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Story Notes: AUTHOR'S NOTES: *~* Thought. Also, my thanks goes to Alex, who has helped me build my very own archive. Thanks Lexie! :-) And to Machelle, my highly regarded beta reader!!!! I don't know where I'd be without her great English and punctuation skills. :-) Thanks to both of you. Kudos!!!!!! :-)

FEEDBACK: Most appreciated. :-)

Copyright 2001 TIFFANY FLOWERS


"Who was that?" Major Samantha Carter asked, watching the young, blonde cadet retreat from the auditorium. "Jennifer Hailey," Professor Monroe replied, answering his former student's question. "very intelligent, but difficult personality." Sam looked at the figures on the whiteboard and rethought the variables over in her head, noting the mistake. "Well," Sam said. "she's right." Sam admitted. "Really?" Monroe asked, surprised. "These variables should be reversed." Sam told him, explaining the mistake. "I didn't even notice." Monroe replied. "Neither did I." Sam said, admitting her flaw. Sam visited General Kerrigan and after some idle chit-chat, they discussed Cadet Hailey. Sam was given a thin booklet, which she believed to be a small thesis. Before leaving his office, she had asked Kerrigan if she could speak to Cadet Hailey. After she left Kerrigan's office, Sam found a quiet place to sit and read the term paper. What Sam read astounded her (to say the least). Sam was told that she would find the Cadet in a lab working on a machine. Extra lab time, the other Cadets told her. "Beautiful, isn't it?" Sam asked, voicing her arrival into the lab. "Major Carter." Cadet Hailey replied, shocked to see her predecessor standing next to her. "At ease, Cadet." Sam replied with a grin. Hailey shut the machine down and they proceeded to talk about Hailey's term paper. Sam noticed that Cadet Hailey was throwing an attitude at her, so she threw one right back at her. Then Hailey stormed out of the room to her class. *~* How dare she? *~* Sam thought angrily. *~* She has got one HUGE chip on that shoulder of hers. *~* Sam returned to the auditorium to talk to Professor Monroe about Hailey's term paper. She explained how the theory worked and demonstrated how cause could perhaps precede effect with multiple universes. Monroe then explained that Hailey might not be with the Air Force much longer. Sam looked shocked when she found out that Hailey had gotten into a fight. Sam went to Kerrigan's office to get to the bottom of the fight. She was amazed to find out that Hailey had broken the nose of an upperclassman, just because of a comment made at a student that Hailey was helping. Sam asked for a shot to dissuade the jaunty Cadet. Kerrigan called in Cadet Hailey, who entered the room and saluted the officers then stood at ease when she was told to do so. Sam took over when Kerrigan spoke her name. "Cadet," Sam said. "I'd like to ask you a few questions. Answer honestly." "Yes, Ma'am." Hailey said simply. "Who the hell do you think you are?" Sam asked, sounding like a Drill Instructor. "Ma'am?" Hailey questioned. Sam continued on until Hailey told her that she wouldn't quit. When Sam watched her leave, a question plagued Sam's mind. *~* All those little rules and regulations, they don't really apply to you, right? *~* Sam thought to herself, following Hailey out of Kerrigan's office, trying to catch up with the Cadet. *~* How dare she? *~* Hailey thought, obviously pissed. *~* How dare she speak to me that way! I don't care if she's a major. She has no right! *~* "What were you thinking, breaking the nose of an upperclassman?" Sam questioned, finally catching up to the quick pace of Cadet Hailey. "Swing high." Hailey retorted sarcastically. "That's not funny." Sam replied, trying not to grin. Sam and Hailey soon found themselves in a small argument. Sam was trying to give this girl a shot Sam hadn't gotten until 1997. She didn't want to see Hailey waste the same intelligence that Sam possessed on some meaningless task for the Air Force in a very remote area.

AT THE SGC

Sam watched the facial expression of General Hammond, hoping that he would at least give Hailey that chance.

