A/N: First of all, I realize my story has started experiencing time dilation, not unlike that caused a black hole. Chapters 1 to 4 encompass about a month of time, chapters 5 and 6 cover about 2 weeks of action, and Chapters 7 to 12 describe the events of roughly 36 hours. Never fear, I promise things will get moving again soon! (Otherwise, by the time we hit chapter 20, I'll be relating only a minute's worth of drama per chapter!)

Secondly, thanks so much for the wonderful encouragement. Your feedback and support is really what motivates me. Honestly, the only other time I've ever written so much so fast was in college when I cranked out a 14 page term paper in about 24 hours. And this, I assure you, is much more fun!

Chapter 13

Like a feather gently fluttering to the ground on the wings of a summer breeze, Jack felt his conscious mind slowly drift back into the present. It took a few moments, but eventually his brain began to feel reconnected with the rest of his body. Pleasantly enough, the rest of his body was quite content to stay exactly where it was. Sam was snuggled next to him, her smooth skin a delightful contrast to the rough texture of his own. She was breathing deeply and evenly, radiating a gentle heat that soothed him in ways he didn't understand. This moment, he decided, was about as close to perfection as he'd ever been in his life.

And then it hit him.

She'd used the "L" word.

Jack felt like he'd been struck in the gut with a two-by-four. In a good way, if that was possible.

Could she really mean that? Oh, sure, he knew she cared for him. But caring was a bland, mediocre concept, made for people who felt more than friendly but less than… well, than the "L" word.

The "L" word was huge. It was serious. It spoke of commitment, emotional responsibility, and hopes for the future. It said all the things he'd assumed she was planning with Shanahan. But just now, less than a day after booting Pete from her life, she'd just said the "L" word to him.

Again, he wondered, could she really mean that?

Abruptly, he realized he was feeling cool air on his skin. He reached down to the foot of the bed and tugged a spare blanket up over their bodies.

Sam must have drifted off. The sensation of something warm and fuzzy being drawn over her stirred her into wakefulness. She felt Jack stretch out beside her, pulling her close to him. The touch of bare skin to bare skin was delicious. Sighing, she snuggled against his warm, solid body.

And then, the enormity of the morning's events began to sink in. She'd just made love with Jack. And the choice to do so was intentional, premeditated, and completely rational.

Well, okay, she amended. Feeling his muscled form beside her, she admitted that the decision may have been a little irrational. But then, what woman wouldn't go a bit crazy when confronted by those gorgeous, intense, brown eyes?

In any event, she was giddy with relief and joy now that they had finally broken through the huge, seemingly insurmountable barrier that had always stood between them. Lying here, in his strong, tender embrace, she finally felt like anything was possible. Even…

Uh-oh.

Her blue eyes flew open in startled dismay. Trying to fight down a rising feeling of panic, she forced herself to relax. Maybe she hadn't said it. Maybe she'd just thought it. She decided to sneak a peek at his face. One good look ought to tell her all she needed to know. Shifting her position slightly, she allowed her eyes to drift over his strong, chiseled features and rest in his clear, striking gaze.

Uh-oh. There was no question. She'd definitely said it.

Jack felt Sam stir beside him. He watched in mute fascination as her brilliant, cornflower eyes slowly fixed on his face. When their gazes locked, he was filled with the most incredible sensation of awe. Long ago, he'd resigned himself to the fact that he'd never feel this way again. That part of his life was over – or so he'd thought. Apparently, he'd been wrong. Because as he lay next to her, looking into those sweet, soulful eyes, he was swept away.

Sam's breath was caught in her throat. She'd briefly glimpsed this side of Jack on P6Y-441, but she'd been too euphoric from the Ka'Shakk to really fathom what it meant. In complete contrast, she now knew exactly how important these moments were. He wasn't backpedaling, gently extricating himself, or trying to return their relationship to the status quo. He was just looking at her with a supremely content, knowing expression. Sam swallowed.

Oh, hell. She'd definitely said it.

Taking a deep breath, she smiled up at him. "Hi," she said softly.

He smiled back, never releasing her gaze. "Hi," he replied.

She propped herself up on one elbow and looked down into his eyes. "That was…" She trailed off, unable to find words strong enough to describe her feelings.

His smile deepened into a somewhat arrogant grin. "Yeah," he said. "I know."

Sam rolled her eyes and shook her head. That was Jack. Cocky and sure of himself, as always.

Slowly, though, his expression turned serious. "Hey, Sam," he asked quietly, "about what you said a few minutes ago–"

Sam interrupted, aiming for damage control. "I didn't mean…" She stopped, then tried again. "You shouldn't think…" Once more, she halted.

Looking at her intently, Jack tried filling in the blanks. "You didn't mean it?" His expression was unreadable.

