Chapter 13 – Future Plans

Most of Sam's night had been a quiet, albeit nerve-wracking, one. Never had silence been so suffocating. It provided no distractions, far from it. The stillness of the dark gave her nothing but her own thoughts to fill the crawling expanse of time. Thoughts about Jack; about home; about the Hidden. Knowing that this was the correct course of action did nothing to quell the anxiety gripping her stomach at the thought of never seeing Jack again. Sam doubted she would be able to breathe until she saw Jack re-emerge from the cloak of the night.

Still, the nervous energy kept her awake; kept her alert. Every sound found her hands gripping her side arm more tightly as her keen eyes searched the surroundings for any sign of an intruder. In the end nothing came. Sam was safe. But her safety had never really been her main concern. Just as Jack's safety had not been his. This planet had changed their priorities and with it their focus.

The first that Sam knew about Jack's return was the tell-tale thumping of regulation boots hitting the ground at a decreasing rate. As they slowed, Sam raised her gun – not trusting the hope that had welled up within her. The sight of Jack had Sam slumping back against the cave wall as relief ballooned in her chest. Flipping the safety back on her gun, it was soon placed down on the floor as a smile grew.

Looking back, to make sure he hadn't been followed, Jack dropped his pack before taking off the night vision goggles and setting himself down next to Sam. For a good few minutes, they were both quiet; listening out into the forest. The only sound to be heard was Jack's breathing. He'd taken the last bit of his return trip at a run, feeling that he'd already been away from Sam for far too long.

"Doesn't look like you were followed," Sam mused.

"No. Doesn't look like it."

Sam nodded before finally facing the man. Jack noted that Sam's colour certainly didn't look worse than before and he was encouraged by that.

"Well, did you find anything?" Sam asked.

"An escape, I think."

"How?"

Jack gestured to the night vision goggles.

"It's pitch black out there. Darker than dark. So, I had to wear these. Turns out, these detect the Hidden."

Sam's eyes widened as she took in the goggles and the implication of Jack's words.

"Also, I don't think they can see at night. Or us, anyway. One came right up to me and nothing … nada … no reaction."

Sam's mind was whirling. Thoughts and ideas going a mile a minute.

"Must be something to do with the how the light refracts off them. Or their armour; with the two suns, different atmosphere. Or maybe they're emitting radiation of some kind. The lack of night vision could be how their eyes work. Maybe where they're from they don't have night-time, at least not like this."

Jack let Sam ramble on for a bit about the possibilities. They had the time and, although he would never admit it, he liked hearing Sam's technical talk – even when he didn't understand everything she was saying. Jack liked watching how animated Sam got. How the corners of her eyes wrinkled up when her excitement lit up her expression. How expressive her hands got. How happy she seemed to be figuring it all out.

It was only when Sam stopped talking that Jack realised, he'd been staring at her in a way she clearly wasn't used to seeing.

"What?" Sam asked.

"Hmm?"

"You're looking at me all funny."

"No, I'm not." Jack shook his head before turning away to focus back on his pack.

"Yes, you are," Sam chuckled. Reaching over, Sam caught one of Jack's wrists and gave his forearm a squeeze. "I was worried too, you know."

Jack sighed, at both the stark realisation of how much this planet had affected them and just how plainly Sam could see through him. Running a hand through his hair, Jack glanced back over at Sam with a half-smile.

"We need to come up with a plan. We should go tomorrow night if you're up to it."

With a nod, Sam withdrew her hand and sat back, intent on watching Jack.

"Focus on that and then … and then we can figure out what to do about us." Jack hadn't meant it to sound harsh or unfeeling. It was just realism. Their jobs, what they did, meant more to each of them than anything else. They both knew that. Feelings complicated everything. Neither was sure what would be possible, regardless of what they wanted.

Sam managed a small smile. "Okay. So, do you have a plan?"

