Sorry for the long delay in updating folks. RL is a pig sometimes and my muse has been very intermittent lately too, but hopefully we're back on track! Thanks for all your reviews on the last chapter and hope you like this little shippy chapter to make up for lost time.

Danger Zone.

By Lingren.

Previously:-

His smile widened, reaching his eyes for the first time since he'd left for Washington that day.

"Sure Carter c'mon in."

Chapter 24

Jack lay back on the bed, closing his eyes for a moment until the thumping in his head stopped. When he opened them again, Sam was looking down at him with a worried frown.

"If you're not up to this sir, I can come back later."

"No. It's fine Carter, just a little headache still. Sit!" he ordered, pointing to the chair that Hammond had left nearby.

She hesitated but eventually obeyed as he shot her a frown and raised an eyebrow.

Now she was here, she wasn't sure what to say to him.

"I...I just wanted to say, I'm glad you're okay sir."

He smiled at her, but he could see there was something else bothering her. He sat up again and swung his legs over the side of the bed to face her.

"And?"

Sam chewed on her bottom lip, not knowing if he would take it the wrong way. She looked up from the clasped hands in her lap and took a deep breath steeling herself for the expected reprimand.

"I need to tell you something sir, something personal. Can we talk off the record?"

Jack guessed what was coming and knew there was nothing he wanted more than to get this off his chest.

"Of course Carter. What's on your mind?"

"I don't think, after all you've been through lately, that I can do this any more."

"Do what?" he asked gently, his heart rate quickening with anticipation.

"This thing between us. I can't leave it in that room any longer. My...my feelings are stronger than ever. It's getting to be so damn hard, seeing you hurt and not being able to...touch or..." She let out a groan of frustration, throwing her hands in the air to make her point when she couldn't find the right words to sum up what she meant.

"Hey!" he cried, capturing her flying hands and holding them tight in her lap. "It's okay Sam. I've been thinking the same thing; been meaning to say something too, but you know me. I'm not good with words."

She stilled as the full force of his message got through to her, wondering if she'd heard him right.

"You...you have?"

"Uh huh!" he shrugged. "I meant what I said that day, and my feelings have only deepened Sam. You're an amazing woman, and you mean more to me each day."

"I... Wow! I don't know what to say," she gasped, feeling breathless from his declaration.

He rubbed soothing circles over the back of her hands, still captured in his. He squeezed them gently, then brought each of them up to his lips to brush a kiss lightly over her knuckles.

She gasped when a bolt of electricity shot into her at the tender gesture. She closed her eyes, savouring the moment with a contented sigh.

He quirked his lips and feasted his eyes on her, knowing it was going to be okay, that she felt that way too. Did she love him enough though? He could only hope so.

"Carter. Sorry, Sam," he smirked. He was comfortable using her surname, it came automatically. "Sam," he started again, "I don't know if I'm saying this right or if I'm gonna put a barrier between us. What I don't want is to ruin our friendship. If you think I'm overstepping the mark here, then say so and I'll go see Hammond, but nevertheless, I have to say this. Sam, I know for a fact that I love you, am in love with you, but it's not nearly enough just to say it. I need to feel it. It's been buggin' me since this whole thing began. I would like to take it further, but that's up to you. If you feel I've compromised your position on the team, then go ahead and tell Hammond. I'll do whatever you think is necessary." He broke off, his eyes that had been boring into her all through his speech, dropped suddenly to their joined fingers, then away as he fought the silence in the room, thinking the worst.

Sam choked back the tears that were rapidly filling her eyes. He couldn't have voiced his thoughts more eloquently, she believed. No good with words? That was rubbish. When he put his mind to it, he could put his point over beautifully. She stood, releasing his hands which made his shoulders slump further, releasing a sorrowful sigh.

He was disappointed when he felt her hand slip from his. He was about to offer her a deep apology when she knelt down in front of him, resting her hands on his shoulders. He looked up in surprise.

