The trip to the mall, two days after Daniel's miraculous communication appeared, started out fine, until Sam knocked over a toddler who cried when she accidentally stepped on the poor kids fingers. Sam knew she'd walked on something squishy and was horrified when she reached down and felt the soft curls on the child's head. The mother, who had been talking to a friend instead of paying attention to her wandering toddler, went ballistic and demanded the police be called. Mall security calmed her down.
Leslie apologized to Jack the whole way back to Sam's house. She blamed herself. Jack had left Sam with Leslie in the food court trying to decide where to get lunch while he bought some dessert (a surprise for after dinner). Leslie dropped her purse when Sam bumped into her and as she tried to pick up her spilt belongs, including five lipsticks and a tampon, the poor innocent kid had gotten between Sam and a chair. Jack was happy blaming the mother and told Leslie not to worry about. Sam sulked the whole way home.
Jack and Leslie both tried to convince her it wasn't her fault and that the kid was fine but Sam refused to read the messages they wrote. Leslie left early and promised to return the next morning with a fresh attitude and more surprises. Jack wasn't sure he could handle any more surprises.
Sam nibbled at her dinner, fried chicken and taters. Jack knew it wasn't her usual kind of meal but he was too tired to come up with anything better. He was tired of watching Sam sulk and he was tired of calling the SGC only to discover Teal'c had not yet made any progress. Daniel was researching some texts he had been ignoring for weeks in the hopes they might contain some information about where a sarcophagus could be found. At least he said that's what he was doing. Jack thought he was just avoiding seeing Sam like this.
Jack pulled the ice cream cake out of the freezer and sliced up two huge pieces. He let it sit out for a few minutes so the ice cream would soften. He watched Sam's shoulders sag as he waited. This wasn't his Sam and he had to find a way to get her out of this. He was at a loss about what to do, other then keep bribing her with food.
She ate the cake, said thank-you, and left the room. Jack heard the door to her bedroom close while he was putting the dishes in the sink. He gave her about a half hour to get settled. When he went to the door of her room he could hear her sobs. He opened the door but he couldn't see her because the lights were out. He listened to her quiet tears. His heart told him to go to her but his feet wouldn't move. He gave her space, not because he thought it was what she wanted but because he didn't think he could stand having her reject him again. She had turned away from him so often since her return and he didn't think he could take it again tonight. He closed the door and leaned against the wall. He felt like a heel but he didn't think he had another option. He walked to the spare room, changed clothes, and lay in bed. He counted the shadows on the ceiling until sleep crept upon him in the early morning hours.
Leslie let herself in the next morning. She knew Jack was getting emotionally and physically tired. She hated that her actions had added to his stress. Sam was lying in bed awake when Leslie went to check on her. When Leslie pulled back the covers Sam rolled away.
"Leave me alone. I think we've proven I'm better off just staying put." Leslie grimaced and reached out to Sam. She pulled her over and pulled her feet to the edge of the bed. Sam was limp like a rag doll. Leslie lifted her up by pulling on her arms. She had to use all of her strength and lean way back to get Sam into an upright position. As soon as she let go Sam flopped back onto the bed.
"You know I'll win. You're too small to move me." Sam's determined grimace angered Leslie, who was as stubborn as she was short. Leslie hated being told she couldn't do anything because of her size. Leslie went to the kitchen. She filled a pitcher with chilled water from the refrigerator and returned to the bedroom. Sam had curled back up and gotten under the covers. Leslie dribbled the cold water on Sam's head.
"Hey, what the hell do you think you're doing!" Sam's scream woke Jack. Sam rolled over towards Leslie but she didn't get up. Leslie poured more water on Sam, soaking her hair.
"Stop it!" Jack's eyes widened like saucers at the sight that met him. Leslie was pouring water on Sam and Sam was just lying there. Leslie pulled back the covers and dumped the entire pitcher on Sam, from her neck to her navel. Sam jumped up shivering and screaming. Jack back away as Leslie marched out the door. She returned with a typed out message.
"Bitch! What concentration camp were you trained in?" Leslie walked back out of the room and sat on the sofa. Jack watched Sam stomp into the bathroom before joining Leslie.
"And good morning to you too." Jack sat in the chair across from Leslie.
"Sorry about that Jack but her self pity isn't helpful and sometimes you just have to be drastic."
"I'd hate to see you get mad." Leslie's eyes flicked up and she briefly looked as if she was about to scream but she stopped herself mid blow.
"I guess I did lose it when she teased me about my height."
"Your height?"
"I'm a little sensitive. I'll apologize after her shower." Jack nodded and stood. As he left the living room he looked over his shoulder.
"Some of the fiercest women I've known have been under five foot two." Leslie smiled as Jack went to his room to shower and change.
