AN- I am so sorry I have kept you waiting for this update. My muse has again left me struggling for ideas. This is now officially my longest fic every, not to mention longest WIP ever. I am not ging to promise when the next update will be, but know this, I have not given up. I will continue this adventure, cooperative muse or not.
By the time Sam found a chamber that looked stable and relatively clear she had started to shiver. She could feel the cold and wet seeping through her as turned to looked at Jack, rubbing his hand together no doubt to try and warm them.
"Carter, there's some of them torch things on the wall, you got anything to make them burn?" Shining his flashlight on one to her right.
"Yeah, give me a sec." Already digging around in the top pockets of her tac vest, finally producing a packet of waterproof matches.
Walking to the torch Jack still had his flashlight on she struck one of the matches and watched as it sputtered and hissed as it started to burn. Lifting it up she was glad she was tall, she had never worked out why these things were placed so high. Finally, the torch lit, the whole thing taking seconds to catch alight and fill the small room with a flickering orange, yellow glow. Turning she found two more, one on each end wall. Taking the torch out its hold she passed it to Jack, pointing to the one behind him. She took the still lit match and used it to light the one behind her. Jack lit the one on the wall and walked back, placing the torch back in its hold.
"That's better, least we can see. Let's get changed, preferably before hypothermia kicks in." Jack called out to her as he took his tac vest off and started to dig around in his pack.
Sam did the same, her numb fingers taking longer to unclip the buckles. When she finally got them undone she started to dig around for dry pants and a top. She was too cold to deal with underwear, she could sort that out later when she was warm. She had her back to Jack but could hear clothes hitting the floor as he stripped off his wet uniform. When she had her clothes out she sat down and tried to get the laces of her boots to comply, his fingers seemed to have given up on doing anything.
"Damn laces." She cursed under breath, finally managing to get one-half lose.
"Here, let me do that you taking too long. The idea of snuggling for warmth is appealing but not when you're sick." Dropping to his knees in front of Sam and pushing her hands out the way.
Sam just gave up and let him, instead making a start on pushing her jacket off. By the time she had her jacket off both her boots and socks were off and pushed to one side. She didn't even notice how cold the stone floor was due to the fact she couldn't even feel her toes anymore. Jack looked at the pile of dry clothes on the floor and grabbed the socks that sat on top. Quickly untucking them he pushed her wet pants legs up and pulled her socks on her feet, making sure her pants were up high enough to not catch the tops of the dry socks. Jack stood up and held out his hand, Sam taking it and standing up.
"Christ, Carter, my deep freeze ain't that cold. Hurry up and get changed." Bending down to pick up her dry clothes, at the same time noticing there was no underwear.
He stepped back and watched as Sam stripped off her t-shirt and bra, reaching for him to pass her her dry top. Jack was more than slightly mesmerized by the play of the firelight burning from the torches on Sam naked breasts and torso to notice.
"Sir." Sam ground out through chattering teeth to get his attention.
"Shit, sorry. Got a little distracted there." Quickly passing her her top.
Sam just took the top and pulled it on, she would have his ass later for gawping. Keeping the dry t-shirt rolled up she undid her belt and popped the button on her pants. She looked at Jack and saw he was still stood watching her. If she hadn't been so cold the moment could have been a little more erotic, Jack watching her do a striptease. Giving him one last glance she yanked the zipper down and pushed both her pants and panties off at the same time, stepping out of them quickly to avoid getting her dry socks wet. Stepping forward she snagged the pants out of Jack's hands and put them on as quick as she could., he was still staring at her with a slightly open mouth and a dazed look on her face.
"Any idea what we do to get these dry?" Bending over and gathering up her wet clothes and underwear.
Jack just watched her, his mind on the image of her naked with firelight on her skin. Sam stopped just in front of him and reached up to run her hand across his cheek, before pulling it back and slapping it. The slap wasn't hard but it had the desired effect. Jack snapped out of his drooling and looked at Sam, blinking a few times before he spoke.
"Did you not bring dry underwear or were you planning on torturing me the whole time we are here?" His voice sounding husky even to his own ears.
"Yes and no. I have dry underwear but I am too cold to even consider bra hooks. I will put it on when I warm up later on. Now, as I said, suggestions for hanging this stuff to dry would be nice." Still holding her wet clothes.
"Maybe on the supply truck when it's empty. We can bring it as far as we can and see what happens from there. Don't suppose you packed spare boots either." Looking down as her wiggled his sock-clad toes.
"Nope, lucky it's dry in here. Something to add to the next list, spare footwear." Looking down at her own sock covered feet.
"Let's go help unpack and we can hang them up." Indicating her clothes as he gathered his own up.
They walked slowly towards the supply truck, both using the flashlights aimed at the floor. When they reached the truck they saw it was mostly food and the science stuff sam had requested. Sam reached for the laptop and spare batteries first, hearing Jack chuckle at her. She ignored him and grabbed a few other bits before turning and walking even more slowly now she was laden with gear. After dropping the laptop and batteries off in the chamber with her gear she went to join Teal'c and Daniel setting up the lights. When Daniel saw her sock covered feet he burst out laughing.
"Maybe you should have asked for boots with all this lot. Is Jack the," pausing when Jack entered the room and looking down at his feet. "Never mind." Seeing Jack minus his boots.
"Sam, can you help me with this please." Holding up a bunch of wires and looking clueless.
