Chapter eleven

From that time on Sam didn't push Jack away when he wanted to do things for her, and soon he was coming over a couple of times per week to help with her chores and to make a few more repairs to the house. And her friend teased her about it almost every time they got together, like today.

"Fixing leaking faucets, cleaning out the gutters, planting flowers! Oh, my God, I don't know why you don't just accept it, Sam! The man is head over heels in love with you!"

"No he isn't! He just wants to make sure his baby's mother is comfortable and safe. It's only natural," Sam assured her. But Janet thought she sounded hurt.

"It sounds to me like you're wishing you had let him get you pregnant the old fashioned way. In fact, a little roll in the hay is what you two need," Janet declared, nodding.

"Janet, that is not true! We're just friends," Sam insisted, but deep down inside she dreaded the time, after the baby was born, when she wouldn't see him every day.

"I wish you two would have a real talk before the baby's born. Don't expect him to open up to you. Guys hate rejection. It messes with their egos. Besides, he probably thinks you're not interested in men."

"What?! You're not serious?"

"Yes, I am, and it's no wonder! Sam, when was the last time you went out on a date?" Janet asked. But she already knew the answer; it had been almost five years since Sam broke up with that loser, Hansen.

Recently Janet had watched poor Sergeant Simmons pine away for Sam. It went on for about six months, and Sam had had no clue until she told her. But of course since Sam had her career and Jack on her mind, she hadn't given the young sergeant the time of day. Janet had advised her to go out with Simmons if he asked her. She figured why not? He was a nice guy, very handsome and he was obviously crazy about Sam. But once she knew, Sam had avoided him, leaving him to drown in his misery. He finally asked for a transfer away from the SGC, probably so he wouldn't have to be around the woman he couldn't have. Janet had felt sorry for the poor man, and she thought her new best friend was nuts! She firmly believed that a woman needed to get her groove on from time to time, or it would wither and die. She also believed that any port in a storm was better than no port at all. And Sam hadn't had a place to drop anchor for years!

"Janet, stop worrying about me. I'm okay. Really!"

"That's what you always say. Well, I've got to get to work now. Don't forget to rub that lotion on your belly and breasts," she said, as she patted Sam on the arm. She had two patients in the infirmary to check on, but then she was going to Daniel's for an evening of hot sex. The man's expertise in Egyptology and languages was matched by his expertise in bed. Clearly, living among various tribes here on Earth and on other planets had taught the man a thing or two about the fine art of love making, and Janet was taking full advantage of his knowledge!

"Yes, Ma'am." Sam thought she would use the lotion, but only because Janet had been nice enough to buy it for her. She really didn't think it mattered whether or not she had stretch marks. After all, no one would see her naked ever again. She'd probably die an old maid.

After Janet left, Sam stared out the window, wondering if her best friend was right? Was the colonel interested in her as more than just a surrogate mother? And what did she really feel for him? She thought he was very attractive, and she really enjoyed spending time with him. But was it more than just animal attraction she felt for him? Was it more than friendship, hero worship, trust that she felt for him? Could it be love?

One Saturday morning Jack arrived early, declaring that the outside of her house needed some attention. So, while Sam stood inside sipping a cup of herbal tea as she looked at the window, he raked the leaves in the front yard. He worked shirtless, which meant she got to enjoy the sight of the muscles in his arms and back, flexing as he moved. As his jeans slipped lower and lower on his slender hips, the sight of those little dimples in his lower back almost made her choke on her tea. And it was all she could do to tear herself away from the living room window, when he began working directly in front of it.

But she did manage to move away from the window, and while she made lunch, Jack cleaned out the gutters on the house and put all the debris into big black trash bags.

When lunch was ready, she went to the back door and called out to him. "Sir! Lunch is ready!" Jack came in the house a couple of minutes later, sweaty and covered in dust and grime. Sam turned and looked at him, and then she couldn't stop staring.

