Sam was sitting at the campsite on P3X-234 watching Colonel O'Neill do something she'd never seen him do before –he was fishing in the nearby lake. How ironic, that just before this whole mission (if you could call it a mission) began; he was asking her to go fishing at his cabin in Minnesota. She had turned him down, electing to study the decay rates of Naquadah in the reactor. At least, that was the reason she had given him.
Sam remembered the moment that she decided fishing in Minnesota would be more relaxing that working on the Naquadah reactor. She had sprinted out of the lab to tell Colonel O'Neill that she had changed her mind. However, as she began to utter those words, she couldn't do it. Instead, she just told him to have a good time. That was when Thor beamed him up to the Biliskner and their experience with the replicators had begun.
Their escape from the Biliskner had been close. Sam's plan of beaming up the gate from the SGC was born of desperation. The replicators had overrun the Asgard transporter effectively negating its use. When she told Colonel O'Neill of her plan to transport the Stargate to the Biliskner, and use that as a means of escape, he smiled and said, "Once again, Carter, you've pulled a brilliant solution out of your ass- er-your head."
They had to time their escape perfectly so that the replicators could not stop the uncontrolled descent of the ship. If the tone of his voice was any indication, the Colonel was getting anxious to leave the ship and the bugs behind. He kept asking, "Isn't it time to blow the bomb?"
Sam was not very fond of the replicators either. They were too much like spiders. She was not afraid of many things, but she had been terrified of spiders as a child and still was. That was thanks to her brother, Mark, who delighted in surprising his sister with spiders, both alive and dead, at unsuspected times. As an officer in the Air Force, she had faced much more frightening things than spiders, but she still had an aversion to them.
At just the right moment, Teal'c had dialed the Stargate for P3X-234, and they were able to escape unharmed to the relatively obscure, peaceful little planet. At least, it didn't have Jaffa or Goa'uld chasing them. There were a few native inhabitants but they mostly left the newcomers alone. In any case, they were of no threat to them. In addition, the weather was nice this time of year. Although, how Colonel O'Neill had known that ahead of time, she had no idea.
Plus, there was this nice lake close to the Stargate. They set their camp up near the lake and the Stargate. Sam thought it would take the SGC a little while to get the beta Stargate up and running, so she knew they would be on P3X-234 for a few days. Since Colonel O'Neill always seemed to have fishing line in one of his many pockets, he was getting the fishing vacation he'd planned. He seemed content to fish in the small lake.
Sam was brewing some "coffee" from the bark of one of the trees. One of the local inhabitants had shown them how to do that. It wasn't Starbucks, but it was better than nothing.
She was enjoying watching the Colonel when he was unaware of her attention. She was glad he had something to entertain himself. Otherwise, the duty of entertaining him would have fallen to her. Hmmm, there were ways she would have liked to entertain him… OOPS not going there.
Thankfully, the coffee had just finished brewing and she stopped that train of thought to take the Colonel some coffee. She said, "So this is what you were inviting me to do before Thor beamed you away."
"Thanks, Carter," he replied, taking the cup from her. "Yes this is fishing. Although, I usually use a rod and reel to do it. Makes it a lot easier. Have you never fished, Carter?"
Sam reflected, "I did go fishing one time. As a young girl, I remember Dad taking us all on a fishing trip. I mostly recall it as sitting a long time without catching anything."
"Ah, Carter, see, it's not about the catching – it's about the fishing."
Sam laughed. "Sir, you sound just like Dad. He would tell me to be patient. And all the while, he was pulling in fish after fish. When I complained that I wasn't catching anything, he told me that I wasn't holding my mouth right. I can't tell you how long I sat there trying to make my mouth look just like his."
"I can just imagine Dad doing that." Jack snickered. "That's what fishing is about – making good memories."
Sam's watch beeped just then. "Oh that means it's time to try to dial the gate again," she said.
