A/N: Big thanks to my dear Mariel who zapped this through for me. Sorry if anyone feels short-changed in this chapter, but that's the way it wrote itself! Thank you for everyone who continues to review, I really appreciate it.
After this, one more chapter, and posted very soon.
Chapter Nine
Xx—
Time had flown thanks to an onslaught of cases.
Had it really been a week ago that Jack had told Samantha and Danny about his break-up?
It hadn't seemed like that at all.
The team's time since then had been taken up with several cases, including a very happy ending to Vivian's cold case. It was high fives all round and a weary yet pleased team that Jack sent home late Friday night.
Any communication between Jack and Samantha had been regarding work –there always seemed to be someone else around or another case-related priority. He'd managed to physically be closer to her more than he necessarily should have and she had caught him a couple of times looking at her from a distance, usually at the office. She'd just smiled cryptically back and had once raised an eyebrow at him.
Trying to catch a few hours of precious sleep on Friday night –he still had to go into the office to deal with paperwork on Saturday morning- Jack lay wondering how to take the next step with Samantha regarding his feelings about her.
Those feelings that were still there in his heart, because of that small undying flame he still had for her.
He knew he still cared for Samantha and that he still wanted her.
Of that there was no doubt.
He knew from her hotel ambush, that she'd still wanted him.
The look Samantha had returned him a week ago had said enough.
Brian was in her emotional past as much as Jessie was for him.
It meant there was still a chance for them both, he just needed to find or make time to take it.
Xx-
Saturday morning and Samantha just didn't have the time right then and there to worry about Jack and what he was thinking about her.
That he'd dumped Jessie had filled her with a certain sense of glee and satisfaction when she'd first heard, and the story had just gotten better when she overheard Martin and Vivian being told back in the office. If Jack had been hurting, he was obviously over it by then, that much was clear.
Jessica Prince was history, and about time, too.
Samantha wasn't about to blame Jack for a second if he'd felt that way after Brian had left. It would have been perfectly reasonable for him if he had.
Even though they'd all been too busy at work he'd gotten the message that she was still interested, she knew. Trying to organize Finn every morning and night however had also kept her life full, especially as their cases had mostly gone through into the night. Maricella was helpful when that happened as she was a better bet than trying to get hold of Brian for a night-sit, something he avoided like the plague.
Brian did have an upcoming visit with Finn for Samantha to cope with. Since he'd left, he'd returned twice to see his son, and now it was the start of his scheduled weekend outings with him; he'd specifically taken time off work for this one.
Deciding not to spend the Finn-less afternoon fretting and just to enjoy the quiet, peaceful time after the busy week, Samantha pottered around her apartment. If she'd checked her phones it was, truth to tell, because she was more worried about a phone call from Brian than Jack. When her home phone did ring, she leapt on it only to find it was Vivian asking her to come over earlier tomorrow to help with the Thanksgiving setting up. Samantha said she'd be happy to even though she suspected she didn't have a choice in the matter and Vivian was sounding a little stressed. Then as she hung up, she reminded herself to get busy shopping for the ingredients for her sweet potato recipes.
By late afternoon, after the shopping was done and she'd once again consulted her cookbooks, Brian returned Finn safe and sound, and the little boy was not apparently exhausted after all the playing. Thankfully Brian went on his way without any lingering and too much small talk.
Finn became grumpy after Brian left, so Samantha rectified this by having a bath with him, always a fun and splashy experience.
Xx—
It was Jack's turn at a late invitation that night.
After returning from the office in the afternoon, he occupied himself with housework and had glared at his phone, in-between washing plates and clothes and tidying. He'd given himself until eight o'clock as his deadline to phone Samantha.
He had to do this.
It wasn't as if she wasn't expecting him to do something.
And life was too short to worry about what some may have called indecent haste after Jessie, or even Brian.
Life was too short, period.
7:53 p.m. and Jack took a deep breath –not that he needed to, but it helped- and dialed her number.
His heart beating loudly, he cleared his throat before she answered.
"Please Sam, I'd like you to come over."
