To everyone's surprise, Sam showed up at the SGC the following morning, declaring herself ready to resume work. Hammond promptly directed her to Janet for a comprehensive evaluation. A visibly astonished Janet ordered a battery of tests and scheduled a discussion with MacKenzie. Sam was allowed to return to light duty only after these steps and upon receiving the green light from Dr. Frasier. Janet expressed concern about Sam's weight, emphasizing the need for a full recovery.
Once cleared by the psychiatrist, Sam was summoned to Hammond's office again, where Colonel Reynolds awaited.
"Take a seat, Major," Hammond instructed, holding some papers.
Reynolds offered a subtle wink.
"You're cleared for light duty—no off-world missions. Lab work will be allowed only until you're fully recovered, and Dr. Frasier gives her approval," he explained.
Sam nodded. "Yes, Sir."
"We're happy to have you back, Major," Reynolds added gentler.
Sam blushed as Hammond set the papers aside.
"That's all, Major Carter. Dismissed," Hammond concluded.
Sam left the office and returned to her lab, where SG-16 awaited. Wolfe greeted her with a big smile, and Cook patted her shoulder.
"Welcome back, Sam. Sardoni missed you," Cook teased, causing Kenneth Sardoni to blush.
"Everyone missed you, Sam. Cook is just being an asshole," Sardoni tried to cover up, hinting at his deep admiration for Major Samantha Carter.
The team expressed their support, and Reynolds entered the lab, prompting the men to leave.
"At ease," Reynolds said, gesturing toward the door.
Once alone, he took a seat.
"So, how are you feeling, Sam?" he inquired.
Sam swallowed, admitting, "Still tired, but I honestly couldn't take another day at home."
Work provided a necessary distraction after what had transpired with Jack. Reynolds cautioned her not to overexert herself and emphasized the importance of leaving SGC at regular hours. Blushing, Sam nodded in agreement.
News of Sam's return to the base worried Jack about how to react. Still grappling with the events from the previous night in her bedroom, he was summoned to Hammond's office.
Closing the door behind him, Jack acknowledged, "Sir."
Hammond handed him a file, his expression serious.
"Since you seemed incapable of making a decision and Washington is applying pressure to resume SG-1, I was designated to appoint a replacement for Major Carter. So, Lt. Jennifer Hailey is your new member of SG-1," Hammond informed him.
Jack swallowed hard.
"Yes, Sir," he replied, the weight of the decision settling on his shoulders.
"No excuses this time, Jack," Hammond warned before dismissing him.
Jack left the office with Lt. Hailey's file in hand, a sense of responsibility and uncertainty lingering in the air.
The meeting and conversation with Lt. Jennifer Hailey were brief and straightforward. Jack outlined her responsibilities and role in the team and clarified that she was not there to replace Major Carter. Hailey, who initially drew Major Carter's attention as a Cadet at the Air Force Academy, harbored no illusions about taking her mentor's place. She was thrilled to be part of SGC's flagship team, and if her new CO wanted her to focus on her job, that's precisely what she intended to do.
Teal'c, in contrast, offered a more welcoming tone, expressing hope that Hailey's contributions would be as valuable as Major Carter's had been in the past. Hailey shared that hope and was assigned a lab adjacent to Daniel's, with a strict directive to avoid entering the deceased archaeologist's lab—considered off-limits.
With Lt. Hailey on board, SG-1 resumed its rotation. Jack attempted to bury the previous night's events with Carter under the weight of work. Easier said than done.
As SG-1 and SG-16 resumed their off-world missions, Sam remained at the SGC for her recovery. It pained her to watch her team members, both current and former, embark on Stargate missions, but she understood there was nothing she could do about it. The events in her bedroom still lingered, and she realized she could no longer avoid addressing them. Skillfully, she had hidden the subject away in a distant corner of her mind, locking it away as only she knew how. However, the need to confront it became apparent as the memories continued to intrude, causing distractions at work.
