Because you've all been so nice, sending reviews for this fic, I am posting another part. Remember - this story was written over two years ago. All I'm doing is posting it for Jackie as she doesn't have much access to a computer. The plot is fixed. Any issues you raise may, or may not, be addressed - or already have been when it was first written. Just wait and see where it goes, okay. Typos are mine, as I'm beta'ing it as I post - plot is hers. Flatkatsi

What Fate Decrees - Part Thirty

Jack followed Sam into her apartment, wandering about while Sam went into the bedroom. What was happening behind the bedroom door was of more interest than the books on her bookshelf, however, and it wasn't long before he was pushing the door open. He found her just buttoning up her shirt. Clasping his arms around her, he began to nuzzle her neck, inhaling her scent as he began to undress her.

"Hey, I've just put that on," complained Sam softly, but without much conviction.

Jack continued to kiss her neck, his lips moving gradually lower and Sam gave up on any attempt at protest.

Much later they eventually left the apartment, stopping off for groceries on the way back to Jack's to appease the appetite they'd worked up.

xoxoxoxoxoxo

The phone was ringing as they walked into the door of Jack's house, and he hurried to answer it. It was Daniel, calling to let Jack know where he would be and 'umming and arring' throughout the conversation.

"No problem, Daniel. I've got my sitter and she's much better looking than you."

Daniel pretended to be hurt. "Gee thanks."

"You're welcome Danny-boy. Were you planning on coming back here tonight?"

"Err, umm," spluttered Daniel.

"It's okay, you don't need to, in fact I bet Janet would just love the company. Cassie's at her friend's tonight."

"Oh," said Daniel. There was a pause, and Jack smiled into the phone, imagining what was going through his friend's mind. He was about to say something when Daniel finally spoke. "About time," he blurted out.

"Excuse me?"

"About time you and Sam, I mean…"

"Thanks Daniel, I get your drift. See you tomorrow – late."

Sam came out of the kitchen just as Jack was finishing the call, and looked at him inquiringly.

"Just Daniel letting me know, or rather trying to not let me know, where he's going to be tonight."

Sam gave a soft laugh as they moved over to sit on the sofa together. "Trust Daniel. It's not as if he's got to worry about the regulations …" she began and her face clouded over just saying the word.

Jack sighed and pulled her closer, hugging her tenderly.

xoxoxoxoxoxo

"I'm glad Sam and Jack have stopped dancing around," sighed Daniel. "Sorry, I mean..." He was sitting next to Janet, having just finished dinner. They had moved to the living room, taking their coffee with them.

Janet sighed. "I know what you mean. It's a shame it's taken so long, but..."

"Yeah, I know."

"Do you think it's just been the regulations keeping them apart?"

Daniel laughed. "With Jack I would have said no. He doesn't really give a damn for himself, but when it comes to Sam he's very protective of her and her career."

Janet raised a brow.

"Don't get me wrong, he's protective of us all. I know he'd lay his life down for any of us, but with Sam he values her career as well. She's worked so hard to get where she is."

"So, what do you think has changed things?"

Daniel thought for a moment before answering. "I'm not sure. I know Sam thought we'd lost him for good – hell, we all did - perhaps the accident, the threatened retirement? We both know they've had feelings for each other for quite a while, but I don't think that they each believed it was returned until now. I've seen Jack make grown men quake in their boots with a look or a word, he's even done it to me a time or two, but with Sam he's different. He's soft on kids, but with Sam he's mush."

Janet laughed. "Yeah, I've born the brunt of his Colonel mode. He used to put the fear of God in me, 'til I got to know him better, but I've seen him when he's needed, and I've seen him with Cassie."

"Oh, he can still shake people. I've seen that temper of his, but I've never seen him lose it with a child, no matter what, or with Sam. They've had their share of sparks flying though."

"Sam won't be walked on, but I hope this relationship doesn't become an issue in the field."

"Not in our team. Never has been, no matter what. Sam always backs up Jack's orders. She may not always like them, but she follows them. I think that comes from respect as well."

"Well, we women know when to toe the line," joked Janet. "Anyway, are we going to spend all night discussing them? Or can we find something else to do?" She smiled at him and leaned closer.

Daniel looked down at her. "Well … actually" and leaned across and kissed her.

xoxoxoxoxoxo

Sam and Jack finally made it into the bedroom, tired after their rather busy day. Sam yawned and snuggled in, holding Jack tightly, smiling at the feeling of his arms around her. She pressed herself closer to him and felt him flinch, making her sit up quickly.

"Oh, I'm sorry. I forgot your ribs again," she said apologetically.

Jack gave her a cheeky smile. "Well you'd better make it up to them then," he invited.

Sam needed no other excuse, and began to rain gentle kisses over him - kisses that got longer and more searching, and then the nibbling began, moving up around his throat and neck. It wasn't long before he reversed their position, turning Sam on to her back and leaning over her.

"You're a witch," he growled into her neck as he bit gently.

