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"And, I believe that you said that you want to pursue some 'other possibilities' in your life," Hammond repeated Jack's earlier words and when Jack nodded, George continued with a twinkle in his eyes, "Can I ask what 'possibilities' those might be?"
"Um, ask me again after all this paperwork is processed," Jack returned with a smile and in spite of his years of Special Ops training, he felt his face flush warm as Hammond gave him a perceptive look.
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Ch 74: NOT REALLY
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Officially retired for three weeks, he was now a civilian contractor with the Air Force. His new title was Special Operations Officer. His job duties included assisting with the selection and training of new recruits, special advisor to the SGC CO and teamleaders, and diplomatic liaison with such cultures as the Asgard. He would be tasked on offworld missions as the need arose, either with training missions or special missions where his particular expertise and experience was required. For the past two weeks, for example, he'd been working with new recruits at the Alpha Site.
Sam was back in command of SG-1 with Daniel and Teal'c. A large part of him was still envious, and also apprehensive about having them go out without him… but this was a tradeoff… The tradeoff was so that he could do… this…
He smoothly parked his SUV at the curb in front of her house. Since his retirement, the two of them had not been on Earth at the same time. Until today. They'd returned from the training mission two days early due to a sudden intense storm at the Alpha Site.
Her garage door was open and he could see her two Volvos side by side. One new and reliable, the other older and more cantankerous. Smiling to himself, he saw her feet sticking out from under the newer automobile.
He pulled a deep breath in and then let it slowly out. Stepping out of his SUV, he closed the door quietly and walked softly up her driveway. He watched her in silence for a few moments… albeit only her lower legs and feet, but he wasn't complaining.
"Would you hand me that light?" she asked, at the same time acknowledging what he'd assumed to be his unknown presence.
He glanced around and saw a heavy-duty mechanic's light on a workbench. "Um, sure," he replied, picking it up and then dropping down to a knee so that he could slide it under and towards her waist.
Her groping right hand swept across the ground and brushed across his fingers before finding the flashlight, "Thanks," her disembodied voice floated up to him.
Silence descended in the garage as she continued to work on the car while he waited and watched, not sure how to proceed now that they were truly… here.
"So… just driving by?" she asked conversationally as she continued her unseen ministrations.
"Not really," he admitted.
A pause answered him and then, "Not really?" she repeated and he could hear the underlying questions in her tone. When he didn't answer, she slid out from under the car and looked up at him from the ground. He couldn't restrain a small smile of affectionate amusement at her appearance; she was wearing an old Air Force T-shirt and some comfortable-looking jeans that were full of holes. Both the shirt and pants were peppered with grease stains, and were obviously what she chose to wear when working on anything like her car or motorcycles. The grease smudge across her cheek however, was responsible for his present quirky smile.
She noticed his visual perusal and bemused expression, but waited quietly for his response, not wanting to sidetrack the nebulous conversation.
"I was wondering if… you'd like to go on a date?" he finally got it out and then waited.
This was it.
She propped herself up on her elbows and looked up at him thoughtfully and then furrowed her brow. What she said next, however, floored him, "No, not really," and she gave a small shake of her head.
'No, not really,' his stunned mind replayed the words in his mind.
'No, not really.'
After all of this time.
After all of… and his mind just froze.
He'd been nervous about asking… but she'd said… and her words echoed back in his mind, "I wouldn't have laughed." His eyes refocused on her to see that she was looking down at a rag in her hands, apparently trying to wipe some grease off ineffectively.
And she wasn't laughing.
His heart was clamped into a tight fist.
'No, not really,' and he heard her words again.
His mind rapidly sifted back through the memories of when they were in that interdimensional realm. Her feelings for him washed back through him… and he refocused on her again to see her looking up at him ruefully, "I need a steam-cleaning before I can go on a date."
"Aghck…," he gargled at her as he sat down and leaned up against the bumper of car. Watching her face, he saw a small mischievous smile slowly appear and he scowled at her accusingly, "You almost gave me a heart attack."