During a period when both SG-16 and SG-1 were on separate off-world operations, Sam decided it was time to face the unresolved issue. Armed with a bottle of wine, she returned home, intending to take a long, relaxing bath. Setting the mood with music, she filled the tub and poured herself a glass before immersing herself in the water. As she let her mind wander, she replayed every detail of what had transpired between her and Jack—no longer Colonel O'Neill, but simply Jack. This introspective bath served to process the events and finally bring closure. Once done, she resolved that he would return to being Colonel Jack O'Neill forever.
Sam's plans for a peaceful morning were shattered when she arrived at the SGC and received the shocking news that SG-1 had returned from their mission with Colonel O'Neill critically injured and still in surgery. Her heart nearly stopped at the revelation, and a sense of dread washed over her as she hurried to the operating room. Upon arrival, she found Teal'c and Jennifer Hailey seated and waiting.
"Major Carter," Teal'c acknowledged as he stood up.
"Teal'c. How is he?" Sam inquired, focusing solely on Teal'c and ignoring Hailey for the moment.
"Still in surgery," Teal'c replied gravely.
Sam swallowed hard.
"What happened?" she asked in a hushed tone.
Teal'c took a deep breath before explaining, "The planet seemed peaceful, but we misunderstood something. Colonel O'Neill's words were taken the wrong way during discussions. We had to run to the Stargate, and he was hit while Lt. Hailey was dialing. I carried him through the Gate, but he lost a lot of blood."
Seated, Sam felt her legs unsteady.
"Where? Where was he hit?" she questioned anxiously.
"In the chest," Teal'c revealed.
"And the vest?! Didn't protect him?" she inquired.
"It did absorb most of the force, but their weaponry was exceptionally advanced," Teal'c explained.
Sam closed her eyes, the gravity of the situation sinking in. At that moment, Janet entered through the doors, her gloves stained with blood. She removed her mask, and Sam asked again, "How is he?"
Janet gave her a curious glance and sighed.
"He's still not out of danger. The next 24 hours will be critical. If he pulls through, he'll be alright. If not..." She left the sentence unfinished, and the implication hung heavy.
"Can I see him, Janet?" Sam pleaded.
Janet's expression grew more serious.
"No. I can't risk an infection. No visits for 24 hours," she declared.
Sam swallowed hard, fighting back the tears. Without uttering another word, she turned around and left while Teal'c and Hailey remained in the somber waiting room.
Sam returned to her lab, closing the door behind her, and let the tears finally fall. With her back turned to the security cameras, she allowed herself this private moment of vulnerability. He would make it; he had to, she repeated, desperately clinging to hope. Hours passed as she stood there, lost in her thoughts, until Teal'c quietly opened the door and entered.
Sam hastily wiped her eyes as she looked at the imposing Jaffa, fearing the worst.
"Please, Teal'c..." she began.
Teal'c shook his head, his expression softening.
"Dr. Fraiser said he is starting to recover. O'Neill will be fine," he reassured her with a hint of a smile.
The floodgates of emotion burst open again, and Sam no longer hid her tears. She openly wept in her lab, and Teal'c offered her a tight hug, enfolding her in his strong arms.
"He is a warrior, Major Carter," he stated.
Sam continued to sob, releasing all the pent-up emotions like a dam breaking.
Jack's recovery in the SGC infirmary was a painstaking journey from the surgery to the shot wound in his chest. Janet Fraiser and her medical team had worked tirelessly to stabilize him, and the infirmary became a constant buzz of activity. Lt. Jennifer Hailey, newly assigned to SG-1, visited him, bringing fresh air to the room. Teal'c, ever the steadfast companion, stood vigil by Jack's side, a silent presence of strength.
Janet checked on him regularly, monitoring every sign of progress with a critical eye.
"Colonel O'Neill, how are you feeling today?" she would ask, adjusting the monitors and ensuring his comfort.
Lt. Hailey brought a touch of optimism during her visits.
"Colonel, you're not getting out of leading SG-1 that easily. We need you back in action," she would joke, injecting humor into the sterile environment.
Teal'c, true to his stoic nature, would nod in acknowledgment, a silent understanding passing between them.
Knowing that her presence during the day would be scrutinized, Sam chose the stillness of the night to be by his side. Silently entering, she found Jack asleep, and a chair was pulled close to his bedside. Usually bustling with activity, the room was serene during these clandestine moments.
