Sorry guys, it's been a while. I am up to chapter 11, and I am thinking about 1 more small one, one more big one, and an epilogue. I hope you're enjoying this. Thanks for all the favorites reviews and follows. I love the reviews.
It was March 25th and Daniel had been a little down, Deb had been in the week prior, giving all her findings from the previous weeks. Deb was all over the globe looking for any similar pieces and the SGC realized just how many "myths" had really been reality after 5 weeks of her working for them. They were finding new information weekly. Deb and Daniel analyzed anything and everything she could get her hands on. Deb was only there 2 times a month and only 2-3 days at a time before she was off on another search. Jack noticed how sad Daniel was after her last departure.
Sam was a bit shocked when it was actually Jack who suggested a 4 day trip to his cabin. SG-1 was off rotation for the moment, and Jack couldn't think of a better time when anything could happen. Snow could very much be a possibility.
Jack had asked Sam first, who was very hesitant. Teal'c and Daniel quickly agreed, and Sam smiled, deciding to go with the group. Of course the way to go was by air and with clear skies ahead, Jack rented out a Cessna. Jack was allowing Sam to take control on the way out before switching over for the landing.
Jack had landed and pulled the small plane to the space he was instructed to. It seemed like the air control officers knew him well and when they walked into the airport it was no different even the rental car agency staff called him by name. The air was crisp, dryer, and colder than Colorado Springs. Sam had brought her heavy coat, but Jack seemed fine in a light jacket. Sam smiled at how easy he walked, his guard down the most she had ever seen. His feelings gave her a slight sense of hope. Jack rented an SUV, they stuffed their packs inside and instead of going to the cabin they went straight to the store.
"Meet back at the check out in 20 minutes," Jack claims.
The store is small, nothing like in Colorado Springs and Sam thinks she could get what she wanted in about 10 minutes. Sam goes towards the vegetables knowing that the guys will overload on meat. She takes one of the small carts and gets everything for a salad as well as onions and a 10lb bag of potatoes. She never once sees the guys inch towards the produce, She turns the corner and they are all there ogling the meat they don't even notice her slip by them. She grabs some cheap spices salt, pepper, garlic powder, celery seed and few more. She goes down the next row and grabs some rice. She finally grabs some chips and a pack of cookies. She is all done at the 15 minute mark curiosity gets the best of her. None of the guys have a cart and carrying a large amount of beer and meat in their hands, and Jack has cake teetering on the edge of his forearm. Sam smiles but sighs and grabs the food that looks like it should last them a month and not 4 days. She goes and grabs some milk and a loaf of bread before they head to the front of the store.
They go to check out and Jack doesn't bat an eye when the cart is pushing $200.
Jack is excited to be at his home away from home, and is pointing out every little thing. He even points to a tree that tells him he is precisely 2.5 miles from the cabin. The Tree bends over the road oddly and Jack's excitement is contagious.
They pull into the cabin that Jack has told SG-1 so much about. Daniel had been up here with him before and Teal'c had too this was Sam's first time and she had painted it differently in her head. When they get in Jack is pushing meat and vegetables into the fridge giving Sam a look for purchasing them.
The day was cold, and the pond outside was frozen. Jack tested it, it wasn't frozen enough to ice skate and he sighed, but was happy to ice fish. Sam looked at him like he was crazy but he and Teal'c sat on the dock, a hole in the ice and to fishing poles down in the water.
Daniel and Sam stayed inside. Sam insisting she much rather clean and gut the fish than actually catching it. Jack said she would be sorry.
"So, Daniel, what do you suppose we make for lunch?" Sam asked.
"We?" Daniel asked.
"Yes, we, I have a feeling the Colonel will be out there until the frostbite starts trying to catch a fish to eat. The three of you wiped out the entire meat dept of the store." Sam claimed.
Daniel acted hurt but when Sam opened the fridge to show 3 of the 4 shelves filled with meat, he sighed.
"We're never going to eat all that." Daniel claimed.
"Best get started now." Sam stated.
