Disclaimers and stuff in Chapter 1.

~~~o0o~~~

"If I'm gonna do something that results in me being asked to leave a place - I *much* preferred the wild monkey sex idea...."

Carter's words kept spinning round in his head. He couldn't believe she'd said that! Well...actually he could. She didn't let it out very often, but she had a *wicked* sense of humour, and he lov- no, liked, *liked* it - a lot - when she did. He just...wasn't expecting it, that's all. Yeah, that was it. He just hadn't been expecting it.

Unfortunately for Jack's mental attempts to convince himself that that was all it was, it didn't explain the shit-eating grin he was currently wearing.

Sam sighed. They hadn't really spoken much once getting in his truck. He'd been too busy grinning his ass off and she...well to be honest, she hadn't been sure exactly what to say.

What *did* you say when you'd given your CO what amounted to a pretty blatant come on? One which made him fall over in shock and - more importantly - which he not only hadn't reprimanded you for, but hadn't turned down either?

'Eeep!' came to mind, but somehow she didn't think that would go down too well. So she'd sat there, arms folded, trying to be aloof, only speaking to give directions when necessary and resolutely ignoring the grin which threatened to split his face in two.

That was twenty minutes ago and he was *still* grinning. Frankly it was beginning to get right on her ti- uh nerves. She meant nerves. With the mood that seemed to be pervading the atmosphere tonight, the less she thought about things being on *those* certain parts of her anatomy, the better.

She really had had it with the grin though. She turned to him. He was staring straight ahead, concentrating the road. The grin was still in place.

"You do realise you've been grinning since the moment you got into the car don't you, sir? Turn right up here please."

His grin grew wider if that was at all possible. "I know."

He turned down the road she'd indicated.

"It wasn't *that* funny, sir. Next left."

He turned left.

"I know."

"So what's so funny?"

There was a brief pause. Then:

"You."

"Me?"

"Yes, you."

"What *about* me?"

"I'd forgotten how much fun you were to be with, when you...cut loose. So to speak."

Silence for a moment.

'Wait for it...' Jack thought.

Then....

"You think I'm fun to be with, sir?"

" Why, sure ya're, Carter." Jack decided to go one step further.

"You're witty, intelligent and you may not show it too often, but you've got a kick ass sense of humour. Where now?"

'Not to mention sexy as hell...' but it would be a cold day in hell before he admitted *that* out loud, unless their circumstances changed dramatically. Which he couldn't see happening at any time soon. She'd probably only punch his lights out for saying it anyway. Or laugh at him. He wasn't sure which would be worse.

The first would be because she was angry, the second because she thought he was pathetic. Hmm, all things considered, he'd prefer the first. Definitely. Just because he *knew* he wouldn't stand a chance with someone like her - even if the regs weren't an issue - didn't mean he wanted to be reminded of it. Even if it wouldn't have stopped him asking. Didn't know if you didn't try, right? And rejection was better than not knowing. At least then you had an *answer*, even if it did include a black eye.

Jack forced the thoughts away - down that route lay madness. What was he *thinking*?! Obviously he wasn't - she was his 2IC for cryin' out loud! What would she say if she knew he was thinking of her in that way? She'd kick his ass for certain, that's what.

'She's your friend' he told himself firmly. 'That's *it* and nothing more. Ever. She's just responding to your flirting - that's all.'

"Umm...oh! Just up here on the right, sir." He heard her say distractedly.

He cast a glance over at her and couldn't help grinning again. She was blushing....

'Heh. He'd made Carter blush!'

He turned the truck in where she indicated and pulled to a stop. He switched off the engine and looked at her.

"So, if I'm all that..." she said, arching an eyebrow. "How come you forgot?"

'Oh *good one*, Carter!'

"Touché Carter, touché."

They exchanged a smile and popping the seat belts, climbed out of the truck. For the first time, Jack took a good look around at where they were. He raised an eyebrow of his own.

"Jo's Jello Emporium?"

Carter blushed again and ducked her head. "Uh yeah, Cassie found it."

"Sweet! Carter, I *like* it!"

'Mmm, Jell-O...'

Heh, he hadn't even known this was here.

"So...guess we should go in, huh?"

She smiled. "Yes sir!"

They stepped into the outer foyer and found a counter with the obligatory bored-looking, spotty youth on reception duty sat behind it. The sign above the counter said 'Greeting Clerk'. There was a set of solid double doors in front of them and they could hear shrieks and yells coming from the other side.

Jack raised an eyebrow at her.

"Sounds a bit boisterous."

"Special event tonight." The 'Greetings Clerk' said.

"Open to everyone, $3 entrance fee and all the Jell-O you can eat."

Sam and Jack looked at each other.

"Sounds good I guess..." Jack ventured.

Sam started to reach into her jacket for her purse. Jack grabbed her hand.

"I got it." He said, pulling out his wallet.

She looked at him.

"My treat, remember?"

She sighed and let her hand fall to her side.

Jack pulled out his wallet and handed over ten dollar bill.

"How many of those have you got?" Sam asked jokingly, since he'd already paid up one to her earlier, after losing their bet.

Jack grinned.

"Not been spending much the past few months." He quipped.

"Ah...so you thought you could afford to push the boat out a little?"

"Absolutely." He paused. "Just don't get used to it."

The clerk cleared his throat to get their attention. "Cloakroom for your jackets, is here. Dollar each and you get a ticket for them. That okay?"

Jack shrugged and eased out of his jacket. "Sure."

Sam followed suit and they handed them over. The clerk went into the small room behind the desk to hang them up.

Jack gave her a puzzled glance. "Wonder why they've got a cloakroom for your jackets?"

Sam shrugged. "I've no idea. I've not actually been here before. Cassie just mentioned she'd been here for a party, when we drove past once. And that it was good."

The clerk returned and passed Jack a ticket, along with his $2 dollar change. "Enjoy your evening!"

"Thanks...Sam." Jack said, peering at the lad's name-badge and grinning.

Carter shot him a look. "Don't even say it."

Jack pulled his 'wide-eyed innocent' expression.

"I never said a word..."

"I could hear you thinking it."

~~~o0o~~~