only good thing she did say about me."
"That would be great."
"Would you like to talk about it over dinner?"
"Yes, there's this Italian place that the Colonel wants the party to be held and we can talk to the owners about it."
"Great, pick you up at 1800?"
"Sure, see you then."
~X~X~X~X~X~X~X~X~X~X~X~X~
As Vicky was heading to Sam's lab to get her help on a minor problem she ran into Alex who had a huge smile on his face. "Boy you sure do look happy."
"I am, I have a date tonight."
"That's great, with who?"
"Now, a gentleman doesn't tell."
"You know that the grapevine here is faster the a DSL connection, don't you? I will find out."
"Yes, but it won't be from me."
"Well, have a good time."
Alex gave her a little wave and floated on his way. //I have got to find out who she is. Hmm...he was coming from the direction of Sam's lab. But wouldn't that be a doctor dating a patient? I'll just find out\\
She knocked on Sam's doorframe and entered. "I just passed Alex in the hall, he seemed happy about something."
Sam looked up and smiled, "he has this great opportunity to start a program at the Academy."
Vicky looked horrified, "but what about my treatment?"
"He's still going to see you and the Colonel but you will be his only patients. They wanted him to go to West Point but changed it to the Academy when he didn't want to abandon your treatment."
"That' good, you scared me for a moment. I like him and I don't think that I could get Jack to start over with another therapist. Anyway, could you cut this up into a number of small pieces? I want to analyze the chemical composition and have tried to cut it up and couldn't."
Sam came over and took it from her, "sure."
"Sam, would you like to grab some dinner later?"
"Actually, I have plans."
"Oh? Spill."
Sam turned red, "it's no big deal, and I'm having dinner with Alex."
"I'm sure he would be glad to know that he is no big deal."
Sam looked up horrified, "that's not what I meant. We're just having dinner, you know, friends."
"Relax, Sam, I was just teasing you. I think that's great, you don't relax enough. I like him a hell of a lot better than Pete. Go, eat, who knows maybe you'll find out he's more than a friend and if not at lest he's a nice guy."
~X~X~X~X~X~X~X~X~X~X~X~X~
Vicky went racing to Jack's office; she couldn't wait to tell him the news. She burst threw the door and Jack jumped and scattered several papers. "Geez, honey you scared the crap out of me."
"Sorry," she watched as he picked up the papers, "don't tell me you're actually doing paperwork?"
He looked at her with an offended look, "yes, I actually do my paperwork, you know."
She have him a kiss, "Sure, you do. And how far behind is it?"
"Just two weeks."
"Wow, Uncle George is going to have a heart attack if you turn it in that early. Guess what I found out?"
//Crap! Already! I'm going to kill Carter\\ "Ummm...I give up what did you find out?"
"Sam has a date!"
//OK, Carter gets to live\\ "Really, with who?"
"Whom. And it's Alex."
Jack frowned, "isn't that against the rules, doctor/patient and all?"
"No, Alex is going to start some kind of program at the academy. We are going to be his only patients. He sure didn't waste any time asking her out did he?"
"No, he didn't. Well, I like him better than Pete. Good, Carter deserves someone nice."
"That's what I told her."
~X~X~X~X~X~X~X~X~X~X~X~X~
While Vicky was off getting help with Major Carter Lisa started designing the invitations. She wanted everything to be special for the party. Using her print shop program she first surfed through several examples to get an idea what she wanted. She then put together several examples that she liked. She called the Colonel to tell him.
"O'Neill."
"Sir, it's Lisa. I wanted to talk about the invitations."
"Umm...OK."
"She's there, isn't she?"
"Yes that's right."
"OK, I e-mailed several examples to you. Just respond to it and tell me if you like any of them or parts of some and parts of others."
"OK, Sergeant, I'll get right on it."
"Thanks, Sir," Lisa giggled as she hung up.
