Disclaimer: The wormhole closed, and trapped me off world with no DHD. So I can't get back to the Tau'ri in order to be properly feted for writing this story. So I own nothing, and made no money off this fic. Life is sometimes a pain in the mikta.

A/N: Takes place during 'Affinity.'

An Asgard Hour

by Linda Bindner

a.k.a. (also known as)
Thor and Sam, Conspirators at large
Freedom
Out of Time, Out of Body
Soulmates
Blink, and You'll Miss It
'Make Me Say 'No, Please Make Me Say 'No!'...
... And Don't Make Me Beg!'
Always
Nano Technology and The SGC
The Asgard Solution
The Pain of Assistance
Time Immemorial
Sixty Minutes? Or Infinity?

Sam continued to study the top of her work table, the agony of indecision written all over her face. She was acutely aware of the man standing just opposite her, staring back at her with an equally fixed expression.

Desperate for him to say something... anything... Sam waited while the silence contiinued to strech out between them. She breathed in deeply, the sound scraping through the quiet of her lab after midnight. Waiting... She was waiting...

He's not saying anything, she thought at last. He's just staring. Sam waited silently for another moment for General O'Neill to reply to the conundrem facing her, whether to accept Pete's ring, his proposal of marriage, or to respectfully decline his suggestion. Again, with bated breath, she waited.

But the General remained mute. What's he waiting for? Sam asked herself. This was it, the crossroads of her life, the time to speak up and aim that life in the direction they both wanted it to go. It was time for speech. For Honesty. For anything!

Time... That was what they needed: Time, Sam thought absently, time to slow all this down, time to regroup, time to... Wait! she desperately screamed inside er mind. A feeling of panic was starting to crawl up the back of her throat. Wait! I'm not ready to give an answer... any answer! I may be giving him the chance to say something, but Jack still won't do it... won't, or can't... God, he looks totally numb, drained, sucked dry, hopeless...

Sam stared at Jack's slightly sickened, pained eyes as he continued to gaze at her, at the ring Pete had given her, at her again, his gaze flicking back and forth between the two of them. His eyes beseeched her not to do this, not to accept Pete's proposal, but he didn't... wouldn't... say anything to influence what she was thinking right now. She could see that he refused to make even a ripple in her decision concerning the course that her life might take from here on out. Oh, she could see in his haunted, agonized eyes that he wanted to say something to stop her from accepting the proposal of another man, but was biting his tongue to keep from interfering in something he considered to be her decision, and hers alone.

But Sam felt like she was swimming upstream while the current of her mythical river edied and swarmed around her, as if her mind was as murky as that water she felt trapped in. Imaginary silt clouded her brain, and her thought processes had slowed down to near nonexistence. She couldn't think, felt like she was slowly drowning...

Slowly, a new idea began to take shape in her mind. Realizing that she didn't know what to do about this entire disaster because she couldn't properly weigh all the options against each other had automatically given her more options than she had previously anticipated. If he refused to help her, then she would have to help herself.

In the blink of her eye, Sam made a decision to take the course that she hadn't considered as of yet. If it was time that she needed, time to gather the intelligence that she lacked, time to finally speak to him about what had been left so many years before 'in the room,' she had to act quickly.

With another quick jerk of her hand, she crossed the room, and opened the bottom drawer of her file cabinet. She reached in and pulled out a black box full of what looked suspiciously to Jack like Asgard technology. Carefully keeping her back to the security camera, so no one would ever know what she was doing, she efficiently transferred the odd device to her left hand, then grabbed a tiny piece of technology that... Is that a Tok'ra memory recal device, he asked himself in confusion. Did she plan to use it on him? On her? Oh goody, Jack's next sarcastic thought bombarded his mind. Portable memories, he wryly reminded himself. How... Tok'ra! Next she held the wand necessary to start and stop the imbedded memory device.

Sam didn't give him a closer look at either piece of technology in her hands. She quickly stuffed them both in the pockets of her BDUs. Then she walked over to Jack, who was solemnly standing, unmoving, next to her workbench. She passed him, then turned, again making certain that she was standing with her back between Jack and the security camera hanging from the rear left corner of the ceiling of her lab. Her eyes pierced straight through his brown gaze as she stared at him, willing him to read her mind.

