The drive to Sam's was spent thinking about the progression of their "relationship" over the past two and a half years.
He'd thought her attitude spunky when they'd first met and had readily told her the truth when he'd said he adored her already. He'd felt an immediate attraction to Sam the moment she'd started to go FemiNazi on him during their first briefing, but had dismissed it as loneliness.
He and Sara had only been divorced for a little less than a year at that point and after ten years of being with the same woman every day and night, he'd missed that stability in his life. He'd missed Sara. He would always miss Sara. He'd held on to that little piece inside that had told him they were still friends and that was the best he could ask for. He loved knowing she could go to him if she needed someone to listen, which had started after the crystal entity had shown up. Unfortunately, it had only lasted a couple weeks before she started talking to Sam more and more.
Sara and Sam's friendship had been awkward for him at first. He didn't know how to react around either of them. Sara, though she'd known pretty much everything about him anyway, now knew things about Jack he'd always kept pretty much hidden. As a result of being under his command, Sam could read him better than anyone else. Sam, on the other hand, now knew things he didn't think any 2IC should know about their CO. Okay, maybe if she'd been a he, but that almost made the situation more awkward.
He'd seen some of the light finally return to Sara's eyes over the almost two years she'd been friends with Sam. She had someone to talk to who hadn't been there, but understood, knew loss, but didn't try to console, and who talked but didn't pity. Sam was what Sara had needed. Greg, too, but he had a different role in her life, and while she needed him just as much, there were things he knew she would be more comfortable talking to another woman about.
He knew some of the things they talked about, both Sara and Sam talked to him. Sam, mostly if she didn't know what to tell Sara, would sometimes ask his opinion on something. They never said they were mentioning the other but he figured it out. Of course, Sam only talked to him if she really thought it was important. He always figured it was her feeling uncomfortable around him. He wasn't so sure anymore.
It had been good for Sam to have a friend like Sara. He'd noticed the change in her so fast it was almost as if she'd changed overnight. Her father's curtness with her after the interrupted medal ceremony had hit her hard, but she'd been able to talk to Sara. He'd later found out from Sara that she'd also just found out that Jacob had cancer. He'd never felt happier that Sam and Sara had a good friendship than then.
On the Charlie days Sam had been there for both of them. For him, she would simply understand his moods, put up with his abruptness and silence, but for Sara she'd be there to talk and to listen. That was what she'd needed. And Sara was there on the day of Sam's mother's death, being a friend.
He noticed how extremely different Sam's friendship with Sara was over her friendship with Fraiser. The friendships had the same intenseness. If anyone ever tried to ask Sam who was the better friend or which one was her best, she'd not be able to choose between the two. They were just different, although he'd known the three of them to get together on occasion.
Jack picked up the pizzas and got back in his truck, still debating the turns in both his and Sam's personal and professional relationship.
Of course, he and Sam had gotten closer as well. He silently thanked Sara for that. Though he'd never been able to open up to her, a fact he still felt guilty for, Sara had helped him grow out of his melancholy and how to trust other people more. Daniel had been the first to learn of Charlie, on that first mission to Abydos. Surprisingly enough, when he found out Sam had been told about Charlie during the thing with that crystal entity, he hadn't been too upset.
He and Sam had grown, as "brothers" in arms and as friends since the institution of the SGC. She'd proven herself as a soldier their first mission together and had continued to amaze him on a daily basis.
He knew he'd been harboring feelings for her for a while. He liked her, a lot, and he was pretty sure she felt at least somewhat of an attraction to him as well. Why else would she have spent all that time trying to get him off Edora? She had been doing her job, but really she had gone above and beyond the call of duty. He still felt awful for the way he had treated her then. He'd never thanked her for what she did.
They hadn't caught a break yet, either. Immediately after that he'd gone undercover to break up the NID's little smuggling ring, and said some things he'd definitely regretted. He could still see the look in her eyes after he'd shouted at her. He still hadn't apologized for that.
Of course their very next mission just had to be the one she got hurt on. Then to top it all of, they'd found out about Sara and Karol upon their return. He just wanted one chance to tell her how sorry he was, and to thank her for bringing him home.
There were other things they needed to discuss. He wanted to see what feelings he really had for her. He wanted to talk to her, find out if she felt anything for him. He'd remembered what it was like when she wouldn't leave Cassie to die alone, how his heart clenched when he thought he'd lose her. He had to know where they stood.
A/N: Okay, how'd you like? I don't know when i'll get the next chapter up, b/c this is really getting close to the chapters that i have written and pretty soon you'll catch up, then you;ll have to wait forever for me to complete a chapter. sorry, and thanks!