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Tangled Web 3. Duty Calls

"Aw, come on, Jack. You can tell us! It's just me and Teal'c!" Daniel was obviously whining in at a last ditch attempt to get Jack to fess up to something.

"Daniel!" Sam could hear the warning tone in Jack's voice as she approached the table and raised her eyebrows in question at Daniel.

"Tell us what?" She smiled at all of them questioningly.

"Oh, hi, Sam!" Daniel threw a quick glance at Jack and quickly changed his answer. "Ah, nothing. Would you like to dance?"

"I'd love to Daniel." Jack watched with jealous eyes as Daniel held Sam in his arms and swirled her around the room. They laughed and talked as they moved and Jack smiled at the obvious comfort they had with each other. We all have it, he thought, at least we used to. A lot of the time, now, he was either too busy or too tired to be included in their team activities and whenever he saw them like this he realized how much he missed being a part of SG1.

Watching Daniel and Sam dance he realized he was sometimes envious of their close rapport, they could touch, hug, and even exchange kisses on occasion without consequence. He had longed to do all those things with Sam over the years but the chain of command had kept them both firmly in place. As he watched them now he longed to hold her in his arms if only to lead her in the dance, but… suddenly he straightened his shoulders and jutted his chin out slightly. Why couldn't he dance with Carter? He was, after all Brigadier General Jack O'Neill in command of the SGC and the highest-ranking officer in the room. He was "the man" and as Daniel had advised him, he could do whatever he wanted. Jack stood and tapped Daniel on the shoulder just as Carol was returning to their table. She watched attentively as Jack smiled nervously, then took Colonel Carter in his arms and began to glide around the dance floor.

"You're an excellent dancer, Sir!"

"Why, thank you, Carter. So are you as a matter of fact. And did I tell you how terrific you look this evening?"

Sam laughed at his obviously faked tone of voice, but his eyes said the compliment was real. "Thank you, Sir, it's always nice to hear again." Sam held her eyes on his for a long moment and watched the corners of his lips curl upward into a tantalizing smile. She caught a glimpse of the predator she'd seen watching her earlier and quickly looked away.

Jack held his smile, but was a bit unsettled at her sudden aversion. When he spoke again, it was in his own voice, without the social 'charm' he'd been flaunting all night - he was just his normal self again. "Sam, don't you think you should really reconsider..."

"Could we not talk about that right now, Sir? Let's just try to enjoy the dance."

Jack looked down at her seriously for a moment and then allowed himself to get lost in her eyes. The smile returned to his face as he realized she was right. He was holding her close in his arms, he could feel her breath against his neck and her bare skin beneath his hand. He was aware of his own increasing heartbeat and wondered if Carter was aware that she was slowly stroking hisneck just above his collar. He pressed his hand gently into her back, pulling her a bit closer to him and holding her there as they circled the floor. A small gasp escaped her lips as her body came into contact with his and he cocked his head slightly to one side. "Relax, Carter. We're only dancing and Petey's not here, remember?"

She looked up at him with her eyes wide open in surprise and started to speak, but he interrupted her. "Like you said, let's just enjoy the moment. Shall we?"

She shook her head in agreement and tried to relax. She looked around the room and smiled as she met Daniel's eyes and seeing his expression, immediately began reminding herself "General O'Neill, Carter, GENERAL O'Neill." Then as she turned to smile at Jack again she gave herself another warning. 'Be careful, Colonel, the whole damned SGC is watching!'

Carol sat in her chair and quietly watched them as they swirled around the room. Colonel Carter's smile seemed equally as bright as Jack's and after a brief moment of awkwardness they seemed extremely comfortable with each other. She couldn't help wondering if there was more there than either of them were admitting. Suddenly she saw Jack stop in the middle of the floor. He released Sam and reached for his phone placing his other hand on his ear to shut out the noise. Sam watched his face intently, her eyes searching his, as he spoke briefly into the phone.

Carol could see the disappointment in his eyes from across the room as Jack snapped the phone shut and leaned in close to speak to Sam.

"I'm sorry, Sam. I have to get back to the base."

"Trouble, Sir?" She felt his hand pressing gently on her back, guiding her off the floor and back toward the table, his uniform rubbing gently against the bare skin of her shoulder.

