Jack jumped at the sound of the voice and instinctively looked up from his paperwork and around the room, half expecting to see Sam in front of his desk, before he remembered that she was in Atlantis with Daniel and the rest of SG1.
When he saw no one, just like he had expected, he shook his head and turned his attention back to the paperwork, chalking it up to his mind wandering.
Your minds not wandering sir, you really can hear me, Sam's voice said again.
This time Jack actually dropped his pen in shock. "No," he muttered to himself, shaking his head again. "She's not here, she's on Atlantis.
Yes I am sir but I'm currently unconscious and talking to you, came the reply in his head.
"I must be working too hard," he said, slightly louder than his previous mutter, "I'm hearing voices."
Yep, but only because I'm talking to you, you're not going crazy and if you listen I'll explain what's happened, if you don't then I guess I'm stuck like this.
Jack looked up again as someone knocked at the door and his secretary stuck her head in. "Are you ok in here General? I thought I could hear you speaking."
"I'm fine, just talking to myself," Jack answered with a forced smile, he was worried about the voice claiming to be Sam. If it was her then something was wrong because he remembered her saying she was unconscious and if it wasn't her then he had finally snapped.
The woman nodded once then withdrew her head, shutting the door again once she was clear. By now she was used to the slightly strange General whom she worked for, but that didn't stop her wondering and worrying about his behaviour.
Back in the office Jack sat back in his chair and, feeling slightly stupid, said in his head, Can you hear me Carter?
Yes sir, came the immediate reply.
Good, Jack said, shifting slightly to get more comfortable, Can you prove that it's you and not some trick or me finally snapping?
There was a moment's pause before Sam's voice asked, How do you want me to do that sir?
Tell me something only the two of us would know, he said after a few moments thought.
How is that going to prove that this is real sir? Me telling you something only we know could just as easily be your mind giving you the answer you want.
Jack smiled to himself, it was defiantly Sam, his own mind would have just answered the question. Ok then Carter, so what's going on? How come I can hear you as clear as day when you're in another galaxy?
Sam launched into the story that she had heard on the planet and that she was now currently hearing again as Elizabeth explained what had happened to Daniel and the others back on Atlantis.
Jack listened without interrupting once, which in itself was quite impressive. Once Sam had finished Jack sat in silence for a few minutes, digesting what he had just been told. So, he began slowly, You're currently unconscious in the infirmary on Atlantis and the only way to wake you up is for me to kiss you?
Yes sir, Sam replied.
How very fairy tale of you Carter, Jack teased.
He heard Sam laugh before saying, It was more the Ancients than me sir.
Meh, Jack replied, Are you sure this will work Carter?
It worked for Colonel Sheppard and Doctor Weir, Sam answered in a quiet voice.
That shocked Jack for a few seconds before he muttered out loud, "Good for them."
Yes sir, Sam said.
Alright Carter, if we're talking mentally I'm going to insist that you call me Jack.
Yes sir, I mean Jack, Sam answered, But only if you call me Sam.
I'll try but I make no promises Sam, after all Carter is my nickname for you.
Sam giggled and Jack smiled. So what's the plan? he questioned.
Well Daniel just told me to tell you that I'm fine and not to panic, but that you've got to come up with a reason to get to Atlantis as soon as possible. He also says that once Doctor Weir has written up the incident report for her and Sheppard that you can use it to sell your story.
How come the report hasn't been written already? Jack wanted to know.
Because while regs aren't an issue for the two of them she is still technically his boss and they don't know how the brass back on Earth would react.
Huh, Jack grunted, I'll take care of it, don't worry.
Good, but what about us Jack? now Sam sounded concerned, Our feelings for each other are pretty obvious as of now and I won't be able to go back to the way we were Jack, I've kept it inside for so long I don't think I can do I anymore.
Jack wished that they were having this conversation face to face because right now all he wanted to do was hug Sam and tell her it was all going to be ok. Instead he settled for saying, If you were here I'd be hugging you right now and telling you everything will turn out ok, he heard Sam chuckle, But since you're literally out of this world, she properly laughed at that, I'll just have to settle for telling you I feel the same way, ten years is a long time, and nothing is going to stop me from being with you, even if I have to retire, again.
You can't retire sir, we need you. if it comes down to that I'll retire.
Not a chance, you're even more important to the programme.
If you say so, Sam replied, But I can still work as a civilian.
In his office Jack shook his head, Hopefully it won't come down to that, but if it does I'm retiring, I know just how far you can go and I'm not letting you give that up.
Sam was silent for a moment before Jack felt her agreement seep through the link. He nodded his head, glad that she had seen it his way. Sam then said, I love you Jack O'Neill.
A wide smile appeared on his face, he knew how she felt, how could he not, but that was the first time she had actually said it out loud, well not quite out loud but it was close enough for him. You know what Samantha Carter, he replied, I love you too.
He felt how happy his words had made her and his smile grew.
Now all he had to do was figure out a way to get to Atlantis to wake Sam as well as a way for them to be together, while hopefully both keeping their jobs. He knew which of the two was going to be easier and which had the possibility for causing one hell of a headache.