Category: Fluff, mini!OTP

Pairing: Clone!Jack/Clone!Sam

Rating: R

Warnings: mention of an adult relationship between late teenagers

Season/Spoilers: Fragile balance 703

Summary: Clone!Sam has some difficulties coping with her feelings.

A/N: This story was inspired by "Silk and chains", third in a series by SGCbearcub on M.

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The day they graduated from high school they all saw their duplicates with a mix of pride and embarrassment plastered upon their faces. Of course, it was all new for Teal'c who had never gone through any sort of high school before but he was there also.

When the actual ceremony was over, the four original individuals stepped closer to their younger duplicates. Jack noticed then the rotund belly of Lt. Colonel Sam Carter, or was it O'Neill? He mused as he saw something glint on her left ring finger.

The four youngsters welcomed their counterparts with mixed feelings. Major General Jack O'Neill stepped forward with a timid smile and cleared his throat.

"I want you to know that we're proud of you," he started. "I err… We… Sam and I decided that you could have the cabin for the time being. Whatever you have chosen to do next, you can have the cabin for the summer."

Jack frowned, observing the gray haired man. The latter extended his arm for Sam to join him and once she did so, he snuck his hand behind her back.

"As you can see, Sam and I won't be going anywhere soon and, well… I know for a fact that the Air Force is not very generous with your monthly income so a vacation somewhere is out of the question most of the time…"

"Why weren't we invited?" Jack interjected.

"Huh?"

"The wedding?" he raised his eyebrows.

"We are not married… Yet." Sam showed her engagement ring, stealing a quick glance at the man next to her. "My pregnancy came a bit as a surprise. Once the baby is born, Jack is going to step down from his present position and we'll get married."

"Oh… Well… I expect an invitation for all of us, then…" Jack raised his eyebrows suggestively.

"Of course," Sam replied smiling.

"So… Well you know where the keys are," General O'Neill resumed, "and…" he reached into his trousers' pocket and handled them a slightly crumpled envelope. "Here is $4000, from all of us for you to share and do whatever you want with it…"

Jack took the proffered envelope, genuinely touched by the gesture. "Thank you," he croaked.

General O'Neill smiled warmly. "Don't be strangers, all of you, okay?"

The four young people nodded and then they were alone as their counterparts slowly left the area.

Jack turned to his comrades grinning. "So what do you say, guys?... Minnesota?"

Daniel and Teal'c smiled, nodding. Sam sighed but accepted nevertheless.

"Oh come on, Carter, it'll be fun, I promise! All the four of us, out in the wild…!"

"Thrilling…" she quipped.

Jack frowned as the others turned to head towards where the graduation party was to be held. Lately, he had trouble reaching Sam. At first she had been eager to make him forget about his predicament. She had been friendly and had helped him overcome the terrible guilt he felt at having all three of them with him, even though the decision had not been his. She had also helped with his studies, as well as her other comrades.

Lately though, her energy and constant good mood had taken a nosedive. Their last year in high school she had concentrated on the graduation –like she had to be concentrated on something as inane as a high school graduation!– and distanced herself from him specifically. The easy camaraderie they had established was gone and in its wake remained coldness and anguish. He had asked Daniel once if he had done something wrong but the latter had dismissed his concerns and told her that Sam was probably bothered by some girly thing. He had not been convinced at all but he had dropped the subject and decided to be as even tempered with Sam as he could. At the same time, he had joined the swim team. Doing so gave him an outlet for his frustration and a distraction from the desire to beat the crap out of Johnny Wineman.

Johnny Wineman was the geekiest geek of the known universe in Jack's opinion and, lucky him, the guy had decided to permanently hang around him to try and build a reputation as a 'cool' geek (Jack O'Neill was considered the coolest guy on the block because all the girls were crazy about his spiky hair and cocky smile; as well as the fact that Jack O'Neill could tame down any overzealous male just by placating him with that look…) So far, Johnny Wineman had been unsuccessful. The only cool geek Jack knew had short blonde hair, sparkling blue eyes and the best knee-buckling smile he had ever seen on a human being. Coincidentally, she was also the only girl he would ever be interested in; which directed his thoughts back to the puzzle at hand. Why was Carter pissed at him?

