Authors: Ariel Carter-O'Neill and EridaniMoon

Rating: Teen to Adult

Email: in bio

Eridani's note: Thanks so much for reviewing the story! I have to admit that if someone looks closely enough, they will find my sarcasm in the stories… It couldn't be helped! Hope you like this next chapter as much… More coming soon!

Ariel's note: Wow! Thank you for the beautiful reviews, I didn't expect to have so many beautiful comments. Here's chapter two, I hope you'll like it as much as chapter one. Eridani thank you so much once again, this couldn't be possible without you. J

Thunder 2

Chapter 2: Resounding Admissions

The next morning, when Sam woke up, she was very confused. Why was she on the couch instead of her bed? Had General O'Neill actually come to her house last night or was it just another of her crazy, wishful dreams? She remembered the storm and the General's call but that was all. Slowly, she stood up and shuffled to the bathroom for a warm, refreshing shower; silently praying it would wash the fuzziness from her head. No such luck, she thought as she shrugged into her robe and stumbled into the kitchen. After forcing half of a slice of toast down her throat, she ran a brush absently through her hair and frowned at the dark circles under her eyes. Sighing, she realized that there was nothing she could do about them and pulled on a pair of jeans and a t-shirt for the drive to the base, determined to act as if nothing had happened the day before.

The General was behaving the same way, cracking his usual jokes and it giving her a sense of reassurance that nothing important had happened between them. She spent the major part of the day in her lab working on her experiments; at least that's what she told everyone that dropped by to see where she 'was hiding herself'.

She tried to focus on her work, but the strange conversation she'd had with her CO the night before kept popping into her mind, distracting her to no end. After several fruitless and frustrating hours, she finally gave up on altering the output ratio of Naquadah for the new reactor prototype and slipped silently from the mountain. After a quick trip by the grocers'; she finally made it home, again checking the answering machine to see if Pete had called her back. No messages… Not that it really surprised her. After two months, you'd think that she'd stop hoping… Sighing, she decided she wasn't hungry and turned towards the bedroom to prepare for the night. She'd only taken about five steps when the she had an overwhelming impulse and ran back to the living room, snatching the phone from its' cradle.

Glancing to his right as the Simpson's tune filled the air and then glaring at the stack of paperwork beside him, Jack smiled in relief, snagging the ringing object as he stated, "O'Neill."

Smiling at the happy tone in his voice, Sam replied, "Hey, sir, it's me."

Jack's smile grew broader as he leaned back in his seat, asking, "Hey, Carter, what's up?"

Ok, it was now or never... Last nights 'chat' had filled her mind all day long, and she knew that if she didn't get it off her chest, it would slowly drive her insane. The way Jack's sexy bedroom eyes did over the briefing table… Taking a deep breath, she blurted, "I think we should talk about what happened yesterday."

Uh-oh... He'd always hated when a woman used any variation of 'we need to talk'. Closing his eyes, he replied, "Ummm...Ok…what?"

Okay Sam, you can do this. Inhaling deeply, she slowly let it out and then offered, "I wanted to say that I'm sorry for my behaviour."

"What behaviour?" Okay, maybe he was a little thick at times, but he had no idea what she was talking about. Pinching the bridge of his nose, he assured, "There is nothing to apologize for Colonel… Nothing…"

Damn it! Trust the man to try to make her feel better... Too bad it wasn't working. "Yes there is. I was weak and I was feeling alone… I shouldn't have laid all that stuff on you last night."

Smiling as he heard the insecurities in her voice, Jack softly replied, "Everyone needs someone sometimes… I'm just glad you felt you could talk to me."

God, how could he not know what he meant to her? Dropping into the chair she'd occupied the night before, Sam closed her eyes and whispered, "I've always felt that way."

"Good!" Okay, things were definitely looking better!

Taking another deep breath, she blurted, "I'd prefer no one ever knows about what happened."

Okay, maybe not so well. His hurt tone filled the line as he mumbled, "Like I would tell."

Smiling, Sam snorted and declared, "Yes, you would."

"Carter!"

Shock filled Jack that she could even think that he would stoop so low as to... Her voice interrupted his musings as she accused, "Sir, I know you and you would claim it just to win one of the bets that are running on us." An ominous silence filled the line, before she softly added, "Or to claim that I'm yours."

Pain and remorse that she obviously didn't know him as well as he'd thought filled him as he quietly stated, "I would never do that and I am insulted that you would think so… Good night, Carter."

"NO!" Sam's sharp denial filled the line, causing him to wince as she murmured, "Here we go again. Why do I always hurt him?"

