Chapter 11: Briefing
The next morning Sam received a call saying that she and her team had a formal briefing with the base commander. It also said she had to get Major O'Neill; it seemed his phone wasn't working.
Sam got dressed in her blues as fast as she could and hurried to Jack's quarters. She knew he generally left his quarters unlocked in case of an emergency. Sam opened the door, found his closet and grabbed his blues. She put the uniform on a chair nearby. Crossing the small room, Sam started to gently shake Jack to wake him up.
"Jack, wake up, we have a briefing in half an hour," Jack wasn't waking up. Sam decided to try a different strategy. "Major, what the hell are you doing asleep? Your team shipped out an hour ago!" Sam deepened her voice and barked at Jack. It worked. Jack sat straight up on the bed.
"What?" Jack looked around the room and spotted Sam. "Sam what are-"
"Get in the shower Jack; we have a briefing in half an hour. Go!" Sam ordered. "I'll make coffee."
Jack was out of bed and in the shower in less than ten seconds. "Toss the flight suit in wills ya?"
"Right," Sam hung Jack's blues on the door and put the slices of bread she had brought into the toaster. She heard the shower turn off shortly followed by Jack's "Oh for crying out loud!"
"The general specified dress blues. Sorry Jack," Sam called back. "We have fifteen minutes!"
"I hate ties!" Jack exclaimed as he came out of the bathroom.
"I'll tie it when we get there. Eat the toast on the way," Sam handed him a mug of coffee, "Drink." The mug was empty in on gulp.
"Let's go. I have your logs in my briefcase," Sam grabbed the toast and headed for the door.
"Coming, gimme the toast," Jack said as they walked as quickly as possible to the briefing room. Jack had finished his toast by the time they got to there.
"Just let me tie your tie, and we're ready," Sam tied his tie quickly and efficiently before giving it one final tug to straighten it.
"Thanks," without thinking, Jack leaned down and gave Sam a quick kiss on the lips. He turned and headed into the briefing room with a surprised Sam on his heels.
During the briefing, Jack didn't pay much attention to what was being said around him. As soon as he sat down, he realized that he had just kissed Sam. Jack planned on apologizing ho her after the briefing was over.
Sam was listening to the briefing with part of her brain and the other half was going over what had happened. Sam knew she cared about Jack, but she didn't know how deep those feelings ran.
When the briefing ended, Jack and Sam left and headed to their separate quarters. They avoided each other after the briefing. After changing into more comfortable uniforms, Sam headed to her office and Jack decided to go to the hanger to see if there was anything for him to do.
Around lunchtime, Jack left the hanger and headed to Sam's office to see if she wanted to talk over lunch.
The guard outside the building recognized Jack and let him in with out telling him it was a restricted area. The F-15E modifications weren't top secret, but they weren't common knowledge either. Jack went straight to Sam's office and knocked on the door.
"Come on in," Sam called out.
Jack opened the door and stepped in. "Hey Sam, you hungry?"
"Actually, yeah, I am. Why, did you bring sustenance?" Sam smiled at him.
"Nah, but I am offering to take you to get some lunch, if you would like to join me that is," Jack smiled back.
"Uh, sure, I just need to put a few things away," Sam looked around and picked up several books and other things and began to put them away.
"Sam, um, about before, I, uh, I'm sorry for, well, uh, you know," Jack had never been good at saying how he felt.
"Don't worry about tit Jack, its okay," Sam could tell how uneasy Jack was.
"I was out of line Sam; I never should have done that. I was married five years, it was automatic. I shouldn't have, "Jack was rambling so Sam silenced him with a hand over his mouth.
"Jack, it's alright. I don't mind. A warning might have been nice, but oh well. You going to stop rambling or do I have to tape you're mouth shut?" Sam asked. Jack nodded. "Fine." Sam removed her hand.
"What are you saying Sam?" Jack was unsure as to what Sam was implying.
"I'm not sure. Is there anything I should think about saying?" Sam purposefully put the ball in Jack's court.
"I don't know Sam, I can't be the one to make up your mind for you, but," Jack shrugged.
"I think that I'd really like to get to know you better. I'd like to think we have a chance of being more than just friends," Sam told him quietly.
"Me too, but I don't want to rush into anything. I'd rather go slowly," Jack was amazed that Sam felt the same way he did.
"I want to go slow too Jack," Sam was just as surprised as Jack that she wasn't the only one feeling a pull toward the other.
"Okay, well, why don't I take you to lunch as a start?" Jack offered.
"Sounds good. Oh, Dad is leaving at six if you want to take Charlie with you somewhere this afternoon," Sam knew Jack would want to spend time with this son.
"Why don't we see if Jacob and Charlie want to join us at lunch?" Jack suggested.
"Are you sure Jack, Dad and I wouldn't want to intrude on your time with your son," Sam questioned.
"I wouldn't have suggested it if I wasn't sure," Jack promised her. He took Sam's hand and led her out of the office. While they headed toward Jacob's hotel, Sam and Jack decided they would go to a late dinner after they saw Jacob and Charlie off.