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The battered Ford van they had bought when Jack was old enough to drive made its way through the forest and reached the clearing where the cabin was set.

Jack stepped out of the vehicle and took a deep breath, the pine scented air invading his lungs. The others were unloading the van, piling their bags and food supplies on the porch but he was oblivious. How much had he missed this!

"Jack?" Daniel called, pulling him from the sensation. "You're gonna stay here?" demanded his friend in an aggravated voice.

"I'm coming!" he said lightly, walking around the van to where they were standing on the steps. He rummaged under the wooden bench against the wall, found the key and opened the door. "Okay guys. Teal'c, you know the drill, Sam and Daniel, there's the main room with kitchen in the corner. Two rooms on the right, Master and secondary, bathroom is in the back with shower and toilet. Once I activate the pump outside we'll have running water, and hot water in a good six hours for the first ones, twelve for the next if you all want to take a shower. The tank needs to heat first. We have electricity, I pulled the wires from the road myself with my Dad…" he added proudly. 'Wood stove for cooking, so I'm gonna go outside and chop wood. Carter, you can have the Master bedroom if you want." He smiled. "Daniel, you can bunk with Teal'c, the secondary room has twin single beds…"

"And where are you going to sleep?" Sam asked.

Jack shrugged. "Living room's fine… I'll go set the water pump on, take your time…"

Jack left his friends to their respective tasks and went around the back of the cabin to where the General usually kept the big logs Ernest, the forest ranger, never failed to leave. Jack had helped Ernest trap poachers once and since then, the Ranger left a good stack of lumber every time he dropped by, keeping the cabin well stocked. Most of it came from fallen trees, unusable for furniture or construction. Ernest tagged them to be removed by local loggers and they all shared the wood as payment but Ernest didn't need that much most of the time.

Jack put the first log onto the block and retrieved the axe from the shed. He also took his shirt off before setting to work.

These past couple of years had seen the transformation of his teen body into that of a young man. Not that Jack was vain or anything, but knowing where he wanted to direct his life, he had willingly imposed a strict life style on himself. Training at the swimming pool gave his lanky frame nice long muscles. Jogging every morning and playing tennis with Teal'c weekly completed his physical program. They all tried to stay in shape, or actually build one in their case, but some more than others. Daniel still favored books to gymnasiums, and Sam had a genuine aversion to public swimming pools, her first experience turned into her last after a nightmarish encounter with some unwanted germs… She had taken up kickboxing and gymnastics instead.

All this exercise had molded their bodies and Jack's fine muscles rippled harmoniously under his skin when he attacked the first log. He liked this. He hadn't come here in more than three years and the inane job filled him with a sense of accomplishment he hadn't felt since.

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Jack didn't know how many logs he had split, but he was thirsty and sweaty. He paused just as Sam rounded the corner. She stopped and stared at him.

"Enjoying the view?" he snickered, using his shirt to mop his brow and chest.

Sam rolled her eyes. "I've seen you several times in a Speedo, Jack…"

"True, but never as I expressed my male-provider side!" he joked.

Sam shook her head, a small smile tugging at her lips. "Too bad the water's not warm enough for your shower…"

"I don't need no shower, Carter, that's what the pond is for! You brought your bathing suit I hope!"

"Well, considering you packed it for me, yes, I took it… But I doubt the temperature's warm enough for me to bathe in there…" she grimaced.

"Aww Carter! We're young! It's summer time! Temperature's great!"

"I'll have to trust you on this," she chuckled as the turned around and went back inside.

Jack smiled, considered the pile of wood he had already chopped, then frantically tugged at his belt before unlacing his boots and taking off his jeans, leaving him clad only in his briefs. In cheer exhilaration, he threw his clothes on the back porch before running to the pond and jumping inside the water in a big 'splash'.

