Title: The Embassy

Disclaimers in Part 1

Part 2

Week 7 Day 7

DANIEL

Four very long and busy weeks later, Teal'c and I returned to Hawai'iki to join the detachment of Marines holding the fort at the villa.

"Major Adams, how have things been here? I see you've cleaned up." I gazed around the now well-swept and cleaned courtyard in astonishment. The fountain ran freely with clean water and masses of brightly colored flowers overflowed from the window boxes. The window glass sparkled and large clay urns with fragrant plants dotted the courtyard. "I appreciate your efforts."

"Wish I could take credit for all of it, sir, but when the neighbors saw us pushing brooms around the place they dropped by with cleaning supplies and pitched right in. The flowers all came from them, too. We were very careful about who we allowed inside, though, Mr. Ambassador, and the place was swept for bugs as soon as they all left."

Embarrassed, I groused, "I don't think I'll ever get used to being called Mr. Ambassador, Major. Thanks again, for your efforts. How are your troops getting along with their assignment here?"

"Well, it being a hardship tour – no families and all – they're missing home a little, but they'll settle into it soon. I've been on a couple of these tours before, and after a month or two things smooth out."

"Good. Teal'c will be in charge of security when he's not on missions with SG-1. If you have any security issues or need information, speak with him. Major Carter, when she and her new team arrive, will be in charge of any technology for the compound. I'd appreciate it if your techs could work with her on any projects that come up."

"I'll do that, sir."

"When do the rest of your troops arrive?" A special detachment, assembled just for this off world assignment, would eventually number between fifty and seventy-five. The first group had arrived with Major Adams while the security community back home vetted the rest.

"I hope the next group will be here next week, but you know how quickly the bureaucracy moves, sir." We exchanged wry smiles. "If you'll follow Lieutenant Moore, he'll show you where you can bunk. The rooms are pretty bare, but we found some old stuff in the attic and set up a couple of offices and apartments for you and Teal'c. If you need anything, we're in the barracks out back."

I was astonished they'd accomplished so much with so little. I looked gratefully at the major and remarked, smiling, "I'm glad you took this transfer, Major."

The beds were old, the mattresses lumpy, but we'd slept on much worse over the years. The next day I was inundated by local well-wishers and site-seers wanting to meet the new player in their midst. We were a seven-day wonder to the locals, and from such a "backward" planet, too.

Teal'c took charge of the security details and organized a thorough search of the mansion and outbuildings for breaches of the perimeter and anything that didn't belong. He arranged for repairs to the remarkably few items broken or stolen while the place had stood abandoned.

I hired and supervised craftsmen to begin refurbishing the mansion. There was enough work to keep the carpenters alone busy for a generation. Both of us had enormous jobs ahead of us and we loved every minute of it.

SAM

While Teal'c and Daniel were lying around, living the life of leisure, I was recruiting and interviewing for my last team member, and finishing any projects that I couldn't delegate. One Friday noontime just after Daniel and Teal'c had left Earth, Janet and I sat in the mess hall over lunch.

"I've signed up two new members for SG-1, written the requirements and supplies lists for the off-world labs, rented out my house, put my things in storage, had my mail forwarded to the SGC, and given away all my plants. Now, if I could get all of my open positions filled, I can get out of here."

"That anxious to leave? I thought you'd be figuring out ways to stay." Janet lowered her voice and asked conspiratorially, "So, uh, Sam, have you and the colonel, uh, you know?"

"Excuse me?" I really didn't know.

"Have you, well, done the dirty deed yet?" Her grin widened in anticipation of any dirt I could dish.

"Janet!" I could feel my cheeks positively glowing with embarrassment.

"Come on, give. Is he as good as he looks?"

I dropped my head to stare at my uneaten lunch and whispered miserably, "Janet, I haven't seen Colonel O'Neill since we all went to O'Malley's the day he resigned from SG-1. I've tried calling his office, calling his home, sending email, dropping by unannounced, leaving notes. It-it's like he's been avoiding me." I looked up to see her gaping at me in shock.

"Oh. I guess we … misjudged how he feels about you." Then, Janet put down her spoon a little more forcefully than strictly necessary, earning her a few curious looks. She lowered her voice to avoid fueling any more rumors and leaned toward me. "Darn it! No, we didn't. I've seen him sit by your bed for days on end when you were hurt. We've all seen the way he looks at you. That man loves you, Sam."

