"Ah Colonel, I really think we should have stopped at my house first so I could pick a few things up." Sam said from the front seat of Jack's truck.
"Relax Carter; I'm sure Dr. Fraiser will pick a few things up for you before she comes for a visit. If not I can always loan you something to wear." Jack said looking over at Sam grinning.
"Oh gee thanks Sir, I hope they fit." Sam said sarcastically, the last thing she wanted to do was wear the colonel's underwear.
"Here we are Carter, home sweet home." Jack said as he turned into his driveway. The day had turned out to be nice and sunny and warm, but not too hot so didn't have to turn on the air conditioning. He got out of the truck and hurried over to Sam's side.
Jack opened the door and helped Sam out of the truck. "Here Carter hold the keys."
"Ah sure Sir." Sam said looking puzzled, then was shocked when Jack quickly bent down and picked her up.
"What are you doing Sir?" Sam said utterly annoyed.
"The doctor said you were to keep your walking to a minimum, so walking from room to room in the house is a minimum, not walking to the house."
Their conversation was interrupted by Jack's elderly next-door neighbour coming up to them. "Hey there Jack, I didn't know you got married."
Jack and Sam both did a double take looking quite surprised.
"What makes you think that Roger?" Jack asked as he reached the front door.
"Well don't new husbands still carry the bride over the threshold? Oh excuse my manners; it's nice to meet you Mrs. O'Neill." Roger said extending his hand to Sam.
"Oh, um…it's nice to meet you to but I'm not Mrs. O'Neill." Sam said blushing slightly as Jack still held her in his arms.
"Oh, I'm a…sorry, I always forget about how things are not as…proper as they used to be." Roger said feeling a little awkward.
"What? No Roger, it's not like that. Carter and I work together, and well she was injured at work and I'm just helping her out for a bit. She shouldn't be walking on her leg, so I was helping her to the house."
"Oh, I'm sorry you two I guess I'm just an old fuddy duddy jumping to the wrong conclusions, here let me help you." Roger said taking the keys from Sam and opening the door for them.
"It's not a problem, and thank you…Roger is it?" Sam said smiling at him.
Jack proceeded to take Sam into the living room and set her down on the couch. "Oh yea, Roger Brown this is Major Samantha Carter, Carter this is Roger my next door neighbour."
"It's nice to meet you Major, and I'm sorry to hear that you were injured." Roger said, now noticing the bruises on her face.
"Why thank you Roger, and please call me Sam." Sam said leaning back into the sofa.
"Hey Roger, want a beer, what about you Carter sorry doc says no alcohol for you but I have some pop or juice if you'd like."
"A juice would be nice, thank you Sir."
"Thanks Jack but I'll pass on the beer got some things to do at home. Anyway it was nice meeting you Sam, if you guys need anything just give me a call." Roger said heading out the door.
"Will do Roger and thanks." Jack said to Roger's retreating back. "Well that was awkward." Jack said handing Sam a glass of orange juice.
"A bit." Sam said shaking her head. She had to laugh to herself thinking it wasn't very often she got confused as being Mrs. O'Neill, well not on Earth that is.
Jack sat down on the chair opposite Sam, "Hey Carter relax, why don't you stretch out on the couch and get comfortable. We wouldn't want Janet complaining I'm not looking after you."
"No Sir, we wouldn't want that." Sam said slipping her shoes off and trying to move around to get comfortable.
Jack saw her moving tentatively then got up to help her adjust her position. "Okay now that looks better." Jack said stepping away and passed her the juice before reclaiming his seat. Jack pulled out a sheet of paper and started reading it.
"What's that Sir?"
"What this?" Jack said holding out the piece of paper in front of him and grinning.
"Yes that Sir." Sam said a little irked.
"Well it's the Doc's list of instructions. I'm just making sure I follow all the instructions to the letter. For instance; top of the list make sure Sam takes meds on time." Jack says looking at his watch. "Check. Next on the list, make sure Sam gets rest." Jack said then looked over the top of the paper. "Check." Jack grinned at Sam then looked back at the paper "A- hem, make sure Sam gets a sponge bath."
"What! Oh it does not say that!" Sam said angrily. "Let me see that paper…Sir." Sam said reaching out for the paper.
"What? You doubt me Carter?" Jack said seriously trying to hide a grin and putting the paper behind his back.
"Sir, it doesn't say that, here let me see that paper." Sam said again reaching out her arm rather stiffly towards the paper.
Jack's grin started to fade as he saw the grimace on Sam's face at holding her arm out. "Okay Carter, you're right it doesn't say it quite that way." Then Jack put the piece of paper in Sam's hand and watched her look it over.
