"The Compensation" by Amelie Allard

Title: The Compensation

Author: Amélie Allard

Status: complete

Category: Challenge response, S&J romance/UST

Rating: PG

Archive: SJA and Helio

Season/sequel: whenever you want…

Spoilers: little reference to 100 days

Summary: Sam feels like she has to make it up to her superior officer after she makes a mistake concerning the Stargate

Disclaimer: All publicly recognizable characters and places are the property of MGM, World Gekko Corp and Double Secret Productions. This piece of fan fiction was created for entertainment not monetary purposes and no infringement on copyrights or trademarks was intended. Previously unrecognized characters and places, and this story, are copyrighted to the author. Any similarity to real persons, living or dead, is coincidental and not intended by the author.

Author’s notes: This is a little sappy fic that answers the ‘Make it work challenge 2000’ which must contain: S&J under the bed together, glitter or sunglasses, a malfunction of the Stargate so they’re stuck on the other side, Teal’c saying ‘wow that sure looks pretty’ and finally Jack saying: man those are huge!…so that’s it! Oh and it was posted by Bianca! So thanks Bianca, I hope you (and everybody else) like my response :) Big big thanks to Flo for betareading this for me! I owe you one ;) oh and happy birthday on wednesday :)

Feedback: that’d be very nice J off list, if possible…

*****The Compensation by Amélie*****

"Teal’c, you wanna tell me how long we’ve been waiting?"

He glances at his watch, rapidly calculating in his head.

"I believe three hours and twelve minutes have elapsed O’Neill."

"You wanna tell me why they’re not here yet?" I ask as I play with my cap, annoyed.

"That I cannot know. Maybe it was a malfunction of the Stargate." He states as he looks back at the gate, waiting for us in the valley. We walked up here so that we could be shady, under the trees, the sun is mighty hot here and I wouldn’t want us to have sunburns now would I? Carter sure is gonna pay when she gets here. We’ve been trying to dial up home again but it doesn’t work, I really hope she’s trying to bring us back from Earth. I wouldn’t want to spend the rest of my life sitting here…not that the view isn’t nice, but jeez it’s hot.

The plan was simple; me and Teal’c go through the Stargate, to be sure that everything would be ready when the scientific units arrived on the other side. But of course there had to be something wrong. It’s always the easiest missions that turn out bad. I really hope they’re trying to bring us back.

"Teal’c, keep your eyes open while I take a nap would you? There’s nothing better to do here anyway." I say as I lie down on the grass, covering my face with my cap. He merely looks at me and looks back at the Stargate, back to his waiting.

*****

When I hear the gate activate I first think I’m dreaming, but then the constant push on my arm awakes me completely. I take the cap off my face and look directly in the smiling eyes of Major Sam Carter.

"Carter! What took you so long?" I ask as I sit up, trying to forget that smug smile on her pretty features.

"We had a little problem with the dialing program. I had to reboot the system completely and then we had to…"

I cut her off before she’s not able to stop.

"Never mind." I reply vaguely as I wave my hand.

She stops and looks at me, surprised. She probably thinks I’m angry, and I am…a little.

"Look I’m so sorry sir, I’ll make it up to you, I promise, it was my fault you were stuck here for hours and I…"

I raise an eyebrow at her at the sound of Carter actually making a mistake but she just stops talking and gives a knowing look.

"I make mistakes too Colonel." She admits and I smile from a corner of my mouth, showing her I’m not angry with her. How could I ever be?

"As I’ve said, I’m really sorry sir, I’ll make it up to you." She says again as she gets up and walks down the hill.

I get up too as I take in the surroundings. Carter and her buddies brought lots of interesting shiny stuff to analyze the…things…they have here. Well, actually there is no "they" but apparently this planet has something fascinating that Carter thought her friends at the SGC would absolutely want to see.

I jog down the hill too and go by Teal’c’s side, who’s waiting for our next move, sometimes helping moving stuff around.

"You are finally awake O’Neill" he states as he sees me approaching.

"Yeah, I think so, how’s it going here?" I ask, trying to take my mind to focus on something and not feel completely useless here, watching as Carter gives orders to her fellows scientists when I don’t even understand why they’re here in the first place. She finally spots us and walks to us.

"You can go if you want sir, we’ll be ok from here." She says as she takes in my bored expression.

"You sure? I wouldn’t want you to…" I’m cut off by her persistent nod.

"I’m sure." She just says and I bet she just doesn’t want me to touch and break her shiny things.

"OK then, let’s move Teal’c." I say as I turn around to dial home. Before I step through, I turn back to look behind me and I see that Carter is still there, watching us leave.

"Remember that I’ll make it up to you sir! As soon as I’m back!" She says with a smile and I can’t help grinning myself as I walk through the wormhole.

*****

"You’re ready to roll sir?" Carter asks with a smile as she stands by the door to let me in.

