"Salmon Jack" by Carol S. Comer

Title: Salmon Jack

Author: Carol S. Comer

Status: complete

Category: SJR

Spoilers: Nemisis, vague reference to Jolinar's Memories/The Devil You Know

Season/Sequel info: 3rd Season prior to the events of Nemisis.

Rating: PG

Content Warnings:

Summary: Jack pretends to be Sam's date at a wedding, but are they really pretending?

Disclaimer: The characters and situations depicted here are owned by Stargate (II) Productions, Showtime/Viacom, MGM/UA, Double Secret Productions, and Gekko Productions. No copyright infringement was intended. This story was created and the characters used for entertainment purposes only and no money changed hands.

Author's Notes: Okay, so the story has NOTHING to do with the title. I just had to write a story so I could use it. I can't read the name of the Sam & Jack list without hearing Salmon Jack - so here it is. This territory's been covered by every fic writer known to man, but hey, I had to toss my hat into the ring too. P.S. did you know that when you dictate the phrase "Jack asked" it comes out sounding like jackass at two o'clock in the morning? Here's a bit of fluff for all of you. Happy Easter to my Christain and Catholic friends and a 'Have a Great Day' to the rest of you. There are several things in this missive that came from the list: First I fit in the phrase 'how 'bout never? is never good for you?' by Jack. Second, I took some liberties with the Colonel's background. I was just so fascinated by the discussion on the list of his ribbons and wings - particularly the ribbon denoting service in 'Nam. So.....

SALMON JACK

"No, no, no, no, no, no, no." Jack heard the wail from inside as he approached the infirmary. The Colonel had just been informed that Dr. Jackson had suffered an acute appendicitis and had required emergency surgery that morning.

"You can't do this to me." The voice whined in protest as Jack pushed open the door to Daniel's recovery room. Colonel O'Neill saw Sam standing over Daniel's bed fairly stomping with frustration. "Now what I going to do?" The major demanded.

"Going to do about what, Carter?" Jack asked surprising Sam and Daniel. Sam startled and looked away in embarrassment.

Daniel looked from Sam to Jack and took it upon himself to answer the Colonel when Sam remained silent and pink-cheeked, staring at the floor.

"Well, um, I was going to be Sam's, ah, date tonight." He said. "Well, until I got, um, laid up here that is." Daniel swept his hand across the hospital bed, the IV lines trailing behind as he gestured.

"Date?" Jack asked eyebrows raised in mocking surprise.

"Not a date." Sam said defensively. "More like an escort."

"An escort?" Jack's eyebrows crept higher with laughter. Sam squirmed uncomfortably.

"Okay, a squire, a gallant, an attendant. Whatever." Sam said flustered, throwing her hands in the air in resignation. "A hired hand without the paycheck." Daniel just smirked from his bed.

"Wedding or reunion." Jack asked, enjoying himself at Sam's expense. The major looked up in surprise.

"Wedding." She said.

"`Knew it had to be one or the other."

Daniel interrupted their little tete-a-tete. "Look, I'm going to be tied up for a week or so, but I'm sure Jack wouldn't mind accompanying you, Sam." Sam looked up at Jack expectantly.

"Oh, no, no, no, no, no, no." He said waving his hands in front of himself. It was his turn to object. "I don't do weddings." Jack argued.

"Come on, sir." Sam whined. "Just this once." She pleaded with her eyes. "You'd be saving my life, here." She said.

"Saving your life?" Jack asked incredulously. "Don't you think you're overstating your case just a little bit." Jack held up his hand and made the universal `just a smidgeon' gesture with his thumb and index finger.

"Please." Sam was practically pouting now. Jack was nearly undone when he saw her lower lip pucker. `Damn, how am I supposed to say no to that?' He thought. The colonel looked to Daniel for help, but the bedridden doctor only laughed in response to his dilemma.

"Fine." He said curtly, looking with daggers at Daniel who merely laughed harder in response.

"Oww. Don't make me laugh." Daniel clutched his sides in mock pain. "It hurts too much." He whined, at which time Dr. Frasier made her appearance. Jack was always amazed at her timing.

