Jack's cell phone rang just as he placed a huge helping of macaroni in his mouth. It was 1600 hours, and a few minutes earlier Jack had been surrounded by personnel in his office when he'd suddenly jumped to his feet and announced his hunger. He'd practically run to the commissary. The people in his office had let him go without protest. Everyone knew better than to get between a hungry Jack O'Neill and his food.

"What?" He barked petulantly into the receiver, drawing alarmed looks from Daniel and Dr. Lee, his tablemates.

The Colonel's eyes softened and soon a smile formed on his lips as he listened to the caller.

"Sam," Daniel mouthed silently to Dr. Lee. They exchanged a knowing, superior glance.

"I'm glad you enjoyed the game. I told you that you liked hockey."

"Uh, huh," Jack burst into delighted laughter at whatever she had said, a sound so foreign for him that the two men at the table stared open-mouthed.

"You're watching reruns on television? Well, yeah, I realize they're not reruns for you….Okay, sure. See you soon."

"Right. Bye."

"What?" Jack was back in barking mode as he challenged the amusement drawn on the faces of his colleagues.

Daniel would have been even more amused if he could have witnessed the speed with which Jack finished his work and left the base. Before long he was at Sam's door.

"I'm almost ready," Sam informed him, pointing Jack towards the sofa while she ran back to finish getting ready for their evening at the movies. Jack obediently sat on her sofa to wait for her. After scanning the room around him, he picked up the huge tome he found overturned, open-faced, on the coffee table.

"The Essentials of Quantum Theory? Sam?"

"Oh," she called to him, "I'm just going through all the books here in my house. I'm learning so much. It's just so incredibly fascinating."

"I'm sure," Jack smirked.

"No, really. I can't stop reading that one, it's riveting."

"Riveting, huh? Same Carter I know and love. Let's go. I'll try not to keep you away from your riveting reading for too long."

Sam looked a bit sheepish as she followed Jack out to his car. As they drove, Sam looked over at Jack and began describing again what she was experiencing.

"You know, I'm learning an amazing amount from reading my old textbooks. It's weird. It's like I can almost remember it all, and when I read it, the subject matter comes back to me easily."

"Things have always come easily to you, Sam. You'll be back saving the world before you know it. Which reminds me. You need to learn how to handle weapons again. I've reserved us an hour at the shooting range for tomorrow afternoon. Teal'C wants to show you some Jaffa tricks with a zat and a staff, too. He and Daniel will meet us there."

Sam didn't respond directly to his invitation, but instead went on as if he hadn't spoken. "Hammond has assigned me a tutor. She's also a doctorate in astrophysics. And tomorrow morning I start weekly sessions with a psychiatrist who specializes in amnesia and brain damage patients. Dr. Frasier set that up for me."

Jack felt a twinge of sadness at the cold formal tone in Sam's voice when she mentioned Janet by title. He made a mental note to impress upon Sam what her friendship with Janet had once meant to her. But for now, he reached across the seat to give her knee an affectionate squeeze. He listened to her contentedly as she continued to talk. She was making great progress, and Jack couldn't have been happier for her.

"Okay, Samantha, let's talk about strategies for relearning the subject matter you have lost. Your tutor reports that you are learning very quickly. However, there are techniques that I can help you with that will increase your ability to learn even more. Interested?"

"Of course."

"Great. We'll start this morning with cognitive stimulation exercises. These particular techniques will teach you to cultivate a photographic memory, if you do them right…"

Hours later, Sam appeared in Jack's office doorway at the SGC looking exhausted.

"Sam! You okay?"

"Fine. I'm just tired. I feel like my brain's been squeezed dry. My psycho has given me some exercises to enhance my ability to acquire knowledge quickly."

"Your psycho?" Jack ribbed her.

"She's given me homework too. I have to find a creative hobby. Apparently, being creative stimulates the brain to learn more rapidly."

"So what are you going to do, creatively speaking?"

"Well, I've spent a lot of time since I got back watching reruns on television. The psycho was horrified at that at first. She said that is the exact opposite of being creative when it comes to the effect on the brain."

