Disclaimer: Nope still not mine.
Spoilers: None here, we're still seriously AU
A/N: Sorry this chapter's a little late. I'm one of those evil authors who write WIPs and real life has a tendency to get in the way, esp given that the end of the semester's coming up and that means lots of fun projects, papers, and presentations to prepare. Fun Fun. Well, actually this is. And now, without further delay….
The Holidays
Chapter 6: Unexpected Responses
Jack
Christmas had been fun, but Jack was beginning to go stir crazy. He knew he had less than a week left at home and that he'd only been there about the same amount of time, but with nowhere to go and nothing to do his mother was driving him nuts.
"Jack! Stop fidgeting. It's very distracting. Go outside and run around or something. I feel like I'm dealing with toddler you again."
"Mom it's below freezing out. Way too cold to just 'go out and play'."
"Fine, go to the gym or something then. The Carters are supposed to be back later today. Please just don't break anything before then…yourself included."
Carter's coming back today. Carter's coming back today.
Jack skipped off to his room to change into workout clothes and headed off to the gym.
oOo
Two hours later and thoroughly tired out from a run, a session with the punching bag, and some weight lifting, a much subdued Jack ambled back into the house and upstairs to shower. He was undressed and stepping into the warm water before he realized the significance of the green minivan parked in the driveway across the road.
They're ba-ack. Hmm…what to do tonight. Samantha or Mark? Woah, didn't mean it that way. Maybe we could all go out…like we used to, before Sam became jail bait. Since that doesn't apply anymore…
Jack rushed through his shower and dressed quickly, pulling on a new green sweater and his favorite jeans.
"I'm going next door Mom."
Jack was out the door before she could reply. He practically skipped across the street, a large grin on his face. He didn't bother with the front door, and walked around back to let himself in, as the family did. He ran into Mr. Carter in the kitchen.
"Merry Christmas, Mr Carter."
"Ah, Jonathan. Nice to see you. I was wondering how long it would be before you showed up over here."
"Sir?"
"I may be old son, but I'm not deaf. Mark had been teasing Samantha incessantly, at least when he thinks I'm not around. I know you spent a bit of time with her, last weekend, before we left to visit their grandparents."
Jack was starting to feel very nervous. Jacob Carter had always treated him well as Mark's friend, but Jack knew he was very protective of Sam.
"Now I know you're a good kid Jonathan and I don't have to tell you to take good care of her. Just remember I have a gun and a shovel and I know how to use them, if I need to."
Jack shifted uncomfortably from foot to foot trying to come up with an adequate response. He was saved by Sam and Mark, rounding the corner from the living room.
"Dad, stop torturing Jack. He's been quite the gentleman so far."
Sam kissed her father on the cheek and walked over to give Jack a hug, tucking herself alongside him.
"Don't mind Dad. He knows I'd never speak to him again if he ran you off."
"Besides, he'd have to beat me to you and I only live a room away," Mark chimed in as he reached over to slap Jack on the shoulder.
"Been having a tough time stuck at home Jack?"
"Yeah, there haven't even been any good games on tv."
Jack began to relax as the conversation shifted from his relationship with Sam to sports. A few minutes later the final person in the house came down the stairs to join the group in the kitchen.
"I'm going to start some laundry soon, so you kids better get anything you need washed up to the laundry room pronto. That means you Mark. I know you're planning to head back to school on the first and that's only two days from now. Oh, hi Jack. How was you Christmas?"
"Good, thank you Mom."
Sam
Sam smiled as Jack addressed her mother.
He's already a part of the family. He looked so nervous when Dad was harassing him. Guess he doesn't know that he's just about the only guy Dad would actually like to see me dating.
Sam glared at Jacob, reprimanding him for his earlier behavior towards Jack. When he caught his daughter's stare Jacob merely smiled and shrugged as if to say, "No harm done." Sam sighed and laid her head on Jack's shoulder. Instinctively his arm tightened on her shoulder and he looked down to smile at her. Sam smiled back the turned to loos at her mother.
Mom looks so happy. I guess she agrees with Dad, that this is a good thing. She'd better agree. She's always known how I feel about Jack.
"I was wondering if Samantha and Mark would like to catch a movie or something tonight. I know you just got back and you're having a big party tomorrow, but it's been so boring here, with all the kids gone."
"Easy, Jack. I'm not going to say no. Sam and Mark can go if they want. Why don't you stay for dinner? We were just going to order from Primavera's Pizza."
"Sweet! Thanks, Mom. I'll be back in a few minutes. Just have to grab something from home."
Jack dropped a quick kiss on Sam's forehead, removed his hand from her shoulder and bounced out the door. Sam blushed under the watchful eyes of her family.
Don't they have anything better to do than stare at me?