"Well, there's not much I can do if I can't find him is there?" I replied miserably.

"Not unless you happen to be best friends with his doctor." My head popped up to stare at my now smirking lunch companion.

"Janet… what are you plotting in that evil brain of yours?" I wasn't sure I liked the sound of this. On the other hand, what did I have to lose except the grinding loneliness of my life?

"A certain wounded bird colonel has an appointment for an exam this afternoon. I could be persuaded to ask him to wait in his office for the results of the MRI on his knee."

Encouraged, I chuckled. "So, what is this little favor going to cost me?"

"Hmm, how about, oh, maid of honor?"

"Dreamer." My smile slipped a little as I remembered the lonely weeks just past.

Two hours later, I stood outside my former CO's office. Janet had assured me that he would be inside waiting for the test results for at least 20 minutes. My hand hesitantly rose to knock when I heard, "Major Carter report to General Hammond's office immediately. Major Carter report to General Hammond's office."

"Arrgghh! Lousy timing," I protested as I spun on my heel and marched to the general's office as fast as I could get there without running. Let's get this over with so I can corner the colonel.

Hammond kept me cooling my heels in the outer office for at least ten minutes until the his aide motioned for me to go in. My firm knock was greeted with, "Come." I strode in, impatient, but trying not to show it.

"Sir."

"Sit down, Major. I have something for you." He opened the desk right-hand drawer and withdrew something he kept out of sight in his lap. "By all rights, Colonel O'Neill should be giving you these in a formal ceremony, but he asked me to do it for him and time is short before you leave." A small smile played around his mouth. I couldn't tell if it was amusement or pleasure.

"Yes, sir?" I prompted him, trying not to fidget. I thought to myself, Hurry up! The colonel's going to leave if I don't get down there soon enough.

General Hammond took pity on me and raised a small box from behind his desk. He pushed it across the desktop toward me. It looked rather familiar. "Sir, is that … what I think it is?" My heart was beating fast, my mouth dry.

"Perhaps. What do you think it is, Major? Or should I say, Lieutenant Colonel?" He chuckled, probably with delight at the dumbfounded look on my face. "I tried to get Jacob here for this, but he's off on another long-term mission. I know he'll be disappointed to have missed seeing you take this next step."

"I-I don't know what to say, except thank you." I felt my face stretching into a happy grin.

"As I said, you should be thanking Colonel O'Neill. He's been burning up the wires between here and the Pentagon for the last two weeks. They finally relented and expedited the paperwork just to be rid of him. It was his last act as commander of SG-1."

"Is that why he's been avoiding me, sir? So he could surprise me with this?"

Hammond appeared puzzled by the question. "Not that I'm aware of, Colonel. Perhaps you should ask him."

"If you'll excuse me, sir, I'll go do that." I stood to leave and stopped. "Thank you, again, sir. I know he couldn't have done this without your support."

"You're very welcome, Sam. The promotion is well deserved. When time allows, we'll schedule a ceremony so Jacob can attend." I grinned happily again and pivoted to exit his office.

I practically flew down the hall to Colonel O'Neill's office door. Rapping firmly, I waited for an answer and then knocked again. "Sir, it's Carter. I'd like to talk with you." Frustrated by silence, I tried the knob. Locked! Arg!

Several long, enervating hours later, feeling like a stalker, I sat in my car outside the colonel's house. It was an unseasonably warm night for late spring and unusually humid, retaining the day's heat. He wasn't home yet, so I waited, less than patiently, for his return, thinking, why didn't I bring my laptop to keep my mind from racing in circles? My fingers drummed on the steering wheel and then flipped impatiently through all of the radio stations for something, anything that would keep me from going crazy while I waited.

Finally, around 2200, his big F250 truck turned the corner and headed for his driveway. I slid down in the driver's seat to avoid him spotting me, but the skirt of my light cotton dress bunched up around my waist. Mumbling an aggravated, "Stupid dress." I tugged at it in frustration as I sat back up.

With only a few streetlights on his road and no moon out, my silver Volvo was practically invisible in the shadows of several trees. I bit my lip in anticipation and considered that maybe, if I could surprise him, he wouldn't get away this time. Oh, why don't I have my P-90! It would feel so comforting in my hands right about now.

