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Crazy Mixed Up world.

by Lingren.

Previously:-

Sam wanted so much to go and sit with him, but Janet had forbidden anyone entry to her domain for the time being, so there was nothing left for her to do, than to go and grab a bite to eat – not that she really felt hungry – and then go to bed and try to get some sleep, but she also doubted that would happen either.

Chapter 2 – A Little UST for Lunch, Sir?

Although Janet was still a little concerned over the fact that Jack's recovery was slower than usual for him, she had allowed him to go home and recuperate there for the rest of the week. Jack was clearly frustrated by his inability to heal fast enough for his liking, despite Janet's reassurance that it would given time and plenty of rest.

Which was all that Jack seemed to be able to manage at the moment. It wasn't through lack of trying to fill his time by pottering about the house or yard – he really didn't have much of a choice. Each time he'd gotten bored, he'd attempted to occupy his mind, but that set off another of those, nail-in-the-head type headaches and he was forced to take one of Janet's magic pills and rest. Which was what he was doing right that minute when he heard a car pull up outside on his drive.

His smile broadened as the figure of Sam Carter appeared round the corner of his house, her own smile lighting her face when she caught sight of him relaxing.

"Hi!" she greeted him, walking straight up to where he was sitting. "I thought you might be out here sir."

"Yeah. Too nice to be sitting around indoors," he commented with a smile of his own as he looked up at her.

"Kinda makes you want to drop all the work and head for the beach," She sighed, raising her face up to catch the sun full on and loving the feel of the warmth of early fall. Being underground for the majority of her time she could appreciate the fresh air and sunshine.

Jack sat fascinated by her glowing features, feeling the stirrings of his abiding love for her awaken within him once more. She looked absolutely radiant in the golden light as the sun bounced off her blonde hair, making it shimmer like pure gold. With more effort than ever he'd had before, he clamped his errant thoughts down, and with even greater difficulty concentrated on the paper bag clutched in her hand. Those sort of thoughts would only lead him into trouble, so he recited the frat regulations to himself yet again, hoping it would be enough to settle his awakening libido down.

"So, watchya got in the bag, Carter?" His voice came out rather strained but if Sam noticed it at all she didn't let it show.

She brought her attention back to her CO as he sat on his deck. He actually looked good; better than she had seen in the several days since they had gated home. His skin was tanned and she could see his muscular torso through his thin cotton shirt. He was still lean, but lithe, and though his face was still a little pale he looked good enough to eat and she had to stamp down on those feelings quickly. Reluctantly dragging her thoughts away from him, she held out the bag towards her senior officer.

"I've brought you some lunch sir." Her smile was just a little on the shy side but it warmed Jack's heart to know she had thought of him here on his own.

"You didn't have to Carter. I'm not an invalid, just concussed."

"I know sir. I just thought it would save you..." she floundered for a moment under his curious gaze. She wondered what he would say if she'd said it was 'any old excuse just to see you again'?

"Sweet!" he said, taking the bag from her warm fingers and opening it to see what she'd brought him. "Hey, this is nice Carter," he beamed, pulling out the fresh chicken salad sandwich.

Sam sat herself down on the chair opposite him and watched as his face broke into a another one of those smiles that set her pulse racing again. Obviously she had made the right choice of food for him. He took a mouthful and she could tell he was enjoying it, when he stopped, swallowing quickly as he looked over at her.

"Where's yours?" he asked, noticing her lack of anything resembling food in her hands.

"I...I left mine in the car sir. I'll have it later."

"You're not gonna join me?" he asked, his voice bordering on disappointment that she might not be staying.

"I...I didn't...think..."

Jack replaced his half eaten sandwich back into the back and struggled to get to his feet. His wrist was still giving him problems and his knee too. Janet only discovered that he'd hurt it again, after he'd woken up because there was nothing on any of the X-rays to say otherwise.

"I'll put some coffee on...or would you rather have a beer?"

"Coffee's fine sir. Thanks." Sam felt awkward, watching him limp to the patio door. He stopped and turned back towards her.

"Go. Get your lunch, Carter. My yard is as good a place to eat it as any picnic area. I won't mind you sharing it for a few minutes."

"Yes sir." Sam stood with a broad smile and then hurried away to fetch her own sandwich as well as an apple she'd chosen for herself.

Jack watched her go and shook his head slowly before making his way to the kitchen. He staggered a little as he'd turned and cursed the fact that his head still hurt and he was still suffering from the damn irritating dizzy spells. He shook off the slight nauseous sensation that always went with these little episodes and concentrated on getting their drinks without falling on his ass and embarrassing himself in the process. There was always that niggling little voice in the back of his head telling him that he should be over this by now, and why wasn't he better yet? He pushed away the doubts that assailed him and concentrated on getting the coffee from the shelf and into the mugs.

Coffee now made, he returned to the door to see her already sitting at the patio table, her lunch in front of her while she gazed absently around his yard.

"Ah. There ya go Carter," he said, placing her mug down on the lacquered wooden surface with extra care so he didn't spill any of it.

