Catch Me If I Fall
"I don't know about this, sir," Sam murmurs. "I think we should stop. Now. Before any of this starts."
"Ahh, Carter. C'mon now. It'll be fine." Jack offers her an encouraging smile and pats her on the shoulder. He winks at her as he finishes tying the laces of his skates and then leans down to strap pads to his legs.
"Sir, it's not that I don't want to do this, but – "
"But what, Carter? You don't like ice hockey?"
She looks at him from behind panicked eyes. "No, I like ice hockey. It's something…else, sir."
"Oh?" He frowns slightly. "What is it then?"
"I…I'm not the best ice skater, sir," she tells him, her voice low.
Jack studies her for a moment as if assessing whether she's telling him the truth or not. His eyes widen. "You go through a giant blue swirly thing to other planets on a daily basis and you get shot at almost as often. Carter. You really can't skate?"
She shakes her head. "Not well, sir."
He stares at her some more and then smiles. "Well then," he says. "Don't worry about it. I'll help you."
"You'll…catch me if I fall?" she nearly whispers. "God, did I really just say that?"
His smile widens.
"Of course I'll catch you. I'll always be there for you."
fin.