The second week in February was approaching and Sam still did not know what Jack had decided about the auction.
Life at the SGC was hectic to say the least. Sam was busy with off-world missions and Jack was still getting used to being the Head Honcho on base.
Keeping their relationship off base wasn't a problem as they were too busy to even try to pay attention to each other. The only real time they spent with each other was at home, generally between the hours of 9 pm and 6 am and unfortunately much of that time was spent sleeping, catching up on paperwork or Sam working out.
Finally, the evening of February 14th arrived. Sam took the day off and reported to the "Beauty Crew" right after lunch. She relaxed as she sat back into the chair.
"Aren't we a much more willing participant" joked Bobbie, a very flamboyant make-up artist who had had the pleasure of working on Sam for the calendar shoot.
"My, my, my, someone has been living at the gym. You could bounce a quarter off that tummy, he said as he patted Sam's now very tight and defined stomach.
"I'm all yours Bobbie," said Sam "beautify me!"
For several hours Sam and Bobbie chatted pleasantly as he and two other people helped Sam get ready for the auction. Sam had to laugh when Bobbie started commenting about the "cuties" that would be escorting each of women on stage.
"Oh, look here comes one now," whispered Bobbie "I could eat him for breakfast!"
Sam turned around to be greeted by her very own Jack O'Neill wearing a tuxedo and looking like he just stepped off the cover of GQ.
Sam leaned over to Bobbie and whispered "I actually know that one, he's my C.O."
"What a shame," replied Bobbie with a long sigh, "all the good ones are either straight or married."
As Jack approached Sam could tell that he had noticed Bobbie checking him out. He was looking a bit uncomfortable. "Colonel Carter, are you almost ready?" he asked looking impatient. "It took me all of twenty minutes to shower, shave and get into my monkey suite. How long have you been sitting here, three hours?
"As a matter of fact Sir, it has been about four" laughed Sam as she stood up out of the chair. She was wearing only a bathrobe. "Is my suit behind the screen?" she asked Bobbie.
"Yes, honey," he said still eyeing Jack. "It's on a hanger, do you need some help?"
Sam was going to have fun with this. "Sure" she said as she looked at Jack and smiled.
Jack grimaced at her as Bobbie joined Sam behind the screen.
"What a rack," squealed Bobbie "it's nice to have a model that can fill out her suit. Are they yours? If not you have to let me know who your surgeon was. I know a few models that could use a great set like that."
Sam heard Jack grind his teeth and grunt. She let out a little giggle. "They're mine, thank you. I think. I wear baggy BDU's everyday so they don't get that much attention. I'm afraid military uniforms are not very flattering. I think they purposefully try to make us all look like men.
"Yes, but don't they all look divine!" gushed Bobbie.
Sam stepped out from behind the screen.
She looked at Jack who was trying to look like he wasn't affected by the site of Sam in her bikini.
He wasn't doing a very good job.
His eyes were literally bugging out of his head and he was moving his mouth as if to say something but no sound was coming out.
"What do you think?" she asked as she bent over to let Bobbie drape her "Miss July" sash around her torso.
Jack now got an even better view of Sam's cleavage. He straightened himself up to full height.
"You are NOT going out there like that!" he exclaimed. He grabbed her bath robe and draped it over her shoulders to cover her up.
"It's not like they haven't all seen it before" laughed Sam "I'm sure they all have the calendar and our pictures are in the program."
"I don't care" said Jack as he protectively tried to stand in front of Sam to block her from anyone's view. "They can stare at the pictures all they like, this is different. They are not going to lay a finger on m……"
"SHH!" warned Sam. She could tell that he was just about to say "my girlfriend" and she new she had to stop him.
"Well, you know what I mean" finished Jack.
"Now, now Sir," said Sam through clenched teeth "remember this is for charity."
Jack tied the bathrobe tight around Sam's waist. "Fine, but remember, I know how to kill a man 100 different ways and still make it look like an accident" he whispered to her.
