Sam stood there holding her sleeping nephew, staring at the stair well, where Teal'c had just been, when the shrill sound of her cell phone filled the foyer. Jack quickly took Charlie's carrier and walked the sleeping infant into the living room.
"Hello."
"Hello Colonel." General Hammond's baritone voice resonated through the speaker.
"General Hammond! What can I do for you sir?"
"I'm sorry Colonel, but I'm afraid I have to call both you and General O'Neill back to the mountain. There have been some issues with your retirements and we need to sort them out. You're transport is leaving in five hours from Los Alamitos AFB. I'll see you tomorrow Colonel."
"Yes Sir." Sam hung up the phone and went into the living room to speak to Jack.
"Jack. I just got off the phone with General Hammond. We're being called back to the mountain, there's issues with my retirement papers that have to be settled." Jack's brows furrowed, and his eyes darkened.
"Jesus Christ, they better not try and overrule them." Jack let out a deep sigh. "When do we leave?"
"Five hours, from Los Alamitos, I'm going to talk to Daniel and Teal'c, ask them to stay with the kids while we're gone. I really hope it wont be long. I really don't want to leave them right now." Jack walked over and wrapped Sam in a hug.
"Just think, now you'll have time to do a little house hunting like you said yesterday at dinner. I'm sure we wont be too long."
Sam and Jack had everything packed and ready to go in less than an hour, which gave them plenty of time to explain to everyone where they were going and how to reach them. Daniel and Teal'c of course had no qualms about staying with the kids. Apparently babies acted pretty much the same no matter what their species was, so Teal'c did just fine taking care of Charlie. The girls would be packing up their belongings and going to school until Sam could come back and withdrawal them from their current schools.
The actual trip back to the mountain was slightly awkward. Jack and Sam had to continuously remind them selves that they shouldn't be displaying any sort of affection until after they knew their retirements had been finalized. As soon as they got to the mountain, General Hammond had them report to the briefing room.
"General, Colonel. Please have a seat." Hammond waited until the two officers were seated before continuing.
"I'm very sorry to tell you that both of your requests for retirement have been denied." Sam stared at the General for a moment.
"What do you mean both?" Sam turned to Jack. "What does he mean by both?" Jack at least had the decency to look abashed.
"Well, I figured, if you're going to be working at the base as a scientist. The kids are going to need some one to look after them, and I really wanted to be the one to do that." Sam looked like she was on the verge of tears.
"You would really do that. Give up the SGC to take care of my nieces and nephew?"
"Without a second thought Sam." Jack turned back towards the general.
"Sir, is there any sort of explanation as to why our retirements have been denied?" Sam asked gently.
"The President feels that you two are far to valuable to lose. Now before you say anything else, Colonel Carter, you are going to lead your own scientific team, which will include Dr. Jackson, and Teal'c if he so wishes. General, you will be removed from active duty and referred to as liaison to the Asgard. Essentially you will be retired, but you will still continue to receive your full General pay. You may also be called upon to give small training lessons to the newest members of the SGC and handle all of our dealings with the Asgard." Sam and Jack simply stared at Hammond for a moment.
"Wow. Here I was thinking I would have to do something to get discharged." Jack said lightly. Sam looked at him quickly, her eyes blazing.
"You're joking, right Jack."
"Of course dear." Hammond laughed at the two of them. They had only been officially together for less than two weeks and they were already acting like an old married couple.
On the drive back to Jacks house, the usual route was closed because of construction. While driving in a remote area of the 'Springs, Jack and Sam saw the most amazing house for sale.
"Jack, pull over, I want to find out how much this house is."
"Sam, are you sure, don't you want to go look around for the next couple of weeks to decide what you want." Sam looked at Jack.
"Jack, I want this house. It's perfect. I really don't care how much it costs, and I absolutely hate shopping, so no. I don't want to look around. I'm going to get a hold of the realtor and I'm going to buy this house." Jack smiled at the defiant set of her chin.
"Okay." Jack said before pulling Sam closer to him and kissing her deeply. Sam called the number on the sign in front of the house. Apparently the elderly women who had lived there decided to move to Florida because of the cold winters in Colorado, and the house had just gone on the market that same week. Sam made an offer an d the agent took it. Sam was going to meet with the woman the next day to pay for everything and sign all of the papers. The entire process was so quick, Jack barely had time to process every thing.
"Sam, how on earth are you able to buy a house, with out a loan." Sam looked at her future husband, slightly blushing.
"Well, when all you do is work, and you never take any vacations, money tends to pile up. Plus there was the money I made from the book that I wrote a few years back. At this moment, I could quit the air force and still be able to live quite comfortably for the next few years without having to work." Jack just nodded his head.
"Hey, how about we go out to dinner and a movie tonight?" Sam smiled.
"I would love that."
To say that Colonel Doctor Samantha Carter was giddy about going on a date, would be an epic understatement. The moment Sam shut her front door after being dropped off at her house to get ready she squealed like a fifteen-year-old girl and ran to turn on her stereo. Sam chose her favorite playlist on her iPod and turned the music up high, and danced around her house as she was getting ready.
An hour later Jack slowly walked up to the door, his stomach in knots, to pick up Sam. As he got closer to the door, Jack could her music playing loudly in the house. When Jack knocked, SAM didn't answer. Jack just figured that she couldn't hear him over the noise, so he walked in. Jack slowly walked through the house, through the kitchen and the living room then to Sam's room. The music got louder and louder as he approached her door.
