Well, here it is. A brand new story from me for you all. Please bear in mind I'm writing this as I go...normally I have quite a few chapters written before I post, but I was only bitten with this idea yesterday so the updates will be a little slower in coming. You'll have them as fast as I can write them, and I'll warn you now, I think this is going to be another looong story!

I do so hope you will enjoy this as much as you did Junior.

Danger Zone.

By Lingren.

Category: Angst, Drama, Hurt/Comfort, Romance.

Warnings: A little whumping later on.

Pairings: Sam/Jack.

Season: 7.

Spoilers: Maybe a few, but as I haven't written this yet, I don't know which if any.

Summary: Jack goes to Washington and meets some unsavoury characters along the way.

Disclaimer: Don't own Stargate SG-1. No copyright infringements intended. Just borrowing the Characters for a bit of fantasy and imagination.

DANGER ZONE.

by Lingren.

Chapter 1

Colonel Jack O'Neill took his seat and pulled the seat belt across his lap, pushing the ends together until they clicked home. He tightened it and watched out of the window as the plane descended; the buildings growing larger by the minute as they lost altitude.

He hated Washington and wasn't looking forward to the scheduled meetings he was to attend. For some reason, completely escaping his logic at this time, his presence had been requested by none other that Senator Kinsey. He was to sit in on the meetings of the Appropriations Committee to argue the case for the more funding for the SGC over the next year.

It was an unusual request, or should that be an order, because from where he was, he had more or less been given an order. He certainly hadn't been given a choice in the matter, and neither had General Hammond. Hence his presence in the Capital.

The cargo plane's wheels touched the tarmac with a loud screech then rolled along the runway, gradually slowing down until it came to a halt not far from the hangar.

Jack unfastened himself and stood up, stretching his back and legs. They never made these things with enough room for people with long legs like himself. At 6feet2 he was a little taller than the average passenger, but he wasn't the tallest person in the Air Force by far, so how the others coped was beyond him.

He grabbed his dress cap and perched it on his head, tugging it into place before reaching down to pick up the brief case.

Stepping out of the plane, he surveyed the comings and goings of the AFB around him. He watched in a detached sort of way as an Air Force saloon pulled up at the bottom of the steps, its dark tinted windows reflecting the mid-morning sunlight. He descended the stairs and the driver approached him as he stepped onto the concrete apron.

"Colonel Jack O'Neill sir?" the man, a sergeant, asked with a text book salute.

Jack nodded.

"That's me," he replied casually, taking in the young man's appearance.

"Sergeant Matt Benson, sir, I've been assigned as your driver for the duration of your stay Colonel O'Neill. I'm to take you to your hotel first, to drop off your luggage, then take you directly to lunch with Senator, Colonel, sir."

Jack sighed, but nodded anyway. His thoughts were mixed as he pondered spending the lunch hour or however long it would take, listening to Kinsey's self-inflated waffle.

He slipped into the back seat of the car and relaxed in the comfort of the beige leather upholstery. Once they had left the base, he gazed blindly at the passing scenery, wishing that he had Sam beside him. Any meeting was tedious, but with her to keep him company, the whole thing would have been a lot more interesting and enjoyable. Perhaps they could have spent some time together, with her showing him the usual touristy places. She'd have known the best places to eat out too.

But, she wasn't here. She was too busy playing with an alien doohickey they recently brought back. He just hoped that it do anything nasty to her or anyone else while he was away. So for now he'd have to put up with being on his own and listening to endless speeches, arguments and debates as to whether the SGC could up their budget by a reasonably small sum of money to help with the war they were waging against the Goa'uld. Kinsey had already made it clear he wasn't going to approve of the extra dollars needed, so Jack knew he'd have a hard fight on his hands. Half the damn committee was afraid of upsetting the Senator.

OoOoOoOoO

Sharon Lloyd was bored. As a hotel receptionist she got to meet all sorts of people from all walks of life. So far today, it had been a dull day, and she'd only been on duty at the desk for a few hours. Every gorgeous hunk of male that had walked in the door, seemed to have a beautiful woman attached, so what chance did she have? There hadn't been a decent eligible bachelor through the door all day; her friend Tracey who'd been on the same shift but earlier had sighed with regret too. They commiserated before Tracey left her to it, extracting a promise that if anyone who took her fancy, she wanted to know the details.

Sharon was sorting the mail and messages into the pigeon holes behind her when the bell rang behind her. She jumped a mile because she hadn't realised anyone had actually entered the lobby. Business was slow at the Parkview hotel today. She clasped a hand over her heart and turned to see who it was that had almost caused her to have a heart attack.

The drop-dead gorgeous Air Force officer gave her a charmingly roguish grin that sent her heart fluttering nervously. She swallowed noisily as she took in the tall, lean figure; his handsome features, and those deep set chocolate eyes that held a sparkle of mischief behind them; and man, that uniform on him; well, it did all sorts of things to her heart and sent such terrifyingly obscene images into her mind. Why was it suddenly hot in here? She wondered.

When she'd recovered sufficiently and had snapped her jaw back into place, she realised that she should be asking him for his name and if he had a reservation.

