Three weeks later Sam called Aunt Marge on her way home to let her know she'd be late or possibly not home at all. Marge had tried to pry but Sam had remained tight lipped about it. She and Jack were going to talk tonight and either have one hell of a fight or… something.

Sam realized what that or something might end up being.

He'd been very touchy with her after they had nearly drowned. In fact, after, he'd nearly been his old self. She wanted things to stay that way. She needed him, needed his support right now. Moreover, she knew he needed hers.

She knocked on his front door before just walking in even though she knew the door wasn't locked. "Jack?" She asked as she came in only to be confronted by a just showered Jack O'Neill who swiftly moved the towel he'd been scrubbing at his wet hair at to his crotch and gaped at her like a guppy.

"Sam!" He yelped.

"I'm sorry... I'll…" She pointed at the door she'd just come through and started to turn when his hand reached out and took her arm.

"Stay." He said gruffly. "Please." He added, a plea in his eyes.

Sam nodded. Her heart was racing. Talking might be for later she realized as he moved into her personal space and kissed her, gently at first but when her hands settled on his hips and pulled him closer he let out a soft needy growl and changed the angle of the kiss, nipping her lower lip, asking her if she wanted more. She answered him by sliding her hands under the edge of the towel he'd hastily hitched on his hips and giving it a tug hard enough to make the fold come loose, leaving his tight muscular rear free for her to cup and slightly dig her nails into.

"Sam…" he said, breaking the kiss. "Are you sure?"

She looked up at him for a long moment and turned to the door. He sighed and started to pick up his towel when he heard the lock on his front door engage… and Sam was still in his front hall, looking at him… expectantly.

"C'mere" He said softly and took her hand to lead her to his bedroom, her purse and his towel forgotten on the hallway floor.

Her head was on his bare shoulder, her arm across his stomach and her hand on his hip. She was idly stroking the edges of a scar there. Jack wasn't quite asleep but he was close. "I'm sorry I've been such an ass lately, Sam." He told her and kissed her hair.

"I know keeping people away when you hurt is a defense mechanism, Jack… but I wish you'd let me in."

"I'm working on trying to, Sam. It's… hard."

"I know." She told him softly and tilted her head up to nuzzle his chin. "But I'm not scared off easily."

Jack chuckled a little then sighed. "I realize my timing sucks, but was this my apology to you or something more?" Crap, he thought, that came out terrible.

"You are really bad at this, aren't you?" Sam asked him, chuckling a little.

"You sound surprised, Carter."

Sam chuckled again though. "I'm really not." She admitted. "It's what you need it to be right now, Jack. I don't expect anything." She admitted.

His hand came up to her cheek. "You deserve more than this, Sam." He told her before kissing her deeply. It was a long time before they spoke again and this time it was Jack lying on her shoulder, his hand stroking the damp curls between her legs. "I hate that I can't make you any promises or tell you how I really feel." He admitted.

"You already have, Jack." She said sleepily.

"I did?" He said confused.

"Mm hm. You leave me snacks and bring me Jell-O when I'm sad, you make sure I get something with lots of iron in it every month. You trust me no matter what." Her voice was trailing off sleepily. "Love you too." She mumbled before dozing off.

Jack pulled her close and sighed. He'd tried after the mind stamping thing. The Pentagon had told Hammond that Jack couldn't stay with the SGC if he retired from the Air Force so he was at an impasse. He couldn't make Sam any promises. He couldn't walk away. He loved her and he loved his daughter. He knew Sam would never shut him out of Grace's life but there was still the possibility that she'd eventually tire of waiting to be with him. And god help him, he was a selfish bastard and was going to accept what she was so willingly giving him until she decided she was done.

The next morning she woke to long clever fingers stroking her as his mouth claimed her breast. "Jack." It came out a moan of submission.

His hands stilled. "Sam, last night was what it was, but if I make love to you this morning it's because we willfully are choosing to ignore the rules." He told her.

Sam looked at him thoughtfully for a long time. She flipped him on his back and straddled him. "Jack… I came over last night knowing we were either going to have a fight or this… or possibly both… but… I'm not sorry."

He looked up at her. "That wasn't what I was asking, Carter." He said with a small frown.

She leaned forward and kissed him gently. "I trust you to keep this to yourself… sir." And she chuckled because his body responded to her calling him sir while she sat across his hips.

"Oh yah… mum's the word." His hands threaded into her hair. "You know me." He murmured as he drew her back down. "Soul of discretion." He claimed her mouth again and she melted into him.

It was late morning before he decided as much as he was thoroughly enjoying this side of her personality, that Sam really needed to go home at some point. They would have to be discreet going forward. Grace was old enough to notice her mom was having sleep-overs at 'Uncle Jack's'.

They showered together, washing each other's bodies, and occasionally making out under the warm spray of water.

Sam was putting on her shoes when he finally screwed up the courage to bring it up. "You know we can't really date like normal people."

"No." She agreed. "But we can keep spending time with one another and once in a while slip Marge a twenty to look the other way."

Jack looked at her scandalized. "Are you sure you're my Carter?"

Sam smiled shyly up at him. "Your?"

"Here's the part where I'd normally backpedal for admitting that." He grinned a little. "But yes, my Carter."

"As long as I get to call you my colonel."

Jack coughed a little traumatized by how turned on it made him to hear her say that. "Of course." He told her thoughtfully and gave her a gentle kiss before sending her home. "Give Grace a hug for me." He told her as she got into her car.

"I'll call you later so you can talk to her." Sam promised and drove away.