Winter Of A Heart

Disclaimer: I do not own these characters, but I really wish I did...

Ramble: Yes, so I didn't write for a while, and I'm sorry... again. I have been thinking of what to add this chapter all through the holidays, so I have a fair few ideas. I hope everyone has had a great Christmas/Hanukkah/Kwanzaa/whatever other holiday you may celebrate. Also, enjoy your time off school!!!

Anyway, thanks for all your reviews! Makes me feel SUPER! Okay.... anyway, onto chapter 10!

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That weekend, Jack was allowed to leave the infirmary and return home to completely recover. Sam, of course, went with him, but they weren't let off easily. They had spent so much time off work, and their work was piling up. Sam and Jack had mountains of paperwork to get through, but they had a few weeks to get it done.

Sam sighed as she turned back the sheets and blankets on Jack's bed, making it ready for him while he slept in her car. She was happy they had time to themselves, and, although she knew they had a lot to go through, she knew it would turn out good. No, better than good. She had Jack. Knowing that was ecstasy. She laughed silently to herself, remembering the events of that afternoon.

Jack had left the infirmary in a wheelchair, despite his retaliation. Janet and Sam had approached him carefully, knowing he would react badly.

"No way am I leaving in a wheelchair." He mumbled.

"Colonel, you are too weak to stand up, let alone walk. Anyway, I dont want you walking just yet, so you are going to leave in a wheelchair." Janet commmanded.

"For cryin' out loud, I can walk out!" Jack said, angrily.

Sam rolled her eyes at Janet. Jack was certainly on his way back to normal.

"Look, I'll prove it to you." Jack said, swinging his legs off the bed and onto the cement floor. He held onto the bed railings, before swaying and falling on the floor. He moaned and rolled on his back, looking sheepishly up at Sam and Janet. Janet smirked.

"Aw, shuddup." he grumbled.

"You okay, Sir?" asked Sam, trying to stop herself giggling.

"No, Carter, I'm not." he said, "I'm in pain as it is, I just fell on the damn cold floor, and you were right... again."

"Well, women know best." Janet said as she turned, "I'm gonna get the wheelchair. Sam, get him off the floor."

Jack had been pulled from the floor and shoved into the wheelchair. Sam wheeled him out, content with listening to his low complaints and grumbles. She helped him into the passenger seat of her car, and they drove back to Jack's house. He nodded off at some point, leaving Sam to her thoughts and the road. But her thoughts were on him, what they had, what would come. And she felt happy.

By the time they arrived at Jack's house, it was dark. Sam looked over at the sleeping form in the passenger seat. She quietly got out of the car, and let herself into the house, turning on a few lights, and here she was, turning back the covers on his bed. Walking back out of the house, she could see movement coming from the car. Coming closer, she saw that Jack had woken up, utterly confused about being alone in her car. He had decided that it would be smart to try to get out of the car, but he had failed. Miserably.

"Sir... what on earth are you doing?" she laughed.

He jerked his head up, glaring at her, "Thanks for leaving me! Ya know, I don't exactly want to be in the car all night, so I decided to get myself out... only, I haven't been as succesful as I had hoped. Would you like to help?"

Apparently, Jack had tried to climb in the back to get his wheelchair, decided it was pointless, tried to get out the passenger door, realizing that the only way was head first seeing as he couldn't stand. Sam found him in the space between the two front seats, his head lolling backwards so he was looking at the back seats. He must have been uncomfortable; he had the gear shift and seat belt clickers in his back.

Sam laughed, only to recieve "Get me the hell outta here!" in return. She unlocked the back of her car and grabbed his wheelchair and wheeled it over to his open door.

"Damn," he said, "I was hoping you had forgotten about that."

"No, Sir. I don't often forget things like these." She said.

"Do I need to remind you again? We're off base, Sam, call me Jack. Stop with the formality." Jack said, smiling, as she helped him out of the car.

Sam had him around the waist, with one of his hands on her shoulder, the other on her hip. Sam smiled, a bit embarrassed, but absolutly estatic. Just having him close was enough to make her crazy. He sat down heavily in his wheelchair, and Sam pushed him down the path to the steps, carefully manovering around the bumps and ditches. She managed, to get him up the front steps with some difficulty, seeing as he was squirming, heavy, and excited. As soon as they were in the doorway, Jack took control, wheeling himself around his house, going into every room he could get to, thrilled to be home. Sam went into the kitchen to make coffee, and was leaning against the counter when she had the odd feeling she was being watched. She turned, only to see Jack gazing at her, a small, gentle smile on his lips.

"What?" she asked curiously.

"I'm just looking at the most beautiful woman I find myself completely in love with." he murmured quietly.

She stared at him, not knowing exactly what to say. His words traveled slowly, and she had to take a moment to understand what he had just said. There was a peace about Jack... he made her calm, whole. He made her feel again.

"Help into bed, would ya?" He said, in that same smooth voice. She melted inside, but she couldn't let it show just yet. Right now, she needed to be strong for him.

Sam didn't feel herself move from the kitchen, but she found herself by his side, helping him up. He stood facing her, both hands on her shoulder, and for a moment, he seemed lost. He seemed to take in everything around him, without looking at anything in particular. Coming back to reality, Jack remembered where he was. He wrapped his arm around her shoulders, as her arms slid around his waist to keep him up. They walked slowly, sincronized with the others motions, fully aware of what each other was thinking and feeling. The darkness of Jack's room greeted them, and Sam helped him sit on his bed. She turned to leave, give him some privacy, but his hand stopped her. She turned to be greeted by his endless brown eyes.

"I can't do this alone." he whispered. He didn't want her to leave him. He was too afriad she would be taken from him again.

He showed her, in his own way, that it was hard for him to take his shirt off. It might have been a lame excuse, but Sam didn't care. She stedied him, gracefully pulling his shirt from his torso. His eyes flickered at the touch of her fingers, and he sighed deeply. Sam stood back, afraid she had hurt him and not really sure what he wanted her to do next. He unbuckled his belt and slowly pulled his jeans off, leaving him only in his boxers. He looked at her again, and she came to his side, easing him down and pulling the blankets up close. She knelt on the floor next to him, taking his hand.

"Come." He said, patting the space on the bed next to him.

Sam stood slowly, and pulled off her sweater. She walked to the other side of the bed and lay down by his side, breathing in his smell. She found his eyes again, and saw only love. She knew she would be safe with him. She pulled the covers over herself too, and nestled gently into Jack's side, his arms resting around her. Sam soon fell asleep in the quiet comfort of the dark room. Jack lay awake a few minutes longer, enjoying the nearness of their bodies, the feeling of her breath on his neck. He could feel the rythmic beating of her heart. He placed a gentle kiss over her lips, and she smiled in her sleep.

"Thank God I have you." Jack whispered. "I'd be nothing without you."

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A/N: Well, I'm sorry it's not that long, but I wanted to get another chapter in. Hoped it was worthy of reviews...!

btw, roseofthegate, I am reading your story. I think it is fantastic!