Notes: Thanks for all who have reviewed. Special thanks to the female apophis and Cathain Nottingham for your ideas!! You are all great!!!

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chapter 4

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Jack called the local pizza delivery shop and they confirmed that his order would arrive around 7:15.

*Good,* he thought *that will give Carter enough time to get here and settle in..*

It was currently fifteen minutes before Sam was supposed to arrive, and Jack wanted to add a few more needless decorations to brighten the place up. He went in to his room and opened the closet door in search of the candles that he kept on the shelf above his clothes. Retrieving the box that contained them, he went out to the living room and began to set a few up. He put two on the coffee table, two on the mantle above the fireplace and two on the dining room table. Then he put the box away. Once he had successfully lit all of them, he stood in the middle of the room to admire his work.

There was a knock at the door and he looked at his watch. *Right on time,* he smiled. Looking in the mirror that hung on the wall near the door, he approved of the face that stared back at him. He took in a deep breath, exhaled through his nose and opened the door.

There she stood. The woman that had been consuming his thoughts both day and night. For a moment, he forgot why she was there, but he quickly recovered and invited her in.

He stared at her as she walked in and looked around. She was simply dressed in khakis and a light blue, short-sleeved blouse, but in his opinion, she had never looked more stunning.

"Your place looks nice tonight, sir." Sam commented after looking around.

"Thanks." He recomposed himself and finished closing the door.

"Would you like something to drink?" he asked gesturing to the kitchen.

"Water, please, sir." She went to take a seat on the couch as he brought her a glass of the clear liquid and a beer for himself. He sat down at the opposite end of the couch from her.

"So, what's for dinner, sir?" She asked.

"I ordered pizza. I hope you don't mind. You know I can't cook." He grinned, reminding her of their conversations in Antarctica.

"So you told me." Sam smiled.

"How are you planning to spend the next few days, sir?"

"Oh, I don't know." He took a swig of beer, contemplating the question, "I might go up to Minnesota, but I doubt I'll have enough time. I usually need at least a week for that. You?"

"I'm going to stay home, spend some time with Cassie. If I get bored, I'll just go back to work. I'm sure the SG teams will bring something back for me.. or I can simulate." She grinned, knowing that would get a good reaction from her commanding officer.

Jack raised his eyebrow, "Carter? Downtime." He stated, "it means leave, depart, stay away, do not work."

She smiled, "yes, sir. Thanks for the definition."

"Anytime, Carter."

The doorbell rang and Jack stood up, setting his beer on the table in front of him.

Sam watched him get up. *Not that I mind his form in the BDUs, but I like seeing him in his relaxed state; blue jeans and a casual gray dress shirt. He is extremely handsome. Top that off with that gleam that has been in his eyes recently and he's the finest there is. I don't care if he's my CO.* She smiled at her thoughts and reminded herself that the reson she was here was to find out the reason behind the gleam.

Jack returned to summon her toward the dining room where they ate and chatted amiably. When they had both had their fill they returned to the living room.

"So, Carter, what would you like to do?"

"I don't know, sir. We could play a game." She inwardly grimaced at the way that came out. But Jack appeared not to notice.

"Sure, what?"

"What do you have?"

Jack opened the hall closet and looked.

"How about Scrabble?"

"Sounds fun."

They set the game up and began forming words with the tiles before them. Jack went first.

'PAPERS'

"Good one, sir," Sam smirked, "have they been on your mind recently?"

He teasingly glared at her.

*i could make this interesting,* she thought. *He hasn't answered my question yet like he said he was going to.*

'LOOPING'

Jack didn't say anything.

'THINK'

"Something you do too much, but are very good at."

"Thanks, sir. Does this mean I have to figure it out? You could just tell me."

"Ah, but where would be the fun in that? Besides, this could get interesting." He grinned.

"Okay, sir. Does it have to do with this?"

'ROOM'

"Well, it's definitely one of these."

'SECRETS'

"I know that, sir. That's why I want you to tell me what happened." She pried.

"No. I'll show you, but you have to guess closer."

*He'll show me but not tell me..*

"Does it have to do with these?"

'REGS'

"I know, no abbreviations.."

"Since when have we played by the rules?" Jack agreeably replied.

He responded to her word by playing another.

'BREAK'

He looked her in the eyes. *I don't know how much longer I will be able to keep this up. The way the candlelight is dancing across her delicate features-*

'KISS'

She looked up at him. Almost pleading for that to be the answer.

"I told you, Carter, I'm not going to tell you." He continued to gaze intently at her.

"Yes, sir." She almost looked disappointed, but it was hard for him to tell.

*I was hoping..well..I've dreamt about that happening. Did I go too far asking him? It wasn't like I asked him to kiss me. I just asked if he did. Wait..why's is he coming closer to me? Why--*

"But I'll show you," he whispered as he pulled her in to a standing position and closed the distance between them.

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Notes: Wow.. so this has been hard, yet fun, to write. I have the next chapter mostly done.. but I'm not going to get it out until I get reviews from all of you wonderful people!! Come on, you know you want more.. At least.. I hope you do.. I really like the next part if I do say so myself!! And I can think of at least one other person that will enjoy it *cough*femaleapophis*cough* :) ~~Lots of love!!~~

BTW.. if any of you have writing suggestions.. I noticed I used "grinned" a lot, imo.. I'm terrible with elaborations.. your suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

And.. I actually did figure out the Scrabble thing.. it does work.. I played yesterday and that's how I got the idea. I can't really see the two of them ever playing together though.. maybe Sam and Daniel, but not Jack.. anyway. I hope you liked it!!