The Life he Left Behind
Chapter 13
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Jack was greeted at Sam's door by a very angry-looking Cassandra Frasier.
"Cass," Jack greeted, nonchalantly, ignoring the angry glare and the hand on the hip stance.
"Dinner and a movie? Dinner and a movie, Jack! What happened to the romantic dinner and dancing we agreed upon? Where's the dress, Jack?" Cassie hissed at Jack.
"What? We already had this date planned before we even went to Chicago. What was I supposed to do, just change it?"
"Yes!" Cassie growled. "I thought you wanted to win over Sam?"
"I do, Cass! I know what I'm doing, okay?" Jack replied, walking around the teenager who was obviously not moving from her position blocking the hallway, and headed towards the twins' room.
He heard Cassie groan as he made his way through Sam's house.
After visiting with his kids and reading 'Green Eggs and Ham' so many times he had it memorized, Jack was interrupted by Cassie walking in to the room with the phone to her ear. "No, no flowers, either. I know! I can't believe it either. After all we did, he didn't even give her the dress! Hold on, here he is," Cass pulled the phone from her ear and handed it over to Jack.
After scowling at Cassie, Jack snatched the phone from her. "Hello…..Sara. No, she should not have called you…………No, I didn't give her the dress yet…….yes, I still have it!…….Sara!…….no…..we're going to a movie, she doesn't need the dress yet…………..no, I didn't bring flowers. Damnit, Sara! No, listen to me…..I know what I'm doing. I appreciate your's and Cassie's help, but you have to let me do this my own way………I will, just not tonight………I know Carter, I have to do this my way…..because! Sara, I think I hear Sam, I have to go, I know what I'm doing, just…give me the benefit of the doubt, okay? Yeah, thanks, bye."
Jack hung up the phone and glared at Cassie.
"You promised, Jack," she whined, knowing she was going to get an earful for calling his ex-wife.
"I know, Cass, and I will. Just…not yet, give me time, kid."
Cassie lowered her head. "Okay."
The dispute settled, for now, Jack headed out of the bedroom to find Sam.
Sam was standing in the hallway, her eyes wide at overhearing Jack and Cassie squabbling. "Everything okay?" she asked, a concerned look on her face.
"Yeah, fine," Jack said, a little too quickly. "Ready?"
"Uh, yeah, just let me kiss the kids good-bye," Sam replied quietly, concern still etching her features.
Jack was wearing khakis and a black dress shirt, but since they were only going to dinner and a movie, was not at all surprised to see Sam wearing jeans with a somewhat-dressy shirt. "You look nice," he told her, walking towards his truck.
"Thanks, you look nicer," she replied, smiling over at him. "So, what movie are we going to see?"
"You'll see," Jack said, grinning.
"You're not going to tell me?"
"Nope."
"Why not?"
"It's a surprise."
"A surprise?"
"Yup."
Sam grinned. "Oookay! So, where are we eating?"
"Not telling you that either."
"Ja-ack!"
"Ah, not this time, Carter! I'm used to hearing you call me Jack now. You can't use my name to get me to give into you anymore."
"Ja-ack," she repeated and then giggled.
"Ah, no giggling, colonel! You know the standing rule."
Sam glanced back up at Jack, a cocky grin on her face. "You can't order me anymore, Jack."
Realizing that she was absolutely right, Jack shook his head as a grin spread across his face. "I guess I can't, Carter, but, unless you've changed your mind about the third date rule, you may not want to giggle again."
Sam's jaw dropped as a look of surprise shot across her face. Suppressing a giggle, Sam shook her head in disbelief and hopped in Jack's truck.
Sam was surprised when they pulled up into a park. "The park?" she questioned, looking over at Jack.
"Yup," he replied, a smile donning his face. "Here, take this," he told her, handing her a large blanket.
"I thought…." she started, but was interrupted by Jack.
"Dinner and a movie, Carter, just like I promised. Trust me."
"Oookay," Sam responded with a confused look still on her face.
Jack grabbed a picnic basket from behind his seat and, after shutting and locking his truck, grabbed Sam's hand and led her through the park.
In the middle of the park was a small stage with an orchestra playing music. A small dance floor was set up next to the stage, and several couples were sprawled all over the lawn. Some were eating, some were just sprawled out on the grass allowing the sun's rays and the sound of the music to envelope their bodies.
"Wow, Jack! This is great!" Sam announced, a large smile gracing her face as she took in their surroundings.
