But as time went by, things between Colonel O'Neill and his 2IC didn't improve. In fact, they got worse by the day. Jack snapped at her without apparent reason and Sam openly defy his orders. They were both called to General Hammond's office.
"So Colonel I'll start with you since you've the higher rank. What the hell is going on?", Hammond asked in a very pissed off voice.
The last situation had to do with Jack ordering Sam to stay away from the Mountain during the weekend and she purely ignoring the order and spending both Saturday and Sunday working on her last alien artefact. When Jack found out on Monday he gave her a very public dress down in the mess hall. General Hammond just happened to walk in when he was yelling at her.
"Well, Sir, I gave a very specific order to Captain Carter and she just ignore it", he said. Still pissed with her.
"Captain?", Hammond looked at Sam who was looking at a point in his wall. Very straight.
"Area 51 needs the results from that artefact as soon as possible. I told Colonel O'Neill that. Several times. He chose to ignore that", she said.
Hammond sighed.
"Nevertheless, Captain you disobey an order from a superior officer. Colonel O'Neill is your CO, not Area 51", he said.
"Yes Sir", she admitted.
"Very well, Captain Carter you're suspended for two days with no payment. Think better next time your CO give you an order, Captain. Dismissed", he said.
Sam saluted and left the office fuming.
Jack looked at his CO. He didn't want to have Carter suspended.
"Sir maybe getting her suspended it's a little too bit harsh…", he started.
Hammond lifted his hand and Jack stopped talking.
"As for you Colonel… I expected better from a man with your experience. Humiliating a junior officer in front of almost the entire base is very unbecoming of you, Jack", he said with a disappointed expression. "Regardless of what she might have done", he added.
"Yes Sir. I'm sorry. It won't happen again", Jack said.
"See to that. She's young and still have a lot to learn. But she's also brilliant and her genius is highly valued by the Air Force. I don't want her to leave us because of problems with her CO. She can ask to be reassigned if things don't start to improve between the two of you", he warned.
Jack paled.
"Of course, Sir. I'll do my best. You have my word", he said.
"Very well. Dismissed", Hammond said.
Jack saluted and left his CO's officer. Once outside he took several deep breaths. He needed to talk with Carter fast. So he headed to her lab with a quick pace. However, when he got there it was dark and empty. Shit. She must have already left.
As Sam seethed with anger and frustration, the sound of a knock on her front door interrupted her thoughts. She opened it to find her CO standing there, his expression serious yet determined. She let out an exasperated sigh, realizing that he had come to address the situation that had led to her suspension.
"Carter, may I come in? I think it's time we had a proper discussion about what happened", Jack asked as calmly as he managed.
Sam, though reluctant, stepped aside to allow him inside. The tension in the room was palpable as they settled down on the sofa, facing each other.
Sam crossed her arms defensively.
"Fine. Let's get this over with".
Jack took a deep breath.
"Look, Carter, I understand that you're furious about the suspension, but you need to understand the gravity of your actions. Disobeying a direct order puts the entire chain of command in risk".
Her blue eyes were shining while she looked at him.
"I get that, but you have to understand that this alien artefact is of great importance. Your orders to stay home in the weekend didn't make sense due to the urgency of what Area 51 needs". Sam said with a voice laced with frustration.
"I am well aware of what you think it's important, but as your CO, my job is to make the tough decisions for the greater good. You had been working non-stop for the entire week. You needed rest. Disregarding those orders undermines the chain of command and sets a dangerous precedent", Jack said firmly.
"Well, maybe the chain of command needs some adjustments then! I can't continue serving under someone who doesn't trust my judgment and treats me like a mindless soldier", Sam said. Her voice rising with anger.
"You're crossing a line, Carter. We all have to make sacrifices and follow orders, even if we don't agree with them. Asking for a reassignment because of one disagreement is irrational and disrespectful", Jack said with a stern voice. His eyes narrowing.
Sam stood up.
"You know what? Maybe it is disrespectful. But it's also about my mental well-being and feeling valued. I can't keep working in an environment that makes me feel like my opinions don't matter", she said defiantly.
"Your opinions do matter, but this is not the way to address your concerns! You can't just run away every time things don't go your way. We need soldiers who can handle pressure and work as a team", Jack was now booming with anger.
Sam took a step forward, eyes blazing.
"I have proven time and time again that I can handle pressure and be a team player. But there's a limit to how much I can take. If you can't respect that, then maybe a reassignment is the best option for both of us".
Jack stood up abruptly.
"You think you can just walk away from your responsibilities? This isn't some game, Carter. Lives are at stake, and we need soldiers who are committed and dedicated, not ones who abandon their duty".
Sam looked at him silence.
"Besides are we really talking about alien artefacts or something entirely different?", Jack asked looking back at her.
"I don't know what you mean", she immediately said.
Jack might have believed she had been furious for all the orders and the dress down until right this moment. She had answered too quickly.
