Chapter 12 – Blueberry Muffins

Disclaimer – Not mine, never will be etc. etc.

A/N – Was I the only author who couldn't upload stories this weekend?

Anyways – sorry for the delay, the world seemed to conspire against this chapter being posted this week so I hope that it moves you at least a little further along in your quest for answers … or maybe not?

Jack woke early the next morning. He lay still, trying to figure out what was different about this day. He looked around his bedroom and everywhere his gaze fell was bright and clear. The realization hit him moments later. He'd had a great night's sleep. In fact it could be categorized as an awesome night's sleep, free of the restlessness that usually plagued him.

Once he had arrived home the night before, having dropped Sam home and partaking in an incredible kiss, he had gone straight to bed. And he had slept in a dreamless state for … Jack checked the bedside clock.. seven hours. Jack shook his head and chuckled to himself. "That woman does wonders for me", he said out loud to no-one in particular.

Since it was a Sunday, and he wasn't due to report to the base, Jack didn't need to get up. But something drove him out of bed. A feeling that something needed to be done pulled him up and dragged him to pick up the phone. He was not one for spontaneity in his personal life but at that moment, as he lifted the receiver, he knew that he was making a good decision. He pressed # 2 on the speed dial and waited to hear the ringing on the other end.

The phone rang just once before a familiar voice answered in what could only be described as a cheery voice.

"Good morning, Jack".

'Hi Sam. You sound very cheery this morning", he replied with a grin that Sam could hear through the wires.

"So do you", Sam replied, rolling onto her side so she could look out the window at the morning sunshine.

"So … whatcha doing?" , Jack asked as he settled himself sitting up against his propped up pillows.

"When?"

"Now"

"I'm lying in bed talking to you, Jack."

"Ah Crap! I woke you."

"No. No. I was already awake. Just lying here thinking," Sam sighed.

Jack cocked him head to the side and a slight frown appeared on his forehead beforehe asked, "Happy thoughts?"

"Yeah", Sam replied smiling gently, "Happy thoughts." She paused slightly before continuing. "So, is there anything I can do for you?"

Ok Jack, he thinks, here goes nothing. "I hope so. Do you have any plans this morning?"

Sam held her breath and unconsciously crossed her fingers. Trying to sound nonchalant, she replied, "Hmm let me think. I don't believe so. No. Why do you need me to go in to the mountain?"

She had given Jack a way out as big as the Grand Canyon and he rubbed his hand over his face, beginning to question the soundness of his idea. But he already had everything planned out in his head and he truly didn't want them to lapse back into their proper CO and 2IC roles just yet. He wanted to savor the feeling that resulted from the kiss he shared with Sam the night before, and that wouldn't happen if he ordered her back to duty.

"Ah, no. That's not why I called. I wondered if you might like to come over to my place this morning and I'll make you brunch".

It was now Jack's turn to hold his breath as he waited to hear Sam's response. He had no idea where the urge to spend his Sunday morning with Sam had come from but now it was there, he prayed that she would be open to the concept.

Sam smiled to herself. Something had obviously worked right the night before for the invitation to be extended. In all the years they had worked together, he had never actually asked her to come to his house before without it being a "team event".

"I'd love that, Jack. Would you like me to bring anything with me?"

"Hmm. No, I don't think so. I have everything I need."

"Oh. Ok.", Sam said realizing that he really wanted her to come over for brunch. "Does 11:00 hours work for you?"

"Perfect see you then ." And with that Jack hung up the phone before she could come to her senses and change her mind. Little did he know that Sam was wearing an almost exact replica of the goofy grin that he wore as she realized that Jack had progressed to the "second date", the "come to my place and cook for you date", whether he realized it or not.

Back at Jack's house, however, Jack's grin faded as he realized that contrary to what he had just told Sam, he did not in fact have anything in the house for the morning he had planned. He jumped out of bed, had a two minute shower, shaved while writing a list of all the things he needed to get, and got dressed, ready to greet Sam when she arrived. He grabbed his wallet, making sure the recently written shopping list was in it. He found his keys and left the house headed for the grocery store.

When Sam arrived at 11:00 hours on the nose, Jack was cool, calm and collected. He opened the door and broke into a lazy smile and then stepped back swinging the door wide inviting her into the house. As she entered, Sam's senses were assaulted by the wonderful smell of baking and coffee. She threw Jack an inquiring look which he simply returned with a shrug. Now that Sam was standing in his entrance hall, he felt very unsure of himself. That quickly disappeared when she gave him one of "his" smiles.

"Come on in", he said as he took her by the elbow and lead her to the kitchen. "Can I get you a coffee, Sam?"

