The next time he caught her was in the morning. Sam stood in the control room, carefully timing the iris as it slid open and closed. A zero-point-two second decrease wasn't much, but in battle, everything made a difference.

"You make that?" Jonas asked.

Sergeant Harriman glanced over his shoulder at the newcomer, then went back to his console. Sam, rapt in her work and still watching the Gate, said, "I helped."

"Helped?"

"The original design was mine, but it has its issues. We're trying to fix it."

He put a hand to her elbow. "I'm sure you'll figure it out."

"We're working on it," she answered with a smile, his touch having successfully distracted her. After two complete, fairly normal conversations with him, she was finding it easier and easier to talk to him. "What brings you up here?"

"Just finished a briefing. We head out in a little over an hour."

"Yeah? First trip through the Gate, huh?" She grinned, remembering full well her first, slightly less than graceful trip through on the wrong end of a shove from Colonel O'Neill.

"Yeah. Got any advice for me?"

She shot him a sideways glance, still smiling. "Be prepared for anything. There are things out there you can't possibly imagine."

"Oh, I've been briefed," he assured her. "And they tell me this one's routine. Should only be a few hours."

"Doesn't matter. Trust me, it's a little mind-boggling."

"Okay, so..." Jonas stepped sideways to allow Sergeant Harriman out of his chair to leave, and the movement put him behind her, watching the Gate run through the simulations over her shoulder. "Other than the obvious, any suggestions?"

"Yeah." She had forgotten how tall he was, she thought as she turned to face him, especially so close. It wasn't often that she really had to look up to a man – her team was tall, but they maintained a pretty big bubble of personal space. "Respect their cultures," she said softly. "But don't be afraid to show a little muscle if you need to."

He chuckled, that familiar, gorgeous smile spreading across his face as he stepped a little closer. "It's funny," he mused, "taking field advice from you. You've been in research as long as I've known you. I guess I never thought of you this way."

"I fought in the Gulf," she defended lightly. "You know that."

"Yeah," he shrugged. "But that was before I knew you. You always seemed too... classy... for this kind of stuff. Too beautiful."

She blushed, unable to meet his eyes. "Thanks. I think."

Only when Sergeant Harriman returned, his eyes just a little wide, did she realize how compromising their positions were – Jonas far too close, Sam pressed backward up against the control panel. She cleared her throat a little, but he didn't step back until Walter said, "Captain Carter."

"Yes?"

"General Hammond would like to see you in his office. ASAP."

Quickly, she threaded her way out of the other captain's personal space and headed for the steps. "Thank you, Sergeant."

It was just a short trip up the steps and across the briefing room to the general's door. She wasn't surprised to find it open, and she tapped on it lightly as she stuck her head inside. "Sir? You wanted to see me?"

"Close the door, Captain."

Was that a growl? Had General Hammond just... growled at her? Why was everyone acting so strange? Startled, she did as she was told.

He circled the desk as she turned back around, his attitude far more confrontational than she thought she'd ever seen. "What are you playing at, Captain?" he demanded.

"Sir?" she asked, uncertain.

"Do you know what the definition of insanity is?" he pressed angrily.

She had a vague idea, but she could only manage, "I... uh..."

"Doing the same thing over and over again and expecting a different result."

"Yes, sir."

"Stick your hand in the tiger's cage, Captain, and you're gonna get bit," he drawled.

What? "General, I really don't know what you're talking about."

"Don't you? Stay away from Jonas Hanson."

That did it – she'd been confused before, but she was goodly and truly dumbstruck.

Noting the shock on her face, his own expression cooled a bit. "Do you really not see it?"

"I just thought... He apologized, General. And I just thought if we could put it all behind us..."

"That you could what?" he asked, gently this time. "Try again? That things would be different? Captain-"

"No!" she interrupted. "Honestly, sir, we're just trying to be friends again. So we can work together."

The look on his face said pretty clearly that he thought she was nuts. Still, he rounded his desk and sank down behind it, his elbows on the desk. "Consider who we're talking about here."

She sighed. "Look, I know I was a bit... rattled... when he arrived. And yes, things ended badly. But that wasn't entirely his fault."

"Do you know what you're saying? Do you hear yourself?"

"Yes, sir. But respectfully, people much more qualified than both of us think he's pulled it together. Maybe they're right. And if he's finally got his life back on track, sir, I want to do everything I can to help him."

It was his turn to sigh. "Captain, it's not my job to dictate your personal life. But when I told you I could protect you, I didn't expect you to go running headlong back to him. I'm not going to make it an order – I can't. But as your friend, your elder, I'm advising you: make sure the message he's getting is the one you mean to send."

She bit her lip. "Yes, sir."