Beginnings
Life’s Journey 2
By Shiaw Mei Mei
Part One
Sam left Jack sleeping serenely. She had made a rather startling decision this morning. She was tired of the situation between her and Jack. Pete was gone. Pete didn’t even question her decision. Faced with her knowledge of the truth about his prying ways, he just left her here last night. She hoped that was the end of it. If only it was that simple.
She hadn’t slept well curled up in Jack’s recliner. She was tired and her car was still at O’Malley’s. She briefly thought about calling a cab but decided against it. She cleaned up the bathroom and washed her face. Her makeup from last night had long been cried away.
She still felt foolish. She had been so gullible. Pete seemed the answer to her loneliness. He was fun to be with but he wasn’t Jack. She should have realized that Pete’s arrival at the scene of the Osirus operation was too coincidental. She looked at the reflection in the mirror. ‘You really must have been desperate to believe his bull.’ She shook her head at the foolish woman in the mirror before she turned to leave.
She straightened up the kitchen and poured herself another cup of coffee. ‘No sense in wasting a perfectly good pot of coffee.’ Sam stood in the kitchen looking at the sunrise while she sipped her drink. It was a beautiful morning in more ways than one. She went into the living room, grabbed an afghan off the couch and walked out on the deck. Wrapped in the warm blanket against the morning chill, she sat thinking about the last few weeks.
Pete had asked her to marry him. She hadn’t really thought much about marriage. It was nice having someone around but, if she was honest with herself, she knew she couldn’t accept his proposal the day he asked. However, she hadn’t been honest with herself in a long time. Jack was still in her thoughts too much for the relationship with Pete to have survived much longer. It went on longer than it should have.
Her last mission off world was a bit harrowing.
That should have been her first clue… It wasn’t the first time that her memory drifted over his features in times of stress. Not Pete’s face, but Jack’s. Then again, since she was being honest with herself, Jack’s image tended to sneak into her consciousness in quiet times as well. He was far too busy to stop by her lab much anymore and she missed it. Sometimes in the middle of a juicy bit of research, she would look up expecting him to come in and start driving her crazy. He had the worst habit of touching things he shouldn’t. He was like a bored little boy at those times. And she loved them.
“Okay, Sam,” she said to herself, “since you are being honest with yourself, it’s not just the times you love…it’s him.” She shook her head softly. She thought that she needed to get on with her life. That’s how the whole thing with Pete started. Sadly, her life was the SGC and Jack O’Neill. Whether he could take an active part in her life didn’t matter. There was no getting around the fact. No matter what happened from here on out, she wouldn’t make that mistake again.
Sam shivered slightly as the wind shifted directions. She hadn’t noticed the clouds moving in. It looked like the nice fall weather was over for a little while. Clouds were moving in and the temperature seemed to be dropping.
She really should call a cab. Sam looked around the house for a minute. Her eyes fell on the fireplace. She raised one eyebrow in thought. ‘A fire…that would be nice…’ She didn’t even think about the fact that she should be going home. She found some kindling in a box next to the fireplace and shortly had a nice warm blaze going. She wandered back into the kitchen and poured another cup of coffee. She stood watching the clouds from the kitchen window as she waited for it to brew.
‘I wonder if it will snow soon.’ Her thoughts, like her life, were an incoherent jumble and all she could do was muse over the weather. She laughed slightly at herself then poured a fresh cup of coffee and went into the living room. She curled up on the couch with her coffee and watched the fire.
‘Okay, so what now?’ She made a decision so now what to do with it. Pete was out and Jack was in. In whatever capacity she could have him. If it was just as C.O. and friend, then that’s all it would be. But the way he kissed her hand earlier… That thought warmed her more than the fire. He said they needed to talk and then he kissed her hand.
Her logical nature took over. There were only so many choices here. They could continue the way they were without changing their relationship. That was acceptable to Sam. It wouldn’t make her happy but she would be content if that’s all she could have…for now. She wanted to talk about the demon that seems to have been riding them both for years. Even if there were no way to resolve it, getting it out in the open would at least let them both know where they stood. And maybe, they could plan for a future at some point.
Sam could resign. The SGC would love to have her as a full time scientist. She would love doing the work but she wouldn’t like giving up gate travel. She also didn’t like the idea of giving up her career and she knew that Jack would throw a fit if she did. He’d probably throw a fit if she even mentioned it. She knew that she would do the same if he tried to resign.