As soon as the door closed behind him, I opened my car door, closed it quietly and trotted up the driveway, my sandals making practically no noise. I raised my hand to knock and paused, getting definite feelings of déjà vu from this afternoon. I muttered, "This is your last chance Jack O'Neill. You'd damn well better answer the door."

"Nice view, Carter. I'm sure the neighbors are enjoying it too," I heard from behind me.

I spun around. "Wha… what are you doing out here? And what's a nice view?"

He stood, looking incredibly hot leaning casually on a cane, his smirk nearly wide enough to split his face in half. "I may not be in the field anymore, Carter, but you can't skulk around my house without me noticing. And, uh, you might want to check out the back of your skirt before you leave home next time."

My hands flew to my posterior and felt -- nothing but skin! I closed my eyes and couldn't stop the plea from leaving my lips, "Oh, God." One side of my skirt was tucked inside the band of my thong, practically baring me from the waist down. "I don't suppose you can just forget this ever happened?" I asked as I pulled the offending material out to cover … things properly. Nothing like starting off a possibly life-altering encounter on the wrong foot.

"Whatcha doing here, Carter? Need some advice from your former CO already?" His tone was fading from amused to sarcastic.

"Can we talk inside, sir?" I was already at a severe disadvantage in the exchange. Standing out in his yard hadn't made me feel any more confident.

"Whatever," he replied, seemingly disinterested, and led the way through the front door and into the kitchen. "Beer?"

"I'd prefer wine, if you have it," I answered. Silently, I prayed for the alcohol to calm my nerves.

"There's a bottle of white left over from our last team get together." He poured the golden liquid into a stemmed glass and held it out toward me. Leaning back against the counter, hands on the edge, he asked, "So, why are you here, Carter? Boyfriend didn't call this weekend?"

"Huh? No. I wanted to ask why you've been avoiding me since you left SG-1." I gulped some wine and nervously swirled the remainder around in the glass, staring at it instead of him. "I mean, if you've changed your mind about how you feel a-about me I can understand. We never … made any commitments to each other. I just need to know …"

He frowned slightly. "Shouldn't you be saying this to Jim?"

"'Jim?' Now it was my turn to be baffled.

"Your boyfriend, Carter. Or do you go through so many of them you can't remember their names?"

How could he say that! I have no memory of doing it, but my wine, as though it levitated from the glass, splashed against his face. "You jerk! I don't know why I ever thought I could talk to you about this. I just wanted to know if you still cared for me and you treat me like a tramp."

Mopping his face with a paper towel, the colonel said, "I guess I deserved that. Sorry, Carter. I know very well you usually have no more of a personal life than any of the team does."

Cynicism laced my words, "Gee, thanks, sir. I appreciate your complete understanding of my situation. You know very well the reasons why I haven't seen anyone else."

"I don't know about that, but well, Jim's a lucky man." He turned away from me, his expression tight, controlled, his jaw clenching spasmodically.

This was just too much. I was furious at the colonel skirting the issue by implying that I was involved with another man. "Who is Jim?" I shouted.

"Your boyfriend, Carter. I accidentally overheard you and Daniel talking about him at O'Malley's last month."

"Wha …?" One hand over my mouth, I frantically thought back to the last SG-1 team night, running through my conversations that night. After a few seconds, the light dawned and I sniggered at his misunderstanding. The snigger became a chuckle, which turned into a laugh, then a full-blown guffaw. His face showed indignation over my laughter at his expense. Helpless, I bent over my aching stomach and gasped. "Oh god, just wait until Daniel hears about this."

"What?" Colonel O'Neill snarled with annoyance. It only made me laugh harder and I gasped for air.

With a great effort, I composed myself, wiped my eyes and stood, making sure this time my skirt was covering everything. Clearing my throat, I flashed what I hoped was a saucy grin at him, feeling in control of the conversation for the first time all evening.

"Did you know I've never really kissed Jim? At least, not when I was myself."

He held up his hands, palm out, and said intently, "TMI, Carter. Too much information."

"There's been a lot of speculation in the women's locker room about how hot he'd really be," I purred and stepped a little closer to my colonel.

"Again, too much information. Guys don't talk about each other like this, Carter." He backed away and nervously pressed his butt against the edge of the counter as though trying to get away.