When they arrived at the Gate Room, Hailey was suddenly awestruck. Sam couldn't help but smile when Hailey jumped back from the ramp, when the kerwhoosh suddenly came through the Stargate and snapped back, forming the event horizon. Sam explained it and then they proceeded through the Gate to M4C 862. Cadet Hailey wasn't ready for the sudden rush of stars that blasted past her and engraved themselves on her optical nerves. Nor the nausea that she felt. After stepping through the Stargate and landing on M4C 862, Cadet Hailey took a look around and was surprised that it looked a lot like Earth. "What was that," she asked. "What just happened?" Sam explained and they walked down the steps and they both looked up into the sky. When they heard Colonel O'Neill's voice, Hailey stood at attention, while Carter and O'Neill had a small conversation. Sam introduced Cadet Hailey to the colonel and then they walked to the camp set up. When the three entered the metal building, Hailey and Sam were shown a little lightning bug type life form. Sam was told they could go through solid matter and Jack explained that he and Teal'c saw one zip through a tree without slowing it down. "That is so cool." Hailey said with a smile. "That's exactly what I said," Jack commented, then turned to Teal'c. "I said that." "If that's the case," Sam said. "then what's keeping it in this cylinder?" Doctor Hamilton went on to explain and Hailey asked if they were hurting it. They finally released it and it left. Several minutes later, Doctor Lee came running into the camp screaming for Colonel O'Neill. When everyone came out of the building, Doctor Lee explained what happened. Jack told Carter to get everyone back inside, while he and Teal'c went off to find Doctor Thompson. When Teal'c and Jack found Doctor Thompson dead, they radioed back to the camp that they were going to evacuate the moon. "Hey," Jack yelled, busting through the doors. "Just what about my radio transmission did you not understand? Let's go!" "Just finishing up, Sir." Sam said, finishing up on the dressing on Doctor Lee's right forearm. Doctor Hamilton asked about Doctor Thompson and Jack told them he was dead. As they were walking toward the Stargate, Hamilton started ranting into Jack's ear about why they should stay and study the life forms. Teal'c drew O'Neill's attention to the swarm of glowing "bugs" heading their way. Jack ordered everyone back inside and asked Sam for an idea to keep the life forms from attacking them. "Zats maybe." Sam suggested. "Maybe?" Jack asked sarcastically. "Well, I just got here," Sam said. "Zats deliver an electrical charge. They're the only weapon I can think of that we have that might have an effect." Jack went to his pack and removed his Zat gun, Sam had hers at the ready, as did Teal'c. They could hear the buzzing of the life forms as they hovered just outside poised for the attack. Suddenly, a small swarm came in through the roof and Sam shot at them, but they veered away and began to attack Doctor Hamilton. Teal'c had no choice but to fire at Hamilton, knocking him unconscious. Jack fired at them and they left. Sam had come up with the idea to charge up the walls with electricity and when the "bugs" attacked, Carter's idea worked. For now. They weren't sure if the generator would hold out long enough. Sam started looking at the topographical map and she suddenly had an idea. She figured if someone could get to the Stargate and dial it up, they would have a large enough electrical field to be able to leave. When Jack asked what made them attack in the first place, Carter said that she thought it was because they had captured one of the life forms. Hailey said otherwise. Hailey explained that she had been going over Thompson's notes and found that a certain orbit and passing a pole was the cause. Sam said that it was possible. Jack told Hailey to continue. Hailey explained that if they waited it out, the creatures would become friendly again. Jack asked her how long that would take and she told him a couple of hours, no more than that. Teal'c said the generators probably wouldn't hold out that long. Hailey suggested holding off the life forms with the "phaser" things. Jack turned to Sam. Sam said that if she was right, waiting would only make things worse. Of course Hailey had to argue her point of view. Sam argued back and when they were done, Jack had made the call. He was going to the Stargate alone. When Jack ran out of the building, Sam knew that all they could do was wait. Hailey was still upset at the fact that Jack was risking his life. When everyone finally arrived at the Gate, Sam saw the marks on Jack's face and felt a tug at her heart. But she also knew that he was alright. Once everyone was through the Stargate, Sam and Hailey were the only ones left. "Is it always like this?" Hailey asked, wanting to know if her future lay with the SGC and the Stargate Program. "No," Sam replied. "Sometimes it gets really exciting." "Will I ever find out which one of us was right?" Hailey asked, placing her hands on her hips. "If you stick around long enough. Maybe," Sam told Hailey, hoping that the chip on her shoulder had fallen off. "Besides, there'll always be other planets." "It's a moon." Hailey replied with a hint of a grin. "Okay, you're right about that." Sam replied, making Hailey laugh. They then walked through the Gate and returned home. It was four hours later when Sam finally had the chance to be in her lab. This was her place to hide, to feel safe. To relax. Sam was bent over her papers from her lecture, when she felt the presence of someone behind her in her sanctuary. Turning around, Sam saw Jack O'Neill standing in one of the doorways, being that the other was closed. He was grinning at her. "Hey," Sam greeted. "I thought you were supposed to be in the infirmary." "I ran away." Jack said, smiling. Sam smiled at his joke, knowing that he hated being cooped up in the infirmary. "No, Doc let me go." "Oh." Sam replied. Jack sat on the stool next to her and watched her fuss over the equations in front of her. "What are you workin' on?" Jack asked, seeing that Sam was getting mad. "These are some equations I used at my lecture," Sam said, looking up at Jack then back to her papers. "Cadet Hailey found a flaw in one of the figures. I can't believe I missed it." "So, you were wrong?" Jack asked simply. Sam looked at him again, knowing he was going to tease her for at least a month about it. "Yeah," Sam admitted. "I was wrong and she was right."