~X~X~X~X~X~X~X~X~X~X~X~X~
In the meantime Daniel found a local bakery that had a web site that he could search for the cake he wanted. He found several that he liked before he called to talk to one of their employees so that he could get help with how much cake he would have to buy for the number of people on the base
They were very helpful and when they found out how many people that he wanted cake for gave him a discount. Daniel had decided on one large cake for the party and several smaller ones of different flavors to be delivered to the base so that everyone who couldn't attend could have some, too.
~X~X~X~X~X~X~X~X~X~X~X~X~
Teal'c planned his part like it was a military campaign, down to the last detail. He had decided on disposable plates and eating implements, because even though they were having it in a restaurant they were having more people than was usual for the size of the establishment so disposable was more practical.
He would have the supplies delivered with the regular commissary order and hide everything in the storage rooms. He would have some Marines help him deliver the supplies on Sunday morning.
~X~X~X~X~X~X~X~X~X~X~X~X~
Sam proved that she could indeed command a major operation. Everything went like clock work. Vicky was kept busy between Lisa and Sam. With the help of the SF's monitoring the cameras they knew where she was all the time so that she would never run into anything that would give the surprise away.
Sam and Alex had such a good time at dinner that she didn't think any thing when Alex asked if he could pick her up for the party and she agreed.
Everyone met at the restaurant Sunday morning to decorate. Under The ladies' supervision the Marines did an excellent job. The owners were already in cooking and Teal'c helped Daniel pick up the cake and brought it to the restaurant.
At about 1300 they were finished and everyone left to come back at 1700, as the O'Neill's were due at 1800.
~X~X~X~X~X~X~X~X~X~X~X~X~
Jack had told Vicky that he was taking her to the little Italian place for her birthday.
"Hey, why don't you wear that green number?"
"Because you kind of tore it until I had to throw it away."
"Sorry."
"Are you really?"
He gave her a big smile, "nom, not really."
"Then it was worth it. Don't worry I think that you'll like the one that I'm going to wear."
"Are you going to wear those stocking things?"
She smirked, "you bet."
"YES!"
Now you shower and get ready and then stay downstairs. I want to surprise you."
When she came downstairs he stood to greet her. Went he looked up at her he forgot to breathe. Vicky was wearing a raw silk dress in teal. She noticed his dilemma and said, "Breathe, Jack."
"Wow."
"Wow, yourself. I can't remember the last time I saw you in a suit. You know, we can skip dinner and get right to...desert."
"Yes...NO! I'm an old man, I have to be fed, first."
"Spoilsport."
~X~X~X~X~X~X~X~X~X~X~X~X~
When they got to the restaurant Vicky noticed that there weren't any cars. "Maybe they're closed."
"No, I bought the restaurant. We'll be the only ones here."
"Aww...that is so sweet." She leaned over and gave him a kiss. He came around and helped her out of the truck. When they went inside it was dark. "What's going on?"
"They're probably still in the kitchen," he took her and led her toward the back. They had taken about a dozen steps when the lights snapped on and there was a yell of, "SURPRISE!"
Vicky jumped about half of a foot. She looked around and saw a lot of people and she recognized all of them including her cousins Jessica and Elizabeth. There were balloons and a big banner that said "HAPPY BIRTHDAT VICKY". Tears were forming in her eyes.
"I can't believe that you guys did all of this. I REALLY can't believe that you did this and I didn't suspect anything."
Jack pulled her in front of him and wrapped his arms around her. "Carter supervised everything. She and Chang kept you bust. Carter had the SF's watching the cameras to keep track of you and notify her."
"Sam, this proves you should have your own command. Thank you, all of you."
Vicky's eyes scanned the room and came to rest on Teal'c, who was wearing a pointy birthday hat perched ridiculously on top of his baldhead. He looked silly, of course no one had the nerve to tell him that.
Daniel came up to kiss her cheek also wearing a similar hat.
"Nice hat, Danny."
"Teal'c made me wear it, he has one for you, too."
"Is it not a tradition on occasions such as this?"
"It is indeed, T." Jack took the hat from Teal'c and put it on. Unlike Daniel Jack was in no way opposed to looking silly.
Lisa came up with a tiara for Vicky. "The birthday girl gets the Tiara." She placed it carefully on her head so as not to muss her hair.
