The next morning Sam woke feeling surprisingly well rested and all of the discomfort of the day before forgotten. Jack, however, she noticed seemed a bit on edge. And because of this she purposely did not tell him of Crassus' gift of the proverbial poison apple. They made their way to the kitchen to begin their chores for the day, he to the wood pile and she to the ingredients awaiting the transformation into bread. As she kneaded the dough she thought of the possibility of their having a life together. She knew that it was possible here. They were use to watching each others back, sharing both supplies and burdens till the mission was completed and if this mission proved to be without end she was ready to welcome him into her bed. Well on second thought he was already there, perhaps better put welcome him into her arms, but could they manage back on Earth where it counted.
Sam cleaned off her hand, leaving the dough to rise and went out the back door to get a basket filled with wood that Jack prepared for the bread oven. He was splitting logs, his back to the doorway and his shirt tossed on a bush. She stopped to admire the well defined muscles produced by all the physical labor. As the ax fell she saw the angry welt across his shoulder blade, stretched and irritated by every stroke of the ax. He had said nothing.
Quietly she returned inside to stoke the fire and think. He could take care of her but was so reluctant to accept help himself. So reserved emotionally that she wondered if he would ever let her in, was he even able. She was use to treating him as a superior, not questioning his order, well not usually out loud. And when push came to shove it was his order that were followed with a 'Yes, sir'. Could they treat one another as equals? Would he bark orders at her at home? Would he cut her off while she was speaking; treat her to his bad temper? Could she stand toe to toe to him? All this and they had never been intimate, how did she know if this would ever work between them. Sure there was enough lust to have a torrid affair but the depth of feelings between them she had been afraid to explore. She was ready to toss poor Pete overboard for this dream but how realistic was she being. But Pete hadn't made it to the forefront of her thoughts in months. She wanted O'Neill, she wanted into his mind, she wanted into his heart and she wanted his body. God help her. She loved a good challenge but she was beginning to think she had lost her mind.