"Yes, well, you shouldn't be laughing." Janet chided him checking the bandages on his abdomen and securing the IV lines running to his arm. "You should be resting." She said tossing a glare in Sam and Jack's direction. "And you two should let him." Sam and Jack tried to look repentant, but failed miserably dissolving into friendly laughter.

"You owe me one, space monkey." Jack wagged a finger at him menacingly. "No, wait." He said turning his attention to Sam. "YOU owe me one."

Sam grabbed him by the finger and pulled him towards the door. "Feel better Daniel." She said as she directed Jack into the hallway.

"Hey, Sam." Daniel yelled from his bed. "Catch the bouquet." Jack's eyes widened in horror as the door shut behind them. Sam looked at Jack and started to say something. He put up a finger stopping her.

"Don't even..." Sam's laughter could be heard down the hall as she turned and walked away.

"Oh, Carter." He called from the other direction. "What time?"

"Pick me up at four. It's a two hour drive to Denver." She yelled over her shoulder and disappeared around the corner. Jack just stood watching her walk away before shaking his head and turning back in the direction of the control room.

**********

Jack arrived promptly at four outfitted in his dress blues. He danced uncomfortably in the hallway as he waited for Sam to answer the bell. She opened the door dressed in a short black dress with spaghetti straps and soft draping material gathered across her chest. Jack just gaped speechless.

"Wow." He said less than articulately, standing rooted to the hallway floor. Sam laughed softly in response. Her laugher filled the hallway with music like a choir in a church.

"Well come on in at least." She told him physically pulling him into her apartment. Jack followed dutifully, eyes glued to her exposed expanse of shoulder. It was easy to forget how tiny she actually was when he only saw her in oversized uniforms and baggy fatigues.

"You look great." He said as he stepped into her apartment. "I should have brought a corsage." Jack said. "But, I wouldn't know where to pin it." He frowned. "Do I have to talk to Dad about your curfew?" Sam let go of his hand and Jack stopped where she left him. "Oh wait, I know your dad." Jack was rambling nervously. "Can you stay out past ten?"

"Would you like something to drink?" Sam asked.

"Oh yeah. Drink. Yes. Drink would be good." Jack muttered finding a place on the sofa to sit down.

"Beer? Wine?" She asked.

"Whiskey? Scotch?" He responded hopefully.

"Beer. Wine." Sam repeated with finality.

"Beer, it is, then." The major walked over to the couch carrying two bottles of beer clutched in her right hand. The bottles knocked together with a sharp ting in time to the beat of her gait. She sat down next to the colonel and handed one of the cold, wet bottles to him.

"Here you go." She said as she twisted off the cap on her bottle and took a long deep pull on the beer. Jack did likewise and sighed contentedly as he sat the bottle on a coaster on her coffee table.

"Can't we just sit here and drink beer all night?" He asked hopefully. Sam threw a dirty look in his direction.

"No." She chided him. "The wedding starts at seven." Sam sat her beer on the table next to him and leaned in glaring. "You are NOT getting out of this." She said. Jack groaned in mock disappointment.

"At least let me finish my beer." He said teasingly as he took another gulp.

"We've got time."

"So who's wedding is this anyways?" Jack asked.

"An old friend from college." Sam responded with a shrug. "I haven't seen her in a long time."

"So why are you going?" Jack asked. Sam looked sharply at him.

"She's my friend." She said taking a sip of beer uncomfortably. "I don't have many of them left, Colonel." Sam added quietly.

"You?" Jack asked with disbelief.

"Not much time to hang out with the girls." She answered sadly. "And then there's the problem of what I can actually talk about with them." Sam sat in silence a moment. "In the end I didn't have much in common with my classmates that went on to work in private labs or in academia." She added. "We all just drifted apart. Tell me you have a lot of friends left outside of the SGC?" She accused defensively. Jack threw up his hands in surrender.

"Hey, I never had friends outside the SGC or otherwise." He said with a small smile. Sam snorted the smallest puff of a laugh.

"Sometimes I feel like my life has gotten so small." She said furrowing her brows.

