Title: Sneaking Around

Category: Romance, fluff

Content Level: Age 13+

Content Warnings: Language and sexual situations

Pairings: Jack & Sam

Season: 8

Spoilers: Specific brief references to "Chain Reaction" and "Grace", otherwise, the story is set in Season 8 so anything up until that point goes.

Summary: Jack wants to bring the magic back into his Christmas but breaching the fraternization regs doesn't sit well with either him or Sam. Neither does sneaking around and lying to their friends to hide their illicit relationship.

Author's Note:

1. This is a Christmas based sequel to my stories "Trick or Treat" (Halloween) and "Making Time" (Thanksgiving). I wrote both of these holiday based stories a long time ago – 2004 – and never intended to write another sequel five years later. It's a long time to wait! However, I recently posted the two stories to the Sam and Jack Always and Forever website. Some readers asked for a Christmas sequel and my muse decided to go for it. You should probably read the first two stories first, but I think you also might be able read this as a standalone. Thanks to the readers on Sam and Jack Always and Forever for the inspiration. *vbg* Both stories are published on this site if you want to read them.

2. Note about the canon: I wrote the original stories before "Threads" aired. Therefore, they strayed away from series canon a little in terms of the timeline and Sam's relationship with Pete Shanahan. Obviously, this sequel follows my story canon rather than show canon.

3. This story has not been beta read mainly because I want to dedicate it to my beta reader, ImmerRDA, as a thank you and a small Christmas gift (albeit one she has to share with the rest of you, lol!). She's put a lot of hard work into reading and commenting on my draft stories and I thought it would be good to surprise her with one for a change. Therefore, I could not send it to her for beta reading, could I? :-) Merry Christmas Barbara, and thanks very much! I hope any mistakes I might have made don't make you (or anyone else) cringe – LMAO!

Sneaking Around

Sprawled on his couch in a position that made him look all legs, Jack yawned and stretched out, mindless of the TV flickering in front of him. He was thinking about Sam. More to the point, he was thinking about them – Jack and Sam, a couple in the making, or so he hoped. Too early to tell for sure.

Back on Halloween, he'd jokingly threatened that he'd haunt her on holidays. He'd meant it – not as a threat of course but as a kind of promise - although he hadn't been able to pull it off. They'd skipped Thanksgiving altogether, forcing them into faking it later, so he'd sworn this wasn't going to happen at Christmas.

His promise assumed their lives could follow the norm most other people could achieve, of course, which wasn't the case in their line of work. When it came to the SGC, the crap hit the fan on a regular basis. This was inevitable. Best laid plans and all that.

That fake Thanksgiving had been special, though, there was no denying it. He'd ended up making love to his favorite blonde and sleeping in her welcoming arms. Pretty darned good, couldn't get much better.

In the brief time that had passed since that night, they'd been dating. In theory, leastwise, and if you could call it dating. To Jack, dating sounded like something he'd done when he was way younger not now he was in his fifties. They were lovers, a far better way of describing what they had although only partially accurate.

The fact was only a couple of weeks had passed since that fateful night. They'd managed to see each other inside the mountain at work more than they got it together on the outside. Hence, the opportunities for lovemaking had been rare. Categorizing their relationship as either dating or being lovers might be pushing it somewhat. Sometimes, life can be tough.

Jack regretted that. He wanted to see more of her outside their workplace, wanted to spend as much time with her as possible. He was trying his damndest to create that time but it wasn't always easy.

Although he knew he should be patient, that they'd been together for such a very short time, Jack's patience was already wearing thin. It had taken them a long while to get this far. Now they finally had he wanted to get cracking. It wasn't either of their faults that finding free time was an issue. It was what it was – or not. Their working lives were complicated.

Then, the regs they had breached and continued to flout on occasion weighed heavily on his mind. It was a bitch and something neither one of them had been prepared to contemplate doing until they'd done it. There was no going back and it was stupid to regret it, but he did.

