Jack rushed home as soon as he could. Strangely, all the lights in his house were off. He opened the door and was greeted by darkness, so he turned on a smaller lamp in his living room before checking on her. Her bedroom door was partially open but dark inside. Jack slowly opened it and waited as his eyes adjusted to the dark. No sound or movement came from the bed, so she was probably asleep.
Jack moved carefully until his legs hit the bed and sat cautiously on the edge. Still no movement. Slowly, his hand started to search for her body, and he quickly found a leg. Sam moved a little but didn't wake up, so Jack's hand gently moved up, only stopping on her shoulder. He didn't want to startle her, so he slowly switched on the light of her nightstand.
The room looked a mess, Jack noticed. Pillows on the floor, a half-drunk cup of coffee on the nightstand, some of his books on the bed and the floor, and... Jack swallowed as he looked at her. Sam was only in her underwear, half her body covered with the sheets and the other half for his eyes to see.
"Oh boy," he mumbled, his mouth suddenly very dry.
Her eyes started to open very slowly as she moved more on the bed, one leg rubbing a sensitive part of Jack's anatomy and making him swallow twice before he could speak.
"Hey," he said, clearing his throat as he gently caressed her naked shoulder.
She turned to face him, her blue eyes now open.
"Jack?" she asked, blinking. Her leg mercifully had moved away when she turned.
"Yeah, I'm finally home," he said with a smile.
"What time is it?" she asked confused.
Jack looked at his watch. "A little past 2000," he said.
She closed her eyes again. "Oh," she said with a sigh.
"So, how was the rest of your day? Did you eat anything, Sam?" he asked concerned.
She stretched her neck without looking at him.
"I had coffee," she said.
Jack sighed heavily.
"Coffee isn't food," he admonished.
She pulled the blanket over her head and groaned. He had to smile.
"I can cook you something to eat. What do you want?" he asked.
"Nothing," she answered under the blanket.
Jack moved his body so he was now almost on top of her, and she moaned as his hands moved to her hips.
"That isn't an acceptable answer, Doctor Carter. You have to eat, and I was told by a reliable source that I'm an excellent cook," he said through the blanket near her ear. He heard her laugh and smiled. Mission accomplished.
Her body shifted, and her face slowly appeared as the blanket moved lower. God, she was beautiful.
"You are a good cook, Jack, but I don't think I can eat," she said sadly.
Jack kissed her chin.
"Something light, then. A toast and some eggs?" he offered.
She eventually nodded, and he gave her another kiss, getting off her.
"Do you want to eat here, or do you feel up to going to the kitchen?" he asked.
Sam pulled the blanket over her head again.
"Here," she said.
He smiled, a hand already on her door.
"Fine, I'll go change, then cook you something and bring it here. Stay put," he said and then left.
After taking a quick shower and changing into some sweatpants and an old T-shirt, Jack moved quickly through the kitchen, gathering the necessary ingredients for Sam's dinner. He filled the kettle with water, placing it on the stove to boil for chamomile tea. Meanwhile, he cracked a few eggs into a bowl, whisking them with a dash of milk, salt, and pepper for the scrambled eggs.
With practiced ease, he started toasting slices of bread, the aroma of warm, crispy toast filling the kitchen. While watching the kettle, Jack heated a pan for the scrambled eggs, adding a touch of butter for flavor. The eggs sizzled as they hit the pan, gradually taking shape.
As the tea kettle whistled, signaling the water was ready, Jack poured it into a mug over a chamomile tea bag. He let it steep, releasing a soothing fragrance. Simultaneously, he carefully flipped the scrambled eggs in the pan, ensuring they were perfectly cooked.
Jack plated the scrambled eggs on a tray alongside the toasted bread. He added the steaming mug of chamomile tea, creating a simple yet comforting meal. Balancing the tray, he went to Sam's room, ready to offer her a warm and nourishing dinner in the comfort of her bed.
He opened her bedroom door cautiously and found her seated on the bed.
With a soft smile, Jack approached her, carrying a tray with her dinner. He carefully placed it over her knees, making sure not to disturb her. Sam eyed the tea with skepticism as she picked up the mug.
"What's this?" she asked, sniffing it cautiously.
Now seated at the end of the bed with his arms crossed, Jack explained, "Chamomile tea. It's too late for coffee, and I don't have decaf."
Sam took a sip, finding the taste surprisingly acceptable.
"I'll live," she admitted, allowing a small smile.