Of course, they could just take the risk and ignore the regulations. She had been tempted in the past to take this route. There had been times that she would have willingly risked court-martial for him. Would she be willing now? She had made light colonel. She was in command of the SGC’s elite team. Her career was on fire right now. Could she risk losing all of that?
Her head was starting to hurt. She was thinking too much. She laughed lightly at the familiar phrase. Jack always said she thought too much. He was a man of action, never much for words. Maybe she needed to just act on her feelings and see where it took them. Let the consequences be damned! Maybe she really did think too much!
She set her now empty cup on the coffee table and snuggled down into the blanket. The fire was comforting. She watched it as she drifted off to sleep.
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Jacob was up early. He wandered through the halls of the SGC thinking about last night. Maybe he shouldn’t have left Sam to drive Jack home. No telling what might have happened. He caught the murderous look Sam threw at him as he left the restaurant last night. She was not happy about his little deception. His kid was smart but not smart enough to realize that he could have taken her car, drove Jack home and let Pete take Sam home. Jacob snickered at the idea that he’d outsmarted his genius daughter!
“What’s so funny, Jacob?”
“Daniel! How’s it going this morning?”
“You seem to be in a good mood. Have you heard from Sam?” Daniel was concerned that things could have turn sour last night. Jack was in no condition to take on Pete. Who knows what could have happened? Of course, Sam could have put a stop to anything Pete could try but after the way Jack acted last night, would she?
“Nope, and I prefer to stick with the old adage that no news is good news. Jack’s clerk said that he wasn’t scheduled in today. Good thing. He’s gonna have one hell of a hangover.” Jacob smirked at the thought of the raging headache that must be plaguing Jack about now.
“Yeah, he really tied one on. I guess you were right about him. And, I guess you were right about Sam. She didn’t seem too comfortable with him there last night.”
“Yep, and you know how I love being right!” Jacob laughed as Selmac chided him about gloating. “You do not yet know if your plan has come to fruition. You may be gloating prematurely.” “Oh, stop taking the fun out of it!”
Daniel looked confused. “Not you, Daniel, Selmac is warning me to not count my chicken’s before they hatch!”
Daniel laughed. “Well, she does have a point.”
“I’m hungry. You up for breakfast?”
“Sure, lead on!”
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Pete didn’t sleep well. He kept rolling the events of last night through his mind. He felt as if he’d been set up. Sam’s team showing up when they did, the way her father left her to take care of O’Neill, every instinct he had as a cop smelled a set up. Why would her father do that?
General Carter hadn’t even met him yet and he seemed to dislike him from the beginning. At first, he just thought it was the general thing. O’Neill and Hammond both had that same sternness about them. But as the evening progressed, Pete began to feel that it was personal. O’Neill definitely didn’t like him but Pete figured that it was because he ended up in the middle of his operation. Sam’s dad kept watching O’Neill and Sam all night. His eyes would go back and forth between the two as if he were expecting something to happen.
The
And Sam. Pete closed his eyes against the despair he felt. He should have been honest with her. He should have just told her that he was worried about her. It was a cop’s instinct to investigate a mystery. He should have pushed that instinct aside with her. He should have trusted her. Once he found out what she did at
If he’d trusted her, not investigated her, she might be here with him now. Wearing the ring he had offered her. He couldn’t sleep anymore. He decided to get up. He was off duty today. He had planned to spend it with Sam. Now that wouldn’t happen.
After a quick shower and some coffee to clear his head, Pete decided to go talk to Sam. Maybe they could patch things up. He didn't like the idea of it ending the way it did. He loved her and he was sure that she loved him too.
Part Two
Jack opened his eyes warily. He remembered the pounding headache and the turmoil in the pit of his stomach from the first time he woke up today. The sun was high. It had to be close to noon. Good thing he didn’t have to be at the mountain today. Sam’s hangover remedy seemed to do the trick. His head had just a slight ache to it. Sam!
He smiled as he remembered that Pete was history! The memory of her tucking him into bed flooded his mind. ‘We’ll talk later, Jack.’ She said they would talk later. He remembered kissing her hand. After that… He can’t believe he fell asleep after that!
And she had called him ‘Jack’! He wanted to jump from the bed for joy but thought it prudent to sit up slowly. He washed up quickly, brushing the last of the cotton feeling out of his mouth. He wanted to call Sam or maybe he should just go over there. Or call first and then go over there… His mind was in complete chaos. What would he say?
