CHANGES
Sam and Jack sat side by side in lawn chairs on the little fishing pier at his cabin. Sam flicked her fishing lure out to the middle of the lake and idly began reeling it in. They looked completely at ease with each other for the first time ever.
"This is great." She said.
"I told ya." Jack replied.
"I can't believe we didn't do it years ago."
"Yes, well, let's not dwell." He said.
Suddenly a fish jumped out of the lake and then quickly was gone again beneath the smooth surface. Sam looked at Jack. "Didn't the tape say there were no fish in your pond?"
Jack looked into her eyes; "Close enough."
She gave a slight nod and went back to slowly reeling in her line.
"Sam" Jack began without looking at her "You know my cabin only has 2 bedrooms?"
"Yeah..." she replied hesitantly.
"Well, Daniel and Teal'c are sharing the guest room with the twin beds, and that just leaves the master bedroom" he paused for emphasis, "but, I don't mind sharing."
"Uh,... Sir?" She looked at him quizzically.
He paused a second and then grinned "I'm joking Carter. You can have my room, I'll sleep on the couch."
"Ok, Sir." She focused her attention back on the lake.
"Carter, we're on vacation. Would you stop with the 'Sirs' already?"
"Yes, General."
He rolled his eyes.
With a flick of her wrist Sam sent her lure back out to the middle of the pond and never took her eyes off the bobber as she began to slowly reel it in again.
"Jack," she began, eyes still fixed on the bobber, "I don't mind sharing."
He turned to look at her, a grin on his face, "Sam, I thought you'd never ask."
She turned her head and grinned back at him. "What are you going to tell Daniel and Teal'c"
she asked with that wide eyed expression of hers he'd seen so many times. "I'm going to tell them to get their own girls, I'm not sharing mine." And with that her mischievous grin became a full fledged 100 watt smile.
Sam woke up in Jack O'Neill's bed. Naked. Jack O'Neill was still asleep beside her. Naked.
She started thinking, which was something she could never seem to stop doing. She knew that they would go back to the SGC and behave as if nothing had happened. At least while on duty. And no one would dare to be suspicious of their commanding officer.
She also knew that Daniel and Teal'c would not utter a word to anyone about how Sam and Jack's relationship finally slipped over the edge. In fact, she figured they were somehow relieved about it. She remembered what Teal'c had said to her when she told him that she had broken up with Pete. "I am pleased Colonel Carter. That man was not a suitable mate for you. You could have easily defeated him in battle. He also was not your intellectual equal." She smiled at the memory.
The thing that worried her the most was that she didn't feel guilty at all about breaking the regulations. For all those years she tried so hard to be the perfect soldier. She wanted her father's approval so badly that she wouldn't allow herself what she really wanted because 'General Carter' would be displeased with her. She even went so far as to nearly marry a man she didn't love so she wouldn't break the regulations.
The last thing her father told her was that she could have it all. Not in so many words, but basically, 'you can have Jack and your career'. The unspoken sentiment was that if she didn't stick to the regulations it didn't make him love her any less. It was probably the most important thing he ever said to her. Besides "I love you." She missed him already.
It was still dark out. Sam glanced at the clock. 0400. She was laying on her back and Jack's hand was on her flat belly, his face buried in the crook between her head and her shoulder. She loved his scent. Clean, with just a hint of fragrance from his soap. She closed her eyes and drifted back to sleep.
"Sam! Jack!" Daniel was pounding furiously on their bedroom door. "Guys! WAKE UP!"
"Daniel, this better be damned good." A groggy Jack growled.
"Jack, listen! A big black limo just pulled up outside and a bunch of military brass, CIA Agent Johnson, and Senator Lockwright are getting out!" Daniel said the words as fast as he could.
"What!" Shouted Jack He was out of the bed, had his boxers and t-shirt on before Daniel could say another word.
"Here!" Sam said as she threw him a pillow and blanket. "Have Daniel toss them on the sofa"
and by then she had on a sports bra and boxers too.
Jack opened the door and shoved the blanket and pillow in Daniel's stomach. "Put these on the sofa. Where's Teal'c?"
"In the kitchen making coffee."
"Good. Keep him there and don't let any of those people in here until I get into the bathroom and that blanket and pillow are on the couch." With that Jack grabbed his jeans and a flannel shirt and sprinted down the hall to the bathroom. He turned on shower and got in.
Sam quickly made the bed, threw on jeans and a sweater, ran her fingers through her hair and hurried to the kitchen to have coffee with Teal'c. Neither Sam or Jack had to say a word to each other. They already knew how to cover each other's back.
Jack had barely gotten into the shower when there was an urgent knock on the door. Daniel, also understanding the unspoken plan, had already made the couch look slept in. He pretended he hadn't heard the insistent knocking and glanced over at Teal'c and Sam seated side by side in the dining area appearing to be calmly sipping their coffee. The dining area was open to the living room so Sam and Teal'c would have a great view of all the activity but were far enough away that they hoped no one would give them a second glance.
The knocking at the door was louder, more insistent this time.
