The world makes all kinds of rules for love
I say you gotta let it do what it does...
But I don't want good
And I don't want good enough...
It ain't right if you ain't lost your mind
I don't want easy, I want crazy
~ I Want Crazy - Hunter Hayes
Sam sat on the edge of the dock with her feet dangling off the side. The sun was beginning to set casting a purple-blue glow across the surface of the water. The water was just below the reach of Sam's bare, pink toes but she wiggled them and stared mindlessly at the reflection in the pond.
Inside the cabin, Daniel sat with his feet curled up on the sofa, glasses resting on the bridge of his nose, the light from the dull lamp reflecting off the pages of his book. The only sound was the occasional clinking of plates and splash of water from the basin. Teal'c stood beside Jack, tea towel in hand, as Jack scrubbed each plate and glass before handing it to Teal'c who dried it and placed it neatly in a stack on the counter. Every-so-often Jack would glance up and through the window at the shadow on the dock, saying nothing, and resuming his dish-washing duties.
"I believe that Colonel Carter is much in need of this vacation," Teal'c announced. Jack looked up at him, surprised at Teal'c's sudden pronouncement. He pursed his lips and nodded.
"We all did. It's been a helluva year."
Teal'c acknowledged Jack's response with a small nod. He tilted his head and the corner of his mouth turned upwards.
"How is Kerry Johnson?" He enquired, already knowing the answer.
Jack grimaced.
"We, ah, broke up." Teal'c raised an eyebrow in interest. From the living area, Daniel raised his eyes from the pages, suddenly interested in the conversation in the kitchen.
"I do not understand, O'Neill, were you not getting along well?"
A more observant person would have noticed Teal'c smirking with his eyes. Jack rubbed the back of his neck awkwardly.
"Yeeeeah, apparently I'm a little too...distracted to be considered good relationship material. My "issues" were an issue."
"To what issues was Ms Johnson referring?" Teal'c enquired knowingly.
"Not so much "issues"," he admitted softly, "more like "issue".
Teal'c nodded and Daniel grinned unnoticed across the room. He got to his feet, socks sliding slightly on the wooden floor and shuffled into the kitchen. He poured himself a cup of coffee then leant back on the counter top beside Teal'c.
"How did she find out?" He asked taking a sip of the steaming liquid.
Jack frowned.
"Find out what?" He replied.
Daniel shrugged.
"You know, about Sam."
Jack wiped his hands on a towel and furrowed his brow further. Daniel shot him a "don't even try to deny it" glare, halting any forthcoming denial. Jack's shoulders visibly sagged.
"She turned up on my back porch whilst we were grilling lunch last week and tried to talk to me about Pete."
Daniel's mouth opened in surprise.
"What happened?"
Jack continued to rub his long-dry hands on the towel.
"Ah, she started to say that she was having second thoughts about the wedding when Kerry walked out of the house."
Daniel winced and hissed under his breath.
"Ouch! Awkward, huh?"
Jack nodded meekly. Daniel nodded towards the window.
"So, what's stopping you talking to her?"
Jack threw the towel at Daniel which he dodged and it hit the cupboard behind him.
"Who says I haven't?" He countered, the corner of his mouth twitching. Daniel pulled off his glasses and wiped them on his t-shirt, the casual manoeuvre in contrast to the look of surprise on his face.
"And...?" He threw back inquisitively.
"Timing is an issue," he said playfully, "I'm also getting promoted. To Hammond's old job."
Daniel frowned.
"In D.C.? When did you find this out?"
"For sure? A few days ago. But it's been on the cards ever since George's heart attack." He looked up solemnly. "I just... we finally might get a chance and then bam, I'm moved across the country. I just don't want to be that guy again, ya know? She deserves more."
Daniel smiled.
"What's a few thousand miles between soul-mates, eh?" Jack opened his mouth to ask Daniel what he was talking about but Daniel cut him off. "In two out of three alternate realities you were together and probably would have been married in this one a long time ago if not for Earth's constant impending doom. I think it's safe to say that the universe is trying to tell you something. Oh, for Pete's sake, Jack, will you just put yourself out of your misery and talk to her. She won't bite you," he smiled wickedly and added, "unless you ask her to!"
"Oh, it's not that department that's the problem, it's the rest of it that concerns me," Jack stated with a glint in his eye.