"Ok Carter, let's gather up Teal'c and see if the SGC has the old "Orifice" up and running."
As they walked toward the gate, Sam was wondering what was going on at the SGC. Sergeant Siler must have encountered some problems in getting the gate set up properly. This would be the third attempt to dial home. Surely, it would be operational today.
She so wanted a long hot bath with her favorite bath products. Although they had a lake in which to bath, they had no soap. Using sand from the beach was the best they could do. It helped but she knew she was beginning to "smell" and so were the Colonel and Teal'c. What she wouldn't give for some of her Spa Day soap from home.
"O'Neill. Major Carter." Teal'c greeted them at the Gate. "Perhaps the third attempt with prove to be the one that ultimately succeeds."
"Third time's the charm, Teal'c," grinned O'Neill.
Teal's eyebrow rose a fraction of an inch. "Is that not what I said?"
Sam ignored their byplay and continued to punch in the symbols on the DHD, depressing the center button after entering the last symbol. To their disappointment, the gate did not engage.
"So much for third time's the charm," said a frustrated Sam.
"It's not so bad, Carter. We get another day of vacation here on beautiful P3X whatever." Jack replied as he tried to coax a smile from her.
She was too disappointed to be distracted by the Colonel's antics this time. "I think I'll take a stroll around the lake for a while, Sir."
"Alright, but don't be gone too long. We are having a local delicacy for dinner tonight –fish steamed in leaves of a local tree."
That did manage to make her smile a little. "Right, Sir, I'll be back in time for dinner. Should I bring some wine?" She managed a little joke of her own.
"Carter, if you could find some wine on this forsaken planet, I'd kiss you." Jack replied in the same tone.
At that, Sam blushed furiously.
Teal'c chimed in. "I have seen no sign of fermented juice of a fruit on this planet."
That brought a groan from Jack and a laugh from Sam as she walked off.
As Sam walked around the lake, she thought about Colonel O'Neill's last comment. It brought to mind the dreams she had been having. She had dreamed that he visited her upon his return from Edora. She could feel her face begin to flush again just remembering that dream. Parts of it had been so realistic. She could almost feel his lips upon hers as he kissed her. Involuntarily, her fingers touched her lips as she remembered.
She knew she should not be having these kinds of feelings for him. The Air Force wouldn't look kindly at a romantic relationship between them. What was she thinking –the only relationship between them was that of CO and subordinate. Yet, sometimes she saw something in his eyes-something that hinted he might have more than professional feelings for her.
She pulled her hand away from her lips and hastily stuck it in the pocket of her BDU's. Her hand closed around a bit of metal. She pulled it out and began to turn it over in her hand as she continued to walk around the lake. She realized she was playing with the zipper tab she had found on the floor of her bedroom, immediately after her last dream of the Colonel. It was like the ones on his brown leather jacket, which he had on in that dream.
He had that jacket on again when he asked her to go fishing with him prior to being transported aboard the Biliskner. She had surreptitiously checked out all the zipper tabs on that jacket at the time. Unfortunately, for her, none was missing. She really had no clue where this one had come from.
She shivered. It was beginning to get cooler. She had been walking for some time. It was time to start back. Just as she turned toward camp, she heard the Colonel calling her on the radio.
"Carter, Where are you? Dinner is almost ready. Did you find any wine?" Sam could hear the smirk in his voice with the last question.
"I'm on my way back, Sir. Sorry, I didn't find any wine."
"Not half as sorry as I am, Carter."
Jack was finishing steaming the dinner as Carter walked back in to camp. He looked up just then and met her eyes. He gave her a smile as he said, "I hope you're hungry. The fish were really biting today. We have plenty."
She returned the smile and said, "I am hungry after that little walk, Sir. Dinner smells wonderful. I'm sure it will be great, even without the wine."
"Indeed, it will, Major Carter," said Teal'c as he came up behind her.
"See, Sir, Teal'c doesn't miss the wine either."
