AN: First, let me say sorry for not posting sooner. I've had such BAD writers block! :( Second, sorry to say it's going to be a while before I post again. I'm going out of the country and I wont have my computer on me. But, I hope you enjoy and I've gotten over my block so the next chapter should be up shortly after Memorial Day!
Jack couldn't help the nearly wicked smile that graced his lips as he watched Sam work in the control room. She was the consummate professional and it made his smile grow; their time together as of late had been anything but professional. After that idiot Dr. Sneed had failed in his attempt to kill Sam and destroy the outpost she had quickly gotten everyone back in line and repairs had started immediately. She'd gone back to Eleftheria for a few hours before she'd finally reported to the President. When she'd returned from her overnight stay in D.C. she'd managed to get permission to return to her house for a few personal items.
Jack doubted Hammond would have given her permission, she was needed back at the outpost after all, if he had known that Sam had really asked for permission to leave the base so that she could spend her time having her way with Jack. Her very wicked way, he thought from his spot at the back of the room.
"Are you done?"
Jack jumped at the very pissed of voice of Jacob and turned to find the man standing too close. "Jacob."
"Jack. Come with me." Before Jack could retaliate Jacob had turned around and headed back up the stairs to the briefing room. With a heavy sigh and one last look at Sam he followed Jacob. He noticed Hammond was absent and as he stepped into the General's office he closed the door behind him.
"You want to tell me what the hell you were thinking getting involved with my daughter," Jacob practically yelled the minute the door closed. "What the hell possessed you to start sleeping with your second?"
"She's not under my command anymore; she wasn't when we started this either," Jack offered calmly.
"This? That's what you're calling it, 'this'? Exactly what the hell are you doing with my daughter Jack?"
"This, as in this relationship. That's what 'this' is. I don't appreciate you of accusing me of being a no good jerk whose going to put her career in jeopardy or whose only around for a quickie. I love her Jacob; and, I'm not giving her up so don't try the I'm-her-father-and-I'm-gonna-kill-you-if-you-touch-her routine."
"And how long have you 'loved' her," Jacob spat. "The minute this gets out to someone like Kinsey he's going to be calling for an investigation. Regardless of whether you two did anything or not isn't going to matter to a prick like him."
"Well, it's a good thing that it matters to the President and the Joint Chiefs."
"What are you talking about?"
"Sam told them that we started a personal relationship. I don't know if she told them during her last downtime or more recently but the Joint Chiefs have made not so subtle comments to me since her last downtime, none of them condemning either of us. Nothing you have to say is going to scare me off, got it Jacob?"
Jacob eyed him critically but when Jack realized he wasn't going to say anything else he turned around and left the office without another word. As Jack stepped into the control room he found Sam watching him with a raised brow. A quick shake of his head and Sam turned back to her work. Jack took the opportunity to do the same and made his way to his office where he intended to work on his back logged reports.
About an hour later a knock on his door interrupted his failed attempt to work and he looked up to see Sam standing in his doorway. She smiled a soft smile at him before shaking her head and entering his office. "So," she began as she sat herself in the chair in front of his desk. "I take it Dad got the chance to be Dad."
"That's one way to put it. Although I expected him to zat me two or three times."
"As long as no one tells him what the cause of that smile you were wearing earlier was then I expect you should live." Her own smile turned just as wicked as his had been at the beginning and Jack couldn't help but return the smile himself.
"Good memories … You know we could make a couple more of those."
Sam's smile faded but didn't quite fall. "Not until my actual downtime I'm afraid. I've finished going over the upgrades the techs were having trouble with. I'm scheduled to go back to the outpost in about 30 minutes."
Jack spared Sam a sad smile of his own before he told her he'd see her in the Gate room. Sure enough thirty minutes later Sam was dressed in her uniform with a tote in hand standing in front of the Gate. She was talking quietly with Hammond and didn't register SG-1 and Janet as they entered the room. "No," Jack heard Sam gently as she shook her head. "The President wants to wait on that. I'm afraid you'll have to keep this to yourself Uncle George."
Hammond sighed a bit and Jack took the moment to interrupt as if they had just walked in. "Yo Carter, aren't you supposed to be on the other side of the galaxy or something?"
"Actually, I'm supposed to be on the other side of the universe Sir," she offered with a gentle smile as she looked to the group. "It was good to see you all, even if we nearly got blown up."
"It's always good to see you Sam," Daniel offered as he wrapped his arms around her.
After he pulled away and stepped out of her space Teal'c presented himself and offered her his arm in the customary Jaffa 'hand shake'. "Take care Colonel Carter."
"You know Teal'c, even Mal'tec and Ead'ogar address me by my first name sometimes. You could give it a try if you wanted," she offered with a coy smile. Teal'c merely bowed his head and gave her arm one more squeeze before moving out of her way.
"Cass wanted me to give you this," Janet offered as she held out a couple of homemade CD's.
"Thank her for me, wont you," Sam asked as she stuffed the items in her tote. She pulled out two stacks of sealed envelopes and handed one to Janet. "You'll pass these around, wont you?"
"Of course," Janet smiled as she took the envelopes and then wrapped Sam in a hug.
The two women pulled away and Sam smiled brightly at Jack as she handed him the other stack of envelopes. "Please make sure the President get's his letter, unopened, Sir. I don't think he'll take kindly to nosy Colonel's reading his mail."
"Sweet," Jack offered in his casual way before giving Sam a nod. She spared him one more smile before she turned to Hammond and smiled brightly at him.
"I'm going to start the leave rotation as soon as this is all sorted out. Everyone needs some time to relax after this."
"And when will you relax Sam?"
Sam smiled sweetly. "I still have a month till I'm actually due to report to the President and Joint Chiefs; I'll see you then. Take care Uncle George," she offered gently so that only SG-1 could hear the comment. With a bright smile and a gentle nod she turned away from the group and waved her hand at Mal'tec and Ead'ogar. "I really wish you'd stop hovering."
Mal'tec bowed his head but did not move from his spot while Ead'ogar stepped forward and took her tote though Sam did not offer it to him. "We have sworn that no harm shall come to you Colonel Carter," Ead'ogar nodded. "We nearly failed."
"We shall endeavor harder to keep you safe," Mal'tec finished before stepping through the Gate, clearly the scouting party of the trio.
Sam sighed heavily and then turned back to the group. She offered a brief smile before abruptly turning around and stepping through the Gate.