"You're not having any sir?" she felt guilty for making him work when he should have been resting.

"Yeah. I can't..." he held up his strapped up wrist to remind her of his injured wrist.

She jumped up all apologetic.

"I'm so sorry sir. I'll go get it for you."

"Ack!" he stopped her right there by holding his bandaged arm up to prevent her from moving. "I can manage it. I need to get my damn pills anyway." She stood, hovering between doing as he'd asked or retrieving his coffee anyway; until he anticipated her thoughts. "Sit!" he said pointing to her chair. He might be under the doctor's orders, but he was still her CO dammit.

She hesitated still looking worried.

"That's an order Carter," he said, but the twinkle in his eye took the sting out of his harsh sounding words.

"Yes sir."

She sat obediently, feeling unaccountably guilty, sort of adrift and out of place. Suddenly she wondered if this was such a good idea after all, coming here on her own, and now wished that she had invited Daniel and Teal'c to join them too.

Minutes later Jack returned with his coffee and took his seat again.

"So," he began after a tense silence which had them wondering what to say to each other. "Whatchya been doing while I've been sittin' around on my butt all day?"

Thank god for small mercies, her mind whispered, at last something normal and neutral to talk about.

"Well, SG-6 came back with some interesting artefacts a couple of days ago. I've been trying to discover exactly what they do, and Daniel's having a problem translating some of the writing on any of them, but on the whole, it's been pretty quiet sir."

"Ah...what you really mean is, it's quiet without me there to distract you, right?" he smirked around another bite of his lunch.

She coloured up slightly but grinned back, relaxing a little more.

"I didn't say that sir," she responded when she'd swallowed her mouthful.

"Not in so many words at least, Carter. I bet Daniel hasn't slept at all since he's had a few new toys to play with."

Her lack of response and a blush was an answer in itself. Jack didn't know whether to laugh, that he was right, or be annoyed because he wasn't there to make sure they were eating and resting properly.

"Why didn't you drag him out here. At least you coulda made sure he ate something."

"Teal'c was going to drag him off to the commissary when I left sir," she countered, feeling a little guilty at his gruff tone.

"Good for him!"

An awkward silence fell over them once again as they concentrated on eating their lunch, the air around them crackling with pent up tension.

Tension that had been there since they had first met; since that memorable moment in the briefing room when she'd challenged him to an arm wrestle. Over the years that slipped by his admiration for her had turned to love, but he could never pinpoint the exact time when things had changed; it just happened.

Apparently she'd felt it too, but they had both volunteered to uphold the regulations between them, so with great difficulty they had tried to ignore their innermost feelings. However, the strain to never overstep those hard and fast rules of fraternisation remained, hovering over them like the sword of Damocles whenever they were in close proximity to each other.

Sam couldn't help herself, and raised her blue eyes to glance at him over the rim of her coffee cup but felt herself blush when she saw him eyeing her over the top of his cup too. She swallowed hard, feeling the heated flush of desire as it swept right through her. She quickly drained the too hot liquid, biting back the sensation of it burning her tongue and throat as it went down, and then hastily swallowed the last bite of her sandwich.

Jack watched her with regret for his actions as she stood up suddenly, awkwardly gathering her cup and trash and making a hasty exit towards his kitchen. When she reappeared she skirted round him obviously trying to make a quick getaway.

"Gotta go sir. I'll see you tomorrow," she said, excusing herself.

"So soon Carter? Am I not as interesting as that exciting new doohickey?" he joked, trying to swallow down his disappointment.

Sam flushed again, but managed to smile back. Then, with an innocent look plastered onto her face, she gave a little wave, taking a few more steps towards the driveway. Her shy smile turning positively saucy.

"That's why I'm going sir. Bye!"

Jack could feel that telltale flush of heat and longing wash over him too and closed his eyes in denial. Some day, he vowed; one day they would be together.

Seeing the effect her words had on him, Sam grinned to herself as she hurried round the house and slid into her car, driving off and hoping that she had calmed down by the time she'd reached the SGC.

The rest of his lunch now forgotten, Jack rose unsteadily from the chair and stepped down onto the lawn, ignoring the dizzying effects for a moment, he took several long strides across the yard, while he schooled his brain into calming his wayward thoughts. Thoughts he shouldn't be having. Thoughts that he had so carefully hidden away but were now demanding to be heard.

He realised that Sam was obviously still very much attracted to him, and was so sure that there was certainly a high amount of sexual tension in the air between them as they ate. Their situation was damned intolerable, and he wanted so much to be able to solve the state of affairs that existed to keep them as far apart as possible. Should he just bite the bullet and ask for retirement...?

So wrapped up in his chaotic thoughts was he, that he failed to notice anything amiss until it was too late. There was a bright light flashing behind his retinas and although he couldn't comprehend what was happening, he saw the colours of the greenery in the yard blend together with the blue from the sky, and swirl away from him.

Overcome with an unstoppable dizzy spell he crumpled to the ground. His senses quickly overwhelmed, and with his vision greying out, he fell headlong into the darkness of oblivion.

TBC