He wandered into the kitchen looking for something to slake the thirst that was driving him crazy. He pulled a carton of orange juice from the refrigerator and wandered into the living room with it. Drinking straight from the carton, he almost choked when he saw Sam asleep on his couch. ‘She never left!’ He had just assumed that she left after he fell asleep.
She had the blanket pulled up over her mouth and nose. Only her eyes and forehead were visible. She looked so peaceful; he didn’t want to wake her. He saw that she had started a fire. Quietly, he added more wood to the fire and then sat in the recliner to watch her sleep. A shaft of sunlight escaped the clouds outside and snuck through the blinds to kiss her hair. It highlighted the gold in it. Her face was so calm. No bad dreams, no anxiety, no thinking too much… He enjoyed just watching her. He had spent years just watching her. He enjoyed it no matter what she was doing. What would it be like if he could do more than just watch? He wanted to participate in her life, not just watch her.
What would he say to her? What had changed? She was still under his command. She still had a career to think about. Could he just chuck the SGC and retire? Who would end up over his people? Some civilian bureaucrat? Weir wasn’t bad but who would replace him since she was gone? If
Would Sam even agree to him retiring? Of course, he could do it without telling her. He wasn’t sure he was brave enough to face her wrath if he did that. There was no way he was letting her sacrifice her career. She was too good and she was on the fast track. She could be one of the youngest generals the Air Force ever had. He wanted that for her because he knew that was what she wanted. He was proud of her accomplishments.
His beautiful genius. What could she ever see in him? Whatever it was, he thanked God for it. He had loved her for so long. Although he had tried to pull away from her, give her room to get a life outside of work, he couldn’t change the way he felt. Jack tipped the orange juice up to his mouth. He felt like he didn’t have a drop of moisture left in his body.
“Wanna share some of that?”
He almost choked again.
“You’re supposed to drink it, not inhale it.” There was the distinct sound of a giggle emanating from the couch.
Jack smirked at her. “Yeah, I think I about figured that out.” His smirked smoothed into a smile as he handed her the carton. “You’re still here.” He pointed out the obvious.
Sam sat up on the couch, the blanket falling down around her shoulders, as she reached for the juice. She took a long drink from the carton. “Yeah, I didn’t feel like dealing with a cab. My car is still at O’Malley’s.” She passed the juice back to him. Her blue sweater set brought out the blue in her eyes. He could get so lost in there.
“Don’t mention that place. I’m never going there again.” He winced at the memory of last night. “I don’t imagine I’ll be let back in.”
“You didn’t do anything to get you banned this time. You just got quietly drunk. Extremely drunk! Tremendously drunk!”
He cut her off, “Yeah, yeah, I get the picture. So I didn’t do anything too obnoxious.”
“Nope, not obnoxious at all. Well, you did get a little verbal in the truck on the way here.”
“Verbal?” Most of the evening was a haze. He remembered how it began, he remembered Sam taking care of him this morning, he just didn’t remember much about the in between.
“Just telling me about some things that someone should have told me a long time ago.” She glared at him slightly and then managed to look embarrassed.
“Like what?” He remembered her comment about twenty questions this morning. “Are you going to make me continue playing twenty questions with a hangover? I really don’t remember much about last night.”
“I guess not. You told me about Pete checking up on me with the FBI. Also, that his presence at the op was not a coincidence.”
“And you believed me? I mean, I was pretty drunk.”
“Of course, I believed you. Drunk or not, I don’t think you would lie to me. Of course, you did conceal it from me.” She glared at him.
“I’m sorry, Sam. I thought, well, I thought you were happy. I didn’t want to do anything to spoil it. Besides, Pete might have told you himself and then it would look like I was trying to start something between the two of you.”
“Well, he didn’t tell me but he managed to confirm it when I confronted him with it. And I would never think you so petty as to try and stir things up that way.” Sam felt uncomfortable. She really didn’t want to talk about Pete right now. She wanted to talk about her and Jack but she had no idea how to start. And she really needed to run to the restroom so she didn’t want to start at this exact moment.
Sam stood up from the couch and stretched.
“Are you leaving?” He didn’t want her to go. He didn’t know what to say to her, but he didn’t want her to leave.
She smiled at the strain in his voice. “No, just need to use the facilities. I’ll be back in a minute.” She headed for the restroom. “Hey, you wouldn’t happen to have a spare toothbrush around here, would you?”
“Yeah, in the medicine cabinet in my bathroom. There should be a couple of new ones in there.”
