All right, Campers, here's an extra looooong chapter! Enjoy!
As she entered the closet, her heart started beating faster and faster.
Stop acting like a teenager, she thought.
There aren't any cameras in here, a voice in her head whispered.
And her heart continued beating faster!
Jack closed the closet door, and turned on the light. He turned around and his eyes widened in surprise. She was centimeters away from him.
He was filled with an overwhelming urge to kiss her, propose to her, anything to tell her how much he loved her.
The locket was in his pocket. He could easily propose and retire later.
What are you thinking, O'Neill? He thought. You can't even ask her to dinner, but you want to ask her to marry you?
"So, Carter, what are your plans? I mean, today is your birthday."
"Well, Pete and I are going out for the evening."
Now, what on earth possessed her to say that? What if Jack wanted to take her out?
On the other hand, what boyfriend ignored his girlfriend's birthday and lived to tell the tale? If she was going to keep up this charade, it was necessary to say that Pete was taking her out. Hopefully, Jack's jealousy would finally emerge.
He was crushed, absolutely crushed. "Well, I hope you enjoy the evening. Don't do anything I wouldn't do."
He looked into her clear, blue eyes. There was something there. In fact, he could have sworn that she was disappointed.
"Why'd you ask, Sir?"
Uh, good question, he thought.
"Once you get old like me, nothing exciting ever happens."
Did that really just come out of his mouth? He thought, bracing himself for her reaction.
"Sir, you're not that old! In fact, I find gray attractive."
She ran her fingers through his short, gray hair.
His heart started racing in anticipation.
She stopped herself. What was she doing? Was she professing her love? Was she just insane?
Yes, on both accounts. She could be so fired for this!
And what was that comment about finding gray attractive? She asked herself.
The truth, she responded.
"What are your plans for the weekend?" Jack asked, hoarsely.
"Pete's going to California for a few days."
Why on Earth did she keep mentioning her non-existent boyfriend!
"What's he doing in California?"
Uh, good question, how do I answer that?
"He's interviewing for a job with the LAPD."
Jack's eyes widened. "Really!"
Okay, he thought, this is either good news or bad news.
Either she and Pete are breaking up or they're so serious that Sam's willing to leave the SGC.
His heart flopped from absolute ecstasy to impenetrable depression.
"So, Pete's thinking about moving from Colorado to California, huh?"
Sam nodded. "Do you and the guys want to come to my house for dinner? We'll just hang out."
Uh-oh! This sounds like a farewell party!
"Carter, would you ever consider leaving the SGC?"
"If the conditions were right, Sir."
He nodded, dejected. "Wouldn't we all."
She didn't understand his disappointment. She had just declared how much she loved him! After all, she was willing to leave her dream job for him. After all, she didn't want those pesky regulations interfering in her personal life forever.
Suddenly, the door opened, and Daniel appeared.
"Uh, sorry."
Jack walked out of the closet and helped Sam out too.
"What do you need, Daniel?"
"General Hammond ordered us to put the extra lab equipment in the multi-purpose room so that it didn't interfere with the stuff in the lab right now. I thought you might want to be involved."
She nodded, frustration building. Once again, Daniel had managed to walk in at an inopportune time!
She hurried toward the multi-purpose room, leaving the men behind her.
She could have sworn, however, that she heard Daniel chuckle. "Distract her, Jack? I think you did a pretty good job."
He could have slugged Daniel!
"You got her into a closet?"
"Daniel, drop it! If you and Janet hadn't been spying on us . . ."
"And if you hadn't been heading straight for the multi-purpose room, we wouldn't have been spying."
Jack turned. "That doesn't make any sense."
"Okay! When you said you'd distract her, you piqued our curiosity."
Oh man, he thought, here we go again!
"I told you to get your mind out of the gutter!"
"Yeah, but that only got us more interested . . ."
Suddenly, there was a squeal.
"Was that Sam?" Daniel asked, satisfactorily.
"No, it was General Hammond!"
Duh, he thought, though Sam isn't much of a squealer. Maybe I should try and get her to do it again sometime.
"What was me?" General George Hammond asked, coming up behind Daniel and Jack.
Great! He thought.
"Nothing, sir." He replied as Daniel ducked into the party, laughing.
Now, please, Please, PLEASE review! I have to know what you think!