Without noticing she had taken on a more defensive position and was about to spring to her feet—but sat back against the wall and took a deep breath.
He sat beside her and let his head rest against the wall behind him.
"Hey Sam." He said, as though striking up any normal conversation.
"Yes Jack?" She came back with the same nonchalant tone as he had used.
"I had to kiss her."
"Kiss who?"
"Doctor Carter…Samantha…I had to."
"Why?"
"I stayed and talked to her in her room…she asked me to stay—said that I was the only one who'd understand what she was going through."
"And?"
"And we talked…and I held her…Sara was never like that with me—granted I probably was to blame for that too—but, it was nice to have someone need me like that."
"What if I told you that I needed you like that?" She was squirming now—he'd never spoken to him like this before, he was speaking from his…heart.
"I know you do."
"No—you aren't getting away with that this time—Mr. I know—no way…" she moved to her knees and pulled his collar up so he sat away from the wall and looked at her. "What are you getting at here? And why now? After everything—pushing each other away for eight years—eight years Jack…and now you want to hash it all out in ten minutes—"
"Look!" He said pulling her arms away from his shirt and taking her by the shoulder as he too got up on his knees. "I know I've been a jackass, I know—I'm not proud of it! It's just a case of really bad timing—but damit…I've got ten minutes to tell you that I'm in love with you and—I don't want to waste it…" He hadn't actually realized what he had said until he saw the look in her eyes—he didn't recognize it.
She was smiling now.
He was still on his knees, looking down at her as she reached up and laid her arms around his shoulders.
"I love you too." It was as simple as that.
"Really? I mean…aside from the fact that we're still in the military and me being your commanding officer and that whole thing where you're married—"
"I thought it was all a bunch of—"
"Oh, don't get me wrong—it still is…I was just making sure that--"
"Jack—kiss me already."
He couldn't remember the last time he felt like this—or if he had ever felt like this.
"Hold on a sec—" he said standing up and holding out his hand to pull her up. As she stood he went with the momentum and pulled her into his arms and against his chest. "I want to do this right." Taking a moment to run his fingers through her hair he leaned in and kissed her.
He knew that this is what it would feel like to kiss her—but even though he had kissed her before—nothing compared to the real thing. Nothing compared to actually having her in his arms—and wanting to be there, knowing that she loved him—it was the best feeling in the world.
She stepped up onto her tip-toes as she kissed him and he took a step back for balance.
The light was growing faster now—consuming the room around them.
For a moment she opened her eyes and saw the light behind him—but quickly closed them again and held on that much tighter as the light raised higher above them.
As they kissed, neither of them noticed that Jack was standing in the outer rim of the light—and as the light exploded into the air—they disappeared.