They had a chair set up in the middle of the room so she could sit where everyone could see her open her presents. Her favorites were from Teal'c a boxed set of Star Trek DVDs (she already had all of the Star Wars ones), and from Lisa one of the first production models of the Marina Lisa doll. That is until she had opened all of them except Jack's.
Jack handed her a velvet box. Vicky was almost afraid to open it. When she did her breath caught and a lump rose in her throat. In the box was a fine platinum chain and dangling down were five stars with a diamond in the center of each one.
"Come on show us!"
Jack knelt down next to her and whispered, "Do you like it?"
When she blinked a tear fell from each eye, "Oh, Jack, it's so beautiful."
He leaned and said softly in her ear, "it pales by comparison." She kissed him and handed him the box so that he could put the necklace on her. Several of the women there gasped at how pretty it was.
One of the married guys called out, "Jack now all of our wives will expect something like this." Everyone laughed and they started to get food from the buffet.
Vicky worked her way around the room thanking everyone and Jack headed for the food, only Teal'c had beaten him to the line. It took a lot of food to maintain Teal'c in the fine shape that he was.
Vicky pulled Sam aside to thank her for all the work that she had done. "Sam, everything is so perfect. Thank you so much for everything."
"I really enjoyed it. It's fun to be a sneak for a change."
"So, you're here with Alex."
Sam blushed, "We're friends."
"Jack and I are friends, too. I can tell that you enjoy his company. Just have fun for now and if it evolves into something more..."
"I don't want to get serious with anyone yet."
"Of course not. Like I said enjoy and then see. Besides Alex wouldn't think of doing anything to hurt you after what we did to Pete."
"You've got that right," Sam snickered.
"Just make sure you give him a good night kiss when he takes you home." Sam blushed and turned to Alex who had joined them with two plates, one for Sam and one for himself."
They stayed until almost midnight because they were having so much fun, that is until Vicky sat in Jack's lap and whispered in his ear, "Hey, flyboy, take a girl home? She still has a birthday candle to blow out, if you get my drift." She smiled at him seductively.
He could feel himself getting hard, "Oh, yeah, time to go."
They bid everyone good-bye and thanked them again and made a swift exit.
~X~X~X~X~X~X~X~X~X~X~X~X~
Alex came around and opened the car door for Sam and helped her out. He then walked her to the door and she handed him her key so that he could unlock it for her. When he handed it back to her he said, "Well, I guess I'll get going..." Sam had stopped his sentence with her mouth having grabbed him by his tie and pulled him to her.
Alex was not about to complain and wrapped his arms around her and deepened the kiss. Sam was so totally lost in the kiss that she had no idea how much time had gone by before she reluctantly pulled back. She laid her head on his chest to get her breath back.
//funny Pete's kisses didn't affect me this much. Maybe I sensed there was something not quite right\\
Finally Alex said, "I should really be going this time. As much as I would like to ask to stay you need time."
Sam pulled back and smiled at him, "One of the benefits of dating a therapist, no doubt."
"Dating?"
"Well, you know, friends who go out. Friends who kiss, dating."
He smiled and kissed her one more time, "one for the road."
He waited until Sam went inside and locked the door before he went back to his car. What he didn't see was her leaning against the inside of the door and sighing with a big smile on her face. Yeah, life was finally starting to look up for Sam Carter.
Just as Ales reached for the phone it rang scaring the crap out of him. He picked it up, "Schmidt."
"Alex, you sure as hell are a hard man to fine."
"Carla, I was just getting ready to call you."
"Why? What have you done now?"
"What makes you think that I've done something?"
"Alex, I'm your therapist. Why else would you call me?"
"Well I did want to talk but first why did you call?"
"After going over some of your generalized case histories I came up with a great idea. It seems to me that while they give a lot of training on what not to do when someone is captured, they don't do anything to psychologically prepare them to be captured. How would you like to start a pilot program at West Point?"
"I would love to have the chance to do that, however, there are two patients here who I can't leave just yet."
"Well, you're at Cheyenne Mountain, right? I can arrange it to set up the program at the Air Force Academy. That way you won't have to leave your patients."
