Disclaimer: The quantum mirror has still not shown us to the reality in which I'm even remotely in charge of these characters.

On the Run

Jack was glad that this morning's exercise was a long loop run. It meant he didn't have to concentrate, which was good because no matter how hard he tried to convince himself he didn't want to think about the stunning blonde he'd woken up next to part of him had decided that this would be a good time for The Samantha Carter Show. He was only a few miles into the run when he finally gave up fighting himself. His body went on autopilot and his attention turned to the movie playing in his mind.

10 miles left

He'd been a cocky 14 year old, impressed with himself because he was playing roller hockey with some of the older guys on his block, the first time he'd seen her. They'd had to move the game down the street from where they usually played because of the moving van parked across from his house for the past two days. Of course everyone was curious about the new neighbors, but only the moving people had been around so they'd just started their game as usual. Two hours later they'd been wrapping up because of the dying light when he'd gotten the ball on a breakaway. He'd been going for the game winning goal when one of the older guys, George maybe, had hip checked him hard. Jack had gone down in an undignified sprawl, scrapping his palms and knees in the process. The first thing he'd noticed as he'd peeled himself aching from the pavement was a slim waif of a girl with shinning blonde hair and the dying sun reflecting in bright blue eyes. The effect had made her appear almost insubstantial. In that moment he'd known that he would be tied to her forever. Then she'd broken the moment by speaking.

"Nice shot but you wouldn't have fallen if your center of gravity had been lower to the ground. I'm Samantha, but you can call me Sam. This is my brother Mark. What's your name?"

She'd been a pistol even back then, intelligence, good humor, and an innocent joy in life shinning from her eyes. The sight of a boy's hand reaching down to help him up had brought Jack's attention to the boy next to Samantha, Sam. Mark, he'd noticed, was about his age with brown hair, and bright blue eyes that marked him as Sam's brother.

"That was some header there man. If you guys always play that rough I'm going to need to get some new pads."

From then on the two boys had been practically inseparable, bonding over their love of sports, with little Sam tagging along after them. As they'd grown up what had started with that instant spark of recognition on Jack's part had evolved into a huge soft spot and a protective streak a mile wide. He'd taken it upon himself to keep an eye on her, all the while denying the possibility that he had anything other than strictly brotherly intentions.

7 miles to go

He had three years to bury the truth, not acknowledging even the possibility of its existence before it had forced its way to the surface. It had been the last week of the summer before his senior year of high school. He'd been in California with his family celebrating his father's promotion for the past two weeks. The first thing he'd done the morning after his family's late night return was to head across the street to the Carters' house. He'd gone around back and knocked on the door before he remembered that Mark was probably already at work. Sam's voiced had called that the door was open and he should let himself in. He'd found her, standing in the family room, wearing only a bikini. Her back was arched and her arms contorted as she tried to apply sunscreen to those hard to reach places on her back. He'd stared at her profile fascinated until she'd turned to him and burst into a fit of giggles.

"Hey, where's Jack? All I see is a lobster."

He'd stuck his tongue out at her and stepped closer trying to focus on the blob of sunscreen on her shoulder. He'd teased:

"Here, let me help you out with that. Otherwise we'll make quite the pair, a ghost and a lobster."

Sam had still been giggling as he'd turned her around and finished spreading the sunscreen over her shoulders. It had been the amused grin she'd tossed back over her shoulder that had sent his hands lower to grab her sides and tickle. He'd tried to convince himself it was just innocent fun, but the feel of her bare skin in his hands and her gasping breath on his neck as she turned to counter attack had destroyed that cover. Then she'd tripped backwards over the corner of the coffee table trying to get away and they'd both been sent sprawling on the couch. His hard landing on top of her had reminded him, painfully, of how much she'd matured in the past few months. He'd pushed away quickly before her squirming could cause him to react in a manner even she couldn't fail to notice.

Shit! Carter's going to kill me if he ever finds out I just basically groped his sister and enjoyed it. I can't be attracted to Sam. She's just a kid still, at least mentally. God she's beautiful, sitting there laughing. Stop staring Jack. No more looking, and definitely no more touching! Time to go, now!

He'd made a clumsy excuse about needing to finish unpacking and ran for the door. Ignoring the confusion and hurt playing across her face. After that he'd made an effort to avoid spending time alone with her, which had been made easier by the start of school. It had been a few months before she'd been able to catch him alone. He hadn't been able to resist her when she'd begged him for an explanation, tears threatening in her young eyes.

"Jack, what did I do wrong? You haven't talked to me since the summer. I miss you. Mark never takes the time to answer my questions and he hates star gazing."

He'd taken her in his arms and hugged her until the tears retreated. He'd apologized profusely telling her that it wasn't anything she'd done. He'd promised to go star gazing with her at least once every other week. Those times were a bitter sweet memory for him. She'd been in his arms more often than not, huddled up against the cold, so that they could share the same telescope on the clear winter nights. He was perversely proud of the fact that she'd never seemed to notice how tense or awkward he felt.

5 miles

It had gotten easier once he'd left for college. He didn't have to see her every day and wonder if that day would be the one where he'd get caught. He wasn't sure anymore whether he was more afraid of Sam's reaction or Mark's. At school he'd only dated brunettes and tried to pretend that the stunning blonde who starred in his raciest dreams was not his 15 year old neighbor. The summer after his freshman year had been pure torture. She'd been everywhere; lying out at the beach, running through the neighborhood, stretching out and giggling with her friend Cassie down at the swim docks before practice. He'd deliberately taken a job at school last summer to avoid the increasing temptation that was Samantha Carter.

