Stargate, SG1 and its characters do not belong to the author. No copyright infringement is intended. Story for entertainment purposes only. Original characters and ideas are the property of the owner.

Thanks for all the great reviews! I appreciate all your input and questions. Carol is a new character - a friend of Jack's and at this point in time, just a friend. Did we really expect him to wait for Carter without any companionship all those years? Yeah, I guess so! But it isn't likely. Don't be overly concerned, most days I'm a firm believer in the Jack/Sam ship, regardless of Air Force regulations. What can I say? I'm a sucker for romance.

This story is already completed, but posting has been difficult due to ISP problems. I will post new chapters as reviews dictate and my internet service allows. Hope you enjoy and now on with the story...

Tangled Web - 2. Dinner and Dancing

An hour later SG1 sat eating dinner with a rather uncomfortable silence surrounding the table. Although over half the people in the room were Air Force, the other half were not. They were the civilian sector of the Cheyenne Mountain troops, spouses and 'dates' of the military personnel. It made for difficult dinner conversation because most of the subjects they wanted to talk about were classified. They were hard pressed to even tell funny stories about their adventures, after all, how funny could deep space radar telemetry really be?

Sam was seated between Pete and Jack with Carol to his right followed by Teal'c, Daniel and two other single female members of the SGC seated around the round table. Conversation had come to a gradual end and now even Daniel was busily eating in silence. The ringing of a cell phone caused everyone at the table to look up as Pete pressed a button to silence the ring. He made a quick apology and left the table with the phone already to his ear.

He returned a few minutes later and leaned over to whisper in Sam's ear. She listened, then shook her head and smiled up at him. "I'll go with you."

"No, Sam. Stay here with your friends. Enjoy yourself. I'm sure one of the guys will see you home if I can't make it back." Then looking across the table, "Right Daniel? You'll see that Sam gets home ok? Something's come up and I have to leave."

Daniel looked up wide-eyed and then looked down at Sam. "Ah, sure. No problem, I'd be glad to."

"I'll just walk you to the door." Taking Pete's extended hand, Sam rose and crossed the room with him. Most of those seated at the table watched as they crossed the room and made their way to the top of the staircase.

Daniel watched Jack's eyes follow Sam and Pete to the landing and across the upper level to the entrance recognizing the longing and regret hiding just below the surface. He turned away as Pete leaned in to kiss Sam meeting Daniel's eyes in a quickly averted intense frown. Not quickly enough though, as Daniel saw Jack's jaw clench and the small grimace cross his face.

Teal'c was also watching the couple as they said their goodbyes and unlike General O'Neill, he had not looked away. His eyes narrowed slightly as he watched, sensing more than seeing Sam's body tense as Pete drew close to her. Unconsciously reaching for his weapon his hand came to rest on the table instead and he pressed down in preparation to stand. Jack caught his movement and cocked his head slightly at the Jaffa's reaction.

"T, you okay?"

Teal'c turned towards O'Neill's voice momentarily, and then glanced back at Sam. Pete was walking away from her and she stood, frozen to the spot, watching. Something in Teal'c relaxed, O'Neill saw it, but didn't quite understand it. He glanced back up the staircase at Sam and a puzzled look barely touched his lips. "T, Buddy?"

"I am fine, O'Neill." Jack studied him silently, but was unable to read anything in the stoic face staring back at him.

"Okay, good."

Sam remained a moment longer, looking in the direction where Pete had disappeared and then turned to descend the staircase. Jack glanced up at her and was instantly mesmerized - unable to look away as her slender form seemed to float gracefully down the long expanse of stairs. He felt the familiar tingling stir inside him as he watched her return to the table. Her bare skin glistened in the lights of the chandelier while her dress sparkled and swirled around her gracefully stirring the attraction that was always only a breath away. Jack couldn't take his eyes off her.

Daniel cleared his throat softly and Carol placed a hand gently on his arm. His head jerked towards her and he studied her for a long moment, almost apologizing. Then he covered her hand with his own and smiled broadly at her. She returned his smile and held his gaze trying to look into his soul, pulling him back to her with her touch.

"Ah, Jack?"

"Yes, Daniel."

"I, ah, think that everyone is waiting for you."

"Waiting? For…what?"

Daniel looked down at his plate and then up again smiling at Jack. "Um…for you, Jack. I know this is…isn't…well, they're waiting for you…to dance. It's tradition."

"Ah! So it is. Thanks for reminding me. Carol, shall we?" Without hesitation Jack stood and led Carol to the dance floor where the band was playing a waltz. As Sam returned to the table Jack began to swirl around the floor with an expertise that surprised all the members of his team, not to mention the other personnel of the SGC. Applause rose from the tables as everyone caught sight of their General effortlessly gliding across the floor. He smiled and raised his arm above his head indicating that they should all join in.