"That would be great."
"Now, why were you going to call me?"
"Actually you've already solved my problem. I am falling for one of my patients and now I won't be treating her I can ask her out."
"Damn, I'm good! I solved your problem even before I knew about it. Seriously though, it's not like you to be interested in a patient. She must be something else. Tell me about her."
"Oh, she is. She's an Air Force Major and has a PHD in Theoretical Astrophysics."
"What the hell does that even mean?"
"I don't really know, but I do know that she's really smart and beautiful."
"Just make sure she knows that she isn't a patient BEFORE you ask her out."
"Oh, I will...and, Carla, thanks."
"Anytime."
~X~X~X~X~X~X~X~X~X~X~X~X~
Jack tapped on the General's door and went in. "George, you know Vicky's birthday is on Sunday?"
"I had forgotten, Jack. I was used to trying to forget it because..."
"I understand. Anyway, this year she turns fifty and I wanted to throw her a surprise party. This year is not only a big year for her but for us, too. I kind of want to try to make up for all the one's she missed."
George beamed up at him, "I'd be happy to help, Jack. I take it things are going well between you?"
Jack bounced on the balls of his feet a couple of times, "Yeah, they are. It looks like we are working everything out and will stay together."
"That pleases me no end. You know if you hurt her..."
"Make my life a living hell, yadda, yadda."
"Just so that we understand one another. Just let me know what you need."
"Thanks, I will."
~X~X~X~X~X~X~X~X~X~X~X~X~
Jack had gathered the members of his team as well as Chang, Gunny, and Ferretti in the briefing room while Vicky had a session with Alex. He had gotten Alex to promise to call him when she left his office after explaining the reason.
"I know you are wondering why I have called you here today."
Several of them rolled their eyes at him and he grinned. "So, sue me, I always wanted to say that. Anyway, Sunday is Vicky's fiftieth birthday and I wanted to throw her a surprise party. I'll need all of your help."
Lisa got a big smile, "you can count on me, Sir. After all she has done for me, it's the least I can do."
"Good, Chang, I want you to print up some nifty invitations and maybe help decorate."
"Carter, I want you to co-ordinate everything, it will be good for you to practice your leadership skills. You also have to make sure that she is occupied at all times. I don't want her to be suspicious."
"Yes, Sir. But I would have done it anyway. Do you really think that I need the practice?"
Jack rolled his eyes this time, "No, Carter, I don't think you need the practice. I think that you've been ready for your own team for a long time now." With that she beamed at him.
"Daniel, I want you to arrange for the cake, or maybe cakes since it will be for the whole base make sure there is enough."
"Ferretti, I want for you to arrange for the food."
"Sure, Jack, we Italians know about food."
"That's what I figured."
"O'Neill, I to wish to participate."
"T, you will be in charge of logistics. Have everything brought to the base and hidden. I will also need your help in decorating." Teal'c gave him one of his little bows.
"Now, the hard part will be to get everything done and not have her suspicious. She's very smart and has black ops training. That's why your part is so important, Carter, you will really have to be on top of this."
"You can count on me, Sir. I think that I will have security help in keeping an eye on her whereabouts."
"Good idea, Carter." The conference room phone rang and Jack answered, "O'Neill." He listened for a moment, "OK, thanks, Alex." Jack hung up the phone and turned back to them, "She just left Alex's office so we better scatter. If any on you have any questions see Carter."
They all hurried out and went their separate ways before they could get caught. Sam went to the security monitoring post and Daniel and Ferretti went to use the phones while the rest went back to their normal jobs.
~X~X~X~X~X~X~X~X~X~X~X~X~
After Sam talked to the SF's and was walking to her lab she ran into Alex in the corridor, "Hey, Alex."
"Sam, I'm glad that I ran into you. Do you have a few minutes so that we can talk?"
"Sure, why don't you walk me to my lab. Shat did you need?"
"I wanted to tell you about my new assignment."
Sam turned to him surprised, "you're leaving?"
"Not exactly, Jack and Vicky still need my services so I am going to be attached to the academy. I won't be your therapist anymore."
