Here's the last chapter…maybe an epilogue…I don't know!

Christmas Day was spent at Jack's house, and the team placed their gifts under the tree in his living room. Then, they chatted and made small talk for a few moments while the whole team arrived. But when Daniel arrived (two hours late, mind you!) with his excuse that the weather had forced the freeway near his home to be closed, and that he had taken a less familiar route to Jack's house, the gang was more than ready to open the gifts that had collected under the tree.

It all started with Teal'c. He opened his gift from Daniel which was another Star Wars book. "Much gratitude to you, Daniel Jackson." He said, tilting his head.

Then, he opened Jack's gift. A set of Star Wars action figures. "I thank you, O'Neill."

"No problem, Teal'c."

Then, he opened Sam's gift. His face, though usually expressionless, held a certain sentiment. In fact, the Jaffa almost looked like he was going to cry.

"What is it, T?" Jack asked.

"I can't see, Jack." Daniel said, trying to move around the imposing figure of Jack O'Neill.

"It is the collection of songs by the Tau'ri called Enya. I find that her music helps me to better kelnoreem." Teal'c said. "Thank you, Major Carter. I am forever in your debt."

She smiled. "Sure thing, T. But you're no more in my debt than I am in yours."

"Okay! It's Danny's turn!" Jack yelled, diving for the tree.

Sam grimaced. "Sir, are you sure you should be doing that? I mean you did just dislocate your knee the other day."

"Ah…I knew I was forgetting something," Jack said, as he grimaced in pain. He held his knee. "Okay, Danny. Since I've sacrificed myself for you, you have to open mine first!"

Daniel laughed. "Okay."

Meanwhile, Sam stood up. "Sir, I'll go get you some ice for that knee."

"Isn't any." Jack said.

"Not even a medically certified ice pack?" She asked.

"Okay, maybe there's that." He replied.

"I'll be right back."

Daniel opened the package to find a Harry Potter trivia book. "Now, you'll be able to bother me with useful information." Jack grunted.

"Sir, do you have any frozen vegetables?" Carter continued.

"Oh for crying out loud, Carter, I'm fine. And no, I don't have any frozen anything…in fact, I don't have any food."

"I noticed." She yelled back.

"Why do you need frozen vegetables?"

"Because they're a good substitute for ice packs." She responded.

"It is time for Daniel Jackson to open my gift to him." Teal'c said, reaching for a colorful package.

He took the wrapping paper off, and just looked at Teal'c with a look of immense pleasure.

"What is it, Daniel?"

"It's a Goa'uld-English dictionary." Daniel said.

"You're kidding, right?"

"I'm dead serious." Daniel said, showing the book to Jack.

"Oh for crying out loud."

Meanwhile, Sam had been distracted by the leather-bound journal that lay open on the table. She wasn't surprised to see it here, after all, she'd already come across it before. No, she was more surprised to see the contents of the page than anything.

The deep, blue pools of her eyes
Are the oceans that drown me.
The sun in the Eastern skies
Is dull compared to her beauty.

Knowledge drives her passion
Like gasoline fuels my truck,
Propelling her through the vast expansion
Of space, but she rarely gets stuck.

Overtures of tenderness
Are followed by themes of asperity,
But still, I desperately long to caress
Her lips, those plains of simmering sensuality.

I'd rarely been scared
'Til I realized I loved her,
I wish that she cared
Then I would retire.

But instead, I'll stay here
Her CO; I'll be true,
'Til my thoughts she can hear:
"Samantha, I Love you!"

She took a deep breath. "Carter, it's your turn to give Daniel his present!" Jack yelled from the other room.

"I'm coming." She whispered, unable to really speak.

Finally, she stopped staring at the page, composed herself and went back into the room. "Sir, you were right, there's absolutely no ice in this house. However, I filled one of the ice trays, so there should be ice in…about an hour or two."

He nodded. "Thanks."

"No problem." She said, still slightly dazed.

"Here, Daniel." She said, as she handed the package to him.

He opened it and grinned. "This is AWESOME!"

"What is it, Danny?"

"It's Wormhole X-Treme Season 1!"

He groaned. "Oh, Carter, you really didn't have to fuel his obsession with that awful Sci-Fi show that I refuse to name! Did you?"

She smiled. "Well, sir. You have the Simpson's, he has Wormhole X-Treme."

