Sam left her bike on the stand and ran up the steps letting herself into the house. Jack walked back to his truck and jumped in the drivers seat, deciding to wait for her. He watched as she reappeared holding a messenger type bag filled with what he assumed was a change of clothes.

Sam pulled on her helmet and climbed back onto her bike, threw the bag over one shoulder so it's strap lay across her body and started the ignition. Jack fired his truck up and pulled away, glancing in his rearview mirror to watch as she pulled out of her driveway and settled in on the road just behind him.

Jack approached the cross roads, Sam had sat comfortably behind him for the last few miles but he knew she might be tempted to open the throttle on the next quarter mile as it opened into a two lane freeway before merging back into a single lane. The traffic lights were red, Jack pulled to a stop and waited for her to come up beside him. She flicked her visor up and glanced over at Jack, her blue eyes shining with adrenaline... she was going to give Jack a show and he knew it.

With one foot resting on the ground and her hands primed on the throttle, she let the engine of the Indian roar beneath her. Pulling her visor back down, the lights changed to green and without a moment's hesitation she let the bike loose on the open road. Jack grinned and let her go. She weaved in and out of the light traffic ahead of them at high speed. Sam was an adrenaline junkie through and through. 'Thank god there aren't any traffic cops on patrol' Jack thought though he suspected she'd been pulled over before and managed to talk her way out of a ticket.

Sam had already arrived and settled her bike in Jack's driveway when he finally caught up to her. He could tell from her posture that the ride had lightened her mood. She pulled her helmet off and shook her hair out quickly raking her fingers through to tame it.

'That's a nice ride you've got there ma'am' Jack drawled in his best Minnesotan accent as he joined her.

Sam smiled 'My pride and joy'

'You gonna let me have a go?' He teased already knowing the answer.

She grinned 'I'll think about it.' Jack's eyebrows shot up in surprise.

He almost commented on her improved mood but decided against it, opting instead to gesture towards his front door. She wandered ahead of him, shifting the weight of her bag from her shoulder.

Sam had always thought of Jack's home as cozy, they'd had many team nights there over the years invariably resulting in her, Daniel and Teal'c crashing out in the various guest rooms.

'Daniel and Teal'c?' Sam asked as she wandered into the house.

'Coming later, they've both been helping the Tok'ra...' Jack trailed off seeing the sudden flash of anguish hit Sam as she recalled Martouf. She squeezed her eyes closed as if trying to push away the visions that he knew were already haunting her.

'Come on' He gently nudged her forward into the den 'Beer?'

'Maybe something stronger?' She replied

He nodded and wandered off into the kitchen. Sam dropped her bag and sat down on the overstuffed armchair that Teal'c usually occupied.

'Here' Jack rejoined her holding two tumblers filled with an amber liquid, spying the bottle tucked under his arm she saw it was Irish whiskey, that will do she thought.

Jack rested the bottle on the floor and pulled a foot stool over, he sat down right in-front of her. They were knee to knee... she gazed at him and took a long sip. It warmed her.

Jack reached out towards her placing a hand on her knee. Sam's heart raced at his touch.

'Sam listen, you've been through hell recently and i'm sorry for how things unfolded today, with Martouf, but it wasn't your fault. You saved all of those people in the gate room. We both know what would have happened if he'd managed to touch that self destruct'

Sam's eyes swam as she tried to focus on him 'I just keep seeing his face... he was in so much pain'

Jack reached out and took the glass away from her hand placing it gently on the side table. He cupped both of her hands in his and looked at her gently. 'You stopped his suffering'

She broke his gaze and dropped her head. 'I know' she acknowledged quietly.

He gently lifted her chin and swept a thumb over her cheek. Her eyes remained thick with tears but they did not fall until she closed her eyes. She leaned into his touch as if it was her lifeboat.

In that moment Sam realised what she needed. She opened her eyes and gazed at Jack for just a moment before leaning forward and planting a soft kiss against his lips.

She knew it surprised him, she could see the tiny frown lines appear on his forehead, his eyes fixed on hers but he didn't pull back.

She closed her eyes and kissed him again, this time placing her free hand behind his head feeling the short hair at the back of his neck. She deepened the connection, letting her tongue softly swipe at his now parted lips. A low moan escaped from him as their kiss became more desperate and wanting.

Suddenly, reality hit Jack and he pulled away. 'Uh, Carter, i uh... ' And with that the spell was broken.