As previously arranged, Sam caught a flight to Washington D.C. on Friday afternoon, where Jack's driver was waiting for her at the airport. Although Mick, the driver, hadn't been officially informed about their relationship, he had already seen the beautiful blonde Lieutenant Colonel in Washington several times, so he discreetly kept his observations to himself. Sam expressed her gratitude and settled into the car, which took her to their townhouse. She had a few hours to kill before Jack would return home.
Jack had genuinely attempted to leave work early, but everyone seemed to have something urgent to discuss with him that Friday. Thus, he found himself arriving home later than he had hoped. Sam was watching TV when he finally walked through the door.
"Hey," he greeted, removing his hat and shoes. She immediately muted the television and sprang up from the couch.
"Hey yourself," she replied, greeting him with a long, passionate kiss. Jack looked into her eyes as they finally broke for air, his longing evident.
"Have you eaten already?" he inquired, his hands resting on her waist.
She shook her head.
"No, I was waiting for you," she said, her tone filled with desire.
"Sam, it's pretty late," he pointed out, gently caressing her back.
"I don't care," she asserted boldly.
"Alright, let me change, and we'll eat," he agreed, stealing another kiss.
Sam watched him disappear into the bedroom to change his clothes and realized they might end up without dinner if she didn't go to the kitchen. She peered into his fridge and found some leftovers. By the time he returned, clad in sweatpants and a t-shirt, she was placing their plates in the microwave.
"How was your flight?" he inquired, fetching two beers from the fridge.
"Boring as usual. I brought a book to read," she replied, leaning against the countertop. She wore yoga pants and an oversized old t-shirt that Jack suspected had once been his.
As they sat down to eat their dinner, Jack decided it was time to address the reason that had brought her to Washington, D.C.
"I'm sure you're curious about why I asked you to come here," he began, reclining in his chair.
"I am," she admitted, her curiosity evident.
Jack set down his beer and took her hand, noting her wedding and engagement rings were back in place.
"I've received three files with your name on them. Three reassignment proposals," he explained slowly.
Sam stopped eating and focused her attention on him.
"I haven't requested any reassignments," she pointed out.
"I know. These came from higher up," he clarified.
Sam swallowed hard. "Oh... Why?" she inquired.
Jack sighed.
"I don't have all the details. It could be related to the wedding. Honestly, I'm not sure," he admitted.
Sam gently caressed his hand, concern in her eyes.
"Alright. What are the proposals?" she asked, her heart rate quickening.
Jack stood up and tugged her hand, urging her to join him.
"Come on, let's get comfortable on the couch," he suggested.
Sam hesitated for a moment while still seated.
"I'm not liking this, Jack," she confessed.
"Come on, honey," he encouraged. Sam rose from her seat and followed him, hand in hand, to their living room, where they settled on the couch.
Sitting on the couch, Jack placed a hand on Sam's thigh.
"Please hear me out completely," he implored. "The first proposal is the one you've been offered before, head of the Research and Development department at Area 51 in Nevada. You would retain your current rank," Jack explained slowly.
Sam gritted her teeth.
"I see," she responded. "What's the other option?" she inquired.
"You'd be a part of the team working on the BC-303s here at the Pentagon, in Washington, D.C., also with the same rank," Jack disclosed.
Sam's eyes widened in surprise.
"Here, in D.C.?" she repeated, her astonishment evident.
"Yes, in General Vidrine's department," Jack confirmed.
"Oh," Sam said, her tone subdued. "You mentioned 'part of the team,' so I assume it's not a leading role," she guessed.
Jack shook his head. "That's correct.
And the third option?" she asked. Her breathing quickened, and her heart raced.
Jack took a deep breath and revealed, "Leading scientist in Atlantis, with an automatic promotion to Colonel."
"Atlantis?" Sam uttered slowly, barely believing they were considering sending her to another galaxy.
"Yes," Jack replied succinctly.
Sam's mind seemed to stall momentarily, and she finally asked, "Wait, Rodney McKay is the leading scientist in Atlantis. What happened?"
Jack's hand remained on her thigh as he delivered the news.
"He had a severe accident and is currently on Earth recovering. It was quite serious, so he'll be out for several months. They need a replacement, and you're the best-suited candidate," Jack explained, his gaze focused on his hand on her thigh rather than on her eyes.
Sam's brain processed the information more slowly than usual, but then she pieced it together. "So they're offering it to me because they don't have any other options, not because I'm the best candidate?" she surmised, a touch of bitterness in her tone.
Jack massaged her thigh and looked back at her.
"That's the situation, Sam," he said, avoiding her eyes.
Sam was infuriated and got up from the couch.
"It gives you an automatic promotion to full-bird Colonel, Sam," he continued, finally meeting her gaze.
Sam's eyes widened in disbelief.
"What?!" she nearly yelled, her voice rising in surprise.
Jack knew this would not be easy, but he wanted her to consider it logically.
"It essentially erases the blemish on your service record, honey. If you accept this post, your career gets back on track," he explained, aware that she might resent him for suggesting it.
Sam opened her mouth, then closed it. She stared at him, fists clenched at her sides.