Jack ignored the last part of her comment. He watched a fair amount of television himself. This was a subject he could warm up to.

"What are your favorite shows?"

The whole idea of Sam Carter lazing in front of the TV intrigued Jack. He had never known the 'old' Sam to watch much television. Maybe he could even get her to watch the Simpsons with him.

"MacGyver, Magnum P.I., West Wing, Hunter…"

"Hunter? You mean that old cop show from the eighties?" Jack snorted with amusement.

Sam donned a defensive stance. "Well, it's not as old as MacGyver. Besides, a lot of those shows from the eighties are really good. Anyway, I really like Hunter. I'm even writing a fictional episode about it. My psycho said to be creative, and creative writing is as good a hobby as any, right?"

"Yeah, sounds good to me. And good for you. Sounds like you're doing great. Can I read it when you're finished writing?"

"I'm planning on posting it on the web, actually, I'll show you how to find the website…"

The alarms in the Gate Room went off at that point, causing Jack to jump up out of his chair and head past Sam, out of the door and up the stairs to the control room. Sam shadowed him, curious to see what was going on.

"Sir, we can't keep the iris closed. An incoming wormhole is repeatedly opening the iris in spite of our efforts to keep it closed and a radio signal coming through the wormhole is adversely affecting our defense systems."

"Why can't you just override?" Jack barked. Just then, General Hammond strode into the room, as alarmed as Jack appeared to be.

"Colonel, get down to the main circuit and prepare to cut power on my signal. Airman, get a scientist down here now who can override this iris program, now!"

"Uh, like who?"

Find someone!" Hammond yelled in his face.

"Let me try it, sir," Sam interrupted, already peering intently over the man's shoulder.

"Do it," Jack and Hammond agreed in unison.

Sam sat down and immediately began typing in commands, her eyes fiery and focused. All the people present in the room with her collectively held their breath. A few moments later, the iris closed and remained closed. Sam sat back, arms folded in victory, smiling broadly.

"Samantha Carter, it is great to have you back!" Hammond gushed. She stood proudly and relinquished the seat to its previous occupant, the now awed gate technician.

"It sure is," Jack seconded, squeezing Sam's shoulder.

"Briefing Room," Hammond ordered Jack and Sam. "Airman, find out where that wormhole originated. We need more information on what exactly we're dealing with here."

"Jack, Sam, this way."

As soon as the door to the briefing room closed behind them, Hammond confronted Sam, barely able to contain his excitement.

"Sam! You've regained your memory! How? I thought it was impossible!"

"No, sir, I didn't remember how to overwrite security safeguards…" Sam began.

"It's not her memory. She's relearning it all," Jack burst in.

"Jack's right. I read the section regarding iris subroutines just yesterday," Sam affirmed. "But I still have a lot to relearn."

"Well, how about you do it on the job? You've proven your value to the program over and over, Sam. We're better with you than without you, no matter what you still have to learn."

Sam smiled confidently.

"It works for me, sir. But to be honest, I can't yet reclaim all of my old job. I can't go through the relearning process and serve on SG1 at the same time. I just don't have enough time to serve on an off-world team while I'm working so hard to re-earn my doctorate. I want to come back, and I will, but with the SGC only. As a scientist, not a soldier."

Jack and General Hammond both stared at her as the truth of her words sunk in. Sam was letting them know she'd made a choice. She had weighed the possibilities and had chosen between serving on SG1 and regaining her scientific expertise. Her choice, at least for now, was Dr. Carter, not Major Carter.

"General."

Daniel appeared in the briefing room entranceway. "That was the Tok'Ra on long-range communications. They report that they have a lead on this Goa'uld who is experimenting with super-symbiotes. They want to send a delegation here to discuss a plan to take him out."

"Great. Arrange a meeting with their delegation as soon as possible, Daniel. We're going after this snakehead."

TBC

A/N: Sorry it's been so long since the last update. I've been out of town and away from internet access. I'm determined to update more frequently now that I'm home again! If you haven't already, have fun reading Sam's story!