When he still didn't say anything, either about the two devices in her pocket, or about the possible engagement that Pete had recently asked her to embark on, she broke the silence that had fallen over her lab. Sir, she steadfastly whispered, looking right into his pained eyes. She was being as sincere, and as sincerely serious, as she had ever been in her life. I need you to trust me implicitly... to do exactly as I tell you, even if this sounds completely bizarre. She took a deep breath, trying to again judge the veiled expression of perplexity in his brown eyes. I know that you're confused, but bear with me... please, she begged.

Slowly, as if he too was staring at her through cloudy, mud-filled waters, Jack whispered dazedly back to her, You know that I trust you with my life, Carter.

Sam issued a soft sigh into the early morning recycled air of the SGC. I need you to trust me like that, she again told him. Then she went on, I need you to meet me topside in half an hour, at the edge of the parking lot, between the lot and the bunker door that leads into the mountain. I'll explain everything when I know that we're completely alone... I don't want anyone to overhear what I have to say, see what I have to show you, possibly get you in trouble for this... She ended on an enigmatic sigh that whistled in the quiet air in the lab.

Jack simply gazed at her as she gave her odd requests. The only indication that he even heard what she'd said was that he furrowed his brow, crinkling it at her in question. Is there anything you want me to bring to this clandestine meeting of yours? he finally inquired.

Sam carefully considered. She knew that een bringing something to such a secret meeting was more than she had ever asked him to do for her before. But even as she had her first thought, she knew that she had to give him the option to fulfill his reams as well. It was only fair. So she instantly answered, You might want to bring anything that you've ever wished to give to me, but was too scared to even carry around...

Jack noted, That is if we assume that I even have anything to give you in the first place.

Sam shrewdly stared at him. Sh probed his gaze with hers. Did he? Or didn't he? She couldn't tell just by looking into his eyes, and his expression was too carefully schooled for her to read. But she nodded. That's what I mean, she said. Please, she begged then, beseeching him with the look in her eyes. Trust me, Sir.

The moment that he spent staring at her was fraught with the kind of melting tension that stirred the air and made tingles crawl up his spine. You know I do, he said at last, still whispering his words, getting them out in strangled agony, as if he wanted to keep them close to his heart as much as tell them to her.

Sam answered, You have to know that I would never do anything that might bring you harm...

Jack immediately replied, And I would never ask you to do anything that might hurt you career.

This has nothing to do with my career, she quietly told him. This is about... She couldn't say the word 'us' while in the SGC. She couldn't even mutter the word the way it was in the middle of the night. Please, she said again.

Jack hissed a short, quiet sigh out through his teeth. There was nothing that he had ever been able to not give her, and he knew it, and he knew that she knew it. Which was probably why she was asking this of him now. If it was within his power, he would do anything for her. It wasn't exactly fair to him, and she had never taken advantage of this hidden power she had over him, but she was asking now. And that gave him an indication of how important this was to her.

So, instead of whispering his acquiescence to her idea, he gave her a brief nod, one tiny movement of his head down to his chest, then back up again, a cursory agreement to her plan. That was all. Besides the fact that he understood how much bravery it must be taking for her to even ask this of him, he gave little other indication that he accepted this situation.

That was all. Before she could ask even more of him, Jack beat a hasty retreat from her lab.

He didn't like what she was asking of him, she could tell by the stiff way that he held his shoulders. He would do as she required, but he didn't exactly like it. Not yet.

The silence of oh one hundred in her labratory had never before seemed so deafening to her.

* * *

Twenty-five minutes later, the black of Earth a night came into view for Jack as he exited the SGC elevator at the bunker door, then peered through the darkness surrounding him for a hint of Sam. There she was, leaning against a tree, studying the heavens as she tilted her head up to look at the sky. To anyone else, her posture would seem to be one of a scientist taking a relaxing break on a long night shift, taking time out to study the stars in the sky. But to Jack, her nonchalant attitude seemed forced, nervous, tight...

