Walking through the gate I looked around for the rest of my team and saw
only general Hammond waiting. He was bound to ask why we didn't all go
through at the same time and I waited to see what he would say.

He asked if we were okay I said we were and he went on to tell me that
Daniel and Carter had gone to the infirmary. I nodded.

"Colonel did something else occur while on the planet?"

That was a loaded question.

George would probably be speechless if I blurted out, "well let's see
we got captured by natives, tied up to the point we couldn't move, Carter
was trying to get loose by taking off her top and she didn't think it was
a big deal since Daniel had already seen her topless."

Teal'c said that nothing had occurred and asked what time the briefing
would take place. The general stared and said it would take place
tomorrow morning and said to go shower up.

We walked to the showers and Teal'c asked if I was going to get the story
from Carter. I knew he was right. But my doubts wouldn't let it go. So
what if she wanted a younger guy? I wasn't exactly bringing her flowers
and letting her know how I truly felt about her but after the zartac
confession I thought we had something.

Foolish old goat my conscious goaded it was just you wishing for something that was not true.
I told him I would not hurt Daniel and would talk to Carter before the
briefing tomorrow. I just wanted to go home. What he didn't know was
that I was going to get plastered to heal my heart and to pour over my
wounds.

I finished showering and made it to the infirmary. I had not seen hide or
hair of Daniel nor Carter.

Daniel was probably hiding and Carter was definitely pissed at me for not
letting her speak her mind.

I realized I was tired of the whole thing and decided to head home. I looked at the sign out sheet and saw that both Daniel and Carter had signed out and gone home. I
did the same and started to walk to my truck. I wasn't paying attention
and opened my truck and was about to get in when someone cleared their
throat.

Daniel was standing on the passenger side of my truck and said we had to
talk.

I was so tired that I didn't want to deal with this today. I didn't say anything I was still pissed but not as much as I was on the planet.

"Jack we have to talk you're jumping to the wrong conclusion nothing and
I do mean nothing happened between me and Sam. Come you know I would
never betray you. Teal'c told me about the zartac confession as did
Janet. I couldn't have feelings for her she's like the sister I never had
and your like the big brother I always wished for. The brother that would
torture me but would be there when I was in trouble, Jack I wouldn't
cross that line you've got to believe me. I know you have feelings for Sam and I only wish you two would act on it."

Poor Daniel, I should have had more faith in him. he was loyal beyond
words he had stood by me at times when I couldn't stand to be who I was

but never left my side. I was being ridiculous They were my friends and I
now know they would not do something to harm me it wasn't in there
nature. But that voice in the back of my head keep nagging me to ask.

"Danny I know I jumped to conclusion and made you uncomfortable for that
I'm sorry but I don't want to talk about it unless you're willing to tell
me how you got to see her…"

"Topless Jack and no I can't tell you I promised Sam. Go see her she was
upset that you wouldn't let her explain. It's her story and once you hear
it you'll understand I didn't help but one thing I can say alcohol was
involved and you know how I am with alcohol."

I respected him for not betraying Carter's trust. I told him I wouldn't
kill him yet. He smiled and said he was glad.

He asked if we were okay and I knew I couldn't stay mad at him he was
right he was my little brother and I knew he wouldn't hurt me in any way.

I mumble maybe got into my truck but before pulling out I'd thought I'd
play with him again.

"Regardless how this all turns out space monkey you should have spilled
the beans on seeing Carter topless. You know what they do to men that see
other men's women undressed?"

"Jack what are you saying…"

I waved and drove off. Let him stew over the night I would drive to
Carter's to find out what was the big mystery.

I got there and saw that her car was not there I pulled out my cell phone
and got her answering service.

I waited an hour and then decided she was not coming home anytime soon.
I'd talk to her first thing tomorrow morning. I drove home and pulled
into my drive way.

I climbed out of my truck and went inside. I turned on the lights and
went through my mail. I checked the messages on my machine and heard the
usual stuff and the last one was from Carter asking if I was home and to
please answer if I was. She said she was coming over and that she would
not leave until I heard the truth.

I smiled to myself. I knew she wouldn't let this drop. I checked the time
on the machine and it had been an hour ago. I was about to call her when
I heard a noise coming from my deck.

I pulled out my gun and walked through the front to go around back.

I came upon Carter curled up on one of my deck chairs with a beer in her
hand and fighting sleep.

I put my gun in my waist band and came up the deck. She startled awake
and saw me and sat up.

