Thanks for the reviews and continued support. Oh, by the way, StargateFan; I'm really NOT dragging this out forever! You cheeky monkey! Reposting this chapter as of 11.10.05 as it has somehow disappeared since I originally posted it. Bizarre.
Jack knocked on the door to Sam's pretty little house. "It's open, sir!" she called out.
He opened the door and strolled in, nose twitching at the wonderful smells coming from the kitchen. Oh, God, fried chicken — his nemesis. He could feel the pounds he'd shed in the past week coming back on just from the smell.
He followed the smell and came upon Sam putting something into the oven. Her face was flushed from the heat, there was a dab of sauce on her cheek and her hair was ruffled. She looked gorgeous. "Hey, Carter," he said.
"Hi, sir," she said. She waved at the bottle of wine he had tucked under his arm. "Is that for me?"
"Ah. Right," he said awkwardly, handing over the bottle of very nice Merlot. "I know it's red and doesn't go, but you hate Chablis and Chardonnay, so …". He shrugged.
"I'm not a purist, sir," she said, putting the bottle on the work surface. "It was a very nice gesture." She stood up and shut the oven door. "Well … it'll be about a half an hour before lunch is ready. You want to talk in the living room?"
"Yeah," he said, surprised to find himself nervous. In most situations, Jack O'Neill would never turn a hair, but when it came to the murky depths of his own heart, he found himself floundering like a gawky adolescent. It was humiliating, dammit!
He followed the woman into her living room, admiring the curves shown in the blue jeans and pale gray tee shirt. Whilst the years had ripped mercilessly through his own face and body, they'd been great for Carter. She'd always been gorgeous, but the added maturity just made her that much more beautiful … more lovely.
Christ, O'Neill; when did you turn into such a sap?, he mocked himself.
Sam looked at her CO as he sat down opposite her, stretching out his long legs. God, he looked great. He'd changed so much since she'd first met him, the brown of his hair having gone rapidly to steel-gray and now the soft silver color. But that silver was great on him. It emphasized his angled features, his chocolate eyes, the tanned skin much more than the brown hair had. Gorgeous.
"So … you're still having doubts, sir?" she started off gently. Somehow she knew that she was the one who'd have to start this conversation. "You'd make a great General. I hope you know that."
He gave her a rather abashed smile. "Well, I don't, but I'm glad you think so, Carter," he said. He shrugged. "I just … I don't know if I'm ready to fly a desk yet. God … you know me and paperwork! Do I really want more of that?"
"We'll miss you leading SG-1 as well, sir," Sam offered. They were a great team — hell, they were the best! If the Colonel moved on up, something ineffable would be lost forever. But she knew that the Colonel couldn't resist promotion too much longer. He'd been a Colonel for over a decade — that was a very long time to keep resisting command; the brass would soon lose their patience and order his promotion.
The Colonel heaved his broad shoulders and sighed. "Oh, part of me knows it's time," he said. "I'm not getting any younger, even though I'm fitter than most guys my age."
"Most guys half your age, sir," Sam said — hell, she'd seen him run rings around the new recruits! Sure; he complained about his back and his knees, but she knew that all the times he'd spent in Goa'uld sarcophagi had healed his long-term problems. Sometimes she felt he complained just to keep up the 'grouchy old Colonel' image.
He gave her a slow sexy smile. "Thank you, Carter," he said. "At the moment, I'm fit. But that could change and soon. What if I became a liability? I couldn't live with that." He shifted a little in the seat. "But flying a desk … Oy!"
"You know, sir; the Chief of Staff isn't likely to allow you to refuse promotion again," Sam pointed out. "At least, you'd still be a part of the SGC. It'd drive you crazy if you were posted elsewhere."
He gave her another slow smile. "You know me pretty well, Carter," he said. "But … there's other issues as well." He picked up her remote and fiddled with it uneasily.
She took the remote from his twitchy fingers and set it away from him. Note to self; buy the Colonel a Rubik Cube next time I'm shopping. "Such as, sir?"
He closed his eyes. "Carter …," he said. He dipped his hand inside his shirt and pulled off his dog-tags. "I can't do this as Colonel and Major," he added. "Sam … lose the tags."
Bewildered, she removed her own dog-tags and laid them on the table beside her. "Do what, sir?"
"Jack," he prompted. "Sam; I'm Jack. You've called me Jack before."
She had. But not often. It had never seemed right, and it had been easier to call him 'sir' or 'Colonel' once she'd realized her inappropriate feelings for him. "Okay, sir … Jack," she appeased him.
"Better," he muttered. "Y'know; after that sucker thing got me, my brain was going a million miles an hour. I was able to do a lot of thinking. About me … you … us."
Sam stayed silent, not wishing to interrupt the man's momentum. He was so uncomfortable with discussing emotion that she knew if he stopped, he'd never resume.
