AN: Hello again! Thanks so much for reading and following and reviewing and adding me and/or the story to your favorits!
I hope you like the chapter! Enjoy reading :-)
PS: If there's someone who wants to read the German version, which is already completed, you can find it on here: .de/s/5654c81c0004f78eb2b6208/1/Gedanken
The briefing started at 1300. Jack entered the conference room shortly before the meeting and everyone seemed as if had waited for him to arrive. He noticed with surprise that Dr. Janet Fraiser attended the meeting, too.
Jack sat down next to Sam as he always did. Actually he wanted avoid her nearness but sitting next to her was better than sitting opposite her, because this way he hadn't had to look at her. His pulse was faster than it normally was and his hands were sweating. He was nervous only because of being in the same room with her. But he reminded himself to keep calm. He knew that for the others it seemed he was calm – thanks to his instructors, that taught him how to self-control. But inside him a storm was raging as he had never experienced before.
Opposite him sat Daniel, Teal'c and Doc Fraiser.
"Do you know what it's about?", Jack asked the others.
"No, we don't know more then you. Only that it has something to do with the Tok'ra", Daniel explained.
Jack looked at Dr. Fraiser and noticed that her eyes wandered between him and Carter. He frowned. What was that?
"Is everything okay, Doc?", Jack asked directly and she wanted to give an answer when General Hammond entered the room.
O'Neill, Carter and Fraiser wanted to get up but the General told them they should remain seated.
"So, Sir. What do the Tok'ra want this time?", Jack asked bugged.
General Hammond of course noticed the undertone in Jacks question but ignored it and explained: "The Tok'ra have developed a new device which allows them to secure the knowledge of a symbiote before the host has died."
"For real? That would be a breakthrough and an incredible help for the Tok'ra. They could than pass on their knowledge, even if a symbiote shouldn't find a new host", Carter explained enthusiastically.
"And what do we have to do with it?", Jack asked, still annoyed.
"I'm not sure, Colonel. The Tok'ra have specifically requested SG-1. And they have asked for Dr. Fraiser to accompany you", Hammond explained.
"Oh, great…", Jack commented.
"And when will we start?", Daniel wanted to know now.
"You will start in 2 hours. Any questions?" After this question had been answered negative by everyone they could dismiss.
Jack had hardly heard the "Dismiss!" he already was on his feet. He had to get out of her way. Had to keep her at distance. Just sitting next to her had been too much for him. The proximity to her was unbearable for him. In the past he had enjoyed this proximity. But that was previously, before the test. But then he didn't know that Sam had feelings for him. He had thought that he was the only one having these feelings and he just enjoyed being close to her and work with her – always knowing that he was in peace with his emotions and that this would never be an issue between them. But now everything was different. It was one thing to wish that she reciprocated his feelings but knowing that she felt the same wore him down. On the one hand he could have been the happiest man in the world. But on the other hand the fact that they would never be able to live out these feelings just made him angry and sad at the same time.
He had already arrived at the door and wanted to leave the room when he heard Sam's voice. Bloody hell!
"Colonel, do you have minute?"
Damn! He should have known. Abruptly he stopped and turned around slowly. He was nervous and his heartbeat had minimum doubled within a few milliseconds. Bloody hell! Calm down Jack, calm down – he tried to tell himself, but it worked only partially.
Sam couldn't look as fast as the Colonel was on his feet almost as soon as the General had them dismissed. But she would stop him. She needed to talk to him und that she would do, now.
Okay Sam. Eyes shut and go for it! She worked up the courage and called for him. And she saw Jack turning around slowly. He seemed not have anticipated that she spoke to him.
"Carter, what's up?" She breathed in again briefly. Okay, now or never.
"I would like to talk to you, sir… in confidence…" He seemed to be shocked, because his eyes widened for a split second. But then his gaze returned to normal again. The others had not noticed this small change for sure but she did. She knew his face and all his facial expressions and gestures inside out. He had not asked what it was about. Probably he could think of it.
"Okay… Let's go in your lab", Jack murmured, put his hands in his pockets and turned around on his heels to go. He had given her only a short gaze and hadn't waited for her. So she hurried to catch him up. They walked in silence through the corridors of the SGC until they were finally standing at Sam's lab door. Sam was nervous. Her hands were sweating and she had the need to run away quickly. But no, she would talk to him. Right now. She pulled her admission card through the card slot, reluctantly opened the door to her lab and went inside. As Jack closed the door behind her she winced before she turned around and looked him straight in the eye.