Sam stretched languidly, allowing the last vestiges of the most recent release Jack had given her to finally fade away. As soon as they'd been alone, Jack had wasted no time in carting her back to bed. He'd caressed and kissed and worshiped every square inch of her body at least twice. And yet she couldn't seem to get enough of him.
She'd spent the entire day in bed with her husband. Sam giggled lightly. Husband. Jack O'Neill was hers. Forever.
Glancing at his dozing form next to her, she felt desire stir within her again. Turning onto her side, she toyed with his chest hair then tiptoed her fingers down to his ribcage, marveling at the way his skin twitched at her touch.
Shifting onto her knees, she lightly nipped his abs, dragging her tongue downward to tickle just below his navel.
Jack came awake slowly, fighting against consciousness and wanting to sink back into sleep. A warm caress pulled him further along, tickling his senses as a soft moan of pleasure reached his ears. He moaned lightly again, realizing the sounds were coming from him.
"Ja-ack," Sam's sensual, sing-songy voice reached his ears, "Are you awake?" She asked lightly before continuing to kiss her way down his stomach.
Jack's body responded, no longer caring if it acquired the sleep it desired because he desired her more. Samantha. His wife .
"You're gonna kill me Carter," he chuckled sleepily. He reached down and pulled her up and on top of him before she could make it to her intended destination.
She whimpered in disappointment until he snaked a hand down her body, slipping three fingers along her folds. Spreading her with two fingers, he used his middle finger to gently roll her swollen nub in small circles.
Still sensitive from her previous orgasms, it wasn't long before she arched against him, gasping as she found release again. He continued stroking her, drawing out her pleasure until she relaxed with a little hum of fulfillment.
"Better?" He murmured against her hair.
"Mm-hmm," she purred, snuggling into him contentedly.
"Good," he smiled, lazily tracing gate symbols on her back. "We need to call Danny and T," Jack yawned.
Sam lifted her head to look at him, resting her chin on his chest. "They're going to make us take the President up on his offer."
"Not if we don't tell them about it."
She thumped him lightly on his chest. "Just because I jumped at the chance to marry you doesn't mean I don't want a ceremony at some point," she told him.
"White dress, dancing, cake," he waggled his eyebrows when he mentioned cake, making her roll her eyes. "Got it."
She shook her head at him. Using his chest to leverage herself up, she reached across him to snag one of their cell phones off the nightstand. Jack's hand slipped to her backside, giving it a playful squeeze.
"Here," she snuggled back into the crook of his arm and handed him the phone. "Invite them over for dinner," she glanced at the clock on her wall, "tell them to be here in two hours."
"Already barking out orders," Jack grumbled playfully, pressing speed dial number two. Daniel answered on the second ring.
"I heard Jacob finally arrived," Daniel said, instead of a standard 'hello.'
"Hello to you, too," Jack replied. "Why yes, the weather is lovely today."
"Cut the crap, Jack," Daniel retorted. "Was Jacob able to heal Sam?"
"Daniel wants to know if you're healed," Jack told her in a loud stage whisper.
"I'm healed," Sam said loud enough for her teammate to hear through the phone.
"Carter wants to have a team night at her place tonight. To celebrate," he grinned at Sam. "Call T and be here around 1600." He ended the call after Daniel agreed. "Daniel sends his love," Jack told her with a silly grin.
Sam shook her head at his antics and rolled out of bed. She stretched, arching her back and reveling in the feel of being whole. It was a feeling she'd never take for granted again.
"Where ya going?" Jack pouted, his eyes roaming over her bare skin. "They're not going to be here until 1600."
"I need a shower," she told him, sidestepping his hand as he tried to snag her arm and pull her back into bed.
"It doesn't take two hours to take a shower," Jack argued.
"There's also the mess in the kitchen," she told him, referring to the burned eggs and forgotten breakfast.
Jack sighed. "Okay, okay," He grumbled. "But I still don't think it'll take two hours to shower and clean the kitchen," he muttered as Sam headed toward the bathroom.
After a moment she stuck her head back into the bedroom. "Are you just going to lay there?"
"I figured you wanted to use the shower first."
Sam rolled her eyes at him. "I never said I wanted to use it alone." She watched as her words registered. "So ya coming or what?"
