"Cabin Pressure" by Ziva

He felt downright awkward. The silence between them was so thick, he could have cut it with a knife. Damn, he hated clichés! He had known the woman for nine years, so why was he finding it hard to be alone with her now? Maybe the nine years of trying to live by those frat regs was so impressed in his mind and body, that he would never be able to relax entirely around her! 'Now that's a scary idea', Jack quietly admitted, as he glanced over at her.

What if he couldn't just turn off those warning bells, the ones that kept ringing every time he got near her, every time he smelled her scent, and every time he saw those big, blue eyes that could look straight into his soul?

'Maybe this isn't going to work', he worried. 'Sure it will. It has to...or I may as well lay down and die!'

Sam Carter had her own case of the jitters. So she just stayed quiet, trying to enjoy the fresh air and sunshine, while butterflies did a ballet in her stomach. She was reminded of how she felt when she had given her doctoral dissertation. Only this, she decided, was far worse!

It was actually kind of funny how she could feel so at ease with him when they were working together. But put her alone with him, with no uniforms and no regs, and bam!…she was a basket case! And now here they were, just the two of them, sitting by the lake at his cabin...with only the sound of the frogs to fill the void between them.

They hadn't been alone at first; Daniel and Teal'c had left for Colorado a few hours earlier, having spent the last five days with them. They had all needed a break and had accepted Jack's invitation to Minnesota with great enthusiasm. And Jack couldn't have been happier. He had finally gotten his team...or what used to be his team...to the place he had been raving about for years.

Well, actually Teal'c had been there once, several years before. But this was the first time they had all consented to go, and Jack had been elated. So, after spending five gloriously restful days fishing, talking and just kicking back, Daniel and Teal'c had declared their vacation over. Daniel needed to get back to his research on P2X-365, and Teal'c wanted to visit Ry'ac and his new bride.

So now there was just the two of them...for another four days...at his cabin by the lake...alone...except for the croaking frogs and those nervous butterflies that were flitting around inside Sam's tummy.

It was getting near dinner time, so Jack decided to go inside and see about the steaks he was marinating in the fridge. 'I can't think of anything to say anyway, so I might as well cook', he thought, mentally kicking himself for the thousandth time. He hoped that a nice dinner might help them both relax, and the wine might loosen his tongue a little, because he really wanted to tell her how he felt before he left for his new position in DC next week. And she was transferring to Area 51 soon. This might be his last chance to tell her how he felt about her. If he didn't, while he was gone she might find some other guy...someone younger and smarter than him.

Sam felt rather than saw him get up out of his chair. She quickly sat up, wondering what he intended to do. She shaded her eyes from the setting sun, looking up at him.

"Going in to start dinner," he said in way of an explanation.

"I better go in too. Do I have time for a shower before dinner?" she asked, quickly picking up her towel and other things. She had swum in the lake, and now she felt kind of itchy. 'Could be too much sun', she thought as she pressed a finger to her pink tummy, just below her belly button.

Jack saw Sam stand up, noticed her touch her belly, and his Johnson twitched to life. What a great body she had, with those long legs, round little bottom, ample tits and that alabaster skin! He wanted to reach out and put his arms around her, hold her tight against him, yank down her bikini bottom and shove his cock into her from behind. She'd cry out at first, but then she'd purr like a kitten while he fucked her slow and steady.

'Get your mind out of the gutter, old man,' he chastised himself harshly. Sam would most likely haul off and hit him if he ever tried anything sexual with her. She was much too good for him, and they both knew it.

"Jack, do I have time for a shower?" Sam asked again. If was obvious that he had something on his mind, but she had no idea what it was.

Hearing her voice, Jack quickly snapped out of the libidinous mood he was in. "Yah sure, you betcha! I'm gonna grill some steaks. I can give you whatever time you need. In fact, if you'd rather take a bath, there's bubble bath in the bathroom cabinet," he added as an afterthought.

