Jack felt Sam's proximity like it was burning a hole in his side. As soon as she'd kissed him he felt as though every sense in his body had woken up, he'd never had that level of physical reaction to someone before - it was intoxicating, she was intoxicating.

He had instantly regretted pulling away from her, breaking the spell and knowingly damaging the confidence that it would have taken her to make such a bold move. He glanced at her as she sat next to him on the sofa, she was gazing at the embers of the fire but he knew her mind was racing through a thousand things a minute trying to piece together her current reality.

He was pleased that she'd stayed and not bolted into the night, he guessed the whiskey had some part to play in that. Sam would never risk drinking and riding or driving given the fate that had befallen her mother, but there was always the option of a cab. She had stayed so he had the chance to make things right.

'Sir' she said quietly then turned herself so she was facing him. 'I just wanted to say that i'm sorry, i acted really poorly towards you at the base, and again at my house, then here...' she gestured around her.

Jack reached out and brushed a stray hair behind her ear, his hand hovering for a moment feeling through the blonde silk. He dropped his hand to her shoulder and squeezed gently 'You have nothing to apologise for, we all go through shit Carter and you've had it rough, just remember that i'll always be here for you, so will Danny and T'

'I don't want you to die for me, Jack' The words finally left her lips, his given name and the root of her distress - the walls that she had so carefully built around herself after Martouf's death were slowly falling down.

'That was my choice to make' He replied gently, keeping his eyes fixed on her.

'You should have left me' She pressed. It wasn't just the zatarg thing, she was talking about the fateful atanik arm band mission on Apophis's ship too.

'That was never going to happen' He reached out and pulled her hand into his. The warmth and his long fingers entwined with hers heated her body.

'I couldn't stand watching you die, or living without you knowing that we never got the chance to...' her words trailed off and she blinked back tears

Jack didn't dare speak in that moment, she was teetering on the very edge, he willed her to say the words.

'... the chance to be together...even just for one night' She breathed out, ducking her head and closing her eyes as though she didn't dare look at his face for fear of seeing the wrong reaction.

Jack's heart skipped a beat or three, hammering in his chest at her revelation. He knew that he loved Sam, he'd known for a while, their bond growing day by day, mission after mission and through all the hurt and sacrifice.

Sam braved a look up at him, his expression was identical to the one she had seen through the force shield on Apophis's ship. Raw, unfiltered emotion. No, it wasn't Colonel O'Neill looking back at her, it was just Jack. 'Let me have one night with you Jack'