"Sir where have you've been I've been waiting here and I guess I must have
dozed off. I need you to not say anything and let me please tell you what
happen. I don't want anything to come between us and the team. You and
Daniel are best friends and this indiscretion is my entire fault. So please
sir let me tell you the whole story and here's my letter asking for a
transfer after you hear the story you might need that."

Transfer? Why would she want to transfer out of my team?

She picked up the six pack of Guinness that was missing three bottles and
offered it to me.

"Sorry I got thirsty waiting and well it's making me relax so I could get
through this."

I took the beer from her and went to lean on the rail. I crossed my arms
and waited.

She was fidgeting with her hands and muttered here goes nothing and
looked up at me.

"Sir do you remember the arm band incident when we had all this strength
and Anise came to monitor us."

I nodded, "yeah it was fun while it lasted Carter. We almost lost our
lives then or did that slip your mind?"

"No sir it didn't and the whole zartac thing"?

oh yeah the zartac thingy when I had to confess my feelings for her.
Where I was exposed to what I truly felt for her with her in the room.

"Yeah I remember Carter I was there as were you. We decided to leave it
in the room if I recall."

She nodded and took another sip of her beer.

"After the whole thing I was a mess. I had these feelings coming from
inside. I didn't know if they were from Jolinar with having witnessed
what had happen to Martouf or what we had both said in that room."

She looked up at me and bit her lip.

"You left right after the meeting with the Tok'ra and the President
without saying anything I was going to see you but you were upset talking
to Anise. She looked like she was trying to calm you down and I felt like
I was intruding so I left. I came back but you were gone. She told me you
were leaving to Minnesota for a couple of days. She asked me what was
Minnesota and I explained she nodded and said she was sorry about
everything and then she apologized for coming onto you."

I closed my eyes oh crap! That damn Tok'ra was going to be the death of
me. She had apologized to Carter for hitting on me. Okay Thor now would
be a good time to beam me up.

"Sir I didn't get to ask her what she meant since they were getting ready
to leave back to the base with Martouf. I didn't go I was a basket case,
then missing you and then hearing what Anise said well it got my mind
reeling."

I could imagine her reeling. She must have been a mess and I just left not wanting to face what we had confessed to one another and then the last conversation with Anise didn't help. I couldn't be alone with her I would have crossed that line knowing she felt the way she did so I retreated like a good soldier.

"Janet found me and said she was taking me home. She said I needed a nice
bath and some wine I told her no I needed a shoulder to cry on and
tequila. We got to her place and I forgot about the bath. She let me vent
and drink and vent some more. I told her and she didn't hold it against
me. We heard a knock on the door and it was Daniel. He had come to check
on me since I had been upset the last time he saw me. He started to drink
with us and then the topic of Anise came up. He started to say that she
had a way of stirring trouble and Janet agreed."

Carter snorted, "Sir do you know Janet hates her."

Carter started to giggle and I smiled, "ever since the armbands she has this on going contest on ways she could maim or have her knocked off."

I laughed, leave it to doc to come up with such a list, "I've got to get
a copy of it so we can compare notes to see if we think alike."

Carter smiled and said she'd let Janet know. She became somber again and
continued her tale.

"Well Daniel started to defend Anise saying she had other attributes and
when we asked him to name one he couldn't. I remember Janet rolling her
eyes at him and said that the only attributes she had were the two on her
chest that was accented by her skimpy outfits."

I was in shock oh boy this didn't sound good, she looked up and nodded.
"Daniel was drunk and he started to laugh saying yeah she did have some
nice attributes nice and round and shapely and the outfits she wore made
them more attributable."

I could imagine Daniel saying this. Two beers and he was a goner.

"That's when he blurted out that she had made a pass at you in your room. He said it must have been her attributes that attracted you to her and that getting to kiss her was just a bonus."

Daniel was a dead man for sure no reprieve just death this time.

I looked at Carter and she had turned away. I waited for her to continue.

"It all fell into place. You leaving and Anise apologizing I thought I
had lost you to her. It made me sick after I had confessed what I had
felt and then to find out you had been doing god knows what with her. I
looked down at myself and it clicked. Why would you want skinny no chest
me when you could have Tok'ra Barbie."

She stood up and went to the other side of the deck. Her back towards me
she took another sip of her beer.

