Summary: A story following events in 'Point of View' (reminder: quantum mirror & Jack hugs/kisses AU Sam). Jack is haunted by the memory of Doctor Carter's lips on his and an image of a newly wed couple burned in his mind. The kiss had felt wrong but oh so very right. It was time to find out if the only thing wrong about it was that he was kissing the wrong Carter.

Control: Phase One

He paced in his office, his hands twiddling with a rubber band. He'd been pacing for about 45 minutes now occasionally muttering 'Ow' when the band snapped particularly smartly against his fingers.

On his desk a clock showed 16:50. Relatively early one might say, but when you have been up since 05:00 it was certainly worth considering if tiredness was a factor in his current train of thought.

He was considering something. Quite a dangerous course of action to be honest.

And not the usual sort of danger either. 'That' sort he threw himself into without so much as backward glance and simple 'Yes, sir'.

It had been dangerous to go through the mirror.

Kneeling before the false god, roaring with anger as Hammond lay dead on the floor and the zat was turned on Daniel, he would have put money on him not making it home that day.

But who'd have thought that it would all work out in the end.

And that he'd kiss Carter into the bargain.

He shook his head.

Not Carter, Sam.

'You're really not him, are you?'

'No.'

And you're not her.

It spun his head, that damn mirror. One second he was kissing Sam. It felt good, there was no denying that, but it also felt wrong. He remembered turning to go back through the mirror. The glance Carter gave him knocked the wind from him. He reached out to her then touching the mirror he was suddenly viewing Sam again his arm drawing back and waving idiotically of it's own accord.

The mirror shimmered to a dull grey and he high tailed it to the door careful not to look anyone in the eye. On the other side of the mirror he couldn't feel their stares but here, in this tiny room filled with people, his skin crawled under their collective gazes.

He got to the doorway and thought he was free.

'Colonel, debrief in one hour.' There was just the slightest of threats veiled beneath his voice.

Another dangerous situation.

He paused just enough to say, 'Yes, sir.' before disappearing down the hall.

'Ow.' he muttered, glaring down at the rubber in his hand, as a red mark spread across his thumb.

He didn't quite get the feeling that she was mad at him. Or jealous for that matter, but there was something that was just a little off. Two weeks this had been going on. Her tone was just a little too polite, her posture just a little too stiff and her sentences were curt, to the point and distinctly lacking in long scientific words and explanations.

Two weeks.

But he had to wait this long. It was only now that he was beginning to feel less heat from the General, fewer smirks from Daniel and far less seemingly innocent but very intimate questions from Teal'c.

Two weeks he hadn't been able to get it out of his head, a kiss that felt right but wrong. He needed to know, with an almost scientific curiosity, if it could feel just right.

'Screw it.' He said flicking the band across the room, making satisfying thud against a filing cabinet, and heading out into the hall.

She was sitting at the bench when he stepped over the threshold, his stride much more confidant than he was.

'Colonel.' She said by way of a greeting barely glancing up at him as he came to a halt a few feet away from her.

Not just her sentences but her looks were also short.

He coughed lightly before murmuring, 'Carter.'

She continued to work on, occasionally writing something on a notepad on the far side of the plans she was currently engrossed in. He stood, awkwardly, trying to think of how he could present his suggestion without sounding well... pathetic. He turned back and shut the door quietly, glancing out to the hall checking that no one would notice.

'Sir, what are you...' She said standing up and frowning slightly.

'Carter,' he said turning back to her but remaining close to the door. 'I need your help with an experiment.'

Her confusion remained briefly until amusement spread its way across her features.

'You want to do an experiment?'

'Yes.' He said seriously. 'A control if you will.' He added with a vague recollection of experiments in college.

'A control?'

'Yep.'

He could see her interest was piqued. Despite whatever emotions she felt towards him at the moment, science was her passion and she was always curious when it came to science. She nodded more to herself than to him but he was glad of the visual sign.

'What do you need?' She asked.

Now there was a loaded question. He cleared his throat quietly and swallowed.

'C'mere a sec.' he said beckoning her over, closer to him and just out of the frame of the security camera. He'd checked a couple of days ago. Methodical planning was very important when it came to getting the results you wanted in an experiment.

She frowned again.

He held her gaze and he tried to smile, but he was sure it came as more of a grimace under the pressure of situation.

'Why?'

'Trust me.' he breathed.

She seemed to think this over. Really think it over. Could she trust him again? A little sigh sounded as she set down her pen and slowly made her way round the bench.

He smiled, he couldn't help it.

Seeing him smile she couldn't help but smile back.

Maybe this might workout after all, he thought and drew her into his arms the moment he was sure she was clear of the gaze of the security camera.

'Uh, sir?' She murmured her head stretching awkwardly over his shoulder.

'This is phase one of the experiment.' he murmured, holding her gently to him and hoping. He closed his eyes and waited.

He wasn't sure how long it took, at the time it seemed like hours of torturous agony but in the wake of her finally relaxing into him the awkwardness seemed to just blink away in an instant.

He was first of aware of her head turning and tiling. She rested her temple on his left shoulder, her face turned towards him and her slightly quick breaths tickled his neck. A shiver ran down his back but her hands soon warmed them away, one tight around his rib cage and the other gripping his left shoulder. He hadn't previously been aware of any space between their bodies until she shuffled imperceptibly closer, their thighs touching almost side by side. The shivers returned at the slightest sound of a moan disguised as a sigh issuing from her lips.

He leaned his head down, slightly resting on hers. He held her tighter than before with his right arm and raised his left slightly. He had intended to stroke her hair but there being so very little of it his fingers began to tease the back of her neck of their own accord. Each little sound she made delighted and enticed him. Her breathing became more rapid and hot on his neck. Her legs wriggled slightly as she pressed closer. Her right hand slid down to his hip, holding him to her, ensuring as much contact as possible.

Slowly, he thought, this is only phase one. His teasing hand slid to her shoulder but still held her tightly. He turned his head again and resting his lips against the warm skin on her forehead and breathed deeply the smell of her hair.

The same, but still so different. It just felt right.

'Phase one complete.' he murmured, his lips brushing her skin with every syllable.

'What's phase two?' she whispered, still holding on tight.

'I can come over to your house later to discuss it?'

The was a short pause she mulled this over. 'Yes.' she breathed the word seemed to jolt through him firing off lightening at the end of every nerve.

'Half seven okay?'

'Yes.' She breathed again, his whole body shook involuntarily and she squeezed him tighter.

'Dr Jackson!' some one shouted in the hall, causing them to spring apart. 'Just the man I wanted to see!'

A muttered conversation began a little ways down hall between Daniel and some other member of the SGC, all but inaudible now.

Jack and Sam stood a just a foot apart staring into each others eyes. He smiled.

'Your hair.' he whispered reaching out and tucking a few loose stands behind her ear.

'Your jacket.' she smiled and whispered back, stroking his chest gently to smooth out some creases.

They smiled again.

'I'll see you later.' He murmured and headed out the door. 'Evenin' Daniel.' He said strolling past him and another archaeologist.

'Hey Jack.' Daniel said slightly bewildered. He glanced back at the doorway that was closed just moments ago, through which he could see Sam apparently scribbling away at some sort of calculation or other.

'Dr Jackson?' the other archaeologist continued.

'Oh right... where was I?' And with that whatever suspicions he may or my not have had disappeared.

On reaching the end of the hall Jack glanced at his watch, 17.55, he'd have to hurry to get showered, changed and pick up something for dinner. Now jogging, he wondered exactly how long they had just stood and held each other.

It would have been interesting to know this little fact. But even without measurable results, he had to admit, phase one of the experiment had been a complete success.