"Alternate Lives Intrude" By Carhop

Title: Alternate Lives Intrude

Author: Carhop

Rating: NC-17, strong language, explicit sex, angst

Archive: SJD, yes; Heliopolis, yes; others please ask.

Summary: Sam undertakes a mission to an alternate universe for the NID and meets Jack's alternate. What happens there causes her to want to leave the SGC.

Disclaimer: Stargate SG-1 and its characters are the property of Showtime/ Viacom, MGM/UA, Double Secret Productions, and Gekko Productions. I have written this story for entertainment purposes only and no money whatsoever has exchanged hands. No copyright infringement is intended. The original characters, situations, and story are the property of the authors. Not to be archived without permission of the authors.

Spoilers: Broca Divide, Point of View, Tok'ra 1 and 2, Seth

Status: Complete

Notes: Feedback would be much appreciated. Thanks to my beta readers Tricia, Amber, Starshadowhe, and Suzie. Any remaining mistakes are my own.

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The Find

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Colonel Maybourne knew the Quantum Mirror would come in handy one day and it looked like today was that day. The drones watching the mirror night and day had reported something interesting - more than interesting. Something that would make his career and set him up for life. The only problem would be getting access to the device. For that he'd need the help of the SGC in general, and one Major Samantha Carter in particular.

The mechanism was invented by an alternate version of Major Carter, but it wasn't too likely this Carter would jump at the chance to go get it for him. Having made her life miserable on occasion, Harry Maybourne wasn't her favorite person. Not that someone else couldn't go through the mirror to retrieve the information, but as the inventor of the gadget she had the best chance of finding everything they needed to duplicate it in the shortest amount of time. Plus, as a member of the SGC, Sam would have fewer problems wandering the corridors and sitting in her double's lab than anyone else.

Harry knew it was time to persuade General Hammond to assign this mission to Major Carter. He knew just how to convince him, too.

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The Proposal

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"Colonel Maybourne, to what do I owe the *pleasure* of your company?" asked Major General Hammond dryly as he leaned back in his leather chair. The chair stood as the only luxury in the Spartan office Hammond maintained.

"I have some information you may find interesting, perhaps even useful, sir," said the Colonel with his usual oily smile.

"What could you possibly have that I would want?" inquired the General.

"What would you say if I offered you a device that could provide your teams with personal shields like the Goa'uld possess?" said the Colonel brazenly. "I'm sure you can see the advantage such a tool would give you." Maybourne passed the photos he held to Hammond, his face impassive.

Hammond looked at Maybourne gauging the seriousness of the offer. He asked, "Why are you offering this to me? Surely there are others who can pay you more."

"Oh, I'm sure of that, but I'm not selling it to you. I'm offering to show you where it can be found." He allowed himself a smirk.

"In return for.?"

"Your assistance, or more exactly, the assistance of Major Carter, in retrieving it. One of her alternates invented the device, although only I know *which* alternate universe it's in," Maybourne returned. He'd made sure the analyst who'd found the device was well beyond caring about whether she got credit for the find.

"Why Major Carter? I'm sure you have agents who could do the job as well as my chief scientist and SG-1's second in command," asked the General.

Maybourne sneered again. "Perhaps, but her alternate invented the gadget and our Major Carter would be able to find any plans for it more easily than someone unacquainted with her lab and work methods. Plus, she has ready access to the SGC with no questions asked."

Hammond thought it was a good thing he hadn't invited Colonel O'Neill to this meeting - 'Our Major Carter, indeed'.

"What about the alternate Major Carter? Why would she allow her plans to be copied or stolen, even by her alternate?" posed the General.

"I've arranged for her to be out of the way in a few days. She'll even enjoy herself," replied the Colonel, with yet another smirk. At the General's questioning expression, he continued, "She's lecturing to a class of physics majors at a college in Boulder for two days. Your alternate will also be away, leaving Colonel O'Neill in charge for the weekend. Our Sam merely has to say she came back for some lecture materials she forgot. She goes to her lab, gets the designs and returns home through the Quantum Mirror in their SGC."

"And, what do you get out of this, Maybourne?" He knew Maybourne wasn't doing this for the good of the SGC.

"I get a copy of the designs."

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The Discussion

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"You're not seriously considering sending Carter to run that weasel's errand, are you, Sir?" growled Colonel Jack O'Neill, his jaw tightening convulsively. This whole scheme made him nauseous and angry. Hammond, the members of SG-1, and Major Davis, the SGC liaison to the Pentagon, were in the briefing room. After having viewed the recordings from the DVD, they were discussing the proposal that ostensibly came from the NID. They all knew it more likely was a rogue play by Maybourne to set himself up. If the device really existed, what *couldn't* he ask from potential customers for the type of protection a personal shield could offer?

"Colonel, the security this piece of equipment could give us on missions is incalculable. Think of the injuries and deaths it could prevent, sir," Major Carter enthusiastically glanced from her CO to the General and back. "If the alternate universe is as close to our own as Colonel Maybourne says it is, getting the plans should be fast and easy."

"I don't trust him. Especially not with your life, Carter," O'Neill objected, his face getting red. Knowing he'd gone too far, Jack backed down. "If the NID can't take over the SGC, he'd just love to put us out of business. Getting rid of you would go a long way toward that goal."

"Sir," Major Carter turned to Hammond, "why don't we just ask for a copy of the plans. Surely, our alternates would see the benefit to helping another version of themselves."

"I'd like to think that they would, but the evidence Colonel Maybourne showed me suggests that this alternate universe is much more paranoid than ours," answered Hammond, earning a snort of derision from Dr. Jackson, which the General ignored. "In their history, the alliance with the Tok'ra and the Asgard were refused due to extreme xenophobia. He's convinced me the only way to acquire the plans is via theft. While the President does not condone the methods, he is very anxious to see us gain access to the shield technology."

General Hammond turned to face his second in command and pronounced, "Colonel, while I can sympathize with your concerns, Major Carter is correct, and I'm inclined to allow this mission to proceed. The potential gains outweigh the apparent risks. Major Carter, you have a go."

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The Mission Prep

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For the past four days, Sam had studied her alternate self on the video recordings retrieved from the NID bug in the alternate SGC. The primary conclusion she got from these recordings was that she, and her alternate self, desperately needed to get a life. The Alternate Universe Major Carter, or AU Sam as they'd taken to calling her, was so focused it seemed she could work for hours uninterrupted on the smallest detail. No wonder her Colonel dropped by the lab all of the time. She'd thought her O'Neill was just bored.

"Hey, Carter," said the object of her thoughts. "Got it all figured out yet?"

She stretched and replied, "Should be a piece of cake, sir. I go in at 2300 hours when the SGC is pretty quiet. If I run into anyone, I say I came back for my lecture notes. The video recordings showed me where AU Sam keeps the designs. All I have to do is copy everything to a coupled of CDs and bring them back. At most it should take a couple of hours."

"You just take care not to get caught or hurt. That's an order," O'Neill's voice grated with suppressed emotion, as though it hurt to force the words out - or keep some words in.