"Sure, don't suppose you packed a spare pair of footwear?" Looking hopefully at Daniel.
"I have no idea. Here, you hook up and I'll look." Daniel said as he passed Sam a hand full of wires and walked over to his tac vest and pack.
Sam had the lights running in no time, the chamber flooded instantly with the artificial yellow glow. It was then they noticed the benches and artifacts gathered around the walls.
"This may take more than a couple of days guys," Daniel called over his shoulder as he walked to the closest wall and started to look at the jars, pots, and other ceremonial objects.
"Wonderful," Jack mumbled as he looked around at all the stuff. "My idea of hell has finally arrived." Turning back to Sam after he had taken in the whole room.
"You need any help with setting up your science stuff? Has to be better than looking at old cooking pots and necklaces." Jack offered as he tried to not look so disappointed.
"Why not, nice to know you would rather help me than look at this stuff with Daniel. Daniel, did you find any footwear before you got lost in this lot?" Looking at the back of Daniel as he held up a glass jar so he could examine it better.
"Yeah, beside my pack. It's the best I have so don't complain." Continuing to look at the jar in his hand.
"Thanks, Daniel." Walking over to his pack and picking up what she knew were his base kicking around sneakers.
"How come you share shoes with her but not me, eh, we've been friends longest." Jack pouted as he watched Sam put the sneakers on.
"Because she's nicer, I like her better, and her feet are the same size as mine." Still mesmerized by the jar in his hand. "Hey, come look at this, I'm sure it's an eyeball, perfectly preserved in some sort of fluid."
"It's okay Daniel, we'll pass. Have fun, if you need us for anything important just shout." Following Sam out the main chamber back to the small room they were using as a bedroom come office.
Sam entered the small anti-chamber and was surprised how warm the little room had got. She wasn't anywhere near as cold now, but her feet were still cold. At least with footwear on they would warm up soon enough. Looking over at a still shoeless Jack she had to smile, Daniel was right, he did like her better, they all did. Jack was just stood watching her as she opened a case and started to set out her equipment. He was hovering and it was distracting.
"Sir," she tried to say with a little force behind it. "How about you clear some space and set up somewhere to sleep, saves you being bored and standing at my shoulder as I work." Looking up at Jack as he tried to look sheepish.
"I can do that." He smiled as he walked to one of the corners and looked at the rather dirty floor.
Reaching over he dug around in his pack until he found what he was looking for. Pulling out what looking suspiciously looked like a paintbrush he started to sweep the floor with it. Sam looked up and then shook her head in disbelief.
"Okay, I may regret asking you this, but why do you have a paintbrush in your pack?" Still not believing her eyes.
"So I don't get wrong off Daniel for disturbing anything. I don't want to find out I am lying on the answers to the universe or even worse, the source of the radiation." Finally sweeping his pile of dust into the opposite corner.
"If I had a camera I would take a picture. Daniel will love this." Giggling as she pictured Daniels response to what Jack was doing.
"Never mind me, set this stuff up, I don't think we have much daylight left and I am still thinking of setting up a watch. Don't even say it," holding his hand up and stopping Sam before she spoke. "Yes, it seems uninhabited but not going to risk it. I may set traps at the entrance as well." His head now going over what he had that could be used as a trap.
Sam continued to set up the machines to detect radiation and other airborne particles that could be classed as harmful to her and the team. When she was done she turned around to see Jack sitting with his back to the wall on his freshly made bed. She noticed his blow up pillow, an extra no one but his team knew about. Couldn't have the tough colonel O'Neill being made out to be a softie. She also noticed her bed had been made and was set flush against his. She raised her eyebrow, a height even Teal'c would be proud of and looked at Jack until he finally looked at her.
"What?" Trying to look innocent as she looked at him.
"You think that's wise? We did agree to keep it strictly professional when we were out here." Looking between her sleeping bag and Jack.
"Sure, just because you're so close doesn't mean we have to do anything. We have shared a tent, a field, and a room together and been good." Giving her his best smile hoping she wouldn't swap with either Daniel or Teal'c.
"Fine, I suppose we are grown up. Let's go check on Daniel. It must be getting near dinner time." Looking at her watch as she spoke. "Wow, is that the time! It's way past dinner time, come on, let's get the others." Grabbing her pack as she stood up.
Jack grabbed his pack and followed her back out and into the main chamber, the lights suddenly hurting his eyes. Daniel was bent over a crate packing a few bits into it that Sam couldn't make out. Teal'c was stood to one side passing items to Daniel so he could pack them.
"Daniel, Teal'c, dinner time. Pull up a space, we got a better choice since we asked for more food to be sent through." Open the box with the field rations in.
Jack sat down beside Sam and pulled out his mess kit, reaching into Sam's pack and get hers out. Jake pulled out the small stoves and lit them both to make coffee for three. Daniel already had a packed of something out and was ripping the top off. Teal'c was looking through the box as Sam sat and opened an energy bar. When Teal'c had picked out two packs from the box Jack dug in and pulled out the first two, tossing one to Sam. Sam just looked at the pack and then at Jack.
"It's food and you're eating it, simple." Reaching down to pour the water into the three cups.
Passing the coffee around he sat back and made a start on his own meal if it could be classed as that. At least they were dry, safe and sheltered for the next few days so things were looking good. He just hoped they stayed that way.