You wanted fluff...then here's some fluff for you. Enjoy!

Censure.

By LetitiaRichards

Previously:-

"So," he began, "start at the beginning Dr. Jackson. What happened when you arrived on PZ4 295...?"

Chapter 13

Sam sat on the floor, her back resting against the pod as she whiled away the time. She even dozed a little. Thor had offered her a more comfortable sleeping platform, but she had refused to leave Jack's side, eager for him to wake up.

Sam was thinking all the time she waited for Jack to rouse. Having focused on Jack, it was now, in the quiet, that her thoughts turned to more mundane things.

"Thor, how did you know where to find us?"

"When O'Neill came to us before, we placed a marker in his blood. It tells us where he is as well ashis physical wellbeing. We were alerted when his body terminated,therefore I came as soon as was possible."

"We sent messages out to you before then, but you never answered them!" she pointed out.

"I am sorry Major Carter, but our battle with the Replicators is taking a heavy toll. I was actually on my way to your Galaxy when I picked up on O'Neill's distress."

"You know exactly where and what he's doing?" she exclaimed.

"Indeed. O'Neill is of vital import to the Asgard. His DNA will perhaps provide the missing link for the future regeneration of our race."

"Wow! That's just...weird. Does he know this?" she couldn't help asking.

"He does, but I do not think he understands the full significance of it."

Sam knew that oh so well. He had often looked at her blankly when she'd tried to explain things to him. It was one of his endearing qualities. He always looked so...lost, but she also knew his ignorance was a bluff. Deep down the man was intelligent and quick witted, a brilliant strategist and a consummate officer. When the chips were down he was always there, commanding and protecting, and she loved him dearly.

Thor attended to his ship for a few moments while she pondered her CO, and it was thirty minutes later when she asked for what seemed like the hundredth time, the same question.

"Thor. Are you...?"

"I am certain that he will wake soon Major Carter. His autonomic responses indicate that his body is becoming more aware."

Sam clambered stiffly to her feet, eager to see Jack open his eyes, but she still had to wait several minutes for that to actually happen. Though enough time had passed for her to ask Thor the same question again.

Thor was ever patient with her and knew that the bond between the Colonel and the Major must be very strong indeed for this much concern to be showing through.

Sam watched Jack open his eyes and blink several times, adjusting to the light levels. Thor had dimmed the lights in courtesy to his tolerance level.

The first thing he saw when he could focus properly, was the beaming face of Carter. Sam! He smiled in response and then the glass cover of the pod retreated, leaving him free to rise from the healing chamber.

Jack scrubbed his hands over his face with a stifled groan, then sat up with a little extra help from a very willing Sam.

He looked round at the pod and the grey walls of the spaceship, when he spotted Thor.

"Thor! Buddy! " he cried happily on seeing his little grey friend, before puzzlement set in. "What happened? Didn't I just...em...?"

"Yes sir, you did. Thor beamed you into the stasis pod and removed the device, healing you in the process," Sam explained simply, knowing he wasn't up to a complicated account of his recovery just yet.

"Oh!" was all he could manage to say, but Sam was more than happy to see that he seemed to be functioning normally.

Jack clambered out of the pod and fell onto his knees.

"Whoa! Head rush!" he cried, steadying himself with one hand on the floor while Sam had grabbed hold of the other one to stop his nose hitting the deck.

"Steady sir. Your body is seriously weakened. You haven't eaten much in over a week," she reminded him.

"I'm fine, I'm fine!" he grumbled, though he knew his strength had been seriously undermined lately.

He tried to stand but couldn't, so gave that notion up as a bad idea, instead he allowed Sam to guide his movements to sit back, leaning against the pod.

"I'll...er...just rest for a bit," he said with a disarming smile, making Sam's knees turn weak too. She sat down beside him and he looked at her with a raised eyebrow.

Sam thought better of it, being this close was dangerous; but as she went to stand again, he reached out and stopped her.

"It's okay, you can sit; I won't bite," he said pulling her down once more. "Talking of which...got any food on ya Carter? I'm starving! Water?"

"I have a canteen and a couple of energy bars in my pack sir..."

"That'll do," he interrupted eagerly.

"I have ample sustenance if you..." Thor began, but both Jack and Sam interrupted him.

