24 Hours earlier
17 year old Samantha Carter was excited. She knew it wasn't exactly rational. She'd visited her older brother Mark at school before; after all he was a junior in college. She wasn't sure what was making this trip different from the others. Maybe it was because this was the first time an admission's interview had been on her schedule, not that she had to worry about getting in. More likely it was the fact that she was going to be seeing Jack again, after dreaming about him for months. She was sure there'd been a 'moment' between them while he'd been home for fall break a few months ago.
Why doesn't matter at the moment. Take a deep breath Samantha. It's time to go impress the admissions officers. You can worry about Jack later.
With that Sam parked her car in the visitor's lot and headed into the admissions office.
90 minutes later, when she wandered back out of the building Sam was slightly more relaxed.
These interviews are so simple. Talk about being swim team captain for the past few years. Gush about giving back to the community through lessons and volunteering. Mention AP classes and an interest in science or engineering. Smile charmingly and you've got them. Hook, line, and sinker. Ah geez, why did I just use that analogy? I hate fishing; its all Jack's fault. No time for that now Samantha…next up is…right, Intro to Quantum Mechanics. God I'm such a nerd, sitting in on a 400 level physics class for fun.
The sound of her name echoing across the quad turned Sam's attention outward.
"Hey big brother, T, what's up?"
"Samantha Carter, it is nice to see you again. I am honored that you have chosen to accompany me to lecture this afternoon."
Sam smiled. Mark and his friends had 'adopted' T, she still wasn't sure what his nickname was short for, sometime last year and had been working hard to introduce the international student to Americanized speech and behavioral patterns. It was slow work, though the quirky sense of humor hidden behind his reserved demeanor was certainly becoming more evident.
"Well I'll let you two brains get on with it then. T, don't forget to drop Sam off at the pool after class. Sam, you can eat dinner with the swimmers or stop by the rink after practice and I'll take you downtown when I'm done."
Sam rolled her eyes at her brother.
"You know I'll be waiting for you to finish hockey practice. Mom and Dad sent meal money and there's no way I'm going to let you waste it on campus food or alcohol. Just make sure my stuff gets back to your house safely or there will be hell to pay."
"I will see your sister safely to the natatorium upon completion of our studies, Mark Carter." replied T as he turned to lead Sam to the science building.
Unsurprisingly the physics class had been somewhat over her head, but she thought she'd caught the central point of the lecture even though she wasn't even halfway through her high school physics course. Sam had also enjoyed speaking with the swim coach and observing the team camaraderie as the swimmers had gathered on deck to stretch before practice. However, there is a limit to how long a person can watch others swim laps without becoming incredibly bored; so Sam excused herself, promising to keep in contact with the coach and headed across the street to the ice arena. Here Sam was content to watch the much more entertaining conclusion to the hockey team's practice. She quickly identified her brother and then lost track of time staring at Jack.
What is it about the contrast between the skill and finesse with which he handles the puck and the power and ferocity with which he manhandles the other players that has me obsessed with watching him? Maybe because I've seen that same contrast in the way he handles people off the ice? I still can't believe what he did to Pete.
A month ago (October)
It had started as a rather typical first date. Pete had invited her to dinner (pizza at the local place) and a movie. She'd accepted mostly because she felt bad for the new kid in town but also he'd seemed like a nice enough guy. The date had gone seriously down hill for her when he'd started feeling her up in the middle of the movie. Her first instinct had been to hiss at him and smack his arm away. When he'd tried again five minutes later she'd been stopped from causing serious bodily harm by the mysterious appearance of two arms reaching over the back of their seats to numb Pete's arms by hitting a few key pressure points. The sound of a low familiar voice had accompanied this action keeping Sam from causing an even bigger scene in the middle of the theater.
"I don't believe the lady is interested, kid. Get a clue."
Sam had flashed a thankful smile at Jack before storming out of the theater. She hadn't quite made it to the parking lot when she realized that Pete had driven and she now lacked the means to actually escape from this embarrassing situation.
"Can I offer the damsel in distress a ride home?"
The sound of Jack's voice in her ear had startled Sam. She had stood up from the curb, nodded her head and followed him to his truck, not quite trusting her voice yet. The ride back to her home had been quiet but not overly tense. He'd insisted on walking her to her door and she'd tried to thank him and apologize for ruining his evening, but he'd merely raised his hand cutting her off.
"Samantha, I'm sure you would have given that creep what he deserved if I hadn't intervened. I just did it faster."
He'd pulled one hand from his pockets and stretched it forward to tuck a stray blond lock back behind her ear. She'd shivered and tilted her head into his hand at the feel of his callused fingertips sliding along her cheek as he withdrew. Sam couldn't remember which one of them had stepped closer first but she could recall his eyes falling to her lips and how they'd widened as she'd nervously licked her lips. Seeing him frozen in front of her Sam had almost given in to her desire to kiss him, but she'd chickened out at the last second and given him a quick peck on the cheek instead.
"Thanks" she'd whispered stepping back and fumbling with her house key. Jack had held the screen door for her until she'd gotten most of the way into the house.
"Good night Samantha, be safe" he'd replied as she shut the door behind her.
The rumors flying about school Monday morning about how poor Pete had been beaten up by Samantha Carter's insanely jealous ex had seriously pissed her off, reaffirming that she'd made the right choice by leaving with Jack. That quite moment between the two of them on her front porch, however, had been playing on a constant loop in her head ever since.