"What does he know, Carter? Teal'c never drinks anything alcoholic. Besides it wasn't just the wine I was wanting."
Uhoh. He didn't mean to say that aloud. Fortunately, for him, the leaves that he was using to steam the fish began to smoke.
"O'Neill, our dinner is in danger of being consumed by fire," Teal'c warned.
"What? Oh damn!" Jack hurried over to the fire and pulled the leaves out with his fingers. "OUCH! That hurt." He slipped the injured fingers in his mouth to soothe the pain.
Carter reacted quickly. "Here let me see, Sir." She reached for his hands and with a giggle, said, "I can kiss it, and make it better."
Her tender touch and words, even though spoken in jest, affected Jack more than it should have. In fact, parts of his body were reacting quite vigorously. It wasn't his fingers he was thinking of her kissing. He was going to embarrass himself if he did not get his body under control.
"That's all right, Carter," he mumbled as he jerked his had away. He turned back to the fish and managed to get the dinner safely removed from the fire. At the same time, he adjusted his BDU pants so they were a little more comfortable.
When he was able to turn around again, Jack saw that Carter was sitting down by the fire with her eyes cast down. When he handed her some of the fish, she took it without a word. Jack was sure she had noticed his "problem" and was uncomfortable. He was sorry he had put her in that position. He had been enjoying their good-natured kidding and had taken it too far. Even so, for right now, he decided it was best to ignore the situation.
Jack passed some fish to Teal'c and took some for himself. They both sat down around the fire as Carter had done. The meal passed quietly, since neither Sam nor Jack was inclined to speak of their feelings. Teal'c being naturally taciturn did not feel obliged to break the silence.
Jack was uncomfortable with the silence. There were many times that they sat quietly, feeling no need for conversation. This was not one of those times. The silence was getting awkward, but he had no clue how to improve the situation. He was thinking how inappropriate his feelings for Sam were. As he finished his meal, he decided to get away for a little while.
"I think I'll stretch my legs for a while," he said getting up. "Carter, you have first watch again. I'll relieve you and then Teal'c.
"Yes, Sir," She responded quietly. "Be careful, Sir. Remember it gets dark suddenly here."
"Taking my flashlight, Carter," Jack responded snippily as he walked off.
Sam looked up and saw Teal'c looking at both of them. He just raised his eyebrow and inclined his head slightly.
"I believe it's time for me to retire and begin kel'no'reem, Major Carter."
"Goodnight, Teal'c. I'll see you in the morning."
Sam built up the fire and brewed more coffee. She leaned back against a log as she sipped the coffee. She would never understand the Colonel. He'd been flirting with her earlier. Conversely, when she turned the tables and initiated the flirting, he jerked his hand away as if he didn't want her touching him. It didn't make sense. It hurt when he turned away from her so abruptly.
Sam reached into her pocket, withdrew the zipper tab, and started to turn it over repeatedly in her hand. She'd begun doing that when she was mulling things over in her mind. The picture of him turning around so abruptly was fixed in her mind and she was replaying it. After he turned from her, he seemed to be adjusting his BDU pants before reaching for the fish. It was almost as if was having an erection. Sam's eyes widened. Could what she said have affected him that much? She didn't think that her words would have an effect on him so quickly and strongly.
Jack stood by the lake, casually skipping stones across its smooth surface. His reaction to Carter's off-the-cuff remark about kissing his fingers took him by surprise. He was taken completely off guard by his erection. He was attracted to Carter but he thought it had just been innocent flirting. Maybe it was time to admit that he cared for her more than he should. The harmless flirtation had brought about stronger feelings—at least on his part.
Carter had seemed to respond to his flirtatious remarks. Even, occasionally, she would make few of her own. Sometimes, though, she seemed to pull back. He thought back to the last few months. It had become awkward between them after the meteor storm stranded him on Edora. After his undercover stint to root out the rogue NID personnel stealing alien technology, it became worse. As much as he hated to talk about his feelings, he had stopped by Carter's house after Edora to explain his apparent lack of appreciation for her hard work.