"Jaaack..." Daniel began drawing out his name, "did something already happen?"
Jack picked up his mug and nursed it with a smug grin.
"A gentleman never tells," he said coyly.
"Jack!," Daniel whined, turning to Teal'c, "what have I started? Hey, listen, if you want us to get out of your hair for a few days so that you can... play chess... or whatever..." At Jack's mischievous expression, Daniel waved a hand at him, "I love you both but Sam is like my sister, there are some details I really don't need to know"
Jack smirked.
"That's ok, Danny, if we want to re-enact the pottery scene in Ghost I'll make sure you're not around!"
Daniel frowned at the obscure reference and his eyes suddenly widened.
"Pottery... The time loop... Jack, you didn't!"
Just as Daniel slammed his mug on the counter and Jack threw a dish towel at him, Sam opened the door shoes in hand.
"Uh, guys..." She said questioningly, looking from Daniel to Jack to Teal'c.
"There was a bee..." He began awkwardly. Sam raised an eyebrow.
"A bee?" She repeated sceptically.
"Yeah, huge. Practically Goa'uld sized!" Too far, Jack, too far!
Sam nodded.
"Yasureyabetcha." She said, unconvinced but not willing to argue. "Sir, do you mind if I take a shower?"
"Sure, Carter, go ahead. No need to ask." He was rewarded with a small smile. "And, it's Jack, not Sir." Sam's eyes flew to Daniel who was failing miserably to hide a smug grin.
"Of course. Sorry, old habits-"
"Are a pain in the mik'ta!" Jack finished, interrupting her. "Do me a favour? Break it, will ya? As of yesterday you don't even work under me!"
The silence was suddenly deafening. Daniel grinned openly, Sam stared squinting and open-mouthed and Teal'c raised an eyebrow and smiled.
"What?" Jack asked of the room. Daniel cleared his throat.
"Teal'c, have you ever seen the Milky Way galaxy from Earth?"
"Indeed I have not, DanielJackson," he replied "from where would I see such a sight?"
Daniel sprang forward towards the door.
"Just outside," he replied, "want me to show you?"
Teal'c clasped his hands behind his back.
"That would be most interesting."
With that both non-military team members left the cabin, much to Sam's surprise and Jack's horror. When the door closed, Jack stared at his feet.
"Uh, Carter, sorry, I didn't mean to say that in front of the guys..."
Sam waited expectantly for a few moments but nothing further was forthcoming. She slid upwards, leaning her weight on her hands as she plonked herself down on the wooden counter top next to the sink, her bare feet bumping quietly against the cupboard door, folding her arms across her chest.
"What did Daniel say just before I walked in?" She asked, staring straight at Jack.
"He insulted my chess skills."
Apparently he wasn't that good at lying because Sam just nodded and continued staring.
"Not buying it, huh?"
Sam shook her head. Still waiting but Jack offered no more. She began to chuckle. Jack stopped and stared at her, his face turning red.
"I'm more of a George Clooney girl myself, it's the silver fox thing," she replied, raising an eyebrow and her gaze drifting up to his ruffled hair. Jack narrowed his eyes suspiciously. Sam's mouth turned up almost imperceptibly at the corner. She'd clearly heard every word. He cleared his throat.
"Listen, Sam, joking aside... are you sure about this?!" He asked incredulously. "I mean, us, me, whatever?"
Sam's face fell for a microsecond before her military mask slipped into place.
"Why? You having second thoughts?"
"Me? Hell no!", he assured her swiftly, "I haven't wanted anything or anyone this much for a very long time. I just... I'm not an easy guy to live with, Carter. I have it on good authority that my issues have issues. I mean, I guess it just feels a little insane that, after everything, you still haven't high-tailed it out of here to marry Joe normal."
Sam slowly unfolded her arms, braced them against the counter top and leaned forward, tilting her head to one side.
"Maybe I don't want easy, Jack," she countered firmly, "my life isn't normal, God knows I tried and look how that worked out," she chuckled derisively. "I don't want normal. Normal is for people with 9-to-5 jobs and white picket fences. Of all the people to develop feelings for, I'm guessing neither of us intended it to be the one person that was off-limits, right?"
Jack nodded in agreement.
"I can't say it's been a cake walk these past 8 years but I wouldn't have had it any other way," he clarified quickly.
