Flash back
Captain Carter and Colonel O'Neill had always been close. From the moment they had met in the briefing room and their eyes had locked there had been a connected. Trusting someone with your life on an almost daily basis had only made that bond stronger. It's not that they weren't close to Daneil and Teal'C as well, but, there's was a special bond. Daniel and Teal'C were like brothers to Samantha Carter, but Jack O'Neill, well, he was like the one thing she could never have.
Over the last couple of years they had encountered many different civilizations with many different customs. On their last mission they had encountered a race that would only deal with "a man of high morale standing and wisdom" and by that they meant married. More specifically old and married. That had lead to some interested conversation. O'Neill was the eldest and the most senior and as Carter was the only woman there was only one logical choice really. Well it made sense to everyone but Carter and O'Neill. Everything had been going fine until they had to stay the night. Daniel and Teal'c had been escorted to what can only be described as a dorm room, a long room that held 6 beds. While Carter and O'Neill had been lead to a guest room, it was luxurious but small.
"Carter?"
"Yes sir," Sam said looking at the foot of the bed.
"There's one bed"
"Yes sir"
They both stood there looking at the bed for what seemed like hours "So" Carter said eventually "We can do this"
"We can?"
"Sure. It's not like we've not slept in close quarters before. Right?"
"Right" Of course she was right. They'd often spent the night on a planet sleeping close together. But that was all four of them sleeping close together. So why did this feel different?
"Left or right?"
"Sir?"
"Which side of the bed"
"Either"
Neither of them had moved, one of them had to and as the senior officer it should be him. Shouldn't it? Finally with a big sigh, he put his kit down on the floor and took his multi purpose vest and outer jacket off.
"Sir?"
"Relax Carter this is all you get to see" he said trying to ease the tension in the room.
"Yes sir" Carter smiled. Following suit she also took her outer jacket off
"Not bad" O'Neill said bouncing on the bed "I could sleep" he said as he lay down "relax Carter, we can sleep back to back"
Carter followed his lead "Night, sir"
"Night"
Carter woke to feel a weight around her stomach, her hand being held by a strong masculine hand and hot breath on her neck.
"Sir?" she said softly
"Hmmhmm"
"Sir, you awake?"
The arm around her tightened "just a few more minutes"
"Sir" she said a little more firmly "Your umm, your arm?"
Jacks eyes shot open "Right. Yes. Sorry" he sat up "Um, sorry about, that"
Sam sat up too, there backs once again to each other.
Jacks mind was still trying to wake up. He had gone to sleep with his back to Carter, he knew he had, he made sure he had. So when he woke to find his body pressed against hers with his arm draped over her stomach, her very toned stomach, it was a little disorientating "Carter?"
"Sir?"
He wasnt sure were to begin. "If i did anything, to make you feel unfortable..."He as no good at talking
"Can I speak freely, sir"
Jack turned to face her then "Any time" let's face it this situation couldn't get any more awkward.
She looked him in the eyes "that wasn't your side arm, was it Sir?"
"Of course it was" he said gulping.
"Then what's that on the floor?"
"Ah" yep this just got weird "Can I speak freely?"
"Sir? You don't need my permission"
"Humor me?"
"Yes sir"
"Carter" he began "you are my 2IC"
"Yes Sir"
Jack moved to sit next to her, "you are also a very attractive woman, so, don't be offended when…" he didn't exactly know how to put it "when certain biological urges happen"
"Oh!" she said blushing slightly. Not so much at the fact that she had felt the Colonels erection, but the fact that Jack O'Neil had called her attractive.
"I guess we should get used to moments like this?"
"We should?"
Carter took a deep breath and started pacing the small room "We have to expect different customs from time to time. If this planet will only speak to a married man or couple then what means there might be otherS? Right"
The Colonel just noddedd, slowly, he wasnt exactly sure where Carter was going with this.
"Doesn't it make sense that should this situation arise again we are already prepared?"
"I suppose so"
"Believe it or not we are the logical choice"
"We are?"
"Unless you'd be happier if i were to do this with Daniel?"
"Not a chance" Jack said before even thinking.
Sam smiled "Okay. So, to clarify, in moments like this, we act married?"
"Yes married" Jack was wasnt convinced that there would be a situation like this again, but it was a nice thoughts "So Mrs O'Neill guess we should head home" he added with a smile
Carter laughed "yes sir"
"Welcome home SG1" Hammond said as they stepped through the gate "So how was the negotiations"
"They went very well" Daniel began.
Jack smiled "We had our moments"