"Sir?"

"Mmm hmm," he murmured, dozing in the afternoon sun.

"Sir?" she poked him with a branch.

He sighed and opened one of his eyes. "What is it, Carter? Can't ya see I'm resting!"

She grinned at him and leaned back. "Just wanted to make sure you were alive, Colonel."

His eye closed and he snorted. "You're cruel."

Sam laughed and let him continue to doze. She kept her eyes on the two boys, who were running around, playing with a ball that Jack had brought. It was the "weekend" and they'd brought the boys on another picnic. It had become something of a regular occurrence, which all of them loved. Sometimes Ethan would join them, and once even Magrit had come along, although it was usually just the four of them.

She glanced down at the man by her side, grateful that they'd been able to maintain their friendship. In fact, their friendship had grown over the past few weeks, and they now felt – or at least acted – much more comfortable around one another.

They had reverted to "sir" and "Carter", which seemed to help with the boundary that neither could cross. At first Jack had looked at her strangely, when she'd started calling him that again, but after a while it became normal for them.

It made it feel as if the regs were back in place, although she had to be honest and admit that they hadn't returned, at least not completely, to their old way of relating. Jack didn't treat her as his subordinate, nor did she treat him like her commander. They were simply friends. That's right, "friends with barriers". She laughed softly as she found that rather funny, but also tragic. She sighed.

"Whatcha thinkin' about so hard, Carter?" Jack had rolled onto his side and was looking at her affectionately.

"Just how nice this is," she told him, with a smile. "It's a beautiful day, and spending time with the kids is great."

"Just the kids?" he asked.

She grinned. "I was including you, Sir."

He snorted. "You callin me a kid?" Before she had a chance to respond, he lay back down on his back. "Carter, you are an evil woman."

"I saw you playing with them and you have just as much fun as they do!"

"Until I collapsed."

"Well, it takes a lot of energy keeping up with two little boys. Hell, I'm tired too."

There was silence, as the two friends watched the boys, who were now bent over, examining something on the ground.

"What do you think it is?" Sam asked, sounding sleepy.

"Something gross," Jack replied. "There's nothing little boys like more than gross things."

She chuckled. "Is that true of big boys, too?"

"Nope," he told her. "I like – beautiful things."

There was an awkward pause, when Jack suddenly pushed himself to his feet. "I'd better go see what it is."

She nodded and watched him head towards Simon and Jankin. She sighed, wishing things could be different. She loved him so damned much and was pretty sure he felt the same.

"Yeah, a dead beetle," Jack told her, a few minutes later, as he plunked himself down on the blanket. "They're giving it a funeral."

"You didn't stay?"

"No, I think they can handle it," he grinned. "I did give them my handkerchief. It's a sad loss."

"The beetle or the handkerchief?"

He grinned again and leaned back.

"You're looking better, Sir," she told him abruptly.

"Yeah?" he turned his head to look at her.

"Yeah. You seem – I don't know – lighter, not as burdened."

He sighed. "Magda told me the same thing – that I was looking better, not that I was lighter. In fact, with her cooking I'm probably heavier!"

"Har har," she told him. "I know you probably don't want to talk about it, but you are looking good."

There was a pause and then he let out a short breath. "Yeah, I'm feelin' a bit better," he admitted. "I've been – seeing someone, and it helps."

"Good for you, Sir," she told him softly.

"Yeah, well – at least it's not Mackenzie!"

"Poor Doc Mackenzie. I wonder if he realized how we all felt about him?" Sam asked, knowing that Jack needed a change of subject. Even the fact that he'd admitted to seeing someone was a huge step for him.

"He probably didn't care," Jack told her. "He was one of the most arrogant, inept, asinine, -"

"Yes, but you have to admit that he was dealing with all sorts of new, alien things."

"Exactly! And instead of being like Janet, and trying to figure stuff out, he just jumped to the "we're crazy and need drugs" phase. Nope – I will never go to see Mackenzie!"

"That's probably not going to be too difficult, Sir, since he's on the other side of the galaxy."

That immediately stopped the conversation, and Jack cursed himself. No need to remind Sam – hell, either of them, that they were so far from home.

"Sir, what happens if we do find the Gate?" Sam was looking at the two boys, who were both sitting and digging in the ground – probably digging the grave for the beetle.

"Uh, I'm not sure what you mean, Carter?", Jack frowned, but his eyes were also drawn to the boys.

"Could you leave them?" she asked softly.

Damn! She would bring that up!

It was something he'd avoided thinking about, although it had been at the back of his mind the whole time. The truth was –

"I'm sorry," she interrupted his thoughts. "I shouldn't have said anything."

"No – or yes, you should. It's a real consideration. I – guess I don't know," he admitted. "I miss home, I miss our team, our friends – hell, I miss hockey and The Simpsons, beer and my truck – and my cabin. But at the same time -" he stopped and stared at the two boys.

"Maybe we could take them with us?" she said.

He shook his head. "No, they belong here. Ethan would never give up his business, and he certainly wouldn't – or shouldn't – give up his grandsons. This is a better place for them than Earth."