"Carter?" Jack yelled. Still, no response, so he pushed open her door, and was met with the most amazing sight in all of the world. Samantha Carter dancing around in a very lacy, very small blood red bra and underwear set. Jack nearly went into cardiac arrest. Sam's hips swayed with the seductive rhythm of the music. Sam had no idea that Jack was staring her. As Quietly as possible Jack walked up to her and wrapped his arms around her, pulling her to his chest, expecting her to jump. Unbeknownst to Jack, Sam had heard him the entire time he was in the house. Now she was enveloped into the very distinct scent of Jack O'Neill. Sam reached her arm back and wrapped it around his neck, still moving her hips to the music.
"Hello Jack" Sam turned her head to look at her fiancé. Jack Kissed Sam with such fervor that she felt like she would burst. Sam had the stereo remote in her hand and turned the music down. When Sam turned around, she almost jumped her fiance on the spot. Jack was standing there looking like pure sex with a white button up and his black leather jacket on, not to mention his deliciously jean clad legs. Jack smiled at her.
"You knew I was here the entire time didn't you?" Sam grinned and nodded her head. Jack walked closer to kiss her again, but Sam pushed him towards the door.
"Oh no you don't. If you start that we'll never get out of here"
"What's so bad about that?" Jack asked, his eyes pleading for Sam to let him touch her again.
"Because I'm hungry and there's no food in my house. Now, go and watch TV or something while I finish getting dressed." Sam turned back around as if to finalize the conversation. Jack was definitely liking the in-control Carter.
After a wonderful dinner at Colorado Springs only Mexican restaurant, Jack decided to take Sam dancing. My god could that man dance. Sam had never seen Jack dance, let alone lead her in a sultry tango. By the end of the night, both Jack and Sam were exhausted, but when Jack went to drop Sam at her house, she asked him to stay. That night Sam and Jack both had the best night sleep in years.
Remember those walls I built?
Well, baby they're tumbling down
And they didn't even put up a fight
They didn't even make a sound
I found a way to let you in
But, I never really had a doubt
Standing in the light of your halo
I got my angel now
It's like I've been awakened
Every rule I had, you break it
It's the risk that I'm taking
I ain't never gonna shut you out!
Everywhere I'm looking now
I'm surrounded by your embrace
Baby, I can see your halo
You know you're my saving grace
You're everything I need and more
It's written all over your face
Baby, I can feel your halo
Pray it won't fade away
Sam slowly opened her eyes. She had forgot to unset her alarm, and now the music was filling the room. When she turned over, Sam found Jack staring at her, a lazy grin upon his face, the light from her window was casting a golden glow around his head. Jack brought his hand up to gently stroke Sam's face.
Hit me like a ray of sun
Burning through my darkest night
You're the only one that I want
Think I'm addicted to your light
I swore I'd never fall again
But this don't even feel like falling
Gravity can't forget
To pull me back to the ground again
It's like I've been awakened
Every rule I had, you break it
It's the risk that I'm taking
I'm never gonna shut you out!
Everywhere I'm looking now
I'm surrounded by your embrace
Baby, I can see your halo
You know you're my saving grace
You're everything I need and more
It's written all over your face
Baby, I can feel your halo
I pray it won't fade away
As the song came to an end, Sam leaned in to capture Jack's lips with her own.
"I love you, you know that, right?" Sam asked softly.
"Yeah, I know." Sam and Jack simply laid in bed for awhile, only moving after Sam looked at the clock and realized that she was meeting the realtor in half an hour.
Kim Martin, was a wonderful lady with a sharp sense of humor. Kim knew everything about the house. Apparently the it sat on one of the largest estates in the Colorado Springs area. It had it's own Brewery that was rented out, a small creek ran through the back side of the property. There was also a very large rose garden along side the house that had been planted over a century ago. During the actual tour of the house, Sam was shocked to discover that there was very little repair work that had to be done. The upstairs rooms still needed to have updated electricity and plumbing installed, but other than that, everything in the house had been very well taken care of. Because Sam was paying cash, she was able to buy the house at a very low cost. After the papers were signed, Kim handed over the keys to Sam, who promptly turned and kissed her fiancé senseless.
"Oh my gosh, this is amazing. As soon as we get home, I'm calling a plumber and an electrician, I want to be able to move in as soon as possible." Sam was almost bouncing she was so excited. Jack had never seen her like this, he liked it. For far too long Sam had to keep up her strong military bravado, but now the woman in Sam was starting to show, and it was wonderful.
"Sam, I want to pay for all the repairs to the house." Stared at Jack for a moment.
"Ok." Jack was slightly shocked.
"Ok? No arguing, just, ok." Sam laughed.
"Yes, ok. This is going to be your house to, and I know you don't like accepting gifts. So, any painting, repairs, and landscaping, is all up to you."
"I think I really like that idea, it'll give me something to do when the kids are in school."
"Oh my gosh, school!, I forgot to call up the schools to get the girls registered!" Sam was rummaging through her purse, trying to get to her cell phone.
"Sam! Calm down, you don't have to do anything until they get here, which will probably be a week or so, just relax." Sam sighed.
"Your right, I just don't want to mess anything up with these guys." Jack kissed Sam's forehead.
"I know exactly how you feel. Now, let's go get something to eat, I'm starving."