She didn't have to ask twice.
It took them 119 minutes to get ready. Jack took note of the time with a shake of his head. He knew better than to question Carter's time assessments in the field, he supposed that should apply to their personal lives as well now.
"They're here," Sam called from the living room.
Glancing at the wedding ring on his hand, he wondered how long it would take Danny to notice it. Jack had no doubt Teal'c would notice it immediately, but would simply smile and give them a head bow.
After tonight their rings would go onto their dog tags until such a time when their marriage wouldn't cause a risk to Sam's career. They'd discussed it while getting ready, and while neither liked not openly claiming the other, they both saw the wisdom of keeping their marriage a secret. The more time that passed, the easier it would be for them to prove their relationship had no bearing on their jobs. That's the chance the President was giving them.
"Hi Sam," he heard Danny say followed by Teal'c's deep tone saying, "It is good to see you well once again."
"I couldn't agree more," Jack responded, walking into the living room.
"Come on in," Sam beamed at them, "I figured we could order in. Pizza? Chinese? Italian?"
"I dunno," Daniel shrugged and looked at Teal'c, "I don't really have a preference. You?"
Teal'c was appraising Sam's left hand, then raised his eyes to Jack's. The stare was tense for a moment and Jack was aware of the inherent threat being conveyed to him. Finally, Teal'c bowed his head, accepting Jack's unspoken acknowledgment.
"I do believe there is cause for celebration," Teal'c answered, turning to Daniel. "Should we not order Samantha Carter's favorite meal?"
"To tell you the truth, I'm not really in the mood for Mexican," she suppressed a giggle as her eyes cut to Jack, who bit back a smile. They both knew what happened to Sam when she ate Mexican food. Considering this was their wedding night, he understood her hesitation to feel gassy.
"Really?" Daniel frowned. "Are you sure Jacob and Selmak healed you fully?" He placed the back of his hand to her forehead.
"I'm fine Daniel," she smirked at him, batting away his hand.
"Oh my god." Daniel said, snatching her left hand out of the air. "Oh my god!" He exclaimed this time, his eyes trained on her wedding band. "What the hell is this?" His eyes cut to Jack. "What the hell did you do?"
"Hey!" Jack bristled, "it's not like I forced Carter to marry me. She said 'I do' all on her own."
"Technically, I didn't say 'I do,'" Sam shrugged and smirked at Jack.
"Ha. Ha." Jack rolled his eyes, but he couldn't quite keep the grin off of his face.
"Congratulations, Samantha Carter. O'Neill," Teal'c smiled warmly at them.
"Yes, of course, congratulations," Daniel rushed out, jerking Sam into a quick hug. He still glared at Jack before pulling back. "What does this mean, though?" He asked hesitantly. "I thought Air Force regulations prevented any type of relationship."
"Yah, about that," Jack rubbed the back of his neck in slight embarrassment as he explained how Hammond had personally delivered Henry's offer to them that morning.
"Wow, so you're married; you have the green light, but—"
"We have to keep it on a need to know basis," Sam finished Daniel's statement. "That about sums it up."
"Wow," Daniel looked between his two friends. They looked genuinely happier than he'd ever seen them. While it sucked they had to hide their marriage, neither seemed to mind. "If you're happy, then I'm happy for you."
"I swear to never reveal your relationship, even under the threat of death," Teal'c placed a fist against his heart and bowed his head as he made the oath.
"Thanks Buddy," Jack replied, slightly choked up at the sincerity as Sam pulled Teal'c into a big hug.
"Shall I start calling you Samantha O'Neill in private?" Teal'c asked her. "I believe it is Tau'ri custom for a wife to take her husband's name upon joining their lives together."
"Um," Sam glanced back at Jack nervously. "It's not something we've actually discussed."
"You'll always be Carter to me," Jack shrugged.
"I think I'll stay Samantha Carter then," she grinned. "Maybe hyphenate once we can go public with our marriage."
"And if you have kids?" Daniel inquired.
Sam's eyes bulged slightly. "We haven't exactly—I mean—"
"Carter just got back on her feet," Jack told him, hiding his mild amusement at his wife's discomfort. Personally, he'd love to have a kid with her, but it was her call more than his. "Let's not get her hypothetically knocked-up already. Hmm?"
