Sam didn't know whether to laugh or cry. Jack was standing beside her at the bottom of the ramp in the gate room, a tender look on his face. He'd never said goodbye to her like this before, always saving their embrace for empty guest quarters, Landry's office or a supply closet or two.
Sam especially liked the supply closets.
Jack's expression mirrored the emotions running through her own body right now.
Their conversation with the President had been enlightening to say the least. He had explained the situation as it stood, without the implications of the news she gave him, and both her and Jack's immediate reaction had been anger. The President's chuckle at their dual exclaim of 'for crying out loud!' hadn't helped much either.
But as she'd listened to him she began to realise the truth of his words, and a tingling feeling of anticipation had begun working its way through her body.
The IOA had been planning to relieve her of command in a few months anyway, when her year was up. Though angry that this had secretly been brewing in the background, she had to admit that in some weird twist of fate, it solved their dilemma.
In a few months she would begin to show, and by then she would be handing Atlantis over to someone else anyway. She could spill the beans now, or keep quiet. The President was strangely willing to turn a blind eye. Both her and Jack had been kept in the dark, why shouldn't they do the same to the IOA? Sam's initial confusion gave way. She really shouldn't have been surprised. A large part of his job was trading secrets after all.
In the gate room, she turned to say goodbye and found herself engulfed within Jack's arms. Returning his fierce hug, she pulled back with a grin on her face and planted a kiss on his lips. With a quick squeeze of his hand, she turned and sauntered up the steps and disappeared into the wormhole.
In Atlantis, she was greeted by one Lieutenant Colonel John Sheppard. A beaming smile was on his face, his hands clasped behind his back, and his body rocking backwards and forwards on his heels.
"Welcome back Colonel," He cooed.
Sam couldn't escape the relieved expression on his face, and wondered silently, how long it would be before she felt compelled to share her secrets.