Jack approached her through the dark, and though he used every trick he had ever learned while involved with the military's covert operations groups, but her 'Jack' radar spotted him the second he exited the elevator. It had always been so. He could feel her, just as she instinctively knew where he was the moment he entered the vacinity near her. Daniel called it 'the Jack/Sam super sense,' and it had often served them all well on past missions. Now, with Jack stuck on base as 'the man' in charge of the entire SGC, it had been a sense relegated to the backs of his and Sam's minds, especially with the emergence of Pete into her life.

But now, it rose to the surface with a vengeance, as if it somehow knew that it had voluntarily been buried under layers of censure and military deniability, but still existed despite their best attempts at choking it into extinction.

But no more. Sam turned her head in his direction as he made his way over to her. The moment he was near enough to see her features and movement in the dark, she brought her finger up to where he knew that her lips should be, and gave the universal sign for silence. Then she pointed in the general direction of the guard gate just before the bunker door, indicating the soldier who was slowly walking to and fro on this night he'd been assigned to guard duty. Jack nodded, and even though the soldier was several hundred yards away, he could still see something as foreign as moonlight reflecting off the whites of eyes, or starlight shining on Jack's uniform stars.

So they waited to move until the unsuspecting soldier turned to walk in the opposite direction from their current position. Sam suddenly grabbed Jack's unoform sleeve prior to melting with him into the cover of the surrounding bushes and their shadows. They slipped through their cover so quietly that the guard never heard or saw them leave, assuming instead that the two friends had looked at the stars, then disappeared back through the bunker door to the SGC. He didn't bother to give them a second thought.

Tight lipped and silent, Sam led Jack deeper into the surrounding forest on the mountainside. They walked in quiet contemplation for another mile, when Sam just as suddenly came to a halt near a rock leaning against a tree, on the bank of a rushing river full of water so loud, no one would ever be able to hear their voices unless they were right next to them.

Relieved to have walked so far undetected, Sam let out a sigh. We're off base here, she began by whispering. It should be safe to talk.

'Should be?' Jack echoed her low voice. Why does all this already have the sound of being something 'theoretical,' but not 'definite?'

Sam grimaced, then said with a voice full of an edge of finality, It is safe. There's not another soul around for miles, not in the middle of the night, and...

And not a single person knows where we really are, Jack finished for her, in spite of his previous statement. Then he swung his arms out in a 'What next?' gesture Okay, I'm here, he said, Just as you asked. He crossed his arms on his chest. Now, out with it, Colonel, he demanded. What's going on?

Instead of answering him, Sam reached up and pushed the Tok'ra memory recall device into her own temple. She grimaced at the sharp sting of pain that she felt, but ignored the minor discomfort. Just watch, she instructed him, her voice still only raised loudly enough so that he could barely hear her. She held the small memory wand out to him. I trust you enough to shut off my memories when the one that I want you to see is at an end.

That seems to be an awful lot of faith that you're putting into a man that you haven't shared ten words with in the last month that wasn't of the professional variety, he sarcastically noted with a tiny smirk in her direction.

Sam just glared at him. Sir? simply asked again, with a second wave of the wand in his direction.

Jack took the wand from her. I promise, he told her, though he thought that it would have been extremely interesting to take a peek at some of her other memories while he had this unique opportunity. But with his luck, he would get to look at a memory of some technical thing that he just wouldn't understand, anyway. So being ultra careful, he tilted her chin with a gentle hand, and hovered the wand over the memory device embedded on her temple. Ready? he asked.

At Sam's nod, Jack poked the wand into the appropriate slot, and quickly flicked his wrist. The next thing he knew, the memory screen that she had set at her feet came to life, the memory that she wanted him to see blazing out at them as if he'd been a silent observor parked in her brain as the drama on the screen played out.

There were mostly images, a chaotic set of visions that seemed to center around what looked like...

Jack wrinkled his brow. Is that Gairwyn?

Sam nodded, and the memory paused as she answered him. She had just asked SG-1 to take a look at the chamber that we know as 'The Home of Thor,' making sure that a recent earquake that her home planet had suffered from hadn't damaged it in any way.