Not being with Sam. Jack could never regret that. He was stuck on her and she seemed to feel the same way about him, which was cool and, if he was honest, a little unexpected. Sure, there'd always been this frisson of something between them but the fact they fancied the pants off each other didn't mean making a decent fist of a relationship out of it inevitable.

Of course, they hadn't actually made a decent fist of it yet. They hadn't had time. He realized he could still screw it up but was optimistic and sincerely hoped he wouldn't.

Jack was fairly sure if he sat down and wrote a list of all the pros and cons they had going for or against them it would be a lot longer on the cons side. Obviously, he had never written this list and never would. Jack wasn't into that kind of analysis. As far as Sam was concerned, he would take it as it came and to hell with it. A way better option. Life was too short for anything else.

Nevertheless, he regretted putting them into a situation where they broke the rules and knew he had to do something about it - something to make their relationship official so neither of them got into the deep shit they might if it ever came out.

Jack was good at sneaking around. He'd done it for much of his working life. This, however, was very different and he didn't want it for them. It was like having an extra-marital affair, or so he imagined. Not that he'd ever done such a thing but he figured it must be similar. They were both free agents and should be able to date whomever they chose but the fact was they couldn't. Or they shouldn't.

He'd find a way around and he had to do it soon. It kind of worried him that all this breaching the regs stuff might spoil things for them. As if they didn't have enough issues around getting and keeping it together without adding that to the overall burden.

Breaking those particular regs didn't sit well with either of them. Jack had broken one or two rules in his time. It was the O'Neill way of things. He did what he believed was necessary to achieve his goals, rules or no rules. To save the day, save the planet, sometimes the whole freakin' universe. On the other hand, he'd never done it for his own personal gain before.

Jack felt bad about that and thought Sam probably did too. They'd hardly even got started and he very much wanted to make them work as a couple. So he had to do something about it before it pulled them apart.

Inevitably, breaking the rules did not help the seeing each other more frequently side of things either. They couldn't risk people finding out about them and the sneaking made it harder. Not even Daniel and Teal'c knew they'd finally got their acts together. Jack thought they suspected after that Thanksgiving matchmaking thing they'd got into but this was a far cry from actually knowing.

He didn't like lying to their friends. Lies of omission, sure, but lies nonetheless. Sneaking around. Sheesh!

The something he should be doing about it was already way overdue, he thought. If they were going to take their relationship to another level, he had to act. No time like the present.

Rising from his prone position, Jack stretched his limbs and picked up the telephone. It was time to make that phone call he'd so been dreading.

At Christmas, the view of Colorado Springs from the top of Cheyenne Mountain was always an awesome sight. Unlike some, Jack didn't use the word awesome to describe just any old thing, but it seemed the right word to describe the sight as he stood taking in the view. The Christmas lights of the Springs. Truly dazzling.

He turned and smiled at Sam who grinned back and Jack figured this year the lights seemed extra special. She made it extra special. He'd always got a kick out of them but it had been quite a while since he'd shared his life with anyone who was worth truly enjoying them with. Sharing life's little events always made them seem better than when you did them alone.

Jack had been alone for a very long time but now he wasn't. That in itself was worth a lot. The Christmas lights viewed from the top of the mountain were merely the icing on the cake.

"Stunning, isn't it?" said Sam and Jack nodded.

"Awesome," he replied.

Sam knew his views on the inappropriate and overuse of that particular word. He'd roll his eyes when someone, often Cassie, used it to describe a new handbag, hairstyle or something equally commonplace. Handbags and hairstyles weren't awesome. Something like the stars and planets twinkling on a dark clear night, or the Grand Canyon, were. At least, those were the Jack O'Neill words of wisdom on the subject.

Her grin broadened. Jack seemed in good spirits. Very happy. She hoped it had something to do with her as well as the season of good will.

Surreptitiously, he brushed her hand, not yet able to be open in front of their friends. Feeling slightly uncomfortable because he was torn between the need to keep their secret and lying to their friends, he coughed and turned toward Teal'c.