"You're insatiable," she breathed as her head spun with the sensations he was arousing.

"Only for you," he murmured, "only for you."

xoxoxoxoxoxo

It was much later in the night when Jack awoke to find Sam curled against him, her head on his shoulder. Every so often she murmured in her sleep and nuzzled closer. He lay savouring the moment, the closeness, but his ribs were clamouring painfully for attention. He reached out to the nightstand and then realised his medication was still downstairs. He sighed and reluctantly peeled himself carefully from Sam, not wanting to wake her. Putting on a pair of bottoms, he made his way stiffly down the stairs.

Slightly breathless with the pain, he walked to the kitchen and grabbed his meds and a glass of water before sinking into the sofa with a sigh. He swallowed his tablets and lay back to rest a little, waiting for the meds to kick in before he began his journey back up the stairs.

Thoughts he didn't really want to think came to him, especially the turn of events in his relationship with Sam. He felt sad in a way - not sure how things could ever go their way given the regulations.

'I can't give her up now. No way do I want to go back to that.' was the priority in his head, but then doubts began to form. 'What if this is all Sam wanted - a fling to get me out of her system? Maybe she wouldn't want to continue.' The thought made him feel slightly sick and he tried to banish the doubts, sending them to the box he kept deep in his mind. Eventually, the meds did their job and he fell asleep.

xoxoxoxoxoxo

The gray light of dawn woke Sam, and she turned, feeling the empty space next to her on the bed. She checked the bathroom first and then crept downstairs to find Jack asleep on the sofa. Spotting the water and the tablets, she realised why he'd come down. Mentally, she kicked herself. She should be looking after him better.

"Damn, Daniel wouldn't have forgotten the meds," she swore quietly..

"Daniel wouldn't have had the distraction," said a soft voice and she turned to find a pair of brown eyes watching her.

She grinned back at him. "That's no excuse. I'm just no good as a nurse."

"Oh, I don't know. You're pretty good with your hands."

"Should I get a nurse's uniform?" she teased, laughing as she sat beside him, stroking his hair.

Jack shook his head. "Nah, doesn't do a thing for me, seen too many hospitals – big turn off," he replied, stretching cautiously.

Sam sat looking down at him. Her fingers moved of their own accord to stroke his face.

"God, Sam, you're beautiful," he uttered thickly, putting a hand gently up to her chin. He stared deeply into her eyes, holding her gaze for a few minutes before he seemed to pull himself together.

"Sam, I think we need to talk," he said, his reluctance plain.

Sam felt as if her heart had stopped beating.

xoxoxoxoxoxo

Jack frowned as a look he couldn't identify flashed across Sam's face. Was it hurt?

"What's wrong?" he asked, concerned.

"Is this where you say, "It's been nice, major but...?" she asked quietly.

Jack shook his head. "No – no, nothing like that. I just want to get an idea of what you want. Where do we go from here?" Sam's face clouded and her eyes seemed to shimmer brightly. "Sam, I don't want you to get hurt. I know I can't give you up. I don't want to turn the clock back, I couldn't, but we both know the regulations." He fought not to touch her - he was determined to let her decide what she wanted and he would stand by it, if it killed him. He waited, becoming more worried as she didn't speak.

It seemed like an eternity before Sam finally broke the silence. "I don't regret this, not one bit, but I do know I can't give up my career."

"I would never ask that of you Sam, never." Jack said firmly, meaning every word.

"Nor would I of you," she replied in return.

"Do you want to go back to how we were?" he asked, fearing the answer.

She shook her head fiercely, and he saw unshed tears shimmering in her eyes before she lowered them.

"Sam, look at me, please," he begged "I love you and I want to be with you. I want to spend the rest of my life with you." At his words, the tears finally escaped. "I may not be passed fit for active duty," he continued, "and if I am it won't be for too long."

She raised her head, pleading with him. "Please, don't go there Jack. You will pass and we'll still have a team. I don't want to lose SG-1." The tears were falling freely now as she wept.

"SG-1 can exist without me. You could get command."

"No, I want us to be together. Without you it wouldn't be a team. You keep us together Jack, with you I feel safe. I know we can make it back with you."

Jack lifted her face, gently wiping the tears away with his fingertips. "And us? What about us?"

"Why can't we have both? It won't be forever will it? It would drive me crazy not to touch you again, not to sleep with you, feel you," she sobbed.

"Me too," he whispered. "But there will come a time when you'll be out there without me."

"Then it will happen, but for now why can't we have both? Don't we deserve it? We give so much up for this planet, why can't we keep our love going?" she demanded, fixing him with her eyes.

"Carry on as we are now? Sneak around, keep it secret?"

Sam laughed a little "We keep so many secrets, why not another one?"

"Can we do that?"

She nodded. "We've got to and I want you badly enough to try. We can have a private life."

Jack couldn't have agreed more with the wanting part and he pulled Sam towards him, gathering her up into his arms and holding her as though he would never let go.

xoxoxoxoxoxo