Sam sighed heavily. The tension between them got worse the longer they worked together. But, as long as they worked together, they couldn't *be* together. It was thoroughly depressing her. Her thoughts strayed back to the Colonel again, wondering what he was up to now. 'Maybe a shower before going home. Ummm, just the thought of him in a shower, the water running off his lean. hard. body. Yep, I really need a life. At the very least, a sex life.'

That night, a tense group stood around the Quantum Mirror while Maybourne dialed the right alternate reality. He hid the switching device from their view to preserve his secrets. When the correct view showed up on the mirror, Maybourne gestured toward the magical surface, "If you please, Major."

"Be careful, Sam," wished Daniel with a smile. "We'll be waiting for you right here." Behind him were the gathered members of SG-1, Dr. Frasier, General Hammond and the two SFs assigned to guard against invasion through the mirror.

She was ready, wearing the civilian clothes the NID video had shown AU Sam leaving in that morning - a black leather skirt that fell just past her knees, a matching leather suit jacket, a light blue turtle-neck sweater and black high-heeled boots. The video even showed what underwear she should put on. This part made her nervous. She confessed to Janet earlier, "If I hadn't actually seen my alternate put those things on, I'd never have believed it of the woman who's essentially me. Maybe it means she actually has a life, a man outside the SGC. Lucky woman." Sigh.

Jack watched her square her shoulders and ached to put his arms around those shoulders, to keep her safe. He curled his hands into fists to keep them at his side. Sam smiled wanly at all of them and touched the surface of the mirror.

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The Mission

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The lab was locked but, as expected, the key from her lab unlocked it. Without turning on any lights, she booted up her laptop and hunted through the files using the light from the screen. Searching through the filing system identical to hers, she looked for the schematics, drawings, documents, proposals, budget analyses, project plans and notes, logs, purchase requests and everything that went into the creation of such a complex device from concept to use.

Finally, Sam found the last of the critical pieces and copied them to the writable CD media she'd brought with her so as not to leave clues that someone had been here. The littlest thing, like missing media, could give the whole thing away.

Shutting everything down, closing the laptop, tidying the desk to leave it like she found it took another five minutes. She was ready to leave. All she had to do was make it to the closet where the Quantum Mirror was kept and find her own reality. No biggie. Just find one in a billion possible realities. Fortunately, her "family" would be waiting for her on the other side.

Sam listened carefully at the door for footsteps. She knew the SFs would be by at semi-regular intervals. Hearing nothing for several seconds, she eased the door open. The corridor was empty. The door silently closed and she locked it again. Walking quietly down the corridor holding the "forgotten lecture notes," she opened the door to the staircase and started up toward the level which held her escape route.

At the landing two levels up, she suddenly heard the door above her open to admit two SFs on their hourly rounds. 'Crap, they're early.' She knew they'd split up and cover the level she was on as well as the one below her. She had no time to get back down two levels quietly enough to escape detection and the inevitable questions about why she wasn't heading straight for the surface. Sam scampered through the door to her right and ran away from the stairwell door, looking for some cover. She slipped though the locker room door just as the SF turned into her section of hallway.

She scooted around the short wall between the door and the locker room proper, then leaned back against the other side of the wall, her eyes closed. She heard the sound of bare feet pattering her way. 'Great, someone's in here. Better make this look good.' Taking in a deep breath, she opened her eyes. There before her, standing with his back to her, was her Colonel, naked, gloriously naked. Broad shoulders, bare, leanly muscled . long, strong back, the skin marred by scars old and recent. Muscle flowed in the bare buttocks as he shifted his weight from one foot to the other, reaching up to towel short, grizzled hair, completely unconcerned with his nudity, and oblivious to the effect it was having on her blood pressure.

He turned around and a slow smirk spread across his face as he boldly stood before her. Arching his eyebrow, he said. "So, you couldn't stay away, even for one night. Can't say I'm sorry, though. Not even an hour of hard workouts and a reeeeeaaaaallly cold shower were a substitute for your. lovely self for very long." It obviously hadn't done the trick to look at the erection bouncing, taunting her, with each movement of his body.

Since he'd turned to face her, her breathing became even more erratic, her head was swimming with the sensations assaulting her, her face flushed and she gasped for air. "Ohmygodohmygodohmygodohmygod. I want him so much. You can't have him. I *want* him. You can't *have* him,' she argued with herself. Without thought, her feet moved her forward two steps. Sam licked her lips with a suddenly dry tongue. "Sir!" she croaked. The Colonel was just a few inches away from her now, having walked forward as she did.

"Colonel and Major, huh? Well, you're wearing way too many clothes, Major. Think we can do something about that?" ordered Jack. He reached out to push her leather jacket off her shoulders. At the touch of his fingers, a delicious shiver ran through her straight to her lower abdomen.

She closed her eyes again and laid her head back. 'This is *so* not good. I have to get back. Come on Sam, just tell him to stop and you can get back to the mirror.'

After her jacket was on the floor, he ran his hand down her turtleneck-clad torso, skimming her breasts, to the hem of the black leather skirt she wore. Sam shifted nervously to move her legs further apart and moaned softly as his hands trailed up her thighs. She knew her friends were waiting for her; she really should go.

As he reached the top of her thigh-high stockings, the type that needed no garter to stay up, he leered at her, "Oh, Sam. You never cease to surprise me," and continued his way up to her silky thong. His eyes opened wider with delight. His index fingers slipped inside the silk to tug it down. A tiny wiggle of her hips and the panties were on the floor around her high-heeled boots. She kicked them off and slid her leg around his hip. She was wet and so ready for him.

Jack slid her skirt up to her waist and pressed his hips against her, bare flesh to bare flesh, wringing a shuddering gasp from her. Their lips met, they kissed hard, urgently, tongues darting out to duel and explore. A shot of raw lust ripped through her, causing her to gasp again. He pushed her back against the wall and lifted her so she could wrap her arms over the top of the short wall. She wrapped her stocking-clad legs around his hips. Jack gently lowered Sam onto his penis, impaling her, filling her totally. Sam let out a strangled moan at the feeling of him inside her. He started to move slowly, a pace that would take them both over the edge, but not too quickly. Letting her take some of her weight or her arms, he moved one hand off the wall to slip between them. His finger found her clitoris and he rubbed the calloused digit against the most sensitive part of her.

A stream of soft obscenities reached Sam's ears; startling her momentarily with their directness.she almost didn't realize they came from her. She'd never dreamed it would be this good with him. Well, to be honest, she dreamed about doing this with him a lot, but it was never this amazing. She clenched her inner muscles around him, wringing a ragged intake of breath from him. "Jack . look at me," she said between strokes. He lifted his eyes to face her and their eyes locked. With each thrust they came closer to coming. They watched each other as the inescapable climax overtook both of them.

They stood pressed against the wall for a few minutes of heavy breathing and pounding pulses. He slowly scattered tender kisses over her eyes, jaw, neck. After they recovered somewhat, Jack wrapped his arms around Sam and carried her over to a bench, still inside her. He put his hand on the back of her neck to pull her lips to his for a gentle, sweet kiss. They talked quietly for some time about the past two years of their affair.