"I’m not sure…Where are you taking me?" I ask as I make my way in her living room, taking off my coat as I sit on the couch.

"You’ll see…I’ll be ready in ten sir, just have to make a quick stop in the shower, I just came back from P3J 588 and I haven’t got time to freshen up yet…" she explains as she walks away to her bedroom and then the bathroom. She closes the door behind her but then opens it and pokes her head outside, looking at me.

"Make yourself at home sir!" She announces before closing the door again. I have to stop myself from wondering why she just poked her *head* out…

So I sit there for a moment, listening to the shower and then decide to make myself "just like home" as she said. I walk to the kitchen, putting my coat on the table as I make my way to the fridge. I open it and take an apple out of its bag.

"Man those are huge!" I say to myself as I take a bite. What, you wouldn’t think I’d be an apple guy? Ha!

I wander a little in her apartment, not really knowing what to do or what to look for. I take a look at Sam’s bedroom’s door and for a moment I struggle with myself deciding if I should go in or not. Nah…I’d be invading her privacy…Ah come on! Just a peak! I think decidedly as I walk to her door and slowly open it, poking my head inside. It’s not dark yet and the big windows at the back of her room bring all the light in the room, lighting it with the orange and pink colors of the sunset. I open her door a bit more and walk fully in, taking in my surroundings.

I’m not too surprised to realize her room is not so girlish. Well, to tell the truth, I would have thought that maybe she was more…feminine, for lack of a better word, at home then at work, but I guess she is in her own kind of way.

I take a look at the stuff on her desk, pictures, some of us, some of her dad and mom, some of all her family and some of people I don’t know. I smile as I touch the picture of an about three years old Sam in her father’s arms, smiling. Some people never change.

I’m brought out of my reverie when I hear the bathroom’s door open and footsteps coming this way. Damn…My heart begins to pound erratically when I realize I shouldn’t be here at all. I look desperately for a place to hide and then I spot the bed. I run and slide under.

Oh this is stupid O’Neill, very stupid. Like she won’t realize you’re not in the living room anymore, you idiot… When I’m about to get up and face Carter, I see a towel falling at her feet and then her stepping out and walking to her closet.

Oh-uh.

I close my eyes, trying not to think of what this means. Then she walks again and I see she now wears jeans, so I guess she’s all dressed now. I can’t help myself to grab her ankle when she passes by me and pull her under the bed too.

I surely wasn’t expecting such a scream coming from her. She even managed to startle me but when she realized it was me, she slapped me full force on the back of my head.

"You son of…don’t ever do that again, understood?" She asks, furious and I can’t help a smile.

"Promise!" I say as I lift my hands in defense.

She sighs and closes her eyes, leaning her forehead on the floor.

"You scared the hell out of me sir…" She says, still looking under shock.

"Look I’m sorry, I just…" She cuts me off with a look.

"What were you doing under my bed anyway?" She asks, this time trying to hide her smile.

"I lost my sunglasses, I thought maybe they rolled here." I answer as seriously as possible. She just stares at me for a moment, her still wet hair encircling her face, but then bursts out laughing and I join her, unable to keep a straight face.

"Come on sir, let’s get off from under the bed. I still have to keep my promise even though I’m not so sure you deserve it anymore…" she says as she gets up and I imitate her. I make my best sheepish face and she shakes her head, trying to look like I’m impossible.

"So where are we going?" I ask as we make our way on the highway. She shifts her car and smiles at me.

"You’ll see." She replies cryptically as she speeds the car that was in front of us.

"Yeah yeah yeah…" Her smile gets brighter when she hears me complain and she turns on the radio.

"Just the two of us?" I ask again and she turns to look at me briefly before returning her gaze to the road, shifting another car as we pass by.

"No actually, Teal’c and Daniel will meet us there. They went ahead to make sure everything was ready when we arrive." She answers, and I can’t help feeling a little disappointed. Not that I don’t like Teal’c and Daniel, I do, but some time alone with Carter would have made a change. Well in that case I guess I should take advantage of the ride.

We talk and – Heaven forbids - flirt for the rest of the ride and my curiosity gets to a point where I can’t help myself from doing stupid things. But luckily, I’m able to restrain myself this time, even if our destination is still unknown. Carter sure is good to keep a secret, I’ve tried all my little tricks, from being adorable, to threats, but she didn’t buy it. So when she takes the exit, I still have no idea where we’re going.

"Ah come on Carter! A hint! I need a hint here!" I plead once again.

"If I tell you it won’t be a surprise anymore." She answers motherly.

I sigh and I notice her to smile from the corner of my eye. She turns to the right on a little country road and when we’re finally at the end, I see that there’s a lake in front of us, and a little house just beside.

"We’re here sir!" She says as she gets out of her car. I just sit there for a moment, wondering. Whose is this? What are we doing here? I realize she’s waiting for me so I get out of the car too and follow her inside the house.

"Carter…"

She turns so fast around I walk into her and she has to place her hands on my chest to stop me from making her fall.

