Hi, people. Here's my story, hope you'll like it and leave a hell lotta reviews. :D
ENJOY!
Secrets
Chapter 1
The hard snow crunched under the wheels of the 1967 Ford Mustang as it rolled across the small wooden bridge out of the forest to the clearing where the house stood. The grass and the trees that used to be green were all covered in snow making the view beautiful white in all directions. The small pond next to the house was frozen and the sunbeams' bright light reflected on the ice making it beautifully glitter. Though it was winter the temperature was unusually warm and the birds were singing as if it were spring.
The car stopped in front of the front porch and after the engine stopped, the two doors opened. Colonel Cameron Mitchell got out from behind the wheel and Dr. Daniel Jackson from the passenger's seat. Once they were out the three other members of SG-1 got out from the back seat; Colonel Samantha Carter, Vala Mal Doran and Teal'c.
'This is a nice place even in winter,' Cameron said and removed his sunglasses.
'Sure it is,' Daniel added.
'Indeed.' Teal'c agreed with his usual, still face.
Daniel took a step in the snow and it crunched under the weight of his shoes, just as it did under the wheels of Cameron's car.
'I so love the sound of that,' Sam said smiling when she heard the pleasingly soft sound of the snow.
'It is most interesting how humans can appreciate and enjoy such small things.' Teal'c stated.
'For ten years you have been here now and there are still new things to discover. Wonderful, isn't it?' Daniel asked Teal'c. He seemed almost as excited about it as his Jaffa friend, only Teal'c didn't show it.
'It is not the word I would use, Daniel Jackson. I prefer interesting just as I said before.'
Daniel was quite surprised, since he wasn't expecting an answer. 'Yeah, that's good enough.'
They started to walk toward the front door but before they could even reach the porch the door flung open and a familiar face appeared in the doorway.
'Howdy fellas!' The general greeted them.
'Jack!' Sam called out not really caring about calling her CO by his first name.
She was more than happy to see him again. Though she never would admit she had strong feelings for Jack O'Neill.
'It's either general, or sir.' Jack corrected but he didn't mind her calling him Jack.
'Sorry sir. It's just good to see you.' Sam apologized and corrected herself.
'No problem, Sam.' O'Neill said smiling at her with the kind of Jack O'Neill smile she had fallen in love with.
Jack moved away from the doorway and showed the others in. He shook hands with Daniel and Cameron as they passed then welcomed Teal'c and Vala and when it came to Sam he hesitated.
She looked beautiful standing there. It was a little strange to see Sam in other than military clothes but it was definitely the best meaning of strange. She was wearing a blue dress and black high-heeled leather boots. Her hair grew longer than the last time they met and Jack found her even more gorgeous this way.
'Man, she's hot.' Jack thought.
He looked into her beautiful blue eyes and just stood there, waiting for something to happen.
It was good for him to see her again after a long time. Not a day had passed without him thinking of her after he had left SG-1, but now that she was actually standing there in front of him words just didn't come to mouth. He wanted to tell her how he felt but thought it better to stay professional. At least for the moment. He didn't know how long they had been standing there looking into each other's eyes but he could have stayed like that forever.
'Hi,' Sam said breaking the silence and gave Jack a kiss on his cheek. He could smell the scent of her hair as her lips touched his cheek and the smell took him off his feet. He wanted to hug her and hold her close to him and never let go but the moment ended and Sam walked away. He watched Carter join the others in the living room then closed the door and went after her.
When Jack arrived in the living room he saw the others had already made themselves comfortable. There was one empty place on the couch for him, of course next to Sam. Jack sat down and sent Daniel a 'you planned this, didn't you' look. He responded with a little smirk and quickly looked away before it was too obvious.
'So, where are the decorations?' Daniel asked and looked around in the house looking for some colorful stripe or orb.
'You do have some, don't you?' Vala asked when she had finished checking and didn't find anything.
'Well, yeah, they're in a box on the top of the fridge.' Jack answered.
'Good. There's no Christmas without fancy decoration,' Cam said and stood up and headed for the kitchen.
Nobody said anything until he returned with a huge paper box in his hands full of Christmas ornaments. He dropped it on the coffee table so that everyone could see it.
When Teal'c saw the colorful stripes in the box he remembered the time they spent on the Odyssey while they were trapped in a time distortion bubble. How many Christmas Eve's they had together. It was hard for him not to tell anything about those years to the others.
'We shall begin decorating immediately.' Teal'c suggested and took a red orb out of the box.
'Where's the tree?' Sam asked. It seemed nobody noticed that there was nothing like a Christmas tree in the house.
'Well, um, it's in the forest,' Jack answered with a triumphant smile on his face.
'Jack and I will go get it,' Daniel quickly announced before anyone could say anything.
'Really?' Jack asked surprised by Daniel's sudden statement.
'Yes. Come on.' Daniel answered and headed for the door.
'Well, you heard the man. I better go, you just have fun.' O'Neill told the others and went after Daniel.
'Sure ya betcha.' Sam said to the leaving general. When Jack heard one of his favorite expressions coming from Sam's mouth, he turned back and smiled at her so softly that Sam almost felt herself melting. The moment lasted until Daniel grabbed Jack's arm and showed him out the door.
After the door had closed Cameron stood up from the chair he was sitting in and turned to the others.
'Let's pimp this place.'
oOo
The weather became more like usual winter weather when they stepped out of the house. The temperature lowered a few degrees and it seemed to be a right decision for Jack to bring his leather jacket with him.
'So what is this about, Daniel?' Jack asked immediately once they had left the house and he was sure they were in safe distance so that nobody could hear them.
'What? I thought we were getting the tree,' Daniel said innocently, playing with Jack.
