Thanks to Loverustal for her beta help also in this chapter

Margaret was used to the busy days of the Lt. General's schedule by now. Today however was starting to get a bit out of hand. It had started out with the usual appointments the General typically had. Like with Chief of Staffs, other Generals, Senators, sometimes the President himself. Today however, he had told her to cancel a very important meeting because he was having someone from the CIA come to his office. The General refused to tell her anything more about the meeting. It was not the first time that the CIA agent had appeared in the office of the General for a "meeting". In the last two weeks, Margaret had taken several calls from the woman who had wanted to speak to the General. Saying she was from CIA but refusing to leave her name. Stating only that the General would know who she was. To Margaret's surprise he had indeed taken all of her calls. The secretary had a nasty feeling in her gut about this. She'd met the General's wife, a lovely and sweet woman. Colonel Samantha Carter-O'Neill had inclusively invited her out to lunch one time when she was in town. It was the first time that any wife of any of her boss's had invited her out for lunch. She had been extremely proud to tell the other secretaries about her lunch with the General's wife. It had been the source of jealousy for quite some time. Although she knew that the General and his wife were absolutely mad for each other and couldn't keep their hands off one another. They had demonstrated that several times in front of her desk. Before making a run to his office and closing the doors. She still had an unsettled feeling about this CIA woman. After all she knew that Colonel Carter had been abroad for more than a few months now. She also knew that even in love, men liked their distractions. Apparently and sadly General O'Neill was no exception.

Hammond

Aboard the Hammond, Sam was ready to leave with just a small duffle in her hand. Franklin stood near the beaming console as always to make sure everything went smoothly.

"Ready?", he asked.

"Yes. See you in two months. Give my love to Beth", she said with a smile.

The tech maneuvered the Asgard rock to the appropriate place and with a nod from his commander, he beamed her to the location provided. Franklin left the room to prepare himself to land the Hammond.

In a prepared and secured room in the Pentagon, a flash of white light appeared. After the bright light disappeared Colonel Samantha Carter-O'Neill stood in the room.

"Welcomed back, Ma'am". Said the officer responsible for the beaming's.

"Thank you, Captain."

Sam blinked a couple times to readjust and after signing the appropriate forms. Picked up the duffel and ID badge to circulate the halls of the Pentagon and left the room. Jack's office luckily was not very far and she knew her way even blindfolded. It took her about ten minutes to get there and as usual Margaret was sitting there answering calls with her ever efficient manner. Sam gave her a muted "hi" and pointed to her husband's door. Margaret face immediately blanched and in all of thirty seconds had hung up the phone.

"Colonel Carter-O'Neill?! What are you doing here? You aren't supposed to arrive until tomorrow night!" The words left her mouth faster than a P-90.

Taken by surprise, Sam put the duffle the floor.

"Hello Margaret. Yes, I know I was supposed to arrive tomorrow night but things changed and I'm here. He's busy?", she asked lifting her left brow.

Margaret face was a dark red and her hands were starting to becoming damp with panic. Oh boy. This was so not going to be good, she thought. While trying to think of a way to avoid a major heart break for the person in front of her. Think, think, her brain kept saying but nothing would come out. Apparently her distress was becoming obvious to the Colonel.

"Are you ok Margaret?", Sam asked concerned. Seeing how upset Jack's secretary was getting.

"Humm…", was the only thing that Margaret could manage to get out.

"Do you need anything? A glass of water?"

Sam looked to the water dispenser near the window and took a plastic cup starting to fill it. In a couple of seconds Margaret had the water in front of her.

"Thank you, Ma'am.", she said while drinking.

"Felling better?", Sam asked still worried.

"Hummm…" Margaret put the cup down on the desk and looked discreetly at the closed door. Sam followed Margaret's look and her stomach tightened making her start to feel ill. Something was not right.

"Is he inside?", she asked. Her instinct telling to keep her voice low.

"Humm…Yes, Ma'am." Margaret couldn't lie.

"He's in a meeting?"

Margaret bent her head down, not wanting to look the woman in the eye and shook her head "no". Sam took a deep breath.

"So it's not official?", she asked almost whispering. As her worst fears apparently started to become real.

Margaret shook her head again with an almost ashamed plea in her eyes. Sam felt tears forming in her own eyes that she stubbornly ordered to stay put. Ok she had two options, leave and pretend that nothing had happened or take the bull by the horns. Well it was time to see what this bull looked like. Carters didn't leave.

"Margaret, I think it's best if you take the rest of the day off and close the door when you leave. I'll be having a conversation with my husband and I don't want to be interrupted, ok?"

"Yes Ma'am.", Margaret said immediately picking up her purse and closing her computer as fast as she could.

Sam fidgeted with her hands while taking deep breaths as she tried to prepared herself. For what she suspected, she was going to find as soon she opened the door. In the meantime, Margaret was ready to depart.

"For what is worth, I'm so sorry Ma'am.", she said.

"Not your fault, Margaret but thank you." Sam managed to say while closing the door.