Her smile grew a little wider, "Not a chance - both the Asgard and the Nox gave you a clean bill of health," she pointed out.
He stared at her for a few moments and then, "That wasn't a real 'No', was it?" he asked cautiously and watched her face carefully.
Her face was unreadable again and he longed for the free exchange of feelings that they'd shared in that interdimensional realm. Then her face softened and she shook her head slightly, "No," she said softly.
"Errr…. 'No' it wasn't a real 'No'?" he repeated with a small smile as they entered one of 'those exchanges.'
"No," she repeated, her own smile growing as she pushed herself to her feet.
"Ah," he replied. "Just making sure," as he clambered up to stand beside her.
Her smile disappeared and was replaced by a puzzled look, "Jack… you know how I feel about you," and her eyes scanned his face, "You've been… here," and she tapped the side of her head lightly. She gave a small shoulder shrug, "I…," and her eyes wandered over some of the objects in her garage before coming back to meet his, "No has shared as much of… me… as you have…"
"Not even Orlin?" he couldn't stop himself from asking.
And she quickly shook her head negatively, "That experience was intense and amazing… but doesn't even begin to compare to what you and I shared. Jack… I cared for Orlin… but I didn't love him," she finished softly.
"Ah," he replied with a small smile. "Not that I was jealous or anything," he quickly added with a tone that bespoke otherwise.
She gave him a small smile, "Of course not."
"Right," he replied and then studied her face intently, "You did give me a bit of a scare a few minutes ago… saying 'No' and all," and he arched an eyebrow reprovingly.
She gave him a small impish smile, "Yeah, well, a woman doesn't like to be predictable… and I have an especially difficult challenge, seeing as how you've been inside here," and she tapped the side of her head again. "And you already know how I truly feel," and her face colored a little as she looked down shyly.
"Yeah, well, if it wasn't for that, I would have left right after 'No, not really'," he admitted and then looked at her consideringly, "Would you have come after me?" he asked challengingly.
She met his eyes, "A year ago, I wouldn't have known what to do… but today, yes, without question," she stated emphatically.
"I missed my opportunity then," and he played up a disappointed tone.
She arched an eyebrow at him, "An opportunity at what?"
"To have you come running after me," he replied with a smug smile.
"To come running after you to kick your ass," she finished the sentence her own way and with a threatening tone that was tempered with affectionate amusement.
"I thought that threat was for if I up and died on you out in the desert or on some isolated planet?" and he couldn't fight the smile on his face or the twinkle in his eyes as they continued their mock verbal sparring.
She stared intently into his eyes, "If you were to walk away from me right now, I think I'd feel just about the same way," she admitted in a voice just above a whisper.
But he couldn't walk away. He knew what he felt for her… and he knew what she felt for him - in spite of his anxieties and doubts now that they couldn't share their thoughts as they had in that interdimensional realm. For more than eight years, neither of them could know what the other thought… what was meant by so many quixotic exchanges… there were so many ways to interpret simple words and looks…
But now they both knew. They'd shared something that very few humans or 'normal' corporeal beings would ever have the chance to…. except maybe a symbiote and a host… but that was still not the same as what Sam and Jack had shared.
He looked into her eyes and saw her open the window to her heart and soul to him. The fact that she'd seen inside his mind, shared his feelings… and she still loved him… that fact blew his breath away.
Staring into each others eyes, they drifted back to the feelings they'd shared in that interdimensional realm. His love was a fierce passionate ownership tempered by a tenderness that he only felt for her. Her love was a smoldering passion and of a strength and depth that he simply found astonishing.
Love, promise… and a burning fire reflected back between their eyes.
Almost unconsciously, he stepped forward to close the gap between them, and just as he reached out, her hand came up and she gently stopped his advance with one finger on his chest. "I'm covered in grease," she reminded him.
"I don't care," he growled low and widened his eyes expressively and she couldn't stop a quick giggle.
"JUST KISS HER!"