When he couldn't find the right words to say, he had looked at her and simply said, "C'mere." She had hesitated at first, but then looked into his eyes and had snuggled in his arms just before falling asleep. He realized she was asleep so he placed a soft kiss in her hair, and had gently laid her down on the sofa. He found a blanket to cover her, picked up his beer bottle, and put it in the recycle bin. He took one more look at her, sleeping so peacefully, and couldn't resist one last soft kiss to her hair. Then he left, locking the door behind him. To his surprise, the next day she acted as if nothing had happened.
A similar event occurred during the undercover incident. He had taken great care to sneak out of his house and into hers while the NID had been watching his house. He still remembered the look on her face as he uttered those sarcastic words and felt a need to apologize for his earlier comments to her. He explained all the whys and wherefores of the mission and she had accepted his apology. As he was about to leave, she asked him to stay for a little while. He knew he shouldn't, but he really wanted to stay. So he got in bed with her—well not in bed but on the bed. He held her until she fell asleep. That had required all the control he could muster at the time.
Yet again, the next day, it was as if nothing had happened. If anything, she became more distant. Maybe she was upset at the inappropriateness of his actions. She could have reported him, especially for the last incident. However, she would have realized that would have resulted in the breakup of SG1 and she wouldn't have wanted that. At least, he hoped she wouldn't have.
He went to see her before leaving on vacation, and invited her to go fishing with him at his cabin. He hadn't meant to invite her, but the words were out of his mouth before he knew it. He tried to backtrack some and explain it as two co-workers, friends, even. She looked as if she might say yes. However, something came over her face and she started some technobabble about studying the decay rates of Naquadah.
The squawk of the radio drew him out of his ruminating.
"Sir." It was Carter. "Is everything all right?"
"Yes, Carter, why do you ask?"
"Uh, Sir, you've been gone for quite a while. I was getting concerned," she explained.
Jack looked at his watch in shock. He was aware it had gotten dark some time ago but had not realized that it was so late. It was past time for him to relieve Carter.
"Carter, I'm sorry. Time just got away from me. I'll be right there to relieve you."
"It's okay, Sir. I was concerned when you didn't return in time for your watch."
"Understood, Carter. On my way now," he responded.
He made his way back to the campsite quickly. He saw Carter pacing before the fire. He couldn't help noticing her hair reflecting the light of the campfire. He paused and just watched her for a minute. He saw that she was fiddling with something in her hands. He grinned - looks like she was picking up some of his habits. He never could keep his hands still.
While Sam was waiting for Colonel O'Neill to return, she continued to play with the zipper tab. She hoped that the awkwardness at dinner would have dissipated when he returned. She looked up just then and saw Colonel O'Neill walking back into camp.
He began to apologize. "Carter, I'm so sorry. I don't know what happened. I'm usually more aware of the time."
"No problem, Sir. I'm just glad you are okay."
"Whatcha got there, Carter?" He motioned toward her hands.
She quickly closed her hand and said, "Uh, nothing, Sir." She was embarrassed to be caught playing with the tab.
"It looks as if you've picked up some of my bad habits. Usually it's me whose hands are fiddling with something. Let me see, Carter."
Slowly, she opened her hand for him to see. "It's just a zipper tab."
He took it from her and examined it. "It looks like the ones on my jacket. Have I lost another one?"
"Another one?" Sam repeated.
"Yeah, I had to have this one replaced." He pointed to a new tab on the front of his jacket. "I lost it sometime around the last time I was at your house.
Sam almost choked on the sip of coffee she was taking. "You were at my house? When?"
"Carter, what's going on? I've been to your house twice in the last six months or so. Right after I returned from Edora and again during the undercover mission. Don't tell me you've forgotten!"