The next few hours consisted of them hashing out, and then rehashing, a plan. Some ideas were voiced and vetoed. Others were ones they both agreed on. In the end, just as the glints of golden orange and rusty red began to crawl across the entrance to the cave, the pair celebrated the creation of a plan over some rations.

Even as the light intensified and the dawn gave over to the morning, full and bright, the cave stayed cool. In the end the pair settled down to rest just as the adrenaline from the night-time adventures had completely ebbed away. Needing to regain their energy for the night to come, they felt safe enough to snuggle down in the dark recesses of their temporary home, and sleep. Sam curled into Jack as much as possible without disturbing her leg. For some time afterwards Jack watched over Sam before the pull of sleep overtook him. His last thoughts were of safety, escape, and Sam.

Jack awoke just as the late afternoon sun was moving over to their side of the cave. Everything was still. Everything was quiet. So much so that Jack could almost convince himself that all was well. The Hidden were just a far away nightmare that didn't have to concern him in that moment. But he knew better. Blonde strands of hair tickled his chin, and he was relieved to feel Sam's steady breathing under his hands. They'd both needed the other's warmth, but neither would deny their mutual desire to stay close – to hold one another. Away from prying eyes, it was another reminder of how little privacy they'd had over the last few years.

With one finger, Jack moved one lock of hair from Sam's forehead just as her eyes began to open. Blinking, Sam looked up to identify the touch and smiled warmly once her brain had caught up.

"Mornin'" Jack crooned softly.

"Evening, I think," Sam corrected, equally as softly.

"Mornin', evenin', you know what I mean."

Smiling at each other, their eyes locked for a moment before they both found themselves staring longingly at the other's lips. Rolling Sam onto her back, Jack carefully lay over her as much as he dared before their lips met. It was gentle at first. The dying light of the day brought a new meaning to their intimacy. The intense passion of the other night replaced with tenderness and love. With Sam's leg the way it was they only allowed themselves kisses and touches, filled with promises. They both longed for more but one knee in the wrong place caused Sam to grimace in pain and Jack pulled back.

"Dammit, sorry Sam."

"It's okay, really. I'm okay." Sam tried to reassure her friend and commander.

Jack pulled back completely and sat up against the rock wall.

"We shouldn't. Not until that leg is better." He sounded like he was trying to convince himself, more than anything, and Sam knew.

Pushing the sleeping bag off her body, Sam sighed as she willed the excitement to leave her – knowing that they had far more pressing things to focus on.

"Won't be long now, I guess," Sam mused as her head turned towards the entrance to the cave where the dark was encroaching once more.

"No," Jack agreed. "We'll fuel up and then pack up."

Sam agreed with a nod before pulling herself up to a sitting position. Carefully, she managed to stand and gave her leg a little test by walking around the cave. It was painful but doable. Confidence building, her smile was surer the next time she looked at Jack. Running might be a challenge but she'd cross that bridge when she got to it.

In no time at all their bags were packed, night goggles were out, ammunition checked, and they were sat enjoying what they both hoped would be their last meal on this planet.

"I'm not going to miss rations," Sam said looking disdainfully down at her pouch of rehydrated food. They could survive on it, but it was nothing like a nice, juicy steak back home.

"Once we're back, we'll go out somewhere. Off base." A small amount of hope was building in the pit of Jack's stomach. Their plan was solid. There was no reason it shouldn't work, so he allowed himself that much.

"Only if you buy," Sam retorted with a smirk.

"Sure, I think I can stretch to that." Jack laughed.

Neither of them would say the word date out loud. That felt too much like testing fate. But they both knew that's what it would be. It gave them that little extra edge. That extra motivation to get home.

Soon enough the darkness had finally fallen. Jack thought the evening had a strange feeling to it. Something permeating the atmosphere. But he put it down to pre-mission nerves and thought nothing more of it. It wasn't long before they were both ready to set off into the night. Leaving their cave behind them to face whatever was to come. Together.

N.B. Thanks for everyone who has stuck with this story. Not sure when the next update will be, it might not be until the new year. On the homestretch now! Thanks again!