"Well, then, let's go reacquaint you with old friends." Jack said standing abruptly and offering his hand to help Sam up. Sam stood and straightened her dress. Jack's gaze was attracted to the movement. She leaned over to grab her small purse and led him out to the hall, locking the door behind her.

"Small?" Jack said as he placed a hand in the middle of her back and gently guided her to his car. "You travel the galaxy, meet beings from other planets and save the world on a regular, if not TOO regular, basis and you're complaining your life is small?" He teased her. "I can't imagine what life would be like if you were livin' large." Sam snickered appreciatively.

"I suppose so." She agreed as he opened the door for her and helped her into the passenger side of his car. "Maybe I want all this AND all of the trappings of normal life." Sam said as he sat down and adjusted the review mirror.

"Yeah, and I'd like to be Harrison Ford. But...." Jack said concentrating on backing out of her driveway. Sam smiled to herself watching out the window as they pulled out onto the street.

"Nah, he's too old for me." She said barely above a whisper. If Jack had heard Sam's comment, he didn't react. She let out a nervous breath she was holding.

Traffic on the drive to Denver was surprisingly light and they arrived at the church twenty minutes before the wedding was scheduled to begin. The usher guided the couple to a pew on the bride's side and the two sat watching as the building filled up. The ceremony started only marginally late with two young boys in white smocks lighting candles at the altar. Sam's attention was riveted to the pomp and circumstance of the event - the young flower girl and ring bearer toddling down the aisle. The guests stifled giggles when the flower girl stopped in the middle and gave her daddy a kiss before proceeding to the altar. The ring bearer comically grew impatient and dropped her hand finishing the walk down the aisle without his companion. Even Jack had to smile at the exploits of the young attendants.

Next came the parade of bridesmaids and groomsmen. Jack counted seven couples in total. `This isn't a wedding - it's a traffic jam.' He mused. Finally the bride made her spectacular entrance all white and lace and fairy-like. The groom danced nervously at the altar in anticipation. It all brought back bittersweet memories for Jack. He could sympathize with the anxious groom and wondered if he, too, had nervously sweat his tuxedo soaking wet waiting for the ceremony to begin.

A prayer was offered. Vows were made. Sweet songs of love and faith were sung and the "I do's" were exchanged. Jack's expression throughout remained a strange cross between a smile and a grimace and he shifted uncomfortably through the `till death do us part' of the vows. Sam patted his knee when the minister announced that the couple were `man and wife.' Jack wasn't sure what that gesture was supposed to mean until he looked over and saw tears glistening in her eyes. Jack almost laughed at the unexpected sentimental streak the major was exhibiting but instead he placed his hand over hers and held it tight on his leg.

The newlyweds exited to grand applause and their attendants followed dutifully behind. The flower girl and ring bearer, however, had reached the end of their collective patience and were arguing noisily over the satin pillow that had once held the thick platinum band now firmly planted on the bride's left hand. Finally their respective mother's came to claim the errant attendants when they started playing tug of war, pulling the lace edges on the pillow. Choruses of `mine' `mine' drifted down the aisle in distinctively youthful voices. Finally the ushers, despairing of an orderly departure, started guiding the guests out row by row.

Jack was met in the annex of the church by the dreaded `receiving line.' "Oh, I'm in hell." He muttered as he shook the first of many hands of the complete strangers forming the formal greeting track. `Well, not literally.' he thought in amusement as he grasped another hand. `I've been to hell before - this is worse.' Sam stopped to speak briefly with several individuals along the way. Jack bounced impatiently next to her subconsciously urging the major on. When they got to the bride and groom, Jack smiled obediently and shook their hands softly. "Congratulations." He told them with as much conviction as you can muster for complete strangers. Sam on the other hand hugged the bride exuberantly and reached out for the groom's hand, tears running anew.

"This is my commanding officer." Sam said by way of introduction. "Colonel Jack O'Neill."

"Jack." He corrected reaching out to shake their hands again. Jack caught the speculative look that the bride gave Sam and the smallest shake of her head Sam responded with. Playfully he wrapped his arm around Sam's shoulder and told the newlyweds "We'll see you at the reception" as he guided the major out of the church. She still had a `deer trapped in headlights' look on her face when they got to the parking lot. He dropped his arm and laughed. "Well, that'll get `em talking." He said.