Jack looked surprised. How come I didn't know anything about all this? he immediately asked, the accusation he was feeling loud in his voice.

Sam calmly replied with a quick explanation. Because SG-1 was on downtime when she originally called, and you were fishing up at your cabin the entire week. As I was home, available, and the person who was needed to do the checking anyway, General Hammond decided to have me tend to this particular mission, and not to even bother you with it. When I came back to the SGC, I wrote my report and gave it to Hammond. You never saw it, or had any reason to see it. It would just have bored you to death, anyway.

Jack scowled. Hey! he remonstrated. I don't get too bored when I read reports!

Sam rolled her eyes. You read them when you need to get some sleep; everyone knows that, she gently chided him.

Jack looked sheepish now. Okay, okay, he finally agreed. Keep talking, he ordered.

Anyway, I checked the 'Thor' device all over... Then even Sam looked embarrassed for a moment. And I kind of...

Kind of..? Jack prompted when she didn't go on. What?

Sam inhaled a breath, then confessed. The repairs didn't take as long as my report indicated that they did.

Super Sam had actually fudged a report? What was the world coming to if even Sam was messing with her reports? Oh?

Sam looked supremely uncomfortable now, but determined to go on. Um... I did it for a good cause! she eventually insisted. I asked Gairwyn if she minded if I talked to Thor for awhile on a... Sam choked. For a... personal... a personal reason, she finally admitted.

You wanted to talk to Thor? Jack questioned. His expression left no doubt as to his confusion on the matter. I'm the one who always talks to Thor. Why did you need to talk to him, but couldn't tell me about it?

I'm getting to that, Sam said after she had uneasily cleared her throat. Thor came to us in the image of the Norse god that he was impersonating...

Yeah, Jack interrupted, nolstagic. I remember that the Norse number sent Daniel into raptures for weeks. he shook his head then. I still don't see how Thor impersonating a Norse god is any different than what the Goa'uld do, but I don't ask too many questions... he is from an advanced race, after all.

Sam once again gave her customary eye roll that told him she was simply humoring him, then went on with her explanation, Anyway, when Thor contacted us the next day to ask me what it was that I needed...

Jack broke in to incredulously ask, You and Gairwyn waited for an entire day? Sam nodded. And Hammond bought that? Again she nodded. Jack whistled, wondering if he would have bought the same excuse. He probably would have been even more thoughtless. Okay, go on, he finally invited.

So Sam 'went on.' I... um... asked Thor... She paused, and Jack could see her face grow red even in the darkness of early morning.

Yeah, he prompted. Asked him... what?

Well, Sam finally told him. Just watch, she at last instructed.

So Jack watched... and watched. But her memory was blank and dark, showing no picture on the tiny screen she had brought with her. He was just about to ask her what the problem was, when suddenly Sam flipped the memory again into the 'play' mode much as VCR tape would, and an image of the Norse god Thor filled the screen.

The memory was still from Sam's point of view, so it seemed as if she were looking at something that was transpiring right in front of her at that very moment. Jack shuffled his foot in some leaves as the 'god' answered her summons. I am Thor, the vision's voice rumbled. Jack always expected 'Thor' to follow that statement with Hear me roar, but instead he said, Protector of...

Then the Sam of the memory cut him off. Thor, this is Captain Carter of the Earth SGC. I need to ask..

The sudden appearance of Thor-the-Asgard-Supreme-Commander sitting in his typical commander's chair abruptly materialized in the dark before them. Lights that had previously not been lit in the dark 'Thor' cavern burst into life as the tiny alien greeted, Major Carter, it is always a pleasure to see you. He glanced around the empty chamber. Is not O'Neill, DanielJackson, and Teal'c also accompanying you?

'Sam' moved her feet in an uneasy display that jogged the camera of her mind. Uh... no, she said in a small voice. That's kind of what I wanted to talk to you about, Thor, and this trip for Gairwyn was the only way that I could think of to see you alone.

You are alone? Thor asked with an inerrogative raise of his voice.