"Whoooohooooo!" he yelled at the top of his lungs.

"I guess someone's happy!" Daniel said as he stepped onto the porch.

"It's great, Daniel! Why don't you come in?" Jack exclaimed, splashing about in the pond.

"Ah… I'm not sure it's a good idea right now… Not that the briefs aren't sexy but…"

"Spoilsport!" Jack huffed as Daniel chuckled.

Sam and Teal'c stepped out behind him and looked at Jack with amusement.

"Teal'c, buddy, please grab a towel for me in the bathroom?"

"I thought that water was great, O'Neill."

"It is, but I don't intend to spend my night here and the sun is already setting…" he said, pointing at the low rays which now painted the top of the forest in orange.

"I'll go," Sam said.

"You're right, Jack this place is great…" Daniel smiled at his friend as he stepped onto the small pier.

Jack took the towel from Sam's hand and draped it around his shoulders smiling at him. "I'm glad you all came."

After a quick dinner, they all retired early, the combination of the long trip and the fresh air leaving them more exhausted than they would have thought.

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Sam woke up to the sound of cutlery clinging. She took a moment to stretch and yawn before getting up from the queen size bed. She took her toiletries and padded out of the room, noticing the table ready for breakfast.

Jack had his back to her, and was busy at the stove, making pancakes. He turned upon hearing the shutting of the door and smiled.

"Hey Carter, the shower's free for the time being if you want to have one."

She smiled in return. "Thanks."

"Coffee will be ready when you get out, the guys are outside, we were waiting for you but take your time."

"I won't be long, promise!" she chuckled as she stepped into the bathroom.

When she was done, she found the guys happily chatting around the big wooden table. She came to sit and poured herself a mug of coffee.

"Carter, the guys and I were discussing the opportunity of a hike…" Jack said.

"Oh?"

"Yes, there's a small lake where one can actually fish and Jack wants to take us…" Daniel quipped.

"How far is it?" she asked.

"'bout four five hours tops… I was thinking we could go camping there. The scenery's beautiful and, for Daniel, there's an Indian sanctuary. It's close to a reservation; people are allowed to go there as long as they comply with a few rules," Jack replied.

"Sounds interesting," she nodded over a mouthful of pancake.

"I'll check if the camping gear is still in good shape, I don't know if it's been used, but as I recall, there were at least two tents including sleeping bags. It will be like old times!" Jack said with obvious excitement.

"We will clean up before going, O'Neill," Teal'c shouted to his back as he exited the main room.

He turned to the others "… And we will pack the necessary food supplies. I am not certain we will have anything to sustain ourselves with if we count on O'Neill's skills at capturing aquatic creatures…"

"Right..." Daniel acquiesced. "Power bars, instant coffee, MREs…"

Sam looked at Daniel sharply. "MREs?!" she asked, blinking disbelievingly.

"Well Teal'c got these coupons for military surplus…" Daniel said sheepishly.

"So what?! You're that nostalgic?!"

"You have to admit it's easier to prepare…" Daniel stated.

"Come on! We're not off-world with unknown resources!" she exclaimed.

"You have never been witness to O'Neill's ineptitude at catching fish, Samantha," Teal'c deadpanned.

Jack was back and overheard the last sentence "Ineptitude at what?!" he asked from the entrance.

Both men turned to him.

"We errr… We…"

"They brought MREs, Jack…" Sam said accusingly.

Jack shrugged. "Well guys, your lack of confidence in my abilities should hurt me, but it doesn't. Pack MREs if you please, I'm packing my fishing pole…"

"I'll pack fruits, bread, and power bars, Jack," Sam said standing up and bringing her dishes to the sink. "We can share the fish you catch…" she said pointedly, looking at Daniel and Teal'c.

"Okay guys, camping gear's there, with two backpacks, I'll carry one, Teal'c you'll carry the second with whatever supplies you wanna take. Carter, put your things in mine. You think you can all be ready in half an hour?" he asked.

"More than enough," Daniel assured.

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