I'd like to make it clear that although this story involves incidents in Iraq, I have no affiliations with any political group or any other concerned in that country whatsoever and anything contained in these pages is purely fictional, coming entirely from my imagination. I mean no disrespect to any organisation or people herein.

Thanks to Nighshae – how right you are! and Ilovesg1 for their reviews.

Come on guys…I need a little R & R from you. I'm starving here!

Here's a little fluff to tempt you to review.

Title: Unity.

Author: LetitiaRichards.

Previously:

Jack slumped back into his chair again and scrubbed his hands through his hair once more while Sam looked on; worry and concern for her CO furrowing her brow deeply. Iraq was the last place on Earth he would want to go back to, especially now while there was still so much tension out there. She sighed inwardly, angry with the powers that be for making him of all people go. Didn't they understand what this could do to him?

Chapter 4

Even the excitement of an important Hockey game failed to drag Jack from his gloomy thoughts. He sat on his sofa with what had once been a cold beer in his hand, but still it failed to draw his thoughts away from tomorrow's flight to Baghdad. He was afraid to go to bed, because he just knew he would have nightmares about the past torment he'd suffered at his captors' hands. Dreams where he was back there amongst the squalor that was his cell; re-experiencing the pain of abuse and torture; reliving the horror of those four months praying for release in one form or another.

He was tired. He'd already woken, sweaty and breathless when he'd dozed off a while back; now he was wide awake and a little fresher after a hot shower to wash away the smell of his terror, though his eyes felt gritty and were bloodshot through lack of sleep for the second night running.

He swept a hand over his eyes again, carrying it up over the silver strands covering his head. He looked at the clock, noting that it was almost midnight. Picking up the remote, he flicked idly through the channels searching for something to peak his interest, trying to take his mind off the immediate future.

The doorbell ringing snapped his attention from the TV which he flicked off before answering the door, wondering who could be calling this late at night. He pulled open the door, and stood gaping in stunned surprise at his 2IC.

"Carter?" he began, sure that his mouth was hanging open in surprise.

"Sir," she beamed. "Can I come in? I wanted to see you before you left in the morning."

Jack mentally shook himself to gather his wits again, stepping back out of the way.

"Sure. Come on in!"

Sam entered the house and took the few steps down into the lounge, looking a little apprehensive.

"So, do you want a beer? Coffee?" Jack asked, his mind reeling with possibilities. This was just the sort of distraction he needed.

"Beer's fine sir, thanks," she said, smiling up at him, watching him disappear into the hallway again on his way to the kitchen. She sat at one end of the settee, waiting, wondering if her impulse to come to him tonight was a lost cause.

Jack handed her the cold bottle, and settled down on the far end of the sofa, turning almost sideways so he could face her. He fixed his dark, deeply shadowed eyes on her, looking at her from under his long lashes waiting for an explanation from her as to why she was there. He bided his time, patiently supping on another beer while she gathered the courage to broach the subject of her visit. He had a pretty good idea why she was sitting in his lounge at 00:15 hrs, but he was waiting for her to open the conversation.

"So, why are you here Carter?" he started, his impatience getting the better of him, after nothing was said. He had the feeling that if he hadn't started the ball rolling, then they would be sitting looking at each other in silence all night.

"I...er...I thought...you might like some company tonight."

"It's a little late isn't it? It's morning already," he countered.

"Yes sir, Jack, I know, but...well...I got the feeling you wouldn't be sleeping much, sooo... I thought you would appreciated the distraction."

"And what sort of distraction would that be Carter?" he smirked knowingly.

Sam chewed on her bottom lip, wondering if she should do this, and how he would react. She sucked in a huge breath to steady her nerves before she sidled along the cushions to sit beside him. Close. Thighs touching.

"This type of distraction Jack!" she said, pulling his beer from his hand, to push his arm round behind her, wondering if he would follow her chain of thought or perhaps tell her to go home with her ears ringing from his reprimand. Their relationship had been one of really good friends so far with a promise of something much more than that in the future; but this was pushing it over that forbidden line.

"You're offering me this to take my mind off tomorrow?" he asked just to confirm that they were on the same page, but his hand had already moved to hold her gently at the waist.

Sam nodded.

"Are you nuts?" he asked, just to make sure it was what she really wanted, because he felt there was no going back afterwards.

The flame of desire in him rose when she leaned over to whisper something, the heat of her breath fanning more than just his ear. He couldn't stop the groan that crawled from his throat in response.

Her tongue trailed wetly along his jaw, seeking his lips then locking onto them with abandon, and he melted under the onslaught. After an eternity, she released him, allowing them to breathe again.

"I think I was nuts to put this off for so long. I've never been more sane than I am now Jack!" she puffed seductively against his cheek.

He pulled back, eliciting a groan of disappointment from her. He looked straight into those sparkling wide blue eyes, seeking assurance that she really wanted this, asking her permission to proceed, wanting to see his own passion reflected therein.

"You sure about this?" he gasped, yearning desperately for her to say yes.

"I wouldn't be here if I didn't Jack. We've waited too long for this."

"So why now?" he asked, needing to know the answer; because if she thought for one minute that he would only do this because of his leaving she had another thing coming. It had to be for all time, not just tonight.

"Why not?" she retorted.

"I asked you first," he said pulling out of her reach and walked over to stand near the cold fireplace, resting one hand on the mantel, staring at her reflection in the glass of the display case above it.

Sam sighed, knowing he would question her motives.

"Because I want you to know how I feel Jack. I wanted you to go away tomorrow with something warm inside that would let you know that you're not alone; that I'll be right here waiting with open arms for your return. You know how it's been between us. I don't want to leave it in that room any longer Jack."

She rose from the sofa, coming up to stand behind him, her hands smoothing comforting circles over his firm shoulders and biceps, then she slid them down his arms and around his waist as she hugged him; her head nestled against his spine; pressing kisses up his back to the nape of his neck.

He shivered delightfully in response.

"I love you Jack!" she breathed over his shoulder, playfully chewing on his ear.

He spun round in her arms, his hands holding the tops of her arms firmly, pushing her back to look into her eyes again.

"You're not just saying that out of...what...sympathy for me?"

"I love you Jack. And if I could, I'd shout it out to the world!" she replied earnestly. "I'm not just saying this because of this trip; I'll love you for always! I just wanted you to know that; and that I'm right here for you. Always."

"Oh God, Sam," he sighed, pulling her against him, crushing her to his chest as their lips met, arms holding the other tight; losing themselves in the ecstasy of a shared love suddenly let loose.

The nagging anxiety of tomorrow and the next month were still there, but coming home would be so much more than worth the trouble going away could cause, now that Sam would be here to welcome him home like this.

TBC