"Carter, you're just hurting yourself, not me…" Ok Jack... Time to play with the big boys. Open your mouth flyboy and tell her... "It's time to wake up and see what's in front of you Sam."

Silence reigned once again as she didn't have any reply for that one and listening to the voice in his head, he decided to go for it, asking, "Sam… how do you really feel?"

"Tired." The word was pulled from her, her eyes tightly closed as she dodged the real question he'd thrown at her.

So the Colonel thought she was going to get away with an easy answer? Right... "If there were no Air Force, no regs?"

Please Jack, don't make me do this... "I'm too tired to think about that."

Jack sighed again, ordering, "Then sleep and we'll talk after you've rested."

No! He couldn't go, couldn't make her think about this and then just... "I don't want to sleep."

"What do you want, Carter?" The silence filled the line between them, yawning like the Grand Canyon before he impatiently prompted, "Sam?"

" Someone who's there for me when I need it. Someone who doesn't let me down… I want someone who truly loves me." Oh God, had she really said that? Closing her eyes in embarrassment, she was unprepared for the quiet pain-filled query as it floated across the line.

"And you think I don't?" God, how could she not know? He'd worn his heart on his sleeve for eight years!

The pain in his voice caused her to freeze, realizing that she'd slung an invisible arrow at him once again. Sighing, she hedged, "I think you and I are too easily frightened by our emotions."

Frightened? He was a General, for crying out loud! "I'm not frightened, Carter."

"Pfff!" The nonsense word filled his ear, followed by her snort of disbelief. Okay, so she wanted truth? Let's see what the Lieutenant Colonel could handle... "I've kept my feelings about you close so that I can protect you. You say the word and I will scream it from the top of the Empire State Building! Phone the President! You name it!"

Damn it, why was he doing this to her! "But what if I'm scared?"

"Face your fear! Conquer it!" Okay, good advice... If you were teaching a kid to ride a bike. Taking a deep breath, he began, "Sam..."

Her voice was small, as she questioned, "What if I'm not ready to resign from the Air Force?"

Her question covered his quiet use of her name, causing him to freeze before suggesting, "Maybe I am."

"No, you can't do that." Panic filled her at the thought that he would quit; resign and she would never see him again.

"Why not?" Jack demanded. "If it's stopping us from being together?"

"No it'll pull us apart." Damn, that sounded weak, even to her ears.

"Then what are we supposed to do?" Tapping his fingers against the stack of files, Jack fought to keep the anger from his voice as he added, "I'm tired of living this way, Sam! Seeing you with that asshole… Pete… How many alternate realities do we have to see before you realize that we were meant to be together; that you're mine!"

Excuse me? Had Ja-…the general, suddenly become a Goa'uld in the last three seconds? "Hey! I'm not an object! I belong to no one but myself!"

Silently cursing himself for blurting out what he'd always felt, Jack muttered, "Sorry." Pausing, he could hear the gears turning in the Colonel's head as he struggled to find the words to take her anger away. Damn, he was such an idiot! "Let's sleep on this, Sam."

Oh, she'd love to... Brushing the thought away, Sam whispered, "I'm tired of living this way too, but there's nothing we can do until all the Goa'uld are destroyed. According to the President; we are both supposedly too valuable to the Stargate program to resign just yet."

Well, she had a point there, damn it. "Nothing that can be determined tonight anyway."

Glancing around her living room and suddenly realizing how dark it was, Sam snapped on a light, inquiring, "Where are you right now?"

Looking at the stack of files on the seat next to him, Jack frowned, hedging, "I'm, ah… at home, Colonel. I'm an old man… I need my rest."

"Oh." Well, there went that idea... How dare he call her by her rank now? Staring at the picture of her team on the mantel, Sam narrowed her gaze, locking onto his smiling face and glaring as she stated, "Well never mind, sir!"

Okay, she'd been about to say something important, he could feel it. Grinning evilly, he yelled, "CARTER!"

Sam's back snapped to attention at the volume in which he called her name and not caring anymore, yelled back, "WHAT?"

That was more like it! "What were you going to say?"

Biting her lower lip, she replied, "You won't like it."

God, and the woman had the nerve to call HIM exasperating! "Won't like what?"

Damn it Jack, just leave it be! "What I was going to ask."

"What?" This was worse than pulling teeth... At least the string on the doorknob worked once in a blue moon!

"No." Her voice pleaded with him not to push the issue, to just accept it and hang up, but of course, Jack O'Neill never listened did he?

"Sam… Don't make me come over there!" Jack's voice grew gravely; dangerous, as he added, "If I do we both know I'm not leaving."

"What if it's exactly what I want?" Oh shit, oh shit, oh shit! Did she really say that? Closing her eyes in mortification, Sam prayed for the floor to open up and swallow her.