"I love you so much, Samantha Carter. Two years of sneaking around like this has been *fun*, exciting, sexy as hell, but. let's get married?" asked Jack tentatively, watching for her reaction.

Sam panicked and thought, 'Oh, this can *not* be happening. All my dreams come true in the space of 30 minutes and it's not even my own reality. What should I say?' "Uh, I don't know what to say. How could we do the Colonel/Major, commander/2IC thing if we get married?"

"Sam, you know I've been thinking of stepping out of SG-1. Maybe taking a teaching position at the Academy, or consulting for the SGC. My poor old knees can't take too much more of this abuse. If I'm not in your chain of command, there's no problem. Unless. you don't want to get married." he trailed off uncertainly.

"Don't be silly. I *love* you," she said sincerely before her brain caught up to her heart. Thinking furiously about how to get out of this predicament, she improvised. Putting her cheek against his, she kissed his ear and whispered, "Tell you what. When I come back from Boulder, let's go to dinner someplace special. We'll pretend tonight never happened and you can ask me again. I'd kind of like the whole getting down on your knee," he winced at the thought, "and asking properly thing. Ring, flowers, champagne, the whole nine yards. What do you say?"

"You've got a date, beautiful," said the Colonel to his Major and he pulled her into another kiss. The kiss deepened and she ran her short nails over his back, causing a shudder. Sam could feel him growing hard again inside her. "You're still wearing way too much clothing," he growled.

They made short work of her turtleneck and bra. The skirt, when unzipped, just fit over her shoulders, with some wiggling and giggling. They ignored the stockings and boots. Jack pushed her back and kissed his way down her jaw line to her throat, detouring to take one hard nipple into his mouth, and suckling. Sam arched her back at this new assault, pressing into his mouth with a moan. This man was devastating.

Taking control, she pushed him back on the bench and moved them so she was astride him and the bench. Sam began slowly moving up and down on his length, taking him into her fully. He didn't think he could get any harder, but she managed to excite him more with her attentions. Jack lifted his hands to cup her breasts, flicking his thumbs over her erect nipples. She reached around behind and cupped his sac, caressing his balls, squeezing gently. She could tell he loved it when she did this.

This time they took things slower and, when they both finally came, it was incredible, explosive, and mind-altering. Sam collapsed onto him and nestled into his shoulder. His arms went around her. 'My god, she's a lucky woman,' Sam thought about her double with a sigh. Then, it struck her what she was doing and what she was supposed to be doing. They were all waiting for her.

"As wonderful as this little interlude has been, I have to leave. Jack, promise me we'll have that dinner when I get back," Sam begged him for the sake of that other Sam, that very fortunate woman.

"There's nothing on this planet or any other that could stop me," he replied and kissed her again.

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Not even taking time to clean up, she dressed as quickly as possible and ducked out the locker room door. No one was in sight. The rest of her trip back to the Quantum Mirror was uneventful. She flipped through different universes until she saw her own with her friends still waiting, looking more worried than she'd suspected they'd be. Once again squaring her shoulders, Sam touched the mirror surface and made the transition to her home dimension.

"Carter! About time!"

"Sam! What took you so long? What happened to your clothes?"

"Major?"

They all spoke at once. Sam reached into her pocket and handed the set of disks to General Hammond with a triumphant smile. "Mission accomplished, sir." It was now up to the General to make a deal with Maybourne for the contents of the disk. She watched as the two men eyed each other.

She brushed off the extra time she'd taken with excuses about slow computers and having to hide from the night guard, which was true, just not the whole truth. They apparently took her excuses at face value, never having had reason to doubt her word before. Sam felt bad lying to her friends, but there was *no* way she was going to tell what really happened.

Her first act after saying good night was to take a shower. She felt so incredibly good, sated, but so incredibly guilty at the same time. 'Why do I feel like, AU Jack and I have been unfaithful to our respective loves? It doesn't make sense, but there it is.' By the time her shower was done, it was all she could do to keep from crying. She crept to her quarters and huddled under the covers until morning when her friends all visited her lab to get details, first Daniel, then Janet, then Teal'c. All three tried to get to whatever was bothering her.

"Sam, you're a jumpy as a cat. Is there something you need to talk about?" Daniel asked.

"Nothing's wrong, Daniel. I'm just wound up after the mission and really anxious to get into these designs," Sam assured him until he left.

"Did something happen on your mission last night, Sam? You haven't said anything for several minutes, and I swear you've read the same email three times," stated Janet, after quietly walking up behind her friend, who didn't even notice her presence. "You were so quiet last night when you got back."

"Janet, I'm just a little strung out after the tension of a covert operation," Sam evaded.

"Promise me you'll tell me the details later?" Janet pushed. Reluctantly, Sam agreed just to get rid of her best friend until she had time to think.

Finally, the Colonel dropped in. She knew he'd come by and wasn't looking forward to it. How can you look at someone the same after doing what she'd done with his double?

"Hey, Carter. How's it goin'?" asked Jack as he stood in her doorway, hands in pockets, smirking to beat the band.

"Um, fine, sir," she mumbled, keeping her eyes down. 'Come on, Sam. Try to act naturally, not like you've seen him in all his natural glory and made love with him. Twice. In the locker room.' She looked up and smiled as genuinely as possible given her state of mind.

"Are you okay? You seem quiet," he asked, looking concerned. He stepped toward her and she freaked, jumped off her stool, backed up until she felt the wall. "Carter?" he asked, looking hurt.

"Uh, sorry, sir. I'm just a little jumpy today," she babbled, blushing.

"Did something happen last night that you didn't tell us about at the debriefing this morning?" Now, he was more concerned than ever.

Her voice squeaky, Sam responded, "No, sir. I. I think I just need some down time after I'm done analyzing this data."

"Then I'll let you get on with it, Major." He turned to go but obviously wasn't satisfied with her explanation. Sam closed her eyes and felt like crying, or screaming. This was *not* good. Lying to her commander, her friend and the man whom she knew she loved made her feel dirty.

Two days later, late in the afternoon, they all met for her presentation of the plans. The data she'd gained was invaluable and could be a key to ending the injuries and deaths so common among the SGC teams and the Tok'ra.

"The project plans indicate that they're in the final phases of manufacturing and will have working models within a couple of months," concluded Major Carter to those in the briefing room. "My double has performed and supervised extensive field testing of the units. Not one adverse affect was noted. Janet, according to copies of her reports I found in AU Sam's email, your double agreed with this conclusion."

"Major, you are to be commended for your excellent work in this matter. I'm sure the President will be quite impressed with your accomplishment," said the General to a smiling, self-conscious Major Carter. "While I know you will have a lot of work to do on the shield technology, I think you deserve a couple of days of downtime. Let's pick this up on Monday, people. Dismissed."

"Thank you, sir. See you in two days," Sam answered and bolted for the door to the surprise of everyone present. They all looked at one another, the same thought in their minds. Sam Carter, voluntarily taking downtime?