"So you aren't really furious about being suspended for disobeying orders? You're still mad at me because of our little arrangement…", he said. Crossing his arms.
Sam made a half smile.
"Don't flatter yourself, Colonel. You're not worth it", she said with a mocking tone.
Jack sat on the sofa again.
"I know I'm not worth it, Carter. That's why I had to made you that offer. Otherwise I would never have got you again in my bed. And I still don't know why did you accept it", he said.
All the anger Sam was feeling seemed to deflate hearing those words.
"I made a mistake when I accepted", she said. Turning her back to him.
"What mistake?", he asked curious.
"Doesn't matter", she said in a low voice.
"It matters to me. Come on, you might as well tell me. We're done", he said. Trying to lure her.
She slowly turned to him.
"Yes, we're done", she repeated.
And Jack was surprised to see her eyes shadowed with pain. Before she put her mask back on.
"Carter…When I made that offer were you expecting more than just sex?", he asked. Slowly getting up from the sofa.
Sam however had already gather herself.
"Of course not", she said with what she hoped sounded a firm voice.
But Jack already had seen her completely without barriers. When they were being intimate. Not on Earth. That had been indeed a mistake. But on that goddam planet. When he had made love with her. And she had made love with him.
"In that planet, we did more than sex, Carter", he said approaching her.
She started to get backwards.
"It was just sex, Sir", she said. Stopping when her body hit a wall.
"No it wasn't. Sex was what we did here, on Earth", he said. Stopping inches from her.
"Well it doesn't matter anyway. It's over", she said with a determined tone.
"Yes, you ended", he said. Putting one hand in the wall.
Sam swallowed.
"Yes, I did. I had to", she said.
"Why?", he asked.
"Because it was wrong", she lied.
"Or because I didn't give you what I gave you in the planet?", he asked. Moving his head closer to hers.
"You fucked me. No difference", she said. Her eyes locked on his.
Jack smiled.
"Oh no…big difference. You know that. Now things start to make a lot more sense…", he said. His eyes lowering to her lips.
She had both hands in his chest. Not pushing just staying there. Her heart was pounding and her breathing labored. Sliding his free hand to the small of her back, he urged her closer, his lips curving into a slight smile when her pupils dilated, her lashes fluttering as her eyes closed and her lips parted. Jack lowered his mouth to hers and she eagerly opened her mouth to his ravenous lips.
They kissed fiercely until they were both out of air. Jack's forehead against hers, his eyes locked on hers.
"I want to this right", he said breathing heavily.
"You are starting it much better", she said with a smile. Both her hands dropping to his waist.
He smiled and kissed her again.
"We should move this to my bedroom", Sam suggested when they had to stop again to breath.
"Are you sure?", he asked. Moving one hand across her cheek and down her neck. Stopping at her chest.
"Yes, I'm sure, Jack", she said. Using his given name for the first time.
He abruptly swung her up in his arms and she quickly looped her arms around his neck, burying her face in his throat. She bit and then licked at his warm flesh, only vaguely aware that he was carrying her down her hallway. He paused, swinging her around and she raised her head. They were in her bedroom. He lowered her to her feet and she turned on a small bedside lamp. Bringing soft light blooming in the room.
"Hi", he said. Caressing her lips with his thumb.
She grabbed his hair and pulled his mouth to hers, kissing him. Sucking his tongue into her mouth. He groaned deeply as his hand tugged at the hem her sweater, pulling it free from her jeans. Sam raised her arms over her head, helping him. The sweater finally pulled free of her head and arms, Jack carelessly tossing it to the floor.
"So beautiful", he whispered.
His fingers continued to trail up her spine and she started breathing faster. The straps of her bra started to drop off her shoulders and then his fingers were trailing down her arms, her bra following as he pulled it off. It joined her sweater on the floor.
"Your turn", she said. Moving her hands to his shirt and starting to undo his buttons. His shirt was soon falling off his shoulders and onto the floor.
While they were taking part of their clothes, Jack had been moving them closer to her bed. So suddenly Sam found herself tumbled onto the bed. He wasted no time and landed on top of her. His hands tugging urgently at the fastening of her jeans. That along with her panties were quickly on the floor. In seconds he was out of trousers and boxers and once more on top of her.
His hands played along the curves of her body and she mimicked his actions. For a second he stopped and looked into her eyes and smiled at her. Cupping her face in his hands he kissed her passionately. Then with swift movements he entered her, causing her to gasp and arch her body towards him. Her hands clutched at the bedspread and her lips quivered as her world exploded in desire and ecstasy. His head nuzzled the crook of her neck as he was swept away by their rhythm.
"God…Jack", she moaned. Feeling her orgasm coming.
He thrusted harder, kissing her neck until she came and he followed her moments later. The world completed blurred around them. And they stayed there, in her bed, tightly hugged until their senses come back to normal.