And they both turned in amazement to see Cassie, Daniel, Teal'c, Dragon and Jennifer standing at the bottom of the driveway. Cassie was obviously the one who had yelled, and she was now making a 'get on with it' waving motion with her hand. The others displayed varying grins, from Daniel's full-blown one of happiness, to Teal'c small barely noticeable one, to Dragon's knowing mid-range smile, to Jennifer's 'trying to keep it polite while watching her superior officers' smile.
"Ahhh," and Sam gave up trying to save his clothes as she dropped her head and buried her face in his shirt.
Holding her to him so that she wouldn't step away, he reached up with his other hand and, in one smooth motion, pulled her garage door down and shut.
"They can't see us now," he stated quietly.
"They are going to wait out there, you know," she pointed out.
"Let them wait," and he reached down and gently tilted her chin upwards to him. "Not that I don't like having you snuggled up against my chest, but-,"
And with that she kissed him.
Or he kissed her.
Or it was mutually initiated.
Neither of them would ever be sure.
The kiss was tender and yet electric. Similar to the kiss they'd shared in that interdimensional realm. This kiss seemed to last for only seconds at the same time it seemed to last forever. Neither of them was multitasking at this moment. There were no thoughts of what to buy at the grocery store, or when to get the next hair cut…there were no mental reminders about putting the wet wash in the dryer…there weren't even any thoughts of the five people standing quietly outside the garage. No, for those few moments, each of them focused completely on the present… on each feeling… on each sense… experiencing completely, vividly and intensely.
When they broke apart, Jack murmured, "Wow," and he felt her low chuckle as she wrapped her arms around him and held him tight.
"Yeah, wow," she echoed.
"So… how about that date?" he repeated the question that he'd come here to ask.
Silence answered him and he couldn't help feeling a little rising anxiety, but then he reminded himself of what he knew of her feelings for him.
"I'm still covered in grease," she reminded him.
"I don't think that you're the only one," he pointed out.
"Sorry about that," she apologized.
"I'm not," he responded quickly and felt her silent chuckles as they held each other tightly.
"And we're not making it any better by continuing to stand here like this," she admitted.
"Again, not sorry," he quickly sent back with an obviously smug tone and was rewarded with the feeling of more of her silent chuckles rippling against his chest.
"We should probably open the door… otherwise they are going to be wondering what we're… up to…," she sighed.
"Let 'em wonder," he stated without remorse and this time heard her giggle along with the slight shaking that went along with her laughter. He wondered how long he could keep this up…and really make them wonder out there!
"Serves 'em right, anyway. They weren't invited," he pointed out and then decided to quit wasting this private time and reached down and found her lips again.
The second kiss was, if anything, better than the first. They were each more relaxed and the kiss was deeper and more passionate. Time again seemed to slow as their minds focused entirely on the present… entirely on the feelings and sensations of this moment.
This time, when they broke off, Sam spoke up, her voice deep, "If we… uh… take this much further… here… they are going to be right… in their imaginations…," she warned him.
"I could handle that," he returned as he smiled and then kissed her cheek softly.
"Jack," and he could hear the regret in her voice as she started to pull away.
But he held on to her, "You haven't answered my question," he said in a low threatening voice.
"Your question?" she echoed and although her voice sounded innocent, he wasn't buying it.
He growled a little, "I would never, ever have pictured Sam Carter as a tease," he teased her back.
"And I'm finding it hard work," she confessed, "It's not my first instinct."
"So why now?" he asked curiously, "Not that I'm not enjoying it, mind you," he admitted.
"Like I said before… you know almost too much about me now… and a woman doesn't like to be so predictable… a woman likes to be a little mysterious to her man… to keep him a little off balance," she explained softly.
"Ah," he replied, his mind enjoying how she called him her man.
"Besides, I'm waiting for a different invitation to be repeated," she stated obliquely.
"A different invitation?" he echoed, wondering at her ability to keep him guessing even after they'd shared their minds as they had.