Delighted with his physical responses, my smile got wider. I took another step, thinking, yeah, like they don't talk about women this way either. A derisive snort escaped.

"Janet tried to get me to tell her how good he is in bed." I put my hands on the counter to either side of his lean hips, suddenly deadly serious.

He looked about ready to panic. "For cryin' out loud, Carter. Give me a break here." Instead, I moved closer, pressing against him, molding my body to his. He was breathing hard, seemingly afraid to find out what I was up to and, yet, I could tell he was afraid not to.

My hand slipped around his neck and I pulled his head down to mine. My lips brushed softly, teasingly against his. My tongue skated across his lips and I momentarily replaced it with my lips. I licked my lips, tasting the wine, "Mmm, you taste good, Jack." A small moan escaped him.

I slid my other arm around his waist and pulled his shirt from the waistband of his jeans. I traced a line up his spine with my short nails, eliciting a violent shiver.

"Oh God, Sam. Why are you doing this to me?" His hands clenched the edge of the counter and his knuckles were white with the effort to hold on.

I pressed my lips to his and, my voice husky with desire, whispered, "Hi, Jim." My fingers twined in the soft hair at his nape. I pulled him closer, deepening the kiss. His soft lips parted, admitting my tongue. I ground my hips against his groin, rubbing the evidence of his excitement through the thin fabric of my dress and the soft cloth of his worn jeans. I thought the counter would break, he gripped it so hard. I was sure they never taught how to resist this type of interrogation at the Air Force Survival Schools.

My words finally seemed to sink in and Jack stuttered, his control obviously almost broken, "J-J-Jim?"

Abruptly, I stepped back, breathing hard and shaking in every limb from the powerful desire to rip his clothes off. It was one of the hardest things I've ever done. "Yeah, Jim." I smacked his forehead with the heel of my hand and walked the few steps toward the kitchen table to sit down before I fell down. Overheated and shaken from the amazing kiss, I slipped off my light sweater and put it over the chair back while I tried to calm myself.

His face showed unbounded confusion and, taking pity on him, I explained, "Do you remember when Daniel came back to us, he couldn't remember anyone?" Jack nodded mutely. "He called you 'Jim' and I kept reminding him that it was 'Jack'?" He nodded again, comprehension dawning in his amazing brown eyes. "Well, we started using Jim as a codeword for you and kept it up even after Daniel's memory came back. We were talking about you that night at O'Malley's."

Jack shut his eyes and grimaced. "Oh, crap, I am such a fool."

I pursed my lips in annoyance and replied, "You'll get no argument from me."

DANIEL

It was 2 a.m. and my guests had shown no sign of leaving yet. Apparently, the custom was to hold an open house as soon as a new embassy was established. I still hadn't gotten anyone to tell me how long the open house should last. At least they had brought their own refreshments.

"Oh, Mr. Ambassador, have another. These are a specialty of my planet, as well as a personal specialty." The lovely young female from Barave batted her eyelashes at me. Well, she actually batted the flabby ridge … things that served as eyelashes. It was really kind of creepy.

"They're delicious, but I couldn't possibly eat another thing, please." She batted them again and I repressed a shudder. Teal'c was nowhere in sight, lucky man. The timely appearance of her clan father, the Baraven ambassador, saved me from having to eat the mushy blue pile of … something she kept offering me.

I was exhausted from a very full day. Shortly after we arrived that morning, the parade of ambassadors, deputy ambassadors, ambassadorial spouses, their children, their friends, and sundry relatives and hangers-on began. Every one of them had an unmarried daughter, niece, sister, cousin or, in one case, brother to present. The day quickly took on a nightmarish quality.

The last fifteen hours or so had been a whirl of strange faces and unattached names. It would be weeks before I sorted them all. I'd learned early in the day to lock my apartment door and had Adams lock as many other doors as he could. The Hawai'ikians had an insatiable desire to poke around. It made me wonder why they'd never traveled off world.

Somewhere around three a.m., the visitors began leaving, one by one. By five o'clock, they were all gone. I collapsed into my bed and fell asleep immediately. By six o'clock, the tradesmen began arriving, all demanding oh-so-politely to see the ambassador.

JACK

"Sam, can you ever forgive me?" I felt such a fool.

