Unintelligible sounds came out of her still open mouth. Jack lifted his hand and closed her mouth for her. He had stared at that mouth more times than he could count and all he wanted to do was to feel it against his own. He softly traced her jaw with his fingertips until his hand cradled her head.

Sam could feel herself melting into his embrace. She looked into his eyes wondering if this was a dream. His thumb brushed against her cheek and she nearly lost all her strength to stand.

Jack moved impossibly closer. "Sam," he whispered. Time seemed to slow to a crawl as he leaned in to kiss her. He could smell her familiar scent. The one he'd smelled for the last 8 years. It had a soft hint of peaches and flowers mingled with her sweat. He could find her in a crowded room just by her scent. He felt the back of her neck getting warmer like her skin was on fire. He knew this was right. He knew she wanted it, too. Jack couldn't wait a second longer. He touched his lips to hers. They were soft and warm and everything he'd been fantasizing about.

She had been surprised, to say the least, that Jack felt as incredible as he did against her lips. The butterflies that had been living in her stomach for far too long were dancing with joy. She had to remind herself to breathe but it was difficult. Jack parted his lips so Sam took advantage of the opportunity to take his upper lip between hers. She didn't think the feeling of the first touch could be matched, but the sensation of their mouths exploring one another was far more than she could have ever imagined. Sam wanted nothing more than to let this moment go on for forever!

Jack wrapped both of his arms around her. A small moan escaped her throat when he pressed his body against her. She threw her arms around his neck in return. The fireworks really started when their tongues met. She tasted sweet and salty from her granola bar, but it was heaven for Jack.

Sam held on tightly, terrified that she'd wake up at any moment.

"Sorry, Jack, they're…oh!" Daniel barged in stopping in his tracks.

"Get out, Daniel!" Jack grudgingly broke from her lips, but kept as close to her as possible.

"But, they…"

"Don't make me Zat you!"

Sam laughed as Daniel backed out of the hut. She looked up into Jack's eyes. There was a new kind of fire in them.

"I love you, Sam."

She gasped in surprise. "Sir, I…"

"Ack! No more of that. I'm all in now and I sure as hell won't go back to what we were before!" Jack held on to her tighter.

Sam blushed and leaned into his shoulder. She soaked in his scent. He thought she didn't notice when he'd changed cologne but after he'd been promoted Sam definitely detected something different. It wasn't too hard to notice when he hung around her office a little more than usual even when she had been seeing Pete. She looked back into his eyes. She thought about all the time they had known each other. She thought about everything they had been through. Sam knew Pete was a bad idea from the start but she had been so afraid of ending up all alone for the rest of her life she went along with it. Sam also knew that it had hurt Jack, especially after they had gotten engaged. She never felt the way she should have with Pete. It was Jack she had loved instead. "Jack," she took a deep breath," I love you, too." She pulled him closer to her and kissed him again.

"Jack, I'm sorry, we need to talk!" Daniel was yelling from outside the hut.

Jack grunted as he released from Sam once more. "Remind me to Zat him later." He stepped back but grabbed her hands. "Before I go out there, we need to be clear about tonight."

"Its, ok. Let's do this."

"Are you sure? I don't want to make you uncomfortable."

"Yes, I'm sure. And no, it's not a normal way to start a conversation, but have we ever done anything normal? Besides, maybe it'll be kinda fun." Sam winked before walking through the door.

Jack needed a moment to swallow the thoughts that surfaced at her suggestion. He ran his hand through his hair then followed after her.

Daniel, Teal'C and Erik were standing outside of the hut. "Sam, I'm sorry, I didn't…"

"Relax, Daniel." Sam said. "It's ok. Besides, you'll probably see a lot more than that tonight."

"Uh, what?"

"You heard her, Danny boy!" Jack said as he stepped out. "Tell them we'll do it."

"Well, ok."

"Tell them we'll do it, and set up a little weapons demonstration. Make sure they know that we not be giving them any weapons, but our alliance will give them protection, should they need it." Jack also wanted every Viking to know their true power if the situation were to change.

Daniel spoke to Erik for a minute then Erik left toward the Great Hall. "He says they'll want to prepare you and Sam for tonight."

"What does that mean?" Sam asked.

"I'm not sure. Maybe there's some kind of ceremony."

"There is always some kind of a ceremony," Teal'C said. His 3 friends stared at him.

When Erik returned he brought the same women that had brought their breakfast earlier that morning. He and Daniel spoke again. "He says they will help Sam get ready and we should follow him for the weapons demonstration. You can get ready after we're done."

"T, I need you to stay with Sam." Jack said as he slapped Teal'C on his back.

"It would be my honor." Teal'C stood up taller against the hut. One of the women took Sam's hand and led her back into the hut followed by the other 2.

"Come on, Daniel. Let's get this over with." Jack and Daniel followed Erik to a clearing near the center of town. "Daniel, tell them we'll need a brave volunteer."

He did as was instructed then Erik went to talk to the King that had showed up out of nowhere. When Erik returned he told them that their town had a troublemaker that needed to be taught a lesson.