Sam was stunned. Her legs would no longer support her. She sat down quickly and mumbled, "So they weren't dreams after all."
"Dreams? What are you talking about, Carter?" Colonel O'Neill sat down beside her.
"After we got you back from Edora, I had a dream about you. At least I thought it was a dream."
"Oh? I'm intrigued. Tell me more."
"I was so exhausted that I fell asleep on the couch. I must have been dreaming because I woke up when I fell off the couch," she explained.
"What caused you to fall off the couch?"
Sam could feel her face begin to redden as she remembered the dream. "I was dreaming of us," she said. She barely spoke that last word.
"Us? As in you and me?" The Colonel gestured with his hand to both of them.
Sam bit her bottom lip and nodded.
"What were we doing that caused you to fall off the couch?"
Sam looked up at him and blushed even more.
"Oh, that." He understood what she wasn't saying. "But we didn't do…that."
Sam breathed a sigh. She wasn't sure whether it was from relief or regret. "But you were there earlier, right?"
"Yes, after Dr. Fraiser and Daniel both impressed on me how hard you had worked to achieve the miracle that brought me home, I decided you needed to know that I did appreciate it. So I came by to tell you."
"That part I remember. I just wasn't sure where reality ended and the dream began. I convinced myself it was all part of the dream. Yet, I never had a satisfactory explanation for the Guinness bottle in my recycle bin."
"Yes, I placed it there right before I left and locked up."
Sam was relieved. "That explains a lot. It was a puzzle I couldn't solve and it was driving me crazy."
Jack laughed. "That's why you never said anything about it later. You thought it was all a dream. In that case, do you remember my second visit?"
"Sort of"
"Sort of?" he repeated.
"Again, I'm not sure what is fact and what's a dream.
"C'mere," he said. He motioned with his head. "Why don't you tell me what you think is fact."
As Sam moved closer, Jack put his arm around her shoulders and drew her into his body. She took a moment to get her thoughts in order. The closeness of their bodies was not helping her think at the moment.
Finally, she began to tell him what she remembered. He had come over to tell her about the covert mission and to apologize for being such an ass to her earlier. She couldn't tell anyone about his mission; not even Daniel. She laughed remembering he had said 'especially not Daniel'.
Jack kept nodding to indicate she had remembered correctly. "Anything else?" He asked with a slight smirk.
Sam's face began to color again. "Uh, Sir, Did you get in bed with me then?"
"Carter, do you think calling me Sir is appropriate when asking a question like that?" Jack couldn't help teasing her.
"Sir, uh …" Sam was stammering now.
"At ease, Carter. I'm teasing you. But is answer to your question - yes."
At this, Sam's eyes grew to the size of saucers.
Jack continued. "Although, technically, I was not in your bed, but on your bed."
"I don't understand"
The Colonel had a combination smirk and smile on his face. Sam said, "You're really enjoying this, aren't you?"
"I am." There was that smirk again. "But, to put your mind at ease, I was lying on top of the bed covers and held you until you went to sleep."
"Oh," Sam breathed a sigh of relief.
"Not that I didn't want to do more. Carter. However, under the circumstances…"
He faded off remembering just what it was he wanted to do.
He wanted to do much more than just hold her. He wanted to get in her bed not just on it. He wanted to look into those beautiful blue eyes and then kiss her stupid. He grinned thinking about that. He wouldn't stop there. He wanted to touch her. Get to know her body with his hands. Then he would gently remove her pajamas and pull her close to him. By this time, his clothes would be gone also and he could feel every inch of her body against his. She would be moaning his name or his honorific as he kissed those perfect breasts. His hands would be moving down her body toward…. Sir, sir, "SIR!" Carter nudged him. "Are you okay?"
"Huh, what? Oh yeah, I'm ok. Just daydreaming for a moment there. What were you saying?" Jack shook his head to clear it.
"I was saying that I understood, Sir.
"Do you really, Carter?"
