CHAPTER 2
"Excuse me?" Sam furrowed her brow, not quite understanding the 'princess' remark. She tilted her head to the side in wait of a response.
Jack wondered if everyone looked as endearing when they did that.
"Uh… Sara returned with our breakfast cereal earlier, to regale me with tales of beautiful princesses who wear glasses." The man explained, gesturing widely to emphasize the grandeur of his statement.
"I never said beautiful Daddy." Sara corrected her father.
"Yes you did." He insisted.
"Nuh-uh." Sara shook her head.
"Yes you did!" The man whispered - rather urgently Sam thought.
Sam bit her lower lip in an effort not to smile. Both at the comparison to her being a princess and the adorable sight that was her would-be saviour and the little girl she had already fallen in love with.
The way she bit her lower-lip as her cheeks flushed ever so slightly, did not escape Jack's attention. Even if he was feeling a little flustered, that was pretty hard for him to miss.
He would definitely have to find further ways to embarrass her… because somehow – and Jack wouldn't have thought it possible – she looked even more beautiful when she blushed.
"So it's you I have to thank for safely receiving my Froot Loops?" The man asked, sounding as though Sam had just safely returned his first born.
"I thought those were for your daughter?"
"No way!" Sara looked shocked. "I like All Bran! And Daddy never shares the Froot Loops anyway! They are always all gone."
The man gave Sam an impossibly serious look.
"It's the toucan on the box – he beckons me." Sam couldn't help but giggle. "Besides… I don't see you sharing any of that cookie dough with me young lady – which we will be cooking."
"No! Please Daddy?! You always burn them." Sara pleaded, looking a tad forlorn.
She had him there. Although he was pretty sure he could remember a time when he didn't burn the cookies. Pretty sure.
"This time we'll be really careful." Jack reassured her.
"Promise?"
"Cross my heart." The man answered.
Sara ran her finger over her father's chest in a criss-cross pattern.
"Okay Daddy."
Jack directed his attention back to Sam to see her smiling at him.
"I don't always burn things." He said, with a lot of emphasis on the 'always'.
"It's okay." Sam reassured him, leaning back against her car window. "I can't cook to save my life."
"No?"
"Not my field of expertise unfortunately." Sam admitted, lifting her middle finger to the bridge of her nose and adjusting her glasses.
Jack had never noticed how sexy glasses were.
"In that case, maybe we can exchange take-out menus?"
The man smiled at her, and Sam felt her stomach do a little flip.
"I apologize, but I actually don't have any. I just moved to Colorado Springs yesterday. This is my first shopping trip actually, there's nothing in my fridge but a jug of really bad tap water."
"Well, in that case, Sara and I will have to show you all the good places in town to eat."
"Bowling alley!" Sara squealed excitedly.
"Not exactly fine dining, but the kid makes a good point - some of the best pizza around. Tastes better than half the pizza places around here."
"We're going there tonight." Sara said, smiling at Sam. "Aren't we Daddy?"
"Yes. Indeed we are."
Jack glanced over at Sam, desperately wanting to invite her along.
"Can Sam come?" Sara asked enthusiastically.
Thank heavens for his little girl…
"I don't know. Why don't you ask her?"
"Can you come bowling with us Sam? It's really fun! And even funner with three people."
Sam wondered how anyone was supposed to say no to that bright, hopeful little face.
"I.. uh.." Sam was unsure whether or not this was a genuine invitation or the man was just trying to appease his daughter by not saying no directly.
"The pizza's really good." He insisted.
The handsome half-smile on his face coupled with the lovable little girl in his arms pretty much left Sam at a loss.
"I, uh… I'd love to."
Sam wondered whether or not it was prudent of her to accept an invitation from a man right now. Especially seeing as her previous partner had just stalked her and pinned her down against her car.
But the way her heart fluttered every time he spoke alleviated her worry somewhat.
"Excellent. We have a lane booked for seven o'clock, but we usually get there a little earlier so we can eat first. And Sara usually insists I play a few of the arcade games."
Sara shook her head at Sam.
"Ohh.. she insists?"
"Yup. I can't see the appeal myself."
