Disclaimer: All recognizable characters, including any you don't realize you should recognize yet, are property of other people. I'm just borrowing them for the heck of it.

Toasts and Sleeping Arrangements

Sam

Once again George herded everyone downstairs and smiled down on them from the last step.

"And now for the second part of this little gathering…Does everyone still have their bottles?"

As he was speaking a willowy brunette stepped up beside him and tapped him on the shoulder. When she glared at him George shrugged sheepishly.

"Most of you know my sponsor. She'd like to remind me that she's supposed to be in charge here tonight. They're all yours Lizzy."

"Thanks George. I hope you're all having a good evening so far. It's time for toasts. Sponsors, since we're in control, what happens with the bottles is up to you. The only time we ask that you drink is after you give your player's toast. So let's crack these bottles and get started."

The sound of popping corks was accompanied by several masculine curses and lots of laughter as some people decided to open their bottles over their partners. Sam had considered spraying Jack, but decided to be nice. For her trouble she ended up with champagne bubbling over their tied hands. As Sam looked around for a towel Jack lifted their hands to his mouth and began to lick up the spilt liquid. His tongue swirled over her wet fingers, catching most of the champagne before it dripped down her arm.

Oh my! He's good with that tongue. Tingles all up my arm and down my spine. I couldn't move my arm if I wanted to.

Jack smirked at Sam's soft sigh.

"Champagne leaves a sticky residue if you don't clean it up properly."

Sam's eyes opened with a mischievous twinkle. She tugged on Jack's hand bringing it to her mouth. Her tongue darted out and, following the path his had taken, ran down his fingers to lap at his knuckles.

This taste…good! Salty, sweet, tart, and fizzy. Yum!

Sam swept her tongue back up Jack's hand pausing to nip lightly at his finger tips before moving their hands back down to her hips.

"Wouldn't want you to be sticky all night. It'd just get all over me later."

As the laughter from the people who'd drenched their friends tapered off Liz spoke again.

"Now for the toasts. Freshmen, well their sponsors anyways, will start."

The toasts given by thte first and second years sounded mostly the same; thanks for welcoming them onto the team and excited hopes for the coming season. Sam was starting to get nervous. Soon it was going to be her turn to give a toast and she had no idea what she was going to say.

What on earth am I supposed to say? I don't know anything about the team. I've never given a toast before. Jack and I never quite got around to talking about this.

"Jack, what am I supposed to say?"

"Don't worry, when it gets to us just repeat after me."

And then Liz, who'd been moving the proceedings along called out Jack's name. He squeezed Sam's hand in encouragement.

"Hi, I'm Sam Carter, Jack's new sponsor. I've never given a toast before so I'm going to let Jack say a little bit and then I'll close."

She nodded to Jack.

"All righty then guys. Feel free to join in if you know how this goes…

Dough, the stuff that buys me beer.
Ray, the guy who brings me beer.
Me, the guy who drinks the beer.
Far, a long way to get beer.
So, I'll have another beer.
La, I'll have another beer.
Tea, no thanks I'm having beer.
That will bring us back to... DOH!"

Sam waited until the giggles had died away.

"Here's to good beer, better friends, and the best season ever."

As Sam finished speaking she lifted the champagne bottle, brought it to her lips and swallowed. The bottle had been open for a while now, so the fizz was no longer overwhelming. The taste reminded her of Jack, the feel of his tongue on her skin and his skin under her tongue, causing her to blush and tremble.

Jack

Glancing over at his sponsor Jack noticed a faint blush creeping up her cheeks. He bent and captured her lips, his tongue darting out to taste the champagne lingering in her mouth.

Mmm!

"Next up, Mark Carter."

"Hey guys, Catherine here for Mark. Getting straight to the point…

Here's to you and here's to me.
May we never disagree!
But if we do,
The hell with you!
Here's to me!"

As with Jack's toast most of the room finished the toast with Catherine and a roar. Most of the hockey players and some of the sponsors were fairly intoxicated as the only remaining toast of the evening was George's.

"Now you've all been very patient so far, so I'm going to keep this short and sweet with George's favorite toast to honor…

Here's to hitting on her.
Here's to getting on her.
And if you can't come in her…
Come on her!"

Masculine laughter rolled through the basement accompanied by several cat calls and loud burps as guys chugged the remainder of their champagne. The blush that had begun after Sam gave her toast deepened.

Hmmm, Samantha looks so adorable when she blushes. The way she's staring at the ground worrying her bottom lip right now is so damn sexy! I guess she hasn't heard that toast before.

"Embarassed Samantha? It's just a little play on words." Jack whispered in her ear.

Sam rolled her eyes.

"It's so sexiest and juvenile."

"What else were you expecting from a group of guys, kiddo? Come on let's go introduce you to some of the others."

Sam

A few hours later Sam was starting to fall asleep on her feet, well on Jack's shoulder anyways. Jack had introduced her to George and Liz and while the guys had had a serious discussion about life in the Air Force the women, who had little in common, had been forced to make awkward small talk. When Sam had had enough she apologized to George and dragged Jack over to the couches where Daniel, Janet, Mark, Catherine, and T sat playing some drinking game with cards and beer. Daniel's face had lit up at their approach.