"Did you just say that, Jack?" she inquired in a calm, controlled tone.
Jack leaned forward on the couch.
"I think we need to examine all the options carefully," he urged.
Sam couldn't believe what she was hearing.
"So, you want me to go to Atlantis? To another galaxy? Just to become a Colonel?" she questioned, her face reflecting her shock.
Jack stood up and moved toward her, but she stepped back.
"Sam," he began.
"No, answer me, Jack. Is that what you want—Atlantis?" she demanded, maintaining her distance from him.
Jack cursed inwardly.
"I didn't say that," he replied slowly.
Sam placed both hands behind her neck, momentarily closing her eyes.
"I can't believe this. I can't fucking believe this," she said, her frustration palpable.
Jack seized the opportunity to move closer to her, touching her waist. She opened her eyes immediately.
"Get your hands off me," she ordered, pushing her hands against his chest to create some space.
Jack remained motionless.
"Calm down, Sam," he suggested, hoping to defuse the tension.
Sam's agitation grew.
"Don't you dare to tell me to calm down! Get your hands off me. NOW! JACK!" she commanded, her eyes glinting with anger.
Reluctantly, Jack released her and watched as Sam stepped away.
"Come on, Sam, let's talk," he implored pleadingly.
She began to pace, her mind and heart racing.
"Talk? What is there to talk about? You've already decided," she said, avoiding eye contact.
Jack settled into one of the chairs in the living room, observing her with concern.
"I haven't made a decision, Sam. I've just presented the options," he said slowly.
Sam halted her pacing and met her husband's gaze.
"You've made your preference pretty clear," she stated, her voice cold.
"I merely highlighted that one of those options would promote you immediately, while we don't know how long it might take through the regular process," he reasoned, aware that she might not appreciate his reasoning.
Sam let out a bitter laugh.
"Oh, Jack, your time in Washington is certainly paying off. You're already speaking like them," she remarked. "Well, fuck you!" She left the room, heading for the bedroom and slamming the door shut.
Jack ran a hand through his hair and let out a heavy sigh. This was not how he had envisioned spending the night with his wife.
Jack waited for about an hour before finally heading to their bedroom. The door was closed, but it wasn't locked when he tried the handle. He let out a sigh and entered the dimly lit room. He carefully made his way to the bed without turning on the light. He could feel Sam's presence there, but she seemed near the edge, making the large bed almost empty as he lay down on his back.
"Are you asleep?" he asked softly.
"Yes," she replied hoarsely, revealing that she had been crying.
"I'm sorry, Sam. I didn't want to upset you," Jack apologized, his voice full of regret.
She didn't respond, and Jack wasn't sure what else to say. So, they lay in silence, each lost in their thoughts. Sleep didn't come quickly for Jack, so he lay there, gazing up at the ceiling, enveloped in the darkness of their bedroom and the complexities of their marriage at that moment.
At some point during the night, Jack was in that hazy state between being awake and half-asleep when he felt Sam shifting closer to him. He had the impulse to hold her, but he hesitated, not wanting to exacerbate the situation after she had asked him to keep his distance. So, he stayed on his side of the bed, listening to her gentle breathing.
Eventually, exhaustion overcame him, and he drifted into sleep.
As he woke up, Sam was lying beside him in the morning, one arm draped around his waist. He reciprocated, enfolding her tightly against him. As she stirred, she became aware of their embrace, and Jack could sense her discomfort. She carefully withdrew from his hold, and he closed his eyes, taking a deep breath.
Sam got up and headed to the bathroom, closing the door behind her. Jack could hear the sound of the shower running. After a few minutes, she emerged, wrapped in a towel, her body still wet.
"I'm going to need some time before we can talk again, Jack," she stated.
Jack sat on the edge of the bed and nodded.
"Okay. But they need a quick answer, Sam, and they'll pressure you. I'm sorry, but there's not much I can do about it. I've already talked to Vidrine," he explained.
This revelation took Sam aback.
"Oh, why did you do that?" she inquired, her curiosity piqued.
Jack ran a hand through his messy hair.
"Because I love you and will do everything I can to help," he stated.
Sam swallowed hard and looked at him; her emotions conflicted. Jack got up and went to the bathroom, leaving her alone to gather her thoughts and regain privacy. Sam felt tears welling up in her eyes, which she quickly wiped away. She changed into a pair of jeans and a blouse and then left the room, feeling an urgent need for coffee.
After shaving and showering, Jack made his way to the kitchen. Sam was already there, sipping her coffee, and she didn't even look at him as he entered. Jack filled his cup and then retreated to the backyard. Sam let out a sigh and finished her coffee. She joined the living room and noticed three files on the coffee table labeled 'classified' and 'Major General O'Neill Eyes Only.' Her curiosity got the best of her, and she hesitated before picking them up.
"You can read them," Jack's voice came from the doorway.
Sam bit her lip, feeling conflicted.
"They're classified," she replied.
"You're my wife," he said and left the room.
Sam bit her lip harder, and her fingers nervously traced the edges of the files. After a moment, her curiosity won, and she started to read. Two hours later, Sam put the files down. She had absorbed every detail, her brain processing the information efficiently. However, her heart had more difficulty dealing with what she'd learned.
