Jack took the stairs two at a time. Slamming the door behind him, he crossed to the bathroom and quickly washed off the mud that had splashed his legs as they'd ran through the garden. Looking down at himself, he decided a shower was in order, followed by a quick shave. If he and Sam were finally blowing open the door to their figurative room, he was going to make damn sure everything was perfect.
Ten minutes later, he was clean shaven and pulling on his clothes when there was a knock. Thinking it was Sam unwilling to wait any longer, he left his shirt off and opened the door.
"Impatient I see," he grinned as he stared into the face of a worried-looking Loran.
"Colonel O 'Neill," Loran shifted from foot-to-foot uneasily. "I need your help."
"Now's not a good time," Jack hedged.
"It's about Sam—Major Carter," Loran hurried to say.
"What about her?" Jack asked uneasily.
"She isn't acting like herself," Loran whispered. "She lied to you today," the kid added, looking pained by his words.
"Why do you think that?" Jack asked already knowing the answer.
"She was never in the kitchen earlier, but she told you she was," Loran twisted his shirt around his fingers. "And just a few minutes ago, she came running up the stairs soaking wet. And she was humming!"
"I see," Jack bit back a smile at the sincerity in the kid's tone. He also enjoyed the idea that he had made Sam hum. He'd like to make her do more than that.
"I don't want to get her into trouble, but I'm really worried she's having some sort of psychological reaction to the reduction of the radiation," the kid continued, oblivious to Jack's inner thoughts.
"Listen, Loran," Jack placed a heavy hand on the kid's shoulder. "I promise you Carter is perfectly fine. She lied because I told her to," he fibbed. "She was doing something for me and didn't want to say where she was."
"And just a few minutes ago?" Loran asked skeptically.
"I was with her; we got caught out in the rain is all. Stop fretting."
"But her lack of shoes earlier—" Loran protested.
"Ack!" Jack held up his hand. "Carter is fine. Got it?"
"Got it," Loran answered dutifully. Although he didn't look convinced at all, the kid nodded in acceptance and turned to head to his room.
As Jack stepped back into his own room and shut the door, he realized the kid would definitely be keeping an eye on Sam whether he wanted him to or not. Which meant, Loran would undoubtedly see when Jack went into her room tonight. Normally, this wouldn't matter, but they were taking Loran home with them. While he knew the kid wouldn't do anything to intentionally cause Sam trouble, Loran could inadvertently say the wrong thing to the wrong person. The implications would be disastrous.
A wave of disappointment and frustration washed over Jack. He couldn't go to Sam tonight. Not if he wanted to protect her career. His own career be damned. Sam was worth throwing his career into a coffin. He'd retire in a heartbeat, but then who would be her new CO? Reynolds? Chapman? Hell no. Neither of them were worthy of watching her six?
But an idea suddenly began to take shape; a devilishly clever idea. Maybe it was the light still affecting him, but Jack grinned broadly as he crossed to the window. Moving his telescope aside, he stuck his head out. The sides of the palace were brick-like and totally scaleable. He'd handled worse on black-ops missions, surely he could shimmy his way over to Sam's room. While she was at the other end of the hallway inside, there was only Daniel's room and a corner to traverse on the outside. This was totally doable.
Stepping onto the ledge, he glanced downward at the ground below and wondered briefly if this was a good idea. But the image of Sam waiting for him filled his mind. I need you. In bed. With me. Now.
Gripping the brick with his fingertips, he found a foothold with his toes and pulled himself out onto the sheer wall.
I promise the next chapter is worth all the frustration!