"Gee, that's to bad. I liked talking to you."
"That's very flattering, I know how you weren't very impressed with my profession."
Sam looked a little sheepish, "well, you know we had a bad experience with Dr. Mackenzie in the past."
"That's OK, I know a lot of people are uncomfortable with Psychiatrists. Anyway, you can still talk to me if you want, as a friend, not your doctor. We can have lunch or dinner sometime if you want someone to talk to."
Sam gave him her trademark smile, "I'd like that."
//God, she's beautiful\\
They got back to Sam's lab and went in and Alex closed the door. "Now that there's no chance of running into Vicky I wanted to tell you that if you need any help with the party just let me know. My ex-wife said that I'm good at that sort of thing. As a matter of fact that's about the only good thing she did say about me."
"That would be great."
"Would you like to talk about it over dinner?"
"Yes, there's this Italian place that the Colonel wants the party to be held and we can talk to the owners about it."
"Great, pick you up at 1800?"
"Sure, see you then."
~X~X~X~X~X~X~X~X~X~X~X~X~
As Vicky was heading to Sam's lab to get her help on a minor problem she ran into Alex who had a huge smile on his face. "Boy you sure do look happy."
"I am, I have a date tonight."
"That's great, with who?"
"Now, a gentleman doesn't tell."
"You know that the grapevine here is faster the a DSL connection, don't you? I will find out."
"Yes, but it won't be from me."
"Well, have a good time."
Alex gave her a little wave and floated on his way. //I have got to find out who she is. Hmm...he was coming from the direction of Sam's lab. But wouldn't that be a doctor dating a patient? I'll just find out\\
She knocked on Sam's doorframe and entered. "I just passed Alex in the hall, he seemed happy about something."
Sam looked up and smiled, "he has this great opportunity to start a program at the Academy."
Vicky looked horrified, "but what about my treatment?"
"He's still going to see you and the Colonel but you will be his only patients. They wanted him to go to West Point but changed it to the Academy when he didn't want to abandon your treatment."
"That' good, you scared me for a moment. I like him and I don't think that I could get Jack to start over with another therapist. Anyway, could you cut this up into a number of small pieces? I want to analyze the chemical composition and have tried to cut it up and couldn't."
Sam came over and took it from her, "sure."
"Sam, would you like to grab some dinner later?"
"Actually, I have plans."
"Oh? Spill."
Sam turned red, "it's no big deal, and I'm having dinner with Alex."
"I'm sure he would be glad to know that he is no big deal."
Sam looked up horrified, "that's not what I meant. We're just having dinner, you know, friends."
"Relax, Sam, I was just teasing you. I think that's great, you don't relax enough. I like him a hell of a lot better than Pete. Go, eat, who knows maybe you'll find out he's more than a friend and if not at lest he's a nice guy."
~X~X~X~X~X~X~X~X~X~X~X~X~
Vicky went racing to Jack's office; she couldn't wait to tell him the news. She burst threw the door and Jack jumped and scattered several papers. "Geez, honey you scared the crap out of me."
"Sorry," she watched as he picked up the papers, "don't tell me you're actually doing paperwork?"
He looked at her with an offended look, "yes, I actually do my paperwork, you know."
She have him a kiss, "Sure, you do. And how far behind is it?"
"Just two weeks."
"Wow, Uncle George is going to have a heart attack if you turn it in that early. Guess what I found out?"
//Crap! Already! I'm going to kill Carter\\ "Ummm...I give up what did you find out?"
"Sam has a date!"
//OK, Carter gets to live\\ "Really, with who?"
"Whom. And it's Alex."
Jack frowned, "isn't that against the rules, doctor/patient and all?"
"No, Alex is going to start some kind of program at the academy. We are going to be his only patients. He sure didn't waste any time asking her out did he?"
"No, he didn't. Well, I like him better than Pete. Good, Carter deserves someone nice."
"That's what I told her."