Sam goes for the pork chops in the fridge, knowing they would bake up nice. She grabbed a mix of apples 2 being green. She chops them up placing them on top of the chops and adding an array of spices she bought and few found in Jack's cupboard. She asked Daniel to help her cut up some vegetables, and she decides to make mashed potatoes. Sam and Daniel take turns mashing the potatoes and keep them on the lowest fire to keep warm. It's a late lunch and every meal would be like this based on everything they bought. Sam and Daniel played cards while the pork cooked. When it was finished, Sam pulled it out, feeling like an old mother hen. She rolled her eyes when she popped her head out to see both Jack and Teal'c shivering from the cold.
"Lunch is ready." Sam claims.
Jack looks at her like it's the most ridiculous thing she has ever said.
"We haven't caught it yet." Jack replies.
"Come in, it's ready." Sam repeats. Teal'c abandons Jack quickly, and he huffs before coming inside.
There is a fire place on the side but Jack had a small furnace put in not wanting to rely on the fireplace to keep it warm especially after Charlie was born. So the 70-degree temperature hits him hard. The farm style table sits the four more than comfortably and Jack is impressed by the late lunch.
It's Teal'c who asked what the plan was for the rest of the 3 days. Jack smiled.
"That's the joys of this cabin. There are never any plans we can do what we want when we want." Jack stated.
Sam rolled her eyes but was happy Jack was this carefree.
Jack brings up Deb, which perks Daniel's ears.
"So Deb seems to be working out nicely." Jack claims.
Daniel looks at him, wondering about his comment.
"Maybe next time you could bring her along?" Jack claims.
"What do you mean?" Daniel asks, giving Jack a look.
"I mean you haven't, you aren't?" as he waggles his eyebrows.
"JACK!" Sam yells.
Then they all turn to her, shocked she had called him by his name, but then he replies.
"I mean, was I wrong about Valentine's day? You took her home." Jack claimed.
"That is different, and you know it. Deb and I are close friends, nothing more." Daniel claims.
"What's wrong with her?" Jack asks.
"Nothing, she's just, I don't, it's just not like that." Daniel claims.
"Whatever you say, Danny, what every you say." Jack claims.
The group plays cards and Jack mentions there is a TV and VCR with some video's and has Teal'c pick something out.
There is a fairly large stack to chose from, and Top Gun has a plane on the cover. Teal'c hadn't heard of the title. And Jack smiles.
"Good choice, T." he claims.
Teal'c sits on a chair, and Daniel, Sam, and Jack are on the sofa. This is similar to team night, and they all get comfortable. Daniel is leaning on the arm of the couch, even though he has been known to lean up against Sam. Sam was leaning more towards Jack. Although the movie was playing the worry lines that smoothed over Jack's face were more entertaining to Sam, so much so, Jack whispered asking if he had something on his face. Sam blushed a dark red, and hid her face but Jack pulled her closer allowing Sam to lean into his side as the movie played.
It was barely time to make dinner when the movie ended. Jack had gone back outside; the snow on the ground was just enough. He had asked the rest of them to bundle up and grabbed 2 saucer sleds in the little storage shed. Sam smiled, but both Teal'c and Daniel look slightly concerned.
"Are you sure Jack, I mean I really don't want explain a broken bone to the General was because I was at your cabin, sledding." Daniel claims.
"Oh please Danny we do worse on a daily basis just come have fun this hill is perfect." Jack stated. Jack climbed up the hill. It was quite steep. Jack was going on how this was probably the last snow fall of the year, and he wasn't wasting it. He plopped down on the sled and turned in circles before landing about 3 feet from the cabin.
"See nothing to it." Jack claimed.
Daniel rolled his eyes, and the 4 of them went up the hill. Sam was doing math calculations in her head and pointed out where the best place on the hill would be to gain speed and still safely stop before hitting the cabin. Sam was right about everything like she always, which made Jack glow with pride for her. He never questioned her genius he didn't know it would come in handy today though.
Daniel enjoyed himself more than he thought he would stoping the count of the short runs down the hill he had made. Teal'c was also enjoying it but claiming it wasn't as fun as tubing a few months back. Jack huffed at his friend but didn't say anything else.
It was getting dark when they finally stopped and it wasn't until they made it in they realized how soaking wet they were. Jack has them pull off their layers, hanging the clothes to dry by the fireplace. There was mini washer and dryer but it would barely do 1 coat at a time let alone all four. Sam stepped into the guest bedroom and removed the other layers, wanting to shower but knowing there was only 2 bathrooms in the cabin, one in the master bedroom and one in off the kitchen. Her body was a pinkish red hue. Her skin stung with the sudden heat of the room. She presses her fingers against her skin to turn white. Sam was given a towel and she closes her eyes and just decides to go for it. She wraps the towel around her body it's bigger than the government issues ones and it wraps around easily. She sticks her head out, and no on is in the main room, the bathroom door is locked and Sam can hear someone in the shower, and she sighs. She knocks on the door.