Gairwyn floated into view as 'Sam' turned in the leader's direction, but she was taking a deferential, and silent, backseat to these strange proceedings.

Ah, Thor said in understanding. Commander Gairwyn is with you, he announced.

Commander? Jack wondered. But he didn't have time to ruminate on his newest discovery, for 'Sam' continued, Ah... Yes. Again came the nervous shuffle of her feet. Finally she simply blurted out the statement, Thor, I need help on a... personal thing.

Thor immediately argued, But one of your other Human team members, O'Neill perhaps, would be better suited to assist you with something of...

'Sam' halted him mid speech. I can't ask him, she tensely divulged. It's because of him that I need your help.

Jack raised his own eyebrows in a silent question of his own when he heard her words, but the memory didn't pause.

Thor looked alarmed as much as an Asgard could look alarmed. Has something happened to O'Neill that...

For a third time, 'Sam' interrupted. No, no, nothing like that. But.. She glanced again at the quiet Gairwyn, then asked, Can you just beam me aboard your ship, or..? That was all she managed to ask before a flash of white light suddenly filled her vision. When it cleared, the Norse Thor chamber had disappeared to be replaced by the blinking lights of a sterile Asgard vessel.

Welcome aboard, Major Carter, Thor greeted again. How may I be of assisstance?

But 'Sam' first asked, Gairwyn?

Thor soothed, She has been returned to her people.

'Sam' looked relieved to hear that. Good! she enthused. I would hate to have anything happen to her. It's because of her that I'm even able to talk to you now.

What is it that you need to discuss, Major Carter? Thor asked.

And that was when 'Sam' explained to Thor just what she was after. She groaned, and the memory picture showed the ceiling of the ship for an instant. This is so embarrassing, she muttered. But... The memory focused on Thor again. I'll just blurt it out, she said to herself. Thor, is it possible for you to create a time distortion field that is completely portable, and small enough to only accomodate two individuals? Then she went on, And can you even make something like that... I mean, is it possible?... and can I even ask that of you, or is that something you'll have to pass through the Council, and...

That is easily managed, Major Carter, Thor said in his well-modulated tones, halting her rain of questions. If you are at liberty to tell me, what will the time dilation be used for, Major? Thor asked as he crossed to the control dais of his ship and began manipulating the many buttons and dials before him. Jack didn't even try to follow all the commands.

It's... Here 'Sam' paused again. Finally, she lamely said, It's in case I eventually need it... later.

Thor studied her with his bulbous eyes, then asked, Is there some trouble that you are..?

No! 'Sam' instantly soothed.

Some trouble that O'Neill is in? was Thor's next inquiry.

No!

Thor would have wrinkled his large forehead in worry if an Asgard could wrinkle a forehead in worry. Earth? he asked. General Hammond?

No! 'Sam' insisted. It's for... She paused once more, then in an even more hushed voice, told the Asgard, It's... She sighed in defeat and said to herself, This is really hard...

Is there an obstruction blocking your throat? Thor asked in puzzlement. Would it help to take something to drink first?

With another sigh, 'Sam' knelt down ad quietly said, Thor, I have to have your most sincere promise that you won't ever say a word about what I'm about to tell you to anyone, especially to Colonel O'Neill.

Thor's puzzlement spiked. As you wish, Major Carter, he said after a thoughtful moment, and in spite of his confusion. But I feel that I should tell O'Neill if this concerns him in some nefarious way.

There's nothing dangerous going on, 'Sam' assured. The Colonel just can't ever know about this. No one can know, she went on.

As you Humans say, Thor at last said in leu of his agreement. 'Count me in'

Thank you, Thor, 'Sam' said with a relieved sigh. You're a good friend, both to Earth, and to me.

It gives me pleasure to hear that, Major, Thor responded.

Jack couldn't remain silent a second longer. Is he flirting? he demanded in astonishment.

Sh! Sam told him.

The memory of Sam told Thor, I plan to use the time dilation bubble just so that the Colonel and I can talk, if it ever comes to a time that we can discuss things.

Thor again seemed puzzled. To talk? he questioned.