She stood slowly and walked over to me. "Only if you're completely honest with me. No more avoiding me, no more assuming you know what's going on rather than finding out, no more deciding things for both of us." She caressed my cheek. "Deal?"

I turned my head to brush my lips lightly against her palm. "Deal. You have no idea how much the thought that you were with someone else hurt me, Sam."

"The same way it hurt me that you avoided me like the plague once the regs weren't an issue anymore. I had no idea what you wanted from me. Whether you just wanted to be friends or you had someone else I knew nothing about." Her eyes were filling with unshed tears. Carter never cried. It ripped my heart apart to think I was responsible.

"Sam, please forgive me. You mean more to me than my own life." I gathered her into my arms. "Without you, I don't really have a life."

She dipped her head shyly and, her warm breath feathering softly over my neck, suggested, "Well, you could make it up to me, Jack." Her use of my first name was as intimate as a caress.

"Anything. I'll do anything for you, Sam." Her hand slid from my shoulder down my chest, her index finger trailed over my abdomen, her hips molded against mine. Her other hand pulled my head down to her for the sweetest kiss I'd ever experienced. The kiss seemed to last no time at all, but I was suddenly gasping for air as though it had gone on forever. She moved her lips to my neck and shoulder.

"That's good, because we have a lot of wasted time to make up for, Jack."

I closed my eyes, guilt eating at me for that time we'd never get back. I silently vowed never to let her down again. A shiver flashed through my body as her tongue assaulted my collarbone. My breathing became ragged again and I think I moaned her name.

TEAL'C

DanielJackson had just agreed to give the tradesman ten domesticated bovine animals for a pound of grain, so I felt it was time to intervene. My seven years of research into Earth culture came to my assistance. "Mr. Ambassador, you are wanted by President Shmoo of Outer Slobovia - immediately."

"Oh, yes. Uh, thank you Teal'c. I'm coming right now." He was weaving on his feet; consequently, I took his arm. By the time we arrived at the stairs, his condition required that I carry my friend to his room. I removed his boots and covered him. His snoring promptly followed me as I returned to take care of the remaining merchants.

SAM

The next morning, I woke alone in an unfamiliar place. It was Jack's bedroom, but there was no sign of him. Not seeing any of my clothes, I grabbed a shirt lying across the bottom of the bed and pulled it over my head. The thing hung to mid-thigh, so I figured it was good enough coverage. I padded out to the kitchen looking for Jack. We had many things to discuss.

"Jack?" He bounded in through the back door, grinning widely, holding flowers picked from his yard in one hand and his cane in the other.
"Good morning, gorgeous." His eyes got really big. "Whoa."

"Uh, I grabbed the first thing I found to put on. I hope it's okay. I can change if it's not." Just my luck to have grabbed his favorite shirt.

"No, don't. You look incredibly sexy in my hockey jersey. It never looked that good on me."

I couldn't help grinning. "That's a matter of perspective, Jack. Somehow, I think you'd be pretty hot in it." His arms engulfed me and strong hands stroked my back. My head swam from the combined affect of his holding me and his distinctive scent - clean, musky, and masculine. I wanted him all over again.

He must have seen the desire in my eyes because Jack pulled me forcefully toward him and kissed me passionately. Hands roamed over my body, igniting a greater desire, and found their way under the jersey to my skin. Shivers of delight ran through me.

"Jack, bedroom," I got out between kisses. I cupped him through his sweat pants, squeezing gently, stroking.

"Oh, yeah." Despite his recent injuries, he scooped me up and carried me into the bedroom, the cane forgotten.

JACK

If this was a dream, I never wanted to wake up. Cliché, I know, but it was true. The woman of my many dreams was lying in my arms, sleeping while I watched and I never, ever wanted to let her go. I always thought we'd be good together, but the reality was so far beyond my imagination.

Feeling breakfast was in order, I mentally reviewed my pantry and freezer, and then decided on making my specialty: a simple ham and Swiss omelet, toast, fresh fruit and coffee. When the omelet was keeping warm in the oven, I took some coffee into Sam. I set it down on the nightstand on "her" side of the bed and sat down beside her. Lashes rose, revealing enormous, crystalline blue eyes that were sucking me down into… Then, Whoa, Jack, where'd that come from? Get a grip here, passed through my mind. Man, I had it bad.

"You have enough time for a shower before breakfast is ready, Sam."