He hadn't suggested she take a bath while the guys were here, but now that they were alone his libido was busily considering all the possibilities. He could bring her a glass of wine while she was in the tub, her pink nipples peaking through the bubbles. 'Oh, man, are you stupid! Now she's gonna think you had this all planned!'

"Bubble bath? I didn't know you were the type," she joked, laughing, as she slipped into her cover-up.

"Very funny, Carter. It's Cassie's."

"Ahhh. While I'd very much like to take a leisurely bath, I think that would take too long, Sir. I'm hungry, and a steak sounds great," she added, cringing as she realized she'd called him 'Sir.' He had told her the very first day of their vacation to call him 'Jack', but old habits were hard to break.

"Carter, what did I tell you?" he asked gruffly.

"Sorry, Jack. It might be easier for me to remember to call you Jack, if you'd call me Sam," she suggested with a smile.

"I like calling you 'Carter'. I'm the only one who does that, you know?"

"So, I should consider it your special name for me?" she asked, coyly bumping her hip into his as they walked toward the cabin door. She was wearing sandals with three-inch heels, making her almost as tall as him. They also made her legs look even longer, a fact she was very aware of. She might be a geeky scientist, but she was also a female through and through.

"Yah. Your special name...that only I call you," he agreed, nodding.

He stopped and grabbed the door handle, jerking it open and holding it for her to pass. But he deliberately held his ground, not allowing her much room to squeeze through. Her breasts brushed against his chest as she scooted sideways, and she stopped half way through to look him in the eye. A pink flush crept from her cheeks, down her long neck and across her upper chest.

"You're blushing," Jack told her with a smirk, as he looked down her neck to her cleavage. The cover-up hung open, and the bikini top left little to the imagination. He could even see her pert nipples, which were obviously swollen, pressing into the thin, baby-blue fabric.

"And you're…staring, Jack," she replied slowly, and then she looked down at the bulge that was now pressing into her stomach. Sam was stunned! It seemed ludicrous for her CO to be in such a state of arousal in her presence. So, in order to punish him, Sam slid further into the room, deliberately rubbing herself across his hard-on. And then, the guilty pleasure of what she'd done making her smile, she strutted away from him, her hips swaying to and fro. They weren't CO and subordinate any longer, and that realization made her smile widen.

Jack gripped his head in both hands. God, that woman turned him on! He wanted to run after her and tackle her to the floor, spread her legs and fuck her right there, but of course he didn't. He wasn't sure just how she'd react if he tried to use force on her. She'd probably kick his balls from here to China. He knew she could do it, if she wanted to. So he let out the breath he didn't even know he was holding, and went about fixing their dinner...all the while willing his eager body to calm the hell down!

Every now and then he thought he could hear her in the bathroom. At one point he was sure she was singing. And since he'd never heard Carter sing before, he sneaked into the hallway and inched toward the bathroom door. Holding his breath, he pressed his ear to the wood.

"I know I don't know you, but I want you so bad.

Everyone has a secret, but can they keep it?

Oh, no they can't."

Jack crept back into the kitchen, a big smile on his face. He recognized the song from that Maroon Five CD she had been playing just yesterday. 'Sam has really has a nice voice', he thought, somewhat surprised. She had often claimed she couldn't sing a note, but that was obviously not true.

Now he wondered if she was thinking about him as she sang. Hell, he could dream, couldn't he? And after all, she had broken up with Pete, so she probably wasn't thinking about the cop guy.

As Jack turned the steaks over, he thought about the events leading up to her breakup with Pete. Even before Sam had gotten engaged, she had asked him what she should do about the ring. It was as though she wanted him to tell her not to accept Pete's proposal; he could see that now. But what had he done? He had acted like an idiot! Instead of telling her to wait for him, he had totally mucked it up, leaving the decision up to her. Well, no more denying what he felt for her! From now on he was going to take what he wanted, and what he wanted was HER!

A few minutes later Sam emerged from the bathroom, wearing a pink bathrobe. Her skin was glowing, and she smelled really nice. Because her scent was filling his head with thoughts better left to later, he could barely think to put the meal on the table. But somehow he managed to serve the meal, even lighting the candle in the center of the table.

