Part 6
~~~
Waking up from one of the best night's sleep he'd had in a long time, Jack looked down at the mess of blonde hair on his chest and reminisced about what had brought him to this point. After asking him to stay they both took off their boots and crawled under the covers.
They talked softly about what happened in the cell both on the planet and in Brazil. Sam told him how the nightmares still bothered her and that she didn't totally feel comfortable being alone with any man other than him and the guys. She said there were times when she thought she would never see them or him again.
He told her what it was like for him in Iraq. The beatings, the starvation, the desperation at not knowing what was going to happen next or of he would ever go home. He explained how the nightmares plagued him for years and that he would have the occasional flashback after a hard mission through the gate.
While they had talked about their different experiences with torture they never once broached the subject of them. While she had told that he was wrong about why she invited him over, part of him still felt otherwise. Maybe it was that he was insecure when it came to her or maybe it was because he didn't want to get his hopes up. Feeling Sam stir, he shifted his head on the pillow and looked down and the beauty in his arms
"Hey" she said lifting her head off his chest
"Hey, how'd you sleep?"
"Great. Thanks"
"Anytime" he replied pulling her close
"As nice as this is, I think we should get up before Daniel and Teal'c come looking for us"
"Yeah"
~~~
After getting dressed and eating breakfast the team, along with Nolanti went to the gate and reported in to Hammond. He informed them that a diplomatic team was standing by and awaiting their return in order to be briefed on the situation.
Jack was thankful. He wanted Sam off the planet and as far away from Nolanti as possible. While he trusted Sam, he definitely didn't trust Nolanti when it came to Sam. Especially when they told him they would be leaving and a diplomatic team would return in their place.
"Samantha I am sure we will see each other again"
Jack could see the apprehension in Sam's face so he answered for her "Yes we will. Daniel dial us up"
After the gate engaged they headed up the steps and walked through the open wormhole.
Once medically cleared, showered and changed, the team briefed General Hammond and the diplomatic that was set to negotiate with the Triffani.
"The Triffani have a similar culture to our own in the ways of government and social development. Their leader, Chancellor Nolanti is sort of like our president."
Jack pretty much zoned out after that. His mind was back in that bed where he had woken up with Sam in his arms. It was something he wanted to do every morning, be curled up under the covers with Sam. He was convinced, now more than ever, that they needed to have their little talk.
"Colonel what's your assessment?"
Jack remained silent
"Colonel"
"I'm sorry sir?"
"I asked what your assessment was"
"They seem like nice folks who are willing to share their technology. Other than the whole getting kidnapped by the rebels they seem like nice folks" He hoped no one noticed he had repeated himself with the 'nice folks' bit
"Very well, the diplomatic team will disembark at 0800 hrs tomorrow with SG-9 as escort. Sg-1 you are on stand down for the next 48 hrs, dismissed"
Sam immediately retreated to the sanctity of her lab using the excuse she was still behind in her paperwork. That was where he found her several hours later, hunched over her laptop merely staring at the crystallized screen.
"You need to use the keyboard in order for the words to appear"
"Sir, you startled me"
"Yeah, listen you want to grab some dinner?" He knew he was throwing himself out there but he it was time he took the plunge. He just hoped she would take it with him
"Sure, Chinese?" She hoped to god that he meant dinner away from the base because if he didn't she was going to find the floor under her desk very interesting
"Yeah you order and I'll pick up on the way to your place" He figured if they were going to talk he might as well let it be on her home turf. He knew there were very little things she had control over lately and he wanted to make sure she had total control over the situation. That and he didn't want to seem he was being too presumptuous.
"1900 hrs good?"
Looking at his watch he noted that it was 1630, which left him more than enough time to go home shower, change and pick up the food. "Yeah sure"
"See ya then"
"Yeahsureyoubetcha" he said before strutting out the door
~~~
Sam had cleaned and re cleaned her house so many times that the sparkles had sparkles. Looking at the clock she became even more nervous when she realized he would arrive any minute. As if hearing her thoughts the door bell rang. Opening it she let him in and followed him into the kitchen.
They ate dinner, occasionally chatting about mundane things. There were times when they sat in silence, yet it was a comfortable silence. When he was married to Sara, silence usually meant she mad at him or he had forgotten something. Either way there was no such thing as a comfortable silence in their marriage. Yet, with Sam he could sit or work with her for long stretches of time without having to say a word. It was something he enjoyed most about being around her, the fact that they didn't always need words to do something.
"Do you want to start or should I?"
"Ladies first"
She chuckled "Jack…" Suddenly the there was a knock at the door. Confused as to who could be knocking at her door, Sam rose from the couch to answer it.
"Probably Daniel and his impeccable timing" he muttered
Grabbing the door knob, turning it and opening the door she shucked in a breath when she saw who was standing on her porch "Pete"
To be continued….