Jack clapped his hands together and stood there with an evil looking smile on his face as everyone turned towards him and Sam. "So," he began, "You think that you've got what it takes to be a part of the SGC?"

Sam stood beside him and watched the new recruits in front of them. It was SG1's turn to run the off-world training post and Jack was enjoying it just a little too much, although Sam was finding it fun too. When the group in front of them had first come through the gate an seen who they were going to be reporting to Sam had seen a few of them swallow hard before squaring their shoulders while others had actually looked afraid. When it came to SG1's turn to run the site everyone present had heard at least one horror story. As they were the flagship team they all commanded respect but they also put everyone through one very difficult week. No one ever knew what to expect because the only people who knew exactly what was going to happen was the team and General Hammond.

"I hope you all enjoyed your first night here," Jack continued, knowing full well they hadn't. He had had Sam set up speakers all over the camp that had gone off at random points during the night playing all sorts of different, and very loud, sounds, that woke them all up, except SG1 as they had slept with ear plugs in. "First up today is the assault course," Jack said, gesturing to the area behind him. The assault course was like any back on Earth, with lots of mud and ropes. Jack watched as the faces before he relaxed slightly. He looked at Sam by his side and she smiled at him and shook her head. "You may be thinking that this will be a piece of cake, but then you'd be wrong," Jack continued, "You see, I know that you can all complete a simple assault course otherwise you wouldn't be here. So to make it more of a challenge you will be tied together in pairs. Major Carter is going to call out the pairings. When she calls your name step forward and she will be taping your arms together." He nodded to Sam and she called out the first pair.

Once they had stepped forward an presented their arms Jack carried on, "The aim of this exercise is to teach you to trust your team mates which is very important when you are off world and in a potentially dangerous situation," he paused as Sam called another two names, "If any pair manages to finish the course without falling into the mud then they will be rewarded."

Once everyone was stuck together Jack said, "Carter will now show you what the obstacle course is made up of."

Sam narrowed her eyes slightly; she had thought that Daniel was going to demonstrate. He smirked at her before saying in a low voice only she could hear, "Don't worry Carter; Daniel is going to take your place on the last day."

Sam smiled at him before unzipping and passing him her BDU jacket. He raised an eyebrow and she shrugged in return before jogging to where the course started. She paused for a couple of seconds to make sure that her boots were done up properly before she ran to the first obstacle, a wooden wall at about chest height, which she boasted herself over. Jack and the group watched as she overcame obstacle after obstacle without too much effort. The second to last one, a swing over a mud pool, caused her a little problem as she misjudged the distance slightly and didn't make it to the other side, she managed it on her second swing without any more problems. The last part was another wall but this one stood a lot taller, close to seven and a half foot.

As everyone watched she took a running leap from the end of the mud pool and managed to get a grip on the top of the wall, although the rest of her body did slam into the wood. Using her arms she pulled herself up to sit on the top of the wall before lowering herself down the other side.

As she began to walk back towards them Jack looked at the group and said, "Carter managed to complete the course in four minutes and twenty six seconds, you will have to complete it in under nine minutes and if you don't you get to do it all again until you manage it within the time limit."

Sam came to a stop beside Jack and he handed her back her jacket before turning back to the group and saying in a feed up voice, "Are you waiting for a written invitation? Get going."

Sam and Jack watched as they all ran towards the course. "So where is Daniel sir?" Sam asked after a couple of seconds.

"He offered to help Teal'c sort out what we're doing later," Jack answered, watching as the pairs tried to help each other across the course.

"Does he know that he's swapped with me for the finale?"

Jack shook his head, "Nope, I was planning on surprising him on the day." Sam shook her head but smiled.

The two stood in silence as they watched the pairs complete the course. Without fail one or both of them ended up in the mud when it came to the swing, as well as a few how ended up in the mud around the other obstacles. A very muddy group came back towards them, but they were all happy that they had managed to complete the course within the time limit. As they stopped back in front of Sam and Jack, Jack shook his head, "Not one of you managed to stay out of the mud, I'm disappointed."

"How are you meant to do the rope swing when you're stuck to someone?" someone in the group said, "It's not possible."

Jack looked straight at the speaker before going to stand in front of him. Sam saw the poor guy cringing away from but she was impressed when he locked eyes with the Colonel and stood his ground. Jack too must have been impressed because he nodded once before speaking, although he never broke eye contact with the man in front of him, "So you're saying it's not possible. Why would I make it impossible for you to succeed? No matter what you've heard I am not that bad." He looked at Sam, "Am I Carter?"

Sam shook her head, "No sir."

He nodded once more before looking back at the group. "How about a little bet, if Carter and I can complete the course in under seven minutes without falling in the mud you will complete the rest of the week here with us without saying the word impossible."

"What about if you don't?" the same person as before asked.

Jack looked him up and down before answering, "Then we'll let you sleep properly tonight."

He walked over to Sam and stuck his arm out. As she stuck out his own and began taping them together she muttered, "You better have a plan sir since I wasn't here when you tested the course with two people tied together." She finished speaking and used her teeth to rip the tape.

"I always have a plan Carter, trust me," Jack murmured back.

She placed the tape to the side and nodded. Jack looked back at the group before starting to walk towards the start of the course. "Are you going to tell me the plan?" Sam questioned as they walked.

Jack shook his head, "I'll tell you when we get to the swing." They got to the start of the course and Jack asked, "Ready?"

"Yes sir," Sam answered quickly.

"Good. Right, let's go."

They made their way quickly through the course, after working together for so long they were having no problems. When they got to the swing Jack grabbed the rope before saying to Sam, "Get on my back and then use your free hand and your legs to stay there."

Sam shook her head lightly before doing as he had said. She clamped her legs around his waist, her ankles crossing across his stomach, and her free arm around the top of his before she grabbed the top of his jacket. Once she was situated Jack began to walk backwards, he stopped and was about to go when Sam said, "Better make it another foot back sir, just in case." Jack walked back another foot without a word, trusting his seconds judgement. "Ready?" He felt Sam nod into his shoulder and started to run towards the pit before jumping onto the rope, wrenching Sam's arm slightly in the process.

They made it across fine and once Sam was back on her own two feet they hurried towards the wall, where Sam climbed up Jack before pulling him up after her.

Once they had finished they took a moment to catch their breath before jogging back towards the group. Once they came to a stop Sam began to pick at the end of the tape while Jack spoke, "If I hear the word impossible come out of any of your mouths this week the person responsible will be used as a demonstration dummie for the rest of the day."

Sam finished untaping their hands before saying, "Got to run sir, I need to sort out something for later."

Jack nodded, "Ok, have fun."

She smiled at him. "Oh I will sir," she said before turning and walking away.

"Right," Jack said, turning back to the group, "Up next is a run in the woods in full combat gear and full pack."

Everyone groaned but followed Jack as he led the way to where Daniel and Teal'c had set everything out.

Hope you liked it