After ten minutes of a comfortable silence they pulled into the parking lot of the pub. Sam was climbing down from the truck when she looked back and saw that Jack had left the cane in the cab. She looked at him through the window as she saw him start to walk away with obvious discomfort. She shook her head as she leaned across the driver's seat and grabbed his cane. Once she had it in her hands she locked the truck and walked around the front of the truck to catch up with Jack, which wasn't that hard since he had only just reached the next car that he was holding onto as he walked.

"Here," she told him as she came up beside him and held his cane out to him.

Jack looked down at the cane and shook his head, "Nah, I don't need it, I'm fine," he told her as he cautiously took another step.

'He is so stubborn…' "Then let me see you walk without holding onto that car," she taunted him as she stood facing him with her arms crossed in front of her.

Being as stubborn as he was he arose to the challenge, "Fine!" He paused before releasing his hold on the car to his right and then gingerly taking another step. When he moved and planted his right leg though he started to lose his balance as the pain shot up his leg.

Before he could fall Sam reached up and steadied him. "Take the cane," she ordered him after making sure that he was okay.

He looked down at the cane she offered him repulsed by the idea of having to show his vulnerability in public to people who didn't know what had happened. "I hate that thing…" he quietly muttered as he reluctantly accepted the cane.

"It gets you around though… Why all of a sudden don't you want to use it?" she asked him as she walked alongside him.

Jack hesitated before responding, "Because it makes me realize how old I am… Hell everyone in there will think I'm your father or something!" 'God, that's a scary thought! … What the hell am I thinking, I am way too old for her… Why would someone as amazing as her like an old beat up soldier like me?'

Sam smiled, "You're not that old… Besides I've seen you in the field, you're pretty nimble!" she reassured him. She went on to lighten the mood even more, "That is of course, unless you're saying that I look way younger than I actually am…"

Jack looked over at her and smiled again, 'There she goes again… God I hope she doesn't think she's too young for me," he worriedly thought. His fear momentarily manifested itself on his face.

"What's wrong?" a concerned Sam asked. She was able to hold back the sir that had become second nature to her interactions with her CO.

"Nothing," he dismissed as he continued along to the entrance of the bar. "I just don't like feeling vulnerable in public…" he quietly told her.

Sam looked at him, "Why would you? I think the cane kind of makes you look tough." When she saw his confused face she went on. "The way I see it, that cane shows the world that you had the guts to go out and do something dangerous that ended up injuring you. I bet you that no one in there can say that they've put their life on the line the way you have over the past eight years. They should only feel so lucky to be in your presence, sir," she had to remind him that he was a Colonel in the United States Air Force. "I know I am."

Jack stared into her eyes and saw her sincerity. 'She really means it… Why?' he asked himself. His heart answered, 'Because she cares for you as much as you care for her!' His mind took over once again, 'No she doesn't, it's only wishful thinking! Now shut up will you… I'm on a mission here!' "Thanks Sam. I appreciate that."

"I really do mean that," she replied as she returned the gaze into his eyes. After a moment of silence communication, Sam spoke lightly, "Let's get this date underway shall we?"

Jack laughed at her remark, "Let's." 'They'll probably all think I'm her sugar daddy!'

Sam voiced his thoughts, "You know, with that cane, they might think you're my sugar daddy or pimp," she told him as she mischievously looked at him.

"Well I will be walking in there with a beautiful woman on my arm," he told her as he held his arm out to her.

'He thinks I'm beautiful? … Play it cool Sam!' She masked her joy as she slid her arm under his, "Damn straight!" As they walked through the door she whispered into his ear, "Remember I'm here with you so don't be scared to beat any other men away with that cane of yours!"

Jack let out a loud laugh as they walked into the bar and drew a few stares from the hostess and patrons who were sitting near the entrance. 'You have no idea how much I want to do that for the rest of our lives…' he wishfully thought to himself.

As the couple walked in a nearby waitress delivered her customary greeting, "Good evening and welcome to Prost."