Yes, 'Sam' said. And it's very important that no one hears us, or sees us, and if a chance to talk ever comes while we're at work in the SGC... It's against our military's rules for two people in the same chain of command to get too friendly... 'Sam' hesitated for a moment. And if Colonel O'Neill and I ever seem to be more than friendly... She shivered, then hesitated. Finally she said, I don't want to get him into trouble because of me, and... She sighed. I just need your help in this, Thor. I don't know who else to turn to.

If all else failed, Thor was a male... or had once been a male... and as a male, responded to the tone of agony in 'Sam's voice. Don't speak of it, Major Carter. It is my pleasure to come to your aid.

'Sam' sighed. No, Thor, you should know... She looked away, then back to Thor. The Colonel and I recently were forced to confess some... feelings... for each other, and...

Thor's eyes lit up in delight. It has always been my theory that and proginy sired by O'Neill would have the answers to many of the Asgard's cloning...

'Proginy!' Jack barked. Now wait a minute!

DNA sequences aside, 'Sam' patiently said, The Colonel and I need the opportunity to talk before any 'progeny' even has the possibility of being produced, so...

Thor seemed to immediately be understanding as Jack spoke at the same time that the Asgard did. I didn't know you ever thought about having my progeny, Carter.

She responded. I still might be just considering it, Sir.

Hey, what's to consider? Jack rhetorically asked, smirking again.

Sam motioned to him to turn off the memory recall device, and he grabbed her chin in preparation to 'flicking the off switch,' but then he teasingly looked into her eyes and said, You know you're never gone hear the end of progeny joks, right, Carter?

Just turn it off, Sam demanded. You've seen enough. She paused, then added, And none of that progeny stuff, or I swear, I'll..!

Jack flicked his wrist, but as he flicked, he asked, Or you'll what?

Sam didn't answer him. Instead, she removed the Tok'ra memory device, then removed it to store in her pocket again. Now... She gazed piercingly at Jack just as she had done in her lab. Do you really understand what this distortion bubble is going to let us do?

Now that Sam had... sort of... broken the ice, and mentioned... sort of... the situation of her feelings for him, and his for her, the fact that she was willing to talk about it, even in a safe place like a bubble of time that no one else could enter, amazed him. I... uh... I do, I do understand, Jack managed to get out and actually sound fairly intelligent. But...

Sam gave him a grim stare as she bent to retrieve the Asgard device she had rested on the nearby rock. Sir.., she began. She swallowed and tried again. Sir... Again her throat close up. She looked away and took a deep, calming breath.

Which was the exact moment that Jack chose to smile in amusement. We're supposedly facing... He paused, then awkwardly waved his arm. Facing... what we're... facing... He grinned at her. And you're gonna call me 'Sir?'

But Sam didn't answer him. She was busy contemplating something off in the dastance.

Jack peered in the same direction as Sam. But he didn't see anything. What? he finally had to ask. You see somethin'?

Sam shook her head. Not a thing, she replied. And that's the point, really.

Jack was confused. Again. Huh?

Sam gave a ghost of a respoonding grin, and said, Not a soul in sight. She sighed in something akin to satisfaction. No consequences, she continued on. Her second sigh was larger that the first, sounding through the treetops. Sixty minutes of complete freedom to say and do whatever we want... She turned to assess the expression on his face. I'm terrified, she admitted at last.

She admitted to that, too? Jack was impressed with her bravery. Or was she just being stupid? No, he decided. Sam Carter was never stupid. But to hear her confess to being afraid... This was a momentous occasion.

Finally Sam shok her head, as if the doubts she was feeling was able to fly away lik the ends of her hair flew in the late summer breeze. A third sigh curd aroound them both, and Sam bent in determination to pick up the Asgard distortion feld generator.

Jack was alarmed... he wan't ready! But then, when would he ever truly be ready for this conversation that he knew was about to happen. Being a new parent had taught him that. He could either run away and quail in fear for the rest of his lonely life, or he could jump at this chance that a tiny alien from another galaxy had given him.

Scared, but equally as determined as she was, Jack took a shaky breath, and grunted. Do it.