"Colonel!" Sam said with a combination of surprise and amused shock tinting her voice.

"Jack." He corrected letting her back into the car for the short drive to the reception hall.

"Sir?"

"Jack." He repeated in emphasis.

The reception was held in the ballroom of a private club - a sit down dinner for three hundred. Jack noted the string ensemble, the cascading flowers and the seven tiered wedding cake. He whistled appreciatively. "Private sector employment must pay a hell of a lot better than the Air Force." He remarked dryly. Sam elbowed him in the ribs and led him over to a table in the corner out of the way of the gathering crowd.

Jack counted the number of stems of crystal and the pieces of silverware surrounding his plate. "Do you realize there are more glasses right here than there are in my WHOLE House." He joked. Sam had to agree with him there.

"I get the water glass, the champagne glass, a wine glass for red and one for white," she said, "but what the hell are the other two glasses for?" They shared a conspiratorial laugh.

"How `bout them forks?" Jack asked.

"Five of them?" Sam asked in mock confusion. "Am I supposed to eat with two of them at once?"

"Yep." Jack answered. "One for your left hand and one for your right." She giggled. "There's even a couple for your feet if you decide to eat with your toes." He said. Sam wrinkled up her nose pretending to be disgusted.

"Eww." She said looking around at the well-dressed, remarkably polished, `up and coming' or `already there' couples around her. "Don't think that'd go over very well here." Sam observed.

"Ya think?" Jack asked pulling out one of his favorite sayings for the occasion.

Sam and Jack's banter was interrupted by the arrival of a couple more people to their table.

"May we join you." The elegant young lady in a full length gown asked quietly.

"Yes, please." Sam said. Jack stood respectfully as the lady's escort pulled out her chair for her to sit. Jack raised an eyebrow at Sam. When she was seated, Jack dropped back into his chair. Leaning over to Sam he whispered, "Stepford people."

Sam cupped her hand to his ear and mumbled "pod people" to him. They both smiled but stifled the laughter and sat back upright. Jack noticed with some measure of amusement that both he and Sam were sitting straighter than they had been prior to the couple's arrival.

"I'm Sophia Brown-Taylor." The new arrival stated, offering a loose limb across the table. Her voice flowed as smooth and rich as melted chocolate. "This is my husband Thomas." Sophia said indicating the man that had just seated her and was pulling back his own chair to sit.

"I'm Sam." Sam said. "Sam Carter." Taking the extended hand and shaking softly. "This is Colonel Jack O... Jack O'Neill." She corrected herself.

"Jack." Sophia's husband reached over and shook his hand briskly.

"Tom." Jack acknowledged.

"Do you know the bride or the groom?" Thomas asked.

"Neither, actually." Jack responded. "We're just crashing the party for the booze." He said sweeping his hand in the direction of the crystal forest above his plate. Sam kicked him under the table. "Owww." He snapped. Thomas unsuccessfully tried to hide a smile.

"Betsy and I went to university together." Sam corrected.

"How very nice." Sophia fairly sang. "Are you also a physicist?"

"Astrophysicist to be precise." Sam answered.

"Really?" Thomas asked, openly impressed. Sam nodded proudly.

"Which means she's WAY smarter than I am." Jack added. Thomas snorted appreciatively.

"How `bout you two?" Sam asked.

"Our families summered on the Vineyard together." Sophia answered.

"The vineyard?" Jack leaned over and asked Sam.

"Martha's." Sam responded quietly.

"Ohhhhhh." Jack said nodding. "Yep, Stepford people." Sam swatted him under the table.

"Thomas actually worked with Betsy at Stanford before she joined the Foundation." Sophia said indicating her husband. Tom nodded his agreement.

"Betsy met Richard there." He added helpfully. Jack nodded politely assuming Tom was talking about Betsy's new husband. Having no idea who any of these people were he could barely bring himself to listen, let alone participate.