"What do you think, T?" he asked.

"It is indeed awesome, O'Neill," Teal'c responded with a smile. Daniel piped in with agreement.

"Okay, I guess it's time to make a move," Jack said reluctantly.

"To the Cheyenne Mountain Zoo?" Teal'c queried with what seemed to be uncharacteristic enthusiasm.

Days before, Jack had insisted they all attend Colorado Springs Festival of Light and Teal'c had been delighted. The big guy was looking forward to the renowned Electric Safari at the zoo, his first ever visit to the place during the festive season.

Leading up to Christmas, the Springs offered a vast array of professional light shows, displays and parades. The mountain itself was lit up like a Christmas tree and the view from it over the city's lights was impressive.

One of the biggest events of the season was the Festival of Light, a parade which kicked off the annual festivities and attracted thousands of visitors each year. It was a nighttime spectacular with big floats, decorated live trees, marching bands playing traditional seasonal music, holiday scenes from all over the world, horse drawn carriages, classic cars and much more. If it moved, it had hundreds of Christmas lights attached to it. Quite a sight.

In theory, the highlight of the parade was Santa Claus at the end, riding in on a huge float yelling, "Ho, Ho, Ho" at the top of his voice. Predictably, Jack was more partial to the classic cars, although he enjoyed all the lights and took boyish pleasure in the parade.

Sam had been thrilled to share the event with him and their friends for the first time since they'd known each other. It was a particular joy to see Jack take such pleasure from it, his smile almost as bright as the lights themselves. She didn't think she'd ever seen him laugh as much as she had that night. They'd snuck back to his place afterwards and made love, another joy seemingly enhanced by their elated moods.

It was a Christmas spectacle Jack had attended with his family but he had avoided it since Charlie had died and Sara had left. This was the first year since then that he'd felt inclined to go and he wanted to do it with his friends. He figured it was Sam's influence. She was good for him. He kept wondering how good it was going to get if she was this good for him already. Things could only get better, right? He certainly hoped so.

Jack was determined to make their first Christmas season together special and different, hoping it would be the first of many such Christmases. Although he longed to be alone with Sam, sharing some of that magic with his other closest friends seemed the right thing to do. It also didn't hurt to have a couple of chaperones around if they were out in public. If anyone saw just the pair of them together tongues would wag and who knew where that might lead. This, however, was not his prime motivation for encouraging his friends to tag along, only one of them.

Once upon a time, the festive season had been magical. Seeing it through a child's eyes and sharing it with someone you loved could warm the heart of even the most cynical and hard-bitten men. Jack considered himself one of those and Christmas simply had not been the same since he'd lost his family. He was more than happy to try and bring back the enchantment he'd missed for so many years. Sharing played a big part in that dream.

They'd all watched the Christmas lights of Colorado Springs from the top of the mountain before, of course. They were hard to avoid when you worked in the place and why would anyone want to? This, however, was the first time all four of them had made a concerted effort to make an occasion of it together.

The Electric Safari at the zoo, however, was their ultimate destination that particular night. The safari was one of the largest holiday light events in Southwest Colorado. Cold it might be, as it inevitably was at this time of year in the State, but it was well worth braving the elements for. More than a million lights sparkled in the cool winter night and there were light sculptures and warm fires throughout the zoo and magic everywhere.

All three of his friends had been surprised when Jack had suggested these outings. He'd never bothered much about Christmas before, or at least since they had known him. They all suspected they knew why he got a little bit more anti-social than usual during the festive season. They also figured they knew why he was opening up more now.

Jack and Sam certainly weren't fooling either Daniel or Teal'c even if they only suspected rather than knew for sure about the budding romance. Meanwhile Sam tried not to second guess Jack's motives although wanted to believe she knew his reasons for being in celebratory mood.

