Colours Of Love

Chapter 7 - I love the way you love me

As Jack walked from the en-suite bathroom adjacent to their bedroom, the sight of his girlfriend sitting on the edge of the bed looking slightly dazed met his eyes.

"Hey, cheer up." He laughed at her, making her jump, as he pulled out his favourite jacket from the closet.

"What?" Sam looked up at him, a puzzled smile playing on her lips.

"That book will be here somewhere."

Sam was still looking out of it, vaguely registering what he was saying. Suddenly she seemed to snap out of it, throwing her arms round his neck in a tight hug.

"Sam, if I'd known the book meant that much to you…" Jack told her, confusion obvious on his face. "Did I miss something?"

Her dazzling smile made her eyes sparkle as she shook her head. "Come on they'll be waiting for us."

Jack watched her, wondering if she was coming down with something, before accepting her offered hand and leaving the room.

**

After a short trip in two separate cars, the seven of them got to the large fairground park on the outside of Colorado Springs before mid-morning. There seemed to be an awful lot of people around, mostly families due to the school holidays. Jo and Beth were already planning which rides to go on first and Liz had to gently remind Beth that her sister couldn't go on all of the rides because she was younger, the height restrictions limiting what were suitable for a five year old. Jack had been watching Sam intently, her vibrant mood seeming without cause and convincing him there was something he didn't know about, until he spotted the first daring white-knuckle ride in the park.

"So Liz, you fancy a spin on that roller-coaster?" Jack asked with a grin, gesturing to the huge winding loop-the-loop track to their left.

"I might have guessed you would like the adrenalin rides, Jack." Jacob spoke up with a laugh.

"Sure, I'll go." Liz agreed, already heading for the queuing area. "I'm a closet thrill-seeker myself."

"You sure you don't wanna come with?" Jack implored a final time to Sam, who stood with her nieces holding her hands either side of her.

"Maybe I'll start with a less death-defying one." She laughed, his childish enthusiasm endearing to her even after nine years. He leaned in to give her a quick kiss goodbye before sprinting off after Liz.

Mark had never had a love for fairgrounds, even as a child, although with Jacob's military career and not living in any one place longer than a year in his childhood, meant his experience of adventure parks like this was limited. With Sam however, it had been the only way to get her away from her textbooks and out of the house; she'd always told him it brought back happy memories from when they would go with their mother.

As they watched the people on the roller coaster, waiting to see Jack and Liz have their turn, Sam took the girls over to the nearby game stall to throw balls at the stacks of bottles. As it turned out, Beth had quite a left throwing arm, winning a large polar bear soft toy. Not to be outdone by her older sister, Jo insisted she try again. The young man behind the stall struck up a conversation with Sam as he encouraged Jo in her throwing technique.

Another ten minutes later they were still there, and Jack came up behind her, circling his arm around Sam's shoulders. "Is that great big white thing your doing?" He asked her, gesturing to Beth's prize.

"Nope. It was all her," Sam smiled in reply.

"You want some help there, kiddo?" Jack asked, scooping Jo up so she was a little closer to her target. Much to her delight, Jo managed to knock all six bottles down, and chose a smaller toy from the vast selection there as Sam thanked the attendant for his help with a laugh.

"That guy was checking you out." Jack said softly near her ear as they walked back to the others, Sam holding Jo's hand so she wouldn't get lost in the crowds.

She laughed at him. "No he wasn't, he was helping Jo win something."

Jack didn't look convinced. "He was checking you out, believe me I know how guys think."

"Jack, are you jealous?" She accused him with a grin, slipping her arm around his waist.

"You are in an exceptionally good mood today, and it is starting to scare me."

"It scares you I'm in a good mood?"

"No, it scares me you're bordering on hysteria."

Sam laughed again at the look on his face as he said it. "I think that's an exaggeration."

**

The large group had found a cluster of picnic tables to sit and eat some lunch by early afternoon, just as the girls began to complain about how hungry they were. Sam volunteered to go in search of toffee-apples that Beth had spotted advertised on the park-map, Jack quickly insisted he go with her, not wanting to miss the chance to be alone with her even in the crowded park.

"You look like your enjoying yourself." Sam smiled as they walked hand in hand, her mind still filled with the images of her discovery from that morning.

"You think Teal'c would ever go on one of these monster roller coasters? I know Danny wouldn't, at least not with me." Jack asked her. "I'm thinking a group picnic, get Hammond down here. Now that would be sweet."

"That's probably because you'd tell him horror stories about it whilst you were waiting in the queue and then taunt him about being scared afterwards."

"Carter, I'm hurt. Is that why you won't go on any of them with me? I'll protect you, you know." He leered at her, making her laugh.

"Jack? What are we going to do for Christmas this year?"

He grinned at her familiar changing the subject tactic. "Got a few months left before we have to start planning, Sam. Give that poor brain of yours a rest and enjoy yourself."

"It's special this year, our first living together." Sam continued, still smiling. Suddenly Jack stopped them both to face her, resting his hands on her waist.

"Why do I get the feeling you being in a very wacky mood all morning and this conversation are connected?" Jack enquired, looking her straight in the eye.

"No, I was just wondering…" She answered in an unconvincing voice, immediately knowing he'd be suspicious at her weak response.

To her surprise he didn't pursue it, instead gave her a grin and hugged her to him in the middle of the busy walkway. "I promise it will be special."

The thrill from that morning returned, as she believed her theory was confirmed; Jack was planning to propose at Christmas. Although Sam wasn't sure she wanted to wait that long, it seemed so far away. 'Always the impatient one,' her father had always told her as a child.

"Anyway, we've got your birthday to plan before that." Jack whispered in her ear, and she could have sworn it was a knowing grin on his face as he said it.

**

If anyone has any outings you want to see this little group in please share – I think writer's block is taking over :oD