"Hey," she whispered, her voice barely audible in the quiet room.
As she settled into a chair next to his bed, her eyes traced the lines on his pale face.
"You gave me quite a scare, but you're tough. You'll pull through."
Silence enveloped them, broken only by the soft hum of medical equipment. Sam sat there, watching him sleep, the weight of unspoken words hanging in the air. After a few minutes, she rose from the chair, her movements carefully to avoid disturbance. Leaning over, she touched Jack's hand gently and fleetingly.
"Get well soon," she murmured, her words lingering in the quiet room. With one last look, Sam silently left, leaving behind the peaceful solitude of the infirmary. Her nightly visits became a routine, a private ritual that offered solace in the quiet moments of the infirmary as Jack fought his way back to strength and health.
Jack's recovery was slow and gradual, marked by intermittent conversations and brief exchanges with those who visited him in the infirmary. Janet Fraiser diligently checked on him; her inquiries met with Jack's succinct responses about pain and other medical concerns. Lt. Jennifer Hailey brought a welcome distraction, regaling him with base gossip and ensuring he felt comfortable.
Teal'c, ever observant, engaged Jack in conversations—subtly attempting to glean information about Sam. The Jaffa revealed that she remained confined to her lab, with no off-world missions authorized yet. Jack absorbed this information with a silent acknowledgment.
As his boredom grew, Jack found himself questioning Janet about his release.
"So, when am I supposed to get out of here, Janet?" he asked, his impatience evident.
Recognizing his tone, Janet responded with humor, "Right, Colonel. Because you just broke a nail. Sometimes, I forget about your unique sense of humor."
With the dimming of the lights signaling bedtime, Jack decided to feign sleep to escape the monotony of the infirmary. However, the creak of the door interrupted his thoughts. Keeping his eyes closed, Jack anticipated a nurse attending to him. Instead, the sound of a chair being pulled close caught his attention. Someone had entered the room and was now sitting beside his bed.
Remaining still, Jack listened as Sam's voice filled the quiet space.
"I see you didn't like your dinner today," she remarked, observing the nearly untouched tray.
Surprised by her presence, Jack resisted the urge to open his eyes.
"Not a fan myself either," she continued, her gentle touch grazing his hand.
His heart raced at her touch, and he had to consciously maintain the illusion of sleep.
"Sweet dreams. I'll see you tomorrow at the same time," Sam said, rising from the chair.
Jack held his breath as she left, the door softly closing behind her. Slowly opening his eyes, Jack was left in the now-empty infirmary, questioning whether Major Samantha Carter had indeed visited him or if it had all been a dream. The cryptic promise of seeing him "tomorrow at the same time" echoed in his mind, leaving Jack puzzled and unable to find solace in the prospect of sleep.
Since Jack's injury, Sam had been spending her nights at the SGC, sleeping in her quarters. She walked to the infirmary like every night, encountering only the occasional airman on duty. Careful never to coincide with Janet's shifts, she approached the door with the usual routine in mind. However, upon opening the door, her heart almost stopped. Instead of finding a resting Colonel, she discovered Jack seated on his bed, fully awake.
"Stop right there, Major," he ordered, catching her off guard.
Sam halted, her hand still on the door.
"You were about to get in, so get in," he directed.
Sam swallowed nervously, glancing up and down the corridor to ensure they were alone. Complying with his command, she entered the infirmary.
"Please continue your routine," Jack instructed, adjusting the sheets on his bed.
Sam blushed, realizing she had been caught. Attempting damage control, she asked, "How are you, Sir?" Her hands gripped the edge of his bed.
Jack looked at her before gesturing toward the chair next to his bed. Sam blushed deeper, feeling exposed.
"Why don't you take a seat, Major? Like you usually do," he suggested, his eyes fixed on the chair.
Sam's hands tightened against the bed.
"I don't know what you are talking about, Sir," she protested.
Jack smiled knowingly.
"Don't insult my intelligence, Carter. I might not be a genius like you, but I'm not stupid. 'Sweet dreams,' was it?" he inquired.
Sam swallowed hard, her mouth feeling suddenly dry.
