Chapter 20 by Abbot and Natters

Sam's POV

I was wrong. Yes, it can.

"Cassie, what are you talking about?" Denial's always a good start. But I catch Janet smirking at me, the traitor.

"You and Jack. You should have been dancing with him tonight, not those other men."

I sigh hopelessly. Cass, why do you think I made a point of dancing with almost every man there? It was so I could have danced with… Oh damn. At least I didn't tell her that.

"And you should be going out with him."

"Cassandra. There are regu-"

"I know all about the stupid anti-frat regs. But it doesn't make you feel any less does it?"

"The rules are there for a reason Cass. We can't just decide which to follow and which to break as it suits us."

"Which is why you need to talk to Uncle George. Or better yet the President. Surely saving the world a billion times has gotta be worth something."

For a second, I consider it. A momentary weakness. "I can't do that Cassie. They'll split SG-1 up. Both our careers would be over. And a court martial is not something I want on my record."

"So the AirForce thinks it's okay to have these feelings as long as you don't show them, right?"

"No Cass. It doesn't. Nobody knows, and as long as we can maintain that we'll all be together."

"No body knows? Come on Sam. Every one on that base has known for five years how you two feel about each other. It's obvious. Even Uncle George has ten bucks on you two getting it together. Tell her Mom."

"She's right Sam."

"But we can't!"

"Only because you're being silly. Get out there and get the man. Before another woman comes along and snaps Uncle Jack up."

Daniel's POV

I hate spying.

No, wait, I don't. Actually, it's a fun little passtime. I was waiting for Janet after she tucked in Cassie, slathered Carter's feet in some foul-smelling stuff. She yelped as I jumped out from the darkness, waved her hands in my hand. I pulled back, the stench of chemicals too much. She giggled, of course. I backpedaled, nearly tipping over a flowerpot and giving her the opportunity to smear my back with the stuff on her hands. I yelped a little, felt the stuff start to tingle and burn. She tackled me, pinned me. Then, she just stopped. She panted, staring down at me, chest rising and falling. Her eyes glittered in the moonlight, hair loose and falling over her old Pink Floyd tee. She looked beautiful, playfully holding me down.

She leaned down, kissed my nose.

"Not in front of the cub. Tomorrow."

She got up, ass swaying seductively -hell, DELIBERATELY- as she walked to her door, bade me goodnight, and closed it. I lay there, smiling despite the horrible rash I was getting. I would have been perfectly happy spending the night on the floor there, with her. Well, at least I saw Cassie shaking her head at me and closing her own door.

Oh well, when I get back from P2Y-957, I'm sure we'll have plenty of time alone. I couldn't remember the last time a woman made me feel so... alive. So vital. So young.

I grinned to myself, and made my way to the couch.