She loved him all the more for making the effort, although neither of them had voiced such feelings for each other yet. Sam didn't want to second guess him about that either. No counting chickens, she thought. Like Jack, she was taking the relationship as it came. They had only been seeing each other for a very short while, after all. There was no telling what might happen but Sam was optimistic.

Also like Jack, the issue of breaching regs was a concern. Sam knew if anyone found out that he, as the senior officer, was likely to take the brunt of any fallout. It wouldn't do her career much good either but he'd be finished. Probably accused of using his more senior position to take advantage of a junior officer and heaven only knew what else. They were both probably crazy to sneak around like they were doing but now they had started along this route she didn't want to turn back.

At the same time, Sam had contemplated backing away from their relationship to save his butt. In her opinion, the SGC needed him. He was the right person in the right place at the right time. Hence they were risking a lot. She figured Jack would probably laugh in her face if she voiced such a notion. A general is a general, right? That's probably what he would say but he'd be wrong.

Sam had already seen what the wrong man could do when General Bauer had briefly replaced Hammond. Bad decisions made by someone who didn't understand based on bad advice from people who didn't understand either. A nightmare and one that might have destroyed Earth.

Jack, on the other hand, knew the score more than most. He knew what it was like out there and was willing to stick his neck out for his subordinates. When he had the choice, he'd listen to the people he trusted rather than those folks back at the Pentagon who thought they knew best but didn't. He and Hammond might be very different kinds of men but Jack had learned from the best.

Although Sam might have considered giving him up for his own good, she knew she wasn't likely to act on it. She'd see him again and all such thoughts were lost. He'd catch her eye, touch her arm or smile and she'd remember why they had kissed on that Halloween night, why they'd ended up in bed together after their fake Thanksgiving. She loved him. Not only that but he was darned hot.

Smiling to herself at the thought, she glanced at him and he caught her out, smirking and winking, dark brown eyes twinkling with merriment. Sometimes she hated that he could be so adorable.

She longed to take his hand in hers, give him a hug or a peck on the cheek but she couldn't. It was frustrating and didn't seem fair. They'd both sacrificed enough for far too long already, hadn't they? She wanted them to be just like any other couple. Or at least as close an approximation as they could be. For them, life was never likely to be normal.

Once, not so long ago, Sam had craved normal and she'd got together with Pete Shanahan because of it. Pete had been sweet and all, had his moments, but he wasn't Jack and he never could be. Once she'd realised normal wasn't all it was cracked up to be Pete was gone. She knew if she couldn't have Jack she'd be better off alone. The extraordinary was way better than normal even if it was just out of reach.

Their kisses that Halloween had been extraordinary and so had every moment they'd spent together since that night. Unfortunately, their moments together had been too few but she held out hope for many future ones. Tonight might be one of them. Later. Fingers crossed Jonas Quinn style.

She laughed aloud at the thought and Jack peered at her curiously. "What's so funny, colonel?" he asked.

"I was thinking about Jonas Quinn."

"What, are you hungry?" he quipped, raising a smile from Sam and Teal'c. Jonas had had a thing for Earth food, constantly seemed to be eating. It had become something of a team joke.

In response, she crossed her two index fingers like Jonas had done when he had misunderstood the adage about keeping your fingers crossed. Jack arched his eyebrows in an amused way.

"So what are you crossing your fingers for?" he queried and Sam said nothing, merely smirking.

Jack bit his lip, trying not to laugh exuberantly. It was as if he had read her mind. Daniel looked puzzled and Teal'c simply shrugged and remained mute.

Neither Sam nor Jack attempted to explain but the urge to exchange smiles was irresistible. It didn't go unnoticed by their two friends who managed a silent exchange of their own. In fact, later when he found himself alone with Jack as they exited the men's room at the zoo Daniel brazenly broached the subject.

"So, Jack, you and Sam… have you two…?"

Jack threw him an acid look and his response was equally tart. "I thought tact and diplomacy was your thing, Daniel. Have you never heard of 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell'?"

Daniel appeared taken aback by the response. "Doesn't that only apply to gays?"

