Chapter Eleven

As she watched Jack place his hand on the mirror, Carter became very nervous that it wouldn't be her Jack that came back. Ostensibly she knew here was no way to untangle the mess of which Jack belonged in which reality. Accuracy was her security blanket and the thought that she was trusting anything so imprecise as the mirror to return her Jack upset her. She much preferred to be in control of things. She was better with absolutes.

Just like the switch the previous day, there was almost no perceptible change. Even though she was watching while it happened, the only way she knew it had worked was because of his hair. She grimaced involuntarily as the short cut as he turned around to face her.

"Carter?"

"Yes, sir?"

Jack glanced over his shoulder, checking the mirror for any signs that it had worked. Instead of reflecting his confusion, the mirror revealed alternate Jack and Carter already locked in an embrace that gave him the impression their separation had been much longer than twelve hours. He recalled that alternate Carter had been freezing alternate Jack out for two days prior and it seemed to make more sense, but it still seemed a little excessive. They were technically working, after all.

He shrugged and turned back to Carter, remembering her alternate's words about never actually getting back exactly where he'd been. "My Carter?" At her befuddled expression, he decided to rephrase his question. "We're not…"

She smiled as she relaxed, seeing the anxiety on Jack's face over even having to vocalize that much. "No, sir."

He grinned. "Good, then apparently I'm home."

Carter smiled harder, refusing to acknowledge the thrill that ran through her veins. "Yes, sir. Very good." Her eyes shifted to the mirror for a moment, thoroughly mortified to see that the other Jack and Carter had yet to come up for air.

Seeing her embarrassment, Jack took another peek himself. "Ok, if he gets that, don't I at least get a hug?"

Carter's eyes widened as she checked to see if Daniel and Teal'c were still there. They were, but it was somehow less embarrassing to meet their eyes. Carter decided it was because they were equally unsure as to how serious Jack's question was. Apparently they decided there was a fairly good chance he wasn't kidding because they glanced at each other and ducked out of the lab.

Carter narrowed her eyes at the empty space they'd once occupied and vowed she would get even with them for abandoning her. With nothing to distract her, she turned back to Jack with no idea of how to answer him. She didn't want to make a fool of herself if he was only joking, but she didn't want to turn him down if he was serious.

She took a deep breath and tried to walk a very narrow, completely ambiguous line. "As inviting as they might sound, sir, I'm not sure it's the most appropriate thing to do under the circumstances." Her glance darted up to meet his.

He smiled and inclined his head toward the other couple. "If you consider the other option, a hug really isn't so bad, is it?"

Carter met his stare again, emboldened by the idea that he wasn't kidding. She crooked her eyebrow, pretending not to know what he was talking about. "And what is the other option, sir?"

He held her gaze, his smile growing wider. "Come here." She seemed receptive so he saw no reason to let the chance escape him.

She wanted to squeal with delight. He really wasn't kidding. Needing no more encouragement, Carter stepped forward. Her arms reached up over his shoulders as his arms folded around her. The sensation of being in his arms was overwhelming, as it had been each of the few times he'd ever held her. She wanted to turn her face into his neck and let down her guard. She wanted to cling to him forever. She knew she could rely on his strength.

Jack was never much for affection - verbal or physical. Most of the time, he wasn't able to open himself up enough to admit to caring about people. He trusted that the people he loved simply understood that he wasn't as capable as most when it came to talking about his feelings. He'd spent too many years being tough to allow himself to show weakness. But it was one of those rare times when he felt secure enough to open up. He knew Carter would never hurt him or reveal that he could be soft.

He pressed his face against her neck, inhaling the scent of her so close. "I missed you, Carter."

She grinned, recognizing the trust he was placing in her and not wanting to make him feel vulnerable. "You probably didn't even know it wasn't me."

He didn't let go, trying to stretch out the moment. "I knew something wasn't right."

Carter pulled back slightly, her eyes widening. "What was wrong, sir?"

He grinned. "I didn't say anything was wrong. I just said it wasn't right."

"Never mind. I don't think I really want to know." Once she remembered how she'd realized something was wrong with Jack - when Jack has come on to her - she didn't want to give him the chance to tease her.

Jack grinned, desperate to prolong any conversation that kept Carter in his arms. There was something in the way she'd backed down so quickly that was distinctly unlike her. "Are you sure, Carter? I don't mind rehashing it."

She ducked in embarrassment, knowing without question that he'd figured it out the same way she had. But in her haste to hide her red cheeks, she forgot how close they were. Rather than saving face, she only drew attention to herself by inadvertently burying her face in his chest.