Sam wandered through Jack’s bedroom. The bed still messed up from where he had slept. She sighed as she searched the cabinet for a toothbrush. How was she supposed to start this ‘conversation’. She knew that Jack wasn’t much with words. If they were going to talk, she needed to start it.
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He was standing near the door to the deck watching the cloudy sky clear when he heard her returning. “I started some more coffee if you want some,” he said as he turned around. He noticed the serious look on her face as she came back into the living room. “You look like you’re thinking too much again.” His voice was soft.
Her expression changed rapidly. He couldn’t read this one.
“You know what? You’re right. I am thinking too much.” Actions speak louder than words. She walked over to him, stopping just inches from him. “I do think too much, don’t I?” Her hand drifted up to caress his cheek. She felt his face tilt gently into her hand as his eyes closed for a moment. “I think that for once, I should just stop thinking.” Brown eyes met blue at the sound of her voice.
A shiver ran down Jack’s spine from her touch. He wasn’t good with words, never had been, especially concerning his feelings, even more so where Sam was concerned. He’d spent so many years controlling his actions around her that it seemed almost unnatural to do anything else. The kiss on her hand this morning was out of character for him but he had a serious hangover hampering his control. Now, she stood here, lightly stoking his cheek, just inches from him. His control was firmly in place…or was it?
Sam leaned closer to him. Her face so close he could feel her breath as she spoke. “I know what I want from you, Jack; I just don’t know what kind of relationship we can have at this point.” She tilted her head slightly and smiled at him. “What we do is important but what we mean to each other is also important.” Her other hand moved up to the other side of his face. Her thumb tenderly traced his lips.
She let her lips replace her thumb. Her lips were so soft, gentle, against his. He hesitantly returned her light kiss. All his earlier thoughts raced through his mind. Her career, the SGC… He broke their tentative kiss to look at her. ‘Now who’s thinking too much!’ His arms wrapped around her as he buried his face in her neck. “Sam,” he groaned as her arms returned his embrace.
They stood wrapped up in each other for a long time. Neither knew what to do or say now. At this moment, they didn’t care. It was enough just to hold each other. They stood there as the last of the clouds cleared the sky and the sun shone brightly through the window behind them.
Part Three
Pete was worried. Sam wasn’t at home and her car was still at O’Malley’s. He called the SGC and was told that she was not in today. Surely, she couldn’t still be at O’Neill’s. He should never have left her there. He should have at least made sure she got home, no matter how mad she was at him. What if something had happened to her on the way home? She would have had to call a cab. Or she could have taken O’Neill’s truck. He would have certainly heard if she’d been in a car accident.
He called information for O’Neill’s number but it was unlisted. He could call the department but that would create questions. He retraced the drive from last night and found himself in front of O’Neill’s house. The truck was in the same place Sam had left it last night. Pete hesitated. He really didn’t want to ask O’Neill if he knew where Sam was. He was sure, after last night’s little performance, that O’Neill didn’t like him for more than just his intrusion on a covert operation.
He had a strong suspicion that O’Neill had feelings for Sam other than friendship. The more he thought about it, the more last night made sense. The way everyone, including Sam’s dad had acted. They thought of Pete as an interloper, intruding on something he shouldn’t. Sam.
The way she acted. She was very protective of O’Neill, insisting that she take him home instead of calling a cab. She said he was her C.O. and her friend. What if he were more? Pete knew enough of military regulations to know that anything other than friendship would be forbidden between Sam and O’Neill. But regulations could only control someone’s actions not their feelings.
“Well, I can’t just sit here all day,” he said. He yanked open the car door and marched up to the porch.
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Jack didn’t want to let her go but they couldn’t just stand there all day. He kissed her neck lightly before pulling away from her. “Come on,” he whispered. He led her over to the couch. Sam snuggled up under Jack’s arm letting her head rest on his chest. They sat quietly not knowing where to go next. Jack reached for her hand and intertwined his fingers with her. He traced slow circles in the palm of her hand with his thumb. His attention focused on her ring finger. His thumb moved to trace a line back and forth across it. He was grateful that it was bare.
“I guess we should talk,” Sam’s soft voice pulled him out of his thoughts. Her hand tightened on his restless fingers.
“Yeah,” he whispered. He rested his cheek on her head. “I don’t know where to start.”
“That makes two of us.” Sam knew they needed to discuss their situation but she was simply enjoying his closeness.