"O'Neill does indeed seem skilled in this ritual."

Daniel looked at Teal'c with surprise. "Yes. Yes, he does. It's amazing, I never would have guessed!"

Sam stood motionless, her gaze riveted to the couple on the dance floor. Her eyes traveled to his smiling face, and then followed his arm to the spot where it firmly held his partner, gently guiding her around the floor. She studied them as their dance circled away from her and noted the ease with which O'Neill performed the dance. She cocked her head slightly in pleasant surprise; he never ceased to amaze her. This was a side of Jack none of them had seen, even guessed at, before. She felt envy creeping into her soul and quickly averted her stare, turning to face Daniel who was smiling and shaking his head in his state of amazement. "I guess he still has a few tricks he hasn't shown us yet."

Sam turned back towards Jack, watched for a moment and then quietly slipped away.

Safe within the confines of the ladies room, she stared into the mirror and focused on her own reflection. She concentrated on making her face absolutely neutral, hiding any traces of the underlying turmoil she was feeling. She was almost grateful that Pete had been called away, having him and the General in such close proximity was more uncomfortable than she was prepared to admit. 'Get a grip, Carter' she silently admonished herself. Still staring into the mirror she noticed her lipstick was in desperate need of repair and reached into her bag in search of the tube she'd placed there. Her hand froze in mid air as Carol walked into view and stopped behind her, smiling into the mirror. Sam finished her lipstick quickly and turned to face her trying to smile normally, while thinking to herself 'this just gets better and better!'

"Hello. Colonel Carter, isn't it?"

Sam smiled and shook her head in a 'yes' motion not knowing what else to say. After an awkward moment she again found her voice. "Your gown is lovely!"

"Oh, thank you. As is yours. Do you work with the General?"

"Ah…yes. He's my CO…uh…. sorry, my commanding officer."

"Oh. Well, isn't that the case for most or all of the military people here?"

Sam cocked her head and smiled again. She never really thought of it that way, but of course she was right. She had worked beside the General for so long it was second nature to her and she sometimes forgot that he was now responsible for all of the SGC. She also wondered what exactly the General had told the woman about his position, Sam assumed he would have given her the standard cover story but she obviously knew, or assumed, he was in charge. "Yes, of course. We worked together for several years prior to his promotion to General."

"I see, so that's where the familiarity comes in then."

"Familiarity?"

"Oh, it's just that I noticed a different…response from those of you seated at his table than the other personnel. It seemed more…relaxed…familiar. You in particular, I thought perhaps there had been some other relationship in the past."

"Ah! No, but General O'Neill has been my CO for over seven years and we have spent a lot of time together in the work environment. And this, nice as it is, is just an extension of that environment."

"Um…deep space telemetry? Is that correct?"

"Yes."

"I see. Well, don't tell him I said so, but I can't quite picture Jack staring into a telescope all day. But maybe that's a misconception on my part."

"No, that's fairly accurate, of course his duties are primarily command now and like any other job it varies from day to day."

"Well it's nice to see that Jack has so many good friends. He really seems to be enjoying himself tonight. I wasn't sure he was looking forward to this occasion."

Sam smiled, "Yes, I'm glad he's enjoying himself and hope you are also." She was surprised that she didn't choke on those words! Jack O'Neill would rather be anywhere than here, so maybe this Carol was just a new ornament after all.

"Oh, yes! It's great fun. Jack is a wonderful dancer and very much a gentleman."

"Have you known him long?" Sam almost bit her lip as the question left her mouth inadvertently. She hadn't meant to ask any personal questions.

"For a year or so."

"Well I'm glad we're finally meeting you then."

"You, too, Colonel, and congratulations on your engagement. I'm sorry Pete was called away."

"Thank you, but we all have our duties. I think I'd better get back. The guys will be wondering what happened to me!"

Carol's eyes held her still, unanswered questions rising to the surface. "Does Pete work with the Air Force?"

"Ah, no. He's a police officer. And you?"

Carol smiled brightly. She'd been amazed that none of the group had inquired about her before now. "I'm in real estate. You should let me know if you're ever in the market for a new place."

"Thanks, but I've been in my place for years and it still suits me. You should talk to Daniel. He occasionally changes apartments on the spur of the moment!" Sam smiles thinking 'He has to find a new place everytime we think he's lost and then returns.' Sam realizes Carol is studying her with a confused look on her face and adds, "He's a bit of a nomad."

"I see." But of course, she didn't. "Well I hope...Pete makes it back before the party's over."

"Thanks, I'm sure he'll do his best."

"Nice talking to you."

Sam did not reply but simply made her escape to the hallway. That was more uncomfortable that she'd expected and as she walked away she couldn't help but wonder about Carol's relationship with the General.