Xx-
The eight words sent Samantha around her apartment in a tizz, packing up an overnight bag for Finn, grabbing a few things for herself, then bundling up the sleeping boy –thankful that he was such a sound sleeper- grabbing a taxi, and arriving in record time at Jack's.
Her heart was racing; she knew she was here for a reason and it wasn't for just a chat over coffee.
It better not be.
Jack met her at the door to his building just as she buzzed, and relieved her of Finn. Silently making it to his apartment, she followed him through to Kate's room; it had the look of a younger child whereas Hanna's was still smart after Samantha's make-over. "He'll be fine in here," Jack said as he gently put Finn down. He'd put the blanket covered mattress on the floor and surrounded it with cushions in case the toddler rolled off. Samantha couldn't help but smile at Jack's aforethought
After tucking Finn in and making sure he was comfortable, Samantha turned, presuming Jack was watching her; he wasn't. She found him waiting in the hallway by his bedroom door. Soft light from his bedroom cast a glow across the hall.
"Hey…" she began, standing close in front of him.
His eyes were half-lidded as he pulled her firmly towards him. Now holding her, he dipped his head so he could rest his forehead on hers, exhaling deeply at the wonderful fact that she was now there with him. It wasn't like being back in the room in Los Angeles, where it had been just the two of them and miles away from everyone else, but right now, it was even better.
"Jack-"
"I don't want us to talk, Sam. No more talking; I'm tired of all our damn talking," he said quietly.
"Okay…" she breathed again, almost shivering as his hands began to run up and down her arms.
His face then nuzzled hers, enjoying the feel of her skin and her scent, her body pressed against his. "I guess some would say I'm technically on the rebound," he murmured.
Feeling his freshly shaved smooth jaw against her cheek, she smiled. "Technically, some would say I am too."
"So… I guess that means we cancel each other out..." His lips tantalizingly brushed past hers.
"Hmm… I thought we weren't talking?"
"This isn't talking –this is just speaki-"
She silenced him by capturing his mouth with hers, yearning for the taste of him, wanting the caress of his tongue against hers.
Wrapping his arms more tightly around her, he knew he'd never thought that this would ever happen once more.
It all felt so right.
It should have always been like this...
As they paused to catch breath, she thought she saw a merest flicker of sadness in his features.
"What's wrong?" she asked, reaching up a hand to stroke his cheek, willing the expression to go.
He sighed deeply. "Damn it, Sam, I should have fought for you; I shouldn't have let you get away from me like that."
"And I shouldn't have let it happen."
"We've wasted so much time –again."
"But we're here now," she reassured, her hand creeping into his hair.
"We certainly are," he whispered, kissing her deeply again.
Xx-
"Ready?" Jack asked breathily, knowing it was a rhetorical question.
Because he knew she was; she'd been ready for ages. They'd slowly licked, nibbled, stroked, lapped, squeezed and sucked their way around each other's body, reveling in their reactions and the joy of being together. As for himself, he'd been hard and ready to go the moment she'd torn his clothes off after they'd made it the few steps to his bed.
"Oh God, yes," Samantha managed, ecstatic beyond words that she was with a real man again. She didn't want acrobatics right now from him; she just wanted him on top and where he should be –inside her, so they could kiss and look into each other's eyes. She wanted serious loving over mere sex right now and she wanted it from Jack badly.
Her loud, almost grateful groan of delight as he finally did slide inside her was only stopped by another passionate kiss from him, masking his own growl of pleasure.
He was right, sometimes talking wasn't necessary.
Now joined at the hips and mouth, he started to slowly move with her and they both knew that yes, this was just perfect.
This was their perfect fit.
And it would only get better.
Xx—
Much later in the night, Samantha woke to feel Jack's hand sliding up and down her hip and thigh.
"Jack –is something wrong?" she whispered.
"No, nothing," was Jack's hushed reply. "I'm just making sure you're still here." He'd woken up out of recent habit and had to make sure. He didn't like waking up in an empty bed anymore.
"Of course I am -where else would I be?" she laughed gently, rolling over to nestle into him and pulling his hand around her.
Feeling better, he snuggled back, smiling drowsily to himself.
Of course, he thought as he drifted off, there was absolutely no-where else she should be.
Xx—
TBC
