The evening sun slowly came down on what had been a fun bar-b-que. This was going to be Sam, Teal'c and Daniel's last night at Jack's cabin and he had insisted that SG-1 have a team bar-b-que before they broke apart and splintered off into different directions.

After a nostalgic and bittersweet evening, Daniel was the first to say goodnight. He'd be leaving with Teal'c to return to the SGC and wanted to make sure he got enough rest to be ready for the drive back. Teal'c also rose to his feet and followed Daniel as he hugged Sam, then Jack. Daniel finally gave Teal'c a brotherly hug before they both retreated to sleep.

SG-1 would all say their farewells tomorrow and each would do their best to make it not sound as final as they all feared it would be.

Sam and Jack, now alone, exchanged a few words before finishing their drinks. It was Sam's turn to head in. Standing, she dusted herself off and said,

"Well, I'd better say goodnight too."

"Hmm," and a nod was Jack's response to Sam's unenthusiastic announcement. His eyes followed her movements but Jack's body remained perched on the railing of the back porch; one foot planted firmly on the floor. Hesitantly Sam moved toward Jack, her eyes seeming reluctant to leave his. Daniel had started the hugging and Sam felt a bit awkward about not following his example, but as she moved closer to Jack, Sam began to feel a bit awkward about actually hugging him, here, in this setting.

With a nervous smile, Sam closed the final opening between them and circled her arms around Jack. Almost instantly she felt Jack's arms pull her in, securely pressing her against him with enough strength to reveal his intention but with enough gentleness not to create unnecessary pressure.

Sam took in a deep breath and felt as though her lungs were full for the first time. Finally, the unspoken was between them again and, characteristically, they released; slowly this time. As Sam pulled away, Jack's eyes were upon her intently, connecting; she saw him and he saw her, without the rank, without the call of duty, without the weight of honour.

That familiar instinct kicked in, the same one that had kept them sane and apart for all those years, and Sam responded to it the way she always had. Backing away, nodding at Jack, Sam began to leave. Putting one foot in front of the other, Sam made her way through the chairs on the patio. In between the beat of her heart and the blood pounding in her ears, she heard Jack say,

"Goodnight Sam."

Looking back to acknowledge him, Sam saw Jack give her a small warm but sad smile, then he turned away, and that small action rooted her in place. The feeling that he was finally turning away from her, from the hope of them overwhelmed her and in that moment she refused to let him do it.

Sam couldn't say how she'd moved so quickly back to Jack, but in a breath, one hand was on his shoulder and the other on his face, bringing his eyes back to hers - connecting again. This time there was no uncertainty or awkward feeling. Sam knew what she wanted; it was right in front of her. So Sam took Jack's mouth with hers and kissed him without apology.

When they finally released, she buried her head in Jack's shoulder and breathed him in again. After a moment Sam heard and felt Jack speak her name in a way that she had never experienced before.

"Sam." was all Jack spoke and she couldn't tell whether the shiver that trembled her body was from the chilly evening air, or the sound of her name from Jack's liberated mouth.

End.