The Virus

Chapter 18

..

Not long after dinner there was a knock at Sam's bedroom door. She opened it to find a smiling Cassie with her arms full of clothes.

"Hey Cass, what's this all about?" She stepped aside letting the girl into the room. Cassie dropped everything she had onto the bed and spread out the items of clothing.

"One of the girls I bunk with was in charge of cleaning the VIP rooms… like this one… which is nice by the way!" The girl looked around in admiration.

"And?"

"Oh! So she let us pick the clothes we wanted. I grabbed some for you too."

"That's great, thank you!" She eyed the clothes. Something other than the one civilian outfit she had and her military uniforms would be fantastic. She found a flannel dressing gown, a summer dress, a pair of stockings and a couple of pairs of jeans and t-shirts… and a sexy looking night gown. "Uh… really Cass?" She picked it up between her thumb and forefinger and held it away from her body. "Not really my thing…" The door burst open and Jack raised his eyebrows at the sight before him. She quickly dropped the offensive item back on the bed and shrugged.

"I brought Sam some clothes." Cassie said with a pleased smile on her face.

"Why didn't you bring me any?" Jack asked.

"Sorry Jack, the guys in the bunk room opposite us took them all."

"Well I liked what you were holding when I walked in," he sent a sleazy smile in Sam's direction before striding over to the bed and picking the nightgown up. "What do you think?" He held it against his body and Sam couldn't help but giggle. Cassie started laughing hysterically and ended up sitting on the floor wiping tears from her eyes.

"Well I'm not going to wear it!" Sam told him when she could finally keep a straight face.

"Not even for me?" Jack asked, he put on his best puppy dog eyes. She had to admit, it was tempting when he looked at her like that.

"Hey guys I'm still here!" Cassie called out from the floor.

"Not even for you, Jack." She grabbed the hideous piece of clothing from his hand and tossed it at Cassie. "You keep it!"

..

Sam had put away all the clothes Cassie had given her and changed into her "pyjamas" aka: her shorts and t-shirt. She knew she still had plenty of work she could be doing downstairs but everything that had happened to them was starting to take its toll and she was exhausted. She knew unless she got a good night's sleep she would just be a hindrance to Walter, not a help.

"You having an early night?" Jack was sitting on the couch in the corner of the room, his feet stretched out in front of him, feet resting on the coffee table. He was holding file folders on his lap and though he was supposed to be reading them his eyes had been on her more than on the papers.

"I need a good sleep, I'm pretty tired." She told him. Before she could speak any further, the phone rang. She let Jack answer it and covered her face with a pillow. She really didn't want to have to get out of bed now, she had only just got in.

Jack filled her in. Apparently they had a meeting in General Hammond's office at 0730 the following morning. She gratefully pulled the pillow from her face and snuggled under the covers further. She found her eyes on Jack. He still sat with the folder still open in his lap. He was staring blindly at the wall opposite him though and she could tell he had something on his mind. Normally she would wait until he brought it up but now that things were changing for them she decided to push her luck. She assumed he knew what tomorrow's meeting with the General was about.

"Something on your mind?" She found she still had to fight the urge to add a 'Sir' when speaking to him. She wondered if that habit would ever die.

"Yes" He looked over at her for a moment his eyes not reaching hers.

"Are you going to tell me about it?" She felt a bubble of concern growing within her. He was looking worried, and for a man who rarely showed his emotions… this was not good.

"I haven't decided yet." He sighed and fiddled with the papers he was holding.

"Uh huh..." She patted his side of the bed. "You are clearly not getting any work done." He stayed in his seat for a few moments and she wondered if he was going to ignore her request. Instead he threw the folders at the coffee table and most of them slid off and onto the ground. He left them there and stood up.

"I just wish people would mind their own business." She felt her jaw drop. Was he mad she was prying? He looked over at her and seeing her expression hurried to explain. "No, no. Not you." He came around the bed and slipped in next to her.

"Come here." He gently moved her towards him and she gratefully curled up against his body, her head resting on his shoulder. "Ah. I was talking to Daniel and Teal'c today and it seems word us has gotten around."

"Well that's not surprising. It's not a secret..."

"No but apparently it's not just gossip now. Someone... or possibly more than one person has an issue with it."

"Not everyone would know you are classed as a civilian now so maybe they think we are going against regulations?"

"Which brings us to another problem. Chain of command... just because I've technically resigned... and I'm taking up position here as a civilian... people will still have an issue with us working together. You know why the regulations are in place?"

"If two people become romantically involved it could adversely affect or have the reasonable potential to adversely affect the Air Force by eroding morale, good order, discipline, respect for authority, unit cohesion or mission accomplishment." She knew his question was rhetorical, but she answered anyway. She knew the damn frat reg's like the back of her hand. How many times had she read over them and hoped for a loophole?