He shifted, seeming to struggle with himself. "I … love you, Sam," he blurted out. Her eyes widened and her mouth gaped open with shock. He rushed onward. "And … I don't know if you feel the same way, if you ever felt the same way, but if you do, if there's a chance … I can't be your CO."
She got up and went over to him, putting a gentle finger to his lips. "Jack … why now?" she asked softly. "We've been through worse than this before."
"Even I can only kid myself for so long, Sam," he replied. He took her hands in his. "I resigned, remember? On the teltac? Look, if you don't feel the same, that's fine, that's cool. I have no right to expect anything. And if I can't have your … love, I can be happy with your friendship."
Sam's mind was running round in circles, screaming and biting itself in the small of the back. Answer him, you idiot! She looked into his handsome face. "We've never even kissed," she said slowly. "Not properly."
A slow smile bloomed over his features. "Well, I think we'd better remedy that," he said and cupped her face with a gentle hand.
She backed away, feeling confused. Was it love or was it just hormones? After all, Jack O'Neill was a very sexy, sensual man. God, Carter; he's right. Sometimes you do think too damn much!, she scolded herself, leaning back into him.
One hand slid gently into her hair, while the other came around her waist for support. Then his lips met hers. Softly, gently, but not tentative. Those soft lips felt really, really good and she opened her own lips to allow his tongue entrance, tangling briefly with her own.
"Mmmmm," she sighed as the kiss ended. "But … the SGC?"
"I'm kinda thinking about going civilian," Jack told her. "That way … if you want it … we can be together and serve together. After all, Weir's a civilian and the President let her take charge of the SGC."
"Jack …". Sam shook her head. "You deserve this promotion. If you want it. I don't have the right to take that away from you."
"Carter; you're over-thinking things again," Jack scolded lightly. "They still call your dad General even though he's been a snake-head for nearly seven years, right?"
Right. It was customary for retired military personnel to still be referred to by their former title.
"So … the only thing left to decide is; do you want us?" Jack chuckled. "I mean; you want there to be an us? A Jack and Sam?"
Sam looked at the handsome man. She knew him so well, had seen him at his best and at his worst, knew now what his kisses felt like, how good he felt to sleep against … Could she deny herself this any longer?
"Yes," she decided. "Yes, I do."
His smile broadened — a wide, happy smile she'd seen so rarely on the man. "Excellent!" he pronounced, then cupped his hand to her cheek and drew her lips to his once more.
Several days later
Sam, Daniel and Teal'c stood with the rest of the SGC in the embarkation room, watching the beginnings of the hand-over ceremony. Doctor Weir walked up to the podium at the top of the ramp, dressed in her customary trouser suit.
"Although my time here has been brief, it has been without a doubt indelible," she began. "I will remember every one of you, and I thank you all for your hard work. I'm not one for long good-byes, so without further ado it is with great pleasure I introduce you to your new commanding officer, Brigadier General Jack O'Neill."
The side door opened and Jack walked in, looking very handsome if a little uncomfortable in his new uniform. Everyone drew themselves to attention as Jack walked up the ramp to the podium. Weir walked down to stand with the rest of SG-1.
Jack leaned and spoke into the microphone. "At ease." The personnel shifted to parade rest. "You all know how much I love speeches, so I'll make this short. I wish I could say I didn't owe anything to anyone, but the truth is I wouldn't be standing here if it wasn't for the courage and support of each and every one of you. I hope I can be as good a leader as we've had in the past, and as good as you deserve."
"Hear, hear!" Daniel said, clapping. He was followed in short order by the rest of the SGC.
"As you all know, and if you don't where the hell have you been the last two days, I retired from the Air Force two days ago. But even as your civilian CO, I can still kick your asses." He sent the chuckling Marines a wry grin. "And that includes your jarheads, Reynolds," he added. "There are advantages to being a civilian, but I'm very proud to command all of you. You're the best. And don't let anyone ever tell you otherwise. Even the Marines."
Sam smothered her grin at this statement; typical Jack.
"The other reason I took this job was so I could do really cool stuff like this." He paused. "It is with great pride that my first order of business as commander of this base is the announcement of the promotion of Major Samantha Carter to Lieutenant Colonel."
What? Sam grinned, both delighted and embarrassed as everyone broke into applause. Jack jerked his head at her, mouthing "C'mere." Oh, she was going to kill him!
She walked up the ramp and stood in front of Jack as Walter Harriman read the commendation. "The President of the United States has placed special trust and confidence in the patriotism, integrity and abilities of Major Samantha Carter. Major Samantha Carter is promoted to the grade of Lieutenant Colonel, United States Air Force."
Jack finished pinning on Sam's new insignia and they saluted each other.
"Lieutenant Colonel Samantha Carter," he murmured amidst the applause. "Now, raise your right hand …" — she did so — "and repeat after me. I … insert name."
She smiled at him. "I, Samantha Carter-O'Neill," she began.
THE END