He lightly kissed her hair and tightened his arm around her. “I’m glad you’re not marrying him.”
“I guess I knew I never would. It wouldn’t be fair, to him or to me…” her voice dropped to a whisper as she looked up at him, “…or to you.” Her voice rose slightly on the last word, making it almost a question.
He leaned forward and kissed her lightly. Her hand slipped up around his neck and pulled him closer. Her lips, so soft on his, parted slightly. He could hear his own heart beat as she bit lightly on his lower lip. Her hand lightly tugged on his neck and he willing increased pressure on her lips. He turned his body slightly toward her, enclosing her in both arms. Persuaded by the demanding pull of her teeth on his lip, he opened his mouth to greet hers.
Sam shivered at the contact of his tongue on her lips; he tasted her lightly, gently, almost afraid. His kiss was hesitant. She softly greeted his tongue with her own. She tasted the sweet flavor of oranges. She gasped for air as his arms tightened around her. He moved suddenly to bury his face in her neck. She moaned at the loss of his kiss. She let her head fall back and fought to regain her breath. She grasped at his hair as she felt his lips move along the neckline of her sweater. The feel of his tongue, soft and moist on her skin as he moved across her collarbone sent sensations of warmth through her body.
He stopped kissing her because he knew things were getting out of control but couldn’t help tasting her skin. Jack knew they needed to talk but all he could think about was her…here with him, close to him. He was afraid if they stopped to talk, reason and self-control would take over. He didn’t want to think or talk. He just wanted to feel. Feel her in his arms, feel the sensation of her hands stroking his hair. He wanted to let his feelings for her, bottled up all these years, out. Sam sighed in his arms and drew a ragged breath.
Her whole body shuddered as he paused to pay particular attention to her throat. His mouth was hot… his breath teased her skin. Her entire body was on fire. Every place he stopped to nibble or lick fed fuel to that fire. Her hands grasped at his hair, urging him back toward her mouth. He ignored her attempts to direct him. He grazed her throat with his lips before he moved to the other side of her neck. She moaned softly as he sucked lightly on her neck.
“Jack,” she gasped. “Please…”
He moved swiftly back to her lips. This time there was no hesitation. Their mouths came together hard, tongues exploring, tasting. Sam gasped as he pulled her tight against him, crushing her breasts against his chest. She lay back on the couch pulling him down with her, their lips never parted. Sam slipped her hands up the back of his shirt, caressing the hard muscles and the many scars. His skin was warm to the touch. She explored each line, each muscle.
Jack groaned as he felt her hands against his bare skin. He shifted slightly to keep from crushing her. He moaned loudly as he felt her legs wrap around him. He buried his face in her neck.
“Oh, Sam!” His voice was hoarse with passion.
She moved slightly beneath him. She could feel his erection against her through their clothes. She moved again, this time with more purpose, rocking against him. His hands twined through her hair as his mouth returned to hers. She shifted a little more until she could feel the hard pressure of him against her. Her mouth tried to devour his as her rocking gained in speed and tempo. Her breathing became ragged; she gasped into his mouth while she tried to maintain her assault on his lips.
Jack could feel the heat of her against him. He began to move with her as her breathing and movements became more frantic. She finally pulled away from his kiss. She smothered a cry in his shoulder, her teeth digging into the muscles, her nails buried in his back. Jack took control as Sam lost it. He moved against her as she held on to him.
“Oh, God, Jack!” She cried against his shoulder as she flew into ecstasy. Her body shuddered hard as her legs tightened around him. Her head fell back against the couch, her breath coming in short gasps. He gathered her up in his arms and held her trembling body tightly. He lightly kissed her throat, her chin, and finally her lips. She hungrily took his mouth, deepening his light kiss. “Oh, Jack, I need you,” she whispered, as she came up for air. “Please, I need you.”
“Oh, Sam.” He caressed her face lightly. “I love you.”
Sam’s eyes filled with tears. “I love you, too.” Her breath turned to sobs. “Jack, I am so sorry. I know I have hurt you. I…”
“Shush, shush” he whispered, kissing the tears away as they rolled down her check. “It’s okay, Sam. It’s okay. We’ll be okay. We’ll find a way.” He held her tightly. “We’ll find a way.”
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Pete stood on the steps of O’Neill’s house. He wasn’t sure if this was a good idea after all. Surely, Sam wouldn’t still be here but this was the last place he could think of to look for her. “Oh, hell, just knock on the damn door! What’s he gonna do, punch you?” He took the last few stairs to the porch and knocked. He hoped O’Neill was at least awake. As drunk as he was last night, who knew?