Their conversation was interrupted by the arrival of a two more guests - an older couple with polite smiles and well-tailored clothing. Another round of introductions were made. When Sophia and Tom were engrossed in conversation with Helen and Jim Welsh, Jack and Sam exchanged a look and in unison mouthed the words `pod people.' They both laughed which earned them a quick look from the others at the table.

A server quietly and inconspicuously rounded the tables filling champagne glasses signaling that the reception would be getting underway shortly. Jack looked at the champagne and wrinkled his nose. He could stomach a lot in the name of social drinking, but his champagne consumption was limited to only that amount that was necessary to be polite.

"Would you like a drink?" Jack asked pointing at the filled flute indicating `other than champagne'. Sam nodded gratefully.

"White wine." She told him quietly. Jack rose to grab the cocktails and the table momentarily fell silent as he left. Then the two couples quickly returned to their conversation about how long they were visiting in Colorado, how bad the flight in had been and where they were staying. Sam fiddled with the napkin on her plate, folding origami shapes into the fine silk square.

"So where are you two staying?" All eyes turned to focus on Sam.

"Uh, we live in Colorado Springs." Sam responded startled by the sudden question. Jack had just returned with two glasses of wine and was about to comment when he was interrupted by a knife tapping on crystal calling for attention.

"The bride and groom." The master of ceremonies announced. The guests rose to their feet and all eyes turned to the door. Betsy and Richard swept into the room with their entourage of attendants to enthusiastic applause. Betsy waved a little prom queen wave and Richard twirled her fluidly to the center table. Jack raised an eyebrow and looked at Sam. `What did you EVER have in common with these people' was the obvious meaning behind his look. Sam smiled and shrugged. She hadn't come from money (by any stretch of imagination), but Sam's father had been a Colonel when she was growing up. Jack seemed to have forgotten that military officers have their own form of respect and place in society - less so now than a couple of decades ago, but when Sam was a young girl, she was invited to many of the same events that these girls attended merely because her father was Jacob Carter.

Sam elbowed Jack playfully and he responded by casually tossing an arm over her shoulders as the prerequisite best man's toast was offered. They raised their flutes in celebration in unison with the crowd and reverently bowed their heads in response to the invocation. Afterwards, Thomas pulled out Sophia's chair for her to sit. Jack was halfway seated when he straightened and did likewise for Sam. Her expression as she sat in the offered chair revealed that she was torn between laughing at him and really, really liking the attention. Jack smiled triumphantly to himself.

Dinner was served soon after. Guests were serenaded by the string ensemble while small plates of artfully arranged prawns surrounding a white scalloped shell filled with cocktail sauce were placed before them and uniformed waiters poured chardonnay. Jack chose the smallest fork farthest from the plate and lifted it extending his pinky in mock high-brow grace. Sam stifled another giggle. She knew none of this was even remotely foreign to him. As a Colonel in the Air Force, he had long since been taught to dine with celebrities, politicians and dignitaries, but she was enjoying the show nonetheless.

Salad followed - raspberry vinegarette over mixed greens. "Lawn clippings." Jack leaned over and said to her.

"Weeds." Sam agreed spearing another forkful.

The main course was salmon with a dill sauce, baby carrots and broccoli florets. Jack was growing nauseous with the studied cuteness of it all - perfect food, perfect miniatures, perfect placement.

"Mmmmm, salmon." He said pushing the fish around on his plate.

"Don't you like fish?" Sam asked in surprise.

"Love fish." He answered. "They're great in tanks, swimming in the ocean, squirming on the end of fishing poles... Can't say I care much for `em dead on a plate, though." This earned a quick glance from Sophia. Tom smiled at his plate and Jack lowered his voice in response. "Did I ever tell you I spent a summer on a salmon boat in Alaska?" He asked conversationally.

"Really?" Sam responded her curiously piqued. "Salmon Jack." She teased. "When were you in Alaska?"

"After I got back from Vietnam," he said. Sam frowned in response.

"I didn't know you were in Vietnam," she interrupted. Jack waved her off dismissively but her eyes were drawn to his ribbons. That he had been in Vietnam had been displayed left of his lapel as long as she knew him. Jack could tell she was mentally kicking herself for not noticing.

