The loop they never showed us

Season: Four (window of opportunity)

Disclaimer: This is a work of fiction intended solely for entertainment; no infringement is intended to MGM; Gekko or Double Secret Productions.

Feedback: Thank you, it been great. Love you all!!

Author's note: here we go!!!(again) sorry if this one's kinda short but at least chapter 5 is almost ready!!!!!!! Watch out for metaphorical madness ( got kinda carried away!!)

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Contours and Dams

"So ..." he said breaking the eerie silence that had once again descended upon the room.

"So." She replied, not looking into his eyes, knowing that hers would deceive her and his would reveal so much.

"What'cha thinkin' about?"

"Take a wild guess!" She really had been spending too much time around him. A grin spread across both their faces instantly lifting the tension that had filled the room.

"Sir.." Sam started but seeing that look she began again." Jack..."

"Samantha."

She rolled her eyes, he always knew how to make her laugh even when she didn't want to.

"What are we doing here?" she asks finally looking in to those eyes.

"Having coffee!" Eyes glinting with mischief and lifting his mug as proof. The grin soon fell as his face became more serious and he replied. "I honestly don't know."

"Jack, why did you retire?" Both anticipating and dreading the answer.

"Because..." Jack began, "because I want to change something in my life. And retiring allows me to do so much more than I ever could have done before." Inching closer to her. "No more rules. No more ranks." Jack sat in the chair next to Sam and turned hers to face him. "Jack I ..." she whispered as his hand reached for hers. His eyes looked deeply into hers. He could see there was still those emotional defences to break through but they where beginning to crumble. Taking her hand in his, turning it, he began to let his fingers dance lightly over her palm. Fingertips tracing the contours of every line on her hand. The two where content for a while just to enjoy the would-be forbidden contact.

"Jack ..." she said once again.

His eyes rested on her beautiful face as he realised she was close to tears.

"Sam?" He whispered her name as if it would be sin to speak it any louder.

A single tear ran down her cheek, all the emotions she had hidden for years, embodied in one salty droplet.

She closed her eyes trying to hide those emotions once again, but she couldn't help it, the dam had been opened and soon the flood would come.

Before she knew what was happening his strong arms surrounded her.

Time past slowly as emotions ran free for the first time in four years, wanting to be closer than the chairs allowed, they soon found themselves on the floor, cradled in each others arms.

The tears stopped but they still held on.

"Where do we go from here?" asked Jack.

"Why don't we get something to eat?"

"God, you really do know me better than anyone don't you?"

"Ya sure ya bet ya!" Stealing his favourite phrase. "Come on, lets go." She said standing and drying her tear soaked cheeks. Offering a hand to help Jack, her gladly took it. Once standing neither let go. Walking to the door, Jack opened it and led her through. Fingers entwined the walked the short way down the hall to the cafeteria.