"You're right," Daniel looked appropriately chastised. "Sorry Sam."
"It's okay, Daniel," she gave his hand a gentle squeeze.
"Besides, Jack," Daniel caught Sam's eye and covertly winked at her, "I doubt anyone would buy the whole aliens made them do it excuse," he laughed, dodging the pillow Jack threw at his head.
Several hours later, the entire team sat around Sam's television watching Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom. Daniel's grumbles about the lack of authenticity of Harrison Ford's portrayal of an archeologist had become less and less frequent as he'd gotten wrapped up into the story, but also from Jack ordering him to pipe down.
Teal'c sat cross-legged on the floor, munching on the popcorn Sam had popped simply because she knew he'd enjoy it. Daniel lounged in the chair katy-corner to the television, a pillow hugged against his middle as Dr. Jones locked his love interest into a cage that dangled over bubbling lava.
Beside her, Jack sat with his arm wrapped around her, pulling her gently into his side. Sam was curled against him, more content than she could ever remember. Yawning, she waved off Jack's arched eyebrow. She wasn't quite ready for the guys to leave yet.
A light rapping on the door drew everyone's attention. Teal'c rose to his feet immediately, a frown on his face.
"Easy big fella," Jack told him, also standing up. "Good guys don't knock."
Sam crossed to the door slowly, giving Jack time to retrieve his sidearm from the bedroom.
"Major Carter? Colonel O'Neill?" Walter's voice called through the solid wood. "It's Walter. From base. Walter Harriman."
Sam opened the door immediately to find the Master Sergeant standing on her porch.
"Good evening, ma'am," Walter nodded hello.
"Hi, Walter," she motioned for him to come in. "We're just having team night," she told him, unsure of how much he knew about their situation.
"I was afraid I'd be interrupting you and Colonel O'Neill," Walter's ears turned red. "I know you're on your," he lowered his voice to a whisper, "honeymoon."
"Daniel and Teal'c know about our marriage," Sam told him with a grin. "I should have known you would, too."
"There's not much I don't know about the SGC, ma'am," Walter grinned back. "I processed your paperwork myself. As soon as I filed it with Marty at the courthouse, I made sure it got good and lost."
"We appreciate it," Jack replied, having returned his weapon to the bedroom.
"General Hammond asked me to deliver this to you personally, sir," Walter said, turning to Jack. The affable demeanor faded away as he handed his superior officer a manila envelope. "I had Agent Barrett set up a facial recognition algorithm using the FBI surveillance network," he explained.
"You got a hit," Sam surmised, as Jack flipped open the folder to reveal several street cam photographs of Pete.
"We did. Several in fact," Walter nodded. "That one was taken yesterday morning at the Green Mountain Falls Lodge about twenty-two minutes outside of Colorado Springs. There are some others from today, but I didn't take the time to look before bringing them over."
Jack's eyes snapped to Sam's. Pete was back in town. They'd both assumed he would flee to Denver then go to ground. Sam had known he was still a threat, but she thought time would be on her side so they could plan a proper ambush to take him down for good.
"General Hammond wanted me to remind you that you're on TDRL ma'am," Walter told Sam, then turned to Jack, "and that you, sir, are on personal leave. For two more weeks."
"Thank you Sergeant," Jack said, understanding the message. If they wanted to act they needed to do so now while they wouldn't have to file a report detailing their actions. Sure, Hammond could make Shanahan's capture a mission since his knowledge of the Stargate program was a threat to National security; however, this way gave them much more flexibility.
"Sir, I'd like to help," Walter said. "Ma'am, when detective Shanahan attacked you, he attacked all of us. I'd like to help bring him to justice."
"Thank you,Walter," Sam told him sincerely, "but you are still on duty and any action you take will require the generation of a report."
Walter's face fell, but he nodded. "Yes, ma'am."
Sam glanced over Walter's head and received Jack's nod. "If we were to call a friend for some information, say directions or a lift somewhere," she watched Walter's face begin to brighten, "well that wouldn't be so reportable now would it?"
"Yes ma'am!" Walter nodded enthusiastically, "whatever you need. Just," he looked her directly in the eyes, "bring that asshole down."