In fact she was reliving the moment once again, of course slightly altered as her dream-self was actually bold enough to kiss Jack, picturing his hooded brown eyes frozen on her soulful blues, when a hand on her shoulder jerked her out of her reverie. Sam twisted her head around to find herself nose to nose with the man of her dreams.
Right, and that doesn't sound like an overly dramatic teenage girl. Oh great, now I'm blushing, sheesh!
"Hey Jack" she fumbled. "I must have zoned out. Didn't realize you guys had finished practice already. Coming to dinner?"
"Nah, somebody's gotta stick around and set up for the party tonight. If I left things up to Danny or T all we'd have in the house would be diet coke and cheetos. Somebody has to make sure we have blue jello," Jack said with a wink. "Of course we can't forget the alcohol either. So where are you heading for dinner?"
Sam smiled at Jack's teasing. She'd never grown out of her blue jello phase.
"I thought I'd let Mark decide where, though I did really enjoy that Thai place Danny recommended last time I was up."
"I guess it's ok if you like that kind of stuff. I'd rather have a good ole steak any day. Oops, there's my ride," said Jack gesturing towards the other end of the rink. "I'll catch up with you back at the house."
Sam watched him stride over to the perky, overdressed brunette, slide his arm around her, and lead her out into the night; proud of herself for not being jealous.
Not jealous, ha, that's a good one Samantha. You really should stop lying to yourself. It's not healthy. Food now. Jack later.
The party was already in full swing when Sam and Mark had returned from dinner. Last year Sam hadn't understood why Mark and the guys had been so excited about finding a house to rent, but now she was beginning to see the point. She'd come to appreciate how rare it was for juniors to snag such spacious digs. Mark, T, Danny, and Jack shared a two story, two bedroom, 1.5 bath place with a large living/dinning area and a well equipped kitchen. As they'd entered the house Mark had grabbed a beer and run off after a woman leaving Sam alone. She headed for the refrigerator where she knew Jack would have left some non-alcoholic blue jello cubes. Sam, who didn't drink yet, poured herself some of T's soda and took it, along with her tray of jello in search of an observation post.
Sam amused herself watching the way Mark and his friends behaved under the influence of alcohol. Danny became considerably more social to the point of disappearing upstairs with a woman who'd been introduced as Janet for a few minutes before returning with his coat and a small bag and heading out the front door with her. Jack and Mark seemed to be considerably less affected, though she spotted both of them in compromising positions throughout the night. Sarah, the brunette from the ice rink spent all evening trying to wrap herself around Jack and Catherine, Mark's current girl, was never far from his side.
By 1:30 am Sam was tired of watching so she headed upstairs away from the boisterous party to get ready for bed. Sam had just finished changing into her sleep shorts and tank top and brushing her teeth when she heard giggling in the hallway and the distinctive sound of a door clicking shut. She stuck her head out of the bathroom to see that her brother's door was now closed, though she'd purposefully left it ajar.
Darn it, now where am I supposed to sleep. I can't exactly walk in there and plop down on T's bed. Yuck, I totally don't need to be a party to my brother's sex life. Hmm, Danny didn't seem to be planning on coming back here tonight. I'll go crash in his bed.
Sam fully intended to collapse into Danny's bed and sleep until noon, but a sleepy mumble from the other bed caught her attention. She'd noticed, while doing a final scan of the party, that neither Jack nor Sarah had been downstairs when she left. However she had assumed that they'd left together. Obviously she'd been wrong since Jack was here by himself.
Mmmm, yummy, was Sam's initial reaction to half naked Jack tossing restlessly on his bed. Boy, does he look good. Stop staring Samantha! Get into bed. No, the other bed. Don't go over there. This is a bad idea!
Sam stopped herself just before her hand came in contact with the bare arm that Jack had thrown over the covers. But then he mumbled something which sounded surprisingly like her name and she couldn't resist leaning down to touch him. That treacherous arm snaked around her waist and pulled, toppling her onto his bed and him. Sam squirmed trying to gather herself from her undignified sprawl, but succeeded only in tangling herself up in Jack's sheets. That and sending ripples of awareness coursing through her body. She froze as Jack whispered huskily in her ear.
"Keep moving like that and I'll be done before you've had your turn. And that would be quite a waste Sam."
Oh my god! Is he awake? Can't be, otherwise I wouldn't be sprawled over him. He must be dreaming. He can't be having one of those dreams about me. Can he? Am I dreaming? He did just say my name? Okay Samantha, move it. Get off this bed and back into the unoccupied one.
But Sam's body refused to obey, and she found herself allowing Jack tuck her in alongside him, head pillowed on one arm, the other still wrapped around her waist. It wasn't long before Sam joined Jack in sleep. Partially because she was exhausted from her long day, but mostly because the sensation of Jack's finger tracing patterns on her lower back was incredibly relaxing.
A/N: So? What'd you think? Shall I continue? Suggestions for story development and question of clarification are welcome. I've purposefully not pinned this story to a particular school/location though I do have a mental picture of each of the places mentioned based upon real locations. Also I haven't decided whether or not to introduce the military into this fic. I do have several occasions in their shared history that I plan to flashback to, but none of them are written yet. Let me know.