"I was young. The conflict was just over." He shrugged. "Talk about jumping in with both feet, though - starting a military career there. Of course, I had no idea I'd make a career with the Air Force. Then I was just a dumb kid with no direction." Sam leaned closer drawn in by his story. It was a rare moment when Jack said ANYTHING about his past. "So after my tour was over, I went to Alaska in search of my fortune." Jack snorted humorously at the memory. "I ended up on this rotten stinking fishing boat trolling the waters off Valdez. To this day I can still smell the foul stench of the trawler." His nose wrinkled up as if he really could smell it.

"Maybe that's why you don't like fish." Sam offered.

"Ya think?" Jack asked. It was his way of saying `you have a marvelous grasp of the obvious.' "Anyway, as soon as the summer was over I went back and re-upped. `Haven't eaten much in the way of

fish - god, salmon in particular - ever since." Sam looked at the corpus of Salmon bits scattered across his plate - he was like a toddler trying to hide peas. Jack popped a baby carrot in his mouth.

"The man who subsists on K-rations won't eat finely prepared Salmon." Sam observed. "How funny is that?" She asked rhetorically. "We can go for burgers after the wedding." She whispered to him conspiratorially. Jack smiled in response.

Dinner plates were cleared by servers that came and went almost invisibly. If Jack hadn't been watching carefully he wouldn't have even noticed when the salmon was taken away and a small plate of fruits and cheeses were placed before him. A sommelier in white gloves poured a deep red cabernet and the table fell back into its pattern of small talk.

"But you like fishing?" She asked him.

"Love it." He responded enthusiastically. "Water, boats, beer, silence, no people, trees as far as the eyes can see... what's not to love?" Jack asked with a shrug.

"Worms." Sam answered. "Mosquitos. Slimy fish flopping around." She thought a moment longer. "Worms." She repeated.

"Ahh, Sam," he said, "you've got to try it. I promise there are no worms." Sam sighed with visible relief. "Nightcrawlers, yes. Worms, no." Sam shuddered and Jack almost burst out laughing at the look on her face. "Okay, okay," he said, "I promise I'll thread your hook for you."

"So, you gonna take me fishing, Salmon Jack?" She teased him.

His answer was cut short by the arrival of the bride and groom making their rounds through the guests. Jack could tell Sam was disappointed she didn't get an answer.

The meal concluded with a deep, rich chocolate torte and strong, hot coffee. Jack merely picked at his confection but Sam fairly rolled in it. At one point she moaned softly over a mouthful of chocolate. Jack was always amused by this rather universal female trait. He sipped his coffee and watched her close her eyes and savor the torte like some rare, sensual experience. `God I could watch this all night.' He thought to himself.

The refined string ensemble yielded the floor to a big band and Sinatra-like crooner. Couples started gravitating towards the dance floor as "All of Me" started in earnest.

"Oh Colonel," Sam said over a mouthful of torte, "let's dance. I love this song."

"No." He said simply.

"Not now?" She asked hopefully.

"How `bout never." He responded. "Is never good for you?" Sam pouted petulantly. Jack was momentarily confused by the sultriness until he noted the sheer number of dirty glasses strewn across the table. A glass with every course, he reminded himself - red, white, bubbly, dry, you name it - they'd had it. If he had to venture a guess, the Colonel would have surmised that the major was well and properly toasted.

The other two couples left for the dance floor with a gracious `excuse us.' Jack dutifully stood as the ladies rose to leave. He and Sam were left alone at the table. "My Way" played up front. Sam continued drinking cabernet swirling the deep rich wine in the bowl of the goblet before sipping the red. She sighed deeply watching the couples embrace on the dance floor. Jack almost laughed at the blatant look of longing on her face. Sam's feelings were almost always an open book to him - never more so than after she had been drinking. Jack thought fondly of P3X 595.

The last strains of "My Funny Valentine" echoed through the hall. Finally, he rose, pushed back his chair and extended a hand in invitation. Sam looked in surprise between him and the dance floor and then rewarded him with the biggest, room brightening smile he had seen in a long while.