Jack misread her mistake and thought she was seeking reassurance. His arms tightened around her and he bent down to whisper in her ear. "Hey, it's ok. I was kidding."

She would have been even more embarrassed if not for the warm and welcoming response he'd offered. Unconsciously, she snuggled closer to him. His hands left her back, moving to cradle her face. He guided her chin up until he could look in her eyes. It was amazing to him that he saw no reproach there.

He nodded toward the mirror without taking his eyes off hers. "Maybe that's not so inappropriate after all."

She wanted to take him up on it. Like always, close proximity to Jack stripped all of her defenses away. But she'd always prided herself on her professionalism and she had to hold herself to the same standards she always did. Otherwise, she'd hate herself for it and be ashamed of what she'd done. She leaned back slightly, knowing the small movement would be felt with the way his hands were on her face. "We're working, sir."

She saw the indecision in his eyes. She saw the recognition in his eyes as well - he could see the desire in her eyes and he knew she wouldn't be the slightest bit offended if he kissed her anyway. At the very least, she would be absolved of making the decision to break the rules. And despite the idea that had obviously occurred to him, he followed the rules and her decree. He didn't want her to think less of him for giving in to something so personal while they were working.

"You're right. Like always." He sighed and nodded as he stepped back to put ample space between them. "But at least I got my hug."

Carter grinned and walked toward the door. "You certainly did."

"And it was a very nice hug." He couldn't seem to stop smiling.

But then, it appeared Carter was having the same trouble controlling her smile. "Yes, sir, very nice."

"We'll have to do that again soon."

She looked at him, a feeling like electricity running through her at the idea. "Any time, sir."

"I have every intention of taking you up on that." Actually, Jack was fighting the urge to suggest it right then.

Her eyes sparkled when she looked up at him. "I hope you do." She continued walking, ready to head back home with a report of a successful mission.

"You're sure this is my reality, right?"

Carter shrugged noncommittally. "As sure as I can be, sir."

"For the record, Carter, when I'm obviously asking for reassurance, I expect an emphatic yes, ok?"

She grinned. "Yes, sir."

"So, you're sure this is my reality, right?" Jack expected exasperation, but Carter was still grinning. Probably because he was still grinning. All because he'd almost kissed her. He wondered how unbearably happy they would be if they actually kissed and Carter remembered it. He decided they would be disgustingly so, because when he'd kissed her during the time loop, he'd been smiling for days, raising a lot of questions from Carter.

Carter just kept beaming at him. "Absolutely, sir."

He nodded. "That's more like it." He kept his pace slow so Carter could keep up while she pretended not to limp. "So what happened to your leg?" When Carter didn't immediately answer, he glanced at her, seeing a blush working its way across her face.

"Nothing, sir."

"Just thought you'd try a limp out and see how you like it?" He knew there was a story there, if based only on the idea that Carter clearly didn't want to tell him. "Come on, Carter, what happened?"

She squeezed her eyes closed and willed herself to disappear. When that failed, she tried taking a normal step without limping, but that hurt her knee so much she nearly cried. "I tripped."

Jack pondered her words for a moment. "You're not exactly uncoordinated, Carter. How'd you manage that?"

Her mind raced to spit out details that wouldn't reveal too much. "I wasn't looking where I was going and I didn't see the bench until I fell over it."

"What bench?" The story she was giving him didn't seem back enough for Carter to dread telling it, so Jack knew there was more to it. She was hiding something.

"The one in the locker room." Her face burned as she looked for a place to hide.

"What were you looking at that distracted you that much?" He'd spent so much time in the locker room over the years that he could navigate it blindfolded without tripping over the bench. He was sure Carter could do the same.

"To be honest, sir, I had just come to the conclusion that the Colonel O'Neill with me wasn't you, so I was trying to get away from him without turning my back. I didn't know it was only an alternate reality you, so I didn't know he could be trusted."

"Oh, that makes sense." He watched her carefully, seeing the moment she relaxed. Then he pounced. "What were you and Jack doing in the same locker room?"

She hid her face behind her hands. "Please leave me alone!"

He couldn't leave well enough alone. He enjoyed teasing her too much. "I'm really curious because the other Carter had some very interesting ideas of what we could do in the locker room."

AN: This is not the end. There's another part coming. I was planning on finishing the whole thing with a long Chapter 11, but my aunt has been terribly sick and I'm spending most of my time either at work or at the hospital. In fact, I haven't seen any new Stargate eps yet because I haven't had time. Chapter 12 will be the end and hopefully it will be up in the next few days. Please R&R!