"I'm glad you're happy Sam."
"Thanks, Mom."
"All right, let's get some of this mess straightened up."
oOo
The presents had been stashed under the tree, the suitcases brought upstairs, and other random bags unpacked by the time Jack returned and the pizza arrived. Dinner had gone quickly with the guys discussing football and hockey while Sam and her mom talked about swimming and classes. Sam had purposefully seated herself across from Jack to try to avoid further speculation from her family. However the first time their fingers ahd brushed while reaching for the same slice of pizza and their gazes had locked she'd discovered her mistake. It was much harder to break from his gaze than it would have been to pretend that she was unaffected by his body next to hers.
His eyes…so soft and sweet. Snap out of it Samantha. You don't need to give Mark more of a reason to tease you.
Sam had been the first to break eye contact by shifting her focus to their fingers on the pizza.
Mark
After dinner it hadn't taken them overly long to settle on a movie. Most choices had been labeled as too girl or too childish by the boys, so they compromised on Spiderman 2. The theater was mostly empty so they'd gotten good seats with Jack in-between Mark and Sam.
The movie was good, and the stadium seats of the theater were comfortable, but Mark was distracted. He couldn't help but notice that his best friend's hand was running up and down his younger sister's thigh. He'd become quite adept at ignoring Jack's actions when he'd been dating Sarah, but usually Catherine was around to help. And now it was his sister, not some unimportant fling.
Calm down Carter! He's not doing anything that's actually inappropriate. Sam's a big girl. If she doesn't like where his hand is she'll do something about it. See, there, she's…oh crap! Stop watching! Stop thinking about…just make it stop!
Mark tapped Jack on the shoulder to get his attention.
"Jack…I know you're dating Sam and knowing you I'm sure you've fooled around some, but could you NOT do it in front of me? She's my little sister and I can handle it in abstract, but if you keep doing that right in front of me I may have to kick your ass, whether Sam's happy or not. So please…just stop!"
Jack's eyes widened and he snatched his hand out of Sam's lap. Mark rolled his eyes and tried to turn his attention back to the movie. There was nothing he could do, however, when Sam reached over and placed her hand on Jack's thigh.
Damn it!
Mark turned sideways away from the other two thankful that the movie was almost over.
Make a note…do not go out with your younger sister and her boyfriend, especially if he's your best friend and you know his sexual history.
Sam
At the time Sam hadn't quite understood why Jack had jerked his hand away in the middle of the movie. She certainly hadn't been complaining, in fact his touch had made her whole body tingle and her stomach flip. Now that they were out of the theater, she thought she'd figured it out. Mark had made a point of getting between her and Jack and he hadn't been able to meet her eyes.
Time to nip this in the bud.
"Mark, what's going on? You can barely look at me."
"Come on Sam. Don't!"
"Don't what, Mark?"
"Do we have to do this here, in public? In front of him?"
"His name is Jack. He's your best friend and he happens to be dating me. That's the problem isn't it? So yes, we have to do this in front of him."
"Fine. Can we at least do this in the car?"
Sam looked at him expectantly, after climbing into the front seat. Jack sat in the back alone.
"Look, Sam, I know you're happy with Jack, and I'm glad for you. But you're still my little sister. Jack, I know you really like Sam and you pretty much always have. But you're my best friend. I know too much about you and care too much about her. So could you both please not be so demonstrative around me? …Sam if he tries to push you into anything you're not ready for you have my permission to kick the crap out of him. And Jack if you ever do anything to hurt her I will hunt you down and you'll wish I had killed you quickly! Understood?"
Mark stared at Jack in the rearview mirror. Sam put her hand on his arm.
"Mark…thank you for the offer, but that won't be necessary."
I meant it Sam. You wanted to know what I was thinking. Happy now?"
"Well I'm kinda glad it's out in the open and I'm sure you feel better now too. Why don't you just drop me off at Jack's? That way you don't have to lie awake wondering what the sounds coming from my room are."
"Shit! Sam, did you have to go there? You've been spending way too much time with Jack!"
Sam merely smiled saucily at Mark and turned in her seat to blow Jack a kiss. The rest of the ride home was quiet. Just as Mark was heading into the Carter's house Sam shouted his name from across the lawn.
"Hey Mark…sleep tight."
Then, as Mark watched in horrified amusement, she grabbed Jack and pulled his mouth down to hers. She melted against Jack as his arms slipped around her waist. Sam's intent to torment Mark was forgotten as she lost herself in Jack.
"Let's take this inside Samantha."
Sam shivered against Jack and nodded her assent.
Thank God. Maybe he'll finally do something about these stupid butterflies in my stomach.
A/N2: I guess you could consider that a cliff hanger, but not really. Feedback is, as always, appreciated.