"I'm kind of cold out here." Sam claims.
Daniel is the bathroom
"Sorry, Sam, I'll be just a minute… five minutes pass, and the water is still running. Sam has a knot in her towel and leans up against the wall wondering were Teal'c and Jack are. Teal'c comes out of Jack's room.
"Colonel O'Neill is currently in the shower Samantha." Sam looked at Teal'c and bit her lip.
"I think Jack will be out before Daniel." Sam grouched.
"I believe you are correct." Teal'c claimed. Sam sighed and walked to the main bedroom. She had glanced in when they first got here but didn't step in. It was pure Jack O'Neill more so than his home in the Springs. She didn't snoop, just eyed the things in the room. Pictures of Charlie, and Sarah, pictures of his grandparents. A few pictures of black ops buddies and, surprisingly, a picture of the four of them.
Sam heard the bathroom door open, and Jack came out in just a towel.
"Well hello their Carter!" Jack said surprised.
Sam blushed, thinking how it must have looked her only in a towel sitting on his bed.
"Sorry, Daniel is hogging the main bathroom." Sam claimed.
Jack smiled "of course he is." Jack grumbled.
"Well in you go, there should be enough hot water left, if Space Monkey doesn't use it all." Jack smiled. Sam couldn't help but glance at the man for longer than intended.
Jack cleared his throat.
"Thanks, sir." Sam stated.
"Up here its Jack, Sam." Jack claimed.
Sam didn't trust her voice and simply nodded. She walked by him, he didn't move and he was grounded to the spot and her arm brushed his she was freezing cold.
"Sam, are you okay?" Jack asked.
She looks back at him confused.
"You're freezing." Jack stated.
"Just a little chill." Sam claimed.
When Sam got into the water it was tepid, it wasn't warming her as she had hoped but it got the snow and dirt off her and she only stayed in for about two minutes. She wrapped the towel around her and walked out. Jack hadn't quite finished dressing. He was pulling a shirt over his head when she walked out.
"Sam, there is no way that warmed you up." Jack claimed.
"The water was barely warm." Sam claimed.
Jack reached out and felt her arm still as ice cold as he felt the first time.
"Let me warm you up." Jack claimed. He peaked his head out, Daniel had stopped the shower, but he was still in the bathroom. Teal'c was reading something on the couch. He quietly closed his bedroom door.
He put both hands on her arms.
"Jesus, are you sure your not in hypothermia or something?" Jack asked.
Sam smiled. "I'm fine."
"Did you bring sweats?" Jack asks.
Sam shakes her head no.
"I have sweaters and flannel pants but no sweats." Sam claimed.
Jack pulls on a drawer and pulls out gray sweat pants and a navy sweater. She is about to take them to her room, but Jack tells her to change in his and walks out. She has no underwear, and she knows that the soft, warm clothing will feel warm against her skin, so she slips it on without hesitation; she ventures to the top drawer and finds socks and slips them on as well. The sweat shirt is big and thick enough it covers the fact she isn't wearing a bra and the pants were from another time when Jack was a bit smaller they were a little big but the tie held them in place and she wasnt concerned about them slipping off.
She walked out of Jack's room to find Jack Daniel and Teal'c in the kitchen.
"You stay warm by the fire, Carter, we got this." Jack claims.
Sam smiles, holding up her hands, and walks to the fireplace. She thought about getting a book but the orange red and blue plasma has her intrigued in a trance making her think about the last 8 months and the funny idea that brought them so much closer.
The next thing she knew, Daniel put his hand on her shoulder and told her dinner was ready. She looked back at the table and sure enough, there was another feast. It was steak, salad and bread. She smiled at the warm meal and sat at the table as they discussed what the next day would bring.
Jack had said the forecast looked decent for the weekend. He had planned thought they go hiking in the morning, come back in time for lunch, have some shooting practice in the afternoon. When Daniel looked at him funny.
"Bows and arrows, Danny!" Jack claimed.