"One of the teams is stuck off-world. I don't know much more than that."

"Of course, Sir."

They returned to the table and Sam started to sit down. Daniel looked up with questioning eyes as he picked up on the change in Jack's attitude. "What's going on guys?"

"I'm needed back at the base." Carol looked up at him in surprise. "I'm sorry, Carol. Would you mind if Daniel and Teal'c take you home?"

"Well, I guess that's ok. You won't be coming back when you're finished, Jack?"

"I'm not sure. These things always seem to take longer than you think they should. Daniel, have you seen Siler?"

"Uh, yeah earlier."

"Could you find him and get him over here?"

"Sure, Jack." Daniel rose and started to weave between the tables in search of Siler. A few minutes later Siler was standing at attention at the table.

"Sir?"

"Siler! Sorry to interrupt your evening, but I need you back on base as soon as you can get there."

"Yes, Sir General. I'll leave right away." He saluted, turned on his heels and headed back to his own table.

"Oh, Siler, give my regrets to your wife."

"Thank you, Sir. I'm sure she'll understand."

Jack smiled and nodded, then turned back to the group at the table. "Daniel, you and Teal'c see that Carol has a good time and get her home safe if I don't make it back. Carter you're with me."

All four faces looked at him in mild surprise and Sam seemed a bit uncomfortable at Carol's intense stare, but it only lasted a split second, then she stood and responded with a sharp, "Yes, Sir!" Carol watched the interaction closely, Jack's social personality had completely disappeared and he had obviously taken command of the situation, whatever it was. She could see by their faces and their reaction to him that they trusted him completely and obeyed him without question. It wasn't totally unexpected, he was after all, a General, but there was something more there it seemed, something deeper. She watched silently as Sam crossed the small space and stood waiting at Jack's side.

"Are you sure we can't help, Jack?"

"No thanks, Daniel. This appears to be a simple technical problem. I think we can handle it. You guys stay and enjoy the party." He leaned over and placed his hand over Carol's giving it a gentle squeeze. For a moment she thought he was going to kiss her, but she saw the thought turn to apology followed quickly by a tense smile as he glanced around the table and then spoke to her softly. "Enjoy yourself and I'll call you later. I'm sorry about this, it kind of goes with the job."

"It's ok, Jack. Do what you need to do." And she sent him a brilliant smile that made Carter's stomach clinch slightly. Her cheeks suddenly felt hot and red as she saw a twinkle spawn in Jack's eyes and he leaned in to place a soft kiss on Carol's cheek. He held her gaze for a moment longer and then turned to search the crowd for Siler as Carter picked up her bag to follow him.

Jack caught sight of Siler approaching and pointed toward the exit. The tall, lanky Sergeant nodded his head in understanding and changed his path to the one indicated by the General. Jack turned his head slightly toward Sam. "Let's go, Carter."

"Yes, Sir, I'm ready." And she fell in step beside him, beginning to agree with Teal'c assessment of her footwear as they made their way across the room to the staircase and she attempted to match the General's stride. Several heads turned to watch the pair as they hurriedly crossed the room. It was a familiar site to most of the Air Force personnel and they silently wondered what was happening at the SGC to pull the General and his 2IC away from the party. Daniel and Teal'c exchanged glances wondering basically the same thing. Who was in trouble? Who needed Jack and Sam to save them this time? Daniel turned, suddenly aware of Carol's eyes watching him and smiled at her warmly.

"Un, sorry about this Carol. I hope you don't mind Teal'c and I filling in for Jack."

"No, of course not - it's much nicer than being sent home in a cab! Does this happen often?"

"Uh, yeah, pretty often, I guess. Jack's in charge at the base, so if anything happens…."

"Ah, I see. And Colonel Carter?"

"Well, she's the expert on the…" he paused searching for the right word, the word to replace the one he couldn't say and wouldn't reveal anything more than their standard cover story "…telemetry equipment or something like that." He renewed his smile trying to put her at ease and forced the conversation into another direction hoping to avoid any further questions regarding Jack and the base. "Would you like to dance, Carol?"

"Yes, thank you, Daniel." Daniel took her hand and led her onto the floor hoping that Jack returned soon.