"Oh good, fresh blood. Maybe now I can get out of being the Asshole."

"I believe Samantha Carter will prove to be a better strategist than you despite her status as a novice Daniel Jackson. Besides she has been partnered with O'Neil."

T's prediction had proven to be correct as Daniel retained his position through the remainder of the game. Though they had finished playing a wile ago the group remained on the couches talking. Others had moved through their conversation, but the core group stayed constant. The conversation, quiet and subdued relative to the boisterous party which continued around them, was lulling Sam to sleep with her head on Jack's shoulder and her legs stretched across his lap.

Hmm…comfortable. Don't need a bed. I can sleep here, right? I can hear his heart beat, feel the movement of his chest as he breathes, rhythmic and comforting. Goodnight.

Janet smiled as she noticed Sam's eyes drift shut and her head burrow deeper into Jack's shoulder.

"I think someone needs to be taken to bed. She's going to be very sore in the morning if she spends the night like that. Hold out your hand Jack. I'll untie you so you can get her coat on and get her home."

Jack

Janet's got a point. I'm going to be sore too if I don't move soon.

"Good idea Janet. Anybody else ready to call it a night yet?"

"I shall accompany you and Samantha Carter back to the house to retire for the evening O'Neil."

T, who had not been drinking but just watching the game, rose from his seat opposite Jack.

"Do you need help transporting Samantha Carter, O'Neil?"

"I can carry her T. Just get the doors for me will ya?"

It took some fancy maneuvering, but between the two of them the guys managed to get Sam up the treacherous basement stairs, into her coat and back into Jack's arms.

She's heavier than she looks. Good thing I don't have to go very far. She'd kick my butt for thinking that. Almost there now. Okay into the apartment. Only one more flight of stairs…as if I haven't had enough exercise already today. Crap, where do I put her? And I can't exactly get her into her pjs either. Carter would shoot me, but naked Sam…totally worth it!

"Samantha…wake up Sam. You need to get out of these clothes and into bed."

Jack set her down on Mark's bed and dropped a chaste kiss on her forehead. Her eyes fluttered open eyeing him sleepily. She yawned.

"Could you get my bag? It's over there."

"As you wish, my beautiful sponsor."

"Jack…we're not tied anymore…"

"Nope. Janet did the honors so I could get your coat on for the walk home."

"Doesn't that mean you don't have to humor me anymore?"

"Actually I'm still yours til morning."

"Good, wait here while I go change."

Sam rose and taking her bag from Jack, headed for the bathroom. She returned a few minutes later in the same shorts and tank top she'd woken next to him in. The less noble part of Jack's brain kicked into overdrive.

Pretty! Mine! Want to touch! No! No! Mustn't scare the pretty lady. Down Jack! You know she's never done anything like this before.

Sam

Okay Samantha, you know what you want, now just tell him. You can do it. He can't say no.

"Come with me Jack."

Sam stepped out of her brother's room and into the hall. Without looking to see if Jack had followed she walked the short distance to Jack's door and stepped inside. She seated herself on Jack's bed and gestured for him to join her. Jack sat down several feet from her at the end of his bed.

"Stay with me tonight Jack."

"I'm not sure that's a good idea Samantha. I'm not entirely sober and I don't trust my self with you."

"Nothing happened last night Jack."

"Yes, and look where we are now. Last night holding you and kissing you were things I'd only dreamed about. Now that that's no longer true…I can't promise you the same results tonight."

"I trust you Jack. Now go change and get in bed."

Jack

How can I not? I'd be stupid not to do this. Of course that's assuming I don't do something even more stupid with her here. I could sleep with Samantha. I get to sleep with Samantha. I get to sleep with Sam.

"Okay Samantha. I'll stay with you, but promise me you'll tell me if anything, anything, makes you at all uncomfortable. And this time I'll sleep against the wall."

It took several minutes of awkward shuffling after Jack had changed before they had themselves comfortably situated in his bed. They ended up spooning, Sam's back to Jack's front, just a small, unnatural bit of space between them. Sam's head was pillowed on Jack's left arm and his right was draped over her waist, fingers linked with hers, resting against her stomach. Jack leaned forward and pressed a light kiss on Sam's temple.

"Sleep well, Samantha."

Realizing that Sam had already fallen back asleep Jack placed his head on the pillow next to her and sighed, willing himself to relax. He had one final thought before following her into the oblivion of dreams.

This is where I belong.

A/N: These chapters just keep coming and they're always longer than anticipated. As far as I can tell there will be one more chapter to The Visit. Don't worry though. I plan on beginning a sequel ASAP. I'm not done yet. Actually, sitting down to write this chapter was difficult because my mind kept jumping ahead to where I'd like to take the story. The way I see it currently I've got at least two sequels to go and that doesn't even get me to the Stargate. I better get busy then eh?