Here's chapter 11. Just one more chapter to go. Thanks for reading!

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"Daniel, I think she's avoiding me." Jack said as they sat down in the pub.

Daniel looked down at the table. "She's been working a lot lately. I don't think even Cassie has seen her much this past week." He looked back up at Jack.

"I know. I either get the machine or I get Cassie telling me she's not there. I would call her at the base, but I don't want to bother her at work." He said, obviously frustrated.

"My suggestion would be to enlist Cassie's help." Daniel pulled out the drink menu. "I am sure she'd be more than willing to help."

Jack nodded. "Yeah, that's an idea."

Daniel raised a hand to hail a waitress. A blonde woman saw Daniel and rushed over. "What can I get yah?" She asked with a smile.

Daniel and Jack both ordered food and drinks, and the waitress headed for the bar.

Daniel had asked Sam to join them, but she said she had a project for General Baxter to work on. Teal'c was off world visiting Ryac and his wife. He was due back in two days. Daniel on the other hand wasn't working on anything in particular.

Their food arrived, they ate and both had a few drinks. They played pool and Daniel lost badly. Jack said he had beat Daniel enough for one night. They said their goodbyes and went their separate ways.

Jack got into his truck and dialed his cell phone. It was ringing.

Cassie answered. "Hello?"

"Hey Cass, its Jack" He said.

"Hi Jack"

"Cassie, is Sam home?" He asked, already knowing the answer.

"Nope. I don't expect her home tonight. Although she hasn't called me yet. There may still be hope." Cassie said.

"Well, actually, I need to talk to you too."

"Yeah?"

"Yeah, I was wondering if you could do me a favor."

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Jack hadn't seen Sam for three weeks, since the BBQ. She had one excuse after another. Then Cassie invited him to dinner, hoping Jack and Sam could straighten things out. Cassie told Sam that she had to be there. Enough was enough.

Cassie made dinner for the three of them. Since Cassie made the dinner, Sam and Jack said they would clean up. Cassie sat down in the living room to watch TV. Sam and Jack headed to the kitchen with the dishes.

"So, how've you been?" Jack asked as he put plates in the dishwasher."

"Good. We are good." Sam replied.

"Good"

"How is retirement going?" Sam asked quickly.

"Okay, although I haven't spent much time alone with my girlfriend." He paused, "If she wants that anymore."

"Jack, work has been hectic, and Cassie…"

"I know. But if you don't want to spend time with me, just say it."

"It's not that, I just thought that we needed some time apart." Sam said, wiping off the counter.

Cassie walked in the kitchen and retrieved a glass from the cupboard. The phone rang. "I'll get it." She said as she headed for the phone.

"Hello? Oh hi. Yeah, sure. Okay, bye." She hung up the phone.

"Sam, is it okay if I stay at Joanna's tonight and then go shopping with her tomorrow? I'll call you when I get done."

Sam nodded. "Sure, go have some fun. I will see you tomorrow."

Cassie hugged Sam and whispered in her ear. "Thanks, have fun tonight." Sam smiled. Cassie had planned this all along.

Cassie went to her room to get her things as Sam yelled after her. "Do you need a ride?"

Cassie's car was in the shop.

"No, I will call Joanna to come get me."

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Cassie had just left. Sam and Jack settled down to watch a movie. Jack scooted close to Sam and stroked her hair. She laid her head in his lap. He rubbed her shoulders and her back. She sighed deeply.

"So now what?" Jack asked.

Sam rolled over onto her back, so she was looking up at him. She smiled. He leaned down and kissed her forehead. She sat up and grabbed a hold of his hand and squeezed it tightly. He smiled.

Sam leaned in and kissed him. She stood slowly and pulled his arm. He stood and she led them to her bedroom.

He sat down on her bed and bounced a few times, grinning. Sam pushed him over and lay on her back next to him.

"Watcha thinking about?" Jack asked.

Sam sighed. "Work, Cassie, us." She said, putting her hands over her face.

Jack put his hand on her thigh. Sam stiffened. He rolled onto his side and pulled her hands from her face. He looked into those beautiful blue eyes. "We don't have to do this." He said quietly.

She bit her lip and looked away.

"Sam" He said, "Try to relax for once will yah."

She closed her eyes. "I am trying, but I keep thinking about work and… and… everything else that has happened lately."