"Sir you're such an…"
"What's that Carter?" Jack said once again grinning from ear to ear.
"Ah, nothing Sir." Sam said shaking her head smiling and handing the paper back to Jack.
"So how about that rest, do want to lie in a comfortable bed or stay on the couch?" Jack asked more serious this time.
"Actually I'm sort of comfortable where I am right now Sir; I'd hate to have to move."
"Well that makes sense, how about I get you some of those pain meds then you can take a nap."
"I'll take the meds Sir, but I do not nap, Sir." Sam said not liking the implication of her taking NAPS.
"Sure Carter what ever you say." Jack said getting up and going to the kitchen.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
"So Teal'c I think that takes care of the worst part." Daniel said standing up and stretching his back.
"Indeed." Teal'c answered looking at the rolled up lump on the floor. Their attention was brought to the ringing of the doorbell.
"I believe you should answer that Daniel Jackson."
"Yea Teal'c I'll get it." Daniel said walking clumsily out of the room.
"Hey guys what are you doing here?" Daniel asked seeing Mac and Harm at the front door.
"We ah came by to see Sam, isn't she here?" Mac asked looking in from the door.
"Oh, no Jack took her to his house, we didn't want her to have to face the mess and blood stains first thing out of the infirmary." Daniel explained.
"Well that's understandable, so what have you been able to accomplish." Harm asked looking at the rather scruffy looking Daniel.
"Well we moved her furniture around in the bedroom in order to get the carpet out. Or rather rolled up." Daniel said walking back into the house followed by Mac and Harm.
"Wow you two have been busy." Mac said seeing the kitchen area was also in disarray.
"We want to make sure Major Carter's home is cleaned from all reminders of the events that had occurred." Teal'c said bowing his head.
Mac saw the opened suitcase on the bed, "Are you ah packing a bag for Sam?"
"Yea, well we didn't want her to see the place before we were ready, so she kinda went to Jack's place without any things of her own." Daniel said shyly.
Mac hadn't know Sam for very long, but what she did know was that Sam probably wouldn't want Daniel or Teal'c rummaging around her private apparel "Why don't you let me pack her bag for her, I'm sure she wouldn't mind."
"Um…actually that would be a great idea, Teal'c and I will just wait in the other room." Daniel said slightly relieved. He didn't how long it would have taken for Janet to come over and pack a bag, he was afraid he would have to do it. After all, with Teal'c being from another planet, he probably didn't recognize the different underwear women of this planet wore, and Daniel didn't want to find out if Sam had any things he didn't want to know about.
"So are you finished with your investigation at the base?" Teal'c asked Harm.
"Yea, we were just finishing up our final reports and making arrangements to have the prisoners transferred to a secure area for their trial." Harm informed them.
"A trial?" Daniel asked.
"Well as much as one we can have due to the nature of the top secret classification. Anyway we came here to say our goodbye's to Sam."
"Well we'll be going over there, why don't you follow us, I'm sure Sam would like the chance to say good bye." Daniel said.
"Yea, that would be good thanks Dr. Jackson, and I hope you and Teal'c don't have any bad feelings towards us for what Mac and I had to do." Harm said looking down.
"I understand you were performing your duties, and I harbour no ill will against you nor Colonel Mackenzie." Teal'c answered.
"Yea, um what he said and it's Daniel." Daniel said holding out his hand to shake Harm's.
"So why don't you give us a few more minutes to get things a bit more organized then we can head over to Jack's." Daniel said heading for the bedroom and hesitating at the door, hoping that Mac was finished packing.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
"So Carter how you doing?"
"Fine Sir, resting comfortably so you can check that off your list." Sam said smiling.
"Okay, that's good. Look I have to go out to the store for a few minutes, you gonna be okay here by yourself?"
"Sir, remember I told you I haven't been afraid of the dark since I was a child, well that goes for being on my own too. Go Sir, I'll be fine."
"Okay, but keep this close to you, you never know if you're going to need it:" Jack said handing Sam a handgun.
"Really Sir, I don't think that will be necessary." Sam said putting the gun down beside her.
"Humour me Carter, just for a while; we can't be positive we've found everyone."
"Okay Sir, I'll keep it close by, but I doubt I'll need it." Sam said seriously.
"So you stay on the couch while I'm gone, no trying to run around the house. Just rest until I get back okay."
"Okay Sir, I'll be right here when you get back." Sam said smiling at him and watched him smile back at her as he headed for the door, then left the house.
'Finally, I get a chance to be alone for a while.' Sam thought to herself. She rested her head against the pillow and closed her eyes.