"Last time he spent all the quarters and then we had to get more from the man." Sara giggled.
"Shhh!" Jack pressed a finger to her smiling mouth.
"Sounds like fun." Sam couldn't remember the last time she'd even set foot in a bowling alley, or even done anything that could be classified as 'fun'.
Pete Shanahan's idea of fun was a bucket of chicken. Although Sam wondered if sharing a bucket of chicken with this man would be fun.
"It's not far from here. Bear Creek Lanes. It's over on South 21st street, not far from the dog park."
"We don't have a dog." Sara said sadly.
"One day Sweetie." Jack bounced her in his arms in an effort to cheer her up. "Think you can find it? Do you need directions?"
"I'm sure I can find my way there."
"We could pick you up if you like?" Jack offered, wanting to do everything he could to ensure she did in fact show up.
"No, that's fine. I'll do my best not to get lost."
"Would you like us to wait with you until the owner's of that car turn up?"
"No. This is my mess, it's my job to clean it up."
"Funny, I don't recall seeing you create that massive dent."
"No. But it was my mistake in getting involved with him in the first place. I should have known better."
"Hey! Don't for a second think this is your fault. You're not responsible for the actions of that jackass." Sara giggled in his ear. "And what's so funny."
"You said a bad word."
"Sometimes it's appropriate. And in this case I can't think of a better word."
"Thank you sir."
"There's that word again."
"Sorry, but I don't actually know what else to call you."
"Ah! Oh!" The man stepped closer to her, and despite the presence of the little girl in his arms Sam felt the desire to close the distance entirely. "It's Jack."
He held out his hand for her to take and was no longer thankful for his fingerless gloves. He longed to feel the warmth of her palm against his.
"Jack." Sam said, staring directly into his eyes and seemingly peering deep into his soul. "Samantha Carter."
"Nice to meet you, Sam." Jack wondered if there was in existence, some nature of excuse for him to remain holding her hand forever.
There was something about this… the three of them standing together, that felt strangely… comfortable. He didn't understand why, and he didn't want the feeling to end before he had a chance to figure it out.
"You should get her home. It's freezing out here." Sam said, her breath visible in the air as she folded her arms across her chest, and rubbed her shoulders in order to warm up. "I could swear it wasn't this cold when I left home."
Jack smiled at his little girl and set her down on the ground. Quickly he removed his coat, and before Sam had a chance to recognise what he was doing he'd stepped before her and was wrapping it around her.
"No! You'll freeze!" Sam protested, staring up at him.
Jack ignored her concerns and pulled it closer around her. He was wearing nothing but a red flannel shirt now, which Sam knew wasn't near enough to keep him warm.
"Nah. Heading home now. You'll need it out here, and you don't know how long those people will be." Jack said, nodding in the direction of the damaged vehicle. He quickly stepped away from her, afraid of invading her space too much.
"You should get a hat like mine Sam." Sara said, tugging at her woollen laplander.
"I agree." Jack said, taking the little girls hand. He turned to smile at Sam. "I think it would suit you."
He continued to grin as he began to lead Sara away.
"Thank you! I promise I'll get it back to you tonight." Sam called, desperately grateful to the kind strangers and wishing they could stay.
"You better! Or you'll be missing out on my fabulous bowling skills." Jack called back.
"But last time you got two gutterballs Daddy." Sam heard Sara say, as they headed in the direction of their car.
Sam watched from a distance, as little Sara reached her arms out for her father. Jack tickled her under the arms before lifting the little girl into his car.
He closed the door behind her, smiling at her through the window.
As he swung open the door of the driver's seat, he spun back around in Sam's direction to wave goodbye.
What Sam didn't know, was that Jack was praying with all his might that this wouldn't be the last time he saw her.
He was still praying as he climbed into the car and turned the key in the ignition.
As they drove away, Sam pulled Jack's coat tightly around her and smiled - her mind a million miles away from the damaged car, and the cad of a man who'd damaged it.
LIGHT UP
The unmistakable sound of bubbles bursting filled the air.
The man sitting alone at the next table threw another disapproving glance in Jack's direction.
Jack refused to say anything to Sara.