"No thinking about work allowed." He said in a commanding tone. "Sam, do you trust me?"

She opened her eyes. "Of course with my life."

"But with your heart?"

She rolled onto her side with her back to him. "I am afraid that everything will change."

"Everything has changed."

She rolled back to face him. "No, we could still go back if we had to. It would be hard, but we could."

He sighed. "Is that what you want?"

She looked away. "I just…I…" She sighed.

"You're scared."

She ran her fingers through her hair. He laid his hand on the side of her face. "So am I" he said softly. She looked into his eyes.

"Come here Sam." He said, bringing his arm around her shoulders. She scooted her body towards him and he held her tightly.

"I am sorry" She said into his chest.

"Don't say that. There's no reason to be sorry. I don't want this unless we both are ready. There is no rush. You just got out of a serious relationship and jumped into another one."

She looked up at him. "I love you." She said.

"I know. I love you too."

She brought her lips to his and kissed him tenderly. She gently kissed his jaw line, and then his neck. Caressing his face with her hand, she used the other to roll him onto his back. He looked up at her with raised eyebrows. She slid her hands up under his shirt and traced the curves of his body with her hands; leaning in to kiss his chin, then his lips.

Jack wanted her more than anything, but he wanted her to be sure. She helped him remove his shirt and undid his belt. 'Okay, so maybe she was sure.' He thought. He tried to speak, but she quieted him with a forceful kiss. She pressed her body against his and helped him finish undressing. He ran his hands along her sides and down to her hips. She slowly undressed and leaned onto him, warm bodies pressed together. Two bodies moving in rhythm as one.

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They lay side by side on their backs.

"How are you doin'?" Jack asked, hoping she felt as good as he did.

"Great" She answered as she found his hand with hers and intertwined their fingers. She looked over at him. "You?"

Jack smiled. In fact, he hadn't stopped smiling. "I'm good."

She grinned. "Years of repression…"

He rolled over on top of her. He ran his hand through her hair. It was tousled and sticking up. He straightened it and let his hand run down from her hair to her cheek. "This feels like a dream." Jack said smiling.

Sam grinned. "It's not." She said, pinching his arm. Jack leaned down and kissed her. He felt like he could kiss her forever.

"Jack"

"Sam"

"Can I ask you something?"

"Sure"

She took a deep breath. "How did you feel when I told you about Pete?"

He sighed and rose up on his forearms. "I was happy for you." Irritated slightly that she was talking about this now.

"Are you sure?" She asked, searching his brown eyes for the truth.

"Carter, I want to see you happy, no matter who it is with. I would've rather it been me, but that wasn't an option at the time." He said, stroking her cheek.

She smiled. "I think it was more of a physical relationship than love."

"I didn't need to hear that part."

The phone rang. Sam got up and answered it. "Hello? Oh hi Daniel. No I am good." She smiled at Jack. "Tomorrow? Nothing yet. Lunch?" She looked at Jack and he nodded. "That sounds great. Yeah? Daniel says hi Jack." She blushed. "Talk to you tomorrow. Bye Daniel."

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The sun was barely up when they rose and headed for the shower. They had just finished when they heard the front door open and close. Cassie was back. Sam hurried to put clothes on and went out to see her.

"Cassie, you're home early."

"Sam, I am so sorry," She said, "Joanna got sick this morning; I think we ate too much junk food last night."

Sam smiled. "That's okay."

Cassie motioned towards the bed room. "Jack?"

Sam blushed. "Yeah"

Cassie grinned. "Good"

Sam cleared her throat. "We are going to lunch with Daniel and Teal'c. Do you want to come?"

"Sure" Cassie replied. "Jack. You can come out now." She yelled.

Jack peeked around the corner from the stairs. "Are you sure?"

Cassie giggled. "Uh huh."

Jack walked out into the living room. He gave Cassie one of his winning smiles.

Cassie slugged him in the shoulder.

Sam spoke up. "Cassie, I am going to ask you something and I want you to be honest."

"Okay"

Sam slowly continued. "I want to know if this is okay, I mean for Jack to be here, in the morning."

Cassie smiled. "You mean do I mind if he stays overnight. No."

Sam nodded. "Okay"

"Okay" Cassie repeated. "I am going to take a shower and get ready." She grabbed her bag and headed for her room.

"That went well." Jack said, grinning.

"She's so grown up." Sam said, shaking her head,

"Yeah."

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