~X~X~X~X~X~X~X~X~X~X~X~X~
While Vicky was off getting help with Major Carter Lisa started designing the invitations. She wanted everything to be special for the party. Using her print shop program she first surfed through several examples to get an idea what she wanted. She then put together several examples that she liked. She called the Colonel to tell him.
"O'Neill."
"Sir, it's Lisa. I wanted to talk about the invitations."
"Umm...OK."
"She's there, isn't she?"
"Yes that's right."
"OK, I e-mailed several examples to you. Just respond to it and tell me if you like any of them or parts of some and parts of others."
"OK, Sergeant, I'll get right on it."
"Thanks, Sir," Lisa giggled as she hung up.
~X~X~X~X~X~X~X~X~X~X~X~X~
In the meantime Daniel found a local bakery that had a web site that he could search for the cake he wanted. He found several that he liked before he called to talk to one of their employees so that he could get help with how much cake he would have to buy for the number of people on the base
They were very helpful and when they found out how many people that he wanted cake for gave him a discount. Daniel had decided on one large cake for the party and several smaller ones of different flavors to be delivered to the base so that everyone who couldn't attend could have some, too.
~X~X~X~X~X~X~X~X~X~X~X~X~
Teal'c planned his part like it was a military campaign, down to the last detail. He had decided on disposable plates and eating implements, because even though they were having it in a restaurant they were having more people than was usual for the size of the establishment so disposable was more practical.
He would have the supplies delivered with the regular commissary order and hide everything in the storage rooms. He would have some Marines help him deliver the supplies on Sunday morning.
~X~X~X~X~X~X~X~X~X~X~X~X~
Sam proved that she could indeed command a major operation. Everything went like clock work. Vicky was kept busy between Lisa and Sam. With the help of the SF's monitoring the cameras they knew where she was all the time so that she would never run into anything that would give the surprise away.
Sam and Alex had such a good time at dinner that she didn't think any thing when Alex asked if he could pick her up for the party and she agreed.
Everyone met at the restaurant Sunday morning to decorate. Under The ladies' supervision the Marines did an excellent job. The owners were already in cooking and Teal'c helped Daniel pick up the cake and brought it to the restaurant.
At about 1300 they were finished and everyone left to come back at 1700, as the O'Neill's were due at 1800.
~X~X~X~X~X~X~X~X~X~X~X~X~
Jack had told Vicky that he was taking her to the little Italian place for her birthday.
"Hey, why don't you wear that green number?"
"Because you kind of tore it until I had to throw it away."
"Sorry."
"Are you really?"
He gave her a big smile, "nom, not really."
"Then it was worth it. Don't worry I think that you'll like the one that I'm going to wear."
"Are you going to wear those stocking things?"
She smirked, "you bet."
"YES!"
Now you shower and get ready and then stay downstairs. I want to surprise you."
When she came downstairs he stood to greet her. Went he looked up at her he forgot to breathe. Vicky was wearing a raw silk dress in teal. She noticed his dilemma and said, "Breathe, Jack."
"Wow."
"Wow, yourself. I can't remember the last time I saw you in a suit. You know, we can skip dinner and get right to...desert."
"Yes...NO! I'm an old man, I have to be fed, first."
"Spoilsport."
~X~X~X~X~X~X~X~X~X~X~X~X~
When they got to the restaurant Vicky noticed that there weren't any cars. "Maybe they're closed."
"No, I bought the restaurant. We'll be the only ones here."
"Aww...that is so sweet." She leaned over and gave him a kiss. He came around and helped her out of the truck. When they went inside it was dark. "What's going on?"
"They're probably still in the kitchen," he took her and led her toward the back. They had taken about a dozen steps when the lights snapped on and there was a yell of, "SURPRISE!"
Vicky jumped about half of a foot. She looked around and saw a lot of people and she recognized all of them including her cousins Jessica and Elizabeth. There were balloons and a big banner that said "HAPPY BIRTHDAT VICKY". Tears were forming in her eyes.
"I can't believe that you guys did all of this. I REALLY can't believe that you did this and I didn't suspect anything."
Jack pulled her in front of him and wrapped his arms around her. "Carter supervised everything. She and Chang kept you bust. Carter had the SF's watching the cameras to keep track of you and notify her."
