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"Yes sir, but I'm going to make a complaint to my Commanding officer about this."
"Is that right? I know what your CO will say. Sam, what would your CO say?"
"That he hated paper work and complaints from a Sergeant in the mess hall over the amount of food to be dished out and there is no pumpkin pie and blue jello Jack."
"What?" he turned to the Sergeant.
"Care to explain about the pie and jello?"
"Well sir, not many people eat it and it goes to waste."
"You do throw a lot of good food out after 1400 when base personnel are still coming in for their lunch. I suggest you go and get them and any other food you have back there that should be out here, now."
"And if I don't? You can't make me."
"Yes he can Sergeant, this is your Commanding Officer Major General Jack O'Neill and I'm going to sit down Jack because my feet hurt."
"Sorry Sam, I'll bring lunch over soon."
"Thanks" she walked over to SG1's table and carefully sat down and looked over to where Jack was standing.
"Well Sergeant?"
"Yes sir, sorry sir."
Then he quickly walked back behind the swinging door and the staff started coming out with all the other food and then the Sergeant returned with blue jello and pumpkin pie.
"Here you go sir"
"Thank you and don't do it again."
"No sir."
"Good, now what is missing…ah yes?"
Minutes later Jack took Sam's tray over to her first and then went and got his before joining Sam and Teal'c. Sam and Teal'c were happy and so were the rest of the personnel for the rest of the day.
Over the next month, Jack showed up in Sam's lab at lunchtime. When he had nothing else to do he would go and see her in her lab, watching her work on something or other that one of the teams had brought back. She knew when he was watching her and she would finish what she was doing before leaving for their lunch.
Since her legs were getting swollen and sore, after lunch Sam would go into the infirmary so Janet could keep an eye on her or she would go for a swim so she could relax and walk around in the water and get plenty of exercise. When Sam was seven months pregnant, Janet didn't want her walking too much so she got her a wheel chair to use around the SGC.
It was Halloween and there was a carnival in town, so Jack, Sam and their family and friends all went to it. Jacob had arrived for a few days, so he tagged along. He was shocked when he saw the how big Sam had gotten but he could tell that she was happy.
When they arrived at the carnival, Teal'c pushed Sam's wheelchair for her. They were having a wonderful time playing the different games and Jack was winning prizes for Sam. She rewarded him with a kiss each time. They walked past one area of the carnival where there was a competition going on.
"Jack, what's going one over there?"
"I don't know, let's check it out." they walked over to it and people moved out of the way when they saw Teal'c trying to push Sam through so she could see.
"Come on people, who wants to try to eat the most burgers."
"What's in the burgers?" Sam asked.
"Well, there is a half a pound of beef and you get to choose four toppings. All you have to do is pay a twenty dollar entry fee and all money and losing bets goes to charity."
"We just need two more people and than we can see who can beat the Texas and Colorado champion." another person announced from the stage; Sam looked up at Teal'c.
"What do you say Teal'c? You and me and I'll pay" she said smiling.
"I accept Samantha" Sam turned to the man.
"Two over here."
"Ok, come right up here. Can we have some help here with the pregnant lady in the wheelchair? When are you due?"
"Christmas" Teal'c and anther strong man lifted Sam's chair on to the stage.
"Thank you" she said to the man.
Teal'c wheeled her up to the table and one of the women asked what four toppings did she want and another woman asked Teal'c. Sam looked down at Jack, smiling.
"I wonder who this champ is?" Jacob asked Jack.
"Who knows Dad; at least Sam is happy and it is lunch time."
"True; how are her eating habits?"
"She now eats a bucket of chicken and a large pizza during the night as her midnight snack."
"You're joking?"
"Nope; for breakfast this morning, she had two bowls of fruit loops, four eggs, four pieces of bacon, twelve waffles with maple syrup, twelve pancakes and ten pieces of toast with sweet chilli sauce on top and three liters of chocolate milk."
"Holly Hannah, that's enough for two SG teams for breakfast."
"I know, for morning tea, she eats half a sponge cake."
"How big are the twins?"
"Janet said a couple of months ago, they will be about seven pounds each by Christmas but at least she is getting plenty of exercise at the pool every day. It helps her to relax and think."
"That's good to hear."
Then the first plates of burgers were brought out and Sam was licking her lips and rubbing her hands together.
