21?
Jack stopped off at the flower shop before he went to Sam's the next morning. He didn't know why he wanted to get her flowers, but it was an impulse he thought he'd act on. She would like them anyway, he was sure.
Sam stood in front of her mirror, looking at her reflection. Jack had just called her to tell her he'd be over in fifteen minutes, and Sam was no where near ready. She frowned at what she saw. "I'm too fat." She said to herself. Rooster, sitting on her bed watching Sam with interest, barked. Sam turned and smiled at him. "Aren't you sweet." She picked up the maternity jeans Cassie had bought for her and the blue cotton shirt Janet had handed down. Janet had said it was her favorite shirt while she was pregnant, and Sam could understand why. It was light, soft, and let you breath. Checking the clock Sam cursed. She had only a few minutes before Jack would arrive and she still had to put on make-up. Rooster followed her as she went to her bathroom and grabbed her foundation. "Look Roo, I know it's not a date." She said when the dog kept barking at her.
After knocking several times on her door, Jack decided he'd try the doorbell. He didn't want Rooster to go into fits like he did at home when the doorbell rang, but it was his only option. Jack pressed the button and nothing happened. He pressed it again. Still nothing. "It's broken." Jack said aloud. He added that to his list of things to fix.
Deciding that Sam might not be able to hear him, or something horrible had happened, Jack opened the door and walked into the house. He called her name but as he said it he heard loud '80's music coming from her room. With a smile and hid the flowers behind his back and quietly walked that way, noticing that her door was open. Jack heard him before he saw him. Rooster was barking wildly at Sam, who was standing in her bathroom applying lipstick. Jack whistled and Rooster turned and ran to him, his tail wagging ridiculously fast. Jack bent over to pet him while Sam rushed to turn off the radio. "You're early." She said when the house was quiet again.
Jack smiled at her. She looked beautiful in the jeans and cotton shirt. Her skin was glowing, and it wasn't because of the make-up. "Your doorbell is broken."
Sam nodded. "I keep meaning to fix it."
Jack handed her the bouquet of forget-me-nots and baby's breath. Sam gasped, then took the flowers with a hint of a blush in her cheeks. "I just…thought you'd like them." Jack explained.
"I love them. Thank you." She hugged him, then went to find a vase, Rooster following her.
Jack followed a few moments later, catching Sam getting a chair to reach the vase at the top her refrigerator. "What are you doing?" Jack bellowed, startling Sam.
"I can't reach it without a chair." Sam explained, giving him a confused look.
"You don't need to be climbing up on chairs Sam. You have to take it easy." Jack gently admonished her while grabbing the vase for her. "I don't want anything to happen to you. Or the baby." He said, handing her the crystal glass.
"I know. You need me on the team." Sam said as she rinsed out the vase.
"No, that's not why. If I had it my way you wouldn't be allowed to go back through the gate ever." Sam stopped filling up the vase and stared at him. "The baby's already lost one parent, he shouldn't have to lose another." Jack added.
Sam, unsure of what to say, finished filling the vase, then put the flowers in them. "I want to go back to work after my leave of absence is up Jack." She said quietly, staring straight into his eyes.
"Hey, I know that. I was retired myself, and it sucked." Jack shrugged. "Hammond's wanting you back, like, now, anyway, so don't worry about that." He flashed her a smile. He hadn't come over to upset her, and he knew he had.
"Will you take me back on your team?" Sam asked, half joking, half serious.
Jack frowned at her. "Of course." He answered. "Why wouldn't I?"
"Well, if you don't want me on the field…" Sam trailed off.
"I want you on my team Sam. That way I can look after you." He gave her another smile. "I wouldn't trust anyone else to do it you know."
Sam smiled back at him, nodding. "I know."
Rooster barked at Jack. "Want out?" Jack asked. Rooster barked louder. "I should get to work on your door anyway. I'll fix it and the doorbell before lunch."
"Need any tools?" Sam asked.
"Nah, mine are in the truck." Jack let Rooster outside before walking to his truck and getting his toolbox.
Sam left him to his work and went to organize the baby's room.
