A/N

sorry the last chapter was so short, but I've been finding it easier to write the shorter chapters. This one is much longer and is just the start of the night of the dance. this will be over several chapters so I hope you stick with it :-)

for those of you missing the Sam/Jack dynamic in the last few chapters - I promise you'll be seeing much more of it soon

again, thanks for all the follows and reviews :-)

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Jacob knocked on the door to his daughters cabin. "Come on kiddo," he called. "Time to go." A moment later he turned back when he heard the door open and was not prepared in the least for what he saw. Holy Hannah, he thought his heart sinking and soaring at the same instant. She really is a woman...damn it!

Sam smiled uncertainly at him. Kim's mom had showed her how to apply the little make up she had on, and how to do her hair, but she wasn't sure if she'd managed to pull it off. At the moment the way her dad was looking at her she kinda thought she must resemble a circus clown.

"It's terrible isn't it?" She asked barely keeping the tears from her eyes. "I knew I wouldn't be able to do it properly."

At that moment Jacobs heart broke for his little girl. He shook his head feeling the wetness welling in his own eyes. "You're beautiful Sam," he whispered.

She looked up a him. "Really?"

Jacob felt a tear break free and course down his cheek.

"Dad?" Sam asked confused. "What's wrong?" She took his hands in hers looking into his eyes.

He wiped the treacherous tears from his face as he pulled his daughter to him. "I'm so proud of you Sam," he murmured into her hair. "You've grown into an amazing young woman." He pulled back and held her by the shoulders. "You're mom would be so proud of you."

Sam had never seen her dad cry before, not even when her mom had died. Mark had admitted that was one of the things that had made him hate their father so much. The thought that he hadn't loved their mother enough to cry for her.

"For goodness sakes dad," Sam protested as she swiped at her own face. "I really don't know how to fix this," she said motioning to her face. "If it starts to slide off my face because you're making me cry!"

Jacob laughed and hugged her close once again. "Come on," he said finally offering her his arm. "Let's go make some boys crazy."

Sam rolled her eyes and took his arm as they walked off towards the hall.

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Jack took the ginger ale and looked at the bartender. "Really?" He asked holding up the drink.

The guy smiled and shrugged. "Sorry Captain, dry bar tonight."

"Great," Jack mumbled as he turned back to the room. "Somebody want to tell me how I'm supposed to get through tonight without alcohol?"

"Hi Sir," said Barney as he stopped next to Jack.

"Hello Sir," repeated Dan.

Jack looked at the two of them. "Hey guys."

They smiled at each other then Dan nudged Barney.

"The girls from Camp Chiktaw all look really nice tonight don't you think Sir?" He asked.

"Huh?" Jack asked.

Barney nodded towards the large group of girls that had arrived about twenty minutes earlier.

Jack looked over to see them gathered in small groups, most of them giggling and darting glances in their direction.

He sighed. "Yeah, you guys should have a good time tonight," he replied. "So why don't you go over there and talk to them instead of me," Jack suggested as he took a sip of his drink. There has got to be some bourbon around here somewhere...

"Well you should come with us Sir," Barney said.

"Yeah," added Dan.

Jack looked at them. "What?"

"Oh, not for the girls of course Sir," said Barney. "We just thought we'd give you a heads up that the three camp councillors that came with them have been checking you out pretty good."

Jack thought about that for a moment as he looked back to where the girls group was. "Yeah?"

"So you'll come over with us?"

"Fellas, while I appreciate you trying to help me out," Jack began. "You don't want an old guy like me cramping your style."

Barney and Dan glanced at each other before Dan nudged Barney again.

"Ah, well, you see Sir..."

Jack rolled his eyes. "Spit it out kid!"

Barney swallowed. "We hoped you'd kind of be our wingman."

Jack just about choked on his drink. "Your what!?"

"Our wingman Sir," Dan chimed in. "It's where..."

"I know what a wingman is!" Jack said cutting him off. "What the hell are you two thinking?" He demanded.

Barney shrugged. "We've already been hanging around the edges of the girls groups trying to get them to talk to us..."

Jack motioned with his hand for the boy to continue. "And?"

Dan sighed. "They just stare at us and laugh."

