Part 10: Plan to Not Make Plans

"Jack," Sam called out, entering the house after work one evening.

Jack heard her. After all the years of Sam calling him, "Sir," it was still a little strange to hear his name on her lips, even after everything that had changed of late. Strange, but definitely intoxicating. Sam said it with this little sigh at the end that sent a quickened pulse through him.

"Out here, Carter. Com're and join me." He said and then leaned back in the chair, catching the last of the fading sunlight on his face. The house had a patio that was surrounded by trees, blocking it from the neighbors.

The desert was not his favorite. Fortunately, the owners of the house he and Sam were renting had installed an irrigation system. It miraculously allowed for green to grow and it reminded Jack of the Springs or even better, Minnesota. So, not surprisingly, the backyard had become his favorite spot in the late afternoons.

Sam smiled. Nowadays he mostly called her "Sam" especially when other people were around. When he was thinking about it, he'd deliberately call her "Samantha" though usually only when the two of them were alone together. But he still– and likely always would– call her "Carter" from time to time. Especially when Jack wasn't thinking at all and was riding on emotion, like when he was angry with her or in the height of lovemaking, he'd subconsciously slip into old habits and call her "Carter."

Not that Sam minded it in the least. It had become a term of endearment. While other men might say "Honey" or "Sweetheart," Jack had his "Carter." It was interesting to Sam that she could get a glimpse of his mood and thoughts simply by what name he used. Tonight was no exception. Apparently tonight she was "Carter."

She wandered through the house finally finding him lounging on a chaise on the patio. "Yes?" she asked.

"I love you."

Of course she knew this already, she had known for a long time. But he'd never said it before now. It was typical Jack to just one day announce it without any preamble or preparation. Her heart flip-flopped despite herself.

At the look on her face, Jack rolled his eyes. "Oh for cryin' out loud, you're gonna make a big deal outta this. Aren't you?"

A grin spread across her face as she nodded. Sam slowly lowered herself, to share his seat. "I love you too, Jack O'Neill."

"You're such a girl sometimes, Carter." But he had a modest smile on his face as well. "I have for a long time, I just wanted to say it. You know, just in case…"

Sam put a finger on his lips to stop that line of thought. Then she leaned in and kissed him lightly.

"That's not all." He said after she pulled back. "I want you to know I decided today that I'm never gonna ask you to marry me."

Sam froze, shocked and silent. Jack let it sink in for a moment, before he continued. "But, I'll say yes if you ever decide to ask me."

A strange mixture of emotions crossed her face.

He asked, "Kids?" rather off-handed.

"Jack, what are you doing? Why this… now?"

"I decided I'm not going to put up with your deliberate 'not talking about the future' thing because you're afraid I won't have one."

"I'm not-"

"Ah!"Jack cut her off. "I'm not gonna die from this cancer thing. I'm gonna beat it and then we're gonna have a whole future ahead of us. So, I wanna know if you think you want to have kids some day."

Sam lowered her head, unable to look at him as she admitted, "No I don't."

It wasn't what he was expecting. "Really?"

"I thought I did, once." Sam confessed. "But then I realized something. Even though I'm not going through the gate these days, some day I might again. If I never do I'm still part of the Air Force. Either way I have a dangerous job and I refuse to put a child into a situation where they may end up growing up like I did, without a mom."

"Makes sense."

"Besides," Sam said. "We have Cassie. She's more than enough for us to handle."

"Oy," Jack said as an agreement.

Sam met his eyes. "Are you disappointed?"

"Nah."

In fact, he was relieved, though he'd never tell her that. If she wanted a baby, he would have gone along with it for her sake. But there was still stuff about Charlie and emotional baggage he didn't want to have to deal with so it was much, much easier this way. Also, there was one other reason, maybe just as important.

Jack squinted a little and said, "Two AM feedings isso not what I was looking forward to in retirement. Plus, I want no one taking your attention away from me."

"Selfish man."

"Damn right." He squeezed her hand. "Oh, and for the record I'd like a princess cut set in platinum. Nothing too big or it'll look like its only purpose is to show off to the girls."

Sam blinked. "I thought you said you weren't going to ask me?"

"I'm not. You're gonna buy a ring and you're gonna ask me. When you're ready. Someday. Whatever."

"And what if I never do? Could you live with that?"

Jack sensed this was important, even though she was playing it off. "So long as you're having sex with me and no other man for the rest of your life… I'm good."

Leave it to Jack to tell her exactly what she needed to hear, but in a juvenile, roundabout way. Sam fought a smile. "See, I knew you only wanted me just for the sex."

"Samantha," Jack looked intently into those baby blues, to make sure she knew this part was honestly from his heart. "I love you. Everything about you. I don't need a piece of paper or a ring or anything else, I just need you to be with me and be happy."

"I am happy." Sam squeezed his hand back.

The look of contentment on her face, and the sparkle of love in her eyes… Well, apparently he'd handled this conversation right. He'd been worried for days about messing this up. The unexpected upside was that the look on her face also said to Jack that he was gonna get some fantastic lovin' tonight.

"Sweet."

Out of the blue, Sam said, "Remember that time on P2X-577?"

Jack searched his memory, why did that seem to be so familiar and yet so– "Was that where you caught me…?"

"Yes." She grinned.

"Then I remember it well."

"You weren't the only one with fantasies back then."

Jack's eyes went wide. Sometimes, Sam Carter was so very, very hot. "Oh?"

"After that, sometimes I'd be laying in bed at night and I'd wonder if you were thinking about me right then and touching yourself, and I'd touch myself and think it was almost like… like we were together."

It was sad, the way she described it.

Then Sam said in her bedroom voice, "Now is so much better." She drew her leg over him and settled in his lap. "I used to wish I had done things differently in that moment."

"Yeah?" He asked, unable to form more words. The trees surrounding the patio meant that no one would be able to see them. But still, his Sam, this adventurous? She was unbuttoning his fly.

Sam admitted, "I wanted to go into that room sooner and push your hand aside." She was wearing a skit, which was now hiked up around her waist. "Replace it with what you really wanted. I knew what you were dreaming about."

In one quick and sudden movement, she took all of him in, and it felt like heaven.

Jack threw his head back and moaned. God, she was incredible. Better than any fantasy he could have ever imagined.

"It is so much better now," he agreed.