He had no time for people who made no allowances for kids being kids - especially in a family environment like this.
If his kid wanted to blow bubbles in her strawberry milkshake, his kid was going to blow bubbles in her strawberry milkshake.
If the man was bothered by children, it probably would have been prudent for him not to come during family hour.
Jack checked his watch. It was a quarter to seven, and he was feeling anxious that the woman he had met earlier that day had changed her mind.
Since he didn't seem to be able to think of anything other than her in the past few hours, and he seriously doubted his ability to forget about this woman if she didn't happen to show up, he was feeling a little on edge.
"You're worried she's not coming, aren't you Daddy?" Sara asked, momentarily releasing the straw from between her lips to speak before recommencing her snorkling-like activity.
"I have no idea what you mean." Jack said, leaning over the table towards Sara and pulling the sleeve of his shirt over his watch nonchalantly.
"Don't worry. Sam will come." She comforted her father.
"What makes you so sure?" Asked Jack.
Although he doubted Sara's ability to gauge the situation accurately, he was willing to take any reassurance he could get.
"Because you're her prince." Sara smiled.
"Honey, I am not her prince. We are just trying to cheer her up because she had a bad day, and she's new in town, and might not have many friends here. If she comes."
Jack was too preoccupied with Sara's 'prince' remark to notice Sam entering the café and heading in their direction. "And I know she looks like a princess, but she's not one. She's just really, really… really gorgeous. Believe me - I think she could find much younger and much more handsome princes than me."
"I think you're a very handsome prince Daddy."
"Well thank you Baby." Jack said, reaching across the table to brush Sara's hair behind her ear. "But I'm not sure if Sam is even looking for a prince right now."
"Well that might depend on the prince." Said Sam, seemingly appearing out of nowhere from behind Jack's shoulder. The look of shock on Jack's face was brief yet unmistakable, which convinced Sam that they had indeed been talking about her. "Sorry if I'm a little late – I headed towards the arcade games first. Thought I was more likely to find you there." Sam bit her bottom lip, in an effort to hide a smile.
Jack tried to shake off how rattled he was by her sudden appearance. He really hoped she hadn't heard the entire 'princess' conversation.
"You mock me now, but later I'm going to be declared zombie slaying champion while they are busy eating your face off." Jack pointed at Sam. "Take a seat." He said, gesturing to Sara's side of the booth. "We still have plenty of time."
"There you go Sam." Said Sara, grabbing her purple hat off the seat beside her and pulling it back onto her head. "You can sit here." She said, patting the space next to her.
"Thank you Sara." Sam said, sliding in beside her.
Jack's mouth suddenly felt dry - she was wearing his jacket. There was something about that, that just seemed… endearing beyond belief.
"Nice jacket." Jack said pointedly. "Suits you."
Sam felt her heart beat just a little faster.
"I agree." Sam said with just as much meaning.
"No glasses?"
"Contacts." Sam said plainly. "I don't actually wear my glasses very often. I just hadn't been able to find my contacts amongst all the boxes yet. Besides, I don't exactly want my glasses falling off my face when I'm armed with a bowling ball."
"I don't know – sounds quite comical to me."
Sam grinned and shot Jack a disapproving look.
"Would you like me to order for you?" Jack offered. "I know Sara's just dying to catch you up on the several hours since we saw you last."
For a moment Jack wondered about the wisdom of leaving his little girl alone Sam. Strangely he had no concern about leaving her alone with someone whom he had just met – which was quite unusual. What did worry him however was what his little angel might say in regards to him being her Prince Charming.
"That would be great, thank you." Sam reached into her brown leather handbag and pulled out a ten dollar bill.
"Get out of here with that Carter." Jack waved the money away. "My treat."
"Uh, thank you." Said Sam, slipping the money back into her bag. "Carter?"
"I'm military. I guess that's my force of habit." Said Jack, climbing out of the booth. "What can I get you?"
"Whatever you think is good. That's why I'm here… right?" She stared up at him with her blue eyes – which looked even bluer than he remembered. Jack felt a rush of desire coursing through his veins.
"Right." Jack smiled at her, hoping she was implying what it sounded like she was implying – that he and Sara were the real reason she came. "What's your favourite pizza topping?"
