A/N I know it has been a while! I have been too busy reading every thing from everyone else to write my own stuff!
Legal mumbo jumbo
Not really spoilers in this one.
Sam had fled. She had never seen herself as the type to run, but she ran from Jack so fast she may have travelled back in time if she kept going. Well maybe not but when she got home it was a matter of minutes before she was wrapped up in that same blanket on her couch in tears playing with the small locket around her neck. As she was expecting her phone rang.
"Hello." She said.
"Am I too early." The voice asked. "I was not sure how long I was meant to wait before I made contact." Jack said.
"You are right on time." Sam replied.
"So where do we start. Planning an attack on Daniel, thanking Daniel, or the obvious?" Jack asked.
"I think the obvious. And then we plot against Daniel." Sam said with a slight smile.
"Ok first of all, I am sorry. I should not have done that and I understand totally if you feel any action is necessary." Jack said to her.
"Not at all Sir."
"Hey, that word is not allowed in this conversation."
"Well it is the reason we are having it." Sam replied.
"Ok point taken, but Sam, we need to do something."
"I know Jack." She whispered back.
"First of all, how do you feel?" He asked her.
"Like this is a conversation we should be having in person. Can you come over?"
"Are you sure that is wise?"
"I'll see you in twenty Jack." Sam said hanging up.
Soon enough Jack was standing on her doorstep readying him self. He was just about to knock when the door opened.
"ESP as well as a genius?" Jack asked.
"Heard your car Sir, sorry... Jack. Come in." She said stepping to the side.
They both sat on the couch where Sam has spent a large part of the evening, concentrating on the coffee as if it would somehow solve all their problems.
"I don't want to give up my rank." Sam started.
"I would never ask you to."
"I don't want you to retire."
"I would."
"I would not ask you to do that."
"Sam, it is not the first time it has crossed my mind."
"But you are doing an excellent job. You know the base, the people, it is good having you in charge."
"Well short of having cake and eating it too...there is no other option." Jack said.
"So we forget again?"
"No not this time. I have lost a lot to the Air Force and I am sick of it."
"Jack what are you saying?" Sam asked
"I have devoted my entire life to it, the military. I knew my team mates better than my family. I missed holidays, birthdays, and I think it is time I got something back other than a star on my shirt and a pat on the back. What I'm saying Sam, is, I made a few calls."
"A few calls?"
"Let's just say I know something about one of the Presidents personal lackeys this guy's wife did not even know."
"Please tell me you did not blackmail anyone."
"No I simply made a suggestion." Jack replied.
"Jack it is very late, what are you talking about?"
"SG 1 is keeping our allies happy and trying to find new information and technology. This is bigger task than people think but we know better." Jack said.
"Yes Sir."
"That said, it came to my attention that most of what you bring back, either information or physical "spoils" either goes to Hammond back in Washington so he can let everyone know, or out to Area 51." Jack went on. "It seemed only logical that Hammond still be responsible for you three, and I concentrate on keeping the bad guys out with the other SG teams."
"Are you saying we are being transferred?" Sam asked.
"No not at all. You will have a more regular mission schedule. Teal'c will also be an honorary member of SG 5 so he can fill in the time while you and Daniel are in the lab working on...whatever. The three of you will have to go to Washington monthly and you will see a lot less action in the field, which I am hoping will not delay any further promotions for you. If Maybourne can make full Colonel sitting at a computer then you have no problems." Jack said. Sam gazed at him open mouthed.
"So you effectively would no longer be my CO?" She asked.
"No, the chain of command would be broken. Look I know it sounds like I am trading you in for personal gain, and I do not want you to think that. We have to run it by Teal'c and Danny, if they do not agree then it can not go ahead." Jack said. Sam had gone very quiet and when he looked at her he could see she was crying.
"Ok, I thought this might have been a good thing." Jack wiping a tear from her face.
"When did all this happen?" She asked.
"I started thinking about it a while after our little alternate reality chat. But you were seeing Pete again so I canned it. I called Hammond when you left tonight."
"It seems too easy."
"You were the one who said nothing in our lives is easy. You are going to have to deal with the White House, personally glad it's you and not me." Jack said causing Sam to grin.
"You deal with the White House a fair bit Jack." Sam said with a smile.
"So what now?" She asked.
"Well I have a question for you. Would you like to go to dinner?" Jack asked her. Sam laughed and placed a hand on his cheek.
"I thought we were going fishing." Sam replied grinning. "I'd like that. Providing Daniel and Teal'c agree with this."
"Oh I am sure they will. One of the terms I worked in was an annual trip for Danny to Egypt for "research" purposes. He gets about a month every year all expenses paid." Sam laughed once again.
"Exactly what did you find out about the presidents staff member? You have had all the fraternization regs bent broken and forgotten over it." She asked.
"Well see my side of the bargain was that I never tell anyone, not even you. I also have to attend some presidential dinner thing and give a speech. But I think I got off easy." He said.
"You did all this for me?"
"For us Sam."
"That sounds very strange."
"Yeah but nice. I should probably go. It is getting late and we have an early start..."
"Stay."
"Sam"
"Stay."
"Bad idea." Jack said standing up.
"But maybe the only time we get to act on it." Sam said standing to face him.
"Sam, please if we do this, then there is no way I turn back. I retire if Danny or T say no."
"They won't. And I just want you here. I just need to know if your morning stubble is something I can live with for the rest of my life. Nothing more than sleep has to go on." She said wrapping her arms around his neck. He was silent for a moment as his hands rested on her sides.
"You said 'rest of your life'. You mean that?" He asked.
"Yeah I do, if that is ok with you." She asked.
"Wow. But I ask you, why me? You could have anyone in the world and you want this old washed u..." Jack was cut off by Sam's lips crushing his own. Sam backed Jack up to the wall behind him and almost laughed at the gasp of shock he let out. Sam pulled back after another minute or so to catch her breath, still pinning Jack to the wall.
"You were saying?" She asked with a grin.
"Nothing, nothing at all." Jack replied kissing her softly again.
Sam pulled back and took him by the hand.
"I don't know about you, but it has been and extremely long day, preceded by nearly 8 extremely long years. Let's get some sleep." She said leading him to the bedroom.
The two got ready almost shyly in front of each other. Jack stripped down to his boxers and t-shirt and both of them slowly crawled into Sam's bed. Sam lay on her back breathing heavily, her nerves getting the better of her. Without warning Jack's arm snacked over her waist. When did he move so close? She thought to herself. She felt herself tense even more as Jack placed soft kiss just behind her ear. The tingly feeling it left travelled over her entire body.
"Relax Sam, I won't bite...hard." Jack whispered in her ear. Sam's nerves caved in as she dissolved into a fit of giggles at the old joke. Jack placed a small kiss on her lips. "Go to sleep, that's an..." he stopped and thought a moment. "Well it's not an order I can't do that anymore, let's call it a suggestion shall we?" he asked in a whisper.
"Sounds good Jack." Sam replied. She rolled onto her side and gently pulled Jack's arm around her waist inviting him to spoon her from behind, an offer he gladly accepted.
The two were soon fast asleep. Neither knew exactly what was coming, nor did they care, all that mattered was that night.