"Is that a hint, Colonel, or are you angling to join me?" Her grin was infectious and I returned it, though mine was probably a lot sappier than hers was.

"Don't tempt me, Colonel. If I do, breakfast will never be ready and I know how ravenous you are in the morning." She chuckled quietly.

"That reminds me, I owe you a huge thank you for pushing though my promotion. Especially when you thought I was seeing someone else." Well, that embarrassed me all over again for making an ass of myself.

"Yeah, well, you've earned it several times over, Sam. You should have had your own team years ago, but I was selfish. I didn't want to break up SG-1 or lose what little time you and I had to be together, even as just teammates." I was afraid of her reaction to my little confession, but her words were not exactly what I expected.

"Even if you did hold my career back a little, something, by the way, you're never going to do again on threat of evisceration … I love you, Jack O'Neill."

I'm afraid my voice was a little tight when I replied, "I love you, too, Samantha Carter." We shared a little kiss, a kiss so full of promise I never wanted to let her go. Finally, she pulled back, grabbed her coffee and headed for the bathroom.

"I'll be out in 15 minutes. Hope you made enough food for both of us. I'm starved."

When the door closed behind her all I could think of to say was, "Wow."

TEAL'C

I was well satisfied with my morning of trading. The merchants on this world were not prepared to face the presence of a former First Prime. They expected arrogance and greed; they were unprepared for negotiation by a master of the art.

Not only had I procured a week's worth of supplies for the inhabitants of the compound, I had reversed the less than fortunate trades made by my friend, DanielJackson. Major Adams' Marines were storing the perishables under his direction while I took my leave of the last tradesman, many of them having left after it became apparent that no easy currency would be made here.

I moved toward the Marine. "Major Adams, have you and your team opened the remaining locked rooms in the basement?"

"All but two. They've resisted all sorts of persuasion. I think we'll need a locksmith."

"They use the same sort of mechanism as the other locked doors?"

"No, sir. These two have more complex, electronic locks with a combination of some sort. None of my kids recognized the writing on the door either. Perhaps you could take a look?"

"Indeed, I will. I prefer to have no areas we have not explored, but, if I cannot open the doors, MajorCarter may be able to when she arrives." Major Adams nodded his agreement and we departed the courtyard for the basement.

SAM

"That hit the spot, Jack. I never knew you could cook so well. I'm glad one of us can. My repertoire is rather limited," I admitted a little self-consciously.

"Just because all I've ever cooked for you before is barbecue and MREs, doesn't mean that's all I can do." His smile held for a few seconds while I grinned back, and then faded. I sipped my coffee and sensed from his expression that we were about to get down to some serious discussion now.

He stared at his mug, face open and vulnerable for the first time since I'd met him. "You know, Sam, if we ever got together, I kind of wanted to take this whole relationship thing slowly to make sure we get it right, but we sort of blew that whole theory last night." The corner of his mouth rose in a smile that made my heart suddenly beat harder.

"Yeah, about four or five times if you include this morning," I blurted, unsettled by his honesty, and snickered rather inappropriately. Realizing what I'd just said, I blushed furiously, mentally chiding myself, I have been spending way too much time with a certain colonel. The thought made a small smile play around my lips, but I quickly replaced it with an equally small frown.

"What are you thinking about, Sam?"

"Nothing." I suddenly got busy with cleaning up and not looking at him.

"Hey. Is something wrong?" His tone reflected true concern.

I put the plates in the sink and turned to face him from the relative safety of six feet away. "I just remembered I leave for Hawai'iki in less than two weeks. If I'm lucky, I'll be home once a month. What kind of relationship would we have living so far apart? It's not like I can phone you each night to ask how your day was." We'd taken one step forward and slipped back a few light years.

"That's a problem, but not an insurmountable one." Jack moved to stand in front of me and raised his hands to my shoulders. "We could start an old fashioned correspondence with real letters. Ya know, snail mail."

Incredibly pleased by his suggestion, I gushed, "You're brilliant, Jack."

Week 9 Day 4

SAM

Ten days, a lousy ten days were all we had before I had to leave. I've never been so exhausted in my life. Spending my days in the lab, meeting with General Hammond and working with my new team took more hours than there were in the day. More important, I made time to spend with Jack. I used to fantasize about him, now I dreamed about sleep.