"Yes... so from what Daniel says we are going to have problems. I assume that's why the general wants to see us in the morning. We need to come up with a solution of some sort to keep the peace."

"I see." She smiled up at him reassuringly. "We will figure something out. I still want to work with you and I know from experience we work well together and would not risk our team under any circumstances. It's not like..." She trailed off. "I guess what I'm trying to say is. I've had feelings for you for a very long time. It's never caused issues in the past. Well apart from the za'tarc incident but that's not really our fault."

"I know, but convincing others of this won't be as easy. It's not like we can make a public announcement. Hey I've been in love with her for years and years without incident. Trust me!" He told her with a snort of laughter.

"Jack... trust me… this will blow over. Tension is high and we have all been through a lot." She sighed. "A lot." She repeated quietly.

"Yes we have." He gave her a gentle squeeze and she snuggled in closer.

"I'm going to try and sleep. We can talk about it with the General in the morning."

"Sweet dreams." He kissed her tenderly on the forehead.

She had heard talk about her relationship with Jack too. Over the years she had become used to it. The rumours were rife at the SGC... as far as she could tell it started after an incident where they were infected by a disease on P3X797. The disease caused primitive behaviour... they all became rather animal-like and she had unfortunately tracked down the Colonel and thrown herself at him. Word got out and it became rather twisted as the rumour spread. After that, things escalated.

She had heard snippets of conversation in hallways and more often than not in the female locker room. It was a relief when SG-1 finally got their own. She had become tired of stepping out of the shower, fuelled with rage and embarrassment to a bunch of women who had been talking about her. She would angrily tell them how far off they were and how inappropriate it was to be speaking of their superior officers that way. Of course the women would apologise profusely, but Sam wasn't stupid. She knew they would continue talking about her behind her back. It meant making friends with her female counterparts all but impossible. She knew they weren't all the same... but how would she know who she could trust? She had thought high school was bad... it was just as bad in the Air Force.

..

They entered General Hammond's office, exchanged greetings and took their usual seats opposite his desk. Although she had remained positive the night before when discussing the issue with Jack, she felt tense now that she had to speak about something so personal with General Hammond. Jack was being his normal sarcastic self… but she could feel the undercurrent of stress radiating from him too.

"I'm thinking you know why I've brought you here?" The General began.

"Affirmative Sir," Jack answered with a smirk.

"Good. We can get straight to it then. I'm organizing to have an interview with all the personnel currently on base. I'm hoping this way I can figure out who has their concerns..." He trailed off, giving them a meaningful look. "It also gives everyone the opportunity to have their say on the current living and work arrangements."

"Concerns… about us Sir?" She just needed to confirm they were all on the same page.

"Yes. I had planned on speaking to everyone personally anyway… I'm just pushing it forward a bit. I've heard mutterings and know there are... concerns that the two of you are working together. Of course not everyone knows you have resigned either, Jack."

"What will you say to those people who are upset about us working together?" Jack asked.

"I will tell them Jack has resigned and there are no current regulations forbidding it. I will give them my word that you working together is in everyone's best interests."

"Thank you sir," Sam told him, breathing a sigh of relief.

"It is only the truth. Though it may be a long way off I hope to restart the Stargate program. The Goa'uld will have no interest on earth at this stage since the majority of the population has been wiped out... but they will become a threat in the future no doubt. I need SG-1 if I want to succeed."

"But?" Jack prompted. She had seen the 'but' coming too, and shared a knowing smile with Jack. All that flattery from the General had to lead to a 'but'.

"If there is any sign that you are not doing what is necessary to fulfil your duties I will reassign one or both of you."

"Understandable." Jack responded.

"That won't be a problem." Sam smiled.

..

"That went well..." She bumped her shoulder into Jack's playfully as they walked down to the elevator.

"Sure did." As usual, Jack didn't elaborate.

"It won't stop people gossiping, but at least we don't have to worry about being split up at this stage." She told him.

"There is always gossip." He frowned disapprovingly. "Human nature."

"Yeah I was thinking that last night." She chuckled and hit the elevator button for their floor.

"There were some interesting rumours running around the SGC."

"Did you hear the one where we secretly had a kid… but because we wanted to keep our relationship hidden we put it up for adoption off world!

"Oh boy." She let out a giggle. "That's brilliant."

"We are famous." He grinned.

"I was so pleased when we finally got our own locker room. Women are known for gossiping."

"I was pleased too." He smirked... "For different reasons… like when we were in a rush to get geared up and you just changed in the room with us." He pushed open their bedroom door. She turned around and before she could take a step he trapped her against said door with a hand on either side of her head. "Those glimpses fuelled many fantasies." She felt a blush rise to her cheeks.

"Naughty, Sir." She used his title playfully and noticed his eyes light up.

"Ah and that was one of them. Hearing you say 'Sir' in that tone."

She had planned on getting an early start on her work for the day… but it looked like Jack had other ideas… not that she had any problem with that.

TBC.