Slowly, she got up and went in search of her husband. She found him still in the backyard, seated in a chair, seemingly lost in thought as he stared at their garden. She took a seat in another chair nearby.
"Can we talk?" she asked.
"Sure," Jack said, his nerves palpable as he waited for her to speak.
"I've read the files. Thank you. Why do you want me to become a Colonel, Jack?" Sam asked slowly, her eyes fixed on his.
Jack appeared taken aback by the question.
"What?" he said, puzzled.
Sam continued to gaze at him quietly.
"Why is it so important to you that I become a Colonel?" she repeated.
Jack blinked several times, searching for an answer.
"Because you deserve it," he finally replied.
"Okay, fair enough. And what if I tell you that I don't care if I don't become a Colonel?" Sam questioned, her eyes still locked onto his.
Jack looked at her with confusion.
"What? What does that mean? You don't care? Why did you return to the Air Force then?" he inquired.
"Because of you. If I stayed a civilian, the chances of seeing you again after everything I had done were slim to none. I couldn't take that chance," she explained honestly.
Jack paled, the realization hitting him like a ton of bricks. She had never told him this before. "Stop! What the hell are you talking about, Sam?!" he exclaimed, deeply shocked.
Sam took a deep breath, choosing her words carefully.
"Hammond gave me two choices: return to the Air Force or stay civilian and probably enter the witness protection program. If I stayed civilian, our paths might never have crossed again. I couldn't accept that," she revealed.
"You are in the Air Force due to your merits," Jack hotly asserted.
Sam shrugged her shoulders.
"The first time, sure. Not the second time," she stated firmly.
Jack shook his head, still grappling with the revelation.
"No, I refuse to believe that," he said, his anger mounting.
Sam let out a heavy sigh.
"I'm telling you what happened, Jack. I returned because Hammond offered and because of you. If you weren't here, I would have stayed out," she confessed.
"Don't say that," he warned, his voice filled with an unusual mixture of anger and fear.
"It's true, Jack, whether you like it or not," she insisted, her arms now crossed defensively.
Jack put his head in his hands, trying to process it all.
"So, you say you don't care about your Air Force career? Is that it?" he asked, his eyes closed.
Sam bit her lip so hard that she drew blood, wincing at the pain. She was now treading on treacherous ground.
"I care about you, Jack," she said carefully. "The Air Force is a means to be close to you," she added slowly.
He lifted his head, looking at her with shock written all over his face.
"You didn't use to think like this before," he said barely audibly.
Sam inhaled the crisp morning air.
"Lots of things have happened in our lives, Jack. I dreamt of marrying you, but I never expected actually to be married to you. So, yes, I didn't think like this before, but now I do," she admitted.
Jack's head was a whirlwind of emotions.
"I don't know what to think," he said slowly.
Sam managed a small smile.
"We can talk later," she suggested, getting up.
However, Jack firmly grasped her arm, making her pause.
"No," he said with determination. "You said you wanted to talk, so talk."
Sam reluctantly sat back down.
"Like I said, I've read the files and know what I want, but apparently, it's not the same thing you want. So, we need to talk," Sam said.
Jack looked at her and realized how much he loved her, how many years they had been apart because of the Air Force's damn rules. Suddenly, her rank seemed irrelevant. He had always wanted her, and now that they were finally married, she was living in another state, apart from him.
"So, what do you want?" he asked.
Sam glanced at her wedding ring and the beautiful engagement ring he had given her. She had never told him, but she often stared at it for hours while alone in Colorado Springs to reassure herself that it wasn't a dream and she was indeed married.
"I want to be where you are, so obviously, the choice is the Pentagon," she said, lifting her eyes and looking at him.
Jack swallowed hard, overwhelmed by the deep love that the fantastic woman beside him felt for him. She had already thrown her career to the wind for him once and was willing to do it again for their marriage. Jack felt tears welling up in his eyes.
"I don't deserve you," was all he could say before he lowered his head, trying to hide the tears rolling down his cheeks.
His emotional response took Sam aback; she didn't know what to do. When she finally regained her senses, she knelt before him, gently grabbing his head.
"God, Jack, don't say that," she whispered, kissing his temple.
Having regained his composure through deep breaths, Jack returned to his usual self. Sam gently caressed his hair when he lifted his head to meet her eyes. She could see they were still slightly wet, so she wiped away his remaining tears.
"I love you," she said, kissing him slowly.
Jack kissed her back, and the slow, tender kiss soon became passionate.
His mouth continued to stroke her lips with his tongue. Sam opened her mouth with a little moan, and he gripped her hair tight with one hand while stroking down to the small of her back with the other. His tongue probed and stroked and tasted while she kissed him back, following his rhythm with her mouth. God, he had missed her!
When they broke apart, they were trembling with the moment's intensity.
"Sam." That was all Jack said, waiting.
"I want to stay here, Jack. With you," she said again, running her hands over his chest.
"Okay, I would like that very much," he said, kissing her again.
With her new assignment decided, they spent the rest of the weekend reconnecting, making up for lost time, and reacquainting themselves with each other's bodies.