"Miss, if you'll be seated, dinner is ready," he told her, pulling out her chair with an air of formality. He had the dish towel folded over his arm. Sam looked at it and grinned.

She sat down, pulling her robe closed across her lap, but not before Jack caught a glimpse of her long thighs, extending from gray flannel sleep shorts down to her feet, which were encased in thick white socks. She looked like a lass of sixteen not a woman of forty.

Jack sat down and poured red wine into their glasses, knowing how she preferred it to beer. He looked at her, figuring she'd have something to say about his choice of drink. She didn't disappoint.

"Ahhh, red wine. And it's Merlot, my favorite! Jack, if I didn't know better, I'd think you were trying to soften me up for some reason." She batted her lashes at him, looking over her wine glass as she took the first sip.

Carter was batting her eyelashes? No way! That was so unlike her that Jack didn't know how to react. Maybe there was a whole side of her he'd never seen before? As he began to eat, he wondered what she'd be like in bed. Did she like to be in charge? Did she come easily and often? Was she a screamer? Was she into kinky sex? If things went the way his libido intended, he would know all the answers by morning.

Jack had finally decided to let his body have what it wanted…if she was willing, that is. If she wasn't, well at least he would have tried.

Together they cleaned up the kitchen...Sam washing and Jack drying. After the job was done, they moved into the living room, where Jack threw some more logs on the fire. Sitting on the floor in front of the fireplace, their backs resting against the sofa, they talked about missions and assignments they'd had before they met. He reminded her that if she told anyone about most of his black op ones, he'd have to shoot her. She laughed as he refilled her glass with red wine.

Soon they were working on their second bottle, and even Jack was feeling a little sleepy. In the middle of one of his favorite stories, he felt Sam's head come to rest on his shoulder. Normally this wouldn't have been such a bad thing; he loved having her lean on him. But it was very bad this time because soon after that she began to snore.

He guessed there was something to be said for being comfortable in each other's company at last, but going to sleep had not been on his agenda! So, praying his bad knee would not give out, he picked her up and carried her to her bed in the guest room. He had hoped she would spend tonight in his bed, but he didn't dare put her there without her knowledge. After turning out all the lights and locking the doors, he went to bed...in his big bed...without Sam.

Jack woke to the smell of something really good. Eggs and bacon and something else, as yet to be discovered. The sun was just peeking between the big trees and into his room, so it must be early, he judged. And now he really had to pee. Hoping Sam wouldn't see him with his morning woody he crept quietly across the hall to the bathroom. He was just about done when he heard her voice outside the door.

"Jack, breakfast is almost ready. I hope you're hungry?"

He finished washing his hands, dried them and opened the door to find Sam standing in the hallway. Her hair was a mess and she was still wearing her cute little tank top and shorts from last night. He felt his woody returning. Damn!

"Yeah, let me just..." he began and stopped, dashing past her and into his room. He pulled on a long-sleeved Air Force T-shirt, tugging it down to cover the prominent tenting of his pajama bottoms. As he returned to the kitchen, he found Sam taking the scones from the oven. 'So that's the other wonderful smell! Wait … Sam can cook?'

"Samantha, I didn't know you could cook," he purred, watching as she put the hot, buttery treats into a basket.

"Of course I can cook. I just never seem to have the time," she explained, pouring coffee into two mugs. She placed one in front of him and settled into her chair, sipping from hers.

"Wow, this is great," Jack enthused, taking a bite of the scrambled eggs. He ate quickly, savoring each flavorful bite. The scones practically melted in his mouth. My God, was there nothing this woman couldn't do?

When he was finished he leaned back and patted his stomach, trying to silence a burp that threatened to ruin the mood. Sam got up and started cleaning the kitchen, but Jack would have none of that. He insisted that since she had cooked, he would clean up.

"I helped you with KP last night and now you can help me. How's that?"