"Maybe, she's got a hot date," joked the Colonel, with a shrug. He'd been trying to speak with her for the past two days, but kept missing her. Now, he finally realized she'd been avoiding him. 'Bad hair day, bad breath or, worse, bad jokes? Whatever it is, I *am* going to find out.' He missed their little talks, the flirting, just being with her. It made his life bearable again.

Following her to the lab, O'Neill found her hurriedly packing up her laptop and papers. Sam didn't look up as he entered her lab, obviously pre-occupied with getting out of there.

"Um, Carter, we need to talk about whatever is bothering you," he mumbled, reserved and keeping his distance after their last encounter here. "If you're not busy tonight, we could all get together for a team night and movie at my place."

She paused in her packing, still not looking at him, "I can't really tonight, sir. How about another night?" she offered, accelerating her packing.

"Sure, Carter, though, if it's okay I may drop by later to talk about whatever is wrong."

"Whatever you say, Sir," she didn't really hear him. "I really have to go now, Sir."

He waved her out the door and followed her progress down the corridor with a look of consternation, before locking the lab door. He *was* going to get to the bottom of things tonight.

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Bath Time Fun

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Sam put on a CD with her favorite music and donned her wireless headphones. The bath was running and some wine was chilling. She lit candles around the garden tub which was half the reason she'd rented this apartment. The other half was the view from the bedroom with its floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking Colorado Springs. Sam really needed a long soak after the past few days and about 12 hours of uninterrupted sleep. She stepped into the tub, sank gratefully into the hot bubbly water, sighing as tense muscles started to relax under the ministrations of the jets behind her neck. 'Heaven.'

Two glasses of wine later, Sam's mind strayed back to her trip to another reality. 'Everything was going so well until I ran into *him*. What was I thinking, screwing my boss, of all people while on a mission? Though, how could I have gotten out of it?' The remembered feeling of his hands on her breasts, abdomen; hell, anywhere he touched her was magic. Desire flared and she slid her palm over a nipple, making it harden, and then turned to the other. Moaning softly, Sam didn't hear her doorbell or the insistent knocking on her front door.

Jack pounded harder. He could hear music and see lights, but Sam wasn't answering. She was expecting him, so, well. He got out the spare key they all had to each other's home for "emergencies" and opened the door. Poking his head in, he yelled her name over the music, "Carter? Are you awake? I'm comin' in."

Sam was otherwise engaged as her hand crept downward, the other hand still working on her breast. Two fingers parted the folds to her center and another touched her clitoris, causing her to whimper. One leg moved onto the side of the tub for better access. The electric sensations from her engorged clit as she stroked it brought a moan to her lips again, "Jack ."

He thought he heard his name from the bathroom. "Carter? Are you there?" Jack called softly, confused. Slowly walking toward the voice, Jack pushed the bathroom door open a little and peeked in. 'What the hell are you doing, O'Neill? She really won't appreciate this if she's on the toilet.' At the sight before his eyes, which bulged with astonishment, Jack froze.

Sam arched her back, one hand on her breast, the other. "Ohhhhhhhhhh, yes," she sighed, coming close, then moving over the edge. "Jack.please.again." she cried out, coming, tears streaming down her face.

His mind reeling, Jack moved back to her living room and flopped limply on her couch. Well, almost every part was limp. 'Jack. please. again.? What the hell happened while she was gone? I know I've never had the chance, except in my fantasies, to do anything that'd earn a comment like that,' he thought, caressing the hard bulge in his now painfully tight jeans. Realizing what his errant hand was doing, he sat up straighter and firmly moved his hands to his sides. "Gotta think about this before we talk. Yeah, that's what I'll do. Go think," he rationalized, bolting out the door.

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Confessions Are Good For the Soul

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After a sleepless night, Jack was determined he'd speak with Sam today. Knowing she'd make an excuse if he called ahead, he dropped in around 1000. The look on her face when she answered the door was testimony to the fact that she was still hiding something.

"Mornin', Carter," he made an effort to put on a good face.

"S-s-sir?" Sam stuttered. "What are you doing here? Oh, um, come in." She stood back to allow him in, finally remembering her manners. She re-tied the belt of her silk robe. Having slept very late and enjoyed a late brunch, she was getting ready to take a shower when the doorbell rang.

"I thought we needed to talk about what you're not saying."

"Huh?" Her expression was a model of bewilderment.

Jack snorted. It was fun to confuse her for once. Speaking firmly, he said "Something happened the other night, that you haven't told me about and I want to know what it is. You're acting strange, avoiding people - well, at least me - you're jumpy as all hell. This isn't the actions of the Sam Carter I know and." He grimaced. 'love.' It almost slipped out. 'Watch yourself, O'Neill.' "Now, give. What happened? Did someone there hurt you?"

"No," was all she said, turning to walk into her living room. He followed and sat on the other end of the couch from her. She glanced at him and he raised his eyebrows, asking.

"I ran into someone in the locker room and we." Sam closed her eyes and continued, "we had sex." Put baldly like that it wasn't nearly as romantic as it seemed at the time.

"Who?" he almost whispered, it was so soft.

"Is it really important?"

"Yes," Jack's voice grated, his jealousy tightening his throat as though a vice had gripped it.

"You," she whispered.

"What?" he was confused again.

"It was *you* I had sex with. Well, it was your double, not really you."

Jealousy stabbed his heart again, then fear. "He didn't force you, did he?"

"No!" Sam said louder than was necessary. "No," softer, "Would you have forced me?"

"No!" Jack shouted, angry. "But then, it wasn't really me, was it?"

"In all the ways that counted, I think he is." She looked up at him.

"Hmm. So, how long have we, they, whatever, been . you know?"

"About two years," she smiled, a mere movement of her lips. At his expression of disbelief, Sam continued, still smiling, this time sadly, "Apparently, AU Sam didn't hold out as long as I did when she was affected by the Touched virus. She attacked her Jack in the shower and he didn't resist as hard as you did."

"Damn," swore Jack. "Guess, that's what I get for respecting you," he joked. She giggled a little hysterically, and then clapped a hand to her mouth, eyes huge, shocked at her reaction. Encouraged, he asked, "So they were lovers from then on?"

"Um, no," Sam turned her face down, no longer smiling. "She got pregnant, but lost the baby on a mission, before she even knew about it." Taking a deep breath, she continued, "Apophis used the ribbon device on her, deliberately aborting the baby. AU Jack was devastated, losing another child." Sam peeked up at her Jack. "The loss helped them get over the embarrassment of the Touched virus incident and they've been seeing each other since - as friends at first, then as lovers."

"Oh," was all he said. Another child lost? Could he have handled it, even with Sam's help? Putting the thought on hold for now, Jack took a deep breath and moved on. "Now, I really want to know why you jumped away from me when I walked toward you yesterday. What are you afraid of?"

Wincing at the memory, she started, "I." Swallowing, she tried again, "When I ran into the locker room, you were, um, he was naked and *very* aroused. He walked toward me just like you did and I freaked. All I could think of was everything I'd done the night before, and with whom. How much more desirable you were than I *ever* imagined. I think I was afraid of my reaction if you touched me." Sam put her arms around herself and shivered, not with cold, but the thrill of the excitement, the lust that she suddenly felt for her commander.