"Good night, Sir," she mumbled, turning to leave the infirmary before he could respond.
Alone in the infirmary, Jack silently cursed, his frustration evident as he punched his pillow hard. The confined space felt stifling, and he yearned to escape its confines as soon as possible.
Jack's release from the infirmary marked a moment of both relief and frustration. Lt. Hailey and Teal'c accompanied him home, ensuring he was comfortably settled before departing. Janet's orders were clear – no strenuous efforts, and someone had to check on him daily. Despite his frustration, Jack had agreed that anything was better than the infirmary and Janet's watchful eyes.
Once alone, Jack picked up his phone and sent a text message, then settled into the routine of waiting. The entire afternoon passed without a response. Jack dutifully took his medication and settled on his couch to watch The Simpsons, gradually succumbing to sleep.
Unbeknownst to him, his front door opened quietly, and footsteps approached. The lack of awareness persisted as Jack drifted into slumber.
Sam entered Jack's house using the spare key they had exchanged long ago, mirroring how he had entered hers on numerous occasions. The text message he sent, a simple "Come," had caught her off guard, and here she was, standing in his living room after all that had transpired between them. The takeout bag was placed in the kitchen, and uncertainty settled as she perched on one of his chairs, contemplating her next move. She wasn't entirely sure why she was there. Jack's recent injury had left her badly shaken, unable to process the fear that had gripped her.
Trying to convince herself that this visit was for closure, Sam was acutely aware that what she truly wanted was something she wouldn't admit aloud—ever again. She decided to confront the situation and entered his living room, where a slight chill hung. Drawing on her experience off-world, she started a fire in his fireplace, a task she had performed countless times on alien planets. When she finished and stood up, she found Jack looking at her, his eyes wide open.
"How long have you been here?" he asked, sitting up.
Sam cleared her throat.
"A few minutes," she replied, crossing her arms.
Jack attempted to get up, but a wince of pain crossed his face. In seconds, Sam was at his side.
"Don't move," she instructed, holding onto his arm.
Jack gave her a somewhat murderous look.
"Since when do you give me orders?" he retorted, settling back down.
"Since you got shot," Sam stated firmly, adjusting the blanket to cover his legs.
In silence, Jack shot her a sharp look.
"I'll bring you dinner," she declared, swiftly retreating to the kitchen.
The surprise of the soup and omelet had led Jack to eat heartily, a gesture that hadn't gone unnoticed by Sam. Before leaving SGC, she casually dropped by Janet's office to inquire about Colonel O'Neill's dietary restrictions. Armed with that information, she bought a meal tailored to his needs. Silently, she watched him eat. The room filled only with the sounds of clinking utensils.
Once he finished, Sam quietly gathered the dishes, returning to his kitchen to clean up. When she returned to the living room, Jack attempted to get up again. This time, she allowed him. As he rose, she shook her head and sighed.
"You need to take your meds," she reminded him, handing over several pills.
Taking a deep breath, Jack swallowed them dry, ignoring Sam's warning look.
"Need anything else?" she asked.
Jack smiled.
"I need to sleep, so can you please help me to my bedroom?" he requested.
Sam blushed, and Jack's smile widened.
"If you can get up from the couch, you can get to your bedroom, Sir," she remarked.
His smile faded.
"Do you want to feel responsible if I tumble over those stairs and fall on the floor?" he asked with a fake, innocent expression.
Gritting her teeth, Sam sighed.
"Fine," she conceded, holding his arm.
Slowly, they made their way to his bedroom. Sam stopped at the entrance.
"Your bedroom, Sir. I'll leave now," she said, turning around.
However, Jack's hand swiftly caught her arm.
"Don't go," he pleaded.
Sam stilled, her discomfort palpable.
"Colonel, please let go of my arm," she requested without turning to face him.
Jack maintained his grip.
"Please, Sam," he implored.
Closing her eyes, Sam struggled with the surrealness of the situation.
"Let go, Jack," she pleaded, the tone softer this time.
His fingers traced gentle patterns on her arm, and she bit her lip hard.
"Don't," she whispered, lowering her head.
Tenderly, he kissed her neck, his hands moving to her waist, feeling her tense body starting to relax against him.
