Chapter 4 – Tensions

Jack didn't want to stop. If he stopped he'd have to think about what had just happened and how close he'd come to being killed. So, dumping his pack, he went about rebuilding the fire from the night before and scouting the perimeter. It wasn't until he was sure they were alone did he find the adrenaline start to leave him. Back hitting the wall, his knees gave way and he was soon sat on the floor. Looking into the distance without focus, it was clear his mind was elsewhere – still not one word had passed between the pair.

Having watched Jack work with cautious eyes, it was Sam who decided to break the silence. She couldn't bear it anymore. Kneeling down in front of Jack, the younger woman glanced, worried, at the red marks on his wrists before looking into his eyes. Her voice was soft and much calmer than she felt – coming down from the adrenaline high, herself.

"Sir? Sir, are you okay?"

Jack started to come out of his reverie and blinked, almost confused, at Sam.

"What?"

"I asked if you were okay. You seemed a little out of it."

"Oh," Jack said before clearing his throat. One hand rubbed over his face before he noticed his wrists.

"Damn it," he said without much conviction as he tentatively touched the marks. Sighing, he noted that the skin wasn't broken but he'd have some painful bruises to contend with soon. So intent at looking at his wrists that he hadn't noticed the bottle of water that Sam had shoved under his nose until his head jumped back at the surprise.

"You need water," was Sam's explanation as she sat close to him and watched – not happy until he had indeed drunk from the bottle. Satisfied, she let out a small humming noise before reaching out to check his wrists herself.

"I'm fine, Sam. Just grazed. Nothing broken," he tried to shrug the whole incident off.

Goosebumps erupted on his skin when the pads of Sam's fingers made contact with his arms. Concentrating on making sure Jack was as fine as he was insisting, Sam didn't notice. Neither did she notice the shaky, albeit slightly pained, breath that left Jack at the feeling of her thumbs brushing the inside of his wrists.

Having leant over Jack to examine his wrists it meant that when Sam looked up, finally, they were back to staring into each other's eyes. Mere inches away from each other's lips.

It was Jack that made the first move. He couldn't stand it anymore. Not after the past few years, let alone the past few hours. Pressing forward, he pressed his lips to hers in a heated kiss. Her lips, soft as he'd imagined, lit a fire in him. Tension that had been building ever since they had met was bubbling over. Jack briefly thought about both the reasons for this happening now and what the implications could be but found he didn't care in that moment. All that mattered was being with Sam and for once not having to worry about Earth and their jobs.

Kissing him back was easy. So new and yet so familiar, Sam pressed back so that Jack was pinned to the wall in his seated position. She was so close to straddling him, bringing their bodies even close, just as reality crash-landed in her brain.

They couldn't do this. It wasn't allowed. They'd talked about this.

Sam tried to push the thoughts away but she couldn't. Couldn't stop thinking. She'd never been very good at that.

Pulling away, Sam stood and turned away from Jack with a tormented groan.

"We can't. You know we can't," Sam said with quiet resignation, arms wrapping around herself in an attempt to protect her soul from the rejection she had initiated.

"Sam," Jack soothed as he stood, a little unsteadily at first. "Look at me, please."

It took a few moments but Sam did, finally, turn. Her eyes were bright – emotions clear to read. It hurt Jack to see her in so much pain. Stepping forward he only stopped when he saw Sam take a step back.

"I …" he tried to start. "I know you want this as much as I do," he tried to reason.

"That's not the point. You know it." Sam took another step back and almost landed against the opposite wall.

"Maybe .. Maybe we need tonight. We sure as hell deserve it. After all we've done for Earth," Jack said with angry indignation before growing solemn. "No one has to know."

"You think we'll really manage to keep it to this once? That we'll be able to be together here and act like nothing has happened once we're home?" Sam said imploringly. She wasn't sure why she was playing devil's advocate. She just needed one good reason and her resolve would disappear, preferably in Jack's arms.

"We can sure as hell try," his voice barely a whisper, his feet stepped forward again and continued forward when Sam didn't move.

Reaching out for her, Jack gathered Sam up in his arms and kissed her once more. Hands grasped at clothes as teeth grazed lips.

"If you want me to stop, tell me," Jack groaned as he pressed his forehead to Sam's.

"Don't," Sam whispered, almost visibly trying to gather up the strength to for once go with her heart.

"Don't what?" Jack whispered back, nervous as to what her reply would be.

"Don't stop," Sam answered as her eyes locked with Jack's once more in a heated gaze.

N.B.

Thank you for reading. Happily I've managed to update a lot quicker this time.

Just as a pre-warning: the next chapter will be sex so if you are either too young or don't wish to read such things then you'll need to miss out the next chapter.

Thank you for all the reviews – I hope you all enjoy this chapter.