Chapter 10

It had been a long time, even long before he'd been in stasis, that Jack O'Neill had woken up with a woman in his arms.

It was inevitable really. As soon as Sam had kissed him the previous night, he never stood a chance. Any doubts he may have had were quickly forgotten, when she'd brushed her lips across his and instantly broken his resolve.

He'd wanted her for longer than he cared to remember. Longer certainly than he should have, considering their ranks and working relationship. Of course, he still had his reservations but if Sam was willing to trust him then maybe it was time that he started having a little faith in himself.

She had her back flush against him as he cradled her closely in his strong muscular arms. He could tell she was still asleep by the slow, steady rhythm of her breathing.

He knew it was selfish, but he wanted her to wake. His fingertips caressed her skin as they delicately trailed down her arm from her shoulder to her hand where he threaded his fingers through hers and pulled both their arms tightly around her.

She wore her hair a little longer these days and he pushed it away so that he could pepper kisses from the nape of her neck along the top of her shoulder. As he did so, she moaned her approval which sent waves of pleasure straight to his groin.

"Feels good doesn't it?" Sam purred sleepily, as Jack continued to nip at her neck.

"Did you ever doubt it would?" he asked, curiously.

The only answer Sam could give were further groans of appreciation.

"Waking up beside you in a tent always did things to me that it shouldn't have, so I knew if we ever woke up together like this, it would be mind blowing."

"Yeah, I can feel that and it's certainly not your sidearm," Sam pressed her hips back into him and it was his turn to let out a guttural moan.

Sam laughed then brought his hand up to her lips and kissed the back of it. "We've waited so long for this. It feels like a dream."

"Jesus Sam, I hope not. Anyway..." Jack slapped her backside playfully, "...does that convince ya that it isn't?"

"Jack!" Sam yelped, a little louder than she should have.

"Shhhhh..." he whispered, clamping his hand over her mouth to stifle her gasps, "...you'll get Jake up and I don't think I've finished with ya yet."

"Well now, that's very presumptuous of you, Colonel O'Neill. I mean maybe I just wanted to have my way with you to satisfy my immediate cravings," Sam grinned at him suggestively.

Jack gasped dramatically, "Colonel Carter, I'm hurt, shocked even. And here was me thinking that you had feelings for me."

"Oh, I do... I have lots of feelings for you." Sam turned in his arms and slid her hand over his chest and up the side of his neck until her fingers raked through his short grey hair.

She pulled him to her and kissed first his cheek, then the very corner of his mouth before she pressed her lips to his and instantly they opened to let her tongue explore.

They parted breathlessly, and Jack pulled her close to him, his fingers caressing the smooth plains of her back, spreading as they reached the curve of her backside where he pulled her to him and in turn pushed his hips into hers.

"Ya know, yesterday isn't the first time you've told me... you know." Jack gestured between them with his hands.

For a moment, Sam was confused, then it dawned on her. "Ahhh, that I love you?" she smiled.

"Yeah... that," Jack agreed, somewhat bashfully.

"What do you mean?" Sam quizzed him.

"You told me before, when I was, in a coma, asleep... whatever. I remember. I remember a lot of it."

"Good, because everything I said was true. I do love you, Jack and I'm going to show you just how much."

With a smile on his face and eyes like a love-struck puppy, Jack was quite happy to let Sam show him just how deep the feelings were that she had for him.

She moved so that she straddled him and lowered herself until their lips were touching very lightly. He could feel her hot breath, taste her almost. His lips found her neck and he kissed his way across the curve of her jaw, as she tipped her head backwards, so he could continue his exploration.

"You're more beautiful now, Sam, than you've ever been," Jack said, huskily as Sam sat upright once again and let her fingers trail down his chest, over his stomach until she reached the line of soft hair which led a path down his lower abdomen to where their bodies joined. Then they made love to each other, slowly and tenderly, for only the second time in their lives.

Exhausted but satiated Sam resumed her position snuggled into his side, after spending a pleasurable time astride him. She could tell by how tense his body became, that he was in some considerable pain.

"Are you okay," she asked, the concern evident in her voice. She placed her hand soothingly on his chest.

"Yeah, just a bitch of a cramp in my leg," he groaned, obviously in more pain than he was willing to admit.

"I'm sorry, Jack. I shouldn't have put you in this position."

"Hey, don't you dare blame yourself. Besides... the Doc said I had to keep up with my exercises and there are way more positions that you can feel free to put me in." He winked at her before leaning across and planting a firm but loving kiss on her lips.

Sam giggled and buried her head in the side of his neck as she stroked his chest, weaving her fingers through the smattering of coarse grey hairs that she found there.

"Seriously though, are you okay, I mean your arm and leg?"

"Yeah, I'm good and actually more than happy that the most important part of my anatomy hasn't been compromised!" he joked and both he and Sam began to laugh before Jack slid his hand over Sam's hip and down the back of her thigh, whilst kissing and sucking at the tender skin of her neck.

"Wait," Sam whispered, already slightly breathless by his ministrations. "I hear Jake. I better go and make breakfast. I don't want him to find me in here." She slid out of bed and quickly pulled on the clothes she'd been wearing the day before, then, after giving Jack a peck on the cheek she left his room.

Jack sighed and rolled over to where Sam had been lying just to prolong the feeling of warmth that had enveloped his body ever since she had joined him in his bed the night before.

xXx

He must have fallen asleep because the next thing he knew, there was a light tap on his door. Groggily he opened his eyes and readjusted the sheets before answering the knock.