"Yep, Sam is happy" then the eating competition began, after the rules were read out and the champ arrived. They couldn't believe the size of the guy.
"Janet, how big do you think he is?" Jack asked.
"At least three fifty; it's amazing he hasn't had a heart attack long before now."
"True."
They watched them eat and Jack was watching Sam who he could tell was enjoying her burgers. Out of the ten contestants and after five rounds, there were four left. Teal'c had given up half way through the last round. By the eighth round it was between Sam and the champ. Just as the whistle blew, the announcer walked over to the table and checked what remained and then looked up at everyone.
"We have a new champion, by half a burger, Samantha Carter."
Sam went to shake the other contestant's hand but he got up and walked away, angry that he had lost. Everyone else cheered for Sam and Jack got up on the stage and gave Sam a kiss.
"Mmm…relish."
"You must be the husband."
"Yep, Jack O'Neill"
"You must be in shock at the amount she ate today."
"Nope, I'm used to her eating large amounts; it makes her happy."
"So Samantha Carter, any comments?" he passed the microphone to her.
"Yes, I'm hungry" everyone laughed and Jack shrugged his shoulders. Jacob shook his head but was grinning.
"Well, thanks for everyone who entered and, with the losing bets, we raised over fifteen thousand dollars that will go towards the cost of Jane Clarke's rehabilitation. For those of you who don't know the story, Jane Clarke is an eight year old girl who was hit by a drunk driver three months ago in Denver. Her parents didn't have medical insurance and are asking for help. Jane has spinal injuries and might not be able to walk again; we thank you for your support and god bless you all."
Then the man stepped off the stage and Teal'c and the same man as before helped Sam down to the ground.
"Jack, I would like to talk to that man."
"Sure, I'll get him" Jack went to see the man and then returned with him.
"Hi, you wanted to speak to me?"
"Yes, what can you tell me about the accident and the little girl's family?"
"Well, the little girl, Jane Clarke, is the only child of Bob and Kath. Kath had a very difficult delivery when Jane was born and she was told she couldn't have any more children. Kath was a secretary until six months ago, when her boss went bankrupt. She has been trying to find another job ever since. Bob is a truck driver and he is away a lot. With only Bob's wages it was tight to pay their mortgage and expenses and they couldn't afford medical insurance.
Then the accident happened; the driver's insurance company isn't paying because it was the first time he was caught driving drunk. He also had lost his job the week before so, you can't get blood out of a stone and by the time his assets were liquidated, the money all went to his lawyer.
"That stinks" Jack said
"I know."
I go to the same Methodist church in Denver as the Clark family and when I heard about the accident and their situation, I wanted to help anyway I could.
"What else can Kath do besides secretarial work?"
"She is a great cook. She is the one who served you and she was the one who made the relish and the patties."
"Wow, they sure were yummy. Can you excuse us for a minute?"
"Sure" he walked away and Jack turned to look at her.
"Sam, what are you thinking?"
"Didn't you say you wanted a new chef in the mess hall and you did say that you liked the relish?"
"Yes, are you thinking what I think you are thinking?"
"Why not? How about a trial period? If it all works out and you can get the ok from the President we can give the family clearance and heal Jane."
"I don't know?"
"Would a burger help you change your mind?" she said smiling.
"Ok; I'll try one of her burgers and if I like it, I will get a background check done on the family." Sam gave Jack a kiss and then got the man's attention and he walked over to them.
"Yes?"
"We would like to speak to Kath please."
"Sure"
He went to get her and she walked over to them. Jack and Sam talked to her and Jack did try her burger. When he was finished he offered her a job at the SGC, if everything background search checked out. Kath had told them what they wanted to know while Jack had tried one of the burgers.
Kath told them that she and Bob had clean records, not even a speeding ticket. She said that they both came from good Christian backgrounds. They had married at eighteen and had Jane when she was twenty but they both prayed to God that they could have another child and good jobs. Jack got her home phone number and the other details they would need before they all went their separate ways.
Jack called Walter and got him to start the background check on the family and asked him to have it on his desk by morning. While Jack was talking to the guys and calling Walter, Sarah and Janet helped Sam into the women's toilets. A few minutes later they came out and Jack passed Sam a bottle of water. They continued looking around the carnival for another three hours before they left for their homes. They had had a wonderful day together.