"Jack," she whispered into his face so that he could feel the warmth of her breath against it, sending shivers down his spine. "I love you more than anything in this world. You are my world Jack. I just didn't know how to tell you without...sounding..."

"Clichéd?"

She chuckled and he grinned widely, breaking the tension that had somehow built up around them. She swatted him playfully.

"No, that wasn't what I was about to say. I'm serious Jack. I do love you and I...we need to do something about it. I can't leave this. I need to move on with my life and if you don't think it's a good idea then..."

"What? What will you do? Leave? I can't let you go Sam. Not now, not ever!"

"So what are we going to do?" she asked, needing him to find a solution because she couldn't see one in the near future.

He cupped her face in his hands gently.

"I don't know yet, but I do know this. I love you Sam. Now and for always."

He leaned in and kissed her deeply, tenderly, showing her just how much he cared for her. She responded just as enthusiastically, letting him know that she loved him back.

The kiss ended after an eternity, leaving them both gasping for breath and the light of love shining in moist eyes. He moved his thumb across her cheek wiping away the weeping tear that had leaked from the corner of her eye, with a tender smile that softened his handsome face.

"I love you Sam, never doubt that," he assured her, pulling her into his arms.

She returned the embrace, feeling her heart sing with joy. She couldn't help the happy sigh that escaped when she felt him hug her close. She felt warm inside, loved and cared for by the one person she had loved from a distance for so long.

"I'll have to talk to the General Sam. I don't want to retire but if I have to, then I will."

Sam sat back on her heels in surprise, pulling out of his arms, but keeping hold of them.

"I don't want you to leave Jack. I'll put in for a transfer to another team, or I can stay in the lab."

"No. I'm getting too old for leading a team now. My knees are shot anyway, you know that. I won't be allowed to go off world much longer; I'm older than most officers in the field today. If I don't put in a request to move over, then they'll either retire me or stick me behind a desk and you know I'd hate that."

"But, what will you do?"

"I have an idea, but I need to speak to Hammond first. Bear with me on this Sam, please?"

With no other choice but to trust him, she nodded her assent.

"Okay," she sighed, hoping it would turn out for the best.

"It'll be okay and what I have in mind should keep me off the front line and out of firing range of Kinsey and his mob."

He cupped her chin, forcing her to look him in the eye.

"I mean it Sam. It'll be okay. It's a promise! We'll be together."

Her smile widened, the tears still falling gently until he kissed them away.

After he'd pulled away, she stood and straightened her clothes before returning the gesture to his brow.

"you wanna get somethin' to eat? I feel like some cake!"

She giggled, shaking her head at his propensity for eating cake during the more stressful moments of their lives.

Sam looked at her watch. It was actually way passed dinner time. She'd been there longer than expected.

"Sure. Why not!" she said, grinning.

Jack stood, wobbled a little but soon steadied himself. She made to grab him, but he fended her off.

"It's hunger!" he said, shrugging. "It's been a while since I ate Carter!"

Sam straightened herself up, nodding. They were back to formality now. They would have to show that nothing had changed between them as soon as they walked out of that door. Subject to the scrutiny of those working in the SGC once more. She glanced up at him, catching his eyes.

"Always Sam!" he whispered, reaching for the door handle.

"Always Jack!" she replied with a smile.

Jack opened to door to find Daniel with a fist raised ready to knock, and Teal'c hovering behind him.

"Oh, hi guys. I just wondered if you were going to grab a bite. Teal'c and I are hungry."

"Yeah," Jack sighed looking at his team-mates. "Teal'c's always hungry Daniel and I'm surprise you noticed the time!"

"Actually I didn't but Teal'c came to find me."

"Daniel Jackson was engrossed in his work. Knowing you were recovering I took the liberty of reminding him it was time for sustenance in your absence."

"That's good Teal'c. So, what's on the menu today?"

TBC