Holy shit! Did she actually say... "Fine… I'll be there in twenty minutes."

"Too long." Well, since she'd already begun digging a hole, why not widen it?

Oh God, oh God, Oh God..."Fifteen?"

Might as well make it large enough to sleep in… "Ten!"

Shock filled Jack, causing him to gulp, exclaiming, "Carter, I live across town! And I have a big truck."

Her sigh filled the line as she muttered, "All right."

Yes! Smiling, he leaned against the pillar, offering, "Oh... By the way… I lied…"

"What?" He wasn't coming? That lowdown, rotten...

Oh, yeah… This was gonna be fun. The smile that made his enemies tremblecrossed his face as he quietly ordered,"Look out your front door."

Rising, she walked cautiously to the front of the house, opening the door to see him; the beautiful, perfect man of her dreams, smiling at her, his cell phone stuck to his ear as he whispered, "Hello, Sam."

Gasping for air, Sam raised her hand to her chest as she whispered, "Oh my God!"

Clicking his phone off, Jack moved towards her as he laughed, murmuring, "Well not quite the response I was hoping for." That earned him one of her beautiful smiles, as he added, "At least not right now."

A blush raised to her cheeks as she face him, for once unsure of herself. Not knowing what to do or say, Sam jumped as he asked, "May I come in?"

Jolted into action, she stepped to the side and replied, "Sure!"

Jack stepped inside, closing the door and staring at her, softly inquiring, "Where do we go from here?"

To my bedroom, so I can finally do what I've had in mind for eight years! Clearing her throat, she suggested, "To the living room?"

Chuckling at her uncustomary nervousness, he followed her into the living room, dropping to sit in across from her, but so close that their knees touched. Reaching to brush her hair away from her face, he whispered, "What do you want, Sam? Not the Colonel, not the scientist, you… the woman."

"I…" Suddenly tongue-tied, she stared at him, pleading for him to understand.

Oh no, she wasn't getting away that easy. Ignoring her blue eyes, he ordered, "Spit it out."

Tears filled her eyes, dropping over her lashes to make wet trails on her cheeks as she mumbled something he didn't understand. She was feeling so lonely and the one person that should be there for her was treating her like she was nothing. She just wanted to love and be loved in return. Nothing more. Was that so much to ask? Obviously, Pete Shanahan wasn't the right man for her... Jack O'Neill was, but she was so afraid of her feelings and of the consequences for both of them that she was frozen. Stopping her as she started to drop her head, hiding her emotions from him, he asked, "What is it?"

A loud sob was torn from her chest as she begged, "Please… Hold me…"

God, how could he deny that? Holding his arms out to her, he offered, "C'mere." Wrapping his arms around her shaking form, he buried his face in her hair, murmuring, "That's nice… Now what?"

"Ahh…" Truth time... Could she actually tell him what she wanted, what she needed, what she wanted?

Jack lifted her chin with his finger, his eyes meeting hers and noting the exhaustion, pleaded, "Say it, Sam."

"I…" Blushing as she broke into a yawn, Sam dropped her eyes, but brought them back up to meet his as his chest rumbled with a chuckle and he said, "Go to bed, Sam, I'll sleep on the couch."

Pushing her to her feet, Jack watched her through hooded eyes as she moved towards the hallway, her steps reluctant. Stretching out on the couch, he tucked his arm behind his head, still watching her as she paused at the doorway, clearly deliberating leaving him there… alone. Finally taking a deep breath, she stated, "No."

Whirling around, Sam had to bite back a smile as she saw his eyes widen and then that eyebrow lift sardonically as he questioned, "No?"

Nodding her head, Sam repeated, "No."

Pushing up into a sitting position, Jack rubbed a hand over his tired face, his tone cajoling as he began, "Sam…" Breaking off at the look in her eyes; the same one he'd seen so many years ago when she was trapped behind that force shield on old 'Pophy's ship, he closed his eyes, muttering, "Aww hell…"

His eyes popped back open when she burst into tears, and standing, he moved towards her, demanding, "Say it, Sam… What do you want?"

Burying her face in his neck as he wrapped his strong arms around her, she shook her head, crying, "I… c… ca… can't…"

A smile formed on his lips as he brushed them over the crown of her head, as he murmured, "Then, nod. Do you love me, Sam?"

She froze for a split second, her body tense as a bowstring before she slowly nodded, still crying.

Finally, we're getting somewhere! Nuzzling his face against her temple, he questioned, "Do you want to be with me?"

She nodded against his neck as she gave a hiccupping, "Yes."

"Are you willing to put us first, no matter the consequences?" Please say yes, please say yes, please say yes...