Jack placed his right hand on her right shoulder, making her look at him yet again. She didn't see any signs of a smile or a teasing twinkle in his eyes. His look was a serious one, not a joking one. "It's not the end of the world, Sam." Jack said honestly. Sam believed him. His hand remained on her shoulder, his thumb rubbing against the covered flesh under his callused finger. Sam blushed at the attention he was giving her. He grinned slightly when he saw her cheeks flush. She just stared at him and he did the same. Sam had long since ignored the numbers and papers on the table, being that her attention was now focused on the most important person in her hectic, mundane life, causing the hecticness to stop for a while. Jack's hand came up to cup her face, his thumb resting on her lips. Sam turned her stool so that she was facing Jack and Jack did the same. He brought his other hand to the other side of her face, doing the same thing with his other thumb. He could feel her breath quickening. Sam closed her eyes to try and slow her heartbeat and breathing. But when she opened her eyes, her heart started racing again. Jack leaned towards her face, putting his thumbs on her cheeks, and gently put his lips to hers, kissing her sweetly. Sam fell into the kiss and put her arms around his neck, standing to be closer to him. While she was standing, Jack put his arms around her waist, bringing her closer to his body. Sam could feel his heart pounding against her chest and Jack could feel hers pounding against his. Jack deepened the kiss by tracing her lips with his tongue. Sam opened her mouth and started to do to his mouth what he was doing to hers. Sam entwined her fingers in his greying hair.

