Two months had passed since the media fiasco and Sam and Jack spent a lot of time together as friends. Sam had taken a job at the Air Force Academy as a professor and Jack had started consulting at the SGC. Sam had done some of that too, but it was an under the table association carried out with Jack O'Neill as the intermediary. As much as he enjoyed just hanging out with Sam, he wanted more and he was just waiting for the right time. He didn't want to pressure her and he wondered if she felt anything for him.

One night they were returning to her house after going to the movies when Sam noticed her answering machine was blinking. She walked over to it and hit the play button.

"Sam, why won't you return my calls? I am sorry for what I did. It was wrong of me to presume that I could make decisions for you. Please forgive me, I still love you Samantha. Please call me."

Sam stared at the answering machine momentarily before heading to the fridge and retrieving a couple of bottles of beer. When she returned, Jack was uncomfortably alternating stares between her and the answering machine. Instead of saying anything she held out a bottle for him and headed into the living room.

They had each taken a few sips from their beers before Jack spoke, "Have you talked with him since he left?"

Sam stared at her fireplace, "Once."

"He still calls?"

"Yeah," she distantly responded.

"What's he want?"

"For me to give him another chance…"

"Oh!" Jack replied as he too now stared at the fireplace and lost himself in his thoughts. 'Why won't she? She forgave me… as least that's what she says! What if she really doesn't forgive me for what happened a year and a half ago?' He had to know, "Sam, why won't you forgive him when you forgave me?"

Sam was startled from her thoughts as she turned to look into his eyes, "I don't know."

"Do you really forgive me?" he asked her dreading that she would hesitate in her response.

There was no hesitation, "Yes."

"But why?" he really needed to know.

She softly looked into his eyes and with them told him that she didn't want to discuss it. Reading the look in her eyes he dropped the subject. He would have to be content just knowing that she had indeed forgiven him.


A week later Daniel and Teal'c were spending their night off at Sam's with Jack. A few weeks after Sam's return, the members of the former SG-1 had fallen into their old routine of getting together when the team was given time off from the base. Of course, for the first two months Carlos had occasionally been present at those gatherings. But now that he was no longer there, things were back to normal. And considering that Sam and Jack were again consulting for the SGC, Daniel and Teal'c could discuss their current missions and explorations across the galaxy.

Daniel and Teal'c left at a decent hour, claiming that they had a briefing at the base in the morning. Jack decided to stick around for a while and help her clean up. As he helped her, the debate that he had been having with himself all week raged on. He was still having it as Sam followed him to the door to let him out. He pulled open the door and turned around slowly to face her.

Sam had sensed that something was on his mind the past few minutes but she didn't know what, "Jack?"

"Uh…"

"Yes?"

"Uh, would you like to go out to dinner with me tomorrow night?"

Sam wasn't aware of his intentions or hopes… after all she had gotten used to just hanging out with him as friends, "Sure," she casually answered.

Jack realized that she didn't understand what he was asking, "No, I mean I want to take you out to dinner, like a date."

Sam's eyes went wide, "Oh!" She continued to stare at him silently. She didn't know if she was ready.

Seeing the hesitation on her face, Jack ushered out his words, "Look Sam, I know things have been great between us the past few months. And I don't know how you feel about me, but I still care for you more than ever. I want to get to know the person who you are now better. I want to give us a try…" No response from Sam yet, 'time to panic' he told himself. "Look, if you don't want to we can continue to be friends. We can pretend I never asked," he chuckled, trying to hide his embarrassment.

Sam watched her former CO and friend squirm under her gaze. "Jack…" she stopped. She didn't know how to tell him what she felt. "If we do this, it has to be from scratch. I'll be honest, I haven't thought of you in that way in a long time. Are you okay with that?"

Jack saw the light and had hope, "Yeah. That's why I think I'm attracted to you more. You're so sure of yourself and you know what you want- I respect that. That's why I want to get to know who you've become even more. I want to know the real Sam."

Sam considered his words. He was sure of himself and she could tell that he meant them. She was amazed that he was okay with her admission of lack of feelings for him. He had been there for her through her entire relationship with Carlos and it's demise, and he apparently knew that she didn't feel the same for him as she once had. But he had stuck around and been a friend to her. He may have wanted more but he never pressured her. And even now after asking her out, he was giving her an out. "Okay then, it's a date, but-"

"We'll take it slow!" Jack ushered out with the excitement of a small child.

Sam couldn't help but smile back at him. "I appreciate that. Not only do you have to get to know the new Sam, but I need to get to know the real Jack."

TBC

A/N: Almost done!