Sam answered for them as Jack was still laughing from her comment, "Hi, just the two of us," she told her as she looked around the small establishment. "Do you have any booths available?" she asked him as she subtly nodded at Jack's leg.

"Hey! I saw that!" he told her in a mockingly offended tone.

"Yeah? And what are you going to do about it?"

He shrugged his shoulders, "I don't know, probably prop my leg up on the bench."

The waitress amusingly watched the couple in front of her, 'I wonder how long they've been together?' she mused. "Yes we do. If you'll follow me," she told them as she led them to a booth in the middle of the wall across from the bar. "Here you go. I'll be back in a few minutes to take your orders," she told them as she laid the two menus down on the table.

Sam walked to the far bench and slid in as Jack awkwardly backed his way onto the bench on the left and dragged his right leg across the bench. When he was finally settled in he was leaning against the wall and half facing Sam. When he looked up he just stared at Sam as she intently looked down at her menu. He enjoyed moments like this, when he could watch her unknown to her as she studied something. Lucky for him, she was a scientist and so he got that opportunity often. He didn't notice the waitress approach their table, "You folks ready to order?"

Sam looked up at the source of her voice, out of the corner of her eye she noticed that the Colonel was staring at her. She then looked at Jack who had a bashful look on his face as he finally opened up the menu before him. Sam allowed herself a small smile, she realized he'd been staring at her again. He thought she never knew, but she did, she could feel his warm and caring gaze on her. She looked down at the menu again and decided that she would enjoy her evening here with her CO and stay for a couple of hours, "I'll have a pint of the German Summer brew," she told her not even trying to pronounce the word.

Jack looked up, "I'll have the same." The waitress then left to put in their drink orders.

Sam again looked down at her menu as Jack returned to his staring of his 2IC. After a few moments Sam spoke without looking up, "If you actually look at the menu, it's easier to decide what you want to eat."

Jack blinked his eyes and shook off his reverie as he finally looked down at the menu, 'At least she's not mad…' "So what are you going to get?"

Sam studied the menu a little longer, "Uh, I think I'm going to get the wienershnitzel… You?"

Jack studied the menu as well before closing it up and looking up at her triumphantly, "The Brats of course. That's the only way to tell how authentic a German pub is!"

"Is that so?"

"Yep… Well that and how well it accompanies the house beer…"

Sam shook her head, "I'll have to remember that."

"You do that…" he told her before the waitress returned with their drinks and took their orders. Once she left Jack finally felt the pressure as he realized he was going to have to have a conversation with Sam. "So…" he told her uncomfortably as he looked around the bar.

"So…" Sam returned. She too felt the slight unease in her CO, she could tell he seemed nervous but she didn't know why.

As Jack looked around the bar he wondered how he could bring up what had happened between her and Pete. After a few moments he noticed that the bartender kept glancing at their table, namely the beautiful woman sitting across from him. 'That's not a surprise… I could use this…' he told himself as he started to develop a strategy in his mind. He had no idea how it would work though. Military strategies he could come up with under any situation, but personal probing strategies weren't his forte, especially when they involved someone he liked. Jack then turned to Sam and spoke to her quietly, "It seems the bartender has a thing for you," he told her as he nodded his head at the man in question.

Sam looked at the bartender who immediately averted his gaze. She let out a small chuckle that lifted Jack's spirits just at the carefree sound of her voice. Jack pressed on, "You seem to have that affect on a lot of people."

Sam returned her gaze to Jack, 'I only care if it had an affect on you…' she thought to herself longingly.

Jack however misinterpreted her look, as his face tried to hide the hurt. "Hey if you want to go over and talk to him that's cool…" he told her as he looked away.

'As if…' Sam shook her head, "He's not my type… Too young looking." She was pleased when she saw the hope and life return to Jack's eyes. "Besides, I'm here on a date with another man. What kind of woman would I be if I just up and left my date?"