Sam smiled and nodded her head.
It was quickly approaching 8pm and Jack had Teal'c pick another movie. He had been shuffling through them and picked out "A Little Mermaid." Jack had forgotten about the kids movies.
"I see you have Disney movies here. I have been following Disney films and have yet to see the animation." Teal'c claimed. Jack shrugs his shoulders.
"Sure, T why not?" Jack claimed.
Sam smiled; she had watched it with Cassie a few years back; Cassie was in love with everything Disney when she first came to Earth and insisted on watching every animation, Sam and Janet took turns watching the films with her, but Sam really did enjoy this one.
"Mermaids are a myth on Earth, are they not?" Teal'c asks.
"Yeah, just something made up, some scientist think they could have actually been manatees," Sam claims.
Teal'c watches the movie without many more questions.
When it's finally over, Teal'c claimed, "I can see why this appealing to young children on this planet."
Sam smiled, and Daniel looked bored.
"Yeah, T…" It was approaching 10pm and it had been a long day. Jack pulls out the couch in the living room turning it into a queen size bed. Teal'c sets candles up in the far corner of the room and brings out a sitting pillow.
Daniel tells Sam he's fine with the couch and she can take the spare room. She nods her thanks and goes to the bedroom, wondering if she would get too hot in the outfit but not wanting to take it off.
She gets under the flannel sheets and falls try to fall asleep, but she can still feel Jack's hands on her shoulders. Then, she hears it, rain; Jack had said it was supposed to rain tonight but clear up by morning, the rain was coming down harder than she expected, and she always had a hard time falling asleep, but the rain always made it worse. Sam turned over in the small bed, trying to sleep, but suddenly, she felt something wet and cold on her cheek. She gasps and then realizes the roof must have a leak. A slow but steady drip of water comes from above.
Mmm, she grumbled; she stood up and turned on the lights looking up at the water. She looks around for something to catch it, and there is a 5-gallon trash can in the corner. The hard thuds of water hitting the plastic sound loud enough to wake up the cabin, so she puts her towel from earlier in the trash can to dampen the noise. There wasn't much to do about it now, but Jack needed to know; she looked at the clock in the bedroom. It was almost midnight, and she couldn't believe she had spent 2 hours tossing and turning before drips woke her up. The 2nd bedroom was too small. There was no way to move the bed out of the way of the leak.
She sighed once again and stepped into the main room, trying not to wake Daniel or distract Teal'c. She gets to Jack's door and barely knocks before entering.
"Sir?" She questions.
"Carter?" Jack asks and sits up, he's not wearing a shirt and her heart beats even quicker.
"Sir, it's raining, and you appear to have a leak in the spare room, right over the bed." Sam claims.
"Shit, all this freeze thaw makes it a bitch to keep up with the roof," Jack says scrubbing his face.
"I'll just scoot Daniel over…" Sam claims.
"Nah, we all know he rolls around in his sleep; you won't get any, just stay here." Jack claimed.
"Here?" Sam asks.
"Here," Jack claimed.
Sam once again doubts her voice but walks over to the opposite side of the bed. This feels entirely new and strange, but she can't deny the excitement she has lying next to him. They don't touch, and Sam knew he wouldn't but it felt like a let down being so close without his arm touching or hand across her or just pressed up to one another.
She gets comfortable but her breathing is still too fast and Jack call's her out.
"Sleep, Carter." He claims.
"Yes, sir," Sam stated.
She closes her eyes and feels his warmth on her side; she falls asleep, still hearing the rain on the roof top.
Then the next morning comes Sam is wedged under Jack even with the sweats, she is cold, She tries to pull her body away without waking him, but it's impossible.
"Sam?" Jack asks.
"Sorry." Sam claims.
"Don't." He stated he looked over the clock 4:04am.
He turns over and puts his arm around her middle.
Sam stops breathing, and her body goes rigid,
"Sorry if this isn't okay." Jack claims and starts to pull back.
Sam grabs his hand and keeps it there.
He shuffles a little and fell right back asleep and Sam sighed in contentment and fell back asleep as well.
Sam woke up again; Jack had turned over some time ago. It was 6:45am, and Sam felt it was time to get up. She rolled out of the bed without waking Jack, and went to the kitchen. Teal'c had been reading once again, and did not say anything about Sam coming out of Jack's room instead of her own. She found some Bacon and cooked the whole package, and scrambled some eggs.