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The knock at the door barely registered with Sam. She couldn’t hear anything over the beating of her heart. The second time, the knock was more insistent. It seeped through her desire-clouded mind as Jack groaned and buried his head in her neck.
“It’s probably your conniving, scheming, plotting father!” Jack laughed. “You do realize we were set up last night?” Sam nodded as he continued. “Have I told you how much I love your Dad?” He pulled away from her neck to look at her.
Sam laughed, tears still in her eyes. “Not really, but you just got around to telling me…”
“Yeah,” He said softly as he kissed her lightly. Once again, the knock on the door intruded on them. “For crying out loud, Jacob goes through all this to get us together and then can’t leave us alone!” Jack planted a light kiss on her mouth as he got up to answer the door.
Sam jumped up and ran for the bathroom to try to straighten herself up. No way she wanted her Dad or anyone else to see her like this.
“Yeah, yeah, I’m coming!” he shouted. ‘Or I was about to!’ he thought to himself. He yanked the door open to find Shanahan standing there. “What do you want?” Jack was shocked to see him here.
“I’m looking for Sam.”
“What makes you think that she would be here?”
“Well, I’ve tried everywhere else and this was the last place I saw her.”
O’Neill nodded slightly. “Just a minute.” He left Pete standing on the porch as he closed the door and leaned against it. Definitely wasn’t expecting Pete to show up.
Sam came back from the restroom. She still looked as if she’d been crying but it wasn’t as obvious. “Who was it?”
“Ah,” he winced slightly, “it is Pete. I forgot my manners and left him standing on the porch. He’s looking for you. Do you want to see him?” Sam’s face paled slightly.
Jack’s face was hard to read. He masked whatever he was feeling at the moment. Sam didn’t like that. Not now, not after everything they had gone through to get to this point! “No, I don’t. Not now. I guess I have to at least talk to him, but not now.”
Jack nodded as he watched her worry her lower lip with her teeth. “I’ll get rid of him.”
Sam stepped back so that she wouldn’t be in view when the door opened.
Jack pulled the door open. “She doesn’t want to talk to you right now.” He told a startled Pete. He started to close the door again.
“Hey, wait a minute!” Pete stuck a foot against the door to keep it from closing completely. “You mean, she’s still here?”
“Uh, that would be obvious since I just told you that she didn’t want to talk to you right now.” Jack’s patience was wearing a little thin. He didn’t have much patience to begin with considering the timing of Shanahan’s interruption. And now the man had the gall to shove a foot in his door!
“I want her to tell me that!”
Jack laughed slightly, not a very nice laugh. “Well, since she doesn’t want to talk to you and that would be talking to you… Not gonna happen. You see how logic works?”
Pete was getting pissed off. O’Neill’s tone and attitude was condescending. “I understand your ‘logic’, O’Neill, but I’m not leaving until she tells me herself.”
Sam knew she should just tell Pete to go away but she just couldn’t deal with him right now. She knew her face was flushed and tear stained. She didn’t want him to think that she was upset over him and she couldn’t tell him what she was really upset over. She was afraid that this would go in a bad direction if she didn’t do something though.
“Look, Shanahan, if she says she doesn’t want to talk to you, then you won’t be talking to her. So I suggest you move out and leave her alone until she is ready to discuss it.” His eyes dropped to the foot holding the door open. “And if you think you can force your way in here, you’d better think again.”
Pete weighed the possibility of doing exactly what O’Neill warned him against. The look in O’Neill’s eyes was menacing. Pete knew the man was trained by the military to protect himself but Pete was a trained cop. O’Neill was also much older than he was. If it came down to it, Pete felt he would have the upper hand. But what would Sam do? What would she think if he forced his way in there? Especially if he hurt O’Neill in the process.
“Alright, O’Neill, but I will talk to her. She can’t stay here forever. You won’t always be around to interfere.”
Jack snorted a short laugh. “If she doesn’t want to talk to you, I don’t need to be around to ‘interfere’. She’d kick your ass from here to
Pete moved his foot and O’Neill slammed the door in his face.
Part Four
Pete was a little startled at that last statement. Sam was in a very special branch of the military. He hadn’t really thought about it but she could probably be pretty dangerous if the mood struck her. He decided that it was probably a good idea to have backed down with O’Neill. If Sam were that dangerous, O’Neill might be tougher than Pete thought he would be.