"No," Sam said. Then, realizing how that sounded, she made a noise of exasperation. "I mean, yes." Seeing Jack's puzzled expression, she tried yet again. "I did mean it."

His eyes brightened. "Really?"

Sam smiled shyly, glancing down. "Really," she murmured. Then, meeting his gaze, she continued. "But I didn't mean to pressure or scare you." She shrugged. "It's just how I feel." Biting her lower lip, she couldn't help the note of uncertainty that was creeping into her voice. "Is that okay?"

For a long moment, Jack just stared into her eyes. Then he nodded, smiling slightly. "Yeah, Sam. That's definitely okay."

Sighing with relief, Sam smiled and collapsed back onto the bed, curling into his warm body once more. Jack O'Neill wasn't a man of many words. But the truth was there in his eyes. She didn't know if he returned her love, but he definitely accepted it. And for now, that was more than enough.

Jack's voice rumbled beneath her ear. "So, we've probably still got a few days off, Colonel." She could hear the smile in his voice. "What do you think we should do with them?"

Sam grinned impishly. "We could go fishing," she suggested.

Jack paused. "Never thought I'd hear myself say this, but, no. I don't want to go fishing."

She chuckled. "Well, I'm sure we'll think of something to do."

And, not surprisingly, they did.

A little more than two days later, Jack sat in his living room, waiting for Sam to finish in the shower. The time they'd spent together was nothing short of amazing. Both of them knew that these moments were something of an illusion. Reality, in the form of General Hammond and the Joint Chiefs, was bound to intrude eventually. But somehow, that knowledge only fueled their desperation for each other. He was pretty sure that this was the first time he'd been dressed in the last 48 hours, and only because he'd needed to wait for the pizza to be delivered. He'd finally insisted on a substantial food break. He'd never been one to keep much food in the house, and it hadn't taken long for the fridge to become empty.

Slowly, Jack became aware of voices coming from his front step. Wondering if the pizza guy had forgotten something, he got up to check it out. Then, he stopped. Maybe it wasn't the pizza guy. Maybe it was Hammond. Dread, unlike any he'd felt in a long while, crept up his spine. He knew it was foolish, and probably a little selfish, too, but he really wanted more time with Sam before returning to reality. He still hadn't worked up a way to tell her how he felt about her. That damn "L" word kept getting stuck in his throat. He wanted to say it, but he was… afraid. And now, walking slowly to the door, he wondered if he might have missed his chance.

The voices outside were muted, but definitely male. Steeling himself, he firmly grasped the handle and opened the door.

"…if we knock and he doesn't answer, we can leave, but I think we have to try-" Daniel abruptly stopped when the door swung inward, revealing a rather grim-looking Jack. "Oh. Hi." Examining O'Neill's face, he continued tentatively. "Teal'c and I –" he gestured to the large Jaffa standing beside him "– were getting a little worried. We've been calling for the last two days. There was no answer here or at Sam's house, and her car wasn't in her driveway. We saw it parked out front here, and Teal'c suggested we leave, lest we cause another interruption like the one a few nights ago. I just wanted to make sure everything was okay first."

Jack regarded him a little less severely. "You're not here to drag me back to the SGC?"

Daniel looked surprised. Exchanging a quick glance with Teal'c, he shook his head. "No. We were just worried."

O'Neill visibly relaxed. "Come on in," he said amicably, turning around without waiting to see if they complied.

The two men on his doorstep looked at each other again. Teal'c raised one eyebrow, but then stepped inside. Daniel followed wordlessly.

"Pizza again, O'Neill?" Teal'c eyed the box on the coffee table. "Are you not tired of repeatedly eating the same meal?" He and Daniel sat down on the sofa, allowing themselves to get comfortable.

Jack settled on the love seat and shrugged. "Sam's been craving it," he explained. "And you heard the woman. Never mess with the cravings of a pregnant woman."

Daniel nodded, smiling absently. "Where is Sam?" he asked, glancing around.

As if on cue, they heard the sound of a door opening across the house.

"Carter, we've got company!" Jack's rather forceful yell made both men on the couch jump. Jack shrugged. "Sorry," he said at normal volume, "but I just wanted to avoid any embarrassment."

Daniel looked puzzled. "Embarrassment?"

O'Neill sighed impatiently. "She was in the shower." Seeing Daniel's continued blank expression, Jack fixed him with a direct stare, trying to make his clueless friend fill in the blanks on his own.

Teal'c cleared his throat. "I think, Daniel, that O'Neill was warning Samantha of our presence so she did not emerge from the bathroom in an undressed state."

Jack smiled wryly. "Bingo."

Suddenly, Daniel's eyes grew wide. "Oh! Jeez, Jack, I'm sorry. I didn't-" He stopped as another thought occurred to him. "Do you want us to leave? Because we can–"

O'Neill waved a hand dismissively. "Nah. We've gotta eat sometime."

