Sam sat still in her lab, Daniel was once again pounding on her door, sighing she finally opened it, "Yes?"

"What are you doing locking yourself up again?" He asked practically bouncing on his feet, "Things going well with Jack?"

"Yes and no, why?"

"Just curious, the whole base is buzzing with the anticipation of tonight" he was still bouncing

"Stop bouncing your making me sick" she laughed

"You sick? Never!" he mocked, "Well the base is being shut down about two hours after the last team comes back, you going to stick around or go home and get ready?"

"I think go home, I'm meeting Dr. Lam after work to get ready together" Sam smiled

"It's nice you two are friends, I mean after Janet and all" Daniel looked sad

"Yea, no one can replace Janet, and no one wants to" she gave him a quick hug, "Now go, I have paperwork up to my ears" she shooed him away before letting a tear fall, locking her lab she went back to work.

Work for Sam lasted for the next three hours before her concentration was attracted to the now very familiar beeping of her computer smiling to herself she opened her new email.

emailemailemailemailemailemailemail

TO: Carter, Samantha
FROM: O'Neill, Jack
SUBJECT: Um…Something important!

Sam,

I know we haven't been talking much lately, since last week so much has happened that beginning to unravel things will just make things more complicated. Wait until tonight and we can discuss things at the ball. I am also glad that you have found a friend in Dr Lam, she seems a bit up tight to me, but hey everyone's up tight to me because I'm now 'the man'.

Questions, questions…

1. I will try my best to dance with you tonight, not making any promises there are other woman that want just as much attention! Just kidding…of course we will dance tonight!

2. Me and Daniel? We're pretty close I guess you could say, at least as close as I'll ever come to a scientist in the most platonic way possible…you're different so don't even ask!

3. Why else would I ask if you think your new team member is cute? Jealousy rages deep within me, has ever since I met you…not that it's your fault, at all.

4. Hammond (he reminds me of Homer), Walter (always lets us through the gate and lets us come home), Siler (because he wears the brunt of everything, from you electrocuting him to me pushing him down the stairs), Teal'c (obvious reasons), Daniel (once again obvious reasoning, besides he is great to wind up!), Kawalsky (always been there for me, even when he was taken host to by some snake thingy), Doc Janet (even with her big needles), Dr Weir (because she let us go when she was told not too), Commissary ladies (they make sure there is cake every time I enter the place, plus for your blue jell-o and my red), oh and you (for reasons that are obvious, gorgeous eyes, fantastic figure, bigger brain, etc, etc)

5. Danny boy liking Dr Lam…maybe, maybe not. I know he had a thing for Janet and I'm not sure if he is totally over it, but if he has a thing for her then all the best for him.

1. Promise me after all this is over we have a talk, please?

2. Why me? You could choose from any other man on any other planet.

I don't have any other questions this time. Oh and before I forget, the base is shutting down in an hour, I expect you to be gone as soon as it shuts down!

Love,
Jack

emailemailemailemailemailemailemail


Sam smiled to herself, checking her watch it had been about an hour since the last team came back. Looking at the paperwork that had gone from a mountain to nearly non-existent she began to shuffle the last remaining papers into a neat pile. Looking back at the open email she could almost see him sitting at his desk waiting for her to reply.

emailemailemailemailemailemailemail

TO: O'Neill, Jack
FROM: Carter, Samantha
SUBJECT: Um…Something important!

Jack,

Being 'the man' has its bonuses, a great office no matter how little it is used! She is no Janet like I mentioned but she is still someone whom I've come to trust, that I can relate to in some ways. Her dad is a General too! Don't worry about me not leaving on time, I'm actually meeting Dr Lam at the surface and we're going back to my place to get ready.

Your questions we're different, more in depth than I thought you were ready for, but then again this is you we are talking about, fill of surprises!

1. I do solemnly promise to talk to you when everything has settled down. From your email I thought you wanted to talk at the ball, but your question has contradicted that thought. Still, we can talk we you're ready.
2. I'll answer this in the simplest way. Why would I want another man when the one that means the most, sees the most and loves me is standing right in front of me? The regulations stood in the way of this, us, but now they are gone. I promised myself I wouldn't settle for anything less than the best, and I have that in you. What more could I want?

I don't have any questions, mainly because all of mine will be answered when we talk and I'd like to save them for then.

Love you,
Sam

emailemailemailemailemailemailemail


Sam clicked send and sat. Looking at the time she had fifteen minutes before the base was shut down, it had taken her nearly forty-five minutes to write the email. Closing her laptop she raised, leaving work behind her she walked to the locker room. Changing into civvies, she made her way to the surface where she knew Dr Lam would be waiting for her.

"Sam" Jack's voice stopped her

"General" Sam replied facing him

"Please call me Jack" he begged softly

"After work, not on the job" Sam replied smiling

"Ok, I can settle for that" he smiled, "Heading off?"

"Yea, I figured I should get a move on and get ready"

"I'm surprised, I figured I would have to drag you kicking and screaming from the lab" he laughed

"Well, I decided to give 'the man' a night off" she winked, "Which reminds me, I better head off otherwise Caroline will leave without me" she gently kissed his cheek before walking away.

Her lips still burned with the feel of his stubble cheek on them. Reaching the top she could make out Caroline's car. She wasn't there yet.

"Hey" her voice sounded form behind her, "Sorry I'm late, one the teams had an injury" Caroline smiled

"No problems, haven't been waiting long, in fact just got up here myself" Sam replied, "Your car or mine?"

"Ah, I'd say mine because I reckon Jack will bring you home from the ball" Caroline winked

"I'm going to pretend I didn't hear that!" Sam scoffed getting into Caroline's car

"Well, shall we then?" Caroline started the engine and they drove off.

A/N: Short I know, and no there will be no before ball info…mainly because the ball is important and I want to get straight to it.

Hope you enjoyed the chapter.

Muahsio,

Fyre-Anjel