"I'm sorry sir," she apologised, with a flush. "You gave me such a fright. I didn't hear you come in." Yeah, she could act cool under pressure.

"That's okay. Sorry if I startled you. Colonel Jack O'Neill. You have a room for me I believe! My luggage arrived earlier."

With great difficulty, she tore her eyes away from his smile and glanced down at the computer, typing in his name, and making a mental note of it too as she scanned the bookings log.

"Ah, yes. Room Three-sixteen. If you'd just like to sign the register sir, I'll have someone come and show you the way sir."

"Thanks...Sharon," he said as he read the name on the badge pinned to her left breast pocket and took the key card from her suddenly cold, and shaky hand.

"It's a pleasure Colonel. Have a nice day!" she said shyly.

"You too!" he replied with another dazzling smile.

Sharon rolled her eyes and could have swooned on the spot. Wow! She gasped to herself. Just wait 'til I tell Tracey about him! She'll be wishing I was off sick and she'd covered my shift now. I wonder if he's... Oh pull yourself together girl! She told herself sternly. He's probably old enough to be your father with that...oh so distinguishing silver hair; it did look good on him, she argued. Her eyes followed his every move towards the elevator until the doors closed, taking him from her sight. She fanned herself and sighed dreamily before picking up the pile of mail once more, though her thoughts were centred on one Air Force Colonel with a wonderful smile, and one which took years off him. Oh boy! She sighed, have I got it bad!

OoOoOoOoO

Jack grinned to himself as he felt himself being ogled by the receptionist. The elevator doors slid shut smoothly but he'd caught a glimpse of her staring open mouthed at him. He toyed with the idea of charming her further the next time he saw her, but then the way she looked at him and with his luck, she would probably think he was being serious. There was only one person he wanted to be serious with and she was still working underneath Cheyenne Mountain; most likely oblivious to anyone else around her. The thought of her buried in her work brought a smile to his lips and a funny look from the bell boy which he chose to ignore.

He'd had a long day and he was more than happy to be able to change his clothes and then go get a drink in the hotel bar.

After a quick recon of the room, he headed for the shower and a shave, then dressed in his slacks and polo shirt along with his leather jacket and then chose to use the stairs down to the bar rather than the elevator. He'd been sat down most of the day and needed a little exercise.

He sat there nursing his beer while taking in all of the other patrons around him. No-one disturbed him while he sat there for the first half hour, until someone, obviously moved by his loneliness, caused a shadow to fall across the table and he looked up into bright blue eyes.

"Hi there!" she said cheerfully as possible.

Jack couldn't help the grin that cracked his face.

"Hi yourself...ah...Sharon!" he greeted the young woman.

Her face lit up at his recognition of her, and that he'd recalled her name; most people forget her just as soon as they'd made it to the elevator.

"Enjoying your stay?" she asked nervously.

Jack frowned at her, but spoke lightly, dispelling the cloud on her horizon.

"I've only been in the hotel about...oh...an hour and 12 minutes!" he chuckled, "I hardly think I've had time to know that."

"Oh well, I hope you do enjoy your stay!"

"I'm sure I will. Thanks. Care to join me? You look as if you've finished for the day?"

"Oh sure. I have, but...well we're not supposed to sit with the customers, apparently it's..."

"Stupid?" he finished for her, making her laugh.

"Something like that yeah!" she agreed.

"Okay, so where shall we go?" He stood and finished the beer, tossing back the last dregs. He waved a hand towards the door.

Sharon was taken aback a little but broke out into an even bigger grin and accepted his offer of a drink somewhere else. She knew a great little place a few blocks from the hotel. It was always crowded by the atmosphere was great.

"Oh, okay. Um...I know a little place a few blocks down."

They turned left at the hotel door and walked along the street, chatting easily and by the time they reached the local bar, Jack knew more about Sharon than he did about Sam.

They squeezed through the crowded room to the far corner where there was an empty table, recently vacated by another couple. He told her to take a seat and asked her what she wanted to drink.

"What'll ya have?" he yelled above the noise.

"I'll have a white wine; thanks!"

He nodded and fought his way back to the busy bar, where he finally managed to attract the attention of the bar keeper.

"A white wine and a beer please!" he called. A few moments later he'd paid for the drinks and was carefully winding his way back through the crowd to the table where Sharon was sitting watching several couples, necking passionately across the room.

Jack smiled to himself and settled down, taking a sip of his beer. The place wasn't one he'd have chosen if he was given the choice, but she was obviously familiar with the place and seemed to be enjoying it. He sighed inwardly, almost regretting asking her. She was far too young for him to string along like this. He resigned himself to opening the conversation, totally unaware that they were being observed by a middle aged man sitting at the bar, pretending to drink his beer.

TBC

I know what you're thinking, and it's sooo totally wrong!

No, Jack isn't falling for a young, young woman!

No, Jack doesn't forsake Sam in this one!

Yes, there will be Sam and Jack, but much later!

And yes, there will be my usual whumping...later!

Patience...all will be revealed in time!