Sam roused from her light sleep at the sound of a noise from the front door. "Back already Sir?" She waited for a reply but didn't get one. "Did you forget you're key Sir?" Sam said loudly from the couch.
"Actually I don't have a key Major Carter."
Sam's eyes grew wide at the sight of a strange man entering the living room; he was rather tall heavy set with short brown thinning hair. "Who the hell are you and why are you breaking into the Colonel's house." Sam said nervously holding the gun in her hand.
"Now now Major Carter is that anyway to talk to a superior officer?" The man said holding his hands up at shoulder height taking a seat in the chair across from Sam.
"The questions still stand." Sam said not moving the gun from aiming at him.
"Well if you must know I'm Colonel Simmons I am now in charge of the NID." Simmons said putting his hands down in his lap.
"That doesn't give you the right to break into Colonel O'Neill's house."
"Yes, well those of us in the NID don't believe in locked doors, we tend to go where we want to."
"Well why let silly things like laws stand in your way." Sam said letting her irritation show.
"I just came here to visit you actually Major, I wanted to make sure you knew that we at the NID had nothing to do with your kidnapping or any of the other nasty events that happened to you. After all we are a legitimate branch of the government." Simmons said smugly.
"Yea where have I heard that before, oh yea from Colonel Maybourne, I believe he was your predecessor."
"Yes well Harry Maybourne gave the NID a bad name; I'm hoping I can change people's opinion of us and yours."
"Which is why you broke in?" Sam said lowering the gun so it rested on her lap but was still aimed at Simmons.
"Well Major I've said my peace, I hope you believe me when I say the NID had nothing to do with your problems, and really next time we meet I hope you show me the respect due to a superior officer or I just may have to bring you up on charges of insubordination." Simmons said as he got up and headed towards the door.
Sam let out a deep sigh and leaned back on the couch, but not letting loose her grip on the handgun.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Jack was pulling up to his house when he spotted a dark blue car had just left his driveway. He started to get a panicky feeling stuck between the need to follow the car and making sure Sam was all right. Forgetting the car, he quickly made his way to his front door. He reached for his gun but remembered he left it with Carter; there was no telling what he was going to walk in on. He opened the door slowly and made his way into the house trying to be as stealthy as possible. He leaned against the corner of the wall that would keep him hidden from the living room; slowly he peaked around the corner…
Sam heard another noise at the door, 'could this day get any worse?' she asked herself as she once again raised the gun and pointed it towards the noise she heard. She definitely knew someone had entered the house, but wouldn't be caught with her guard down again.
Jack's eyes grew wide with surprise as he saw a gun pointed at his head; he automatically dove for the floor to get out of its range.
Sam saw a head peak around the corner and quickly pulled the gun towards her shoulder pointing it towards the ceiling.
"Geez Carter don't shoot me!" Jack yelled from the floor.
"Sorry Sir, but you were sneaking up on me." Sam said trying to calm her frayed nerves.
Jack got up and straightened out his clothes. "Yea well…I guess you have a point."
"Why were you sneaking up on me?" Sam asked putting the gun on the coffee table, and holding one hand against her chest.
"I saw a suspicious car driving away, and I thought maybe something happened. I was….worried." Jack said the last part quietly.
"Well actually, something did happen." Sam said looking down at the gun.
"What, what happened?" Jack asked anxiously.
"Well I had a visitor, the new head of the NID."
"And you let him in?" Jack asked confused.
"Actually no Sir, he let himself in."
"He what! Are you telling me he broke in?"
"Yea, he said something about the NID not believing in locked doors."
"What did he want?" Jack asked finally sitting down across from Sam.
"Well, Colonel Simmons…" Sam said his name arching her eyebrows "…wanted to let me know that the NID had nothing to do with my abduction or anything else."
"Did you…believe him?" Jack asked arching his eyebrows.
"About as far as I can throw him."
"Given your current condition that's not saying very much."
"Sir, I have the feeling I may have made another enemy." Sam said now looking a little nervous.
"Well Carter we are a team, so we may have made another enemy." Jack said reaching over and putting his hand over Sam's.
Just then, the doorbell rang.
"Great just what we need, more visitors." Jack said slowly pulling his hand away from Sam's and getting up to answer the door.
"Hey Jack…we're ah not interrupting anything are we?" Daniel asked seeing the serious look on Jack's face.
"Ah no, not interrupting anything." Jack said opening the door farther when he saw Daniel, Teal'c, Mackenzie and Rabb at his door. "Why don't you ah, all come in." Jack said moving back allowing everyone entrance.