He agreed and soon the room was clean and in order again. When they were done, he cleaned out the fireplace and laid a fire for later. Even though it looked like the day would be warm and sunny, Jack knew that come nightfall the temperature would drop down to just above freezing. He heard her come out of her room, and looked back over his shoulder to see her heading for the back door carrying a book. She was dressed in jeans and a light blue sweater.

"What'cha gonna do?"

"I'm going to sit on the dock and read. Are you going to fish?"

"Actually, I thought I might talk a walk along the river. Wanna come," he asked hopefully.

"Okay. Just let me put on my boots."

She put the book on the kitchen counter and headed back into the guest room. Jack went into his room and got dressed, remembering to brush his teeth and comb his hair before joining her on the back porch. He also grabbed a big bottle of water, which he put in a sling around his neck. Shoving some matches into his pocket, along with his pocket knife, Jack closed the door.

Jack set a brisk pace, following the little trail that led away from the lake. He hadn't been up this way in over a year, and he had missed the serenity that the wilderness afforded him. The military had been his life for over thirty years, and he had needed this place to take him away from all of the killing and horror of his job. So whenever he could, he would come up here to rest his soul. He particularly liked the area where the stream originated, up on top of a hill about five miles from his cabin. He didn't think they'd make it all the way there today, but at least Sam would get a taste of the peacefulness of the Minnesota wilderness.

After about a hour of walking on mostly flat terrain, the trail began to wind its way uphill, switching back and forth around large boulders and fallen trees. The storms of last winter had taken their toll on many large trees, the snow too heavy for their branches to hold. The trees had been broken and lay across the trail, slowing their progress. Jack removed some of the smaller trees and limbs, clearing the pathway for his future use. He hadn't told Sam that all of this land belonged to him. He didn't see the need, and he didn't want to sound as though he were bragging. She must have read his mind.

"So is this land private," she asked, stepping onto a particularly large tree that was stretched across the trail.

"Yes, actually it's my land," he told her, holding out his hand to help her down. She jumped down and stumbled into him. His arm went around her waist and held her there.

"Yours! You're kidding, right?"

"Nope. It's all mine," he said, letting her go and turning to continue on.

"How much land do you own?" She was surprised he had never said anything about owning much land.

"How much? Let's see, I think it's about 500 acres, give or take." She stopped dead in her tracks, not believing what she was hearing.

"Five hundred acres! Are you serious?"

"As a heart attack. Why?" He turned, realizing that she had stopped walking.

"You just never said anything about owning so much land. I mean you're always talking about your cabin, but I had no idea... Wow! It's like your own little world up here. You really do like to get away from it all, don't you?" She began to walk again then, and he did too.

"Yeah, I guess I do. I bought the land mostly for Charlie, though. As an investment. I thought it would someday pay for his college education. Now I just come up here and enjoy the space...the quiet." They walked on, each deep in thought, until they came to a windfall where too much wood blocked the path.

"Damn! Well, that's as far as we go today. I'll have to come back with a saw and clear this stuff," he told her, sitting down on one of the fallen trees. He took the cap off the water bottle and offered her a drink, which she accepted. Then he tipped the bottle up and drank several ounces.

"We better head back." Sam was standing in front of him, his knees on either side of her thighs. She placed her hands on his shoulders and leaned into him, brushing his lips with hers, softly. She broke off the kiss and looked into his eyes, seeing the passion in their black depths.

She leaned in again. This time the kiss was more passionate, her tongue seeking entrance to his mouth. He let her in, sucking on it. She was so sweet, that he wanted to devour her right there. But this was no place to continue this encounter, so he pulled back, suggesting they return to the cabin.

The return trip took a lot less time, perhaps because they both anticipated what would happen when they got back. Perhaps because that's just the way it is when your return trip takes the same path.

Their nervousness returned as soon as they entered the little house. She headed for her room, and he went to get his fishing gear, both wondering what on earth was wrong with them. Would they always panic in the face of their feelings for one another?

TBC