Author's Notes:

1. To my very helpful and slightly-injured (it wasn't me, honest!) Beta: Sorry I didn't send this to you first; I really wanted to get it posted while I had some time cause things are starting to get a bit crazy round here.

2. To all my wonderful readers: Just so that you all know, I'm not into what the author Aynnilynn calls 'review bargaining' (not posting stories until you get a certain number of reviews) so if I haven't updated this is not the reason. I totally agree with what she says in 'Lilies' that its off-putting when reading and a bit contrary to the whole point and spirit of this site and I wanted to say so. BUT I do love to hear what you think and any ideas and constructive criticisms you might have. Your input and response is important because this story seems to me to be very fan-driven (because there's so many of you reading this - which still freaks me out!) As a result I really want to write stuff that you'll enjoy and your comments, responses and ideas - both postive and negative - help me to do that within the framework of the story as I have imagined and planned it. I still get scared people won't like it and it'll be Fahrenheit 451 for everything that I've written. It's thatwhole 'fear of failure' thing, but if you try you might fail and if you don't try you'll definately fail, right? So when you do review you can help me by posting CONSTRUCTIVE criticism instead of nasty, cold, frosty ice-queen reviews.

cough Diane cough

I get enough cold weather where I live.Thankfully most of you have been writing reviews in the realms of 'the Western Isles in May' which means mild weather, long summer evenings, beautiful sunsets and not too many midgies:D

After informing the technicians that Colonel Carter would be delayed slightly, General Jack O'Neill holed himself up in his office for the afternoon, racing through his paper work so that he could get away on time. When O'Neill announced, perfectly on time that not only was he leaving but that he had finished his paperwork, Walter just about had a nervous breakdown.

O'Neill found Carter, as she had prophesised, lying under a desk staring at wires. The control room was abuzz with highly caffeinated technicians trying to stay awake long enough to 'just finish this bit'. O'Neill saw through their collective façade immediately.

"OK, stop! I want all of you to go home and have a full night's rest. You guys have been at this thing for three days straight.

"Sir…"

"Siler, you can barely stand up nevermind rewire a supercomputer. I'd rather it was a few days late and right than on time but wrong cause the people working on it are so tired they can't tell up from down. Go get some rest. It'll still be here in the morning."

Taking the hint, they slowly downed tools and left. All except for Carter who was so intent with her work that she didn't seem to notice anything going on around her. Jack looked down at his Colonel, her head stuck under a computer, her body resting on a boogie board of some sort. He took advantage of the moment to admire her body and dragged an admiring eye down her body – still perfect, even in Bdu's – and then back up, pausing at her breasts.

"Sir, when you've finished staring at my breasts…"

"Was not!" Jack said too quickly. He moved across the room, reclining on an empty chair, as if doing so would absolve him of guilt. Despite her words, her head was still buried underneath the desk and Jack couldn't help but envisage his hands surrounding that supple waist laid out before him. Sam moved her arms as she continued to work under the desk; her t-shirt moved to reveal a small patch of pale skin and was that red…?

Jack knew he'd let his thoughts wander too far when he felt his body respond and quickly moved so that he sat leaning forwards on his chair, elbows on knees in an attempt to disguise it. Sam took that moment to wheel herself out and stared curiously up at her CO. 'Got to stall Jack, got to stall!'

Sam, for her part knew exactly why her CO was sitting like that and smiled inwardly, careful not to let it show on her face. That was the oldest trick in the book; did he honestly think she'd fall for that one? Sometimes these guys seemed to forget just how long she'd been working in this male-dominated environment they called the Air Force. She knew he was stalling and decided to play along.

"Sir?"

"Carter?"

"Where did everyone go?"

"I ordered them home?"

"But sir-''

Jack raised an eyebrow.

"Better done late than by zombies, sir?"

"Well you should know by now that I've always preferred the Simpsons analogies, but essentially, yes…Sam."

"Sam?"

"Moment of weakness." Jack smiled cheekily, thinking this might work. Unknown to him, Sam was already two steps ahead.

"Could you give me a hand up sir?" Sam asked, changing the subject. She put one hand in the air where she lay on her back, appearing for all intents and purposes, to be waiting expectantly for him to help.

"Uh…" Jack paused. 'Think O'Neill, think!"

"Nevermind." Sam gave up waiting and got herself up. Knowing she was covered in dust, she turned towards away from him and quickly dusted herself down.

"Carter I was thinking, why don't you and Matt and Rachael stay at my house? I have two spare rooms and you can have my bedroom."

"Where would you sleep, General?" Sam turned towards him, waiting for his answer.

"On the couch."

Sam stared at him blankly for a long moment. When she didn't answer Jack raised an eyebrow questioningly. "Well?"

"Well you'd better if you're gonna react like that every time you stare at my breasts." Sam stared pointedly at Jack's hidden crotch. Jack turned bright red; his mouth opened and closed but no words came out. He sat helplessly as Sam mad her dramatic exit: "My breasts and I will meet you at the surface…Jack."

"Carter."

"Sir."

They nodded a formal greeting at each other, both pretending that what had just happened in the control room, hadn't.

"Matt, here's the keys. Hop on in."

"Thankyou Jack."

Silently Jack and Sam loaded the kids' bags into the back of his truck. That done, the two paused at the back of the truck.

"You know, I had another thought, Carter."

"Should I be concerned, Sir?"

"Maybe – I was thinking we could do a house swap."

"A house swap, sir?" Sam visibly gulped.

"It makes sense. There's three of you and one of me; my house has three bedrooms your house has one: I figure you're all going to be staying in my house whatever and I thought you might like a bit of privacy. I understand if you're not comfortable with me staying at your house, so I can stay with Daniel if you want, but….what?" Sam was looking at him absent mindedly and smiling.

"Hmm?" Her attention was back but the look didn't go away. Jack decided he liked that look.

"Penny for 'em."

Sam shook her head.

"Dollar?"

Sam shook her head.

"Chocolate cookie-dough ice cream?"

Sam smiled at the ground. He recalled Laira doing the same thing years ago and realised thathe'd liked it then because it reminded him of Sam. Jack took a step towards her but was interrupted by the two back doors of his truck flying open, two heads flying out and two heads yelling in perfect unison,"Aunt Sam!" The spell broken, the adults made their way to the front of the truck and climbed in. There would be time for talking later. Right now they had a domestic peace treaty to negotiate.