4 miles

Of course being away had meant that he no longer had the opportunity to look out for her like she deserved. He'd only found out that she'd started dating because Mark had dropped a reference to Sam and her boyfriend Jonas into the conversation one evening. He'd been surprised at how much that news had hurt, but covered his reaction with the appropriate, polite, friend of the family response. He'd started dating Sarah in August, finally giving in to her after two years of borderline stalking on her part. He'd never really mentioned her to Sam since he'd still been following his avoidance policy. He'd finally convinced himself that he was over Sam when the most recent, other than last night, incident had occurred.

3 miles

He'd brought Sarah home for fall break since she had no family close enough by to visit easily in the two day vacation. They gone out for dinner and had of course been late to the movie. He'd had them situated in what seemed to be the last two seats in the theater before he'd noticed Sam sitting immediately in front of them, on what appeared to be a date of her own. He'd tried to focus on the inane romantic comedy playing on the screen in front of him, but he'd been distracted by being this close to Sam after so long. If he hadn't been paying such close attention to her he would have missed the first tussle between Sam and her date. He'd been so focused on the couple in front of him that he'd missed Sarah's glare. Then the creep had tried to slide his hand up Sam's thigh and under her shirt for the second time that evening. His protective streak had taken over and he'd used his training to numb the guys arm before threatening him and following Sam out of the theater, having completely forgotten about Sarah.

2 miles

Driving Sam home had felt right, not at all awkward, until they'd reached her front door and she'd tried to thank him and apologize. He'd stopped her by reaching a hand out to smooth back a stray lock of hair, he couldn't help himself. He'd found himself lost in the troubled depths of her baby blues as he savored the feel of his palm sliding along her cheek. For a moment, as she'd leaned closer, he'd imagined that Sam was going to kiss him. He wasn't sure whether his quick exhalation had been a plea or a thanksgiving when her lips had landed on his cheek instead. After she'd been safely inside he'd collapsed on her front steps trying to figure it out until his cell phone had rung.

1 mile

Sarah hadn't been very happy with his half-hearted apology, but it was all he gave her. They'd had a rather rocky relationship the past few months. Sarah had thrown herself back into the pursuit and Jack had sat back and let her do as she pleased neither encouraging nor discouraging her. Then Mark had mentioned that Sam was going to be staying for a weekend visit. He'd purposefully planned a big party for that weekend to distract himself from the possibilities of her, reminding himself of all his self-imposed limits. The last thing he could remember from the previous night was a quiet battle of wills with Sarah as his icy glare had convinced her that he'd meant it when he'd said he was sleeping in his bed, by himself, that night. He'd breathed a sigh of relief when Sarah had left without causing a scene. He'd considered saying goodnight to Sam, but had decided avoidance was probably still his best bet and gone to his room alone. But somehow fate had conspired, he wasn't sure for or against him, and she'd ended up in his arms and in his bed this morning.

Back at the beginning

Now he was heading back to that room with trepidation, not sure what he expected to find waiting for him. Part of him was hoping that Sam would still be there, in his bed. The more honorable part hoped she'd be long gone. He didn't think he'd be able to stop himself from acting on his attraction to her if they spent much more time together. If he hadn't accidentally turned on the snooze this morning he might have been significantly later for his run. Battling increasing nerves Jack let himself into the quiet house and headed upstairs. He opened the door to his room slowly and then stopped on the threshold to his room in complete shock. While Danny's half of the room remained a complete mess, his side had been straightened. His bed was made with precise military corners and on the center of his bed were a bunch of origami figures. There were seven stars laid out in the shape of the Big Dipper pointing towards his pillow where an eighth star lay. Jack fumbled his way into his desk chair amazed. The Big Dipper and the North Star had been the first stars he'd ever shown Sam how to locate in the night sky.

She'd caught him setting up the new telescope he'd received that Christmas and she'd pestered him with questions until he'd finally agreed to show her how it worked and what was 'so interesting up there'. That New Years Eve when the Carter's had come over to celebrate he'd bundled her up and taken her out to the widow's walk where he'd decided to keep the telescope. He'd pointed out the Big Dipper and how it led to the North Star, a constant light in the night sky to keep the world anchored. She'd been so excited by the view asking him more and more questions that before he'd realized it it had been almost midnight. The muted sound of a count down had brought him back to earth and the exhausted pixie next to him. He'd given her a soft Happy New Years kiss on the forehead and carried her back down to her family. It had been the first of many similar star gazing sessions over the years.

What am I going to do now? Oh for crying out loud Jack, go get in the shower. You stink, and you'd promised Samantha you'd meet her for lunch. Wipe that goofy grin off your face and move. You'll never figure out what comes next sitting here on your ass!

A/N: Okay, so I know not much happened, but I hope you enjoyed getting a little more background on this budding relationship, at least from Jack's perspective. And hopefully the age difference early on isn't squicking ppl out, at least not more than its bugging Jack. On the topic of using Carter to refer to Sam I don't think it would fit the characters as written. Given that Mark and Jack are close friends and they play on at least one sports team together, I think it'd be much more likely that Mark's nickname would be Carter, while everyone just sticks with Sam.

Thanks to all those who've taken the time to write a review, esp. those of you have done it more than once. Please do it again, esp. as I'm still new enough to this to doubt my skill. Of course if you don't like please tell me that to, but at least give me a specific thing to work on.

That's all for now as I should probably get some work work done today.