"I'm glad you like it," he told her, squeezing her hand before letting it go so he could lay out the blanket and their dinner.
Sam was still grinning as they sat down and started eating. Jack had stopped at a deli and ordered steak subs, chocolate cake, and blue jello for dessert, along with a bottle of wine.
Sam was completely swept away by the whole romantic, music in the park, picnic date and found herself unable to keep her eyes off Jack O'Neill. He had come back in her life and completely swept her off her feet. How he could get to her so easily, she had no idea, but she knew he had. Big time!
Once the desserts were devoured, Jack cleaned up their small mess and then extended his hand to Sam.
Sam tossed him a confused look, a little reluctant in taking his hand.
"Dance with me?" he asked, using his puppy-dog eyes to his full advantage.
Sam smiled. "I'd love to," she whispered and gave him her hand.
He pulled her up and they made their way to the make-shift dance floor. Taking her in his arms, Jack danced slowly around the dance floor, whispering how beautiful she was in her ear and settling feather-light kisses on her jawline as he held her tightly to him.
Sam couldn't deny it any longer. She was in love with Jack O'Neill. The old Jack, the new Jack, it didn't matter, she was finally starting to see that. Jack was Jack. Take him away from the action, and he was still the same person. The same person she fell in love with years ago.
Sam didn't even realize how long they had been dancing until the music suddenly stopped playing. Pulling her head off of Jack's shoulder, she looked over at the stage. "Why are they stopping?"
Jack pulled Sam back against him, missing the feel of her body against him as soon as she had moved. "It would be hard to hear the movie if they kept playing, don't ya think?" he whispered in her ear.
"Movie? Here?" Sam questioned, turning her eyes up to Jack's.
Jack smirked and nodded. "I told ya dinner and a movie, Sam."
Sam shivered at the use of her first name. He still didn't say it often enough, as far as she was concerned.
"Come on," Jack breathed, letting go of Sam's body and grabbing her hand. He tugged her back over to their blanket, but this time sat them down facing away from the stage.
Sam was surprised to see that while they were dancing, a crew had set up a large movie screen. Settling in between Jack's legs, her back resting against his front, Sam leaned her head back on his shoulder so she could see his face. "What's playing?"
"Casablanca."
"Hah, I love that movie!" she exclaimed in excitement.
Jack grinned. "I know."
Sam grinned back. "I love you," she said before realizing it.
Jack wrapped his arms tightly around her. "I love you," he whispered in her ear and kissed her on the neck.
Before any more words could be spoken, the screen lit up and the movie began to play. Sam stayed nestled in between Jack's legs for the duration of the film, only moving when the credits announced the end of the movie.
Sam and Jack both stood up and stretched. Hours on the ground with their heads cranked at an odd angle had tightened their muscles considerably. Jack finished stretching his body out and noticed Sam's arms above her head as she stretched. He walked the two steps to her and wrapped his arms around her. Sam immediately ended her stretch and allowed her arms to fall on Jack's shoulders. "I was stretching," she whined with a laugh.
"I know," was all he said before capturing her lips in a mind-boggling kiss.
Sam responded with a passion Jack hadn't expected. The feel of her soft tongue caressing his lips and mouth was flipping his stomach with need and desire. Knowing he needed to end this before it got out of hand, (in a public park no less!) Jack reluctantly ended the kiss and then wrapped his arms around her and held her in a tight embrace. "I'm never letting you go, Sam," he confided, his voice dripping with a multitude of emotions.
"You'd better not," Sam replied, tightening their embrace even more.
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Cassie heard the front door open and Jack and Sam's voices carry through the house. Standing up, she went to greet them and saw Jack wave to her and head straight to the twins' room. 'Probably peeking in on the twins,' Cass figured.
Approaching Sam, she couldn't help but notice the slightly flushed cheeks and the look of complete happiness on the older woman's face. "So, how was your date?" Cassie prompted.
Sam's eyes closed as she tilted her head slightly upward. "Ohhh, Cass!" she cooed, as she remembered the events of the night. "It was the most romantic date I've ever been on."
Sam's smile slowly started to fade back and she opened her eyes to see a shocked-looking teenager. Crinkling her eyebrows in confusion over the look, Sam was going to ask Cassie what was wrong, but decided she probably didn't want to know. "I'm going to go check on the kids," she announced, her eyebrows still poised in confusion.
Cassie remained silent as she watched Sam walk down the hallway and enter the kids' room. "Romantic?" she muttered. "It was just dinner and a movie!"
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