"And then they go back to whispering about you," Barney finished. "Sir," he added quickly.

Great! Exactly what I need!

"We think it's the uniform," said Dan.

"The..." Jack glanced down at himself. He had to admit even though he hated wearing his more formal uniforms women did seem to like them.

"So we thought...if we could get you to come over with us..."

"The girls would start talking to us..."

"And after that you could go talk to the councillors," Barney finished.

"They're pretty hot too," added Dan.

"Yeah..hey..why not," Jack replied.

The boys looked at each other, identical expressions like someone had just handed them a winning lottery ticket.

"Really Sir?" Asked Barney incredulous.

Jack rolled his eyes and put his drink on the bar. He lightly smacked each of them in the side of the head. "No not really! Get outta here!"

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"Excuse us, Captain O'Neill?"

Jack turned away from the bar to come face to face with about eight of the girls from the camp. He put on his most charming smile. "Ladies, you all look very lovely tonight."

The girls all smiled and giggled nudging each other.

"How can I be of service?" He asked. You know talk like that isn't helping right? He asked himself.

One girl stepped a little more forward of the others. Designated spokesperson, Jack thought.

"We were just wondering whether, um," she glanced back at her friends. "Whether you were allowed to dance tonight?"

Jack was just about to answer that unfortunately, due to his chaperoning duties he wouldn't be able to dance with anyone when he felt a hand on his shoulder.

"Of course he's allowed to," answered Sergeant Barry Thoms.

Jack gave him a look. "Actually I'm pretty sure chaperones shouldn't be participating in the dancing," Jack contradicted through gritted teeth.

"Nonsense," Barry replied grinning from ear to ear. "Don't fret ladies I'll make sure Jack here finds the time to dance with each and every one of you."

I will kill the man, Jack thought.

The girls all wore big smiles at Barry Thoms declaration looking at Jack expectantly.

"You know there are a lot of nice boys here to dance with as well," Jack tried desperately.

The girls all rolled their eyes as one.

Do they practice this shit? Jack wondered as he watched them.

"That's the problem," said the spokesperson. "They're boys!" There was a general murmur of assent through the group.

"Right," Jack replied. Shit! He thought. They're not going away. What the hell do I do now?

"Ah, perhaps you could give Captain O'Neill and I some time to...do some chaperoning...things," Barry said. "And then he'll come find you girls later on huh?"

"Okay," several of them murmured shyly as they moved away as one.

Jack turned mightily pissed off eyes on his friend. "What the hell was that?" He demanded.

Barry's eyes lit up and he couldn't hold back the laugh. "I couldn't deny those lovely young ladies your attention Jack boy!"

Jack pointed in the direction the girls had gone. "If you were their father, would you want your teenage daughters hanging around me?"

Barry clapped him on the shoulder. "I've got boys Jack," he said still smiling.

"And if you had girls?"

"I'd have a shotgun on you as soon as I laid eyes on you buddy."

"Well I think that's a bit overly dramatic," Jack replied.

"Yeah?"

"Yeah."

"Well he doesn't seem to think so," Barry replied nodding towards the entrance.

Jack turned to see General Carter staring straight at him looking for all the world as though he'd like nothing more than to have a shotgun trained on him right at that moment.

"And I think I know why," Barry mumbled as he looked behind Jack.

At Barry's words Jack turned to see Carter walking towards them. Holy...He glanced quickly back at the General. Alcohol or not I am definitely not making it through tonight...

"Hi Jack," Sam said shyly when she reached him.

Jack opened his mouth to reply then shut it again thinking he could get himself into a world of trouble here. To say that Carter looked incredible in that dress would be a gross understatement. Jack felt his fingers twitch, itching to reach out and touch her.

Just then the General appeared behind Carters shoulder.

"General," Jack greeted. Then he looked back down to Sam and smiled. "You look very nice tonight Carter," he said softly, noticing the General stiffen slightly behind his daughter.

Sam blushed at Jacks compliment. "So do you," she replied boldly.

"This old thing?" Jack joked, not able to ignore the Generals eyes boring into him as Sam giggled in response.