"Yes sir, the frat regs state that -"
"I don't give a flaming fruit loop what the frat regs say," Jack interrupted as he looked into her eyes. "Do you understand how I feel about….?" He couldn't finish the sentence.
Sam was gazing into those chocolaty brown eyes and she knew exactly what he was trying to say. "Yes Sir, I do. Because I have those same feelings."
"You do?" Jack was incredulous. "For me?"
"Of course, for you. Whom did you think? Homer?" She giggled. However, the laugh faded away with her next comment. "But we can't act on those feelings."
"Maybe not. But right here, right now, on beautiful P3X-234 I want to do this." He reached over with his free hand, tilted her chin, and looked fully into her gorgeous blue eyes. He ran his fingers over her lips, leaned in, and gently kissed her. Sam returned the kiss, and with more intensity than he had used. She put both arms around him and pulled him in for a longer kiss.
Before he could pull away, Sam stepped up the passion, running her tongue over his lips. He opened his mouth, allowed her tongue in, and gave himself fully to the kiss. When they finally came up for air, their eyes locked in stunned disbelief.
"Sir," Carter began.
"Still calling me Sir after a kiss like that?" he interrupted.
Sam continued, "I'm sorry. I got carried away."
Jack drew her back to him and pulled her head down to lie against his shoulder. "Nothing to apologize for. I was carried away as well."
They sat in comfortable silence, each enjoying the closeness. No more words were necessary. They were communicating with tender looks and touches. They didn't realize how long they sat like that until they heard someone clearing their throat. Jumping apart, they saw Teal'c standing before the fire.
"O'Neill, I believe the time has come for me to commence my watch rotation," was his only remark. But he did slightly incline his head.
"Oh, is it that time already?" Jack asked. "Time flies when you're having fun"
"Indeed," intoned Teal'c. "I hadn't realized that you found the watch rotation so entertaining."
"Yeah, well, you'd be surprised, Big Guy, what I find entertaining. Oy, I think I'd better close my mouth now before I get in any deeper," Jack said with slight embarrassment.
Uh, I think I'll turn in now and get a few hours sleep," Sam added. She hurriedly stood up and started laying out her sleeping bag.
"Good idea, Carter. Get some rest. I'm a little warm so I'm going to move my sleeping bag away from the fire." He thought it would be too hard-er- too difficult to sleep close to Carter after their talk this evening.
"Indeed, O'Neill, you and Major Carter both seem a little flushed. You must have been sitting too near to the fire." Teal'c said as he raised his eyebrow.
"Come on, Teal'c, just say what you mean." Jack sighed resignedly.
"I believe I did, O'Neill"
"You're really enjoying this, aren't you?" Jack gave in.
"I know not of what you speak," said Teal'c. However, this time there was a slight smile on his face.
Jack looked back at Sam, who was watching this byplay, and they both grinned.
"Good night, Sir"
"Good night, Carter.
"Good night Teal'c," they said in unison and retired to their separate sleeping bags.
Jack spent the rest of the time on P3X-234 fishing, Sam explored the area, and Teal'c watched them both. He noticed a new peace and understanding between them.
Finally, after over a week, they were able to get a lock when they dialed home. Jack and Teal'c hurried to get their gear together while Sam sent their IDC through. Receiving permission to proceed, they started toward the Stargate.
Jack stopped Sam and put his arms on her shoulders. He looked her in the eyes as he asked, "Are we okay, Carter?"
Yes Sir," she replied with a twinkle in her eye. "Whatever happens on P3X-234…."
"…stays on P3X-234." He finished with a lopsided smile.
"Indeed" agreed Teal'c.
And with that, the three of them stepped through the Stargate.
A/N I want to thank KTSmiles for her beta skills.
Also for those interested in the LillaSyster bath products mentioned in this story, the name has changed to Once Upon A Bath. They still have the same wonderful fragrances and products- just new names and designs.