"Coming." Daniel called as he sauntered over to the front door. Daniel opened the door to find a Navy Commander standing there.
"I am Commander Amos." He stated "I am the aid to Rear Admiral Peters." He gestured toward the Admiral, and this is Major General Hall of the Air Force, Senator Lockwright and finally, I believe you know CIA Agent Johnson."
"Uh, yes..." Daniel replied looking a little flustered.
"May we come in?" The Admiral's aid inquired.
"Oh, uh, yes, of course." Daniel stammered as he moved aside to let them in.
Sam and Teal'c rose from the table automatically as years of military life had taught them.
"Senator, Admiral, General." Sam nodded to each as she addressed them.
Just then Jack made his perfectly timed entrance toweling his hair dry. "Good morning campers!" He said cheerily and then stopped short as if taken by complete surprise by the load of brass standing in his living room.
"Daniel?" He questioned.
Daniel introduced the group to Jack who maintained his composure even though he knew there was one person standing there who would not for one second believe this was an innocent outing with his teammates. Agent Johnson! She was the one who encouraged him to find a way around military regs to date Sam. Although, he had to admit, her suggestion was that he retire.
Jack looked at his watch. "So, what brings all you fine people to Minnesota at 0800 on a Sunday morning?"
"May we speak in private, General?" Senator Lockwright asked.
Jack motioned with his head for his team to take a hike. Without a word being spoken Daniel, Teal'c and Sam grabbed their coffee, opened the sliding glass doors to the deck and went outside. Sam felt Agent Johnson's eyes boring into her. She wondered if the woman could somehow tell that ...'oh stop it Sam!' She thought to herself. Once outside. the group positioned themselves so they could at least see what was going on inside even if they couldn't hear.
"Would you like to have a seat?" Jack asked with a sweeping motion that including scooping up the blanket and pillow from the couch. Once again trying to re-enforcing the idea that he slept there.
"General O'Neill," Senator Lockwright began without moving from his place, "I'm going to get right to the point. You presence is needed in Washington immediately." He paused for just a second. "You have been promoted to the position of Director of Homeworld Security. We have a plane standing by to fly you to Washington."
"Whoa! No, wait a minute. What if I don't want to be Director of Homeworld Security?"
"I'm afraid you have no choice General." The senator replied.
"Well, then, I retire." Jack stated in a matter of fact manner.
"General, you can't retire. We have put a stop loss on you."
"What!" Jack nearly bellowed. "We've kicked the Gouald's butts, we've destroyed the replicators, what could be so important that I can't just stay here in my little cabin and spend the rest of my life fishing!"
"I'm sure you are aware of the threat the Earth faces from the Wraith?" The Senator asked.
"Heard of them." Jack said in a boyish way.
"Well, they are on the way here, to Earth, to uh, 'harvest' humans. They see Earth as, well to put it bluntly, a smorgasbord." The Senator was starting to get flustered.
Now it was Major General Hall's turn to pipe in. "In fact, General, we consider the threat so great that we are sending Colonel Carter to Atlantis for a 2 month TDY to assist Dr. McKay in searching through the knowledge and technology of the Ancients to try to find a way to beat the Wraith."
"What! You're sending Carter to work with that slime ball McKay!" Jack was fuming by now.
"Jack," Agent Johnson put in "It's only temporary."
"How long?" He asked. "How long do I have to be this Homeworld security guard before I can retire?" He asked.
"Well," the Senator hemmed and hawed, "We can't really say General. It depends on how long the Wraith are a threat."
"No. I will not accept an open ended deal like this. You give me an iron clad contract that I only have to do this for one year or I'm disappearing through the Stargate and you'll never find me again."
"General O'Neill," there was a definite edge to General Hall's voice, "You are in no position to make demands."
"These are your orders, Sir." Commander Amos said as he handed Jack a brown envelope marked "Top Secret". He had hand carried the documents from Washington.
"Senator, may I speak to the General alone?" Asked Agent Kerri Johnson.
The senator looked from Agent Johnson to General O'Neill then back to agent Johnson.
"Very Well, Agent Johnson. You have five minutes." He answered.
"Jack, please." She said softly as she opened the door to the front porch.
He followed her silently outside.
"Kerri, what the hell is this all about?" He asked not even trying to hide the anger in his voice.
"Jack, don't you get it? Colonel Carter will no longer be in your direct chain of command. You will be free to have a relationship with her?"
"What!" Jack spat the word out. "What is this? You just want to play match maker or something?" Jack felt the anger cause his face and ears to turn red.
"No, Jack. I just found out a couple days ago that you had been chosen for Director of Homeworld Security. The senator thought that since I have worked with the SGC, it might help to have me along on this trip. They want you in Washington immediately. Jack, you really don't have any choice." She paused a moment, " I thought this would make you happy."
He rubbed his eyes. "Teal'c, Daniel, Carter and I have been together for 8 years. We've saved the planet I don't know how many times, we've all been dead at one time or another, we've been through stuff together that you can't even imagine. Then this entourage of yours waltzes in here and wants to yank me away, on my vacation I might add, and you expect me to be happy! Damn it Kerri, some marriages don't last as long as the 4 of us have been together."