Jack turned to the dance floor seeing that some of the boys had finally been successful in getting girls to dance with them.

Jacob followed his gaze. "Come on Sammy," he said. "You promised me a dance remember?"

Sam rolled her eyes at Jack. "I'll see you later," she said as she moved toward the dance floor.

Jacob let his eyes rest on Jacks a moment longer before he followed his daughter.

"Wow," said Barry from behind him. "The old man's got it out for you."

Jack turned to him. "Yeah thanks for the tip," he replied. "And where the hell did you disappear to?"

Barry held up his hands. "When little Sam got here I saw the General making a b-line like he was on the warpath so I skedaddled."

Jack shook his head smiling at his friend.

"I'll have what he's having," came a voice from Jacks other side.

Barry raised an eyebrow at Jack and smiled.

When the bartender put the glass down on the bar Jack turned to the woman seated next to him and smiled. "Hello."

The rather attractive lady smiled back. "Hello."

"Captain Jack O'Neill," Jack said introducing himself.

The woman chuckled. "Ah yes I know." At Jacks look she continued. "You have quite the fan club going," she explained motioning towards several groups of girls.

"Ah, yes," Jack replied. "A fan club of teenage girls. Lucky me."

The woman smiled. "Well I think there's a few teenage boys around here that wouldn't mind that fan club."

Jack smiled at her. "They're welcome to it believe me."

The woman made to move and Jack put a hand on her arm. "You didn't say your name."

Raising a well groomed eyebrow the woman smirked. "No, I didn't," she replied as she walked off.

"Well that was an invitation if I ever heard one," Barry ventured.

Jack turned to him. "Where do you keep disappearing to?"

"I have the ability to blend."

"Blend?"

Barry shrugged and turned to face the room. "Don't look now but I think your head just exploded..."

"What?"

"The General just drilled you with a look that would have made a sniper proud."

"Great," replied Jack. "Just something else to be thankful for tonight."

"Jack," started Barry. "Don't take this the wrong way...but is something going on with you and little Sam?"

Jack stared at him. "No Barry," he replied harshly. "Nothing's going on with me and Carter."

"Then why's the General got such a hard on for you?'

Jack shrugged. "I guess he thinks Carter has a thing for me."

Barry snorted. "Well that's obvious," he replied. "But so does just about every other little girl here...not to mention most of the bigger ones..."

When Jack didn't answer Barry laid a hand on his shoulder. "This is really bugging you huh?"

"Ya think?"

"Well now I feel like a real jerk acting like I did with those girls," he admitted.

"Good," Jack replied.

"Hey why don't you go over and pick up one...or more...of the lovely lady councillors?" Barry suggested. "Dance with the three of them all night and the girls won't get a chance."

Jack looked over to where the three ladies in question were standing watching the rapidly multiplying number of couples on the dance floor. Something he and Barry were also supposed to be doing he reminded himself. Barry's suggestion did have merit. He looked more closely at the dancing kids and noticed Barney and Dan with two of the girls that had approached him earlier. He was pleased to see that the rest of the group had similarly relented and decided that dancing with boys wasn't that bad after all. Maybe he would survive the night. Then his eyes landed on Carter just as she shook her head at the boy who stood in front of her. He watched the guy walk away defeated and glanced back to find her eyes on him. Then again...

Jack looked around the hall and noticed that the General seemed to have disappeared which made him relax a bit. He looked back in time to see Carter heading in his direction. He panicked, not knowing how to handle the Carter situation and, feeling like a coward made a b-line for the chaperones from the camp, striking up a conversation with the three of them.

After a few minutes a sufficiently slow song came on and he turned to them. "Would any of you ladies care to dance?" He asked all three.

They looked at each other and Jack saw some unspoken agreement pass between them.

"Sure," said the one that he had spoken to earlier.

As they moved around the dance floor Jack could feel Carters eyes on him and he tried to ignore it as he made small talk with the woman he was holding.

"You know that rather stunning young lady over there hasn't taken her eyes off you since we came out here," the woman who's name turned out to be Carol said.

"Oh?" Jack asked feigning indifference.

"She's not one of ours," Carol pointed out.

"No," Jack agreed. "Carter goes here."

