When they reached the cabin it was well into the early hours of the morning, and Jack didn't have the heart to wake Sam. She looked so peaceful, he just couldn't disturb that.

"Rico, guard." Jack left the truck in the driveway, knowing full well nobody was around for miles. He just felt better knowing Rico would watch over her. He opened the door and headed in to open the windows up to air it out. Their luggage needed to be brought in, and Jack would have left it if they had any nightclothes in the cabin already, but Sam needed her pajamas and he wanted to make sure his duffle bag was safe inside.

When he'd brought everything inside and felt the cabin was aired out enough, he ran back out to the truck and gently picked Sam up out of her seat. Rico jumped out beside him and joyfully lumbered back to the cabin ahead of them, checking to make sure the premises was safe for his charge.

Jack slowly made his way through the cabin and laid Sam gently on his bed, being careful not to wake her. He pulled the comforter up to her chin and kissed her forehead. He sat there, watching her sleep for what seemed like hours though he knew it was only a few minutes. It was his favorite past time, Carter watching. He was pretty sure she didn't know he did it, but it didn't matter anymore, he didn't care.

The moon was shining in through the window, casting an ethereal, white glow over her features, bringing out the beauty of her face. He reached out cautiously and brushed a stray lock of hair out of her eyes. He loved the way she looked, when she was sleeping, when she was thinking, when she was pissed. There wasn't a time she didn't look good.

He loved her, that was for sure. No, he didn't just love her, he was in love with her. It was a feeling he never thought he'd feel again, but Damn, if it didn't make him want to hoop and holler. Instead, he crawled in bed next to the woman he loved, exhausted from the long drive and fell asleep thinking how wonderful his life was turning out. He may not have Sara and Charlie anymore, and that would always hurt, but he had Sam and Sean and Colin.

A/N: okay, hopefully next one up soon, thanks y'all!