"Mmhm," she replied lazily, as if no longer concerned about the five people probably still standing in her driveway.
"Repeated?" he echoed again as his mind chewed through the possibilities… and then… it was obvious… or was it?
"Mhm," and he felt the vibrations of her response against his chest.
"Sam?" and he pulled a little back from her again, but didn't let her out of his arms.
"Yes?" and he could hear a little amusement in her voice and he was tempted to string her along a little, but then decided on the direct approach.
"I know of this lake in Minnesota… where the fish are this big," and he spread his arms apart for a moment, but then quickly reclaimed her loosely in his arms.
"That big? Really?" she played along.
"Yeah… and I was thinking of going up there for a few days…."
"Minnesota?" she questioned and he could hear her grin in her tone.
"Mmhm, Minnesota," he confirmed and then repeated the words he'd said so many years ago, "Land of sky-blue waters, loofas, ya sure ya betcha' , snookums, mosquitoes…"
"I think you disappeared on me right around there," she muttered.
"Not this time," he pointed out and then pulled her into another heart-stopping, time-bending kiss.
"See still here," he stated, "This is me not beaming up to Thor's ship," he quipped.
"Maybe if you'd tried one of those kisses all those years ago…," she suggested light-heartedly.
"In the hallway at the SGC?" he protested with a chuckle at the image.
"You're right, I would have probably fainted from shock, and so would everyone else in the hallway," she admitted with a rueful chuckle.
"Oh, I doubt that," he said with certainty as a scene in the control room flashed unbidden into his mind.
She pulled back from him again and he winced as he realized that he'd aroused her curiosity with his definitiveness. "How can you be so certain about how I would have reacted?" and he sensed a warning undercurrent in her tone as her mind worked through her suspicions.
He sighed and then an idea came to him, "How about if I promise to tell you if you promise to go fishing with me?" he bartered.
Silence answered him as she thought through the possibilities that she could figure this out without having to trade for something…. but then she realized that she wasn't giving anything up when she actually wanted to go fishing… or at least to Minnesota… or at least up to a cabin with him…
"I can hear the wheels turning in there," he accused as he gently tapped the side of her head.
"You're certain that I wouldn't have fainted or anything like that if you had kissed me in the hallway of the SGC.. without my knowing in advance that you were going to do it… and with others watching?" she specified accurately and with that intensity that told him that she would figure this out.
Knowing that it would be oh-so-much-better coming from him than Teal'c or out of her logical and overactive mind, he played with fire and sent back, "Oh yeah," and he used a smug tone that he knew would tweak her.
Now she growled a bit in frustration, but then she relented, "Allright, it's a deal."
"Minnesota? Fishing? You and Me?" he questioned for verification.
"Minnesota, fishing, you and me… and you spill about this… strange knowledge you claim to have," and he knew that her eyes were narrowing here a little as she continued to try and figure it out on her own.
"Yeah sure you betcha, snookums," he quipped and she couldn't stifle a groan.
"Minnesota, fishing, you and me, you explain this knowledge of yours… and no snookums…," she repeated with qualifications for clarity.
"No snookums?" he returned playfully.
"It's too… just too…," she groaned although she knew that he was mainly doing this to distract her from her ruminations on the mysterious information that he claimed to possess.
"So, fishing?"
"Mhm," she agreed distractedly.
"In Minnesota?"
"Mhm," she replied again absently.
"And you're really coming with me?" he played it out and was rewarded with her silent chuckles again as she shook slightly against him.
"Yes," she replied clearly.
"WOOHOO!" he deliberately yelled and felt her wince in reaction to his unexpected outburst.
"If they are still out there…," she started to mention, but then realized that that's exactly why he'd yelled. "Oh," and she sighed and buried her face in his chest again as he leaned over and slid the garage door open with one hand while keeping her against him with the other.
"Good thing your garage door is so easy to open and close," he muttered in her ear.
"It's all about balance, weighting and…," she replied as she started to pull away a little, and then let the last part of that trail off unspoken. Watching his eyebrows raise suggestively, however, she groaned and simply put her head back on his chest.