"So, what's wrong? You had sex with him, not me. He's not your commander, so no regs were broken," growled Jack, jealous again. "Oh, I see. It wasn't good and you're trying to save my ego, is that it?"

Sam laughed incredulously, then answered, "No, I can honestly say that isn't the truth. It was incredible, wonderful, amazing, mind-boggling sex. The problem is that I can't ever look at you the same way." Standing, she moved toward the tall windows of her living room and faced the woodland tract outside. Absorbed in her feelings, the serene setting her windows showed went unnoticed. Sam finally realized what the matter was. "I'm jealous of her, of my double. She can be with the man she loves, but I can't!"

After a few seconds of stunned silence from her CO, she turned. "Please go now, Sir. I'd really like to be alone," Sam walked toward her bedroom door, closing it behind her.

Later, the doorbell rang again, and again, and again. Sam could tell Janet wasn't going to take silence for an answer. Sighing, she opened the door to her best friend, "Come in before the neighbors call 911. Care for a drink? I'm having another." Her speech was beginning to slur from the four very potent drinks she'd had already.

Janet raised an eyebrow, "Well, I can see the Colonel has had a good influence on you. Drinking by yourself in the middle of the day, Sam. As your doctor, I feel it my duty to join you. For the good of my patient, you understand. What's the bartender recommend?"

"The special today is a Manhattan. Quick, lethal and they taste good. Grab a glass and I'll pour you one," Sam waved her glass toward the counter where a large pitcher of Manhattans sat.

"To what can I attribute this little binge? Just felt like having a gut wrenching, commode hugging hangover tomorrow?" Janet raised her glass in salute.

"Nope, just felt the need to anes.thetize," Sam smiled, inordinately pleased that she could still pronounce that word. "myself. There's nothing like incredible sex with a gorgeous man to make you want to drink yourself blind."

"Hmm, seems like I missed something. When did this take place, Sam? Come on, details. You know the rules." As two professional women in the military, neither had much luck with relationships - too little time, too little energy, too few opportunities. The pair had shared what little passed for a real life between them since they met almost three years ago.

"Do you *promise* me, on Cassie's life, that you won't tell this to anyone?" Sam demanded unsteadily.

"Cross my heart and hope to die if I tell." Janet curled up on the sofa facing Sam, who was lying back on the chaise.

Sam took a large slurp of her drink and told her friend, "While I was in the other reality running from the SFs, I ran into someone in the locker room. A very naked someone. We had the most fantastic sex, that I've *ever* had. And, after we were done the second time, he asked me to marry him. Well, to be honest, he was asking the AU Sam, but he didn't know that I wasn't her." Janet's eyes had been getting bigger and bigger with each word. Feeling the need for a little anesthesia herself, she drank half of the glass down in one gulp.

"Well?"

"Hmm?"

"Who was he? Anyone I know? Is he at the SGC in our universe? Is he single? *Tell* me Sam. I'm dying of curiosity here," asked Janet, sipping more slowly now.

"Oh, you know him alright," answered Sam as she raised her glass in a wobbly toast. "To Colonel Jonathan Charles O'Neill, the best I've ever had."

Janet's mouth dropped open and she almost dropped her glass as well. Grabbing it just in time, she knocked back the rest and ran over to the bar for a refill. After reseating herself, she asked, "Are you okay, Sam? Okay, stupid question." Then she added, "Sam what were you thinking. to have sex with your commander. on base?"

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

"I wasn't thinking. I was just trying to get out of there without running into a nosy SF. I know, I had a ready excuse for being there, but I panicked. Then, when AU Jack walked right up to me, naked as a jay bird, so gorgeous I could hardly breath, thinking I was his Sam, and started taking my clothes off, I stopped thinking altogether. Janet, what am I going to do?"

"Does our Colonel know?" Janet was afraid she knew the answer.

"Oh yeah," Sam's voice was definitely slurring now. "He dropped by here today to find out why I was upset and avoiding him, so I told him. I even blurted out that I was jealous of AU Sam. She got her man, but I can't."

"Damn." Finishing her drink, she asked, "What did he say to that revelation?"

"Don't know. I threw him out right then." Sam poured another drink in each glass.

"You what?"

"Told him I needed to be alone and asked him to leave. After I went into the bedroom and shut the door, he left." Sam scowled into her glass. These drinks were going down way too easily.

"Well, you'd better think of something before Monday."

"Yeah. Maybe I'll ask the General for a transfer. I certainly can't work with the Colonel any more. I could never look him in the eye again without both of us thinking of what I've done." Sam moved back across the room to the chaise and plopped down, her coordination no longer trustworthy.

"Transfer to where?" Janet knew Sam's options were limited due to the nature of her work.

"Oh, maybe Area 51 or back to the Pentagon." Sam grimaced at either option. "Maybe my dad can find something for me with the Tok'ra - liaison, scientist, lackey, whatever."

"Sam, you can't run away from this," asserted Janet grimly. "You have to see if he's going to tell anyone, bring charges for fraternization, talk to the General, anything. Leaving just so you don't have to look him in the face isn't exactly the best career move."

"I suppose you're right," said Sam, more depressed than ever.

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

Facing the Music

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

The next morning, after drinking vast quantities of water and downing half a bottle of painkillers, Sam sat down to go over her alternatives. 'One, leave, run away, talk to her dad today. Two, try to guts it out with the Colonel. Three, quietly die of mortification before tomorrow,' she thought.

'The first isn't guaranteed to get any results any time soon given Dad's schedule working for the Tok'ra. With my luck he'll be on a secret mission slated to last months. Though, it never hurts to leave him a message no matter what I decided.'

'The second option is chancy, and guaranteed to be embarrassing for both of us. And, I run the risk of forfeiting my entire career.'

'The third option sounds good, but will take considerably more alcohol than I drank yesterday. Drinking anything alcoholic sounds extremely unappealing right now.'

'Seems like option two, with one in reserve, is my only *real* option,' she concluded. Sam got up to call General Hammond for permission to contact her father. She knew SG-11 was due to leave this afternoon on a mission and the gate would be open anyway. She could leave with them and then detour to the current Tok'ra home base. With some reservations, Hammond agreed to her request so long as she was back tomorrow to continue working on the shield technology.

She hurried to the SGC to be in time to leave with SG-11. The General had called ahead to give his permission for her journey through the gate. After she and SG-11 made the transit to P4X-255, she waved goodbye and dialed the address to the Tok'ra base. Met at the gate by Tok'ra guards, Sam asked "Is Jacob Carter here? I'm his daughter, Sam."

To her surprise the unfamiliar sentry replied, "Jacob is here. If you will stand here, I will send you down to the tunnels and send word to your father."

Jacob Carter was there to meet Sam when the rings deposited her inside the subterranean passages of the Tok'ra bases, and then disappeared back into the ceiling.

"Sam, to what do I owe this very pleasant surprise?" Jacob hugged her.

"Dad, I'd like to ask a favor." Sam put her arm through his as they walked toward his quarters.

"Anything, if I can. What do you need?"