The door opened slowly and from the other side peaked a small blonde head with blue eyes.

"Hey Jake, does your Mom know you're here?"

"Sure," the young boy breezed into the room carrying a tray. "Mom sent me with some breakfast for ya. She said that you need to keep your strength up."

"Yeah, I bet she did," Jack mumbled under his breath.

"There's pancakes, eggs and orange juice. It looks good," Jake placed the tray down on the bed beside Jack.

When Jake didn't make any attempt to go, Jack patted the bed beside him and the young boy jumped up next to him.

"Would ya like some pancakes," Jack asked, and Jake nodded his head vigorously in affirmation.

"So, what do you and your Mom normally do on Sundays?"

"Ahhh, not much. She's been really tired lately. Sometimes we might go to the park, other times we just stay in and watch TV. It's okay, I like spending time with Mom," Jake smiled, as he tucked into Jack's pancakes.

"If you'd like, we could toss some balls in the yard later?" Jack cocked his eyebrow.

Jake's face lit up, but then he frowned, "I don't think Mom will let us. She says you need to rest before you go back tomorrow."

"Leave your Mom to me. I'm sure I can find a way to persuade her that it'd be okay," Jack tried to reassure the boy as he gently nudged him. They ate the rest of Jack's breakfast in silence and then Jake took the tray and left Jack to get ready.

xXx

"It's only a couple of balls. I'll be fine," Jack shouted over at Sam who was standing with her hands on her hips at the back door of the house.

Jake had wheeled Jack out and was now standing proudly with his baseball glove ready to receive Jack's throw.

"Well, don't complain to me when you're all stiff later," Sam shouted back. She could see the instant libidinous grin that curled his lip and she shook her head before returning indoors.

As she washed up the breakfast dishes, Sam looked out at where Jake and Jack were happily throwing balls and laughing like they'd know each other forever. After tidying up the kitchen, she poured herself a hot cup of coffee and then went to sit on the bench by the back door.

The sun was warm, and it was pleasant. They'd been tossing balls for the best part of an hour and Sam could tell that Jack was getting tired. She knew that he'd never admit it, so she put her cup down and walked over to where they were playing.

"Jake, I think it's time Jack had a rest. Maybe you can play a little later," Sam told her son, who sulked a little but then took the ball off Jack and went inside.

Sam pushed Jack over to the bench and helped him out of his wheelchair. He slumped down heavily and took a deep breath.

"Thanks, I'm bushed, but I didn't want to disappoint Jake, he seemed to be enjoying it," Jack explained.

"He was, I can tell he likes you."

Nodding at Sam's cup, he said, "One of those left for me?"

"Yeah, I'll just grab a fresh cup myself." And Sam ran back inside to get them both a cup of coffee.

"There," she said, handing him the cup which he took eagerly.

"Morning," he smiled at Sam lovingly.

"Morning to you too."

"Sorry we came straight out, but I've never seen a kid so excited," Jack apologised. He'd wanted to talk to Sam before the day had properly begun but he didn't want to disappoint her son.

"Hey, it's okay. Besides, we'll have plenty of time together later when Jake goes over to Joel's house." Jack looked confused and Sam explained that she'd made arrangements with Joel's Mom that Jake could go over and play for a few hours to give them a bit of time to talk.

Stretching out his leg, Jack groaned as the pain shot from his hip down his thigh and finally through his knee. He rubbed his leg and sat back against the bench.

"I wish there was something I could do to help," Sam placed her hand over his on his thigh and followed his movements.

"S'Okay, it'll wear off." Finally, Jack relaxed and squeezed Sam's hand to show her that everything was okay.

"So… last night," Jack eventually plucked up the courage to strike up a conversation.

"Yep… last night," Sam blushed as she tried to supress a grin that was rapidly spreading across her face.

"No regrets?" Jack asked, holding his breath for her reply.

"Nope. You?" Sam asked, equally as worried that she might not get the reply she expected.

"None," he smiled, warmly. "But…"

"Why does there always have to be a but?" Sam sighed.

"You and Jake deserve the best and I'm not sure that I'm the one that can give you that."

"I don't see why. You seem to get on well with Jake and he likes you. We know each other better than most married couples do. We're well matched… in all departments," Sam couldn't help but sneak a quick kiss on his cheek. "And most of all, I love you and I hope you love me."

Jack looked down to where their fingers were still intertwined.

"You know I love you, that's why I don't want to hurt you. I haven't got a great track record at this family stuff… ya know."

"Jack, when I was first told about Pete's accident and I thought that Jake had died too. I thought my world had ended. It would have ended if anything had happened to him, so, I know I don't fully understand what you went through, but I do kind of know. What happened to Charlie was a terrible, tragic accident and I have so much respect for you for getting through it."

"I didn't though, not really. When I stepped through the gate to Abydos I did it 'cos I thought I wouldn't be coming back. I had nothing to live for."

"But you did, and you have gone on to do some amazing things. You've given so much of your life to the SGC. You deserve to be happy, Jack. Please… let me make you happy." Sam edged towards him and he lifted his arm for her to slide into his side.

"Can we at least give it a go?" Sam asked.

Jack nodded and rested his chin on top of Sam's head. He closed his eyes just for a moment and for once he believed that everything was going to work out.

xXx