"Ham and pineapple." Sam answered.
"Okay, and here I had you pegged as a sane person." Jack smiled down at her.
"Daddy says fruit on pizza is wrong!" Sara piped up.
"It's really good." Sam insisted, turning to look at the little girl beside her.
"I'll take your word for it." Said Jack. "I'll be right back."
Jack wandered over to the service counter. His heart felt light, and elated… it felt something he hadn't felt in the longest time.
She came.
"Daddy was worried you weren't coming." Sara said, spinning the straw around the rim of the empty cup in front of her.
Sam didn't want to do anything underhanded and press the little girl for information, but she was feeling too intensely curious about Jack's feelings to stop herself from asking.
"Did he say that?"
"No. I can just tell." Said Sara, matter-of-factly. Sam gazed over at the handsome man standing at the counter, wondering what he was thinking. "He's going to be really happy now."
Sam gulped.
"Why?"
"Because his princess came." Sara said shortly, almost as if the answer was so obvious she didn't see the point of saying it.
"You mean me?" Sam asked, feeling a little teary at how beautifully sweet this little girl was.
Sara nodded her head up and down.
"Honey, I am far, far, far from a princess." Sam said, placing her and on the little girls shoulder.
"Nope. All girls are princesses – my grandpa said so."
"Is your grandpa nice?"
"Very, very nice. He takes care of me when Daddy is gone. Daddy is gone lots, but that's because he needs to make sure all the boys and girls in the world is safe."
"That's right." Sam smiled, trying to convince herself not to cry.
"Something wrong?" Sam looked up to see Jack standing next to her holding out a slice of pizza.
"No! I, uh.." Sam took the plate from Jack's hand. "No. We were just talking."
"About what?" Jack looked a little concerned as he sat back down.
"Princesses!" Sara exclaimed.
Jack was too afraid to ask for specifics and instead decided to divert the conversation.
"Oh! Well, if anyone's the expert it's Sara. You should see her room, it's like a purple princess temple of worship."
"Can she Daddy? I want to show her all my ballet dress!"
"We'll see Honey. Sam's probably really busy with her house at the moment."
Sam hoped she was allowed to see Sara's bedroom one day. This little girl was one of the warmest, kind-hearted and gentle people Sam had ever met.
"It's not too bad." Sam said, taking the slice of pizza into her hands. "I thankfully moved into a fully furnished place. But it'll probably be a little while before it feels like home."
Sam took a bite of her pizza. Sara cringed in disgust as she watched her chew.
Sam noticed her reaction and wondered why she was so opposed to her favourite topping.
"It's really good." Sam insisted. Sara looked at the pizza in Sam's hand cautiously. "Have you ever tried it before?"
She shook her head 'no'.
"No. Daddy never gets pineapple pizza – he says it's an abomilation."
Sam exchanged smiles with Jack.
"You mean abomination?"
"Yes. Abomilation."
Sam stifled another giggle.
"Well I disagree. I think it's the best pizza in the world." Sam took another bite, and did everything she could to make it appear as though it was the most delicious thing she'd ever tasted.
Sara started to look a little less frightened of the pizza and was now analysing it curiously.
"Would you like to try it?" Sam asked gently.
Sara looked at her father, who gave her a humouring thumbs up.
Sam slid the plate across the table in front of Sara. She stared at it uncertainly for a minute before she dared to touch it.
Sam could swear she saw her little hands shake as she lifted the pizza to her mouth and took a bite of ham and pineapple.
She chewed it warily at first, before she decided it wasn't as horrific as she'd imagined, and she took another bite.
"What do you think?" Jack asked, as Sara munched away enthusiastically.
"I like it Daddy." She said through a mouth-full of pizza.
Jack shot a half-accusing glare at Sam.
"What have you done to my child?" Sam laughed softly, and looked down at the little girl at her side. "It doesn't look like you'll be getting that pizza back." Jack said, as Sara gobbled away another bite. "Do you want another slice?"
"No. Thank you, I'm not too hungry. It's good to see her enjoying it."