"A job. I'd like to work off-world for a while."

"Sam, I thought you had your dream job at the SGC. What's wrong?" Jacob was concerned by this request. Sam had fought him tooth and nail when he tried to get her to transfer to NASA, which he thought then was her dream job.

"Dad, I'd really rather not go into it yet. Let's just say I'd like a change of pace for a while. I'm not intending to leave for good," she evaded. "Will you find out if there's anything I can do here?"

"Of course I'll ask around, but I expect a full explanation, Sam. Don't tell me Jack or one of those flyboys has made a pass at you?" Jacob grinned broadly at her.

Sam blushed. "Dad, really, you know I can take care of myself against unwelcome advances. And, Colonel O'Neill doesn't think of me like that. We're just teammates."

"Sam, you know that's not true. The man is nuts about you; how could he not be about my beautiful daughter. But, in any case, so long as there's no problem, I'll see what I can find for you." She hugged him again and they chatted for several hours, walking on the surface, lunching in the Tok'ra version of the commissary, until it was time for her to return. He excused himself for a few minutes and came back with a small message cube of the type used by the Tok'ra, the Goa'uld and now the Tau'ri.

"Hey, Sam, would you give George this for me? It's my regular communication. I write as often as I can, though his schedule is a little more regular than mine now," he joked as he hugged his daughter goodbye. He handed her an envelope with her brother, Mark's name on it. "Would you please see if you can get this to Mark, too?"

"Of course, Dad. I know he'll be happy to hear from you," she was reluctant to leave. They got so little time together.

"Better go now. Gotta get your beauty sleep to look good for Jack," her father teased with a smirk.

Sam rolled her eyes and declared, "Dad!"

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

And the Other Shoe Drops

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

Monday morning saw Sam back in her lab, hard at work on the shield project. She was determined to have the technology ready for someone else to take if she decided to leave.

Teal'c dropped by early. "MajorCarter, how was your weekend?" Her pale completion and the dark circles under her eyes concerned the Jaffa. They chatted for a while and he drifted back to his quarters.

Teal'c dropped in again with an invitation to lunch, "We are all meeting for lunch. Would you care to join us?"

"Sorry, Teal'c. The General expects me to make some progress on this today since I took the weekend off. Maybe tomorrow."

Janet brought her a sandwich and a soda. "What's this I hear about you missing lunch because the General expects progress?"

"It's not that bad, I just have a ton of work to get done," Sam evaded her friend's concern.

Closing the door, Janet pinned Sam with her eyes and said quietly, "Well, what have you decided? I heard you took a little trip yesterday."

"I talked with my dad about working with the Tok'ra. Said I needed a little change of pace," Sam focused on her sandwich. "I'm here today, aren't I? If things work out here, I don't need to take a job with the Tok'ra. If things go south, I may be able to go work off-world. Just hedging my bets, Janet."

"Sam, if you leave, just make sure it's for the right reasons. Okay?" urged her best friend.

"I will," Sam enveloped Janet in a hug. The physician left to wait for the return of SG-11. They always needed her services when they returned.

About 1900, Sam packed it in for the night. She'd made substantial progress analyzing the designs, organizing the project, getting everything ready to hand over. At 0600 she was back at work, printing a report to read over breakfast. As early as the hour was, Daniel was already in the mess hall, on his third cup of coffee, with a stack of pictures of hieroglyphs and two reference books close to hand.

"Daniel, have you slept in the last 24 hours?" she greeted her teammate and honorary little brother.

He started at her voice, distracted. "Um, I'm just working on these translations of artifacts brought back by SG-12. They refer to a Goa'uld who . Uh, what time is it?"

Chuckling at his total focus on a project to the detriment of his sense of time, "It's 0600. When did you last sleep?"

"What day is it? Saturday or Sunday?"

"Tuesday, Daniel. It's Tuesday. You know if I just happen to mention to Janet that you haven't slept in, say, four days, she'll throw you in the infirmary and drug you silly," Sam smiled kindly at her friend.

"Uh, yeah. Look who's talking. You're usually no better than I am. How's the shield project going?" he asked with a smirk.

"It's coming along. Should be ready in a few days to hand over to a team for implementation. All the hard work was already done by my double."

"What? You don't want to follow it through manufacturing and testing?" Daniel was surprised at her hands-off attitude. "Usually, you like to follow a project all the way through."

"Well, I'm turning over a new leaf," she said airily.

"Wouldn't have anything to do with why Jack suddenly took a week off, would it?"

"I didn't even know he was gone." Sam was surprised she hadn't heard about it.

"Major Carter, to General Hammond's office. Major Carter, to General Hammond's office," blared the loudspeaker.

"Gotta go, Daniel." Sam rose to answer the summons. 'He must want to tell me the Colonel is gone for a few days and that our next mission is delayed,' she thought as the elevator took her down to meet General Hammond.

"Sir, you wanted to see me?"

"Yes, Major. Please close the door." Taken aback, Sam complied and seated herself at his invitation. "Since Colonel O'Neill is on a surprise vacation, I need to speak with you about what is going on with SG-1."

"Sir?" asked a mystified Major Carter.

"Yes, going on. Colonel O'Neill called me early yesterday to ask for an immediate leave of seven days. Now, I hear you're thinking of leaving the SGC for the Tok'ra. Major, is there something I need to know?" asked the General with his usual directness.

Embarrassed at being caught, Major Carter replied, "Uh, I asked Dad to see if there were any opportunities off-world for me. I thought a change of pace would do me some good. I didn't know Colonel O'Neill asked for leave until Daniel told me five minutes ago."

Hammond watched her for several seconds. "Alright, Major, for now. Now, I have something I'd like delivered to Colonel O'Neill, if you don't mind."

"No problem, sir. Is tonight on my way home soon enough?"

"Perfect. Thank you, Major. Dismissed," the General released her.

That night after closing down her computer Sam went to change into the civvies in her locker. Unfortunately, all that was left was the outfit from her mission. "Great," she muttered to herself, "All I need is a reminder of my mistakes. Well, I'll just have to make this errand as short as possible."

Sam drove by Jack's house with General Hammond's message. His truck was in the driveway, so Sam knew she couldn't get out of speaking with her Colonel for at least a few seconds. He opened the door, grunted, "Come in." O'Neill turned away before she could shove the message in his hands and escape. She followed him inside apprehensively. Things hadn't gone so well last time, so all she wanted to do was give him the package and leave. She hovered near the door.

"Have a seat, Carter. What can I do for you?" Jack asked dully, looking like he'd been drinking or just woke up.

"General Hammond asked me to deliver this to you, sir," she perched on the edge of his sofa, holding the envelope out to him. He took it without apparent enthusiasm and opened it as she fidgeted. Jack read the first page, flipped to the second page and read with growing anger on his face. By the time he turned to the third page, she could see he was really mad. But, something changed as he read the few words on the last page. His eyes closed and he dropped the pages, rubbing his eyes.

"Sir, are you alright?" asked Sam, genuinely concerned.

"No, I'm not. When did you decide to leave SG-1?" he accused, some of his anger returning.