Her attention shifted to the toast and eggs, hesitating before finally starting to nibble on the toast.
Jack encouraged her, "Come on, Sam, just a few bites. You need something in your stomach."
As she took small bites of the toast, Sam avoided the eggs. Jack let it slide, knowing he could try later. Besides, he had something else to discuss with her. He leaned in, adopting a mysterious tone.
"Want to know something Hammond told me today?" he teased.
Sam looked at him, curiosity in her eyes, as the toast continued to be destroyed by her fingers, slowly eaten, and the tea sipped.
"Apparently, you're now allowed to go back to the base and see the Stargate even before giving the Air Force your answer. You'll also meet the rest of my team, SG-1."
Sam's gaze intensified, and she placed the tea mug on the tray.
"Why?" she asked, her suspicion apparent.
Jack shrugged, "According to Hammond, the Air Force wants you in the Program. They think seeing the Stargate will convince you." Considering their complicated history, he delivered the news with irony.
"So, the same guys that framed me, indirectly caused my father's death, and ruined my life for the last years now want me back? Are they delusional or just plain stupid?" Sam questioned bitterly.
Jack acknowledged her frustration, "You're right, and you don't have to do it if you don't want to. I'm just passing the message."
Sam looked at him, sensing something more.
"But you want me to, don't you? You want me to look at your precious Stargate?"
Jack nodded, admitting, "I think you can make a difference. Even if you don't accept the Air Force offer, I'd like you to look at it."
Putting the tray aside, Sam lost the rest of her already non-existent appetite.
"The Air Force can kiss my ass, Jack. I won't accept anything from them. I'll see that Stargate because of you. For you," she declared, determined.
Jack swallowed hard, expressing his gratitude.
"Okay. Thank you," he said sincerely.
Sam redirected the conversation, asking to change the subject. Jack promptly took the tray from the bed and placed it on the dresser.
"Of course, I'm sorry; it was too soon to discuss this. Tell me what you need," he said, sitting on the bed beside her with his arm around her shoulder.
Sam chuckled, "I need this to be all a nightmare. When I wake up, it's all gone." A sob caught in her throat as she started to cry, and Jack held her tightly.
"The nightmare will eventually go away, Sam, and I'll be here when you wake up. Always," he assured her, kissing her head.
After some long minutes, she calmed down, thanking him for being there.
Jack held her tighter, confessing, "I love you, Samantha Carter, so I'm in this for the long haul."
She lifted her head, her eyes red from crying.
"Are you really, Jack? Or are you just saying that because you want me in that Program?" she asked, her skepticism shining.
Jack swallowed, realizing Sam's astute mind never ceased, even when emotions were involved.
"Even I am not that cynical, Sam. I love you for who you are, not what you can bring us. If you want to return to Minnesota and never come back, I'll drive there myself and be a happy man for the rest of my life. I love you; the Program is my job that I'll gladly quit as I did before," he declared, hoping his sincerity was evident.
Sam scrutinized him for a moment, then kissed him with intensity. That night, their connection was expressed through raw, desperate sex—a manifestation of the pain she needed to escape momentarily. Jack understood, providing her with the solace she sought.
The next day, Jack woke up feeling sated and content. As he stretched, his hands wandered to find an empty bed. Confused, he opened his eyes and immediately called out, "Sam? Sam, where are you?"
He hastily put on his boxers and left the bedroom, checking the bathroom, kitchen, and living room, but she was nowhere to be found. The slightly ajar door to his deck caught his attention, and he saw her there, wrapped in a blanket, gazing silently at the sky.
"Here you are," he said, shivering in the cold.
She turned her head slowly and greeted him with a simple "Hi."
It was only then that Jack noticed her long legs bare, and he asked with a very suddenly dry mouth, "Are… are you naked?"
Sam laughed, revealing his old t-shirt and her panties beneath the blanket. She closed it again, acknowledging the cold.
"Come on, let's get in," Jack urged, trying to slow down his heavy breathing.
"It's still quiet," she remarked, not moving.
Jack's feet were getting numb from the cold.
"Yeah, everyone is still asleep, Sam. Come on, let's get inside before I turn into a popsicle," he teased.
She giggled and got up, the blanket still enveloping her. Jack turned up the heat and decided to start the fireplace. When he turned around, she was standing in the middle of the living room, the blanket draped around her shoulders and upper body.
"What?" he asked.
"Come here," she said, her blue eyes locked on his.
Jack approached, and she opened the blanket, enveloping him with her arms against her. He was freezing.
