Chapter 6

The meal was a little awkward at first. Both were trying not to do something foolish, and then both trying to figure out why they are so worried when they've seen each other be foolish for the last eight years.

"Did you make this?" she asked trying to fill the awkward silence.

"Ahh…no" he told her sheepishly. "I bought it at a deli on my way to get you. Didn't think you'd want to go on another date with me if you got food poising,"

Sam laughed at his comment. "I've been eating your cooking for eight years" she told him.

"Yes well, those were MRE's, no one can screw up…well most people can't screw those up." He told her.

"One time Jack, I wrecked them one time."

"Of course" he said smiling affectionately.

"So you still want to continue this date knowing that I'm a terrible cook?" she asked. Only half jokingly.

"Remember when I said that I would rather die than lose you?" He asked.

"How could I forget" she said, and then laughed nervously. She was wondering why he changed the topic.

"Good, so I'd rather die than leave you then, but you think that I will leave you now because you're a bad…no terrible cook?" he asked. "I think I see a few flaws in your logic there Sam."

"Good point. Guess I'm still not used to this." She told him sincerely.

"Used to what?" he asked with his eyebrows raised.

"You and me as well…as an us" she paused for a moment. That made sense didn't it? "I'm just waiting for you to find something about me that you don't like and then decide that waiting wasn't worth it."

"I'm not gonna promise you that we're going to have a happy ever after, but I can promise you that unless you turn out to be a Goa'uld worshiper, there is nothing you can do to stop me from…well…loving you." Jack told her. Great going you idiot! You just told the woman that you love her in the same sentence as the words Goa'uld worshiper. How romantic!

"I'm sorry, that's not the way I wanted it to come out." He told her with a slight grimace.

"No…Believe it or not, it's the way I've always dreamed of you saying." She told him.

"What?" he asked in his usual O'Neill way.

"You don't give speeches, romantic gestures or profound words ever, so why would I think this would be any different?" she asked.

"Good point. You know...I always thought that it would be our dying words." Jack told her.

"I've thought that too, but I like this way much better" Sam said. She looked into his eyes, trying to convey all she felt for him without words. After all, that is how they communicate best.

They stared into each others eyes, forgetting all else but the person in front of them. Jack broke their staring contest first by looking down at the blanket. Breathe Jack Breathe! He then grabbed something off the blanket and held it out to her. "Potato salad?" he asked.

Sam laughed at his ability to diffuse the sexual tension. "I'd love some" she replied.

They ate their meal over relative silence. Both were content to just be in the others company. When they could eat no more they packed up the remaining food and then sat back down on the now empty blanket.

Jack grabbed Sam's hand with his and rubbed the back of her hand with his thumb. He memorized the feel of her skin under his callused hand, and the way their hands seemed to fit together so perfectly.

He decided to lie down fully on the blanket, his hand never leaving hers. When he was comfortable he tugged her hand towards his chest saying, "Come here."

She did as she was asked and laid her head on his shoulder and laid next to him. Their hands were still entwined on his chest and neither was willing to break that contact. They stared at the night sky, thinking similar thoughts. Those stars were the reason they stayed apart so long because neither was willing to give up the fight. They were also the reason they were together now, for without them, they would never have met.

"What do you plan on doing?" she asked. She didn't want to ruin the moment, but this question had been bothering her since he mentioned his retirement.

"I want to lie here, watch the stars with you here to keep me warm." He told her affectionately.

"I meant, are you going to stay here or go to Minnesota?" She asked.

"I think I'll stay here" he told her. He meant here with her in his arms as well as Colorado Springs.

"Why? There's nothing for you here" she told him. Sam lifted her head off of his chest so she look him in the eye.

Nothing for me? "I think you're something" he said.

"I don't want to be the only reason." She said.

It's the best reason in the world. "Fine, you are a huge why I am staying here. How could you not be? But my life is here too. Daniel and Teal'c are here. My liquor store is here. My favorite hockey arena is here. The guy at the department store that calls me every time a new season of The Simpson's comes out is here. I can't have any of this in Minnesota and I can't have you" he was almost whispering by the end.

"And if we don't work out?" she asked.

Do you always have to be so pessimistic about us? "I'd go to Minnesota."

"See! You are staying here because of me" she raised her voice.

"I'd go to Minnesota because I couldn't live here knowing you were only a few minutes drive away. I couldn't risk going to the grocery store because I'd be afraid to bump into you. I couldn't here about your new boyfriend from Daniel. I don't do feelings and you know that. I can forget in Minnesota, but I don't have to yet." He told her. I know she's scared, but I don't know how to explain this.

"Wow" was all Sam could say. She put her head back down on his chest to think about all of what Jack just said. "I guess we'll cross that bridge when we come to it."

"Good" he told her while smiling at her use of a cliché.

They lay their in complete silence. Her arm was around his chest, her head on his shoulder. His one hand was still entwined with hers and his other was around her waist. They were completely content until Sam realized that she forgot to say something. "I love you too, Jack."

Jack's only response was the tightening of his arm around her waist. Their future was still unclear to both of them. They were both scared at the possibilities, but as their favorite archeologist said we're all only human.

The End

What do you think? As always…please review.

I just wanted to say thank for all of the reviews. This was the first fic I have ever completed and I wanted to thank those readers who have stuck with this story to the end.

I was going to try and write this chapter from Sam's perspective so we could see what Sam thinks but I decided against it. I tried getting into her head to see how she felt about the date, but despite the romantic gestures she was still thinking too much for my brain to comprehend so I decided to go back to our dearly beloved Jacks perspective.

Jennyvre Moss-Wow! My original idea was to have them ice skating, but decided that I liked that date better in another fic I plan on writing (eventually) Great minds think alike. LOL