"I haven't. Not yet. I just needed some options, in case things don't work out," Sam looked away, subdued.

"Don't work out?" snapped Jack in colonel mode.

"In case you decide you can't trust me anymore. In case you decide to tell someone what I told you Saturday." Her throat closed up with emotion.

"You really think I could do that to you? I guess you don't think very highly of me, Sam."

"What did the General say in his letter?" Sam was suddenly leery. He handed her the last page and read the General's distinctive handwriting, "Tell her, Jack. She deserves to know. George."

Sam looked over at her Colonel suspiciously. "Tell me what? First my father rats on me to General Hammond. Then the General rats on me to you. Are all of you men in cahoots?"

"Here, you should read all of it." Jack handed her the rest of the pages.

The first page was another hand-written page from General Hammond telling Colonel O'Neill about the note from Jacob Carter, a copy of which was page two. Sam's father wrote, "George, as we suspected, something is seriously wrong with those two young idiots. Sam is trying to leave SG-1 by transferring to the Tok'ra and I suspect Jack is being stubborn too. I would really appreciate it if you could kick some sense into O'Neill. If necessary, I'll do the same to my daughter. Jake."

"Okay, I've read it. Now what?" Sam was as mystified as ever.

"I'm supposed to tell you that I'm in love with you," mumbled Jack.

"Why would they ask you to say that?" Sam felt a jolt of hope zing through her brain.

"Because it's true." Jack stood, turned away. "Now maybe *you* should go. This isn't getting us anywhere. It's still against the regs and you have your career to think of."

Now *she* was angry. "This from the man who once told me 'Screw the regs'? Don't you want to know how I feel about you? Or don't you care?" She paused for breath. "You've been curiously silent about *why* I made love with your double, twice, in the locker room of all places. About *why* it was incredible. As it is, I constantly wonder if it'd be the same with you, if we'd fit together so well, be as happy as our alternates are." She walked up behind him, close enough to feel body heat, smell his intoxicating scent. Her voice was shaking. "I don't think I could go back to *just* being Major Carter, teammate, subordinate. I need more. or nothing. Would you really let me walk away?"

Silence.

"I guess that answers my questions, sir. I'll have a request for transfer on your desk when you get back," blurted a very angry Sam as she stalked for the door. As she reached for the doorknob, a hand grabbed her shoulder and spun her around to push her roughly against the door.

"Tell me what he did." Jack's head came forward to claim her neck in a series of searing kisses. His hands roamed over her body, scrambling her thoughts.

Knowing exactly what he wanted, but barely able to speak, Sam murmured, "First, he slid my jacket off." Her black leather jacket fell to the floor. She shuddered at the erotic strength of his hands on her arms. "Then, he moved his hands down my body to the hem of my skirt." Hands brushed over her breasts, abdomen, hips and butt to stop at the hem of the same leather skirt she'd worn that night. "Under my skirt and up my thighs." It was getting hard to breathe as his hands moved slowly up her thighs, stopped briefly at the top of the stockings.

His kisses stopped as he drew a sharp breath and looked at her, surprised. "Go on," he ordered.

Her mouth was dry, but Sam swallowed and continued, "He moved up to my thong and hooked his fingers in it so it fell to the floor where I could kick it away. Then I put my leg around his hips." This accomplished, she went on, "He pushed my skirt up to my waist and pressed his erection against me. He . he was naked when I went into the locker room. You're rather overdressed in comparison." Sam unbuttoned his loose trousers and pushed them over Jack's lean hips. He was bare underneath causing her to whimper and grasp his shirt. Buttons flew everywhere after she tore it open and pulled it roughly off his shoulders. He shivered as the cool air hit his overheated skin and the rent shirt fell to join her jacket.

"He lifted me up and thrust into me." Sam cried out as Jack followed her instructions, angling her hips so he could push into her over and over, wrapping her long legs around his waist. "His hand moved down between us to . to . ohhhhhh, Jack, yes!" she exclaimed as he took the initiative. They were swiftly approaching a mutual explosion. She felt the familiar tingle of her impending orgasm. "Jack, look at me."

Jack looked up into her eyes, drowning in them. "I love you, Jack, with all my heart." He watched as his ministrations had the desired affect and she said his name again and again in a voice steeped in passion. The sight was enough to send him over the edge, shooting into her.

As their breathing slowed and he could spare some for speech, Jack asked, "There's more?"

"Um hmm. He carried me to a bench and sat us down." Jack settled them on his coffee table. She scattered soft, feather light kisses over his face, neck and shoulders, still caught in the glow of their lovemaking. Sam wrapped her arms around her lover's neck and laid her head on his shoulder. Jack kissed the top of her head and then reached down to take hold of her chin lightly. Turning her face to his, Jack gazed deeply into those crystalline depths.

"And?"

She looked down to avoid his eyes. "He asked me a question that I answered as best I could, not being AU Sam. Then he started kissing me again and took off the rest of my clothes."

"Okay, I may not be the smartest guy in the universe, but I'm not stupid. How does this skirt come off?" he gazed down, tilting his head to each side trying to figure out the logistics.

Sam bit her lips so she wouldn't burst out laughing. "We took it off over my head. It was a tight squeeze over the shoulders, but it works with a little effort." She laughed anyway, earning a gasp from Jack as her inner muscles clenched with each syllable. Sam could feel him growing hard again. It was incredibly arousing.

"What do you say we improvise from here on?" asked Jack just before he captured her mouth in another searing kiss. When she nodded, her lips being rather busy, Jack picked her up and walked them, with a maximum of bumps and bounces off walls and doorways, to his bedroom. Each time they caromed off a wall, she laughed again and she soon figured out he was doing it on purpose.

He stopped fooling around and laid her back on the bed gently, stretching his long frame out next to hers, pulling her sweater up and off. "What was that question he asked you again?" Jack worked on her bra clasp, nibbling on her breasts through the lace.

"Um, he asked AU Sam to marry him." Sam quickly added, punctuating each word with a kiss "*but* he had to leave SG-1 to do it, and that's not an option. So forget it, no way, nada, not in this universe, or any other for that matter. Don't even think about it. We'll just sneak around like they did for two years. I don't care about anything else, if I can have this and you."

Taking the initiative now, she pulled his head closer and met his lips with hers. After thoroughly exploring his mouth with hers, she started down his jaw line to his throat, brushing the rough stubble until her lips were throbbing and sensitive to every touch. Sam paid special attention to his small nipples, sucking, licking, nipping, and kissing each one, then worked her way south, following the line of each rib and muscle with her lips and tongue. Kissing her way across his abdomen, she took the purple, straining head of his penis in her mouth, pulling back slowly, drawing out the experience. Sucking her own fluids off him was soooo erotic.

Jack grasped the bedspread, writhing with the fantastic sensations from Sam's mouth. He grated out, "Payback is *so* gonna be hell, Miss Carter."

"But I've only begun, Mr. O'Neill," Sam purred, licking him from base to tip with each word.

"Sam, you're gonna kill me," Jack got out while panting for breath, "But I'll die a happy man."