Daniel choked, shaking his head in embarrassment. Teal'c just smirked.

"Hi guys!" Sam's voice was bright and cheerful. Daniel turned to look at her, and had to forcibly bite his tongue to keep from grinning.

This was not the Samantha Carter of a few days ago. First of all, she was wearing a t-shirt emblazoned with the Air Force logo and a pair of rolled-up sweat pants. The baggy, oversized fit clearly marked them as Jack's. Secondly, her hair glistened damply in a fresh-from-the-shower style that was obviously careless. And most important was the brilliant, undeniable glow in her blue eyes. Daniel knew without a doubt that he was looking at a woman in love.

Teal'c obviously had the same thought. "You are looking well, Samantha," he said with a gentle smile.

Sam beamed at him. "Thanks, Teal'c. I feel pretty good."

Daniel glanced at Jack and, again, had to stifle a grin. O'Neill was staring at Sam like a starving man might look at an all-you-can-eat buffet. This new and unguarded Jack was truly an entertaining sight.

Jack suddenly realized that Daniel was staring at him, a clear look of amusement on his face. Immediately understanding the reason for that look, he glared back at his friend. Daniel just smiled knowingly.

Unaware of the wordless exchange between the two men, Sam bounced over to the loveseat and settled next to Jack. On the surface, the pair might have looked nonchalant, but Daniel easily caught the subtle undercurrent between them. Jack casually draped his arm along the back of the seat, his fingers resting gently on her shoulder. Sam, meanwhile, began gradually leaning toward him. Within a few moments, they were snugly curled up beside each other.

"So, what brings you two here?" Sam asked, completely oblivious to anything unusual.

Daniel regarded her warmly. "We were just a little worried because we couldn't get in touch with either of you."

Sam blushed. "Oh. Um, yeah. We've been pretty…" she trailed off delicately.

"Naked." Jack's blunt completion of her statement made Sam's blush deepen from a soft pink to a vivid crimson.

"Jack!" she gasped, fixing him with a look of combined disbelief, horror and amusement.

He just grinned and shrugged.

Daniel rolled his eyes, pointedly ignoring the awkward conversation. "Anyway, there was a reason I originally wanted to get in touch with you," he said, looking at Jack and Sam.

Sensing a matter of some importance, Sam overcame her embarrassment and leaned forward, looking interested. "What's up?"

"Well, I think I found something." Daniel took on his trademark, faraway, lost-in-thought expression. "Since I was at home with nothing to do, I decided to spend a little time catching up on some reading."

"Naturally," Jack said dryly. "That's what I would do."

Sam poked him in the ribs, gesturing him to be quiet.

"Anyway," Daniel continued, completely disregarding Jack's interruption, "While reading an old archaeological journal, I came across a picture that was extremely interesting." Fumbling in his breast pocket, he retrieved a folded piece of paper. He spread it open and handed it to Sam.

"Oh my gosh!" she exclaimed. The paper contained the photograph of a museum artifact. It was a tiny metal cylinder attached to a chain, apparently worn as a necklace. Most remarkably, however, were a series of small straight lines scored into the cylinder and a cluster of quartz crystals stuck to the end of it. "It's a perfect miniature of the device we recovered from P3X-812!"

Daniel nodded in excitement. "According to the text, this piece of jewelry was found on a dig that was supposed to be uncovering parts of ancient Mesopotamia. There were nearly a half-dozen of them recovered in the same dig. The archeologists weren't sure what sort of ruins they were investigating, but they hypothesized that it might be a temple of some sort."

Sam looked at him in surprise. "A temple? To what?"

Daniel shrugged. "That's still something of a mystery. However, there was one more piece of information that I think you'll find very useful. The necklaces were disregarded as modern contamination of the site, because they were obviously too advanced for the culture being researched." His voice began to bubble with anticipation. "You see, the archaeologists discovered a secret to the amulets. They weren't just decorative. They were also functional." He leaned over and pointed to the picture. "The necklaces were all found in the vicinity of a small metallic puzzlebox. These lines were carved to fit perfectly in an irregularly shaped hole on the box, and the crystals at the end were placed in such a way that they engaged a spring-mechanism." He looked at her, a broad smile on his face. "Sam, the necklaces were the keys to a very intricate lock. When opened, the box was apparently empty. It and all the keys were hardly noted, but sent back to a museum for further study later on. The author hypothesizes that they must have been made no earlier than the early 1800's." His eyes gleamed. "I, however, think he was wrong. I think this box was a gift from some alien visitor, and I think it was modeled on something much bigger. Sam," he said, exhilaration clearly etched on his features, "I think somewhere on P3X-812 there's a big, irregularly shaped lock guarding God-knows-what. And I'm pretty sure your gadget is the key to unlocking it."