Title: Is it really fate?
Summary: Jack and Sam run into one another during a snowstorm waiting to get to thier seperate holiday destinations.
Rating: PG-13
Disclaimer: Stargate SG-1 and its characters are the property of Showtime/Viacom, MGM/UA, Double Secret Productions, and Gekko Productions. I have written this story for entertainment purposes only. The original characters, situations, and story are the property of the author(s).
Author's note: It's been awhile since I've written any fanfiction, and this idea came to me while stranded in a bus station for 6 hours waiting to get to my holiday destination.

There was nothing worse than having to sit around waiting, especially on the day before Christmas Eve. This was exactly what Sam was going through. General Hammond had given the team an extended leave for the Christmas season, especially after everything that the team had been through as of late. Janet's passing had obviously hit the team really hard, but probably no harder then it hit Sam. She was lost without her best friend, her confidant. Sure she still had the support of the team but it wasn't the same, and yes she still had Cassie, but Cassie had decided shortly after her mother's death that she needed to get away from Colorado Springs and moved to Las Vegas where she was attending University.

Therefore, Sam had decided that for her Christmas leave she too needed to get away. At first her plan was to fly out to her brother Marks place, but the last minute plans were changed due to delayed flights where she was re-routed all the way to Minnesota. Sam was now stuck in Minnesota with Christmas plans backfiring. She had planned to be at her brother's before Christmas Eve, and well that was 2 days ago. Here she was sitting in an airport somewhere in northern Minnesota with no hopes of spending Christmas with her family, but instead all alone.

"Excuse me sir, is there any chance you know when the flights will be resuming?" Sam asked politely, even though her patience was growing very thin. "Sorry miss, bad weather has delayed all, flight," answered the attendant. "Thank you, well until then can you recommend a decent place to eat and possibly sleep tonight?" "Of course, Sisters Pub isn't too far from here, has decent food and there is a nice hotel just down the street." Thanking the attendant Sam grabbed her luggage and headed to grab a taxi. "Where to miss?" asked the driver, "Preferably the closet hotel to Sisters Pub" she answered.

After getting settled in her hotel which covered by the airline she was flying with due to inconvenience and duress of a passenger, Sam headed off to the pub. Upon entering the pub, Sam liked the atmosphere. It seemed like a popular place for people of all ages, music was decent as it seemed to have a variety ranging from classic rock n' roll to country to current R&B. "What can I get you?" the bartender asked as Sam approached the counter. "Something strong," she answered with a smile. Sam watched as the bartender walked to the far end of the counter before making his way back to where she was sitting with what looked like just vodka on the rocks with a hint of lime. "Is that supposed to be strong?" asked Sam as she took the drink. "Well the gentlemen at the end suggested you start with this, then depending on how the night goes it can get stronger," answered the bartender. "And it's on him" he added. Sam looked curiously down to the far end of the counter but was unsure what she should be looking for, when suddenly a voice appeared from behind her. "Looking for someone in particular Carter?"

It took Sam a moment to recognize the voice, but when she did she turned around with a huge smile on her face. "Colonel! What are you doing here?" she asked. "Well I should be asking you that seeing that you left a few days before me," asked Jack. "I was suppose to fly to San Diego" she answered. "Now Carter, I know you're amazingly smart, but correct me if I am wrong, but isn't San Diego on the other side of the country? Because you do realize that you are in Minnesota?" Jack asked with a smirk on his face as he took another sip of his beer. "Yes Sir, I do realize where I am. My flight got re-routed here before the storm came in. So far my plans have backfired on me, so here I am. Sitting here waiting, and probably going to be spending yet another Christmas without my family" answered Sam.

"What about you sir? Thought you were going to the cabin?" she asked. "Well that was the plan, but I only got this far due to the snow storm. But as soon as it clears up, hopefully I am still heading up there. But until then, I am here to keep you company for as long as you'd like me to stick around" Jack said with a smile. With saying that, Sam hoped hat Jack wouldn't be able to see her beginning to turn red, hoping that the darkness in the pub would hide it. "Well Sir, I wouldn't want to be keeping you from anything just to keep me company" she said. "Nonsense Carter, I'm not going anywhere anytime soon, and please, it's Jack. We're not at work, we're just two friends who happened to be stranded in the same pub, who are enjoying a causal drink together. Ok?" Said Jack and as he finished up his beer and called for another one. "Yes Si…..I mean Jack."

The two of them grabbed a booth in the far corner where they would be able to have at least some privacy from any disturbances. "So Sam, what made you decide to head off to San Diego for the holidays?" asked Jack trying to break the forming awkward tension between them as he took a sip of his beer. Sam shrugged her shoulders, "I'm just tired of being alone on the holidays. And this year has been hard, especially since Janet's death and Cassie moving away. I just wanted to get away," she answered. "Getting away or running away?" he asked, but Sam didn't answer. Jack noticed that the question had hit a spot and he could see the frustration forming in her eyes. "I'm sorry. It's none of my business. How about we go and play a game of pool instead, and I promise no more questions," Jack continued as he smiled at Sam. As much as Sam knew he was trying to make her feel better, she couldn't help but think maybe he was right, maybe she was running away from something. "Okay, but I warn you I am pretty good." She said as she rose from the booth towards the table.