"See, crazy, right? Wanna know something even stranger? Even Dad, the biggest stickler for the rules I've ever known, told me to stop letting them come between us."
Jack froze.
"Whoa, hang on a minute, what?!"
Sam smiled wistfully.
"Yeah, who knew that he'd known all along, eh? He liked you. A lot. Told me just before he... uh, that he knew I was making a mistake and marrying the man I could have instead of the one I really wanted."
"Dad said that?" Jack couldn't believe what he was hearing.
"Yup." Sam hopped off the counter and took a step towards him. "So, you see, Jack, easy was never an option. What I want... is crazy." She paused and pressed her palm against his chest and searching his eyes with her intense gaze. "What I've always wanted, Sir... is you."
She held eye contact for a breath before pulling his face towards her and brushing her lips against his. She pulled back to see his reaction.
Jack's eyes were wide open and his mouth opened and closed with no sound. Sam began to pull back but he gripped her arm and pulled her back towards him. Their lips met and what began as a tentative graze was intensified by Sam's tongue running along Jacks lower lip, seeking his. He willingly opened his mouth and massaged her tongue with his, lips crashing together and breaths coming in short, sharp gasps as hands gripped cotton and fingers kneaded the muscles below. Sam stumbled backwards into the counter and Jack threw a hand out to stop her lower back from hitting the counter edge. He pressed against her as she arched backwards and pushed forward to meet him move for move.
Her fingers strayed up into his hair, his hands stroking her back. Sam pulled her hands down to his waist and her fingers dug into the waistband of his jeans, deftly untucking his shirt and searching for the skin beneath. When they came up for air, Jack pressed his forehead to Sam's and held her tightly.
"Samantha," he whispered breathily. Sam nuzzled his cheek.
"Say that again," she murmured against his cheek. Jack frowned.
"Say what?"
"My name," She whispered forcefully.
"Samantha," he said, trying it on for size. The heat in Sam's gaze flared and Jack began to understand. He tried and failed miserably to hide a cocky grin. Damn, if he'd known about that particular kink it would have made the first 9 unsuccessful attempts at kissing her during the time loops much easier! He leant forward and whispered in her ear, "Maybe now you understand why I couldn't let you call me 'Jack'"
Sam chuckled into his neck.
"God, we must be desperate if all it takes is to use each other's first names," she mused as he nodded in a 'fair enough' gesture. "Although, I have to confess," she continued, "I'll always have a soft spot for 'Carter'."
Jack's interest was piqued.
"Oh?" He queried, glancing questioningly at Sam.
"Well, yeah, I mean it's kind of our 'thing', isn't it?" She replied, wincing at her own in-eloquence. "You're the only one who calls me that."
Jack thought about it for a moment.
"I guess I never really thought about it," he shrugged, "although if we're going down that path, I have to say you've turned 'Sir' into a language of its own over the years," he agreed.
"Really?" Sam queried. Jack grinned.
"Oh, yeah!" He leaned closer, "It's kinda... cool," he confessed quietly, his eyes betraying the heat behind his words.
Sam's eyes danced with mischief and she waggled her eyebrows at him.
"'Cool', huh?...Sir," She repeated questioningly and with emphasis on his title but the way his gaze flickered to the floor for a microsecond gave him away. Busted!
Sam pressed herself against him from hips to chest and reached up a hand to run her fingers gently through the hair at his temple.
"How about we save that one for special occasions?" She whispered seductively in his ear.
"Carter..." He ground out through gritted teeth before her words sank in. He stared, not quite sure if he had misread her. One look at her face told him he hadn't. Holy - well, she doesn't own a bike for nothing, his inner voice chimed in, don't tell me you're surprised that she's not as innocent as she likes people to think!
What had he let himself in for? He cleared his throat awkwardly.
"Ahem, yes, well, uh-" crap, think of something, anything to change the subject! His mind was blank.
Sam patted him gently on the arm.
"Don't worry, Sir, I'll ease you in gently with the handcuffs," she said nonchalantly. Jack just about swallowed his own tongue. He stared after her.
"That was a joke, right?" No response from her retreating back. He really hoped no one walked into the kitchen right now given his very obvious reaction to that suggestion. "Oh crap!" He muttered to himself. Cold shower it was then.
