Christmas Eve at Jacks House
Sam curled into the corner of Jack's couch with her cup of coffee warming her hands.
As she was admiring the view of the small tabletop fiber optic tree that Jack had put up he came in and sat down next to her.
"Penny for your thoughts," he asked.
She stretched and gave a thoughtful sigh.
"Just that this is really nice Jack."
"Yeah… yeah it is. The company is especially nice."
Sam grinned, "and the food too."
"Surprised?"
"Well, I had suspected you could cook, but I've never had deep fried turkey before."
"Really?"
"Really. It was very good."
"Especially those little crunchy bits."
"Especially."
"Sam?" Jack asked.
"Yes."
"Do you realize that almost everything you're saying to me is a repetition of what I've just said to you… and that you're starting to speak in one syllable words?"
A small giggle rose up from her throat and a smile spread across her face once again.
"And that you're smiling a lot for no reason?"
"Oh, there's a reason. I'm just feeling really content spending a quiet evening in," she glanced up, "with you."
Jack swallowed and then smiled in return.
"Oh Sam," he replied; his hand reaching out to brush a stray strand of hair from her face.
She just nuzzled her head further into his hand and sighed once again.
She then looked up at him with clouded eyes and said the one thing that he was not expecting. "Oh, I almost forgot."
"Huh."
"Presents," she stated as a mater of fact, as she got up from the couch and began to rummage through her bag.
She then presented him with a flat square wrapped package.
Jack just sat there grinning like a kid at Christmas.
How appropriate. Sam thought.
"Well, are you going to open it?"
"Yeah, just let me go get yours."
"Okay."
She sat for a moment as Jack went into the other room and then returned with a neatly wrapped package.
"All right, you first," said Sam.
Jack needed no encouragement. He tore into the wrapping paper just like a kid at Christmas. Once all the shreds of paper fell away they revealed a book of pictures from the Hubble telescope. He briefly flipped through the pages.
"Oh Sam, it's beautiful. You know, I've been eying this book for a while."
"I kind of guessed that. I'm glad you like it."
Jack gave her a big hug then pushed the other package into her hands.
"Ok, your turn."
Sam began meticulously undoing each piece of tape knowing that the slower she unwrapped her present the more the suspense would drive Jack nuts.
"Ok Carter, for crying out loud, just unwrap it like a normal person. I had it gift wrapped at the store and you know how those people are with tape. It'll take forever."
She gave him an odd look while trying to repress a grin, then they both gave into a fit of laughter.
Once they settled down she ripped into the paper and removed it to find a green box simply labeled 'Steinbach'.
Her voice dropped low as she uttered, "Oh Jack, you shouldn't have."
"I wanted to so I did. Now open it."
Gently she slid her finger under the opening of the box to lift the lid, then removed the styrofoam incased figure. Her hands were trembling.
"Go on Sam," Jack coaxed.
She continued to unwrap the German Nutcracker and admired its unique craftsmanship.
"Oh Jack, its… its…" Her eyes began to tear. "I've never owned a real Steinbach before."
She gently set the nutcracker down on the coffee table and moved in closer to Jack.
"Thank you so much Jack, for everything."
And then she leaned in, wrapped her arms around his neck and found his lips with her own.
He returned the hug and gentle caresses, and of course the kiss.
When they broke the kiss to take time to breathe Jack leaned back and smiled, looking directly into Sam's still watering eyes and uttered, "Merry Christmas Sam".
THE END