Asked for it for my birthday, but MGM wouldn't go for it.

Thanks to everyone still hanging in there with me, especially those of you have taken the time to review. :)

CHAPTER 13

Over the next few weeks life began to go back to normal; well as normal as it could be with everyone's emotions still up in the air. While everyone at the base seemed to ease back into the fact that Sam was back at the SGC, it was a little bit harder for her. It wasn't that she didn't want to be there, she was simply afraid of letting her guard down and getting comfortable again. What she told Jack was the truth; she would forever be worried about a repeat of their previous situation. While she knew she would never hear from the NID again, there were still secrets from her past waiting to surface and cause chaos to her life again.

Jack did everything he could to try to make her comfortable again. Since her return more than two weeks ago Sam had distanced herself from everyone around her. When she did need to talk to someone, or found herself in a situation where she could not avoid being around people, she would talk as little as possible. She even stopped what Jack had dubbed her 'techno-babble' and trying to explain everything to him. He found her to be short tempered and often annoyed at every little thing; he wasn't sure if that had to do with the job or if it was her pregnancy hormones coming to rear their ugly little head.

She still lived on base, but that was only until she could find the time to go out and get a place of her own-another thing that annoyed her. She had loved her little house but it had been sold when she moved back to Washington. Now she had to brave house hunting again, something that annoyed her even more than Jack hanging around in her lab.

Of course with Jack being Jack, that was the first topic he brought up when he walked into her lab late one afternoon.

"So how is the house hunting going?"

"It's not. I can't seem to find a place I like and I am dying to get off this base."

"Well, how about you come stay with me?"

"I don't think so Jack."

"Why not?"

"I just don't think that it's a good idea right now."

"Come on Sam. It's not like I am suggesting we share the same bed; you seem to forget the two empty rooms that I have."

"Jack…"

"Think about it Sam. A nice bedroom with your own bathroom and a nice shower. And I'm not asking you to move in, just give it a try for a couple of days and if you don't feel comfortable we'll get you set up in a hotel."

"Alright, I will give it a try for a couple of days."

"Good, I'll be by to pick you up in a few hours."

- - - - - - - - - -

As to his promise Jack was back three hours later to collect Sam from her lab. After managing to tear her away from her latest project they headed towards her temporary quarters so that she could get her stuff. Packing wasn't a hard task as seeing that she didn't have much when she came back to Colorado. Everything she had with her fit into one bag, the same bag that she had traveled with.

When they were done they headed to the surface and then to his car. The drive to his place was quite, neither really knowing what to say. Luckily the drive to his place was short and they soon found themselves walking in his front door.

"Why don't you hang out here for a few minutes while I go get the room ready?"

"Alright." And with that she walked over to the couch and sat down. She didn't know what to do; it all seemed a little odd. A few months ago it was normal for her to be in his home, but now this whole situation was a little odd.

"Room's ready. Why don't we get you settled and then we will worry about dinner." He picked up her bag and led her to the part of the house where the rooms were located. She was a little surprised when instead of leading her to the guest room he led her into his bedroom. He must have picked up on the look on her face because he started laughing.

"I thought that you might be more comfortable in here. Plus this is the only room that has an attached bathroom; this way you won't have to go far in the middle of the night. I promise that there is no ulterior motive Sam; I'll be staying in the guest room across the hall. Get settled in and come meet me for dinner."

She joined him in the kitchen ten minutes later to find that he had already started cooking. Watching him from the doorway she realized for the first time how much she had really missed him. She stood there watching him for a few more moments until she caught a whiff of whatever it was he was cooking.

"What the hell is that?"

"Sam, how long have you been standing there? And as for what I am making, it is sautéed Salmon in a lemon-herb sauce, steamed asparagus and other assorted vegetables in a…"he did not get to finish his sentence as Sam high-tailed it out of the room. After removing the pan from the stove he followed after only to find her exiting from the bathroom wiping her face on one of the towels.

"Let me guess, you still get a little nauseous?"

"A little? That's the understatement of the century. I should have warned you that I am in the phase where I have banned all kinds of seafood, chicken and lemon-herb sauces."

"Good information to have. Why don't I go scrap dinner and we'll order a pizza."

"Don't do that Jack. You can eat your fish, I'll find something later. I'm not that hungry right now anyway."

"You okay?"

"Yeah, just not hungry right now. I think I'm going to go and lay down for a while."

- - - - - - - - -

The first few days of living together passed by quickly. They would get up in the morning, have breakfast and go to work. At around noon, Jack or someone else would stop by her lab to drag her to lunch and then Jack would pick her up around four in order to go home. Things between Sam and everyone else were starting to mellow out, but they had yet to see the old Samantha Carter.

They were sitting down at dinner on Friday night, four days into their new living arrangement, when the doorbell rang. Jack was wondering who it was when he realized what day it was.

"It's Friday. I completely forgot to cancel Friday."

"What happens on Friday; Hot date?"

"No. We moved Tuesday night poker to Fridays'. I guess I forgot to tell the guys not to come tonight."

"Jack it's ok to have your poker game. I'll just go to my room and do some reading; or some napping, which ever one is easier. Now, you better go get the door before they begin to think that nobody is home."

"Right," Jack said heading to the door. As Sam began to clear away some of the plates from dinner she could hear the guys coming in the door. Ferrirti came into the kitchen carrying a couple of six packs.

"Hey Sam, how are you feeling?" he asked as he gave her a hug.

"Good. It's nice to be back with all of you guys again."

"Well we're glad to have you back, everyone missed you; especially Jack. He wasn't himself while you were gone. Actually, I take that back; he was the old Jack O'Neill—the pre-Stargate Jack."

"Ferrirti what are you doing? You better not be bugging Sam." Jack yelled from the living room.

"Wouldn't dream of it Jack." He called back. "Well, I better go help the guys set up."

Sam followed Lou into the living room to see that the guys had already set everything up for the game.

"Are you sure that you're okay with this? And you don't have to go and hide in the back; we've missed you at these poker games."

"Thanks Jack, but really I am tired."

"Good night then."

"Good night."

She headed towards the back of the house, but just has she neared the bedroom she heard something that would keep her laughing for the rest of the night.

"Don't even think about lighting that cigar in here Lou. You can't smoke in an enclosed area when there is a pregnant woman around." Jack said.

"Sorry Jack," he said putting it away. "Getting a little over protective now Jack?"

"By what do you mean now Major Ferrirti; to my knowledge O'Neill as always been protective of Major Carter." Teal'c said.

"Thanks Teal'c" Jack said sarcastically.

"You are most welcome O'Neill." Teal'c said, not really understanding what Jack had meant.

Sam closed the bedroom door with a smile on her face.