It took Daniel and Teal'c only a few days to realize the new sleeping arrangements. On
Saturday morning when Jack strode happily into the kitchen in search of coffee and
announced "Good morning Campers" in a rather cheery voice, Daniel looked at Teal'c
with quizzical expression, and raised his eyebrows. Teal'c simply smiled, closed his eyes
and bowed his head.
O'Neill was no fool and he realized this was going to get them into trouble. It felt good so it had to be bad. And it felt damn good and he hadn't gotten to first base, at least not while awake. This was not what a commanding officer should be even thinking. So sleeping arrangements changed again with O'Neill bunking with Teal'c. Jack threw one of the mattresses on the floor. The mattress was extra short, probably made for dwarves and from the musty aroma from the era of middle earth as well. He didn't sleep as well. Sam had her privacy back but although she would never tell him she truly missed him lying beside her.
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They worked and pooled their money until they had enough to buy a rather run down rust used car. Rebuilding it gave them a project to work off nervous energy. All it had to do was get them to D.C., not 35 miles, without blowing a head gasket, loosing the transmission or getting four flats. O'Neill swore he'd drive on the damn rims if he had to and they could hike it if necessary. But the little car, although quite ugly, proved to be quite serviceable. They had wheels and a time and date, all they needed to do was a little recon.
A class outing to the Smithsonian provided the prefect opportunity. Jack and Teal'c both offered their services to drive the school buses and Sam and Daniel were assigned as chaperones for the trip. Jack wondered why this seemed so easy for the four of them to get to D.C. together. Getting off the bus at their destination he had no doubts as to why his offer was so quickly accepted. His head was still ringing and, of course, there were the six or so grapes that had gotten down his neck into his shirt. The other pound or so tasted rather good. The kids did need to improve their aim. Jack and Teal's did recon while Daniel and Sam herded the little dears through the museum.
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As the date approached they were all on edge; one minute sure everything would work smoothly, the next they saw themselves lying dead on the floor of the armory or stranded in a world they couldn't allow themselves to be a part of. O'Neill tried to keep everyone positive but was himself a seething mass of insecurity. This was so way over his head. He could fight almost any enemy, he could strategize with the best of them but getting his team home by time travel, Christ, where was Dr. Who when you needed him. He wanted the guy with the scarf but would take any Time Lord that came along.
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In was a mild and sparkling night in December their landlady was there chatting pointlessly when she suggested that O'Neill take 'his wife' out for a walk.
"You young people don't realize all the missed opportunities in life. You, young man, should take better care of your wife."
So to escape more scolding and because it was indeed a beautiful night Jack took Sam for a stroll along the bay with the starry sky spread out before them. The moon was near the horizon and looked immense. They walked not saying much, but felt the pressure of the window of opportunity that was presenting itself to them. He put his arm around her as they walked and she leaned into his embrace.
They stopped on their front porch still looking at the sparkling sky. And when she looked up she realized he was staring into her eyes. For once she was not admiring her shoes or something beyond his shoulder but looking at him, searching his face trying to understand.
He had the courage to speak. His hand caressed her cheek and thumb trailed back and forth across her lips. The words tumbled in his head and wouldn't cohere into sentences.
Finally she asked "What do you want?"
"Sleep with me."
It was out of his mouth before he could stop the words.
"And you? What do you want?"
"You love me?"
"Don't you know? How could you not know? Even Hammond knows."
"You love me?" soft almost a whisper but still unsure.
"C'mere."
He put his arms around her. She held him, clung to him, as if her life depended on it and he held her, trying to convey through touch, the strength and depth of feeling that there were no words for.
"When we get back, when we get back things will change, I want things to change between us."
O'Neill was no fool and he realized this was going to get them into trouble. It felt good so it had to be bad. And it felt damn good and he hadn't gotten to first base, at least not while awake. This was not what a commanding officer should be even thinking. So sleeping arrangements changed again with O'Neill bunking with Teal'c. Jack threw one of the mattresses on the floor. The mattress was extra short, probably made for dwarves and from the musty aroma from the era of middle earth as well. He didn't sleep as well. Sam had her privacy back but although she would never tell him she truly missed him lying beside her.
SJSJSJSJSJSJSJSJSJSJSJSJ
They worked and pooled their money until they had enough to buy a rather run down rust used car. Rebuilding it gave them a project to work off nervous energy. All it had to do was get them to D.C., not 35 miles, without blowing a head gasket, loosing the transmission or getting four flats. O'Neill swore he'd drive on the damn rims if he had to and they could hike it if necessary. But the little car, although quite ugly, proved to be quite serviceable. They had wheels and a time and date, all they needed to do was a little recon.
A class outing to the Smithsonian provided the prefect opportunity. Jack and Teal'c both offered their services to drive the school buses and Sam and Daniel were assigned as chaperones for the trip. Jack wondered why this seemed so easy for the four of them to get to D.C. together. Getting off the bus at their destination he had no doubts as to why his offer was so quickly accepted. His head was still ringing and, of course, there were the six or so grapes that had gotten down his neck into his shirt. The other pound or so tasted rather good. The kids did need to improve their aim. Jack and Teal's did recon while Daniel and Sam herded the little dears through the museum.
SJSJSJSJSJSJSJSJSJSJ
As the date approached they were all on edge; one minute sure everything would work smoothly, the next they saw themselves lying dead on the floor of the armory or stranded in a world they couldn't allow themselves to be a part of. O'Neill tried to keep everyone positive but was himself a seething mass of insecurity. This was so way over his head. He could fight almost any enemy, he could strategize with the best of them but getting his team home by time travel, Christ, where was Dr. Who when you needed him. He wanted the guy with the scarf but would take any Time Lord that came along.
SJSJSJSJSJSJSJSJSJSJSJSJSJ
In was a mild and sparkling night in December their landlady was there chatting pointlessly when she suggested that O'Neill take 'his wife' out for a walk.
"You young people don't realize all the missed opportunities in life. You, young man, should take better care of your wife."
So to escape more scolding and because it was indeed a beautiful night Jack took Sam for a stroll along the bay with the starry sky spread out before them. The moon was near the horizon and looked immense. They walked not saying much, but felt the pressure of the window of opportunity that was presenting itself to them. He put his arm around her as they walked and she leaned into his embrace.
They stopped on their front porch still looking at the sparkling sky. And when she looked up she realized he was staring into her eyes. For once she was not admiring her shoes or something beyond his shoulder but looking at him, searching his face trying to understand.
He had the courage to speak. His hand caressed her cheek and thumb trailed back and forth across her lips. The words tumbled in his head and wouldn't cohere into sentences.
Finally she asked "What do you want?"
"Sleep with me."
It was out of his mouth before he could stop the words.
"And you? What do you want?"
"You love me?"
"Don't you know? How could you not know? Even Hammond knows."
"You love me?" soft almost a whisper but still unsure.
"C'mere."
He put his arms around her. She held him, clung to him, as if her life depended on it and he held her, trying to convey through touch, the strength and depth of feeling that there were no words for.
"When we get back, when we get back things will change, I want things to change between us."