"You feel like a giant ice cube," she remarked, feeling his cold, bare chest as she tried to warm him up. His cold hands were on her waist, holding her tight.
"I woke up, and you weren't in bed. I got worried," he admitted, kissing her neck.
She giggled again, feeling his cold nose against her skin.
"I miss the forest," she confessed, resting her head on his shoulder.
The room was warmer now, and Jack had stopped shivering.
"I know. Let's try to deal with everything first, and then we'll go to Minnesota," he suggested.
Sam closed her eyes, their bodies warmer from the heat and the fireplace.
"I like your house here, but I don't know if I'm ready to live in the city right now. Or if I will ever be," she said carefully.
Jack held his breath.
"OK. What do you say we cross that bridge when we get there?" he asked, slowly moving some hair from her face.
She nodded.
"I've got to start to get ready, or Hammond will chop my head if I don't arrive on time today," Jack said, kissing her.
Sam cleared her throat.
"About that..." she started, her hands still holding the blanket around them.
"Yes?" he asked, looking at her.
"When do you think I can see the Stargate? I want to get over with that and move on," she said.
Jack noticed the lack of enthusiasm in her voice but refrained from pointing that out. Instead, he said, "I'll talk to Hammond to arrange things and then let you know. How does that sound to you?"
"Sounds OK," she replied.
After a long kiss, he hurriedly went to the bathroom to shower and shave while she continued enjoying the fire's warmth in the living room. He appeared ready some minutes later and asked her if she wanted breakfast. She told him to take his and go as she had time. Jack had his coffee, swallowed a toast, and grabbed his truck keys.
"I'll talk with Hammond and then let you know. Call me if you need anything, OK?" he asked as he kissed her.
She caressed his shaved cheeks and told him to go to work. Smiling, he left. He was already so deep with her that he tried not to give it too much thought.
Jack informed Hammond that Doctor Carter had expressed interest in seeing the Stargate. Following the orders from the Pentagon, the General instructed Jack to assign Daniel the task of preparing a presentation for the next day. The plan was to present the facts in the briefing room first and then provide a personal tour of the Gate Room to gauge Doctor Carter's response.
Jack sought out Daniel and found him engrossed in a book in the cafeteria.
"Morning," Jack greeted as he took a seat.
"Hi, Jack," Daniel replied, not looking up from his work.
"Daniel, Hammond wants you to prepare a presentation for Doctor Carter. Tomorrow. She wants to see the Stargate," Jack conveyed as he sipped his coffee.
Daniel stopped writing, finally looking up at Jack.
"She does?" he asked, surprised.
"Yeah," Jack confirmed.
"Oh, right, I can do that. I have most things prepared. I need to update others, and..." Daniel explained, but Jack raised his hand.
"OK. Stop. I don't need to know. Take care of it," Jack instructed.
Daniel blushed, mumbled something under his breath, closed the book, and hastily left the cafeteria. Jack sighed, realizing the urgency of the situation. The sooner they got this presentation ready, the better.
The rest of the day was spent with Daniel bombarding Jack with questions about Doctor Carter's background. Jack did his best to provide insights, as Daniel was determined to create a presentation that would make a lasting impression. Secretly, Jack also hoped that Sam would be captivated by the Ancient device located on the last level of Cheyenne Mountain. Therefore, he assisted Daniel in any way he could to ensure the presentation would be informative and intriguing. And that she would agree to be part of SGC.
When Jack returned home, he informed her about Hammond's arrangement for a presentation and a visit to the Stargate scheduled for the following day. She nodded, and no further discussions about the Stargate occurred that night. Despite her initial reservations about intimacy when she arrived at his home, things between them had escalated, especially after the emotional confrontation with her brother. Jack had noticed a significant lowering in her emotional barriers, and he hoped they would continue to dissolve. He wanted her to feel comfortable and safe, at least with him. They had a pleasant dinner, pretended to watch TV, and eventually ended up in his bedroom. Given her emotional state, Jack held her in his arms as they drifted off to sleep. For Jack, it was more than enough.
Big revelations awaited her tomorrow.
This time, Sam opted for what she was used to wearing, namely her military cargo pants, boots, and a jacket, resembling Jack in his BDUs. Her hair was tied in a ponytail; all she missed was her Glock. Their breakfast was quiet, and the ride to the mountain was mostly silent.
"You know you can ask all the questions you want, right?" Jack mentioned as they approached the security checkpoint.
