Sam pushed Jack back a little from her body. He groaned, afraid she'd come to her senses. Which he'd been mentally pleading her to do just a few minutes ago, but now, he didn't even want to think about it.

"Cold" Sam whispered.

"What?" Jack asked breathlessly.

"Door" Sam moaned, wondering when she'd been reduced to single word sentences. "Cold"

Jack didn't say anything, but Sam could feel the exultation when he realized she wasn't rejecting him, just asking for a change of scenery. He considered the floor, he liked the idea of the floor, but he didn't think that was exactly what Sam had had in mind. He returned his lips to hers,as he eased her away from the cold door and up against the -if not comfortable, at least less metallic- concrete wall. Sam leaned back against the wall, drawing Jack with her. Sam had settled into thier new spot,-and cried out in surprise as Jack's teeth found her shoulder a little more roughly than he'd intended- when the door swung open and they heard a familiar voice.

"Colonel O'Neill!" Hammond barked.

Jack quickly absorbed the fact that his Commanding Officer has caught him with his subordinate. And not only did he have her pressed against a wall while he kissed her to the point of insanity, but he had his hand quite a distance up her shirt. And, all things not being equal, he was guessing it was significantly worse to be seen with your hands up the front than the back...

Sam had been struggling for breath before the general had stormed in on them. Now she felt about to die. She had one hand down the neck of his shirt, the other in his hair, and somehow, somewhere along the way,her right leg had found it's way around his left. It took a second or two for them to extricate themselves from the situation and face Hammond.

"Colonel, my office" Hammond said coldly, not hiding his displeasure as he walked out.

Jack looked at Sam. He wanted to say something, but he didn't know what. He had the feeling that right now her embarrassment at being seen like that was greater even than her fear of court martial.

"I'll be back" Jack promised, wishing her could give her more.

Sam just nodded.

Jack put his hand on the back of her head and kissed her hard, fast and strong.

"Mmmmmm" Sam moaned pulling away.

"You've been saying that a lot lately" Jack commented, kissing her.

"Go" Sam told him. And as he left Sam saw a touch of sadness mix with the passion in his eyes and felt almost guilty for sending him away. She tried to smile as he left but he'd seen her in pain too many times to not recognize it, and it tore at him, making him angry as well as sad. "Go" she said again as he hesitated in her dooway. And this time he turned and left without looking back.

As soon as he was out of sight Sam slammed the door, locked it and burst into sobs. She sank back weakly against the same door Jack had pinned her against earlier and slowly slid down it onto the floor. She wrapped her arms around her knees and cried her heart out.

"Colonel O'Neill" Hammond spoke his name and rank like an insult.

"Sir" Jack said coolly.

His calm demeanor only aggravated Hammond further. "What the hell do you think you were doing?'

"Screwing my second." he stated then added"Sir" as an after thought.

"Are you pushing me Jack?" Hammond barked. "Do you want to see just how angry I can get? Because I'm there. Major Carter is an Air Force officer Colonel and she deserves respect. Which is more than I can say for you."

"I do respect her sir" Jack said seriously.

"Well you have one hell of a way of showing it."

"Yes sir" Jack had become more respectful of Hammond as well. It was as if the general's defense of Carter had been needed to remind Jack that Hammond was one of the 'good guys' and not just another beaurocrat.

"Then I trust you also have a better understanding of the seriousness of the situation than you let on."

"I do"

"Major Carter could press charges"

"She won't" there was no false confidence in the statement. No arrogance or pride, he was simply stating a fact.

"I didn't think so"

"Because of her or me?" Jack asked before he could stop himself.

"What?"

"Because You don't think I'd harrass her, or because you don't think she'd charge me."

Hammond sighed heavily. "Jack I think you're capable of almost anything. Except, hurting a member of your team."

Jack swallowed, but didn't say anything.

"You know I don't mind admitting that I've liked you Jack. I've developed a trust, maybe even faith in you. And I'll admit there have even been times whenI thought I'd see you make General. But I've seen too many like you not to recognize your type. You just don't believe in it anymore."

Jack started to speak but Hammond continued. "Oh I know you all believe in some of what we do. But not all of it, and definately not in the way things are done. You live with it because you feel you have to, but sooner or later every one of you starts to think he doesn't have to. And that's when it's time to quit." Hammond looked regretful. "I'm not giving you the 'reasons to retire' speech, I've already given it to you once. Of course that time it was for show, this time it's for real."

Jack nodded."Feel free to consider me resigned sir"