Sam smiled brightly as Janet rattled on about everything that she had missed while she looked over her quickly. "Well, you're the picture of health of course," Janet said as she offered Sam her jacket. "So, what's the deal with the body guards?"

Sam looked behind her to see Teal'c talking with Mal'tec and Ead'ogar out of ear shot. She sighed as she turned back to Janet and offered a resigned sigh. "You remember when the Jaffa were really protective of me those two weeks that I was unconscious?"

"Of course."

"Yeah well, now it's worse," Sam offered as she threw on her jacket and buttoned it up.

"I can't go anywhere other than my quarters or my office without them following me inside. I've been trying to convince them that I am perfectly capable of taking care of myself but, that doesn't seem to matter to them."

"How are you handling that," Janet asked as she eyed the Jaffa. "I mean after everything that they did?"

Sam shrugged as she brushed her bangs out of her eyes and tucked the longer pieces behind her ear. "It was rather unnerving at first. It caused some tension between the Tau'ri and Jaffa actually. All of the officers, even the new ones, know what happened to me. It's been a challenge to keep some people from overreacting on my behalf." Sam paused long enough to look back to the Jaffa. "Quick, let's get out of here while Teal'c has them distracted."

Janet obliged, leading Sam out of the infirmary and to her lab. Daniel was already there with a cup of coffee for the two, just like he had promised. "So, can I ask you something," he said as Sam kissed him on the cheek for the coffee.

"Sure," she offered as she sat down and took a sip.

"Why do you look different?"

"Excuse me," Sam half asked, half laughed as she looked from Daniel to Janet and back.

"Something's different and I can't figure out what it is. Maybe it's not having seen you in three months but … I don't know …"

"Daniel," Janet began. "You aren't seriously saying that you don't see the difference?"

"I know there's a difference," he defended. "I just … can't figure out what it is." Janet and Sam looked to each other and broke out into laughter. Daniel was confused at their behavior and looked to Jack questioningly as he walked up to Sam's side. "What am I missing?"

"Daniel, it's obvious."

"Apparently not to me."

Jack shook his head and without a word, not to ask permission or to warn her, he reached up and unclasped the clip that held Sam's hair up. Her hair fell down, falling just past her shoulders and she tried not to blush; instead she focused on Daniel's reaction. It was like watching a fish trying to breathe air as he finally registered the fact that her hair was no longer pixie short.

"How did it get so long so quick," he finally asked.

"Daniel," Jack chided as he sat on 'his' stool across from Sam. "She's been growing it out since before Ba'al went bat shit."

"I'm surprised you noticed that Jack," Sam said with a smile that reached her eyes.

I really am surprised.

Jack shrugged as he took a sip of his own coffee. "I notice the important things."

I notice everything about you.

Janet and Daniel shared a glance as they watched the silent conversation play out, they both tried not to smile. However, the pleasant moment was ruined as Hammond called for Sam over the PA system. She sighed heavily as she sat down her coffee, stood up, and then put her hair back up in the clip.

"I'll walk you down," Jack offered quickly. "So," he started as they exited her lab, just the two of them. "What's on the agenda this week?"

"I have to go to Washington," Sam offered with a tight smile. "It's the only reason I'm taking my down time before the staff."

"Oh?"

"I had wanted to let them take their turns to visit Earth first but, Schwartz and Amos convinced the President that I just had to give my report first. I'll be there till tomorrow at least," she said with the least amount of enthusiasm he'd seen from her all day.

"And after that?"

"No big plans," Sam offered with a teasing smile. "Oh," she said as she recognized her quarters. She opened the door and smiled brightly at her bag that was sitting by the door.

"So Jaffa are good valets then," Jack asked as he moved to the door frame as he watched her place the bag on her bed before she started digging through its contents.

"I really wish they would let me carry my own things but, I have yet to worry about my possessions. Ah ha!" She looked to him as she held up a thick envelope that he recognized. It was the same stationary that all of his previous letters had come on. She zipped her bag back up, tossed it over her shoulder, and handed him the letter as they resumed their walk to the control room.

"What's this?"

"Don't you know? I write them every week," Sam smiled.

"Yeah but, we weren't expecting any this week. Not since you're here."

"I actually didn't write anyone else this week for that reason but, I don't know, I felt the need to write you," she offered as she caught his eye. There was a confidence there that hadn't been there before. Jack could see it and Sam surely felt it as she offered a small, crooked smile. They walked up the stairs to the control room and Jack pocketed the letter, least Hammond see it.

"Colonel's," Hammond greeted with a smile. "Are you ready Colonel?"

"Yes Sir."

"Good, hopefully the Joint Chiefs won't keep you too long. I'm sure you'd like to actually enjoy your down time." At Sam's smile Hammond called the Prometheus and asked for her transport to Washington.

She looked back to Jack with an even brighter smile. "See you later Jack," she said before she disappeared in the beam.