Daniel led the way down the steps to the living room. "Hey Sam how are you feeling?"
"Fine Daniel, thanks." Sam said using her patented answer. "Ah Mac and Harm dropped by your place, so I had them tag along here to see you."
"My place? What were you doing at my place?" Sam asked confused at what everyone was doing at her house.
"Oh yea, ah, Teal'c and I went over there to ah…"
"We were at your home Major Carter cleaning up so you would not have to face the …mess, when you returned home." Teal'c informed her seeing Daniel nod in agreement at his choice of the word.
"And I brought you some things you may need." Mac said putting the suitcase down by the end of the couch.
"Oh, thanks Mac I really appreciate it." Sam said, thinking that she really didn't like the idea of having Daniel and Teal'c going through her things to pack a bag for her.
"I will take the bag to your room Major Carter." Teal'c said picking up the bag and heading out of the room.
"Hey Sam its good to see you out of the infirmary and that dingy mountain. Although I can't complain about that nice backless number you were wearing." Harm said giving Sam one of his boyish smiles.
"Hmmph!" Harm reacted to a sudden elbow to his ribs. Then looked at Mac and saw her slight smirk.
Sam couldn't help but chuckle at the exchange. "Thanks Harm, besides my bag, what brings you two here?"
"Well we finished things up at the mountain, all the reports are finished and arrangements have been made to have the prisoners transferred; so we thought we'd come here to say our goodbyes before we head out."
"Wow, so it's all really over?" Sam said a little bewildered.
"Yea Sam it is, so now all you have to do is get better so you can get back to saving the world." Mac said with a slight chuckle.
"Well if that's all, it won't be a problem. Carter has a knack for saving the world." Jack said grinning at Sam.
"You know I'd love to be able to stick around and hear about some of the assignments you guys have had." Harm said.
"Hell I'd like to have a chance to go through that gate once." Mac said grinning.
"Well if we have any need for lawyers on another planet, I'll make sure you two are on the top of the list." Jack interjected.
"You never know Jack, the need might arise sometime." Daniel said grabbing a beer Jack was handing him.
"You two want a beer or something?" Jack said being polite.
"Thanks for the offer Sir, but we have to catch a plane back to Virginia soon. We just wanted to make sure we got the chance to say goodbye to Sam…and you too Sir." Mac said.
"Yea well it's been ah…nice." Jack said stumbling for word to describe their little adventure. Jack could see the looks he was getting from everyone.
"Well if you could call being beat up, tortured, drugged, shot at and almost blown up nice…then yes I guess you could call it that." Daniel said.
"Always the linguist aren't you Daniel?" Jack said sounding a little short with Daniel.
Sensing the conversation was going downhill Harm interjected. "So anytime you find yourselves in D.C. look us up; I know this great little restaurant…" Harm said looking at Sam.
"Thanks, you know I don't get out much." Jack said taking a swig of his beer.
Sam and Mac couldn't help but smirk at those two; Jack was showing his jealousy again and being a smart ass.
"Well I think it's about time we get moving." Mac said interrupting the two men.
"Thanks again for everything you've done, I really appreciate it." Sam said to Harm and Mac.
"I think I should be thanking you Sam, I know there's nothing I can do to repay you for giving me my life and career back, but just know if you ever need anything I'm just a phone call away." Mac said going over to her and giving her a gentle hug.
"That goes for me too Sam, anytime you need anything." Harm said taking Mac's place next to Sam and placing a kiss on her cheek, then taking her hand and giving it a squeeze.
"Wow, thanks and I will." Sam said feeling a little emotional and embarrassed at all the compliments she was getting. She watched them nod their heads and head out the door, Jack closing it behind them.
"Well that was nice." Daniel said claiming a seat across from Sam.
"Do you require anything Major Carter?" Teal'c asked.
"No, I'm fine thanks."
"Uh ah Carter, according to the list it's time for your meds." Jack said.
"As long as that's the only thing on the list it's time for." Sam said smiling at Jack.
"Well Carter, the other thing on the list isn't until later." Jack said grinning and raising his eyebrow.
"Ah what are you talking about Jack? What's on the list? Let me see it." Daniel said looking confused.
"Nothing, never mind Daniel." Jack said looking at Sam seeing her starting to blush slightly.
"No come on Jack I want to see the list." Daniel said getting up and following Jack into the kitchen.
"I said no Daniel." Jack said trying to get away form Daniel.
Sam couldn't help but giggle at the antics of her two teammates and friends. She knew things were going to be better now.
Sam heard a voice calling from the kitchen. "Remember what I said about no giggling Major."