Jack sat fiddling with the menu in the small Italian restaurant. He'd hoped that the homey atmosphere of the place would make things easier, but he was still nervous.
He chastised himself for his nervousness. Its just Carter. She's your 2IC for crying out loud!
That was exactly the problem though. She was his 2IC and he knew, that in all honesty, he had asked her here for more than just a friendly night out. He also knew that if he had been completely truthful about his intentions she probably would not have agreed to come.
After another grumpy scowl the waiter retreated once again and Jack turned back to watching the door just in time to see Carter walk in. Suddenly he was flooded with relief and the butterflies started kicking up another storm in his stomach.
Just as Sam was about to speak to the hostess he stood and caught her eye with a slight wave of his hand. She smiled and began to walk toward him. He returned the smile with a genuine one of his own.
"Sorry I'm late Sir. Traffic was hell."
He half chuckled and held out her chair for her.
"First things first Carter, cut the Sir. We're not at work right now."
"Okay….Jack," she said with a mischievous glimmer in her eye as she slid into her seat.
At that Jack's heart began to thud just a bit harder.
"But on one condition," she added as Jack sat back down.
He looked at her expectantly waiting for the said condition.
"You cut the Carter thing too."
"Fine with me, Samantha."
"Uh, just Sam is fine."
Silence ruled the next few moments as the waiter filled their water glasses and they both skimmed the menus.
The waiter then cleared his throat in hopes of catching their attention. Even he could feel the tension in the air.
They both looked up and he inquired whether or not they would like to try the house wine or choose something from the wine list.
Jack briefly flicked his eyes to the list.
"How about the merlot?"
He looked at Sam, then the waiter and back again.
Sam nodded and the waiter retreated to fetch the wine.
"So," Sam started, "This seems like a nice little place. How did you find it?"
"Um, actually Teal'c mentioned it to me a while back. Apparently he and Daniel have come out here a few times and Teal'c just raves about the food."
Sam smiled in amusement.
The waiter then returned with the wine.
After it was poured, swirled, sipped and savored they both agreed it was a good year.
They put their dinner orders in and then returned to their relative silence.
After a while neither one could take it any longer and they both began to speak at the same time.
"So Jack…"
"Uh, Sam…"
Both grinned a bit bashfully then Jack began again.
"Is it ok if I go first?"
"Sure."
"Ok, I really am sorry for the way I acted earlier, but that's not the whole reason I asked you here tonight."
"Really?" Sam decided she'd let him struggle through this on his own for the moment. Jack talking openly like that was a rarity and she was not going to let it go to waste.
"Yeah. The other half is kind of…. selfish…um… personal maybe," he said almost guiltily.
Sam sipped her wine and encouraged him. "Go on." She was surprised at his decision to take that route.
"I… well… you know this thing between us. I just can't leave it in the room anymore Sam. I don't know what to do, but I…"
Frustration was becoming very apparent on Jacks facial expressions and in is mannerisms. He looked as if he was going to break apart if he went any further.
By then Sam had put her glass down and was ringing her napkin between her hands.
"I… I don't know what to say Jack. I certainly wasn't expecting this."
Jack's face fell. He just knew her next words were going to cut him down. It had been too long. Maybe she had already moved beyond that part of her life.
Her next action caught him by surprise.
He felt her hand rest atop his own and he looked up, straight into her wide blue eyes. She looked nervous too.
"You're right Jack. It has stayed in the room too long."
Jack released a breath he hadn't even realized he was holding and turned his hand up to give hers a gentle squeeze.
They both sat as if time had stood still just holding hands and gazing into one another's eyes.
Somewhere during that time the waiter returned with their meal and they had to let go.
Dinner was picked at and pushed around their plates in relative silence. Some of it was consumed, the rest ended up being boxed to go.
Neither one was ready to go yet though, so coffee was ordered.
Sam sighed, still staring into the contents of her cup and started, "This isn't going to be easy Jack."
"I know, but I really want to give it a go. That is… if you want to try."
"I do. I want to give this, us, a chance."
Sam returned his gaze with a hint of a smile and their hands returned to each other for just a moment.
"Come on Sam. I think we should call it a night."
Jack stood and threw a few bills on the table. It was more than enough to cover dinner and a tip.
As they were walking out of the restaurant Sam turned to him and asked, "Nice and slow huh?"
"I guess. For now. I just really had to get this out in the open. I don't know where it's gonna take us, or how we're gonna work it out, but…."
They arrived at her car and she put their take out boxes on the roof.
"But what?," She questioned.
"But I need you Sam Carter."
And with that Jack brushed the side of her face with the back of his had and began to slowly lean in for a kiss.
Sam was quick on the pick up and ran both her hands through his hair. What had started out soft and chaste was quickly turning into a smoldering experience.
Jack caressed her tongue with his own once more before he pulled back with a ragged breath.
Sam leaned against the side of her car, but was reluctant to let go of Jack's arms.
She eventually came back down to earth to the sound of her name being called.
"Sam."
She looked up to see Jack's clouded eyes roaming her face with adoration.
He knew if he didn't cut it short soon there would be no going home alone. And as tempting as that was he knew that they had just opened the equivalent to Pandora's box. They needed to give this time.
Sam saw that in his eyes and released her grip in resignation.
"Goodnight Sam," Jack said, his voice still raw with emotion. Then he leaned in and gave her one more chaste kiss on the corner of her pouty mouth.
Pouty. Huh. Now that's a look I never thought I'd see on her.
With that he took his take out box of the top of her car and walked off to his truck.
"Goodnight Sir…. Jack," She said with a sigh when he was out of voice range.
Sam climbed into her car, box forgotten on the roof with thoughts of Jack and what she really needed to do with her shower massage when she got home.