Sam smothered a yawn as she unlocked her front door, throwing her keys on the side table. Being away from the SGC had certainly been good for her, but her body had yet to catch up with her rigorous work hours now that she was back.

Walking the short distance to her bedroom, Sam wanted nothing more than to take a nice long soak in the tub and then fall into a deep, dreamless sleep. ….Well, maybe a few "choice" dreams wouldn't hurt, Sam grinned evilly.

Just then the phone on her belt began to ring.

"Hi, Sir." Sam answered with a smile.

"How'd you know it was me?" he asked, truly perplexed.

Laughing softly, Sam shook her head and sat down on the bed, "Caller ID," she replied as she began to strip off her clothes.

"Ah. So….how's stuff?" he asked casually, knowing she'd had a rough mission.

Sam sighed and flopped back on the bed. "Daniel is still pretty weak, but there seems to be no lingering effects from the armbands."

"But?" Jack prompted.

"Jack, we gave them the power to take over the galaxy. The bomb - :

"Carter!" Jack cut her off abruptly. "Not your fault."

"I know but…" Sam trailed off helplessly. "Let's talk about something else…how was your day?" Sam shifted and crawled under the covers, soothed by the sounds of Jack's voice as he complained about the endless beaurecratic crap he was subjected to. She missed him so much - much more than she thought she was capable of. She was away from Pete for months on end and never once felt the distance as keenly as she did with Jack.

"So how long were you there before they tried to woo you back to the SGC?"

"I think it was somewhere in between welcome and back" Sam chuckled.

"And?"

"Well, part of me felt a thrill at being back at the SGC but…."

"But?" he prompted again.

"It's not the same, Jack. It feels different now, almost like I don't belong. At least when I was at Area 51 we could see each other on a regular basis. But now if I'm off world all the time and with your schedule…" Sam sighed and ran a hand through her hair. "I'm tired and I'm whining. I'm sorry."

"Sam, we can make this work. Oh hey! Why don't we see if I can call in a few favors and get one of Thor's transport thingies?"

"I don't think that's what the president had in mind, Jack." She smiled tiredly as she crawled under the covers.

"You sound beat. Are you in bed?"

"Yes, and before you ask, yes I am wearing pajamas." Sam snickered.

"I wasn't gonna ask that."

"Sure you weren't"

"Want me to tell you a bed time story?"

Sam snorted softly. "This isn't gonna be kinky is it?"

"Only if you want it to be," Jack grinned mischievously.

"Does it have a happy ending?"

"You'll just have to wait and find out." Jack cleared his throat dramatically. "Once upon a time, there was a devilishly handsome Air Force Colonel. And one day, he was completely bowled over by the most beautiful blonde astrophysicist, spouting promises of mud wrestling – "

"Jack."

"Arm wrestling."

Sam shook her head in amusement and burrowed down under the covers, lulled by the sound of Jack's voice. As he eventually heard her breathing even out, he quietly hung up the phone on his end. Pressing a small device, he was engulfed in a white light and found himself in Sam's bedroom.

Taking the phone from Sam's limp fingers, he flipped it closed and placed it on the bedside table. He pulled the covers up tighter around her and pressed a soft kiss to her lips.

"Sweet dreams, Sam." He whispered, before disappearing once more.