Title: The Loop They Never Showed Us

Season: Four (window of opportunity) Disclaimer: This is a work of fiction intended solely for entertainment; no infringement is intended to MGM; Gekko or Double Secret Productions. ~ Sam's thoughts // Jack's thought

The last thing we seen (plus a bit more)

// OK, 5 minutes to go. It's now or never! //

Jack waited by the stairs looking at his letter of resignation, dotted every 'i' crossed every 't' and on inspection the letter was quite eloquent coming from a military man. Just up those stairs stood General Hammond and Major Carter unaware of the slight surprise install for them.

// You know that you are taking advantage of her. But it is the best way to find out; no consequences. Thanks Danny boy! //

And with that thought he turned to face is temporary future. His heart raced as he climbed the first step, then making sure his sweatshirt was sitting straight he turned the corner.

// Here goes nothing//

"General" said Jack cheerily, while making sure that Sam could over hear their conversation.

"Colonel, what the hell are you doing out of uniform?"

// Here we go//

"Handing you my resignation," he replied defiantly

"You're resigning?" inquired a worried Carter, "What for?"

// How long have I got? //

The second hand moved slowly around the dial on his watch.

// 30 seconds left//

Jack looked deeply and intently into those curious blue eye's of Sam's and realised how worried she looked. He tried to comfort her with a quick smile.

~ What is he thinking about~

He took a small step forward and cocked his head to one side.

"So I can do this"

//This is it//

~ Oh my god ~

Time appeared to stand still for the two as his lips touched hers. Passion, desire and relief radiated from the couple and swept the room like a wave. His hands found the natural place on her body caressing her shapely waist. Shocked at first, Sam didn't know what to do but soon those emotions that she had hidden so well for so long ripped through the barricade of defences she had built.

~ He loves me and he's sacrificing his career for me! Oh Jack I love you! ~

// Oh no, maybe I'm doing the wrong thing she's not kissing me baa.....Wow!//

Her hands slid up his chest and eventually slid back and forwards with ease through the short hair of the man she loved. She was kissing him back.

"Off-world Activation," sounded like a distant whisper.

Jack's arm in a moment of absolute passion and devotion moved protectively as he dipped her slowly to show exactly how he felt about this actually happening.

// She's kissing me back and really getting into this good sign Jack!! I love you Sam!//

He shouted it in his mind knowing that she would not be able to hear it, but hoping all the same. His other hand moved from the small of her back towards her shoulder squeezing it gently to show his appreciation for her kissing him back.

There was a blinding flash of light.

// Beams around the stargate again and it's going so...//

The next loop : hatching a plan

"..anyway that's how I feel about it. What do you think?"

The familiar words of Daniel washed over him.

// Ah fruit loops again//

He looked again into the intense blue eyes of his 2CI.She didn't remember.

// She didn't remember! I knew this would happen but I didn't know it would hurt so much. It meant so much to me and I know that it ....do I know it meant the same to her, she could just have been kissing me for the hell of it. Or would she do that. I need to find out//

At this time that he came out of his train of thought he realised that he was still looking at Carter and an awkward silence had descended on the table.

"Sorry," said Jack realising the discomfort that he had caused his friend and his ... well I suppose his friend as well (for now).

"Excuse me, but I need to find Teal'k before the briefing"

Leaving his fruit loops almost untouched.

Daniel and Sam gave each other a quizzical look.

"What was that about!?" asked Daniel

Sam didn't answer instead she managed the impossible in giving two looks at once
i) I'm not going to answer that question no matter how much you bug me
about it and ii) hurry up or you'll be late

As she left the mess hall she headed toward the briefing room as normal but that was not where her thoughts where.

~ He's never looked at me like that before; hurt, fear, desire...~

It was the last emotion that had troubled her the most. Still concerned she walked into the briefing room hardly realising that she was the first to arrive, which wouldn't be out of the ordinary anyway. She began to prepare for her presentation but her thoughts still dwelled on her CO.

******************

Meanwhile...

"Teal'k!!" shouted Jack running along the corridor barely missing a few confused airmen.

"Ah, Colonel O'Neill"

"Buddy I need a really big favour could you perhaps, I don't know leave the SGC for the day it's just that I have a little personal...um project to work on"

"Does this concern anyone in particular, O'Neill?" inquired Teal'k already suspecting what he had done during the last five minutes of the previous loop.

"If I tell you will it make a difference?"

"I believe it will not, O'Neill," said Teal'k already wishing he wasn't so truthful in his answer.

"Well um.. aw for crying out loud Teal'k you know what this is about. Look Teal'k I'm begging you please, here take my car for a spin learn to drive or something." Reaching into his pocket he pulled out his key to his beloved SUV.

// Sam you better be worth it //

Teal'k took the keys gladly realising it must be important for Jack to give up his car, even if it was just for one loop.

"Very well, O'Neill"

Teal'k turned on his heal and left knowing that it was perhaps against his better judgement.

"And try not to hit anything," added Jack in an attempt to ward off the impossible. But in some ways he felt relieved knowing that his friend would do as he asked.

// Now where's the nearest computer //

******************

"Where the hell are those two," General Hammond's voice boomed across the table.

It was 0920. In other words Jack and Teal'k where twenty minutes late. General Hammond, Daniel and Carter sat around the briefing table finishing off the jug of coffee that was full only ten minutes ago.

"Sir, Colonel O'Neill was acting really...strange earlier," said Carter in an attempt to get him off the hook a little.

"Yeah, he was and he'd said that he went to find Teal'k," added Daniel helpfully.

Just then the mischievous face of Colonel O'Neill appeared round the corner, grinning.

"General," he said haphazardly," could I have a word with you in your office."

The shocked look on Hammond's face said it all. Wondering what Jack was so happy about, he edged - speechless - into his office.

As the General went in and sat down Jack lingered in the briefing room.

"Right, this will take just a minute kids, but you might want to order some more coffee for after." Before he entered the office he flashed Sam a quick grin.

// This is for you Sam//

~ He's up to something ~

And for the second time that day (as far as they where aware) Daniel and Sam exchanged yet another quizzical look. At which point the door to Hammond's office closed.

The Project Begins

Jack closed the door to Hammond's office behind him as he moved to sit in the comfortable seat in front of his CO.

"Colonel, I hope you are going to be able to explain" spoke the General finally regaining control over his vocal chords.

//right let's get Teal'k in the clear first//

"Yes of course, sir. Teal'k is off base on a little ..er.. errand for me and he will not be back until the end of the day." replied Jack hoping that the General would not delve to deeply into the subject.