Jack didn't reply, instead pinning him with a long hard stare, and Daniel looked pained.

"You can trust us, Jack," he stated.

"I do trust you."

"Really," Daniel responded caustically.

"Don't go there Daniel," Jack retorted. "Please."

The added "please" so surprised Daniel that he was temporarily rendered speechless. As his friend mutely opened and closed his mouth a couple of times, Jack's hard expression turned to one of amusement.

"Okay," agreed Daniel eventually. "I guess it's none of my business."

Jack smiled faintly, squeezing his arm in a friendly fashion. "Not right now. Another time, right?" Daniel grinned back and nodded. Then they returned to their friends.

As the small group continued their tour of the zoo, the younger man pondered the exchange. Jack always had been the kind of man who kept his cards close to his chest. Sometimes he was a tough person to have as a friend, but he was a true one. He was a man who would do almost anything to help a friend in need - with the possible exception of talking about it.

Daniel understood that Jack and Sam were in a difficult position. If they were having the kind of relationship he now suspected they were then it was a serious breach of Air Force Regulations. Not that he necessarily agreed with all that regs nonsense. However, after all the years of working with the military he got it. Kind of.

In fact, if his suspicions were correct, it was surprising his friends had gone as far as breaching those regs. He'd hoped, and even made a small effort to encourage them. None of which mean they would. Sam was normally a stickler for the regs, albeit with some notable exceptions when it came to following Jack's lead. As for Jack, he could play fast and loose with the rules but had been careful about keeping in line with the fraternization section of them as far as she was concerned.

Nonetheless, Daniel only had to look at them to know something had changed. Their demeanors were different as was the way they responded to each other. There was nothing blatant but it was obvious to him. He'd known them a long time, after all. He had eyes.

Good for them, he thought. They deserve it although who knew for sure whether they would work as a couple? Even with all the subtle and unsubtle yearning that had been going on around him for years, it wasn't a given. In many ways, they were like chalk and cheese, almost entirely unsuited. However, Daniel believed they had a lot going for them too. Almost entirely unsuited did not mean totally unsuited, did it?

He sincerely hoped they didn't disappoint each other. Daniel couldn't bear the idea of that happening, of either of them deeply hurting the other, of their friendship suffering a heavy and potentially lethal blow. If it happened, the impact on all of them could be devastating, not least because the pair still worked in the same command. Tricky, and the one sane reason he could see for the fraternization regs existing in the first place.

'Be careful what you wish for, Daniel,' he told himself, trying to snap out of his funk and concentrate on the matter at hand – their night out.

"We have to do the Seven Falls," he heard Jack declare happily and Teal'c looked quizzical.

"The Seven Falls, O'Neill?"

As Jack explained, Teal'c seemed eager to participate and Daniel smiled. He loved these guys and hoped nothing would ever pull them apart. 'Enough already,' he thought. 'Give us a decent break! We deserve it.' Then he pushed all such thoughts aside and joined the conversation.

The Seven Falls was a magnificent waterfall next to the mountain. They had night light shows on a daily basis all year round but the Christmas one could be ranked alongside the finest. Special decorations brought out for the occasion created a captivating wonderland against the backdrop of the mountain and falls.

Jack liked that his Jaffa friend was getting into and enjoying these very Tauri Christmas traditions. He thought Charlie probably would have said the fantasy of the falls was like watching a movie on the mountain, which made him believe Teal'c was going to love it. As far as Jack was concerned, while they were on the light show trail, the Falls were a must see. They were part of that magic he wanted to create around Christmas once again.

"Want a ride home, Carter?" Jack asked as they left the zoo. He stared straight into her eyes and his penetrating gaze sent a shiver of anticipation down her spine.

"That would be good, sir," she replied with a faint smile and trying to appear casual about the notion.

Sam had been hoping for this, that they might end up spending some alone time together after their night out. She had left her car at home that morning as part of a deliberate ploy. If Jack didn't bite, she could get a cab or a lift from Daniel, but he bit. Way to go, Jack!