'Daniel.'
'Jack.'
'Daniel.' Jack obviously didn't like playing like this.
'It's more like who than what,' came the cryptic answer.
'Really?' Jack had a feeling he knew exactly who Daniel was referring to.
'See, Jack, before we came here Sam had told me to meet at her place. She was excited about this and she wanted everything to be perfect. You should have seen how long she had been thinking before she decided what to wear.'
'She definitely made the right choice.' Jack answered. He didn't like that the conversation was starting to make him feel uncomfortable.
'I told her to wear that.' Daniel admitted, unsure whether it would make Jack disappointed or not. Jack didn't respond and he never found out.
They walked deeper in the forest without any of them saying anything. Daniel figured that Jack hadn't really chosen a tree yet and they were walking aimlessly.
'So how was your trip here?' Jack finally asked, switching subject, trying to avoid any further embarrassment.
Daniel sighed disappointed. 'Come on, Jack, you mean a lot to her.'
'Could we just not talk about that?' Though he didn't want to admit, deep down inside Jack knew Daniel was right. He really should take a step.
'I'm just saying.' Daniel answered and with that the conversation was over and for a long time none of them broke the silence.
Daniel was about to ask how longer were they going to walk when Jack suddenly stopped. He showed Daniel to stop too and to stay silent.
'You heard that?' Jack asked after a short period of silence.
'Heard what?'
'I heard a twig crunch. Over there.' Jack whispered and pointed to the woods to their left. For a single moment Jack saw a dark shadow swish past between the trees.
'I didn't hear anything.' Daniel told him but he trusted Jack and stood quiet.
They both listened carefully but couldn't hear anything but the light wind around them and the birds' distant singing.
'Never mind. I think we shouldn't go further. There must be a fine tree somewhere around here.' Jack suggested and looked around analyzing nearby pine trees.
'I think I've found it.' Daniel said and waited for Jack to get to him.
'Nice.' Jack seemed to like the one Daniel had found and prepared his axe to cut the tree so they could carry it back to the house.
oOo
In Jack's living room Sam was the one to put up the last ribbon on the lamp hanging from the ceiling in the middle of the room.
'I think we're finished.' She said as she stepped down from the chair she used to reach the lamp.
'Indeed.' Teal'c assured her. 'The rest of the decorations are for the tree.'
'Speaking of which, Jack and Daniel should have arrived back by now.' Vala said.
'You think something…' Sam started, becoming worried.
'Don't worry guys. They're probably having a little boys chat.' Cam said trying to ease the others. It seemed to have worked.
'Yeah, you're probably right. Besides, what could there possibly be in the forest that could harm them?' Sam said trying to convince herself everything was ok.
'Grizzly bears, for example.' Vala said making Sam worried again.
'Come on, girls, grizzlies don't come out in winter. They are ok. Now if you'll excuse me, I gotta use the bathroom. Be right back.' Cam told the girls and left the living room leaving Vala and Sam alone.
Vala took a beer from the table and jumped back into the chair she had been sitting in. Sam just didn't look that happy. 'Do you think this dress…?' Sam started but Vala cut her short.
'Don't worry, you look great.' Vala said reassuringly when she saw in Sam's eyes she had doubts about the whole thing.
'Do I?' Sam now looked at Teal'c waiting for an answer.
'You look very nice in that dress, Colonel Carter.' Teal'c responded smiling kindly at Sam.
'Thanks. I hope he thinks the same.' Sam answered with a weak smile. She appreciated the help of her friends but still wasn't completely convinced.
'Hey, I'm sure he does.' Vala told her and drank from her beer.
'How about Daniel?' Sam asked after she'd sat down on the couch.
Sam could see on Vala's face the question hit her by surprise. 'What about him?'
'How are things going on between the two of you?'
Vala looked embarrassed. She tried to find the words to say but she felt too awkward to say anything.
Teal'c was listening carefully without interrupting.
Sam was about to continue torturing Vala when suddenly Cameron appeared in the living room. 'Missed anything?'
'Nothing.' Vala answered immediately. She wanted to hug Cameron for saving her from Sam but she thought that wouldn't be such a good idea.
They were just looking at each other, everyone waiting for the others to speak. Finally Vala broke the silence.
'So what do you think will be under the Christmas tree for you, muscles?'
'I am unsure.' Teal'c gave a short but telling answer.
'Well I think I'll get some nice necklace or some other expensive jewel.' Vala imagined a couple of golden and silver rings and necklaces.
The image dissolved as the front door opened and Jack and Daniel stepped in carrying the tree.
'We're back.' Daniel announced as they put the tree down next to the door.
'What took you so long?' Sam asked. She knew Cam was right and nothing had happened to the boys but she still wanted to find out the reason for being this late.
'We, umm, got lost.' Jack told her trying to avoid telling them the conversation he had with Daniel.
'Lost?' Cam could see right through them and didn't believe that for a second.
'Yeah. Lost.' Daniel agreed, assuring the others they were telling the truth.
'Right.' Cam said but he still wasn't convinced and neither were the others.
Jack and Daniel just stood there waiting for others to keep questioning their truthfulness but when nobody spoke they relaxed and sat down, Daniel back to his chair, Jack back on the couch next to Sam.
'Come, Teal'c, let's stand this tree in the corner next to the fireplace.' Cameron asked Teal'c and walked to the tree.
'Very well, Cameron Mitchell.' Teal'c answered and bowed his head slowly.
'I can assure you all; two days from now there will be a lot of nice little boxes under that tree.' Vala said happily watching Teal'c and Cam setting the tree in the corner of the living room.
When the tree was in place Cam turned to the others who were sitting comfortably around them. 'So are gonna help with the decorations or what?'
~TBC