5
Sam looked at the clock. She had five minutes to get dressed. Thank the heavens she'd already picked out her outfit and did her hair and make-up. She tugged on the leather pants she'd had in her closet for years. She'd bought them on a whim. She'd wanted a pair growing up, and seeing them on the rack, black and smooth to her touch, Sam couldn't resist their siren song. This was the first time she'd ever worn them.
She put on her black v-neck tunic with ¾ inch sleeves and smoothed it over her flat stomach. She looked at herself in the mirror. She admitted that she looked cute. When she heard the doorbell ring she smiled to herself.
She walked to the door, feet bare, and swung the door open widely, a grin plastered on her face. She was about to jump the man at her door when she realized it was the Colonel. "Jack?" She asked, too shocked to realize what she'd called him.
"Going out?" He asked, raising his eyebrows at her.
She flushed a deep red. "I…uh…I was just trying on some old clothes." She opened the door wider and let him in. "Is everything ok?" She asked.
"Just fine Carter." He looked at her and studied her facial features. "Were you expecting someone else?"
Sam fidgeted. He stood awkwardly. "Well…" Sam hesitated. The doorbell rang and Jack's eyebrows shot up again. Sam left him in her living room to answer the door. She slowly opened it up and saw a grinning Daniel.
"Wow. You look great!" He said, sweeping her into an embrace before Sam could react. His mouth closed over hers in a tender kiss and Sam immediately forgot about the other man in the living room.
Until he coughed.
Daniel released her and jerked his head to look up at the Air Force Colonel. "Jack!"
Sam grew even redder as she became fully embarrassed. They were going to tell him, but they didn't want to tell him like this.
Jack gave them a disapproving stare. "Everything makes sense now." He said to himself.
"You know, we're not breaking any rules." Daniel said defensively.
Jack narrowed his gaze. "You don't think that two people on the same team being…together…is breaking any rules?"
"I'm not military Jack."
"Carter? You think this is right?" He asked her. She couldn't meet his eyes. "Nevermind." He waved his hand. He walked to the still open door and was about to leave when he turned around and asked, "How long has this been going on?"
"A week." Sam answered meekly.
"Since P3X-456?"
"Yes." Sam replied.
"We were under the influence of strange chemicals that caused all of us to react differently than we usually would, especially you Carter," He looked at her pointedly. "And you think these are natural feelings? That these aren't remaining feelings from the chemicals?" He shook his head, the act telling them both that he expected more out of them.
"Jack-" Daniel started.
Jack held up a hand to stop him. "There will be a meeting at 0800 hours." He left them standing in Sam's foyer. The sound of the clicking door caused Sam to jump.
"I don't think that went well." Sam said quietly.
Daniel gathered her in his arms, rubbing her back gently. "It'll be ok." He promised, though he knew he couldn't be so sure. They weren't breaking any rules, but that may not stop General Hammond from splitting them up.
…
Sam and Daniel walked into the briefing room together, each avoiding Jack's gaze. They sat down across from Jack and Teal'c and waited in silence for General Hammond to join them. Teal'c noted the unusual tension in the room but said nothing.
When General Hammond walked in, followed by Janet, Sam and Daniel exchanged looks. This probably wasn't going to end well.
"Good morning." He said, addressing the team as he sat down. "Dr. Frasier has finished her lab work and I'm afraid we have some bad news."
Janet gave them a sad smile. "I have found traces of what appears to be an alien narcotic in your systems. Sam and Daniel have more of it, presumably because they were, er, 'chosen'." She looked over at Sam and noticed her blush. "The narcotic triggers deep emotions, causing the person to be slightly delusional, with feelings, thoughts, and emotions leaning towards the more carnal nature. Their inhibitions are blocked, leaving the person free to act on those carnal feelings."
Daniel dared a look at Jack, but he was keeping his focus on Janet.
"So, until the narcotics have made their way out of your system, and we don't know how long that will be, SG-1 is grounded." General Hammond told them.
"What about Teal'c?" Jack asked.
"He was also affected, and still has traces of the drug in his system." Janet answered.
"That explains the Chicken Soup for the Soul."
"Indeed."
"I'll run daily tests." Janet added.
"We just have to wait this out folks." He looked at each of the members of SG-1. "Any questions?"
Everyone answered in the negative and Hammond dismissed the group. Jack quickly followed the general, ignoring his three teammates. Daniel sighed and gave Sam an encouraging smile. He'd spent the night at her place, holding her against the impending doom. They were certain Jack would bring up their relationship at the meeting.
Teal'c bowed his goodbye and went to finish his book, leaving Daniel and Sam alone in the conference room. Daniel patted her hand and held it. "Looks like we're going to have to prove a few things Sam."
She nodded, smiling at him. The world hadn't ended and they weren't being split apart, yet. "I'm up for a challenge."
Daniel grinned. "Want to go talk General Hammond?"
"Be the first to tell him?" She nodded.
They left the briefing room in search of the commander of the SGC.