"Cute" she replied as she removed her bathrobe and checked herself in the mirror one last time.
"Come on, walk me to the stage" said Sam as she hooked her arm through Jacks and headed out of her dressing room. She was enjoying this side of Jack. She liked that he was a bit jealous.
Jack escorted Sam to the model waiting area and went over to find Miss November, the model he would be escorting on stage.
Sam was paired with a slightly round middle aged officer who quite obviously could not take his eyes from her cleavage. He couldn't stop staring at it every time Sam started to make polite conversation. Finally she gave up and just sat and waited for the MC to finish the introductions and get on with the auction.
She peeked over to see Jack politely making conversation with Miss November and every so often he would peek over at her and glare menacingly at her escort.
It was hard but she fought the temptation to start flirting with her escort just to drive Jack nuts.
Finally she heard the MC start to announce Miss January and watched as the pretty young woman and her escort stepped out from behind the curtain to whoops and cat calls. The MC then started the bidding.
After Miss January was auctioned off Mr. January was then led out on stage by an equally beautiful woman wearing an evening gown.
This continued with each month's models. First the female then the male were each paraded around the stage in their appropriate costume and sent off with the highest bidder.
The audience had definitely come prepared. Each model was catching quite a price, each fetching between $2,000.00 and $3,000.00.
Finally a staff member told Sam that Miss July was about to be announced. Sam held her breath and stood up with her escort. She waited outside the curtains and put on her brightest smile.
"Our next model is Miss July," called the MC. Bob, her escort pushed aside the curtain and Sam stepped through. The audience was filled with men and women in black tie and evening gowns.
Sam was led to the end of the stage where she then stood alone and posed for the audience. She could feel her face turn bright red as she heard several men in the audience whistle loudly and call out to her.
She scanned the audience… no Jack. How was he supposed to bid on her? She was hoping that he would be there so that she would not end up with God knows who and a potentially miserable evening.
"Our Miss July is Lt. Colonel Samantha Carter USAF, Deep Space Radar Telemetry" called the MC. "Watch out men, our Miss July not only has a PHD in Astrophysics but is a decorated fighter pilot who flew quite a few missions in the Gulf War. I don't know about you but I think that leads to quite a combination. No wonder this lovely lady was selected to represent the month of our Nation's Independence Day, God Bless America that we have women like our Miss July."
Sam turned around as she was instructed to do and blushed even further as the men in the audience went wild over the MC's description of her.
Suddenly the bidding began.
"Let's start this lovely at $1000, shall we" called the MC.
In no time the men in the audience were in a frenzy calling out bids for a chance to enjoy a dinner date with her.
Where was Jack, he was not amongst the bidders. Then she heard it a very deep voice calling out a bid for $2900.
It was Teal'c! THANK GOD thought Sam, he would come to her rescue.
Many of the men turned to see Teal'c, even though he was dressed in a top hat and tuxedo, he still looked intimidating.
The other men were still bidding. Suddenly Sam recognized another voice, Daniel. THANK GOD again, thought Sam, another hero to rescue her.
She then recognized another voice. This time it was Matthews from the SGC. She saw him with a group of about five other men, all of whom she recognized from the base. This was the group Jack must have spoken about. They had pooled their fund together and were jockeying to out bid everyone else.
SHIT, thought Sam, that could only lead to disaster. She could just picture herself, dressed in her evening gown surrounded by these six eager men all vying for her attention. She could then picture Jack flipping out and stationing them all to the outer edges of the galaxy in retribution.
Teal'c bid again, then Daniel. Her price was slowly escalating. She was now over $4000.
Matthews group were all bent over together strategizing their next bid. Things did not look good for Sam.
She was now over $5000. The MC was in a frenzy of delight crooning on how this one "Lovely" was going to be single handedly responsible for a new Arts and Crafts Center for the DAV Rehab Hospital.
Sam was starting to feel very self-conscience standing their in her red white and blue bikini. Not to mention a bit chilly.
Then she heard it. "How about $10,000!" came a bid from the back of the room.