"They would miss you terribly if you left – not just the boys, but Ethan and Magrit, and all your friends. You're dearly loved."

And that didn't make this conversation any easier. "You are too, Carter," he told her gently. After a few seconds of silence, Jack sighed. "I don't know, Carter. The idea of not seeing home – it kills me – and I know you feel the same. But leaving and not seeing them again – I can't even contemplate that. I love the two little rascals."

"And they love you. I'm sorry I brought it up, Sir. And the whole thing may be moot anyway. We haven't had any luck finding one so far. I have a feeling this planet doesn't have a Stargate."

"Then how did all these people get here?" he wondered, although in reality he knew. They'd been on other planets without a Stargate.

"Probably brought by ships – or the Gate was destroyed or hidden and now no one knows anything about it. I mean, look at Antarctica – if it wasn't for our little trip there, we'd never have known there was another Gate."

"Mmm yes – the trip to Antarctica. Fond memories."

She grinned. "At least here we've landed on a planet with a decent climate and good people."

"And cake," he told her.

She giggled. "But there are trees, Sir," she pointed out.

"Nothin's perfect, Carter," he sighed and leaned back. "But back to your question – I just don't know. I guess we'll have to deal with it if we ever do find a Stargate."

She nodded but wished she had never brought it up. Jack was looking less relaxed than a few moments ago and she knew that if he ever did have to make the decision, either choice would be agonizing.

"We should probably get back to the house," he finally said. "Magrit will have dinner ready soon. You going to join us, Carter?" He pushed himself to his feet and began to pack up their picnic supplies.

"I probably should just head home," she said, also getting to her feet. "I'm sure you're all getting tired of having me over."

Jack stopped and stared at her for a few seconds, and then continued to pack the basket. "Don't be ridiculous, Sam. Everyone loves having you. The boys will be sad if you don't join us."

Sam smiled, although she noticed that he didn't specify that he'd be –

"And I'd miss you too, Sam," he said quietly, not looking at her.

"Okay then, I guess I'll join you." He didn't look up, or he would have seen the wide smile on her face.

"Simon, Jankin, come on – we're going," Jack called.

The boys instantly started to complain and beg to stay longer, but Jack just looked at them with his "Colonel" look and they stopped and then headed towards the two adults.

Sam didn't say anything, but she couldn't help but grin. There was no one who loved kids more, who would do anything for his people – or anyone who was weak or in need- than Jack O'Neill. But boy, if he gave you "the look", you moved your ass!

"Uncle Jack, Uncle Jack," Simon called. "Can we show Auntie Sam our cenentary?"

"Carter, you want to go see the cenentary?" Jack grinned. "Did you put up a tombstone, boys?"

"Uh huh," Jankin said, throwing his sand-encrusted body at Jack, who reached down and picked him up and swung him over his head. After he stopped giggling Jankin answered more fully. "We's put a too – toom – a ting on da gwave, Poow beetul," he said to Sam. "Wanna come Auntie Sam?"

"Why of course," she told the two little boys. After Jack had set Jankin down, he grabbed one of Sam's hands, while Simon grabbed the other. They two boys dragged her over to see their bug cemetery, while Jack watched.

He couldn't help but grin at the site. Sam was a natural with the boys, and they adored her. They constantly exploited her love of science by taking her on nature "hikes" and asking a million questions. They asked him as well, but anything he couldn't answer he'd refer to her.

As he watched her bend over to see the beetle's grave, he suddenly felt a warmth run through him. It was not the feeling towards a friend, but something much deeper, much more elemental. He could feel a response in his body and was both gratified and horrified.

He wanted her.

He knew he loved Sam, but it had been an emotional thing, not a physical one, at least not since his experience on Varid. Now, however, he could feel himself drawn to her in a way that was no longer possible, or appropriate.

He had to get his mind and – hell – his libido, under control. He'd set the parameters of their relationship, and it wouldn't be fair to Sam to try and change that.

And the fact was, his unexpected reaction and random thoughts and feelings weren't enough to counteract everything that had happened.

He took a deep breath, and reminded himself that she was Major Carter and he was Colonel O'Neill. A relationship was not appropriate or possible.

And you're a gigantic idiot, O'Neill, his little voice told him. As if titles or invisible, non-existent regs, or his own hang-ups were going to change how he felt – and how he was beginning to feel.

He was royally screwed.

"Ready to head back?" Sam's voice interrupted his thoughts and he jumped.

"Sorry, Sir. Did I startle you?" she asked, concerned.

"No – sorry Carter. Just daydreaming about what snacks Magrit will have ready for us. Hey boys – ready to head home?"

The four of them walked (or the boys skipped, hop and ran around) back to Ethan's. Sam kept looking over at him, obviously puzzled by something but not knowing what it was.

Once they'd arrived, he spent the next 45 mins cleaning up the boys, while Sam talked to Magrit in the kitchen. By the time he headed down for dinner, his emotions and his body were back in control.

Friendship was all that was possible between them. He had to keep reminding himself of that fact. The problem was, his heart and his body just weren't listening to him.