Carol raised an eyebrow. "Carter?"

Jack smiled. "Is her last name. Sam...Samantha is her actual name."

Carol nodded. "I thought only boys came here."

"Mostly it's boys yeah," Jack agreed. "But usually there's maybe one or two girls every year. Carter's the only girl this year though."

"Must be hard for her," Carol observed.

Jack shrugged, the thought of Carter punching Dan coming to mind and making him smile. "She can take care of herself."

"Maybe you should go dance with her," Carol suggested.

That caught Jack off guard. "What? Why? Carter has more than enough boys wanting to dance with her."

"Yes," Carol agreed as she watched Sam turn down yet another young suitor. "But she's declined every one. Except for the rather distinguished looking older gentleman at the beginning of the evening."

"That was her father," Jack supplied.

Carol smiled. "So that's why you don't want to dance with her?" She asked. "He did look like he could be pretty scary."

"Yeah he can be," Jack agreed. "But no, that's not why I don't want to dance with her."

"Well do tell Jack," she replied.

Jack looked at her a moment. "I've known the kid since she was ten years old," he explained finally. "Not that I want to sound conceited or anything, but she kind of has a case of hero worship going on and I'd feel like I was taking advantage of her or something."

Carol nodded thoughtfully.

"Besides, she's just a kid you know?"

The woman looked back to Sam. "She's an awfully grown up looking kid," she pointed out. "But then maybe that's the problem?"

Jack looked down at her letting her see she was right.

"You want to know a secret?" She asked. "All girls, no matter what age have a bit of hero worship going on for a man like you Jack," she confided looking towards her two colleagues. "You certainly look the part of the dashing hero in that uniform of yours," she said smiling.

Grudgingly Jack smiled back.

Sam watched as Jack took the very attractive lady to the dance floor with him and her heart sank. Why would he want to dance with me when he can dance with someone like her? She thought miserably unable to look away. She swayed to the music wishing it was her out there with him.

"Hi Sam," said Donny Clark from beside her.

"Oh, hi Donny," Sam replied sparing him only a glance.

"Um, I was wondering if you'd want to dance?" he asked.

Sam was about to give her standard answer of no when she reconsidered. I'm at my first ever dance, she thought. I probably should dance with someone other than my dad.

"Sure Donny," she replied instead.

The boy grinned widely and reached for her hand.

Sam grimaced slightly as she followed him to the dance floor wondering if all boys hands were as sweaty as Donny's. She couldn't help but squirm a little when he settled his hand on her hip.

"Well maybe I was wrong," said Carol mildly.

"About what?" Jack asked.

"It seems Samantha Carter has found someone she wants to dance with after all."

Jack spun them around to see Carter dancing with Donny Clark. His eyes narrowed at where the boys hand made contact with her hip, but he was at least glad that it was Donny. He seemed like a good kid. And he's the right age group, he reminded himself. He looked up and met Carters eyes for this first time since she had said hello early on and he could see she didn't want to be there dancing with the boy.

Carol smiled ruefully at the man in front of her. Samantha Carter might be young but Carol knew when she was out of her depth, and as much as he didn't want to admit it, Captain Jack O'Neill only had eyes for Carter. At the end of the song, Carol pulled her hand from his and rested it on his chest. When he looked down at her she smiled and placed a kiss on his cheek. "Thanks for the dance Jack," she said softly. When Jack frowned at her she continued. "We both know I'm not the one you want to be dancing with." Jack opened his mouth to object and she placed a finger on his lips.

"How old is she?" She asked.

"Seventeen," he replied. "Eighteen at the end of the year."

Carol shrugged. "Then what are you waiting for?"

"But..."

"You like the girl or not?"

Jack didn't answer. He didn't have to.

"It's only a dance," she pointed out. As she went to leave she turned back. "There's another thing about men like you Jack," she said.

"And what's that?" He asked, not sure he was going to like the answer.

Carol smiled. "Try not to break her heart."

Jack shoved his hands in his pockets and watched the woman walk away.

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A/N

that was a really long chapter so I hope I didn't lose anyone part way through :-)

hope you enjoyed the dance so far. More to come soon

reviews are appreciated as always :-)