Author's notes:

Kahless21: Wow! Thanks so much. I hope this chapter is equally satisfying.

Gater101: Really! Thanks for letting me know. :)

Sci Fi Fan Gillian: Thank you!

Jennyvre Moss: Yes, I think so too. Thank you!

Xdiagonstarx: I'm chuffed! Thanks :) Hope you like the final chapter :)

Jaka: Don't worry! They are going to get together… :)

Thanks everyone! It means so much. :) I really appreciate the time you take to review. I just love it!

Sorry I've been so slow in posting the next (well, oh my gosh the final chapter) lol

Okay… so without further adieu here's the conclusion of You are so puzzling to me. I hope you like it and I sincerely hope that it delivers a well deserved happy ending. Enjoy:D

You are so puzzling to me

Chapter Five

Flashback

Sam sat curled up on her couch bearing a blanket and a box of Kleenexes, eating a huge bowl of ice cream when the doorbell rang. She didn't bother to get up.

'It's unlocked!' She bellowed. She heard the door knob turn and the soft scuffle of shoes on the carpet.

'Hey Carter.'

Sam turned her head to see Jack standing in the hallway. His arms were full of pizza and movies. She shoved another spoonful of ice cream in her mouth.

'What are you doing here, sir?' She said bitterly, placing distance between them.

'Just thought we could have a team night. I brought pizza and stuff.' He explained and gestured to the pizza box in his hands.

'A team night? Are Daniel and Teal'c coming?'

Jack put the pizza and movies on the coffee table. 'Well…Daniel's working on a translation of something and Teal'c is—'

'Well it's not a team night then is it?'

'No, not really…but Sam…I…we really need to talk.'

'About what exactly?'

'The other night. I'm sorry about Aadi. I should have told you—'

'No. It's okay.'

'Carter—'

'No really sir. It's fine.'

Jack looked down at his feet. There was a short pause before he spoke up again.

'Hey.' He said softly. 'I was really chuffed you asked me to be your best man.' Jack looked up at her and smiled warmly.

Sam snorted. 'It's over...'

'What?' Jack asked confused.

'The wedding. It's off.' She said shortly and spooned out another dish of ice cream.

'What…why?'

Sam shrugged her shoulders. 'Just wasn't meant to be. It doesn't matter.' She concluded, ending the subject.

'Sam, I'm sorry…' Jack trailed off.

'Don't be sir. It's fine. Really.'

There was a long silence.

'Sir, I'm happy for you.'

'C'mon Carter, don't lie to me.'

'SIR! I'm happy for you. Okay? She's a great girl, plus she likes fishing right? I mean you could never get me to go fishing with you…'

'Sam…'

'Sir, maybe it's better if you just go.'

Jack nodded reluctantly. 'Yeah, maybe it is.'

Jack turned towards the door and turned around to face her once more. 'If you ever want to talk…'

'I won't.'

Feeling hurt he turned and left Sam alone to sort out her thoughts.

End of flashback

The words still echoed in her mind. 'If you ever want to talk…'

Pete had left her because he knew that she loved Jack. He left and saved her life. He gave her the chance to make something of it- something she had wanted for years. But even when the opportunity was placed right in front of her she ignored it. She refused to deal with it, and she didn't know why. Of course there was Aadi, but she knew that it wasn't real. It couldn't be. Could it?

Sam didn't know but she needed to find out. She'd already made up her mind, she was going to talk to him.

Sam reached the secluded mountain and pulled the car to a stop outside the base. She checked the time on her watch – 7:45. There was enough time. She pulled the keys from the ignition and grabbed her purse before running to the entrance of the mountain.

……….

Sam knocked on the door of his office and shifted her feet uncomfortably.

'Come in.' She heard him call out from somewhere in the room.

Sam reached for the doorknob and stepped inside his office. She immediately ducked her head to avoid the impact of some flying item.

Jack had his back to her and was throwing countless items into cardboard boxes which were scattered about the floor.

'Sir?' Sam questioned him.

Jack turned around to face her. 'Oh. Hey…'

'Hey…?' Sam frowned at him in confusion.

'I was just…um…spring cleaning.' Jack stated simply and gestured to the cluttered boxes in the room.

Sam raised her eyebrows dissatisfied.

Jack lowered his head and exhaled slightly.

'Carter—'

'Sir—'

They both started at the same time.

'Can we talk?' Sam asked softly.

Jack nodded in silent agreement. Sam looked into his deep brown eyes.

'Sir…I just wanted to say that I'm sorry.'

'About?'

'Everything.'

'Carter, you have nothing to be sorry about. If anyone should be putting downers on themselves it should be me Sam. I just wanted you to be happy. When Pete had proposed to you, well…it stung at first…but I was glad that you were going to have a life with someone – someone who cared for you so much. You deserve that Sam. That and so much more.'

Sam forced down the lump that was forming in her throat and closed her eyes.

'Jack…the reason that the wedding was cancelled…was because of my feelings for you. I couldn't keep pretending anymore…I couldn't lie to Pete. It's just that…' She trailed off.

She looked into his eyes with sadness etched in her own.

'I couldn't wait for you forever.'

Jack took a step towards her. He brought his hand up to her face and gently cupped her cheek.

'Shh…I know.' He whispered. 'Sam…Aadi and I…well…she drank way too much coffee.' He joked lightly enticing a small smile from Sam.

'There was never anything between us Sam.'

Sam nodded knowingly and leaned into his hand.

He leaned forward and rested his forehead against her own.

'Sir…Jack we can't.'

'Hey…we can.'

'No…' Sam shook her head.

'Sam… I'm resigning.'

'But—'

'No buts Sam. Stop analyzing, just listen.' He grinned.

Sam smiled in return. 'Kay.'

'Sam…I want to do this. I've wanted to do this since, forever. I want this, I want us to be free to be…well…us.' He stated simply, a huge smile breaking across his face.

Sam grinned. It was so like Jack to see everything so simple. Nothing was complex with him, everything was clear. Everything was open.

'Me too.' She said beaming and linked her fingers behind his neck. He slipped his arms around her waist pulling her in close. He leaned forward and captured her lips in a sweet but passionate kiss.

They pulled apart to look at each other. 'So, um… how about jell-o?' Jack asked her in an alluring tone of voice.

'Jell-o?' Sam questioned, flashing him a smile.

'Sure…who couldn't go for a cup of jell-o in the morning?'

Sam chewed on her bottom lip. 'Well, Colonel…I don't know…that's a big decision…'

Jack arched an eyebrow. 'Oh really…'

Sam giggled. 'You're on.'

Jack took her hand in his own and pulled her towards the door of his office. Together they walked down the hall of the SGC knowing that their whole future was right in front of them. They had their whole lives ahead of them and many light years of happiness to come.

………………………………..

Well! So…the end…like it, hate it, love it? Too short perhaps. Please review. I think I'm happy with the way it turned out. Thanks so much for being patient and for taking time to help me. Hope you liked it :) :D And umm…hope it was satisfying. I know my other chapters were more or less cliffhangers. And umm…thanks so much for reading my fic.

Hugs :D

Trina