Jack returned the smile, "Not a very nice one… Lucky for me, you're not that kind of woman." As he stared at her angelic face he hoped beyond all hopes that someday she would be his, 'That's what tonight's all about remember Jack? To see where things stand between the two of you… To make some career decisions…' "So what's your type?" he asked her as he looked down at the napkin he was playing with in his hands.

Sam froze, 'You!' she wanted to scream out but held her emotions in check. 'No… I am content with the situation we have, I am not going to ruin our friendship over my lusting!' When she didn't answer Jack tore his gaze away from his hands and looked deeply into her eyes. As she looked into his eyes she saw the same want and hope in his eyes, she couldn't stop herself as she honestly spoke. "Someone who can be my best friend. He's strong… and not just physically, but also emotionally. He knows who he is and who I am and won't stop me from being me… He makes me laugh… He trusts me completely and I trust him completely… He's definitely older than me… He's serious, but also knows how to let go and be like a child… He's not afraid of me and my other friendships… He supports me… We respect one another… He trusts me…" she told him as she lost herself in his chocolate brown eyes.

He stared longingly into her eyes as he listened to the description of her type of man, he couldn't help but notice that he fit the description she was giving. He also noticed that she was speaking definitively, not of a far off man she hadn't met yet. She was confident in her description; she was a woman who knew what she wanted. 'And I'm pretty sure it's me,' he told himself happily. Maybe he did have a chance. Maybe the option he had been mulling since yesterday would be worth it. Jack finally found words, "He, uh, sounds like a pretty great guy."

"He is," she told him confidently as she stared even deeper into his eyes and conveyed even more with her eyes.

They stared at each other in silence until they were distracted by the waitress who brought them a basket of bread. At her intrusion both Sam and Jack looked away from each other. The moment lost, an uncomfortable silence ensued. Unsure of how to ask her what he wanted to know and abandoning his strategy, he asked her outright, "So what happened with Pete?"

Sam rapidly brought her eyes back to her dinner companion. 'Why does he want to know?' When she saw the sincere look on his face she knew that it was because he wanted to know if she was okay. "We just weren't right for each other…" she told him nonchalantly.

"Why?" he asked her hoping that he wasn't pushing his luck.

"He didn't trust me… You were right about him you know."

"Huh?" he asked her as the confused expression appeared on his face.

"Back when he was injured, that whole incident with… Sarah and Daniel. You said he was bad news," she told him with a hint of sadness.

"I'm sorry," he sincerely told her.

"There's nothing to be sorry about. He was bad news. He didn't trust me, it was getting to the point that we spent more time fighting than getting to know each other… I was constantly defending myself and my relationships with him… A relationship shouldn't have to be that hard…" She paused before she let out a small maniacal laugh, "He got jealous when I made you cookies for your party once you woke up from your little coma… He thought I was having an affair with you!" As soon as she uttered the last remark she froze, 'Why did I just tell him that?' She tried to cover up her unease, "Anyways, he wasn't making me happy. I don't know why I went out with him in the first place." 'Because you decided you wanted to be happy now! You decided that you couldn't wait, remember? … But not anymore!' she told herself resolutely. 'I am okay with where I am now. Even if I can't have you Jack, at least I'm not pushing you away and we still get to work together…' She closed her eyes and repeated that mantra to herself before finally raising her head and opening her eyes and looking back into his face.

Jack saw the conflict in her eyes as she spoke. He understood her, he knew that she regretted it, but also that she had come to a decision. 'But am I a part of that decision's outcome? Hell, do I even deserve her?' Jack didn't know how to speak to her, how to convey to her how much he was glad that she wasn't with Pete anymore, but also sad that she wasn't happy. Because more than anything, he wanted her to be happy. He had just spent the last six years hoping that it would be him who made her happy. "I'm sorry he couldn't make you happy. You deserve someone better than him…"

"I do. But you know what, I realized something when I broke up with Pete a week and a half ago… I shouldn't settle for anything less than the best. Even if I have to wait five years, what I would have with-" she stopped before she said too much and looked down at her own fidgeting hands. "What I would have with that special person and the future we would have together would be worth the waiting."