She'd seen him dirty and sweaty on many occasions, but he had never looked as hot as he did now! Without thinking she walked toward him, a dish towel in one hand. It was as though he was exerting some sort of power over her. All she could do was move toward him. All she could see was miles and miles of tanned skin over taut muscles, ending abruptly at the top of those low-slung trousers, which appeared to be clinging for dear life to his slender hips. Sam was close enough now to see the dark patch of hair in the middle of his belly, the tight curls just barely peeking above the waistband of his jeans, and suddenly she was overcome by the desire to reach out and slip her hand down into his pants, to see where that dark curly hair led.

Then her eyes were drawn to movement, to a trickle of sweat that came rolling down from his Adam's apple, only to get lost under the hair on his chest. Trapped in the moment, she felt an intense desire to see where the glistening trickle had gone, so she stepped closer to him.

Jack sensed the change in Sam's mood the instant he walked into the house. All morning she'd been sort of cool toward him, but now he felt a wave of warm energy radiating off of her. She was so close now that he could see himself reflected in her eyes, which appeared as dark blue as the deepest ocean. He imagined diving into them and drowning, and he thought it would be a wonderful way to go.

"Eh…. I guess I should clean up before sitting down at the table," he said half-heartedly. He had no real desire to move. Why should he, when he was getting such a huge ego boost from the experience? Besides, she was obviously enjoying herself immensely. So he simply stood there for a minute with his arms down at his sides, allowing her all the time she wanted.

Unexpectedly Sam handed him the kitchen towel she was holding, and he quickly used it to dry off a bit.

Hell, Jack, in for a penny, in for a pound! You may as well go for broke now, he told himself. Figuring a little preening wouldn't hurt, he flexed his biceps as he lifted his arms again, wiping them up and down with the small towel. Then he handed it back to her, their hands touching briefly but long enough to send a small shock wave to his dick, which twitched in eager anticipation.

Sam was mesmerized by his actions, but all of a sudden her mouth began to move, the words just spilling out.

"You can take a shower if you want to," she suggested, her voice sounding strange even to her ears. It was as though she'd been so lost in looking at him, that she'd forgotten who they were or why they were here. Sam, you're suggesting he get naked in your house! What are you trying to do? her sensible side yelled at her.

"Yah, I guess I could do with one," he chuckled, as he looked down at his chest.

"You know where the towels are?" Sam asked. It was really more of a statement than a question. Since he'd been helping her do the laundry lately, he knew where they were kept. He also knew where she kept her bras and panties, a fact that at first had made her feel very self-conscious. In fact, the first time she'd seen him taking them out of the washer, she'd almost fainted dead away.

"Be back in a jiffy." Jack marched down the hallway, his steps sounding loud and strong on the wood floor. Sam listened from the kitchen, thinking, as she often had lately, that it was good to hear someone else in the old house besides her. Next she heard the whine of the pipes as he turned on the water in the shower, and suddenly visions of his naked body, glistening with soapy water, filled her mind. Sam stood there for a full minute, just imagining what he must look like completely naked. Then shook herself out of her libidinous interlude and dragged her thoughts back to the task at hand.

Once the turkey sandwiches were arranged on two plates, and the vegetable soup was dished out into two deep bowls, she brought the food to the dining room table. Then she sat down and waited. To occupy her time she tried to think about something other than Jack, but she found it impossible to take her mind off the man in the next room.

After what seemed like an eternity, she heard the bathroom door open. She suspected he had cracked the door to let out the steam. Now she could hear him singing, but she couldn't quite catch the words. She felt like she was living in a dream. No, not just a dream, but a sexual fantasy! Her ex-CO was naked and toweling off in her bathroom, and she had to fight hard not to go and take a peek.

A few minutes later she heard the sound of him moving around in the bedroom, and she knew it was time to pour their drinks. She was just bringing the glasses of lemonade into the dining room when he arrived smelling fresh and clean, his hair sticking up all over like the quills of an agitated porcupine. A giggle escaped her lips when she saw it.

"What's so funny?" he asked as he sat down. Sam set the glasses down, one in front of him and the other on the opposite side of the table.

"Nothing. It's just…. Your hair is sticking up more than usual," she replied, her eyes glued to his head.

"Oh?" Jack ran his hands over his hair, deliberately making it stick up even more. He wasn't surprised when he heard Sam giggle again. Women really seemed to love his unruly hair. He didn't get it, but he didn't really care as long as they liked it.

