They finally returned back home. It was a a mission with lots and lots of negotiations. Daniel was in his element and Jack was bored beyond comparison.

They agreed on a team night as soon as they were allowed to leave the mountain.

The debrief took nearly as long as the mission itself. As Hammond finally closed the meeting Jack looked around to make sure they were all in.

"So, O'Malleys? Let's say in thirty minutes? That gives you time to shower and change."

They all nodded and headed towards the changing rooms.

Jack was the first to leave the base, he got to the bar just in time for the last table.

The second one to enter was Sam. She made her way to the bar to get a beer before joining her commanding officer.

"Hi Sir!"

"Hey Carter, where are the boys?"

"I don't know, I thought they already left when I was finished."

Twenty minutes later they tried to call Daniel's cellphone. It rang, but nobody picked up. Same with the phone in his lab.

Jack finally called Hammond to make sure their friends were alright.

He laughed while talking to the General.

"What happened?" Sam asked curious when Jack stored the phone away.

He smiled before he answered.

"They are stuck in the elevator. Siler is working on it, but they won't be joining us tonight I think."

Sam grinned. That could only happen to Daniel, couldn't it?

"So it's just you and me tonight," he said, "want to order dinner?"

"Sure!" Sam answered with an uneasy feeling in her stomach. She has tried to avoid being alone with him since the accident in the ice cave.

Not because she didn't feel safe with him alone, but because she didn't trust herself to stay as professional as she should.

They had dinner together and a few beers. They played two or three rounds of pool. Even a slightly drunk Carter wasn't easy to beat at her game.

While playing they gravitated towards each other more and more. A little touch here and a bump with their hips there.

With more alcohol they became more touchy and closer. He knew he was doomed, his feelings for his young Captain weren't what was appropriate with his rank and in the same chain of command.

After one last drink they went outside to catch a cab.

"So, that was fun, Carter. We should do this again."

"I don't think we should do that again, alone, Sir."

Jack was a little shocked about her statement.

"Oh, ahm... I'm sorry you didn't like it. I didn't want to force you into anything."

"I'm not saying I didn't like it."

"No? Then what are you saying?" Jack asked, a bit confused.

"In fact I think I liked it a bit too much. And that would be the problem, Sir." she answered, emphasizing the 'Sir' so he would understand what she was trying to say, but wasn't allowed to say.

"Oh!"

"Yeah!" She bowed her head and suddenly found a spot at the bottom very interesting.

"If it helps you feel better, I think I liked it as much as you did."

She looked up again, straight into his eyes.

"It helps to know," she answered, bitting her lip nervously.

"Are we ok, Carter?"

"Yes, we are." she said as both their cabs arrived. She reached out to him, touching his forearm with her soft hand. "Good night, Colonel."

"Good night, Captain."

They each took their cab home and hoped for the next lucky coincidence, that would eventually get them together alone again.