Jack was wonderful and I saw a side of him never before revealed. Whatever time I got home, he'd hobble to the door and lead me to the couch. Off came my boots and jacket. A cup of my favorite tea would be waiting. He made me an excellent dinner each night even though I knew he was busy with plans for his new training unit.

After dinner, we'd make love or, when I was too exhausted, he'd hold me in his arms where I'd sleep soundly all night. It got harder each day to think about leaving him. I'd never been this happy or felt this loved.

When I got back to work the Monday after I'd "stalked" Jack, Janet cornered me in my lab wanting to know how things went Friday afternoon. "General Hammond called me into his office just as I was about to knock on the colonel's door. By the time I got back from speaking with the general, Colonel O'Neill was gone." It was evasive, but I wasn't quite ready to share our relationship with all of the SGC.

"So, you never got to see him. I'm sorry, Sam. We'll just have to think of something else. I hope the General had news good enough to make up for missing the colonel." I dipped my head to hide the grin I couldn't stop. "Sa-am, what are you hiding?"

I guiltily pulled my fatigue shirt off my chair and held it out to her. She gasped in delight when she saw the new insignia on the collar. "Sam! Why didn't you come tell me right away?"

"Well, I was running around like a headless chicken looking for the colonel, if for nothing else than to thank him for pushing through my promotion. When I missed him again, I didn't really feel much like talking."

"Oh, Sam. What can I say?" Her expression of sympathy almost made me 'fess up.

"Don't worry, Janet. I'm a big girl; I'll survive. If we're meant to be, it'll happen," I evaded, guarding my private life, even from my best friend. She'd kill me when she found out. Just so long as I told her before I left.

"Can you come to dinner Friday with Cassie and me? We'd love to see you before you go. How about we make it a girl's night? We'll rent a movie, eat junk food, drink some wine and tell lies about how we hate all men."

"Uh, it sounds wonderful, but I can't, Janet," I fumbled for an answer. "There's just too much to do between now and then. I promise I'll spend time with you next time I'm home."

"Okay, but I'm going to hold you to that, Lieutenant Colonel, ma'am." She threw a snappy salute my way and left the lab with a chuckle.

TEAL'C

This planet was most interesting. The people were friendly to the point of being intrusive. They participated in the activity O'Neill called "partying" to an extent that defied reason. They freely shared everything in their possession without complaint or, what was more amazing, ego. Being proud of one's giving was considered gauche and refusal of a gift was never taken as an insult. It was a truly mature society that, despite their tendency to give away everything they owned, still managed to achieve an impressive level of technology, in many ways far surpassing that of Earth.

My friend DanielJackson was in his element when speaking with the Hawai'ikian scholars and we often had hoards of them about the place. They would walk about the gardens or sat sipping cups of coffee, which my friend had introduced to the chef during our first week and the Hawai'ikians drank with great relish. My task of securing the residence was often more difficult due to the propensity of these intellectuals to wander freely as they discussed whatever subject caught their particular fancy. They knew nothing of privacy nor understood security. This trait kept me quite busy devising ways to deflect them from areas we wished kept private.

The one area in which the Hawai'ikians were not far in advance of Earth science was medicine. The transplanted Tau'ri on Hawai'iki had very sturdy constitutions and few diseases troubled them. Even the constant influx of alien and humanoid races had not significantly increased the incidence of illness. I suspected their Goa'uld master must have modified their genetic makeup considerably, as other Goa'uld had the Jaffa. Doctor Fraiser or a physician of her caliber would find this world and its inhabitants most interesting.

JACK

How I dreaded the day when she'd leave. The time since she'd confronted me had been wonderful. The days were full of working on my training program, personnel justifications, office and space requests, equipment lists and everything I could think of for my new unit. Annnnnd, every few minutes there was the little thought that would pop up of the delightful, beautiful, brilliant woman who owned my heart.

For the first time in years, I was able to exercise my cooking skills on someone besides a few unsuspecting party guests. Knowing how hard she worked and how little she ate if not reminded, I sent a page each day at 1800, "Time to come home, gorgeous. Dinner's almost ready." Within an hour or two, she'd be home, greeting me with a smile that would vaporize ice with its heat and a kiss that would curl my toes.