"Sam, this proves you should have your own command. Thank you, all of you."
Vicky's eyes scanned the room and came to rest on Teal'c, who was wearing a pointy birthday hat perched ridiculously on top of his baldhead. He looked silly, of course no one had the nerve to tell him that.
Daniel came up to kiss her cheek also wearing a similar hat.
"Nice hat, Danny."
"Teal'c made me wear it, he has one for you, too."
"Is it not a tradition on occasions such as this?"
"It is indeed, T." Jack took the hat from Teal'c and put it on. Unlike Daniel Jack was in no way opposed to looking silly.
Lisa came up with a tiara for Vicky. "The birthday girl gets the Tiara." She placed it carefully on her head so as not to muss her hair.
They had a chair set up in the middle of the room so she could sit where everyone could see her open her presents. Her favorites were from Teal'c a boxed set of Star Trek DVDs (she already had all of the Star Wars ones), and from Lisa one of the first production models of the Marina Lisa doll. That is until she had opened all of them except Jack's.
Jack handed her a velvet box. Vicky was almost afraid to open it. When she did her breath caught and a lump rose in her throat. In the box was a fine platinum chain and dangling down were five stars with a diamond in the center of each one.
"Come on show us!"
Jack knelt down next to her and whispered, "Do you like it?"
When she blinked a tear fell from each eye, "Oh, Jack, it's so beautiful."
He leaned and said softly in her ear, "it pales by comparison." She kissed him and handed him the box so that he could put the necklace on her. Several of the women there gasped at how pretty it was.
One of the married guys called out, "Jack now all of our wives will expect something like this." Everyone laughed and they started to get food from the buffet.
Vicky worked her way around the room thanking everyone and Jack headed for the food, only Teal'c had beaten him to the line. It took a lot of food to maintain Teal'c in the fine shape that he was.
Vicky pulled Sam aside to thank her for all the work that she had done. "Sam, everything is so perfect. Thank you so much for everything."
"I really enjoyed it. It's fun to be a sneak for a change."
"So, you're here with Alex."
Sam blushed, "We're friends."
"Jack and I are friends, too. I can tell that you enjoy his company. Just have fun for now and if it evolves into something more..."
"I don't want to get serious with anyone yet."
"Of course not. Like I said enjoy and then see. Besides Alex wouldn't think of doing anything to hurt you after what we did to Pete."
"You've got that right," Sam snickered.
"Just make sure you give him a good night kiss when he takes you home." Sam blushed and turned to Alex who had joined them with two plates, one for Sam and one for himself."
They stayed until almost midnight because they were having so much fun, that is until Vicky sat in Jack's lap and whispered in his ear, "Hey, flyboy, take a girl home? She still has a birthday candle to blow out, if you get my drift." She smiled at him seductively.
He could feel himself getting hard, "Oh, yeah, time to go."
They bid everyone good-bye and thanked them again and made a swift exit.
~X~X~X~X~X~X~X~X~X~X~X~X~
Alex came around and opened the car door for Sam and helped her out. He then walked her to the door and she handed him her key so that he could unlock it for her. When he handed it back to her he said, "Well, I guess I'll get going..." Sam had stopped his sentence with her mouth having grabbed him by his tie and pulled him to her.
Alex was not about to complain and wrapped his arms around her and deepened the kiss. Sam was so totally lost in the kiss that she had no idea how much time had gone by before she reluctantly pulled back. She laid her head on his chest to get her breath back.
//funny Pete's kisses didn't affect me this much. Maybe I sensed there was something not quite right\\
Finally Alex said, "I should really be going this time. As much as I would like to ask to stay you need time."
Sam pulled back and smiled at him, "One of the benefits of dating a therapist, no doubt."
"Dating?"
"Well, you know, friends who go out. Friends who kiss, dating."
He smiled and kissed her one more time, "one for the road."
He waited until Sam went inside and locked the door before he went back to his car. What he didn't see was her leaning against the inside of the door and sighing with a big smile on her face. Yeah, life was finally starting to look up for Sam Carter.