"Major Carter, I...." Cadet Hailey said, then suddenly stopped, causing Sam and Jack to jump apart. "I...." "Cadet," Sam started to say, but Cadet Hailey only turned and walked out of the lab. "Wait!" Sam told Jack that she'd talk to the Cadet, and for him not to go anywhere. Sam ran down the corridor after Hailey. *~* How dare she!? *~* Hailey thought again angrily. *~* How dare she lecture me on how the rules and regulations don't apply to me! *~* "CADET!" Sam yelled, causing Hailey to stop and turn around. "What?" Hailey snapped. Sam glared at her tone of voice. "Cadet," Sam said softly. "I can't explain this. But you can't say anything." "What if I do," Hailey said. "go to General Hammond, that is? What about you? Don't the rules and regulations apply to you, too?" "Yes they do," Sam replied matter-of-factly. "but General Hammond already knows the situation between me and the colonel." "So that gives you the right to ignore the fraternization rule, is that it?" Hailey argued. "I didn't say that!" Sam argued back, her voice rising along with her anger. Hailey just stood there with an angry look on her face. "Then explain it to me, Major." Hailey said sharply, wanting an explanation. "I'm in love with him," Sam stated out loud with true conviction. "Is that explanation enough for you?" "Yes, Ma'am," Hailey said softly. "My apologies for saying that I'd go to General Hammond and for my attitude lately." "Apology accepted," Sam said. "On one condition." "Ma'am?" Hailey asked, looking happy. "You can't say anything about what you saw." Sam said, placing her hand on Hailey's left shoulder. Hailey nodded and followed Sam back to the lab, where a certain colonel waited. Jack smiled at the two blonde women and they both smiled back. Jack excused himself and left the women to work. At 2230, Jack came back to Sam's lab and noticed that she was alone and bent over a disassembled Naquadah reactor. He quietly entered the room and sat on a stool across from Sam and her work. "Where's Hailey?" Jack finally asked, making Sam look up and push up the protective face shield that she was wearing. "She went to bed," Sam said, fully removing the face protector. "about an hour ago." "Oh," Jack replied. Sam put her tools down and looked at him. "whatch ya working on?" "Well," Sam started. "Cadet Hailey helped upgrade the reactors to make them more powerful. I think she's going to be a great asset to the SGC once she graduates from the Academy." "Oh, great," Jack said, grinning. "Another scientist. Carter, please." Sam laughed and began to shut things down. Jack helped her and they walked to the locker room together. Once Sam had changed and closed her locker, she exited the locker room to a waiting Jack O'Neill. They walked to the elevators and up to the surface, then they said their good-nights to each other. Sam got into her car and drove off toward her house, unaware that Jack had gotten into his Jeep and was now following her home like a stray puppy. When Sam pulled up into the driveway, Jack came up behind her and skidded his Jeep to a stop. Sam spun around to face the Jeep and its occupant. Jack stood up on the seat of the drivers side and placed his arms on the top of the windshield, smiling. Sam smiled back and walked towards him. He got out of the Jeep and stood a mere inch away from her. She closed the gap between them, putting her arms around his neck, causing him to put his arms around her waist like they had done hours before. Sam looked into his chocolate brown eyes, while he looked into her sky blue eyes. Jack leaned down and consumed her lips with his, his tongue filling her mouth with pleasure and desire. Sam felt one of his hands in her hair, so she laced her fingers in his. Breaking the skin rippling contact, Jack spoke to her first. "Let's take this inside, shall we?" Jack said, lacing his fingers through hers. She followed him up the steps to her door and she opened the door. They walked inside, kissing each other before Sam closed the door.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

The next morning, before the sun was even up, Jack watched Sam sleep. He watched her chest rise and fall with each breath she drew and expelled. He gently and softly moved a strand of hair, causing her to wake up.

"Morning." Sam whispered. "Morning." Jack replied. Sam moved so that she was lying against Jack's left side. He put his left arm around her shoulders, then soon found his hand in her hair. He looked down at her and then kissed her lips, Sam responding fully to the contact he put on her lips and in her mouth. "I love you, Sam." Jack said when they parted for air.

"I love you, too, Jack." Sam replied, then lay over him, kissing him with full passion like the night before. The next thing Sam knew, she was on her back with Jack over her. He was trailing kisses down her neck and shoulders. "Promise me we'll be together officially one day." Sam asked. "I promise." Jack said, promising with his heart and soul. He sealed the promise with a kiss full of passion and promise.

THE END




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