"Ah...it's okay thanks...I got it!" Sam cried urgently at the same time as Jack politely refused Thor's offer.

"It's okay Thor, old buddy! We'll manage. Thank you!" Jack replied, leaving Sam to retrieve the nutrition bars and the water from her backpack. "And thanks for the rescue by the way! I really appreciate it...you know...the whole bringing me back to life again. Sweet!"

"As you would say O'Neill...no problem!" Thor replied making Sam smirk as she handed over both bars to Jack.

He passed one back and told her to eat it, or, he whispered in her ear, he would make her eat those little yellow squares of Asgard food again.

Sam shot him a 'you wouldn't dare,' look and he raised an eyebrow, which said, 'you wanna bet?'

She accepted the bar with a pout and they both bit into their food with relish, sitting quietly whilst they chewed. Jack drank some of the water, though Sam wouldn't let him drink too much in one go, just in case his stomach objected, but he appeared to be okay.

"I'm fine!" he insisted, taking the canteen and drinking some more of the water.

She relented with a shrug.

"Okay!" she sighed. 'Be it on your own head,' she added silently.

He stood up, still a little shaky, leaning on the pod for support.

"You wanna escort me to the bathroom?" he asked giving her a raised eyebrow.

"Sure!" she replied, standing up and allowing him to lean on her, though she felt he didn't really apply much of his weight to her shoulders.

She slid an arm round his waist and pulled him closer, much to his delight. He tightened his grip round her shoulders and they made their way out into the corridor; Thor acknowledging their necessary trip with a slow nod.

Sam stood at the large round window overlooking Earth while she waited for him to finish up in what passed for a bathroom. Thor had put one in on purpose just for his Earth friends should they need it.

He walked over to her and slipped his arms round her from behind, and she smirked, knowing he hadn't needed her help in getting to the bathroom. It was just an excuse to be together in private.

He nuzzled her neck as they watched the World spinning slowly below.

"You okay?" he whispered, breathing hot fire down her neck and making her shiver with desire.

She curled up into hid embrace, leaning back against him and lacing her arms round his.

"Better, now I know you're okay," she sighed softly.

He turned her round to face him and smiled down at her.

"It's over now. But without Thor's help, I just couldn't see how I..."

"Shhh!" she sighed, pressing a finger over his warm lips to put a stop to his tumbling thoughts.

"I knew there was a reason I loved you Samantha Carter," he grinned, leaning down to brush a tender kiss over her brow. "I don't need to explain anything. You always seem to know."

"There are times I can read you like a book, at others, I can't get passed the first page," she said with a wide grin. "But I do know that I love you Jack. I was so afraid of losing you."

"Me too," he sighed heavily, pulling her closer into his body, needing the contact as much as she did.

"So where do we go from here?" she asked, pulling back after what seemed like an eternity in his arms.

"I guess I retire."

"You can't..."

"Ack! Sam," he said, stopping her from arguing. "My body wasn't meant to go through all this crap. I've had enough. I'm not sure I could go through anything like that again. I've been beaten; shot; blasted; zatted; fried; you name, I've been there and got the T-shirt. I not getting any younger, and each time it gets harder to come back. This is it Sam. If I carry on as I am, I'm not gonna be able to enjoy being with you and all you'll get in a few years time, providing I don't die in the meantime, is a wreck. No. I'm stopping this now!"

He broke off pulling her into another hug.

"I don't want to wait Sam. I want you now!"

Sam was taken aback slightly with his vehemence, but it wasn't aimed at her.

She cupped his face in her hands and looked fixedly into his dark shadowed eyes.

"Are you sure Jack? Are you sure that's what you want?"

He clasped his hands over hers, bringing each of her hands to kiss the palms there, holding them against his chest afterwards.

"Never been more sure than I am now Sam."

"I love you Jack, but I wish you weren't giving up all of this. I'm sure General Hammond won't accept your request for retirement."

"He'll have to. I mean it Sam. I want us to be together before it's too late."

"I thought it was too late this time," she whispered brokenly.

"I know!" he sighed, brushing away the moisture leaking from her watery eyes. He folded her into his arms again and kissed her thoroughly, hoping to dispel her doubts about their future.

TBC