Disclaimer: I own no characters or concepts portrayed in the Stargate franchise. But I'm optimistic I will become a billionaire.
A/note: for those wanting to flame me already, no, Sam and Jonathan won't be doing anything naughty. Warning though, there is one kiss and lots of moments. No S/J relationship (yet) It's basically an emotional affair. Set between season 9 & 10. Definitely AU. It's all finished so excuse the small chapters. They will come frequently. As always, feedback is my drug. Please be my enabler.

FIXED: I didn'tdo any research (evidently) and had to make some adjustments. So for those who've read this already, please go check the changes. Yes, the main changes are harder to believe, but its the only way to save this story (and my ass.)

~~ If at first you don't succeed ~~

Friday morning

They clapped politely at the conclusion of her lecture like a wiggling ocean with bobbing heads between the waves; showing just enough enthusiasm to assure her they had paid sufficient attention to the content.

"Colonel Carter?" One of the cadets quickly approached her as she stepped away from the lector.

"Yes?"

The young man held out his hand to her. He was remarkably short; his hair fell over his face in such a way that it would only be regulation if it were plastered back. He smiled eagerly, more than a cadet should after a guest physics lecture, but it seemed genuine. She shook his hand.

"I just wanted to thank you for speaking today Ma'am. I very much enjoyed it."

"Well I'm glad you did." She smiled back. He offered an insightful comment; peaking her curiosity. Soon, they were discussing concepts well beyond the young cadet's course, but she admired the extent of his knowledge, and even more so, his thorough understanding.

"Hey Richard!" a voice called to the young man from the dissipating crowd. She turned to glance back over her shoulder, ready to dismiss the cadet.

Holy Hannah...

He was as gobsmacked as she. There, as a first year Coast Guard academy cadet, was her former commanding officer's clone. Though he had certainly changed in the two years since her eyes were last upon him. Definitely taller, perhaps slightly taller than she, and given she was wearing heels he probably had a good two inches on her now. More heavily built, but the Coast Guard and his own need for activity would have taken care of that. She suspected, given he had displayed a blatant disgust at being a scrawny teen again; his own pride was the greatest motivator. Well, whatever it was, it was certainly working. She never expected to see him here.

Before she would finish her observations, he turned and rabbitted back up the stairs, dodging the stragglers still leaving the auditorium.

"Jonathan?" The cadet, Richard, called to him. He moved faster, though more clumsily.

"Cadet O'Neill!" she called. He was so near the top, but indeed he did stop, turning back to face her. She hastily made her way up the stairs, stopping just one below him. He gave her a pained looked. It wasn't pained as the rest of the world would perceive it. She knew confusion was the main contribution.

"Ma'am..." he said in the tone he normally used when he said 'Carter'. God, that was weird; hearing him speak up to her.

"It's good to see you. I didn't realise you were here." The awkwardness suddenly rose in her throat.

"Well the Coast Guard pretty much offered it up on a silver platter, so why not... might as well learn something different." He shrugged casually. As if this wasn't unusual.

It was then she noticed the books he had clasped at his side. As if reading her mind, he held them out to her, knowing she would have asked.

She took the top textbook. Civil engineering. Not something she would have picked for him, but then again, as hard as he had tried to convince her of otherwise, she knew he was far from unintelligent. He had wanted to take a different path to the Jack O'Neill she knew; and to be fair, he had. Though going Coast Guard had certainly surprised her.

Before she was aware of exactly what she was doing, she slipped her business card into the front cover of his book and handed it back. She had every reason to not do what she just did. She couldn't understand why she needed to reconnect with him. Again, she had every reason not to. He hadn't missed her slide of hand either, she knew that for certain.

Their eyes connected for a second and she could see the gears turn in his head, searching for answers in hers. And then it was gone. He put his mask back on.

"It's good to see you too Ma'am. Maybe we could catch up some other time? I hope..." he trailed off. He would call her. Or at least, he was more likely to than not. He gaze shifted over her shoulder and she registered the footsteps approaching them. Richard appeared at her side.

"You'll have to forgive us Ma'am, but Cadet Barton and I need to go to our next class." Jonathan advised, his tone a little cold.

"Of course, don't let me keep you." She dismissed them, not missing the playful look Cadet Barton gave him as they continued up the stairs and out of sight. She quickly returned to the front of the classroom to collect her notes.

"It seems he was quite taken by you Colonel." Mr Sutton, the usual lecturer, approached her quietly.

"Excuse me?" she said perhaps too hastily.

"Cadet Barton. He seemed to enjoy your lecture." He stopped and planted his hand on the table.

"Oh, yes, he told me he did." Her cheeks warmed from the embarrassment.

"Smart as they come, that one. He already has a degree in mathematics from Harvard prior to coming here. Joined up as soon as he was allowed to; his old man was Navy and he followed along into the services. Though for the life of me I can't understand his friendship with O'Neill..." He mused.

"Why do you say that?" she wondered.

"Oh, don't get me wrong... O'Neill is an intelligent lad, but he seems to go out of his way to convince everyone he's a dumb as a doorpost. Sleeping in class and such, and when he is awake he's off somewhere else. So I've heard. He's one of those kids that absorbs information, and when assessment comes around, apparently he performs exceedingly well. But I guess you knew that." he chuckled.

"Excuse me?" she was lost on a train of thought.

"Sorry, it just seemed as though you two knew each other." He defended.

"Oh! Um, you could say that. Kind of a family friend situation." She tried.

~SJ~

I liked this story too much to go to waste, despite the obvious problems, that come only from my gross negligence and lack of simple research.