The morning after would be like any other in the Mountain if SG-1 hadn't been called to recue SG-7 that had been held prisoner in some planet they had been sent on negotiations. As such, they all geared up in a hurry and went through the gate where they were expected as the negotiators of Earth.

As soon as they arrived, they had a delegation waiting for them. They delivered their weapons and while Daniel was starting to talk to the head of the delegation, one of the members pointed to Sam with an offended expression.

"What?", she asked.

After some discussions, Daniel came back to them with an apologetic expression.

"Look, I'm sorry but we have a problem. Here they don't allow single women to travel alone either. So Sam can't go with us unless she's married. She'll need to get back to SGC or one of us needs to pretend to be her husband again. That was the problem with SG-7", he said in a low voice.

Sam blushed beet red and Jack let go a deep sigh.

"Okay, tell them she's married to me", Jack said. Not looking to his 2IC.

Daniel looked to Sam who was biting her lip furiously but wasn't saying a word.

"Are you okay with this Sam?", he asked concerned.

"Daniel!? I'm the CO here, I'm the one giving orders, so do what I've told you to do", Jack barked.

Daniel swallowed and got back to the delegation and explained the situation. They looked at Sam and appeared more relaxed but still glanced her suspicious looks.

"Carter, you stay next to me all the time, understood?", he asked.

"Yes Sir", she merely said.

They moved all to the city where the rest of the negotiations continued. Daniel tried his best to explain that Major Torres was also married to her CO, Colonel Winter but the locals weren't so convinced since they hadn't show any display of affection since arriving. The talks entered through the night and they were 'invited' the spend the night and continue the discussions the next day. Jack and Sam were given one room while Daniel and Teal'c where given separate rooms. All locked and guarded from outside.

As soon as they were alone, Sam looked at the room they had been assigned to. It had light grey walls. A soft, pastel-colored rug covered the wooden floor, providing a cozy touch. On one side of the room, a small desk stood adorned with a few books. And in the center, a big bed with several pillows, covered with a large quilt.

"I'll sleep in the floor, Sir", she said. Taking one pillow from the bed.

Jack lifted and eyebrow.

"Why? The bed is big enough for the two of us", he said. Starting to take his jacket off.

"I'll sleep in the floor", she said again. Putting the pillow against one wall.

Jack shrugged his shoulders.

"Suit yourself, Captain", he said.

Sam was starting to lay on the floor when the door suddenly opened. One of the delegations' member walked in and looked at them.

"What?" Jack asked. Moving closer to Sam.

The man looked at the pillow on the floor and then to Sam. Jack just smiled and grabbed her hand.

"We don't need so many pillows to sleep. My wife doesn't use a pillow", he said. Moving them closer to the bed.

Sam went with him keeping her eyes on the man at the door. She slowly started to take her jacket and then sat on the bed and unlaced her boots.

"Do you mind? We were starting to get ready to go to bed?", Jack asked moving his head in direction of the big bed.

The man looked again to Sam who had already taken her boots and was now taking her socks. And then he left.

"I think it's safer if you sleep on the bed, Carter. I guess they will check us more times during the night. If they caught you sleeping on the floor…", Jack said.

"Fine", she just said and moved to the other side of the bed. She quickly took her pants, keeping just her t-shirt and her underwear. She got inside the sheets and turned her back to him.

Jack sighed and started to undress also. He did the same, keeping his t-shirt and his boxers. He also got inside the bed. Which was big enough for the two of them not having to touch each other. And like Jack had said, during the night they received another 'check visit' from the same man that after seeing them both in the same bed, left without a word.

As the first rays of morning light began to peek through the gap between the curtains, the room gradually illuminated, revealing the unfamiliar space. Sam's tired eyes blinked a few times to adjust to the gentle illumination.

Sam's gaze shifted from the room to the warm body lying next to her, one arm around her waist. His face relaxed in deep sleep. She stood very quiet watching him sleep until he stirred, his eyes fluttering open. He stretched his arms above his head, emitting a contented sigh.

"Did I oversleep?"

Sam took the opportunity to move a little away from him and brushed a stray lock of hair from her face.

"No, it's still early", she said. Looking now at the ceiling.

He sat up, leaning against the headboard, and stretched his legs out in front of him.

"So any more visits during the night?", he asked looking at her.

"I don't think so. If we had any more, I was asleep", she confessed.

Jack nodded.

"Yeah…me too", he admitted.

After some awkward silence, Sam finally got up and went to the bathroom to take a quick shower and get dressed. When she left, Jack did the same. When they were both ready Jack knocked on the door to let whoever was on the other side aware that they were ready.

They were escorted again to the room where the discussions had been held the day before. Thanks to Daniel's skilful arts of diplomacy, SG-7 was set free and able to return to SGC as well as SG-1.

But on the return trip back to the Stargate, a tense atmosphere hung in the air. The usual warmth and camaraderie that usually surrounded SG-1 seemed to have dissipated. Sensing the discomfort, Daniel and Teal'c exchanged concerned glances, knowing that something had gone wrong between Sam and Jack.

Daniel, always the peacemaker, mustered up the courage to break the silence.

"Hey, guys, I guess the mission was a success in the end".

Sam and Jack exchanged brief glances but remained silent. The weight of their unresolved argument seemed to cast a heavy shadow on their spirits, making it difficult to engage in casual conversation.

Teal'c decided to approach the situation differently.

"Is the situation on this planet brought any unpleasant memories from the one where you were both forced to pretend to act as a married couple to save Captain Carter?", he asked bluntly.

Sam looked down, while Jack's face etched with a sense of weariness. Both remained silent. Daniel and Teal'c exchanged glances again, silently acknowledging the difficulty of the situation.

Teal'c spoke up again.

"We understand that it must have been a most difficult situation for both of you and this mission was not the best but we've seen you overcome challenges before. Maybe taking some time to reflect individually and then finding a way to communicate openly might help."

Sam sighed, her gaze fixed on the floor.

"Yeah… Teal'c, we just need some time", she said.

They had reached the Stargate and Daniel started putting Earth's coordinates. Jack adjusted his P-90.

"Right, T. Everything will be fine, don't worry", he said.

Both SG-7 and SG-1 entered the gate and got back home.