"Daniel was still babbling about her attributes and Janet was defending me
saying I was way smarter then her and if all you wanted was her body then
you were not good enough for me. I had enough of both of their arguments
when I snapped. I pulled off my shirt and asked them what was wrong with
me that you wouldn't love me for me but how big my chest size was."

I covered my face with my hands and let out the breath I was holding. This
was not what I was expecting. When she had said alcohol and Daniel I thought the worse but this was beyond what I could imagine.

She thought I had wanted Anise because of what she looked like and would
find fault in her appearance. If she only knew she was perfect in
everyway to me. Her hair, face body and legs that were a thing of beauty
to watch especially now in her skirt and that lovely top that accented her attributes.

She turned to me, "Daniel nearly choked on his beer and Janet said I had nothing to worry about that she had it on high authority that I was bigger then Anise that it was the wonder bra she was using that made her appear bigger then she was."

I blushed I took a beer out of the packed opened it and downed half of it. I waved my hand for her to continue but I really had heard enough.

"Needless to say I realized what I did and covered up. I had humiliated myself in front of my best friends and I burst into tears blaming you for this whole thing then blaming the Air Force for not letting us be together then hating Anise for being able to kiss you when I couldn't. I was so embarrassed for what I did and I had Janet and Daniel promise me that they would not breathe a word of this to anyone. They said they would keep my secret and put me to bed afterwards. I had a hell of a hangover the next morning but came to realize that it was best I didn't talk to you. My emotions were all over the place and I didn't want this to interfere with our team. I wanted it to go back to the way things were. Me being close to you and have the same type of relationship we all had. But now I've ruined everything and I'm sorry."

Her lower lip was quivering and she lowered her head to hide her face.

I was speechless. That had taken a lot of courage to admit what she had just had and I was never more in awe of her then I was at this moment. I had to show her I understood that she had not ruined anything between us or the team.

"I'll be leaving now and I'm sorry sir for making you think that we had betrayed you. I could never do that you mean too much for me to do that and like I said now that the cats out of the bag if you don't think we can work together I understand. So good night."

The last was said in a whisper and she moved by me to go and I grabbed her arm and she gasped. She looked up at me and had tears in her eyes. I wiped the tears away and pulled her into a hug. She started to cry more and I soothed her I needed to feel her like this her control gone and me here to pick up the pieces. She was so amazing and to think she thought I would go for any other woman but her was ridiculous.

She stopped and I pulled her back so I could cup her face.

"First thing first Carter you are not transferring out of SG1 get that out of your head. We need you hell I need you there to save my ass. Second that took a lot of courage to admit what you did and I know I wasn't the most supportive in this but to hear your best friend saw the woman you've pined for since the first day you met topless well it was hard to stomach. I want to apologize for all that. Can you forgive me for jumping to conclusion? Oh and the Anise thing what space monkey failed to tell you was that the snake was interested in him."

She gasped and started to hold back a giggle.

"No he failed to mention that."

I smiled, "I should have said something but it was a shock to me I think it was because I saved her life twice that she started to have feelings for me."

She snorted and rolled her eyes. "She's had her eyes on you since the first time we met her. Didn't you ever notice that she had you do all the physical tests? Sir you could be so dense sometimes."

"Jack not sir Carter and I didn't really pay attention to what she was doing since I only had eyes for a certain blond that could run circles around "Tok'ra Barbie".

She laughed and said that was what Janet had dubbed her and well it had stuck. I agreed that the name did suit her but told her I liked Tok'ra Spice better.

She burst into an uncontrolled fit of laughter and it was good to see her relaxed again. I joined her and we sat on the chair and when ever she would almost finish laughing I'd quip something that would send her into a fit of laughter again. She finally begged me to stop that her sides were aching and if she continued she might have an accident and that would really be embarrassing.

I stopped and looked at her. She was blushing and asked if what I had said was true. I knew what she was asking about and came closer to her and said yes.

She smiled, "so were okay again right?"

I nodded no. Her face fell and I pulled her close to me and kissed her lightly on the lips.

She had her eyes closed when I pulled back to see what her reaction was.

"Wow and that was just a light kiss I wonder what it would be if I was to do this."

She pulled me towards her and it was breathtaking. We finally pulled apart and she had that incredible smile that made me go weak.

"So now what," she asked.

I took her hand and said we could go back to the way things were or…

"How about we play it by ear," she offered I smiled and said okay. I started to nuzzle her neck and whispered, "hey Carter did I ever tell you about the time Teal'c seen me bottomless."