They walked hand in hand to the dance floor and he pulled Sam to him holding her tight around the waist. They barely moved to the slow beat of "Smoke Gets in Your Eyes" merely swaying softly in fluid rhythm. Sam buried her face in his chest and Jack responded by moving one hand to the middle of her back and one hand to her the back of her head entwined in her soft blond hair.

They danced for most of four songs - `If you can call what we were doing dancing.' his mind supplied - before the couple sat down. The crowd had started to thin as the time approached midnight. Sam was sitting with her chin resting in her palms, but she was getting closer and closer to the table with each passing moment.

"We should probably go." Jack told her. "Its getting late and Colorado Springs is a long drive." He stood and offered his hand.

"`kay." Sam said lazily and disappeared under the table looking around for her purse. She then rose and took his hand. He led her out to the car. It had gotten chilly with the sunset and Sam shivered in her light dress. Jack stopped at the car and removed his dress jacket and wrapped it around her. He stood in his light blue oxford and dress trousers as he unlocked Sam's door and opened to let her in. Jack unclipped his tie and unbuttoned the top button of his shirt. He caught her watching his movements appreciatively. He cleared his throat in embarrassment and hopped around to the other side of the car.

"You gonna be alright to drive?" Sam asked him tiredly. He nodded affirmatively. Jack stopped drinking early in the evening knowing the drive back would be long. "`kay." She said again as she

wrapped his jacket tighter around her and dropped the seat back.

"`Take me fishing, sir?" She asked him snuggling down into the reclining passenger side seat - her words slurred with alcohol and exhaustion.

"Sure." Jack said as he started the car and headed home. He heard her mutter "Salmon Jack" before her breathing fell deep and even.

**********

Two days later, Jack found her in the lab with a blowtorch working on her ... well, something.

"Carter." He called to her over the noise of the torch shielding his eyes from the glare of the flame. Sam stopped and pulled the welding shield off her head and turned to the colonel.

"Sir, hi." She said running her hand through her hair fluffing it up. "How's Daniel?"

"Oh he's gonna be fine." Jack responded cheerfully and then squinted at the large piece of equipment in front of her. "What're you doin'?" He asked. Sam turned back to the device on the work bench before her.

"I'm getting ready to do a detailed analysis of the decay rate of naquada within the reactor." Sam told him. "Its really quite amazing. Unlike plutonium, naquada actually has..." Jack's eyes glazed over and he interrupted with a flustered groan.

"Ahhhhh." He fairly yelled cutting her off. "I'm on vacation."

"Yes sir." She said looking down.

"So are you." Jack reminded her. She looked up and smiled at him.

"I know." She said, "its not that I'm happy that Daniel's in excruciating pain or anything like that, but I've actually been looking forward to an opportunity like this for quite some time."

"You know, it may be just me," Jack interrupted again, "but I always thought that when one got some leave, one actually left." He punctuated his statement with raised eyebrows. Sam smiled shyly. "Look Daniel's recouping. Teal'c's off visiting his kid somewhere. Personally, I have a date with a little lake in Minnesota where the bass grow that big." Jack stretched his arms out to demonstrate.

"Really." Sam said mockingly.

"Oh yes." Jack responded enthusiastically. "What I'm describing here Carter involves a very special element..."

"This IS fun to me, sir." Sam said nodding towards her work bench.

"Well, if playing with your little reactor sounds like more fun than exploring the lakes and natural beauty of Northern Minnesota, there's not much I can do." Sam face was a mix of confusion and surprise.

"Was that an invitation, sir?"

"Nothing wrong with that." The Colonel back-peddled. "Two colleagues - friends if you will - spending time together fishing."

Sam interrupted. "You really ARE going to take me fishing." Sam laughed, crossed the lab and wrapped her arms around him. "Yes." She said simply. "I would love to go fishing with you." Jack smiled and held her close as she nestled her face into his chest. "Salmon Jack." She muttered into his shirt.

"Promise me, I won't have to eat anything we catch?" She asked looking up to him.

"Oh yes." He said. "That's one promise I CAN keep."

The End.