"Good?!" Jack looked at Sam in mock outrage "You do realize I'm going to be ordering pineapple pizza from now on? How embarrassing!"
"And have you ever tried it?"
"Don't get any ideas Sam. Not in this lifetime."
"You should try it Daddy!" Sara said, placing the pizza crust on the plate. "It's my favourite."
"You see…" Jack stared at Sam and gestured at Sara. "You see what you've done?"
"I'm sorry."
Sam and Sara couldn't contain their amusement and broke out in fits of giggles.
Jack just shook his head and smiled.
LIGHT UP
"Sara, are you sure you don't want to take off your hat?"
"No Daddy. It's gonna help me get a strike!"
"Okay." Jack stood back in defeat. He knew a losing battle when he saw one. She loved that hat. God help him if she was ever to lose it.
Sara walked very carefully up to the line, placed the bright red bowling ball between both her feet and pushed it as hard as she could towards the pins.
This time it made it almost to the end of the alley before it veered off to the side and added yet another gutterball to his little girl's score.
"She's getting closer." Sam whispered.
"I just wish she would hit one pin! She's trying so damn hard. Kid deserves to hit something."
"But look at her! She's so happy. It doesn't matter to her either way. That is a child with a healthy sense of sportsmanship. She could teach my brother and father a thing or two."
When Sam had sat down after her last turn, she'd moved close enough that her leg was pressed quite snugly against Jack's. He was pretending not to notice, but he did in fact notice it a whole hell of a lot.
"So… you have a brother. I'm learning more about you… This is good."
"I'm glad you're interested."
"I don't even know what you do for a living."
"Oh, that's boring, really." Sam waved him off and tucked her long hair behind her ear.
"Let me guess… karate instructor?"
"I'm a scientist actually."
"No way."
"What?"
"Nothing."
"I just… my gravest fears…"
"Excuse me?" Sam giggled.
"Nothing. It's just… I'm allergic to science."
"I hope you're not allergic to me."
"Well let's see." Jack placed his hand over the top of Sam's. "Nope. Doesn't seem like it." Sam gazed down at his hand on top of hers.
Suddenly something in Sam's demeanour changed. Very little altered in her outward appearance, yet strangely Jack could feel something in her pull away. He quickly removed his hand, worried he had pushed things too far.
She looked up from the where her gaze had been fixed and stared straight into Jack's eyes. He studied her face carefully, looking to understand what she was feeling.
Sam's eyes flew down to land on Jack's hand, and coupled with the look of uncertainty written on her face Jack realized Sam was concerned about the gold wedding band that sat on his finger.
He was yet to explain that he was a widower. She had no way of knowing whether or not Jack was married.
Sam smiled at him and turned her attention back to Sara, but Jack could see there was something on her mind. The uncertainty she had about the situation was written on her face. It was like he could hear her mind ticking… feel the fear that was creeping into her heart.
He needed to tell her… this practical stranger who had only been in his life for less than half a day… he needed desperately for her to know that he would never hurt her.
But as much as he wanted to, he couldn't explain right now. Not here with Sara within earshot.
She'd never been told exactly what happened to her mother. She didn't know that she'd died from complications of her birth. Both he and Mike had told her that her mother had gotten very sick when she was just a tiny baby. That's all the explanation a two, three, four year old needed, but he worried about the day she was old enough to want specifics. He feared that day both for himself and for his daughter.
Sara wandered over as the score for her second roll came up on the display screen.
"I'm gonna get a strike next time Daddy."
"I bet you will Baby."
"You're doing great Sara." Sam said, patting the little girls back.
"Your turn Daddy!" Sara said, not a dent in her enthusiasm after rolling nothing but gutterballs for three games now.
"Ah, the final round! And look who's neck and neck." Jack said, gesturing up at the score.
There was only one pin separating Jack and Sam's score, with Jack in the lead. Jack had won the first game of the night, Sam had won the second, so this would be the tie-breaker.
"Crunch time." Sam said as Sara climbed onto her lap.
Jack walked over claim the large green ball he'd been bowling with all night.
"Time to claim my victory." Jack said, before stepping into the lane. He took only a second to gather his aim before tossing it down the lane impressively.