Sam nodded, and as they passed through, Jack added, "The rest of my team will be there also. Daniel Jackson and Teal'c."
"Teal'c? That is a very unusual name," she noted, raising an eyebrow.
"Yeah," Jack simply said as he parked the truck. They went through the familiar routine at the base entrance, and Jack took her in the elevator as they descended.
As before, she was taken to the same briefing room, but this time, two men dressed in BDUs like Jack were waiting for her. She recognized them from the photo in his cabin—the one with glasses and the tall, muscled, dark one. Jack made the introductions.
"Doctor Samantha Carter, these are my two colleagues from SG-1, Doctor Daniel Jackson and Teal'c," Jack said.
Sam extended her hand for a handshake, first to the blue-eyed man with glasses and then to the imposing figure of Teal'c, who not only shook her hand but also bowed his head. Sam found that particularly odd.
"Please take a seat, Doctor Carter," Daniel said, pointing to one of the chairs.
General Hammond entered from his office, and Sam greeted him, "General."
"Doctor Carter, welcome back to our Mountain," he replied as they shook hands.
Everyone took their seats, and Daniel dimmed the lights, preparing for the presentation.
"So, in 1928, some archaeologists found an alien device at Giza, Egypt," Daniel began, pointing to images on the screen.
Sam observed the large, ring-shaped device and asked, "And it works?"
"Yes, it does. We've traveled to several planets ourselves to attest to that. And Teal'c is living proof; he's not human, he's a Jaffa," Daniel explained.
"Jaffa?" Sam inquired, surprised as she looked at the silent, imposing presence in the room.
Daniel launched into an intricate explanation about the Goua'ld and the Jaffa, presenting a fantastical narrative that seemed more like science fiction than reality. Sam listened attentively, maintaining a skeptical expression. When Daniel finished, Hammond noticed her disbelief.
"You don't believe us, Doctor Carter?" he asked.
"I believe you may have found something of unexplainable origin since the universe is vast and unknown. The rest..." she shrugged, expressing doubt.
Suddenly, the window shutters covering the briefing room windows started to open. Sam rose from her chair, moving towards the windows as the Stargate appeared into view.
"That is our Stargate, Doctor Carter," Daniel said as he approached her.
Sam was stunned.
"Do you want to see it up close?" he offered.
"Yes," Sam replied immediately.
Descending the circular stairs to the control room, Sam saw various computers at work. She noticed the code and strange symbols on the screen. They then proceeded to the Gate Room, guarded by armed airmen, who stood to attention as Hammond entered. Sam observed the ramp leading to the Stargate and slowly approached, taking in the intricate symbols, chevrons, and rotating glyphs.
"Exciting, isn't it?" Daniel asked.
"I was going with confusing," Sam remarked, placing her hand on the metallic structure. It felt heavy and solid. Daniel explained how the Stargate operated and introduced her to the DHD. Sam inspected it silently, her mind processing the information at top velocity.
"Do you want to see it in action?" Jack asked.
"Sure," Sam said.
Jack signaled them to leave the room, and they returned to the control room. There, Sam watched as they supposedly dialed a planet, with Daniel explaining the mechanics of wormhole travel. Her eyes were fixed on the large ring. They were now entering her domains. She had, after all, a Ph.D. in Astrophysics with extensive knowledge in quantum mechanics.
"So, you tell me this creates a stable wormhole that allows people to pass through the so-called event horizon from one Stargate to another? The wormhole disassembles and reassembles matter at the quantum level during transit?" she inquired, her voice tinged with sarcasm.
"Yes. That is how we travel," Daniel confirmed.
Sam continued to scrutinize the Stargate.
"There's a problem with what you said," she began, her eyes still on the impressive structure.
"What?" Daniel asked.
"Energy requirements for the wormhole would be substantial. How do you power the Stargate without blacking out the entire State?" Sam inquired.
"We have a substance called naquadah, and the Stargate network operates using it," Daniel explained.
"Naquadah? Never heard of it," Sam admitted.
"It's alien," Jack added.
Sam nodded, returning her attention to the Stargate, which had started activating. The room fell silent as Walter announced the sequence. Sam was mesmerized as she watched the Stargate establish a stable wormhole, forming a blue puddle within the ring. Her working theories had just been proven a reality.
"Hmm," she muttered again.
Walter ended the connection since no SG teams were scheduled to return or depart. General Hammond suggested returning to the briefing room; a very pensive Sam walked back, her mind running several scenarios.