"Sorry…" I tell her, and I realize my hands are on her waist. She backs up a little and smiles, clearly embarrassed.

"I just…wanted to say that you can’t ask questions sir…" she babbles as she opens the door of the house and walks inside.

I take a deep breath and follow her inside, and I spot Daniel and Teal’c quietly sitting at the kitchen table.

"Everything all set Daniel?" Carter asks and he just nods, a smile appearing on his lips.

"Yep. We’re ready when you’re ready." He adds.

"Good!" Carter replies, throwing me a look. "Let’s go then!"

We walk out of the house and in front and I see a little boat waiting for us on the lake. I stop in my track and look at Carter.

"What the he…?"

"No questions sir, just come!" She says as she grabs my elbow and pulls me forward. We all embark the boat and it’s only then that I realize that there is someone else on the boat, the driver, probably.

"Colonel Jack O’Neill, this is my cousin Frank Carter. He’s been kind enough to let us come tonight." I shake the man’s hand as I take in his appearance. He’s tall, but then I guess it’s a common thing in the Carter family, and he has a handsome face with brown eyes and dark hair.

"So! What are we doing exac…"

"No questions sir, remember?" Carter interrupts me sweetly. I sigh angrily and I hear Carter chuckle. Daniel pats me teasingly on the back which only makes me feel more betrayed.

"I think we can go Frank." Carter says to her cousin and he starts the boat, and then accelerates. I watch Carter as she takes deep healthy breaths and then Teal’c, just sitting there, not moving an inch.

"You alright Teal’c?" I ask worriedly and the others all turn to look at him. He almost looks green, if that’s possible.

"I do not believe my symbiote is fond of being on water O’Neill" He replies through clenched teeth. I take a panicked look in front, at Sam’s cousin but he didn’t seem to hear anything.

"Teal’c!" I whisper loudly. "Try to speak a little bit more…human, if you can…" I tell him as I look at Frank. But I guess the noise from the motor keeps him from hearing our conversation. I turn back to Teal’c and he doesn’t look good at all. "So you’ll be fine?" I ask again.

"I will be fine." Teal’c adds as he closes his eyes.

Frank begins to decelerate the boat and we finally come to a stop, in the middle of the lake. Carter comes to sit beside me and leans in close to my ear.

"You once told me you were a huge fan of fireworks," she explains in my ear, and I have to stop the shiver that goes through my spine as I feel her warm breath on my neck. "This is the best place to see them." She adds as she waves her arm around.

"When do they begin?" I manage to ask.

"In a few minutes!" she says as she sits back to her place.

"They’re supposed to be very nice tonight!" Daniel adds. I turn to look at Carter.

"Thanks Sam! This is a great surprise!"

"So I made it up to you?" She asks cheekily.

I grin sincerely.

"Oh yeah! More than you could ever imagine." I answer truthfully. She’s right, I’ve always loved fireworks and her bringing me here is great. Of course it could have been more fun if I’d have been alone with her, but that’s another story. She grins back and we hold stares for a few seconds, until we get interrupted by the first fireworks. We watch them silently for a couple of minutes until Teal’c speaks.

"Wow, that sure looks pretty!" He exclaims. We all turn to look at him and Carter tries, in vain, not to laugh and Daniel grins cheekily. Frank doesn’t seem to notice any of this.

"Yeah, doesn’t it?" He replies joyfully.

When I see Frank is back to his sky gazing, I turn to Teal’c.

"Where the hell did that come from Teal’c?" I ask as I lean my elbows on my thighs to get closer to him.

"Did you not ask me to speak more humanly O’Neill?"

This time we all burst out laughing.

*****

"Thank you Sam," I say as I stop on her porch, "I had a great time."

"Me too sir. I’m glad I could make it up to you."

We stay silent awkwardly for a moment until I can’t help myself anymore. I walk the step separating us and pull her into a gentle hug. She hugs me back tightly and then I pull us apart, but still keeping a short distance between us.

"You wanna come in…sir?" She asks, embarrassed. "Just…Coffee and…and…"

"I’d really love to Sam" I say as truthfully as possible, "but ah…I don’t think so." I manage to babble. Oh god how much I’d like to just go in…

"Right…" she replies, looking kinda disappointed.

I back up of one step, my arms still holding her.

"For what it’s worth…You have no idea how badly I’d love to go in, but I just…I just can’t right now. But I’ll make it up to you one day, I promise." I say, a grin appearing as I pronounce the last words. She smiles too and I can’t help leaning in slowly and kiss her briefly on the lips.

"Thanks again," I manage to say when the kiss ends and I look into her eyes. I really want her to know I’m sincere here. "And…see ya tomorrow!" I add as I walk slowly and reluctantly back to my car.

Yeah…I’ll make it up to you.

The End

I hope you enjoyed it, PLEASE, let me know if you did (or didn't)!

Amélie