It hit the pins forcefully and sent every pin spilling in all directions.
Both Sam and Sara clapped as yet another strike was added to Jack's score.
"And here we go… If I bowl another strike you're out of luck my lady."
"I wouldn't count your chickens." Sam said, causing Sara to giggle.
Jack tossed his last ball for the game and wondered whether or not winning was a good or bad thing in terms of how Sam would feel for him.
He was relieved when two pins remained standing at the end of the lane.
"Aww, look at that Sara. That's a funny looking strike isn't it?"
Sara nodded, and both girls started giggling as Jack stood there looking dismayed.
"Well, well, well. Looks like you have something in common with your father and brother Sam."
"Oh, if you saw the hissy fit either of them could throw over a game of Scrabble you wouldn't say that. This is nothing."
Sara jumped down from Sam's lap and Sam stood up to claim the purple bowling ball Sara had chosen for her to use. They had no purple balls in child size, so she'd insisted that Sam use it.
Sam bowled the ball expertly down the narrow passage, hitting the front pin with laser-like precision. Within half a second, all pins had scattered from where they stood.
"Nice!" Jack called from behind her.
Sam walked back to retrieve her ball and bowl her final shot for the night. As she slid her fingers into the ball to pick it up, Jack suddenly appeared beside her.
He slid his hand over the top of hers once again. Sam could feel the warmth from the contact spread throughout her entire body.
She looked up to see Jack staring at her with an intensity that was hard to bear.
"I just wanted to say… that… I loved someone a long time ago. But she's gone now." Jack paused and looked down at his wedding band. Sam's breath caught in her chest. "That and… good luck."
Sam's breathing felt laboured. She'd never known anyone like Jack.
She'd never felt anything even closely resembling what this man made her feel, and it was terrifying. Terrifying while simultaneously being the most magnificent and exhilarating thing she had ever experienced.
Sam smiled and forced her feet to move to where they needed to be.
"Win, lose or draw. This is it." Jack said as Sam brought the ball up in front of her to take aim.
She tossed the ball down the lane forcefully, not quite sure she knew what outcome she wanted.
"Well how about that Sam? Looks like we have a tie."
"I still have one more go, don't I Daddy?"
"Yes you do Munchkin." And it looks like you're up.
Sara ran over to claim her bright red bowling ball.
"I'm gonna get a strike Daddy!" She said, running towards the line before coming to a dramatic halt. Jack smiled as Sara began her aiming stategy.
Sam came to stand beside him, smiling just as much as he was at the little girls antics.
"She's so beautiful."
"I know." Jack gazed lovingly at the little girl for a moment, before turning to face the woman beside him. "So… looks like we're equals then, huh?"
"Looks like." Sam smiled.
Jack wondered if there was any way it would be okay for him to kiss her right now. He couldn't, and he knew he couldn't. His daughter was present. He didn't know how Sam felt about him. He hadn't been able to fully explain about his wife. He didn't know whether or not she was involved with someone else – he prayed not. But in spite of all those reasons he was seriously tempted to let his lips fall onto hers.
He wanted to taste her beautiful lips, which he was certain tasted just as sweet as she was.
The way she was staring back at him was making his pulse race, and he was almost certain she knew exactly what he was thinking.
"Look Daddy! Sam! I got a strike!"
Neither of them heard the little girl. They were too immersed in each other.
"Daddy, look! I got a strike!" Sara turned around, excitedly pointing at the end of the lane where not one pin stood. Realizing that neither her father nor Sam were paying attention, Sara walked over to them.
She looked up curiously, wondering what they found so fascinating.
Whatever it was, was not as important as her accomplishment!
She grabbed onto Sam's coat and tugged on it.
"Look Sam! I got a strike!"
Sam slowly came out of her daze.
"I'm sorry, what was that?"
"I got a strike!" Sara pointed desperately towards the lane, but the pins had now been replaced.
Sam stared up at the scoreboard and saw a clear 10 written next to Sara's name.
"Oh my god! Sara! You got a strike!" Sam smiled down at her, brimming with happiness and pride in the little girl.
"That's what I've been saying!" Sara shook her head. "For crying out loud!"