"I'd love one", she replied and as he poured the dark black liquid from the pot into the waiting mug, she realized that without asking, he had made her coffee exactly as she liked it. She smiled slightly to herself as she thought about just how much they knew about each other that wouldn't be the norm on asecond date. It went beyond culinary likes and dislikes. It went to the fundamental core of the other. When you fought, and occasionally died, beside a person for such a long time, lived with them on base and off-world, you got to know them better than even a spouse in many regards.

For SG-1 to still want to spend time with each other when they left the mountain was testament to their friendships. For Sam and Jack to want to spend time alone together after all they had put the other through was either a miracle or a sign that there truly was something more to their relationship. Something real. Something that Sam hoped went beyond the lure of the forbidden. Beyond infatuation.

She heard a low gentle chuckle and looked up to see Jack smiling at her. "Penny for them?".

Sam sighed softly and smiled back. "Just thinking how nice this is".

"Well Sam, if you think this is nice with just a cup of coffee in your hand, well, it's going to get absolutely great in a few minutes."

Jack grabbed a set of oven mitts and opened the oven door. Expertly he pulled out a muffin pan and Sam was overwhelmed by the sight, and smell, of large, lightly browned, blueberry muffins. Her jaw dropped as he quickly plucked the hot muffins from the pan and dropped them into a waiting bread basket. He placed it on the kitchen table where Sam sat, jaw still open, and sat opposite her, only hesitating to pick up his coffee from the nearby counter.

"What?", Jack asked when Sam continued to stare. She closed her mouth so quickly that her back teeth could be heard banging against each other. "Nothing," she said and paused slightly and then continued, "well it's just, did you bake them yourself?"

"Will my answer influence whether you eat them or not?", he asked, cocking an eyebrow.

"No!", Sam exclaimed blushing furiously.

"Well then, yes I did. My Grandmother taught me to bake when I was a boy when I visited the cabin in Minnesota. I just figured that it might be nice for us to have something to tide us over while we chatted about what else we want to eat."

Sam looked at him in amazement and whispered "You really are something Jack O'Neill". He smiled at her shyly and simply said, "Thanks, you're pretty amazing yourself you know".

Surprisingly, no awkwardness followed as Sam tentatively grabbed one of the hot muffins and carefully smeared it with butter. The butter melted into it completely and Sam made pleasurable noises after she popped a piece into her mouth. Jack smirked at the sounds and the look on her face and his imagination began to wander into a less innocent direction. He quickly shook it off reminding himself that she was still his 2IC.

As it had at dinner the night before, the conversation flowed freely and both reveled in their comfort in the other. While Jack made his infamous omelet's, Sam made herself at home in the kitchen, making them refills of coffee and christening the new juice maker. They smiled often and laughed at each others comments. At one point they got serious when they discussed the recent funeral of a member of SG-6 who had died after a g'ould raid on an uninhabited planet.

They each had dated other people since their time at the SGC but had never felt such peace and contentment in another. Without ever discussing it, they knew that they would probably never find someone who they could be attracted to and happy with, while being able to discuss "what did you do at work today, honey?".

Much later, their coffeesatcold and the muffins and omelet's were long gone. The sun was getting lower in the sky and their brunch had now turned into 'afternoon tea'. Jack began to clear away the dishes and Sam got out of her chair to help. She picked up her plate and mug and reached to put them in the sink just as Jack turned to the sink with the non-stick pan. Their hands bumped and he paused, looking into her eyes.

He slowly took the crockery from her hands while keeping eye contact and placed them on the counter. He turned his body towards her and reached out his arm, puttinghis hand on her waist. The touch made her gasp and her body tingled with anticipation of his next move. She sank into the deep black pools that became Jack's eyes as he moved his attention from his eyes to her full red lips. He placed his free hand on her neck and ever so gently pulled her towards him. Jack touched his lips to hers and a bolt of electricity surged through her as he kept control of the kiss. His tongue gently pushed forward seeking entrance to her mouth.

And at that very moment Sam remembered that Jack was still her commanding officer. A man that she was never supposed to kiss. A man she was not supposed to love. A man who was not supposed to love her.

And she panicked!

She pulled away from him and staggered backwards. "Jack … I'm so sorry. I just … I just can't do this. Like this. I'm sorry. I have to go".

She ran towards the hallway, tears welling up in her eyes. She grabbed her purse from beside the front door and rushed outside to her car. She was already behind the wheel by the time Jack reached the front door. He rushed outside only to watch Sam drive away.

"Ah, Crap!", he yelled as he slammed his front door, kicking it once for good measure. He looked around the kitchen at the evidence of the day and wondered what the hell had just gone wrong.