He sighed, looking at the door. He really wanted to talk to Sam. He knew that if he could just explain… He wasn’t giving up yet!
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Sam watched him walk back down the steps toward his car through the blinds. She bowed her head and bit back tears. “I am so sorry, Jack. I never expected him to show up here. I should have known better.”
Jack pulled her close to him. “It’s okay, Sam.” He held her tight, rubbing her back gently. “I should have expected it. I guess we both should have realized that he wouldn’t give up that easily.”
“Yeah,” her voice muffled by his chest. She looked up at him. “I just wish…”
“I know,” he whispered. “But it will be alright. We will work it out.”
“Yeah, I just need to get control of this crying thing right now…” she sighed. “Sorry about all the tears. I am just…just…” She shook her head and smiled at him.
“Come on,” he laughed, as he led her back over to the couch. “I’ll forgive you the tears this time, but let’s not make a habit of it!” He smiled at her as they sat back down on the couch.
His smile was beautiful to see. She hadn’t seen much of it lately and she missed it.
“Hmmm, and where were we before we were so rudely interrupted?” Her smile was suggestive as they snuggled back up on the couch.
“Ah, we were supposed to be talking…” Jack said quietly. “It might actually be a good thing that we were, eh, interrupted.”
Sam sighed as she rested her head on his chest. “I guess…maybe…” She looked up at him. “Nah, I wish we hadn’t been.”
“Yeah, but we were, and now we should get back to the talking thing.” He kissed her forehead lightly avoiding her attempt to kiss his lips. He remembered how easily they had gotten distracted earlier.
“Okay, point taken.” She burrowed her head back into his chest. “Talking…where do we start?”
“Well, I guess we start with the fact that I am still your CO.”
“Yes, but to tell you the truth, I don’t care anymore.”
“What do you mean?”
“I don’t care that you are my CO.” She pulled away from his embrace to look at him. “Jack, I will quit, be a civilian scientist. Or I’ll just sneak around and see you. Risking court martial doesn’t sound like such a bad idea! I. Don’t. Care.”
Her eyes were deadly serious. “You can’t quit and I don’t want you to risk court martial. You are fast tracked. You can’t give that up.”
“I can’t give you up, Jack. I thought a lot about this last night and this morning. And I decided that you are right. I think too much! So I stopped thinking about it and acted instead.”
“But it would be easier if I quit. I can retire again. Third times a charm.”
“And do what? Sit home and wait for me? How happy would that make you? How long would it take for you to begin to resent me? That isn’t going to happen.”
“And if we just risk court martial and get caught? How long would it take for you to resent me? For both of us to resent each other?”
Sam closed her eyes and sighed. “I knew there was a reason that I didn’t want to talk about this.” She rubbed her temples hard. “This whole conversation is giving me a headache.”
Jack laughed, “Well, it’s that thinking too much thing.”
She opened her eyes and mockingly glared at him. “I was the one that decided that I didn’t want to think right now. You are the one that forced the issue!”
“Well, I have to admit, I was really enjoying you not thinking!”
Sam practically growled at him as she moved quickly to grab him. “Fine,” she whispered, “I’ll stop thinking.” Her lips attacked his fiercely as she pushed him down on to the couch. He went willingly as her tongue invaded his mouth. Her weight pressed strategically against him. She felt his gasp rather than heard it as she licked her way down to his throat. She couldn’t hear anything but her own frantic heartbeat right now.
Jack gasped as she fed on his skin. “Oh, shit,” he groaned, “so much for talking!” He felt her giggle against his throat. Her hands stroked his chest through his t-shirt. His hands slid up the back of her sweater, stroking her soft skin. His hands slipped down to rest on her hips as she sat up, her legs straddling him. His eyes were glazed as they questioned her actions. She slipped her sweater off and tossed it in the corner, leaving the sleeveless top underneath it on. She smiled at him and slid her hands under his t-shirt, pushing it up to reveal his chest. He closed his eyes as her hands explored his chest. He let his hands slip under her sweater and his fingers trace designs across her stomach.
Sam shivered as his fingers teased her skin. She leaned forward to let her tongue savor the flavor of his skin. His hands moved to her back, clenching on her tightly as she lightly teased a nipple with the tip of her tongue. She blew a light breath on his nipple before she enclosed her lips around it. His hands further tightened on her as he groaned at her gentle tormenting. She glanced at his face, his eyes closed, his lips parted as he gasped for air. Sam couldn’t resist the temptation of his lips.
