-4-

The card that lady luck has dealt us

I slightly stir and press to the warmth behind me. Something heavy falls over me and I'm starting to wake up. With only one eye half open I can already see it's still dark outside even though drapes are almost completely covering the window. "Morning sleeping beauty", I hear someone behind me and turn over to see who it is. Oh my god, Jack. I forgot all about that, I spent the night here, how could I have done that?!? And on a day I start work. "What time is it?" I ask him and he just looks over to the clock and says "4 o'clock".

"I'll be late!" I almost shout, full of panic. "I have to go. Can I use your bathroom first?"

"Sure, just straight through there. It's only 4 am, how can you be late?"

I don't even answer that, just get up from the bed and grab the sheet I can see, I enter the bathroom and close the door. I lean with my back to the door and sigh. How stupid could you have been?!? You're compromising your career for a one night, no, scratch that, two nights stand.

I go to the mirror and God, I'm a mess. My hair sticks in all directions but I somehow manage to put it where it belongs to. I'm back out now and he's still looking at me like a lovesick puppy while I try to find all my clothes that are apparently not here. I know, we left them in the living room. That's right, I'll just go there and put them on. It'll be easier that way. I start out of the bedroom and he gets up from the bed and starts after me. "Sam, you don't have to go yet", he tells me while still looking at me.

"No I really have to," I correct him "Thank you for… a fun night, and evening", I continue while gathering my clothes and putting them back on.

"When will I see you again?", he's asking me.

"I don't know. Here, ", I take out a pen and a piece of paper and write my name and number on it "you call me when you have the time".
"I'm Jack O'Neill, just so you know who's on the other side of the phone line."

"I'm Sam Carter and I really have to go now." I just turn around on my heels and get out the house. Where was my head? I still have to go get dressed at home and head for the base. I hope this new job will take my mind off of recent events.

I pull up my car in to the Chayenne mountain parking lot and gather my papers. I slowly walk in thru the entrance just to have the security guards stop me and frisk me. And they're taking their sweet time. Now I'm really gonna be late. I'm finally done and they escort me to the first elevator, and then the second one.

I'm out of the damn elevator, who knows how deep under ground and I'm walking, no, half running half walking toward the briefing room.

I can already hear voices from the briefing room. Nah, that can't be. I'm imagining things. But it does sound awful like….

"Where is Captain Carter?
"Just arriving sir."

"Carter?"

"I'm assigning Sam Carter to this mission".

"I'd prefer to put together my own team sir."

"Not on this mission, sorry. Carter's our expert on the stargate."

"Where is he transferring from?" As I walk in into the briefing room my gravest suspicions become true.

"She is transferring from the Pentagon". I'm blushing. Hope he won't see that. But he looks just as startled as I am. Maybe even more. But he does look adorable, especially in those dress blues. Always did like my men in a uniform. Stop that Sam, you'll do something stupid again.

"I take it you're colonel O'Neill. Captain Samantha Carter reporting sir!"

"But of course you go by Sam?" the third man finally asks.

"You don't have to worry major, I played with dolls when I was a kid." There was menace in my voice toward the man.

"G.I. Joe?"

"No, major Matt Mason."

"Oh. Who?"

"Major Matt Mason, astronaut doll. Did you have that cool little backpack that made him fly?"

"Lets get started" The general cuts in before I say something we will all regret. "Colonel?"

"Those of you on your first trip thru the gate you should be prepared on what to expect" That was aimed to me. He's insinuating I don't know what I'm doing.

"I practically memorized your report from the first mission. I'd like to think I've been preparing for this all my life." Yeah right, cut the bullshit Sammie, you've been preparing in his bed.

"I think what the colonel is saying is have you ever pulled out of simulated bombing round of f-16 at 8 plus gees?"

"Yes", and there's that blank look, like I've just grown horns or something.

"Well, its way worse than that." Just had to save his face. Men.

"By the time you get to the other side you're frozen stiff. Like you've just been trough blizzard. Naked"

Well, thank you for that picture. You just had to say that. Now I can't get Jack out of my mind. God, this is gonna be a very long day.

"That's a result of a compression your molecules undergo during a millisecond required for reconstitution." Don't try too much Sam, they'll see right trough you. And besides, they don't understand a word you just said. Soldiers.

"Oh here we go again. Another scientist. General, please."

"Theoretical astrophysicist."

"Which means?", yeah Jack, it means if you can't pronounce it don't bother.

"Which means she is smarter than you are," The General buts in again, just at the right moment, few seconds more and I'd probably cut his throat. But what a lovely throat that is. I'd love to kiss every inch of the exposed skin. Get a grip Sam, just hang in there, "colonel, especially on the matters related to the stargate."

"Colonel, I was studying the gate technology two years before Daniel Jackson made it work and before you both went trough. I should have gone trough then. Sir, you and your men might as well accept the fact that I am going trough this time."

"Well, with all due respect doctor, I would…"

"It is appropriate to refer to a person by their rank not their salutation. You should call me captain not doctor."

"Captain Carter is assigned to this unit, that's not an option it's an order."
"I'm an Air Force officer just like you are colonel. And just because my reproductive organs are on the inside instead of the outside, doesn't mean I can't handle whatever you can handle.
"Oh this has nothing to do with you being a woman. I like women." And he is staring me straight in the eye, getting me all wet, "I've just got a little problem with scientists.

"Colonel, I logged over a 100 hours in enemy air space during the Gulf war, is that tough enough for you? Or are we gonna have to arm wrestle?" the men are all looking at him not knowing what the answer would be. He looks at me like he'll jump my bones any second now, right here on the table in front of everyone. I can't look away, his eyes are just so beautiful…

The rest of the meeting goes on in a haze, the General's voice bringing me back from my daydreaming. We all get up to leave and I go first out of the briefing room. I'm heading for the locker room to change my clothes and get some chow. I'm pretty hungry by now. As I enter the locker room, silhouette comes from behind me, closes the door and pins me to the wall before I even get a chance to react.

"What will you do now, arm wrestle?" he grabs my hands with his big ones and holds them high above my head. His mouth is so close to mine, I can feel his breath on my lips. I wish he would kiss me already.

"What Major, not that gutsy now, are we?"

"Let me go you bastard. What do you thing you are doing?!"

"Nothing… Having some fun. You didn't mind last night"

"Last night you weren't my commanding officer. Get off!"

"Get off? Maybe after the mission if you'll help me", and that shit eating grin is back on. He presses his hips into mine and I can feel him hard for me.

"it's been that way the whole meeting. Do you even know what you're doing to me?" he swiftly turns me around so I face the wall and my hands still pinned above my head. His erection is pressed to my but.

"Don't worry major, this will be continued…" and he's gone. I turn around and I'm completely alone in the locker room. Shit. I won't live trough this mission if he doesn't stop doing that.