Silence met his inquiry, and lifting his head, he ordered, "Answer me!"

Oh, God, this is it... I can't... Another hiccupped sob escaped her as she declared, "I don't know!"

Nodding, Jack stepped away from her, his fists clenching at his sides as he said, "Then, I think you need to decide." Walking towards her front door, he added, "Go to bed, Carter, I'll see you at the SCG tomorrow morning."

Sam's cries grew louder as she followed him, wailing, "NOOOOOOOOOOO!"

Whirling around on his heel, Jack's dark eyes glittered dangerously as she retorted, "Yes!"

Her hand reached through the air towards him, her eyes glimmering like blue sapphires as she begged, "Stay!"

Taking another step towards her, he demanded, "Why should I stay?"

"Because…" Why couldn't she think of a reason, any reason, other than... that?

Shaking his head, Jack's eyes turned hard as he hissed, "You can't make up your mind and I'm not a damn yo-yo!"

"I know you're not a yo-yo!" Wrapping her arms around her middle she turned back towards the living room window, whispering, "You're a hell of a lot more than that!"

"Then, prove it!" Closing the gap between them his hands landed heavily on her shoulders, demanding, "Make a decision. If I stay, it's forever. If I go, that's it; no more."

Her world was crumbling around her; the only future she wanted was about to walk out the door. Closing her eyes, she gasped, "I'm afraid of the consequences, but I do love you."

Moving away from her, he paused, stating, "The choice is yours, Carter. I gave you the options."

Sam watched him walk towards the door, walking out of her life; and taking a deep breath, requested in a murmur, "Jack... Stay. I love you."

Jack paused with his hand on the door, his back stiff as he softly asked, "You're absolutely sure? There's no turning back after this, Carter."

Nodding, but not daring to hope, she whispered emphatically, "Yes!"

The sexy smile returned to his lips as he moved cautiously towards her, as though she would disappear. The same sexy smile that made her toes curl as he said, "This comes with a ring… eventually…"

"Whoa! One step at the time!" Oh God, I want to say yes... When can I say yes?

Laughing, he opened his arms, testing the waters as he countered, "I see… so now? What?"

The smile started at the corners of her mouth, slowly spreading across the lips that were driving him mad with the urge to kiss her. She moved towards him, her blue eyes twinkling as she responded, "Now we're both exhausted so I suggest we go to bed." Seeing the sudden spark in his eyes, she quickly added, "To sleep."

Giving a put-upon sigh, he said, "Fine with me. Go to bed, I'll sleep here."

Already shaking her head, she replied, "Negative. You come with me and that's an order."

Jack's smile grew wider as he pulled her into his arms, reminding, "I give the orders, Colonel."

Sam's frown returned as she hissed, "When we're here; there are no ranks between us! We're Sam and Jack, that's it!"

Nodding and wishing he'd kept his mouth shut, Jack promised, "Fine, but you'll have to forgive me if I slip. After eight years of calling you Carter, I'm bound to forget."

Nodding again, Sam moved towards the hall, softly asking, "So… are you coming or do I have to kick your ass in there?"

"Yes ma'am!" Sauntering after her, he followed her into to her bedroom, shocked at how nervous he felt. Undressing down to his boxers and t-shirt as Sam slipped into the bathroom, he sat on the edge of the bed, wondering if he was dreaming. He had his answer as she opened the door and stepped back into the room wearing loose pyjama bottoms and a t-shirt... Nope, in none of his dreams did she ever wear something that plain!

Crawling in on the opposite side, he pulled her into his arms, staring into her eyes as he lowered his head towards hers. Growling as her sigh of pleasure filled the room, he deepened his kiss, forcing himself to pull away before it went too far. Holding her tightly, he brushed his lips against her temple, whispering, "G'night, Sam."

Sam's whole body was shaking with happiness as she hugged him back, a silent tear creeping from the corner of her eye to dampen his t-shirt as she replied, "G'night, Jack."

Placing another kiss on her forehead, he added, "I love you, Sam, never forget that. I will always be there for you... No matter what."

Sam felt her heart clench as he unknowingly echoed the words her subconscious version of him had said to her so many months before on the Prometheus, she nodded, another hiccupped sob escaping as she stated, "Ditto." For the first time in her life, she felt complete. She knew she was safe in his arms and that he'd never run away from her or deceive her.

Watching as she drifted off to sleep, Jack smiled and wondered why in the hell his luck had suddenly changed. Giving her another tight hug, he closed his eyes, allowing sleep to creep up on him as he listened to her even breathing. Sighing as sleep tugged him down into the whirling mass of dreams, he smiled and whispered, "Sam..."