"OK." Jack took a deep breath. "Remember you don't have to agree to anything. I don't – you don't have to go through with anything if you decide it's not what you want."
Sam nodded but she couldn't hide her smile at his sudden awkwardness. "You're making me nervous again."
"Yeah, sorry," he winced. "I just – I haven't actually thought about this. Well," he said, "I have, but not how I'd actually bring the subject up and –"
She reached up and captured the hand he was waving around in the air in hers. "Jack."
"Right." He nodded and then his expression cleared. "Don't move."
With that, he let go of her hand, turned on his heel and headed towards the cabin at a light jog.
Sam watched him leave and in disbelief – and with nothing else to do – she turned her attention towards her surroundings. She looked at the pond and marvelled at its smooth surface; its seemingly calm nature at odds with the emotional tumultuousness she was experiencing. A part of her couldn't believe she was standing here, discussing a potential romantic relationship with her commanding officer, while the other part of her knew that this was it: it was now or never for the two of them.
Yet Sam knew it wasn't going to be easy. They had both been hurt in the past – by others and each other – and both had too many issues to try and address in just one conversation. Whatever they decided, however they could be together, she knew it would take work and they'd probably argue and disagree over things, but she was okay with those realities. She didn't want easy; she'd had easy with Pete, and it turned out to be anything but.
There was also the little issue of the United States Air Force because Jack had made it clear that the rules were still in place and they were expected to follow them. Sam didn't necessarily want to break any regulations either, but her father's words came back to her – don't let rules stand in your way – and she wondered if they could bend them slightly instead.
The sound of footsteps on the wooden dock made her jump and she turned to find Jack standing behind her. She gave him a quick once over and couldn't help the smile that formed as he rocked back on his heels, one hand shoved into the pocket of his jeans, while the other hand clutched tightly onto a folder.
"You lock down my lab, yet you can bring paperwork to the cabin?"
"Well," he shrugged, "I am The Man."
She huffed out a laugh which made Jack grin before she gestured towards the folder.
"Is my company really that bad?"
Jack chuckled at her question, but Sam could also see that he was nervous. She took a step closer and went to reach for the file, only for him to shake his head.
"Not yet," he simply said. He held the folder up and glanced at it. "Hammond gave me this before I left D.C."
Sam straightened at his words; her interest piqued.
"What is it?" She asked.
"It's a folder."
"Ha ha," she said
Jack's amusement gave way to seriousness. "Just remember, you don't have to agree to anything."
She nodded. "OK."
He silently handed her the folder but didn't let go. When Sam tightened her grip, so did Jack, right before he pulled the item from her hand and let it fall to the dock. He then closed the distance between them and took Sam's hands in his.
"What are you doing?" Sam asked.
"You don't need to see it just yet," he said, nodding towards the folder. "I'd do anything for you, if it'd make you happy."
"I know," she said softly. And she did know that now.
"But I'm not – I don't – here's the thing," he sighed. "You're... beautiful, Sam."
She felt herself blush at the compliment and the way he looked at her as he spoke made Sam feel like she was the only person on the planet right now that mattered to him.
"Jack –"
"I'm not a man of many words, so can you just let me have this moment, please?"
She smiled, but nodded.
"Do you remember our first mission, and I said I adored you already, right before you stepped through the gate?"
"You mean when you pushed me through?"
He lifted a shoulder in a half shrug. "Specifics."
"Yes, I remember," she laughed.
"I meant it, you know. You probably thought I was being an ass at the time, but I wasn't. I tried to be – but I was telling the truth." He looked away then back to her. "And I gotta say, the first time you walked into the Briefing Room and you smiled – it shocked the hell out of me."
Sam raised her eyebrows at his confession and she'd swear she could see him blushing.
"I, uh, didn't mean it like that," he said, "it was meant as a compliment."
She pressed her lips together to try and hide her amusement – and confusion – as to where this conversation could possibly be going.
"When you sat down at the other side of the briefing table, I couldn't stop staring. You were hot; and I knew that you were going to be trouble – even before you challenged me to an arm wrestle," he grinned. "I was attracted to you, but at some point, it became more, only I didn't realize until you were stuck behind that damn force field," he muttered. "But I also knew then that you felt the same way about me."
Sam nodded but didn't say anything. Jack then looked down at the folder by his feet before he returned his full attention to Sam.
"Can I ask you something?"
Again, she nodded, albeit more warily.
"I'll explain everything after I ask, but I need you to hear me out and –"
Sam rolled her eyes. "Jack."
A few seconds went by as he watched her. Sam was just about to ask him what his question was when he blurted out the words and she froze.
"Marry me."