Sam peered at him. Jack swallowed, tasting his own fear.

Sam explained, Move this rock-like thing...

Jack repeated, 'Rock-like thing?'

Sam ignored his question to keep explaining, Move it up to here... She slid the diamond shaped stone that Thor had given to her in a diagonal up from a marked starting point on the board she held in her hand. Move it here to turn the time distrtion fild on, and back down to here to turn the field off, if you want out earlier than an hour.

Hmm. Jack studied the board in her hands. Seems easy enough.

Ready? she asked then. You got everything that you want to take with you?

Jack still didn't feel ready. Uh... He patted his BDUs. I seem to have what I might need...

Good. Sam didn't give him a chance to prepare himself, but activated the distortion field even as he was rising to stand straght again after bending down to be sure had hadn't left anything under the rock.

A slight flash of light filtered through the nearby trees, and then... nothing.

Hey! Jack objected anyway. You might giv me some warning next time!

Again Sam ignored him, probabl one of the few times she did. Shh, she commanded, he head cocked to the side. Do you hear anything?

Jack listened, exapecting to at least hear the rustlings of nocturnal woodland creatures. But he didn't hear a sound. Which was odd. No, he said at last. Nothing.

Sam looked down at the device. This must be working then, she remarked. We wouldn't hear anythng if time had stopped for us.

But eerything seems perfectly normal, Jack protested with a shrug of his shoulders.

Sam gave an answering shrug. It is normal, she told him. In here. She indicated the small slightly yellow cast to the air around them. Out there... She shrugged again.

Time out of time, Jack stated as he looked beyond the field to the surrounding trees. He quirked an eyebrow. Sweet.

Sam got down to business immedieately now that they had determined the the bubble... device... thing... was actually working. Well... But how did one start this kind of a conversation? Her nerves threatened to close her throat again. She hemmed loudly. We have thirty to sixty minutes.

Jack gave a start of surprise. I thought we had a sure thing at sixty minutes.

Sam was able to give a slight grin at his comment. Even the Asgard can't be completely precise about time, she explained to him.

Jack considered his and her new reality. Maybe we should include a clock or something, ticking off the minutes, like on TV...

Sam shut her eyes in restraint. Sir, this isn't exatly the right time to joke around.

Serious at last, Jack quickly replied, And this isn't the time to call me 'Sir,' either.

Sam gave a resigned sigh, but squared her shoulders. You're right... Jack.

He stared at her. She stared back. The silence stretched on between them to the point of becomming uncomfortable. So... Gotta love that Asgard technology. She didn't reply to that coment, either. At last he forced himself to ask, So... What do you want to talk about?

Sam didn't beat around the bush now that he had asked. I want you to give me a reason not to accept this... She swallowed. This... engagement... that Pete has going.

She didn't pull any punches when she was on a time limit, did she? Jack felt his heart start to squeeze in his chest again, but he ignored he pain the mention of Sam's possible future engagement caused to say But it's your decision.

Sam sighed in aggravation. Yes, she admitted at last. But... She turned fully around in a circle, too traumatized to stand in one place, now.

But..? he inquired.

But... Sam peered at him, trying to read his mind, which was buried under the most innocent O'Neill expression he had in his repertoire of facial looks. She sighed, her aggravation back. What do I have to do to get you to..?

But Jack cut her off. Sam, he gently said. I can't say anything. He beseeched her with his eyes to ead his mind despite his efforts to block her. Don't you see? His voice had finally begun to show the strain he was feeling. His heart continued to squeeze him, and again he ignored the sensation. If I say 'Don't marry that twerp,' I'll never be sure that you aren't just following an order of mine if you say 'no' to his engagement. You have to say 'no' on your own.

Just because I say 'no' doesn't mean that I have any reason for saying that 'no' in the first place, she argued with him.

Jack sighed in aggravation this time. I don't want to influence anything that you decide to do, though.

Sam squinched her eyes thoughtfully at him.

You're thinking again, he accused. Too much thinking will give you a hernia.

Then I'll avoid sitting down for a week, she rejoined.

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