"You two guys okay?" Jack said eyeing their two friends, his expression implying that they had better be.

"I'll drive Teal'c back to the SGC, Jack," Daniel agreed quickly, easily taking the hint and trying hard not to smirk.

As he and Sam got into his truck, Jack asked, "Your place or mine?" He waggled his eyebrows suggestively. "Or is that taking too much for granted, Carter?" he added to be sure it didn't seem like he expected too much. What he wanted and what he got might be two totally different things, after all. It was too soon to take anything between them for granted.

Sam grinned. "My place. Then you won't have to give me a ride in the morning."

"Hey, I don't mind giving you a ride in the morning. In fact, I'll give you a ride right now!" His humorous tone of innuendo made her giggle.

"Right here in the truck?" she retorted lightheartedly.

"Not sure my creaky old knees and back are up to that, Sam, but if that's what you want…" he responded with a mocking grin and a shrug.

"My place would be better," she said, reaching over to squeeze his thigh. Her touch made him tremble excitedly and he gunned the truck into gear and drove off. Jack was feeling content with the way the night had gone and exhilarated by the idea of what might follow.

"You left your car at home on purpose, right?" he asked cheekily.

Sam could feel her cheeks heating. "No comment," she said and Jack chuckled. They spent the rest of their journey to Sam's in companionable silence, both contemplating the night to come.

He kissed her passionately once they'd entered her house, pulling her close and scrunching his fingers through her hair.

"I thought I'd never get you alone," he whispered as he withdrew his mouth from hers. Sam's fingers wandered under his shirt and up his spine and he shivered, and not because he was thrilled. "Damn it, your hands are cold!" he exclaimed.

"Then warm them up, Mister."

Smiling, he removed her hands from under his shirt and took them between his, rubbing them and blowing on them to warm them. Then he cocked an eyebrow at her quizzically and found the answer he was looking for in her expression. A few minutes later, they were both stripped naked and making love in her warm bed. They didn't waste any time because they didn't have time to waste. Neither of them could be sure when they'd get this chance again.

Afterward, they held each other in mute contentment for a long time before they spoke. Jack was the first one to break that satisfied peace.

"We… um… we haven't discussed… um…" he started and Sam was charmed by his boyish nervousness. "What you doing for Christmas?" he asked finally.

"Did you have something in mind?" she countered.

"Open fire, eggnog… hugs and kisses with a blonde haired genius."

Jack had been meaning to ask for a while now. Spending Christmas day with Sam sounded like his kind of Christmas, assuming he could pull it off. She, however, had family. A brother, a niece and nephew. He hadn't a clue what she planned to do with her time off.

In theory, both of them were supposed to be off duty for a few days over Christmas. While Jack knew anything could happen to make this impossible, he longed for the possible, or at least the hope of it.

"Mark invited me to San Diego," she said and Jack's heart sank. "But I haven't said yes. Spending some time with a certain silver haired general sounds better."

"Really?" He was both surprised and delighted and showed it, which pleased Sam immeasurably.

"Really."

"Just the two of us?" he queried.

"Yes, just the two of us."

He smiled, kissing her forehead affectionately and giving her a warm squeeze. "Cool!"

Jack was thinking sharing Christmas with Sam would be the best Christmas present he'd had for a long time. He didn't know it, but she was thinking along the same lines. That night, they both slept very well indeed. A slumber filled with sweet dreams.

Continued in Part 2, to follow in a day or two, I swear…! :-)

Disclaimer: Stargate SG-1 and its characters are the property of Stargate (II) Productions, Showtime/Viacom, MGM/UA, Double Secret Productions, and Gekko Productions. This story is for entertainment purposes only and no money exchanged hands. No copyright infringement is intended. The original characters, situations, and story are the property of the author. This story may not be posted elsewhere without the consent of the author. Any similarity to real persons, living or dead, is coincidental and not intended by the author. Copyright © 2009 Su Freund