Chapter Text
Sam was released the next day. Jack offered to drive her home and she gladly accepted. As they were leaving the mountain Jack checked his cell phone. He was surprised to find he had fifteen messages.
"I wonder what's been going on while we were gone?" Jack showed Sam the list of messages. She shrugged.
"Do you recognize the number?" Jack opened the truck door for Sam and went around to his side.
"I can't be sure until I get back to your place and check but this might be Leslie's number. I forgot to call or leave her a message before we disappeared. I'll call her and let her know we don't need her any longer." Jack put the key in the ignition and backed out of the space.
"How exactly are you going to explain this? She's going to have to see I'm fine."
When they got home Jack checked and made sure it was Leslie's number. She had also left ten messages on Sam's machine. She was apparently very worried and had even threatened to call the police if they didn't call and let her know Sam was ok. Jack called her, made many apologizes. Leslie headed straight over.
Jack opened the door when Leslie knocked.
"Why did you take her away just as we were making progress?"
"It was necessary."
"Necessary?" Leslie's hands were on her hips as she followed him inside.
"I told you I couldn't explain on the phone but I can explain now." Jack went to the kitchen and poked through the refrigerator, discovering the milk had spoiled.
Leslie went to Sam. She picked the printer up off the table and wrote out a message to Sam.
*I'm glad you're back. Are you ready to work?* Sam read the message and suppressed her grin.
Sam wadded up the paper and tossed it. It landed just in front of Leslie's right foot.
Leslie sighed and tightened her lips. She glared at Jack's back. "Looks like your vacation has result in a slide backwards."
Sam slowly removed her dark glasses. "Actually we made some miraculous progress."
"How the..." Leslie leaned back in shock.
Jack grinned and stepped into the room. "Like I said it was an important trip."
"But...how..." Leslie look back and forth between Sam and Jack.
"I'd have to kill you if I told you." Jack was teasing but it threw Leslie for a loop.
"Don't listen to him." Sam gripped Leslie's arm lightly and helped her stand up. "Good luck Leslie and thank you for your help."
Leslie left without turning back. If she had risked glancing back, and could have looked through the wood of the door, she would have seen General Jack O'Neill envelope Colonel Samantha Carter in a hug followed by a passionate kiss. As Daniel would say, things had changed.