'My God, she almost said it… What are you talking about, she practically did tell you that she'd wait for you to retire again… She said that I was worth it…' Jack reached out and grabbed a hold of her hands. She looked up into his eyes, at that moment there was no doubt in either of their minds. They both knew what the other felt for them, that they both saw a future for them. Only Jack though knew that he held that timeline in his hand.

Once again they were interrupted by their waitress who gave them their entrees and asked if they wanted anything more to drink. Both declined the offer, they didn't want to risk losing any memory of what they had just shared and revealed to each other. It was too precious to both of them.

As Jack bit into his bratwurst he made an approving sound, "Hmmm… this is good bratwurst!"

Sam looked up from her own meal and couldn't help but smile as the lightheartedness returned to their conversation, "I take it this place will rank as being pretty authentic then in the Jack O'Neill book of German Pubs."

Jack nodded his head and smiled with his eyes as he took another bite. "Definitely," he told her around a mouthful of food.

"Didn't your mother ever teach you to not talk with food in your mouth?" she asked him as she shook her head.

Jack's eyes took on a mischievous look as he paused and considered her question before he opened his mouth and revealed the contents of his slightly chewed food.

Sam looked away as she closed her eyes, "That's disgusting! How old are you?" She teased him, "Five? Six?"

"Wouldn't you like to know?" he teased her back.

"Why not… You've seen my file, you know how old I am… I think it's only fair that I know how old you are…"

"A man never reveals his true age." He then raised his eyes, "Especially when he's got a few grays in his hair!"

"A few? Please!"

"Hey!" he exclaimed shocked and feigning being hurt by her remark.

"Don't worry, it suits you… So let's see if I can guess how old you are…" she told him as she studied his face.

"Be nice," he warned her.

"Please, I'm a scientist. I study the facts and make logical deductions, I don't randomly guess. I would only say you were seventy if the data pointed to that! So let's see, where to start…"

Jack's jaw dropped as she implied that he was seventy. He no longer was worried though that she might think he was too old for her. He smiled as he realized that he and his 2IC, no his friend Sam, were able to completely relax and really enjoy each other's company as they teased one another. 'This is nice, I could get used to this… You will, maybe sooner than she thinks Jack m'boy!'

"The other night you said that one of your earliest memories was of watching the Chicago Blackhawks win the Stanley Cup as you sat in your dad's lap. That's why you were a Blackhawks fan; that you grew up cheering for them from that point on… They've won the cup a couple of times, one was in the thirties… Don't worry I don't think you're seventy," she told him as she saw the shocked look on his face. "And the other time was in '61. The average person remembers things that happened after they were four… So… I'm guessing you're around 47."

Jack's eyes were wide, "How did you… How did you know the Blackhawks last won the cup in '61?"

Sam smiled, "Like I said the other night, I like hockey… Besides, I'm a Red Wings fan. I know every year that they made it to the cup and when they won and if they lost, who to… Dad was a big fan, especially of Sid Abel, he sort of passed it onto me…" she told him sheepishly.

"I had no idea," Jack told her as he impressively nodded his head. "If I knew you were a fan of hockey I would have invited you over to catch a few games… Anything else I should know about you?"

Sam used one of his lines, "Wouldn't you like to know?"

He tilted his head and raised an eyebrow, "Is that an invitation?"

Sam shrugged her shoulders as she smiled and playfully batted her eyelashes at him.

They stayed there until closing sharing stories and learning more of one another as they both subliminally flirted with each other through soft furtive glances and comments. That night their friendship deepened as they spoke, with each knowing how the other truly felt, they had no fear or reservations that they would scare the other person. They both knew that someday they would be together and that the wait would be worth it. As Sam drove him home he thought about the situation, it was time to take it into control. As soon as he arrived home he booted up his computer and began typing.

TBC