"Hey, you were just like that before," Cassie complained that about the fact that they were still simply standing in each other's arms.
"What was she expecting?" Jack muttered into Sam's ear again and was rewarded with another giggle.
Reluctantly the two relinquished their embrace and then turned to face their friends. A few moments of silence passed as each tried to decide who should speak.
"Hey," Jack finally managed an innocuous greeting.
"Uh, yeah. Hi," Sam added self-consciously.
No one replied for a few moments as Jennifer and Dragon looked expectantly at Daniel and Teal'c… both of whom were enjoying Sam and Jack's situation too thoroughly. Daniel, in particular, made a show of visually inspecting Jack's now-grease-spotted clothes. Sam winced and looked down as her face colored a bit.
Finally, Daniel broke the silence with, "So… How's it going?" he asked almost conversationally and then didn't wait for a reply before continuing with, "We were… just out for a walk…," and he looked at the others who all nodded too-innocently. Jack and Sam just rolled their eyes. "And… wow… look what we saw… or didn't see…," and the archeologist smiled too sweetly.
"So… is there going to be a date?" Cassie couldn't stand the teasing banter any longer.
"Actually…," and Jack furrowed his brows, "She never answered that question."
"Then what was the 'Woohoo' about, O'Neill?" Teal'c finally intoned archly and both Jennifer and Dragon had to stifle their own giggles at the Jaffa's obvious consternation.
"Oh, that… the Woohooo," and he lifted his voice softly, pantomiming the earlier exclamation.
"No, WOOHOOO!" Cassie shouted, "That Woohoo… now what was that for?" she demanded.
Jack looked over at Sam to see her struggling mightily to contain her laughter.
"Uh, Jack? Sam?" Daniel reminded them that the others were still waiting for an explanation. "No date?" and everyone could hear the archeologist's disappointment.
Jack just shrugged innocently.
"So, the Woohooo was for…?" Daniel prompted.
"Oh, yeah," Jack strung it out, "That was for Minnesota, right?" and he looked at Sam as if to check.
She looked over at him innocently and shrugged and then nodded, "Yeah."
"Minnesota?" Dragon ventured into the weird conversation while looking at the interesting expressions on the others' faces. Daniel and Cassie were obviously considering this as new and interesting information. Teal'c was as hard to read as ever. Jennifer, on the other hand, seemed to be puzzling over something.
"Yeah, we're going fishing, in Minnesota," Jack expanded for the zoologist.
"How romantic," Dragon muttered and Daniel knew that the zoologist was thinking of dozens of places that were more commonly associated with romance…and warmer climates.
"Jack says that the fish are this big," Sam spoke up with a smile and gestured with her hands spread wide. And both of Teal'c's eyebrows climbed his forehead at that, and neither Dragon nor Jennifer missed the Jaffa's reaction.
Unfortunately for the two women, the Jaffa kept his own silent counsel and did not tell them that he had previously informed Sam that there were no fish in Jack's Minnesota lake. The Jaffa simply caught Sam's eye and she gave him a minute shrug with a small smile.
"Minnesota…? Fishing…?" Cassie mused outloud, and then surprised them all with "It's about time!" Stepping forward she pulled a surprised Sam away from Jack and gave the blonde woman a fierce hug. "I just wish Mom were here to see this," she whispered in Sam's ear.
"Me too, honey," Sam whispered back.
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That which was now Janet Fraiser floated ethereally nearby.
"I wouldn't have missed this for the world," Janet murmured with a beaming smile.
"Fishing in Minnesota," she continued, although only she could hear herself.
"It's about time!"
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As always, a Special Thanks to SG-1 Yahoo Transcripts
wwwdotmoon-catchindotnet/transcripts.htm (just replace the dots with periods)
Episode 322 Nemesis, transcript by AQ
And, credit also goes to the Episode Guide & Synopses at the SciFi Channel's Stargate SG-1 website
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