The telephone rang, waking Sam up. "Carter." She replied, sleepily.
"Major, did I wake you?" General Hammond asked.
She willed herself awake. "No, sir. You're fine."
"I need to speak with you and Colonel O'Neill. The President and the Joint Chiefs called a meeting last night to discuss your dilemma."
She was now fully awake. "I'll be there in an hour…" Then, she closed her eyes in frustration. "Or not…I left my car at the base."
"I already spoke to Colonel O'Neill. He offered to come and pick you up."
She smiled. "Thank you, sir."
"Take it easy, Major. There's no hurry."
The nausea returned full force as she hung up and got out of bed. She stumbled into the kitchen and made herself some dry toast and poured herself some orange juice.
At about the time she had finished her breakfast, Jack knocked at the door. She walked to the door and opened it.
"Carter."
She smiled. "Sir."
"You doing okay?"
She shrugged. "A little better. I got some juice and toast down."
"Good."
She looked at him, standing on her doorstep in his dress blues. He looked so handsome. Suddenly, she felt very self-conscious. "Uh, come in. Make yourself at home, and I'll be back in a few minutes."
"Take your time."
She hurried into her bedroom and closed the door. She turned on the shower and hurried to get ready. Just then, the phone rang.
"Jack! Can you get that?"
He did so, and she stepped into the shower.
"Hello?"
"Jack?" Daniel asked, confused.
"Danny!"
"What are you doing at Sam's house?"
"I took her home yesterday, and she left her car at the base. General Hammond requested a meeting with us, so I'm here to pick her up."
"How is Sam?"
Jack chewed his lip. "She seems better today, but Danny…I don't know, she's…"
"Affectionate?"
"Yeah."
"Well, I've almost finished the translation, but I found a couple things that might interest you."
"We'll be there after we talk to Hammond."
"Okay. Tell Sam to take care."
"I will."
"Bye."
"Bye."
The water shut off, and Jack approached Sam's bedroom door. "Sam?"
"What was that, Jack?"
"Daniel. He needs to talk to us too."
"Really?" She asked.
"Yeah, apparently he found something interesting in some of his reading."
There was silence for a few moments. "Sam?"
"I'll be there in a few minutes."
"Daniel also said to take it easy."
He heard her laugh. "I'm getting tired of people saying that. You would think I had just been shot or something…"
A few minutes later, she emerged, rubbing some gel into her hair. "Sorry, I'm taking so long." She said, racing past him.
"Sam! Relax! It's General Hammond…not the Joint Chiefs."
She stopped. "I'm sorry, I'm just…nervous."
"So am I, but it's not worth passing out over."
She took a deep breath. "I'm almost ready."
"Well, take whatever time you need."
Ten minutes later, they were on the road. Sam was doing her make-up in the car, and Jack had to chuckle.
"What?" She asked, pausing before she applied her mascara.
"I never pegged you for a 'make-up on the go' girl."
"Oh, really? What kind of girl did you peg me for?"
"Uh…"
She laughed. "It's okay. I never pegged you for the romantic."
"So? I have…layers."
She smiled and returned to look at the mirror.
They entered the briefing room and each gave a sharp salute to General Hammond. He returned it and motioned to the empty seats to his right. "Have a seat, Colonel…Major."
They sat across from Major Paul Davis, at the table that they had become so accustomed to. "You both know Major Davis."
Sam felt her face flush with embarrassment as she noticed a look of stifled amusement on Davis's face. "Yes, sir, we do."
"Major Davis is here as a liaison from the President and Joint Chiefs." The General began.
"They called an emergency meeting to discuss your…situation.' He said, stifling a smile.
"Major, is there a problem?" Jack asked.
"No, sir." Davis responded, sobering up.
"Colonel." The General warned.
"I'm sorry, sir." He mumbled, though nothing could be further from the truth.
"We are here to inform you of the proceedings." Davis continued.
"They have decided to suspend fraternization regulations on an individual basis." The General said, surprising Sam and Jack.
"Sir?" Sam asked, glancing toward Jack."
"General, sir…we didn't…fraternize with each…other." Jack said, lamely.
The General couldn't help but chuckle. "Maybe not, but honestly, this has been a long time in coming. I should have mentioned something about the regulations after the Virus of the Touched and each minor disaster following it. But especially after the za'tarc testing."
They paled.
"It's all right. All I meant was that your lives were put in danger, and if Major Carter hadn't been willing to risk a court martial, neither of you would be here today. I just should have pulled a couple of strings."
"This is really to help open up your options as you're planning your…family." Davis continued.
"So, theoretically, we could get married tomorrow." Jack said, winning a quizzical look from Sam. "What? I'm just asking."
The General nodded. "Yes."
"Cool."
"Not that that's going to happen." Sam clarified.
"Be that as it may," the General continued. "Major Carter, you are being removed from the mission list until after you return from maternity leave.
Sam took a deep breath. The reality of the situation flooded over her.
"Major?"
She turned to Jack, tears glistening in her eyes. "It's nothing. I'm fine."
"You sure?" Jack asked.
She nodded. Then she turned to General Hammond and Major Davis. "Well, thank you."
As she and Jack stood up, she faltered, falling into Jack's arms. "Sam?"
A few seconds later, her eyes fluttered open. "Sorry. What happened?"
"You passed out. I told you that you were going to." Jack said, smiling as he looked down into the face of the woman he held in his arms.
"Major, report to the infirmary." The General ordered. His unspoken order to Jack was to make sure that she got there.
"I'm fine." She protested as Jack helped her stand up.
"You probably are, but we don't want to take any chances. Besides, I want Janet to tell you that you overdid it this morning." Jack placed his hand at the small of her back and helped her out of the room leaving the other two seasoned Air Force officers confused about what had just occurred.
They arrived at the infirmary despite Sam's protests. "Sam? What are you doing here?"
"She passed out during our meeting with General Hammond because she pushed herself too far this morning."
"I'm FINE." She growled.
"How about you let me be the judge of that." Janet said, chuckling.
Sure enough, she was fine, but Janet had a few words. "Listen to your body, Sam. This is a big adjustment." She said, sternly.
"Thanks, Janet." Sam said, hopping off the cot. She staggered for a moment, but quickly steadied.
"Keep an eye on her, will you, Colonel?"