"Yeah…what she said!" Daniel said, taking a swig of his beer.

"Didn't I say we're never giving that to him again?" Jack asked, looking at Sam.

She shrugged. "I guess he snuck it in."

"Okay, it's your turn, Carter." Jack announced after a brief pause.

"No, sir. I was first last year, so I'm last this year…it's your turn." She corrected.

"Oh…" He said, taking a deep breath of relief.

"Here you are, sir." She said, handing him an envelope.

"An envelope?" He asked.

"You'll see."

Inside were two tickets to the hockey game he'd been wanting to go to for the past few weeks. "Carter?" He asked.

"You've been ranting and raving about the game, and I thought I'd help you out." She said.

"I figured that much out…but why two tickets?" He asked.

"Oh, didn't you know you can only buy tickets in pairs online?"

He shrugged. "Oh, I thought you were saying you wanted to go with me."

"If you were to invite me, I wouldn't say no." She said, still unsure of how he would react.

"Then, I'm officially inviting you."

She smiled. "I'm glad."

"Okay…it's time for Jack to open my present." A slightly tipsy Daniel called, with his impeccable timing.

Jack opened the present to find a notebook. "Okay…" He replied.

"I'm giving you permission to doodle while I lecture, Jack." Daniel clarified.

"Oh…nice to know I have permission."

"Just humor me, Jack."

Teal'c pushed a package in front of Jack. "This is for you, O'Neill."

"It's a staff weapon, right? I've always wanted one of those." Jack said, opening the gift.

"No, it is not." Teal'c replied.

"Okay…" Jack continued to unwrap the gift. "Sweet!" He said, after the wrapping was fully gone from the package. "Simpson's Monopoly!"

Sam shook her head, laughing.

"Now, it's Carter's turn."

Teal'c handed her a package.

"It's Josh Groban's latest CD!" She exclaimed. "Thank you, Teal'c!"

Then, Daniel handed her his package. "It's How to Think Like Einstein: Simple Ways to Break the Rules and Discover Your Hidden Genius!" She said, laughing. "Thanks, Daniel, it's great!"

"For the Female Einstein…may she actually get a Nobel Prize for her discoveries in Science!" Daniel continued, holding up the beer bottle as though giving atoast.

She laughed, more at how Daniel was acting than at his actual words.

"So, I guess it's my turn." Jack said, pulling out the small box.

Her heart started pounding. "Yes, I guess it is."

She could just see the size, and as he handed it to her, she was sure she would find a ring. Please, let this not be a ring…not yet. I just got over Pete. She chanted in her mind.

When she saw the pendant, she was almost disappointed that it wasn't a ring, but then she smiled. It was a token of much more…he would wait for her.

"Carter?" Jack asked.

She tried to hide the tears that were spilling onto her cheeks. "Yes, Jack?"

"Are you…" He paused. She had called him Jack. "Sam, are you okay?"

She smiled as she looked into his eyes. "Yes, Jack…for the first time in a very long time, I'm great."

He nodded. "Good."

"What is it, Sam?" Daniel asked, breaking the moment.

"A shooting star…a necklace."

"A necklace, Jack? Jeez, couldn't you have at least given her a ring?" Daniel spouted.

"I will return with Daniel Jackson in a few hours." Teal'c supplied as he grabbed the archaeologist by the shirt collar and walked outside.

"Uh…"

She smiled. "I'm not ready for a ring…not yet."

He looked at her. "Huh?"

"This is perfect." She bit her lip. "I…I saw the poem, Jack."

He closed his eyes. "You did?"

"Yeah…it was beautiful."

"Thanks…" He coughed. "I was going to get you a book, but…"

"One of your books? I have them all…"

He just stared at her. "What?"

"They have your picture on the back, Jack."

"Right…"

"You're my favorite author. But, that's not just because you're my commanding officer."

"Really?"

"It's because you touch me…right here." She said, taking his finger and placing it above her heart.

He swallowed. "I do?" He squeaked.

She smiled. "Jack, do you mind if I kiss you?"

"You thought you needed to ask?" He asked, gaining control once more of his thoughts.

"I didn't think I needed to…" She said, as she tenderly placed her lips over his in a warm kiss.

Jack smiled after that kiss. Oh, words couldn't even begin to describe…and he should know.