"Come to bed," he said, studying her female forms. She was gorgeous, even in black baggy BDUs. Jack already knew that beneath was a muscular, slender body.
"I don't think that is a good idea," she said, her hands on his chest.
Jack moved his hand from her waist to his chest, where she still had hers, and covered them.
"I love you and miss you," he said slowly.
Swallowing hard, Sam allowed him to guide her to his bed, settling against the sheets. A gasp escaped her when he lowered himself to lie on top of her. The pain medication was indeed doing its job. A shaky breath left her as he trailed his mouth along her jaw and kissed her neck. Her fingers brushed his shoulder, then traced further to his warm neck. His caresses were gentle, tender, and soothing—markedly different from their first encounter. Tilting her head back, she offered more skin to his touch. Without words, they both took their clothes, throwing them to the floor of his room. Sam gently passed a hand through the bandage, still covering his most recent scar.
He positioned his hips between her legs, always keeping his eyes on her. With agonizing slowness, he entered her, allowing her to feel every single inch of him as he slid into her warm body. A simultaneous groan escaped both of them as their eyes locked—blue meeting brown. Jack stilled, his fingers tenderly brushing against the side of her head and cheek.
She arched her body against his.
"Oh…God", she moaned.
She squirmed beneath him, her hips rocking against his, and a gasp escaped her when he pressed her down into the mattress with his body, stilling her hips with his hands. Resuming his thrusts, he pulled her legs up, and she instinctively wrapped them around his hips to keep them in place. The new angle heightened her pleasure, but then he stopped moving again.
"What…?" she squealed softly.
With a smirk, Jack thrust into her hard, and her head fell back hard in ecstasy. He continued at a slow pace despite being already drenched in sweat. Janet would kill him if she knew what he was doing.
He brushed his nose against hers, slowly kissed her, and picked up the pace, starting to thrust into her hard and fast. Her moans increased, and she came beautifully into his arms with a cry that Jack could watch in wonder until the rest of his days. Moments after, he lost control and shattered in her arms.
It took a moment until he regained control over his limbs. Mindful not to crush her beneath him, he moved off her, took a deep breath, and lay on his back, staring at the ceiling of his bedroom. Turning his head, he was surprised to find her eyes closed, breathing long and regular. Had she dozed off?
He turned on his side, his head resting on his elbow as he studied her thoughtfully. She looked tired, dark circles evident under her eyes. Her skin was flushed, likely exhausted after everything they had done. He knew he was, and he was several years older than she was, not to mention still recovering from surgery.
Careful not to wake her, he pulled one of the blankets over her cooling body. Softly kissing against her hair, he drew her closer, and they settled into a gentle cuddle. She shifted, and for a second, Jack expected her to wake up and leave, but she merely curled more against him, her arm moving around his waist.
He held his breath. His fingers drew lazy circles on her shoulder while his eyes fixed on the wall.
"What am I supposed to do now, Sam? What do you want me to do?" he asked aloud in the silent bedroom.
As she woke up, the bright beams of sunlight filled the room through the open curtains that neither had bothered to close last night. Last night. Sam's brain started to work, memories washing over her like a wave. Her breath caught as the arm draped around her waist moved, and Sam froze. Jack's warm body shifted, pressing himself closer against her from behind with a soft, content sigh. Turning in his embrace, she checked to see if he was awake. He adjusted to her movement without waking up, and it felt almost as though they had slept together for ages, though, in fact, it was the first time they had spent the night together.
Tears threatened to appear, but she held them back as he woke. She tensed immediately.
"Hey," he mumbled, still half-asleep.
She merely looked at him.
"Are you OK?" he asked when she said nothing.
Sam wet her parched lips and continued to look at him. Jack started to feel uncomfortable.
"Say something, Carter," he said in a slightly annoyed voice.
She lifted his arms from her waist slowly and slid out from under the blanket. Confused, Jack continued to look at her naked. Sam picked up her underwear from the floor in front of the bed and the rest of her clothes. Without making a sound, she left his bedroom. In the hallway outside, she quickly dressed, her heart pounding madly in her chest. In the bedroom, Jack was already up and putting on his boxers. When he opened his bedroom door, she was no longer there. Wincing in pain, he walked to the front door in time to see her opening it.