When Jack returned Sam and Leslie were sitting at the kitchen table nibbling on toast and "talking." Sam would talk and Leslie would type. Jack didn't want to walk into the middle of a conversation so he picked up a magazine and sat in a chair just past the bar.
"You don't need to apologize any more. I probably would've stayed in bed all day if you hadn't done something drastic." Leslie typed a few letters. Sam scanned them with her fingers.
"I made several realizations yesterday that weren't too pleasant." Leslie again typed just a few letters that Sam quickly scanned. Jack felt like he was listen in on a one-sided phone conversation.
"All my chances of having a real life are over." Leslie typed quickly.
"Yes, they are. I'll never have a family. No one's going to love me like this. I couldn't maintain a relationship when I was whole.How am I supposed to do it like this? I have friends who'd sacrifice their lives to take care of me but that isn't the same." This time Leslie typed for a long time and Jack was itching to run into the kitchen and type his own message.
"I care about him. I have for a long time. I think something might have happened between us one day but that's over now. I'll bet he told you he was my boss when you started this job, right." The sound of that machine filled the room again. Jack stood and slowly walked towards the kitchen entrance.
"Well that's true, we are friends. We've worked together for a long time and in our line of work you have to have faith and trust in each other. That doesn't mean he loves me. It means he feels obligated to take care of me because he wasn't there to prevent this. He's doing this because he feels guilty, even though he shouldn't. That's why they're all doing it." Sam hung her head. Leslie rubbed her shoulder before she began typing again.
"No, I'm not. I've known them a lot longer then you have." Jack stepped into the kitchen and walked towards Sam but Leslie reached up and stopped him.
"I told her you weren't here and you weren't when this started. Don't do anything right now. Think about what you've heard and plan your response."
"But I have to..."
"Not right now. She's not ready to hear it. Let us have some more girl time." Leslie turned away from Jack and began typing again. Sam was scanning as fast as Leslie was typing.
"I wish I could believe you Leslie but I know Jack too well. He'd never consider me. He's had years to make that move and it isn't going to happen now." Sam stood up from the table, ending the conversation.
Jack watched as Sam "relearned" how to make her bed, do her laundry, and garden. The morning's conversation haunted him all day. Daniel came over after lunch. There was no new news from the SGC but his visit did seem to cheer Sam. Leslie left before dinner and Daniel left after dessert. Sam was about to leave for her room when Jack reached out and touched her arm. She stopped walking and turned to face him.
He took her hand in his and wrote DANCE. He slipped his arm around her waist and pulled her closer.
"I can't hear the music." Jack narrowed his eyes and sighed in exasperation. He thumped her chest, trying to tell her the music was inside her. Jack began moving around the room, dragging Sam along.
"What has gotten into you?" Jack danced her over to the machine. He paused and typed out "its too early to go to bed."
"Speak for yourself. I've had a long day." Sam stepped back but Jack didn't let go.
"Jack?" Jack used one hand to type.
"You like the sound of what?" Jack let her go, picked up the machine, and led her back to the sofa. Sam sat, with a bit of a huff, and Jack joined her. He typed and then placed her hand on the paper.
"Your name? You like the sound of your name? I guess it's good you're mother picked it for you." Jack typed again. 'I like the sound of my name from your lips.' Sam read the message twice.
"Leslie talked to you, didn't she?" Jack squeezed her hand twice. "Then why are you doing this?" Jack knew she was going to fight him but had been planning this battle all day. 'This has been building for months, years even, although we're not supposed to admit that. The dinner dates, our trips to the park when I was in town, and your trips to DC were all part of it. We both knew we had to wait a while after I was reassigned or it would look bad. We've waited long enough. We both want this and I need to feel you in my arms. I need to know I haven't lost you.' Jack held his breath as Sam scanned and rescanned his words three times.
"You're saying this because you pity me." Jack was ready for that. 'I'm saying it because I love you.' Jack surprised himself by not even hesitating as he wrote it. He'd been saying it in his head for years and once he decided it was time to say it became easy to admit.
"You wait until now to tell me this!" Sam pulled away but Jack latched onto her. 'We waited too long. Let's not wait longer.' Sam read the message and shook her head.
"How am I supposed to believe you?" Jack pulled her close and kissed her. It was a gentle kiss but it spoke volumes. Sam pulled back at first but she slowly relaxed and allowed herself to enjoy the kiss. When he pulled back and opened his eyes Sam had a slight grin on her lips.
"I still need convincing." Jack grinned and bent his head to recapture her lips. The kiss quickly deepened. The sparks and electricity couldn't be faked and Sam was convinced. After several minutes of heated kisses Sam pulled back.
"Tell me the truth or I'm going to my room alone and locking the door. Did Leslie tell you something?" Jack examined Sam and her body language indicated that she was serious. The truth was his only hope. 'I over heard you.'
"Sneak." She leaned forward until she found his lips. Jack's heart skipped a beat as her tongue touched his lips.