It didn't take long to unload their things – two saddlebags and their packs strapped to the back of the bike – and Sam was carefully removing the box of ornaments from her bag when two strong arms encircled her and a warm mouth sank to her neck. Chuckling, she shrugged him off. "We just got home."

"Mmm, I know," Jack murmured against her skin. "And I've been a good boy all day long."

"Only because messing around on a motorcycle would have ended poorly for both of us." Leaving the ornaments on the kitchen table, she stepped out of his arms again and headed for the blinking answering machine.

You have four new messages.

"Three guesses who they're from," Sam mused as the machine recited the date and time of the first.

"Don't care." Gentle but insistent hands turned and lifted her, parking her on the counter top.

Hey, Sam, it's Daniel. Just, ah, wanted to let you I'm home. And I figured you're getting back sometime today, so... give me a call. Bye.

"I should call him."

Jack moved between her knees, his lips gently brushing against hers before traveling along her jaw to that place beneath her ear that made her breath catch. "Let's go investigate your bedroom instead."

Hey, Sam, it's Daniel. Thought you might be home by now, but, ah, guess not. I'll talk to you when you get in. Give me a call. Bye.

"Damn, he's nosy." The message went mostly ignored as Jack's fingers tugged her shirt free of her jeans. "You. Me. Bed. Now."

Uh, hey, Sam. It's me. I'd, um, try your cell phone, but I know you can't hear it on the road. I thought we might get dinner or something. Just let me know.

With a growl, Jack pulled back a little. "What the hell is his problem?"

"He worries about me on the bike," Sam explained as the machine beeped again.

Hey, Sam, it's about six-thirty. I was really sure you'd be home by now, and I haven't heard from you, so, um... give me a call. Really. I just need to know you're not dead on the side of the road somewhere, huh? Just call me. Please.

Knowing Jack wouldn't let her down without a fight, she reached into her back pocket and pulled out her cell phone. "Are you kidding me?" her lover groaned.

"One quick phone call," she defended. At his growl, she pressed, "Real life had to intrude sometime."

"Not yet! Dammit, there are four hours between now and the official end of Thanksgiving weekend, and I fully intend to take advantage of them." Petulantly, he yanked her hips closer to his and began to nibble the skin on her neck.

"Only four?" she asked, granting him better access despite herself. "So I shouldn't look forward to an encore of this morning?"

"Put down the damn phone and I'll give you something to look-"

"Hey, Sam!"

Yanking away, Jack scowled at her – silently. For cryin' out loud, she'd put the man on speaker phone?

She just grinned at him. "Hi, Daniel. Got your messages."

"Oh. Yeah." The archaeologist was clearly trying to play off his concern and then incredible relief at hearing her voice. "How was your trip?"

Her thin, delicate fingers intertwined with Jack's. "It was great. Yours?"

"Fantastic. Actually, we found a device I've been wanting to ask you about. It's already sitting in your lab."

Jack's face went dark, and she waved him off with a smile – no, she wasn't about to run off to the base. "I'll make it a priority tomorrow."

Somewhat soothed, he pressed a kiss to her forehead.

"So, listen," the phone voice went on, "Teal'c and I were planning a late dinner to catch up before work tomorrow. Chinese? Italian? Your place?"

The lips froze. Sam knew, as he drew back, exactly what he was thinking – Jack obviously had plans for their night together. She had to bow out, but how? Lie? Tell him the truth? They hadn't discussed what to tell the others yet. "Actually, Daniel," she said, carefully watching the man in front of her, "I have plans. I, uh, kind of brought something home from California."

"Yeah? What's that?"

"Hi, Daniel."

The silence that descended was thick. It lasted long enough that Sam was about to check the connection when the other man finally managed, "Jack?"

"Yup."

"What were you doing in California?"

It was Jack who let the silence linger that time until the archaeologist said, rather sheepishly, "Oh."

"Yes," the older man said. "Oh."

"I... see. Well, then, I imagine you two don't particularly want company tonight, so... we can all catch up tomorrow. Since there's apparently a lot to catch up on."

Sam managed a cringe just seconds before Jack's chin hit his chest. He hadn't made it to Colorado Springs in months – hadn't seen any of them – and this time... "Actually," he said softly, "I have to fly back first thing."

"Oh."

One irritated hand scrubbed through the hair on the back of his neck. "You know what? Get something from that Thai place. Bring Teal'c."

To both their surprise, Daniel laughed. Hard. "Oh, hell, no. It'd be nice to see you, Jack, but there's no way I'm stepping into the middle of that. Besides," he went on, "I get the distinct feeling you're going to be in town a lot more often now."

"Absolutely." And it was a promise, sealed with a gentle kiss that carried through the phone – and they didn't care. "You're a good man, Daniel."

"Have a safe flight. And Sam? One favor?"

"Yes?" she answered, a bit uneasy.

"When you tell Teal'c, I wanna see the look on his face."

The request made them both grin. "Goodnight, Daniel."

Jack's lips sank to her neck even as he confiscated the phone and sent it skidding across the counter, out of reach. The fingers that went confidently for Sam's shirt buttons made her giggle.

"Determined, are we?"

"Well," he grunted against her skin, "Daniel gave us all this perfectly usable alone time. I'd hate to waste it." But as his mouth made its way up to her ear, he murmured, "Carter?"

"Yeah?"

"This is the best Thanksgiving I've had in... a really long time."

Voice thick, she pressed a kiss to his shoulder before whispering, "Me, too."

"Next weekend, we'll get you a Christmas tree. It'll be a week late for decorating, but..."

"Sounds great."

Pulling back to take her face gently in his hands, he asked, "Any other vital holiday rules I need to know about? Crazy traditions? Superstitions?"

"None that I can think of at the moment. Not 'til Christmas, anyway. For now," she said, a glint in her eye, "I think we should go to bed and make some traditions of our own."

Jack wrinkled his nose. "Nah. On second thought, maybe we should just-"

"Oh, shut up," Sam scolded with a grin, "and come to bed."

"Yes, ma'am."