Jack came out of the bedroom, his nose sniffing the air and looking at Daniel, who was still wrapped up in blankets at 7:30am. He'd almost always be the last to wake when there wasn't anything of importance going on. Teal'c woke Daniel up, and the group filled up on Breakfast.
Jack was right. The heat was already soaking through, without a cloud in the sky. Sam wore a sweater and a t shirt; they all dressed in multiple layers and trekked a well-known path Jack had shown along the ridge. The hike was beautiful, and the Cabin can be seen as a tiny spec. Jack claims they can get back in time to have a typical lunch, but Sam has reservations about his timing. It's already 12:30 and took 4 hours to hike up. Then instead of turning around, Jack goes almost face first down the side of the hill, and Sam looks at him like he's crazy. It even's out a few 100 yards, Jack claims. Sam trusts the man and exactly an hour later they are back into the kitchen of Jack's cabin.
Jack goes to the shed to get some sheets of roofing and the ladder after they get back.
"It shouldn't take long," Jack claims.
"We'll have lunch ready for you," Sam claims. Jack nods his head and asks Daniel to help him.
Daniel's not opposed and Sam and Teal'c go into the kitchen to fix lunch.
Sam rolls her eyes at her options. They had gotten 2 racks of ribs, that cooked right would take the rest of the day. She hopes one of them had picked up dry rub or barbecue sauce, but they hadn't. Sam roots around the cupboard to find vinegar and variety of spices. There is ketchup in the fridge with a good date and some mustard as well. She gets to work making a sauce and setting it in the fridge. She sets the racks of ribs in the oven, and then hopes there is something quicker to make for lunch.
She finds that the guys did buy thin cut steak for sandwiches which Teal'c insists on cooking, so she doesn't deny him. He puts spices on the meat and cuts up and onion and tomato.
When the meat is done, Jack and Daniel still aren't off the roof, and Sam goes to see what the trouble is.
When Sam makes it to the top she can tell that Jack is utterly confused because the roof looks fine and he can't figure out where the leak is coming from, but with the slant of the roof and the approximate area in the house she quickly sees a few shingles that had slid. She points them out, and Jack isn't sure if something on the other side of the roof could cause a leak where she is looking, but he pulls the old ones and nails the new ones into place.
Lunch is served and afterwords the group is shooting bows and arrows. Daniel actually has the most experience, followed by Teal'c, Sam and Jack actually had the least, but none of them were wonderful. A few bullseye were hit by everyone but a lot of arrows hitting the hillside also happened. The group was simply relaxed and having fun laughing and carrying on.
The following two days breeze by, and Jack is cleared for takeoff at 1800 Sunday night, their stomachs filled with the roast the last of the meats even though they did have to have t-bones for breakfast.
Sam looks at Jack and he grins.
Jack had taken the group to the airport; they drop off Teal'c first, then Daniel, leaving Jack and Sam alone in the car.
"How many Disney movies did we end up watching?" Jack asked.
"Only three…" Sam claims.
"Felt like a lot more, next thing you know, Teal'c is gonna ask to go Disney World or something," Jack claims.
Jack expects a laugh or a serious "I don't see that happening." but words never come out of Sam's mouth.
Jack looks at Sam, and she has a deer in headlights look.
"He didn't?" Jack questioned.
"So I was going to bring this up later, but the last week in September, we as a team have a week off," Sam claims.
"Okay, and why is that exactly?" Jack asks.
"Just for another monthly trip, we've all been enjoying," Sam claims.
"Sam, what are you not telling me?" Jack asks.
Sam looks at him.
"You, we're, no, oh no!" Jack claims.
"We'll have fun. It will be a good time," Sam claims.
"And when exactly were your telling me?" Jack asks.
"After we landed in Orlando." Sam claims.
"Damn it Carter, come on! Teal'c will he even be able to ride any of the rides?" Jack asks.
"The rides are for adults too," Sam claims.
Jack rolls his eyes as they pull up to her house.
Jack looks at her.
Sam stays silent until the get to her house.
"Carter, if the other night was inappropriate…." Jack trailed off.
"Don't," Sam claimed.
Jack looked at her again but didn't say anything else; she grabbed her bag from the back of the truck without saying another word.