Jack O'Neill growled in frustration. Why oh WHY was he put in charge of going to the Academy and giving the lecture on physics? WHY? He hated giving lectures and had only made it through the Academy because he loved what he did. Flying and stealth were his favorite pastimes…almost.
By far, his favorite pastime was daydreaming about General Carter's daughter he had met last year. Too bad he was getting married in two months. He really wanted to find her again.
"Class," Professor Monroe said, "Today we're having a guest lecturer coming in. Please welcome, Major Jack O'Neill. He'll be discussing the finer points of the String theory."
Jack walked in and Sam's eyes went wide. No way could this be the same man that had taken her out to lunch a year before! That would be just too freaky. But it was Jack O'Neill, and this was the same man. Holy crap! Her prayers had finally been answered.
Jack locked eyes with Sam for a brief moment, letting her know that he remembered their encounter the year before. "How many of you have heard of the string theory?" Every hand in the room went up. "Good, now, how many of you can explain what the string theory is?" Only five hands went up this time. Sam's hand was among them. "You, Cadet. State your name, and pray tell us what the string theory is exactly."
Sam stood up, "Cadet Samantha Carter, sir. The string theory is…" as soon as she said that Jack zoned out, just listening to the sound of her voice as she babbled on and on.
"Thank you Cadet. Thank you. Did any of you understand a word she just said? Anyone? Anyone at all?" When only three people (Jack assumed the ones Sam had been tutoring) raised their hands, he continued, "My point exactly. Okay, back to basics…"
By the time the class was over, Jack had effectively explained the finer points of the string theory to a bunch of Cadets that would rather have been in flight practice or the gym. And he did it with none of them falling asleep, and ninety-nine percent of them paying attention. Even Professor Monroe hadn't been able to do that; of course, that's why Jack was called in to give the lecture in the first place. They needed someone who knew the material to the t and could hold an audience captive while explaining it.
Sam stayed behind after the rest of the Cadets had left to go to lunch. "Sir?" she asked tentatively, testing the waters.
Jack glanced up at her before continuing to put his papers in his briefcase. Somehow Sam thought he would look more at ease with an automatic in his hands. "Yes, Cadet?"
"Um, I'm sorry, sir. Never mind," she turned to walk away but Jack stopped her dead in her tracks.
"Cadet!" he barked, "Take a walk with me."
"Yes, sir."
The two walked aimlessly in silence, both just basking in the other's company and the realization that they were really there. Jack first broke the silence, "So…any classes this afternoon?"
Sam shook her head, "No, sir. Professor Monroe's class is the only one I have today."
Jack winced as she called him 'sir', "Can you not call me that?"
"What, sir?"
"That! I want to hear you say my name like you did during lunch last year. I'm Jack, not sir. At least to you, Sam."
Sam nodded, "Okay, Jack."
"Still have that convertible?"
"Yeah."
"Want to go out to lunch? I – miraculously have the rest of the day free as well."
Sam grinned, "Sure – fly boy."
Ten minutes later Sam and Jack were in her dark blue convertible, Jack behind the wheel of the car Sam hadn't even let her own brother drive. "Where to eat?" he asked questioningly.
"There's a nice little diner about half an hour that way, Jack. You should like it."
"Then I just looked at him and said, 'If you want to keep your reproductive organs intact, shut the hell up.'" Sam said, retelling an event of sexism from a few months before.
"What did he do?" Jack asked, stealing one of her French fries.
Sam swatted his hand away, surprised how easily the two fell into the mold of a happy couple, "He, of course, didn't and I proceeded to demonstrate to him why I told him to shut up."
"What happened?"
Sam looked down, her cheeks flaming red, "I broke his nose."
Jack laughed heartily, "That's my girl!" he said before he realized what was out of his mouth.
Sam looked at him with wide, vulnerable eyes. "Am I? You-you're girl, I mean?"
Jack's brown eyes grew serious, "Do you want to be?"
"It-it might be nice."
"Samantha," he said slowly. Sam hated her full name, but when he said it, she loved it. "I'm engaged to be married, if I'm going to do something rash like call it off, I need to know you feel the same way."
Sam looked up into his deep brown gaze, "I-I don't know."
Jack nodded, "Okay then. I better get you back to the Academy."
In the car ride back, tense silence filled the air. Jack had just parked the car in front of Sam's dorm when she leaned over and pulled Jack into her, kissing him for all she was worth. It took him only moments to get over his shock and respond in kind.
When they pulled away, both were breathing heavily. Sam spoke first, "I've only seen you twice. But when I was with you today, I felt so safe and happy. I haven't felt happy since my mom died six years ago. I feel like I've known you forever. Here I am telling you stuff that I wouldn't dream of telling anyone else!" She looked down at where her hands lay intertwined with his, before looking back up into his soft gaze. "I don't want you to get married."
Jack nodded, "All right then. It's getting kinda cold out here, do you want to go inside?"
Sam smirked, "Isn't that my line?"
The Major kissed her again, "Not anymore."
They were about to go inside when Jack heard, "Major O'Neill! Wait!" from the distance.
He turned around and saw Berke running toward them in fatigues. "Jack! We just got called in. We need to go now."
"Where're we going?" Jack asked, now worried about when he was going to see Sam again.
"Iraq."
A/N: Review if you love me!