The first few games Sam won with no problem, she noticed that the more she drank she got better or the more Jack drank he got worse. "You know, I think you're cheating. I don't know how, but I swear you are," said Jack as he leaned up against the pool table and took another sip of what Sam figured was his sixth beer. "I think maybe the consumption of alcohol has made it harder for you to concentrate," she said with a chuckle. Jack just looked at Sam and said, "There nothing wrong with my concentration," as he moved closer to Sam, inches apart from their bodies touching. Sam could feel his breath on hers and all she could think about was leaning closer and placing kiss on his lips. But before she could act, Jack beat her to it. He leaned closer to her and placed a soft kiss on her moist lips, and when Sam didn't pull away he placed a hand on her cheek pulling her closer, deepening the kiss.

What felt like hours passing, the two finally pulled apart. Sam opened her eyes to see Jack smiling at her, "What?" she asked. "Told you there was nothing wrong with my concentration," he answered. "Rematch?" he asked as he slowly walked back to rack the balls. Unsure what exactly happened or even what it meant, Sam nodded "Only if you're ready to lose again." Jack looked up at Sam as he pulled out his wallet, "tell you what, winner takes this twenty," he said. "You want to bet on a game that you haven't won all night?" asked Sam. "How do you know I just wasn't letting you win?" Jack answered back. After a moment of silence Sam finally answered him, "you're right. Guess we'll just have to find out," she answered.

After a couple of hours of talking, laughing, and Jack loosing at what could only described as one sided games of pool, and numerous drinks later, Sam decided that it was time to call it a night. "Well Jack, as much fun as it has been taking your money, I think I should be getting back to my room. Hopefully this storm clears up and I'll be able to get to San Diego tomorrow," said Sam as she began to put on her coat. "Well at least let me walk you back to your room, where are you staying?" he asked. "Hotel something….I think I've consumed too much alcohol," she answered with chuckle. "Well in that case, I better walk you back, let's go Sam" said Jack as he placed what little cash he had left on the table for a tip. As Jack and Sam headed out the pub doors, Sam suddenly stopped as she reached into her pocket and said, "Holiday Inn Express!" Sam suddenly blurted out, taking Jack by surprise. "What are you talking about?" he asked. "The hotel where I am staying, I just found my room card in my pocket." Said Sam with a smile as she waved the card in Jack's face, who was now looking at her shaking his head, "you just made me walking you back to your room easier because that is where I am staying too."

Jack and Sam slowly began to make their way to their hotel; silence was among them all until they were standing outside Sam's door to her room. "Can I ask you something?" she finally asked breaking the silence. Jack shrugged his shoulders and nodded his head. "You kissed me" she said. Jack looked at Sam with confusion, "you kissed me back" he answered. "I know, but YOU kissed me" she repeated. "Okay, I know I've had a lot to drink and am probably not really with it, but is that what you wanted to ask me?" asked Jack. Sam shook her head, "I don't know. I..you…we…..it's just confusing." She said. "I mean it was probably the alcohol on both parts and we got caught in the moment. I mean that's why you did it right?" "I did it because I wanted too" he said just under his breath but loud enough that Sam could hear him. "Why did you kiss me back?" he asked. Sam looked deep into Jack's brown eyes, "because I wanted too. Just like I want to do it again," she whispered as she moved closer towards Jack.

This time it was Sam who moved first, as she brought her body as close as it would go with Jacks and placed both her hands on his face pulling his lips down to hers. The kiss was filled with passion. Jack was taken by surprise at first but soon settled into the kiss as he placed his hands on Sam's hips pulling them closer together, before finally breaking apart to catch their breath. Moving his hand to her face, Jack pushed aside a loose strand of hair and tucked it behind Sam's ear as he leaned his face to the side of her neck and kissed it. "Come to the cabin with me?" he whispered between kisses.

Suddenly Sam pulled away from Jack, "what?" she asked. "Would you like to come to the cabin with me? The roads hopefully will be clear tomorrow so we can drive up and spend the holidays there together," answered Jack. "Jack. I don't know what this is, or what is happening here between us, but I don't think us spending the holidays together is a good idea" answered Sam. "Why not?" asked Jack who was taken aback by Sam's response. "Because of the regs! We could be court-martialled. Hell we could be court-martialled for just doing what we were just doing. We could lose everything we've worked for," Sam said as her voice began to rise. "You know Sam, if you're too worried about losing a career over something that we both know it there, then that's fine. Hope you enjoy the rest of you holiday and I'll see you at the end of leave," Jack said as he turned at walked away, leaving Sam stunned and with tears forming in her eyes, not knowing what to say.

After Jack had finally disappeared, Sam turned and opened the door to her room. Upon entering the room she went straight to her bed and buried her face in the pillows in hopes of muffling her cries. She cried herself to sleep, hating herself for how she acted towards Jack. He had finally opened up to her, something she had dreamt about for so many years, hoping that they would finally be able to discuss what they had left in that room so many years ago. But when it finally happened she was the one who was closed off, not wanting him to get close. What had only felt like minutes of sleep, Sam opened her eyes to find the sun shining through the window, as she reached for her watch she found a note besides her that read:

There comes a time in life when you realize that some things are worth losing everything for.

We've spent too many years dancing around this, and last night seeing you was fate and it made me realize that I don't care about the regulations anymore.

I care about you.

So, if you realize what it is you really want, stop running; you know where to find me.

Jack.

A/N: continue or not..it's up to you the readers. Enjoy