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Strolling out of Daniel’s office, Jack made his way to Carter’s lab. He’d gotten every member of SG-1 something for Valentine’s Day; Teal’c one of those holiday themed doughnuts, Daniel some chocolates—your typical rose wouldn’t suffice as Daniel would be sneezing his ass off until it died—, and Carter, some tulips. While roses were the ‘main’ valentines flower, Carter’s personal favourite flower was a tulip, so a bunch of tulips it was.
“Carter,” he announced, as he approached her open lab door, peeping round so the tulips behind his back were hidden.
Looking up, she smiled, “Hi, sir.”
Spying the empty vase behind her, his own smile formed on his lips.
“I got you something,”
“You did?” Her eyebrows furrowed, but her smile never faded.
“Uh-huh,” he took a step in, and revealed the bunch of flowers. “Happy Valentine’s Day? Don’t worry, I got something for Daniel and T, too.”
Her entire face lit up, and her smile turned into a grin. “Tulips!” She exclaimed, jumping up from her seat, “they’re beautiful,” she inspected them, and he handed them to her.
“Thank you, sir. Really, I love them.” She looked up at him, and he nodded.
“Well, I thought if I’m getting the guys something I best get something for you as well,” he joked. She of all people knew if anything it was the other way round.
With her signature smile and head duck, she turned round and headed towards the vase, “What did you get the guys?”
Taking a few slow steps forward, he replied, “Nothing special. Got T one of those themed doughnuts, had heart sprinkles on it. He was extremely confused. I was going to get you all a rose each, but then that was just a bit.. well, weird. And with Daniel’s allergy’s… so I just got him some of his favourite chocolate. I wasn’t sure what to get you, but then I saw those, and I remember you mentioning how they were your favourite flower, so I thought..” he trailed off with a shrug.
By the time he had finished talking Carter had placed the flowers in the vase—which was already filled with water—and was leaning on the counter beaming at him.
“That was very thoughtful of you, sir.”
“Eh, I don’t know about that.” He crooked his head to the side, ”definitely not as thoughtful as the valentines gifts we got from good Ol’ PX—whatever last year.”
“Oh,” she shuddered, “don’t remind me.”
“Yeah..” he was tempted to shiver, but controlled himself and shook his head slightly.
Breaking the silence, she bounced herself off the counter behind her, “Well, by all means, thank you. I love them. But now I feel bad I didn’t get any of you anything..”
Her being—well, her, was enough.
He waved his hand about, “Ack, don’t worry about me.”
A look in her eyes that Jack could only explain as her thinking face—he saw it all too often—appeared, and he waited for her to spill the bright idea.
“We’re still doing the team night tonight, right?” She asked eventually, and Jack nodded.
“I’ll pay for the takeout, then, that’ll be my valentine's gift to you all. I think it’s my turn anyway.”
“Carter, you don’t—“
“It's fine, sir. Besides, this way I get to order whatever I want without feeling bad because someone else is paying for it,”
“You know I’d buy you whatever you wanted.” He countered, and her head tilted slightly and the small smile on her lips was one he could look at forever.
“I know.” Taking her lips between her teeth for a moment in thought, she glanced around the lab. “Ok, I’ll tell you what. I’ll convince the guys to watch any episode of the simpsons you want, tonight. That’ll be your present, deal?”
Yeah, that did sound like a fair deal. They never watched the simpsons with him, it was insulting, frankly. Though anytime Carter was there earlier or stayed later for some reason—which they tried not to do for obvious reasons—they watched it together.
“Deal,” he held out his hand, and Carter took it into hers and shook.
Opening the door, Jack was met by Carter, —the last one of SG-1 to arrive, surprisingly—holding a six-pack of beer and a plastic bag.
“Happy Valentine’s Day, sir.” She beamed at him, and he stepped back to let her in.
“Carter, you shouldn’t—“ before he could finish— whatever he was trying to say, he’d already forgotten, she had already planted a kiss on his cheek, and the shock kept him very still, and very quiet for a few seconds, before Daniel appeared to greet Sam and their chattering snapped him out of it.
“Well,” he cleared his throat, “who’s ready to watch The Simpsons?”
With a groan from Daniel, and a little laugh from Carter, they headed for the living room, pizza on the way, and beers ready.