"You better not die before dawn. I have plans for you that should take at least until then," she said, sucking him, squeezing his balls gently. As he was on the verge of coming, she took him in her hand and continued her attentions less vigorously while laying herself down along his body to watch his face. She loved this man. So much.

Jack rolled over on top of Sam and she spread her legs further apart to welcome him. He pushed into her, filling her, and started moving slowly. They took things slow enjoying the feeling of each other, until the intensity built to a point where the inevitable rush couldn't be put off any longer. It was explosive, amazing and left them panting, their hearts hammering.

"That," gasp, "was much," pant, "better than," gasp, "with your," swallow, "double," said Sam. "Don't *ever* tell me you're getting old when you can do that to me."

"Why thank you, miss. What was your name again?" teased Jack and then he ducked, chuckling, as Sam belted him on the shoulder.

"God, I love you, Jack." Sam flashed a dazzling smile, that special smile Jack lived for. "What are we going to do?" she asked more seriously.

He looked her in the eyes. "Well, I could never go back to what we were before either. I don't want to. I love you and have for a long time. As long as I didn't know you felt the same way, I could live with just being your friend and commanding officer." He paused and put his hand on her cheek, "I think we need to talk with Hammond about this. If he can't do anything for us, well, maybe we should think about leaving the SGC, even leaving Earth if we have to. There are worlds out there that would welcome us and help us continue the fight."

Sam nestled her head into his shoulder. "You're right. We'll see the General tomorrow. My father could probably help us if I ask right."

"Oh, yeah, your dad is so gonna love you giving up your promising career for your CO."

"He likes you, you know. " She knew her father scared Jack spitless.

"Well, this little incident should make him really love me," Jack joked weakly, not really amused at the prospect of facing Major General Jacob Carter, host to Selmac, over this.

"Let's not talk about this right now. Where were we?"

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

Breaking Up Is Hard to Do

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

Their appointment with General Hammond was in ten minutes. Both Colonel O'Neill and Major Carter fidgeted. Finally, the clerk directed them to go in, he was ready for them. Looking at each other, they gathered their courage and went in.

"Please, have a seat, Major, Colonel. What can I do for you?"

Shifting nervously in his chair, O'Neill said, "We've come to ask for your help, sir. Uh, Major Carter, Sam, and I would like to get married." The General's expression was one of disbelief. "We, uh, know it's against regulations, so we're asking you to do anything you can to keep us from being separated or brought up on charges."

"What do you think I can do for you, Jack? You know a relationship between you and your second in command is expressly forbidden under the Air Force regulations. The options you now have are to work together only as professionals, continue your relationship and at least one of you leaves SG-1, continue and at least one of you leaves the military, or continue and you will be brought up on charges. Not much wiggle room."

Jack grimaced and Sam frowned. "We're aware of the usual options, sir. We were hoping you could do something to give us another option. At the very least, perhaps you could let us go through the stargate if we have no other alternative but to leave the SGC," O'Neill asked.

Sam spoke up, "Sir, there's only one choice we're not willing to make and that's to stop being together. It took us long enough to figure out our feelings for each other, we don't want to waste any more time."

"Ah, put 'em out of their misery, George," said Jacob's voice from the speakerphone, causing General Hammond to snort and smile. The former General emerged from the briefing room smirking at his daughter and her commanding officer.

"Dad!" both junior officers said, earning them a chuckle from both generals.

"Sorry about that. We couldn't resist punishing you a little for being so dense for so long," explained her father.

"Well, now that you're done *punishing* us, what do you plan to do *for* us?" Sam was more than slightly peeved. "I assume from your amusement at our predicament that you have a solution." She raised her eyebrow at them and waited. Now a little embarrassed themselves, the two generals cleared their throats and glanced at each other.

"Uh, yeah, we did come up with a possible solution. Um, about a year ago," mumbled her father. Jacob saw his daughter's eyes widen in shock and then narrow in real anger. "We figured you'd eventually get to this point and want to stay together. While George has a lot of latitude in running this facility, he can't bypass all of the regulations just to suit you two."

"So?" snapped Sam to encourage her father. 'I would so love to zat him right now.'

Jack looked quizzically at his boss. "Is there some kind of genetically-determined Carter death wish I should know about before this goes any further?"

Hammond snorted with laughter again. "Only in the males, son. Only in the males."

Ignoring this exchange, Jacob added, "SG-1, assuming the other two members agree, is being seconded to the Tok'ra for the next year. You will continue to work out of the SGC on occasion, but will go on missions primarily for the Tok'ra and live by our rules. We have facilities for you four, including labs, offices and quarters. You'll be allowed to take your down time on any world you please *and* we have no regulations against team members marrying." His voice exuded triumph as having found a way around the regulation.

Jack's curiosity got the better of him. "I have one question. How'd you two get approval for this from our military and the Tok'ra council?"

Hammond interjected, "There were several points which together convinced both governments. First, you four have managed to make yourselves a pretty attractive target to the system lords. Having you here all the time puts Earth in greater danger than it normally would be. Second, you have powerful friends in the Asgard and the Nox. The Tok'ra council would like to take advantage of these friendships to advance their cause. Third, the Tok'ra is dwindling due to the recent attacks on their bases. If these continue, they'll be in need of people who know their secrets to carry on the fight. After your tour of duty with the Tok'ra other teams will be rotated into your position."

"Last, the uh Tok'ra would really like to get their hands on that shield technology, Sam. It was the final factor in convincing the council to take you," Jacob finished with his usual cheeky grin. She frowned, annoyed at the Tok'ra Council needing extra persuasion to accept them. "You'll learn more about our technology, history, research projects and be involved with our short-term and long-term planning. Sound like fun, kids?"

The two junior officers looked at one another, silently communicating as couples do. "When do we leave?"

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

Epilogue

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

Six months later, SG-1 was returning from their latest mission for the Tok'ra. Tomorrow, Sam and Jack were getting married and the Tok'ra base buzzed with the preparations, mostly by SGC personnel shipped in for the celebrations. The teammates walked through the decorated hallways, calling to cheerful airmen and confused Tok'ra, and then separated at the doors to their own rooms. The almost-newlyweds closed the door and embraced, glad to be home for the first time in weeks.

Jack leaned back from their embrace. "Still up for getting hitched to this old soldier tomorrow?"

Sam grinned widely at his half-serious question. "If you think you're getting out of this marriage that easily, mister, think again." She wrapped her arms around him again and asked, "Happy or having second thoughts?"

He smiled tenderly, "I can hardly wait. No second thoughts, no cold feet at all. Just making sure you're not having second thoughts, Sam."

"Not a one. I've wanted this for almost four years." Sam laid her head on his chest. "Tomorrow I'll be the happiest woman in this galaxy." She turned her head up to face him with a sly smile and teased, "Then I have you all to myself for three whole weeks on a beautiful planet with nothing by miles of beaches. Think you're up to it?"

"If I'm not, what better way to go than in the arms of the beautiful woman that I'm in love with?" Jack started kissing his way down her throat, unbuttoning her shirt as he went.

The End - of the Beginning

Thanks for reading,

Carhop