On the last day, I decided to start our correspondence a little early and sat down to write a letter. I made a lot of false starts and worked on it for hours. The finished letter I slipped into the bag of personal items she was taking with her to Hawai'iki. On the outside, I'd written, "Do not open until you get to the embassy."

DANIEL

Sleep, I needed sleep. My mirror showed a man on the edge of collapse. There just wasn't enough time in the twenty-eight-hour Hawai'ikian day to meet with everyone who asked for me and to sleep. In desperation, I went to Bragi for an answer to how I could politely refuse some of the invitations and visitors. He had to know what the local customs allowed.

The petite alien appeared, just like before, in a flash of light. "Ambassador Bragi, thank you for making the time to meet with me. I really need your advice and some information on the never-ending open house. Plus, how can I manage to find some time for duties and a few minutes to myself without insulting everyone who comes to see me?"

I could have sworn he was suppressing laughter. "I will be pleased to help you, Doctor Jackson. If you do not mind, let us retreat to my ship where we can speak in comfort." He made a gesture and a hidden mechanism whisked us to his ship. Several other Asgard stood at consoles in the room where we appeared. Nodding to them, Bragi led me to a room with comfortable, if somewhat small, furniture where we spoke for more than two hours.

The solution was so simple that I, in my inexperience and exhaustion, couldn't see it. Essentially, all of the senior staff members at the embassy took turns with me being on duty for visitors. They would be my representatives, relieving me from constantly having to dance attendance on guests. Now, I just had to break the news to the staff.

JANET

I stewed mentally over the situation between my two co-workers, feeling helpless. Poor Sam, I feel so badly for her. She deserves so much better. If I get that colonel in my infirmary, senior officer or not, I'm going to wring his neck. Sam was due to leave Earth that morning and several of us planned to see SG-1 off on its new assignment.

"Doctor Fraiser, it's time to go if we want to get there before them," Lieutenant Rush pronounced from my office door.

"Be right there." I locked my workstation and then joined her and the other women by the elevator. We took the next car to level 28 and hurried to the gate room. We milled around for several minutes until our lookout rushed in. "They're almost here. Get ready."

We scrambled, preparing our sign off to the side of the ramp, laughing and ignoring the jibes of the men standing around. Just as we got into a line, laughing a little, the new SG-1 walked through the door into the gate room. Sam and her three new teammates, all female, beamed back at the sign we held up: "Make us proud, ladies!"

I overheard one of the male technicians whisper wistfully to another, "Teal'c is a very lucky man."

SAM

The first thing I did after setting down my luggage in my brand new and mostly empty apartment was pull out Jack's letter. He'd told me about it when we parted at his house this morning. It was an emotionally exhausting experience, but Jack hadn't wanted to say goodbye in front of a room full of people any more than I had.

I stared at the crisp white envelope for I don't know how long. Finally, I tore open the top, slipped out the plain white paper, and read:

My Dearest Sam,

Do you know how long I've wanted to say those words anywhere except in my mind? I think you do. When I shoved you through the Stargate that first trip and said, "I adore you already," I was only half kidding.

Kawalsky took great pleasure in teasing me back then about the lovely new member of our team whom he was convinced I'd seduce as soon as possible. I don't think he suspected ASAP would turn out to be more than seven years. Besides, wasn't it you who…?

Smiling, I stopped reading and remembered our first meeting so long ago. The first thing I noticed about him was how sexy he looked in class As. Oh, and that smile! I picked up the letter again.

Even though I'm writing this before you leave, I miss you already. I miss sleeping with my arms around you. I miss the cute way you wake up semi-conscious and your incredible brain doesn't start until after your first cup of coffee. I miss finding your things in my dirty clothes hamper and having your favorite foods in my fridge – which you made me clean out. Especially, I miss the scent of your hair when I hold you and the feel of your skin under my fingers.

I guess this isn't too bad for a guy who's bad at talking about his feelings. What can I say? You inspire me.

Come home to me when you can, Sam, and write as often as you can. I love you.

Yours always,

Jack

I loved him so much. It hurt to be away from him even after such a short time together. Where was an interstellar telephone when you needed one? I figured I'd just have to invent it.

Just then, I heard a knock on my door. I quickly wiped my tears away and walked over to open the door. It was Teal'c, come to ask my assistance with a lock no one had been able to open. It was the first of many puzzles I'd face on Hawai'iki.

Continued in Part 3