AN: I just realized that the formatting I had for thoughts was getting lost in the transfer. From now on thoughts will be in italics. Sorry about that.

This will be the last chapter I post before I go away for Thanksgiving break. I won't be back until the 27th so I hope this tides you over. Hopefully I'll get a chance to work on this story a little bit while I'm away from school.

xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxo

Chapter 4:

"Jacob?" Jack asked, hopefully.

A figure stepped through the gate. Crap. Jack's face fell.

"Crap." Jack muttered under his breath. "Oh, joy," he said a little louder.

"You will be civil, Colonel. That's an order." the General gave him an understanding but firm look. If Jack wasn't mistaken, there was a little bit of desperate pleading lurking in his features as well.

Jack gave him an exasperated look, but nodded. "Yes, sir."

Sam felt a pang of unidentified emotion when the Tok'ra stepped through the gate. At first she thought it was just disappointment. She had really wanted to see her father. It had been a while. However, she knew that disappointment wasn't all she was feeling. After a split second of thinking, a look of understanding crossed Sam's face, followed by an angry flush. Sam! You're an engaged woman! She chastised herself. Even if you weren't, jealousy is not an appropriate emotion to feel concerning your CO and another woman! She did allow herself to feel sorry for him. The poor man was practically molested every time he had a run-in with "Tok'ra Spice" as Anise/Freya had been so aptly dubbed by the women of the SGC after her last visit. Whore. Sam thought smugly. Aah! Stop it!

"Major Carter, it is nice to see you again." Sam jumped when she heard the voice behind her. She had been so caught up in her thoughts that she had completely missed the Tok'ra's approach. Sam smiled tightly and returned the pleasantries, which were less that sincere on both sides. Wait, where did Colonel O'Neill disappear to? He was just here a minute ago.

"Where is Colonel O'Neill?" Anise asked. Sam smiled to herself. He sure is fast when he wants to be.

"I'm afraid the Colonel is running some errands for me," came General Hammond's voice.

Way to go, sir!

"In his absence, Major Carter can assist you with whatever you need."

I hate you.

"Why have you come, if you don't mind me asking?" Hammond asked.

"The Tok'ra are curious as to how you are coming with the translations of the artifacts from Ardonia." Anise answered.

Yes! That means I get to pass her on to the linguistics team! Poor Daniel. Oh well. Sam thought gleefully.

"If you'll follow me, I'll be happy to take you to Dr. Jackson, and he can update you on the translations." Sam smiled. This is turning out okay.

"Do you know when the Colonel will be free? I would like to speak with him."

"Like General Hammond said, he's running errands. I have no idea when he'll be finished. I'm not sure he's even on the base." ...anymore. "I'm sure someone else will be able to answer any questions you might have."

"I would like to speak to the Colonel about a personal matter."

Sam almost snorted. Personal...I'll bet.

After she dropped Anise off with a rather pale Daniel, Sam went in search of the Colonel. She tried all of his usual places but she couldn't find him anywhere. She was beginning to think that Hammond really did send him off base for a while.

"Psst, Carter, in here." Sam heard Jack's voice coming from inside the supply closet.

"Sir?" She looked around to make sure there weren't any SFs around and then quickly opened the door and snuck in.

"No one saw you, did they?" Jack sounded almost frantic.

"No, sir, and I know they're working on the cameras in this hall, so there's no way anyone saw...Where are you?"

"In the back right corner. Is she gone yet?"

"I'm afraid not, sir. She's with Daniel trying to get the latest on the translations of those artifacts we brought back from P3X-721."

"Poor Danny." Jack shook his head.

Sam snickered. "Oh, I'll never forget the look on his face when he saw us coming. It was the closest thing to 'deer in the headlights' I've ever seen. ...Did you need me for something, sir?"

"Oh, well, I was kinda hoping to finish our conversation from earlier."

"I thought we were finished, sir."

"There are a few more things I'd like to say."

"Oh," Wait. "In the supply closet, sir?"

"Well, I'm not particularly fond of the idea of leaving this spot until a certain snakehead is back on her own planet, wherever that is, and I can't imagine you wanting to be around to get cornered either, so, yes, in the supply closet. Come on, Carter, pull up a bucket." Sam's eyes were slowly adjusting. She could see him gesturing to the upside down mop buckets. Reluctantly, she reached for one.

xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxo

AN2: Thanks for all the reviews! Keep it up please! I was a little apprehensive to post anything so I appreciate all the encouragement I can get. Thanks to TubaPrincess for the idea to bring Jacob in (I can't believe it hadn't even crossed my mind), so he will be showing up later on