"I'm sorry Jack. That's why they wanted me to come along. They thought you might react this way and..."
Jack looked at her, his eyes narrowing "You didn't tell them about..." He pointed at her and back toward himself.
"No! Jack I wouldn't do that. They just know that we have worked together. They thought it would help to have someone along who knows the team. I'm sorry you're not happy about this Jack, but you really have to take the job."
Jack let out a breath. "Alright, but on one condition. I am not leaving today. You give me 24 hours to say goodbye to my friends."
"Ok, Jack. I'll talk to the Senator." Agent Johnson went back into the cabin but Jack stayed on the porch trying to sort out his mixed feelings. On the one hand Johnson was right, he could have a 'legal' relationship with Carter. On the other hand he did not want to leave the SGC. And Carter going to Atlantis, well, that scared the hell out of him.
Agent Johnson walked back into the cabin and all eyes turned to her. She said. "General O'Neill has agreed to accept this position but he has one request. He won't leave until tomorrow, he wants to spend some time saying goodbye to his team before he leaves"
"But we have meetings, briefings, orientations set up! We need him in Washington now!" Said Admiral Peters.
"I know Admiral," Kerri began "But as he just pointed out to me, these people have been together a long time and have saved the world more than once. They deserve to have a chance to say goodbye before we break their team apart."
The men were silent for a moment before the senator spoke. "Tom, we can do some of those briefings on the plane back to Washington tomorrow. I don't think anything is going to happen to the world in the next 24 hours."
He looked around the group and the others slowly nodded in agreement.
"Very well. Commander Amos, take us back to the base. We'll try to get some work done there today and you can come back and pick up the General tomorrow morning." As the senator started for the door, the commander hurried ahead of him to open it and held it for the rest of the retinue.
Out on the porch Senator Lockwright stopped to talk to Jack. "General O'Neill, Agent Johnson has made your case for you. You have 24 hours with your team. Commander Amos will be here tomorrow morning to pick you up at 8:00 AM. I'll see you on the plane and we'll begin our briefing on the way to Washington."
"Yes sir." Jack said softly and the senator strode to the waiting limo with the Brass in tow.
Just as soon as the senator left, Sam, Daniel and Teal'c rushed back into the cabin to find out what had happened. Jack came back in slowly and explained to them what had taken place and that they had 24 hours before he left for Washington. The team would be allowed to finish their leave before reporting back to the SGC and Sam would have to leave for Atlantis.
Jack looked around at the long faces of his friends. He tried a little forced smile and said "Come on guys, its not that bad. Washington isn't that far away."
They looked back at him and each tried to give a reassuring smile, but he could see the sadness on their faces.
They all stood in silence looking at each other for what seemed like an eternity . Finally Teal'c spoke. "I am pleased for you O'Neill. This is an important promotion for you." He paused slightly then asked "Does this mean that you and Colonel Carter can now admit your love for each other?"
Sam's mouth dropped open. Jack looked at Teal'c, looked at Carter and then back to Teal'c. With a sheepish grin he said "Yeah."
"Then I am pleased for you both." Teal'c stated as he made a slight bow of his head.
"Well then I guess we should celebrate instead acting like we're at a wake!" Daniel said.
"Holy Hannah!" Sam exclaimed softly as she plopped down on the sofa.
Daniel was already in the kitchen rummaging around. "Jack, do we have anything to drink besides beer?"
Jack didn't hear him. He was staring down at Carter and her gaze was fixed on his eyes.
"JACK!" Daniel shouted "We can't toast you guys with beer! You got anything else"
"Huh? Uh, no, I don't think so."
"Daniel Jackson, perhaps you and I could go to the Mini Mart in town and get some wine or other beverage with which to celebrate." Teal'c stated.
Daniel was a ball of energy. "Yeah, Teal'c let's go!" He said as he grabbed the keys to his SUV and they headed out the door. "We'll be back in about 45 minutes." He called over his shoulder.
"Take your time" was Jack's reply although he still hadn't taken his eyes off Sam. "Oh, and don't get any Merlot. Sam hates Merlot." He called over his shoulder.
Jack sat down on the couch beside Sam. "So, is it really true, I mean can we legally have a ...relationship?" Sam struggled to get out that last word.
He grinned at her. "Yeah."
"But Jack," she began hesitantly, "Is this what you want?"
"You mean do I want to go to Washington, Do I want to be the Homeworld security guard, do I want Senator Loch Ness breathing down my back all the time, do I want you to spend 2 months in Atlantis with McKay? NO!"
"That's not what I meant." Sam said softly.
"Do I want to have a relationship with you? You betcha!" He said as he smiled at her with the best lady killer Jack O'Neill smile in his repertoire. He put his hands on her face and kissed her. It was the kind of passionate kiss that made sparks fly! When he released her from the kiss he held her close and whispered in her ear "I love you Sam."
She whispered back "I love you Jack."