Chapter 4

He was looking down at the cabin and then back at Sam and smiled.

"They look comfortable together"

"He's had two years to work the Air Force out of his system"

"Regs. were never my…his strong suit"

"And she still has some guilt and a whole lot of inhibitions to work through I guess."

"What the hell does she see in him?"

Sam just smiled at him.

"But he's just a boy"

"You at 17"

"18 next week and, oh God, we have got to get her away from him."

Sam laughed "Don't you want her to have some fun?"

Jack looked almost embarrassed.

They walked a little further and he asked

"When…how long has she been here"

"I think it must have happened during the Alec Colson debacle."

"So you think she just showed up on his doorstep one night."

"I don't know but look at them"

They were on a rise about a third of the way around the pond looking back to the cabin

"They look happy."

"That's all I wanted – It's all I want."

He kissed her and vowed in his heart to try his damnedest to do just that.

"Let's go home."

As they neared the three visitors Sam noticed her young counterpart staring at Jack and then back over at John. She dipped her head close to O'Neill and said.

"I bet she can't wait to see the silver in his hair"

"Did you sustain brain damage in that last mission?"

As they approached the trio Jack apologized for his rudeness and took Samantha's hand in both of his.

"It's a pleasure to meet you." And casting a menacing glare at his clone he said. "If he does anything to hurt you I will personally kick his ass."

She blushed and looked totally uncomfortable to be the center of the older man's attention.

John said "She's got this thing for older men."

"She'll get over it."

"So what does it feel like, Major General O'Neill?"

"One star was heavy enough. I think I'm going to develop back trouble from the weight. They wouldn't let me make Sam a full bird colonel, you know. I tried."

"Those boys in DC were never very bright, now were they?" John was smirking and Jack wasn't sure the comment was about his promotion or Sam's failure to get eagles."

"We're going to head out now. Don't go corrupting Cassie."

And looking at the shyly smiling, lovely, young Samantha, Jack said "Take care of her."

As they climbed into the truck Jack said

"I think she likes me."

"Thinking about robbing cradles"

"I'm afraid that's what they're going to be saying about what I'm doing with you." With a heartfelt earnestness he said.
"Let's not let this slip away from us. You gave him everything, well just about everything he ever wanted – what about us?"

"What can I give you?"

Before the words were out of her mouth he kissed her and kissed her again.

They drove off and few minutes later he broke the silence.

"Let's do something permanent."

"What – tattoos?"

Ignoring her remark he went on "So they can't screw with us, so they'll let us be together."
And then almost as an afterthought he realized his presumptuousness.
"If that's what you want."

"When you come visit me at Area 51 bring your dress blues…" He scrunched up his face. "or a nice suit." She continued. "Oh hell, your best jeans, I don't care what. We'll get married in Vegas."

"You're proposing?"

"I thought that's what you were doing?"

"Life's a crap shoot, may as well do it there.
By the way you're not planning on living on base are you?"

Sam just smiled and looked forward to a life with that impossible man.

The End