"Whatever." The crowd grew bigger than it had been last night while they ate. "Good," Jack said, "I want everyone to be clear about what we can do. This will be the easy part." They all waited until the king gave the signal to begin. The troublemaker entered the circle created by the spectators. He pulled out the biggest sword Jack had ever seen and started waving it around. Jack gave the man a fake nervous laugh then took out his Zat and shot him once. The crowd gasped in downright astonishment as the man fell to the ground. Immediately they started backing away slowly, afraid that they'd be next. Jack turned to look at the king then took out his trusty P90. The crowd, including the king, was holding their breath. Jack looked around to find a suitable target that wouldn't hurt anyone. On the top of one of the closest buildings, a chicken-like animal stood. He took position, waiting, as the crowd understood what his next target was, and then easily shot the animal off the roof. Again, the people gasped in disbelief. Jack put the safety back on and hung it on his vest.

Nobody moved.

Daniel leaned over to Erik. Erik's face was stone white as he walked toward the King. The conversation seemed longer than was needful. Jack knew he had them right in the palm of his hand. They could have easily walked away and taken every scrap of naquadah with them, but Jack wanted a good alliance where they weren't completely scared of the Earthlings. He knew he still had to go through with his side of the bargain. Erik returned and Daniel said it was time to get Jack ready for tonight.

Sam was starting to regret agreeing to this "ritual." The women had dragged her into the hut while two more men brought a tub in under Teal'C's watchful eye. The men left and one by one buckets of steaming hot water were brought in and dumped into the tub. One woman tried taking Sam's clothes off, but Sam swatted her hand away gently. "I got this," she said. She took a deep breath and turned around, trying to get a little bit of privacy even though there were only women in the room. Sam caught a scent of a new aroma. They were pouring some kind of fragrance into the hot water. It was a pleasant smell, certainly better than what their hut normally smelled like.

Even though she was about to be put on display like a mannequin in a store window Sam still felt shy being so exposed in front of total strangers. The woman, the one that seemed to be in charge, came over to her holding what looked like a washcloth. She handed it to Sam then pointed to the tub. "It's time, huh?" The woman gave a gentle smile. Sam walked over and stepped into the tub. It was almost too hot, but she knew it might get cold quick. It was just big enough for her to sit in it with her feet flat on the bottom. She hugged her knees hoping for a little bit of modesty. The woman came over with the washcloth. She started reaching for Sam. "Uh, I can do this," she said. The woman looked a little sad. Sam hoped she hadn't hurt her feelings. "I'm Sam." She put her hand against her chest. The woman stared at her blankly. "Sam," she said again.

"Hilde," she replied.

Sam smiled, "Hilde. Thank you." Hilde smiled back and went to help the other women who looked like they were preparing a meal. One of them left when Hilde sat down and returned with another bucket of hot water. She walked over to Sam and motioned that she was going to pour it over her hair. Sam closed her eyes and held her breath. The hot water felt good. It also warmed up the water she had already been sitting in. Sam relaxed a bit more and rubbed some water on her face.

Hilde came back with a bowl full of something that resembled lard. Sam was a little worried about whatever this was for, but Hilde motioned that Sam should rub it through her hair. Sam took the bowl and smelled its contents. It had a gentle aroma that smelled faintly of citrus and flowers. She scooped her hand into the bowl getting about a strawberry sized glop of it. She handed the bowl back to Hilde. After rubbing it in both of her hands Sam rubbed it in her hair. It was a little sticky but after Hilde added more water Sam could feel a little bit of a lather working. The other woman returned with another bucket of water to pour on her head. Sam did her best to scrub any remnants of the glop from her hair.

Hilde nodded to Sam and then the 3 women left the hut leaving Sam alone. She was especially worried that someone would enter that wasn't invited, but at the same time she was comforted knowing Teal'C was standing guard outside. She spent the quiet time scooping the warm water over her body. She hoped her first time with Jack wouldn't be any less special knowing dozens of people would be watching. She swallowed a nervous gulp thinking about it.

After about 10 minutes Sam started feeling a little cold. No sooner had she noticed the temperature Hilde and the 2 women returned. This time they also brought a stack of cloths and a stool. One of the women opened a cloth and held it up in front of Sam. She stood hopping this meant that it was time to get out and get dry. No one seemed to object so she reached out to grab the cloth. The woman ignored her arm and simply wrapped it around Sam. The towel was warm. It felt good. She tried to hold it tighter around herself. They handed her another cloth for hair. She stepped out of the tub. They indicated that she should sit on the stool. One of the women began combing Sam's hair while another offered her a drink. It looked like juice. Sam cautiously took a drink. It was surprisingly refreshing and very delicious. Hilde brought over the tray filled with bread, meat and some kind of vegetable. Sam wasn't feeling very hungry, but took a few bites of everything. She certainly wanted more of that fruity drink.

Hilde and the other women glanced at each other and smiled. Sam didn't fail to notice the way they looked at each other. It was creepy. They clearly knew something she didn't. Sam took a moment to look at the drink in her hand. It didn't look or smell or even taste suspicious. There was no hint of alcohol, either. She carefully put it down, but the damage was probably done. The women were giddy with delight. Hilde brought over another cloth and unfolded it to reveal a robe. She handed it to Sam and finally the 3 women left the hut. Sam's life was about to change forever.