Jack felt her move suddenly. Her lips were on his before he could get his eyes open. Her tongue invaded his mouth, warm, soft and eager. He pulled her tight against him as he welcomed her intrusion. His tongue fought back with his own assault. He groaned in her mouth as she began to move slightly against him, her pelvis rocking against his.
She moved a little faster in response to his groan. She could feel his arousal, hard against her. She concentrated her weight on him. He began moving in time with her. She could feel his body tremble in response. Her own body was reacting as well. She lost her hold on his mouth as she shuddered against him. She buried her face in his neck, fastening her teeth on his t-shirt. He held her tight against him as their bodies moved against each other.
And then, there was a loud knock on the door. “Oh, shit!” Sam’s words were followed by Jack’s, “Oh, crap!”
Their bodies froze in frustration. “Sam, I swear, if it’s him again, I will kill him.”
He barely heard Sam’s frustrated reply. “Not if I get to him first.” Sam sat up and moved off him and on to the couch. Her hands pulled at her hair in frustration. “What? Are the fates against us as well as the fucking regs?”
Jack couldn’t help but laugh as he sat up. He’d never heard her use that particular expletive. He put his hands up in mock self-defense as she glared at him. The knocking resumed on the door.
“Just go! Get rid of whoever it is!” she growled at him. She got up and stormed once more down the hall.
Jack followed as far as the door. He waited until she disappeared down the hall before he opened it to find Jacob, Daniel and Teal’c. ‘Figures,’ he thought.
“Jack, how’s the hang over?” Jacob pushed past him into the house. “You look a little flustered.”
“Hangover’s fine, Jake,” Jack said, resigned to the visit and grateful for the long t-shirt he wore. “And how are you?” he asked insincerely. He stepped back to allow Daniel and Teal’c entrance. “And come in… Anyone else out there?” His voice was sarcastic as he peered out the door before shutting it. He rubbed his hand over his mouth and chin as he watched them head for the living room. “Uh, guys, I’ll…I’ll be right back.” He turned and headed in the direction Sam went.
“You think Jack looked a little flustered?” Jacob asked.
“Ah, yeah, Jacob, since you mention it, I think he was.”
“O’Neill did not appear glad to see us.”
“Well, Sam doesn’t seem to be here.” Jacob frowned. They hadn’t heard from Sam all day and her car was still at the restaurant. “I guess the plan backfired. She must be with Shanahan.” He flopped down in a chair. “Damn, I was so sure…”
“Oh, well, we tried. It’s not as if we had time to come up with an actual plan. I mean, we were kind of winging it.” Daniel walked over to the door to the deck and looked out for a moment. “Too bad though, even if it was thrown together at the last minute, I thought it had merit.” As he turned back to face the two men, the color of blue caught his eye in the corner. “Ah, Jacob?”
“Yes?” Jacob followed Daniel’s eyes to the item in the corner.
“Doesn’t that look like…”
“Oh, shit, yes, I believe it is…”
“What have you found, DanielJacks…”
“Oops,” Daniel said softly. “Uh, no wondered he looked, eh, flustered.”
“Shit, we have to get out here!” Jacob hurried toward the door. “Come on, guys, move!”
The other two men swiftly followed him.
Part Five
Jack saw that the door to the guest bathroom was open. Where did she… He saw the door to his room was closed. He didn’t… He opened it to find Sam sitting on the edge of his bed.
“Is he gone?”
“It wasn’t him. And no, they aren’t.” Jack went over and sat down next to her.
“They?” She groaned. “That would have to be…”
“Yeah, your dad, Daniel and Teal’c.”
Sam’s head fell over on his shoulder. “Can we find some place to hide?”
“Well, they don’t know you are here. You could hide in here until I get rid of them. Problem is, how long will that be?”
“Knowing my dad? We’ll be lucky if he isn’t here the rest of the day trying to torment you about your hangover. He likes to do that sort of thing.”
“I’ve noticed.”
“But, I think I will hide in here anyway. Maybe they will leave soon.” Sam sighed against his shoulder.
“Lucky you…” Jack snorted a short laugh. “I guess I’d better get back out there before someone comes looking for me and finds you!” He kissed the top of her head and stood up.
She pulled herself up on the bed and lay back on the pillows. “I’ll be here,” she said with a mischievous grin.