Name: Secrets in the Snow

Summary: When Jack and Sam are caught in the snow on a mission, all alone, and they need to stay warm…what will the consequences be?

Rating: PG to PG-13. Adult themes implied.

Disclaimer: I do not own Stargate SG-1.

Authors Note: First attempt at SG-1 fanfic. Some things may sound weird, but if you try hard and put the voice and attitude of the character into the words I wrote, I figure you'll find it a lot more believable.

Chapter 1

The Excuse of Snow

With a howl of the wind, another layer of snow fell from the heavens and covered the ground of P3X-524. Daniel Jackson stood in front of a frosty window pane, clearing a spot in the dew with the palm of his hand. He pressed his nose to the chilly window and attempted to see out of it.

"They will be fine, Daniel Jackson," Teal'c said from across the room, where a fire was roaring loudly.

"I know that but…" he said, his voice furtive. He paused. "It's just so cold out there Teal'c and they don't have the proper gear…"

"I am sure they will find a way," Teal'c said, his eyes filled with his hidden laughter. "They are very wise, Daniel Jackson."

Daniel nodded and shuddered as the windows rattled with another cold blast of air. In the darkness outside, he saw nothing.

xxxxx

Sam shivered uncontrollably in the cold, pulling her useless (at least in this cold) winter jacket farther around her as she pressed her back against the solid wall of snow behind her. Some time ago, she and Jack had left the village where they were staying over the course of the week to try and find the naqueda that she had picked up upon arrival through the Stargate. Jack had insisted on going with her, telling her he wouldn't risk losing a member of his team in the cold. And look at where that got him, she thought bitterly, her teeth chattering inside her mouth. Now both of us are lost in this freak storm. There hadn't even been a single cloud on the horizon when they had left, just two hours ago.

Sam risked a glance at Jack. He was sitting on the other side of this hole that they had found…a small cave like structure in the snow, big enough for a group of four plus a fire (Sam had seen markings on the wall that suggested possible life forms having used this countless of times. She made a mental note to tell Daniel when they…if they got back.). He too, was pulling himself as far as he could into the comfort of his jacket. The fur lining his parka hid his nose as he tried to keep himself warm.

Jacks eyes flicked up to her and Sam looked away quickly. "Carter," he said, snapping her attention back to him. "Did you ever think to check the weather channel before we left the village." His voice was the normal, sarcastic tone he took with anyone. Well that was a good sign…she thought.

"Sir…I don't think such a thing exists on this planet. While they might be advanced…they don't seem to have…"

"Carter," the Colonel sighed. "It was a joke. Bide the time. Make it seem less cold. Fill the air with warmth. You know?"

Sam shifted, embarrassed. "Yes, sir, I understand," she said.

"Isn't there anything we could do to stay warm, Carter. You are after all the 'scientist.'"

"It's not like I brought a naqueda reactor with me, sir!" she snapped. Tears began to well in her eyes. The cold was frustrating her…and now she was being reprimanded.

O'Neill flinched. He hated making girls cry. Tried to avoid it on a regular basis. The situations were always tricky and for the most part…highly, highly uncomfortable. "C'mon Carter," he said, trying to persuade her out of crying by pleading with her. "I didn't mean it like that there's no need to…cry."

"I know, sir," Carter sniffed, trying, without luck, to get the flow of tears to stop. "I'm just so…tired," she said, fighting as hard as she could to keep her voice even. Without the want of them too, tears began to pour down her face. Sam buried her head into her knees, trying to at least muffle the sound so as not to scare Jack too much.

Jack grimaced as he watched the member of his team's shoulders shake as she cried, no longer audibly. Sighing, he took his hands away from his knees, where they had been clamped to preserve body heat, and began to crawl towards her.

Sam heard a rustle in the cave, but ignored it, and suddenly felt a pair of strong arms grasp her around the shoulders and pull her back. She felt herself leaning back into Colonel O'Neill's chest. Shocked, she stopped crying.

"I didn't know I was that good," Colonel said. "Else I would have started a profession of this. You can see the headlines now 'Colonel Jack O'Neill leaves the airforce to start a job comforting crying damsels."

Carter laughed, and when she did another stream of tears ran down her cheek. She hastily brushed them away, lest they freeze on her face. "Or not," she heard Jack mutter. He pulled her a little closer trying a better attempt then last time.

Sam craned her neck back against O'Neill's chest, to look at his face. When she did…and found him looking back at her, she felt the breath catch in her chest. He lowered his head slowly towards hers, and her chest felt tighter. He paused for a moment, uncertain, and she raised her head up a little farther to urge him on. Frozen lips met frozen lips as they kissed. The breath in Sam's chest let loose.

"God, sir," Sam exclaimed when they broke apart. "You're freezing."

Colonel O'Neill snorted. "Gee, Carter, ya'think! You aren't much better off yourself, you know."

Sam shrugged. Suddenly, she noticed that she had stopped shivering, so had the Colonel. A kiss can't have done that She thought. Then she realized, they had booth stopped shivering before he had even come over to her side of the cave. She groaned. "Sir," she said. "I think we're getting hypothermia."

Jack groaned as well. "That's not good, is it."

"No, sir, it's not."

O'Neill paused for a moment, then looked back down at Sam. "Carter," he said, his eyes holding the same emotion they had held before he kissed her. "Are you sure there is nothing we can do to stay warm."

Sam felt herself stiffen. "That's against all regulations, sir." Her heart pounded hard in her chest, and she felt her stomach flip over.

"I'm sure the SGC would understand two people, a man and a woman, doing what is absolutely necessary to stay alive in the freezing cold when they have no other options. Especially when their death, in the form of hypothermia, sets in." Or at least, Jack thought. I hope they would understand. "And besides," he continued. "It's not like they'd have to find out."

Sam thought for a moment, without answering. He could have a point, she thought. It was like one of her dreams coming true. After that little batch with that lie detector of the Tok'ra's that had to be so thorough…they both knew each others feelings. And they both were adults, capable of making that decision. And it wasn't like she hadn't done it before…

Jack was staring at the top of Carter's head as she thought. Maybe I shouldn't have suggested that. Way to go, Jack! He thought…just as she leaned her head back against his chest. Or not. "…Carter?" he asked slowly.

She looked back up at him, biting her lip and smiled slightly. She nodded. Breathing a relieved smile, Jack fumbled with his clothes.

xxxxx

It was only in the later hours in the morning when the snow finally settled enough for Carter and O'Neill to leave the shelter. Yanking on their clothes, they grabbed the little equipment they had and shoved out.

Before they left the cave, O'Neill stopped Sam. Gazing into her eyes, he touched her softly on the cheek. "Sam…" he started.

Sam put her hand on his, shocked slightly that he had not used her last name, and smiled a forlorn smile. She knew what he didn't want to say. "I know, sir," she said. "Nothing of this can ever leave this cave."

Jack nodded grimly, he couldn't even force a smile. Leaving the cave and holding out his hand for Sam to take so she could get out, he said, "Glad you understand." He flicked his eyes away from her as they walked. After the night before, she still refused to call him by his first name.

They were about two miles away from the village, which seemed like a lot with this snow. And had no idea which way to go, their tracks were covered by the storm the night before. They both paused, looking around for any sign of the village.

"Carter," Jack said. "This is not…" he didn't finish his sentence (which would have been "good') as he was cut off by sounds across the snow.

Xxxxx

What do you think? Review! I have all chapters done so will post as reviews come! Don't fear the "Will she ever post a new chapter!" They will be up soon if you review! About seven in total!