"Wait, Sam," he said, managing to put his hand on the door.
She froze like a statue.
"Please, wait. We need to talk. Please," he asked again, still holding the door and preventing her from leaving.
Lowering her head, she let go of the door. Slowly, Jack closed it.
"Thank you. Do you mind if I put some clothes on?" he asked.
She glanced and noticed he was only in his boxers. She shook her head in silence.
"You won't leave?" he asked suspiciously.
She shook her head again as if she had lost the ability to speak. Jack sighed, deciding to trust her.
"Make yourself comfortable. Have some coffee," he offered as he returned to his bedroom.
Sam placed her car keys on the entrance table, went to his kitchen, and started the coffee machine. Yes, they needed to talk, but she wasn't expecting to do it right now—without time to process what happened. She would need to put her brain into overdrive, and for that, she would need coffee. Fast. Her eyes locked onto his coffee machine as if it held all the answers of the universe.
She was sipping coffee when he returned to his kitchen, already fully clothed. Another mug of hot coffee awaited him, accompanied by his pills.
"Thanks," he said, swallowing the medication.
She continued drinking without looking at him. Jack sat carefully on one of his chairs, the activities from the previous night and the lack of pain meds not precisely making it comfortable. But that was a concern for another time; he needed to address 'them.'
"Can you tell me why you visited me in the infirmary outside of hours?" he asked, his curiosity etched on his face.
Sam stopped drinking and put the mug down, not expecting the conversation to start this way. Nevertheless, she could work from here.
"Gossip," she said.
Jack looked at her, puzzled, awaiting an explanation. Sam cleared her throat.
"I knew that if I visited at regular hours, people would talk, so I went when nobody was around," she explained.
Jack drank a little more, letting her words sink in.
"OK. But why visit at all? After everything that happened before?" he pressed.
Sam held the mug tighter.
"I was worried, OK?" she said, not meeting his gaze, her eyes fixed on the mug.
Jack lifted an eyebrow. Maybe there was still hope after all.
"Janet told you that I was out of danger," he said, deliberately pushing her.
She shot him a furious glance.
"Fine. Get shot again, and I'll never set foot in the infirmary again. Drop dead on some planet and see if I care!" she almost yelled.
Jack suppressed a smile, watching her cheeks flush.
"Don't get me wrong. I liked that you visited me. I was only sorry that I was asleep when you were there," he said calmly.
She blushed even more and continued to look at her mug. Jack slowly released his mug and moved his hand so his fingers brushed hers.
"Sam, please look at me," he asked.
She stubbornly continued to look at her mug.
"Please," he asked softer, his fingers caressing hers.
She slowly lifted her head and looked at him.
"I know things between us have been strange and difficult, but I love you. I'll never stop loving you until I die, here or on some planet off-world," he said sincerely.
Sam bit her lip hard, but it didn't prevent the tears from falling this time. He gently wiped them with his thumb.
"I want to try, Sam. Really try. See if we can work this out, just the two of us. I know there are the frat rules and everything, but you're no longer in SG-1, and I'm not your direct CO anymore. However, you are still under my command since it's the same base, and I'm Hammond's second. What do you want to do?" he asked.
Sam's heart was beating like a rocket. He was telling what she secretly wanted to hear from the very beginning.
"No one can know," she finally said.
Jack swallowed; it wasn't exactly the answer he expected, but it was better than a flat 'no.'
"OK. We'll be careful," he said, then looked at the clock in his kitchen. "Shit," he mumbled. "You have to go. Teal'c should be here any time soon," he added apologetically.
She got up immediately.
"OK," she said.
He also got up.
"Are we good, Sam?" he asked, holding her hand.
She cleared her throat.
"I still have to process what happened. We'll talk later," she said, then moved to his front door, picking up her car keys. But before she opened the door, she turned back and kissed him passionately. Jack held her tight, returning the kiss. They only stopped when air became a necessity.
Sam put her head on his shoulder, kissed him on his neck, then opened his front door and left without looking back. Jack smiled from ear to ear as he watched her enter her car and drive away like a racer.