"Sorry! Here, let me fix it," Sam volunteered without thinking. Touching his hair…that unruly, sexy hair of his…had been a dream of hers for quite some time. She had often wondered how it felt. Was it soft or coarse? Was it thick or thin? So, once she got her fingers in it, she forgot all about calming its unruly appearance. In fact, she forgot about everything but how good it felt.

Jack sat still with Sam standing behind him. Her touch was exceptionally gentle and soothing at first, but then she began to rake her finger nails across his scalp. And before he knew what was happening, she was massaging his scalp, and he was getting aroused. He shut his eyes and moaned, totally forgetting where he was or who had her fingers in his hair. All he could think about was how those fingers were making him feel.

Startled by the deep, blatantly sexual sound that arose from Jack's slightly open mouth, Sam jerked her hands out of his hair and jumped back as though stung by a bee.

"Oh! Our soup is getting cold!" she cried suddenly. Then she hurried to her seat and began eating, as though she was starving.

Jack began eating too, but while he ate, he studied Sam's every move. She seemed totally into the meal. When she'd had her hands in his hair she had been into him, he was sure of it! Now it was as though nothing sexual had happened between them. What did that mean? Did she want him or not? She had certainly been into that foot massage that time. In fact, if he hadn't left when he had, she probably would have had him coming in his trousers! And just a few minutes earlier at the back door, she had practically drooled at the sight of him.

So what exactly was going on inside that beautiful blonde head of hers? He really wished he knew, but he was reluctant to ask. What if he was wrong? He'd be embarrassed, and then their time together would be all awkward and stiff. He was enjoying spending time with her, and he didn't want to change what they had.

"The soup's good. Did you make it?" he asked politely. Actually, he could tell it was canned. He just couldn't think of anything else to say.

"No, it's just canned."

"I could make you my Mom's vegetable soup," he volunteered. He loved to cook, even when it was just for himself. But cooking for Sam would be a real treat!

"No, Sir. That would be too much trouble."

"Nonsense! I've got all the time in the world now. I didn't tell you, but I've decided to retire now, instead of when the baby comes. That way I'll have even more time to help you and to get a few more things done to my house." There were other reasons too, but he didn't want to go into them just now.

"Are you sure you wanna do that, Sir? I mean are you sure you want to retire? Maybe I could help you with the baby?"

She had said it without thinking. But now that it was out there, she couldn't help but think about all it could mean. Taking care of the baby was not part of their deal. It also wasn't a part of what she'd planned for her future. It would change everything…her life, his life, and the baby's life. Was that really what she really wanted to do? Was she even capable of it?

Jack heard her words, but it took a few seconds for them to sink in. And when they did, he still couldn't believe he'd heard them, or that she was serious.

"Are you serious, Carter?"

"I don't know. I'm not sure where that came from, Sir. A natural mothering instinct, perhaps? I admit I feel attached to the baby. After all, it is growing inside me. I just want it to have the best life possible, Sir."

"It will have, Carter. I'll do everything in my power to see to it that our baby is well cared for and happy. You know that, don't you?"

"Yes, I do. I'm sorry, Sir, I just hate to see you leave the military. But it's your decision. Forget I said anything."

Jack knew it was time he admitted something to her….something that a big part of him construed as a weakness.

"The truth is, I have no choice. My right knee is shot."

"No!"

"Yah. I went to a specialist a couple of weeks ago. There's nothing he can do. So, I either retire or take a desk job, and you know how much I would hate flying a desk."

Sam felt terrible for him. She agree that he wasn't cut out to sit behind a desk, but still she wished there was some way he didn't have to retire.

"Have you thought about teaching? I'm enjoying my position at the academy."

"Yah, but you know you can go back to the SGC after the baby's born. If you couldn't, would you really like it so much?"

She knew that what he said was true; she did have options, while apparently he didn't. "I'm really sorry, Sir."

"It's no big deal, Carter. I'll have the kid to keep me busy."

Sam hoped he was right, but a big part of her was worried that raising a child might not be enough for a man of action like Jack O'Neill.

TBC