Thank you once again for all your reviews and I'm really glad you're enjoying this. Just one more chapter to go, probably, though I won't be certain until I've actually written it.

I've upped the rating on this as there are one or two places where it gets a little steamy. Nothing explicit though. Enjoy!

NOTHING IS EVER THAT SIMPLE

By LetitiaRichards

Previously:-

"I love you Sam!"

Sam wept tears of happiness and held him close. This was the happiest day of her life.

Chapter 31 – After The Ball is Over.

When their special dance had finished, they took a bow in answer to the excited yells, whistles and cheers of their many friends, both of them flushed slightly from the warm room. Well, that was their excuse anyway.

As soon as Jack led Sam back to their seats they weren't allowed to sit down before they were being led back onto the dance floor.

"I didn't know you could dance Jack?" Daniel stated, surprised to find that Jack was fairly good at it from what he could see. He wasn't just shuffling round the floor at least.

"I'm an officer in the USAF Daniel. It's all part of the deal. We all have to attend formal functions on occasions, so learning to dance is sort of compulsory if you don't want to look an ass in public."

"Wow. I guess I never...well, I just didn't expect you to is all."

"Actually Daniel," Sam said with a grin. "He won't admit to it, but he's quite good at it."

"Oh please!" Jack groaned, rolling his eyes. He had a reputation to think of.

Sam giggled at his pained expression and Daniel sniggered, then stood up to bow to Sam.

"Mrs O'Neill, will you do me the honour of standing up with me for this dance?" Daniel was all formal and politeness.

"I'd love to Dr. Jackson," she giggled, offering him her hand and looking back over her shoulder at her new husband to seeing if he was jealous or not. Apparently not, judging by his smug grin.

"Colonel? May I?"

Jack looked down to see a twinkle in Janet's eye; a wicked gleam hiding there as she watched Daniel and Sam head off. Jack shrugged thinking this could be fun. He wasn't blind to the attraction the Doc held for the blue eyed wonder boy, and he knew Daniel liked Janet a lot too.

"Sure Doc. Why not." He took Janet's hand and led her out onto the floor near to where Sam and Daniel were already dancing. They twirled around the room for a couple of minutes before they got close enough to bump into the others. Then Jack made his move, and before Daniel knew what was happening he found himself waltzing with Janet.

"Hey! What happened? I was dancing with Sam."

"Not any more Daniel. Have fun!" Jack retorted smugly.

Sam giggled as Jack neatly turned them away from the other two and left them behind. Sam lightly punched Jack on the shoulder but couldn't help the smirk on her lips.

"You know you're evil, don't you?" she whispered to her husband.

"Oh yeah, but not as evil as Janet apparently. It was all her fault." Jack said trying to pout but not succeeding because he couldn't hide the mischievous grin that was lifting his cheek and lighting his dark eyes.

Sam loved him when he pulled that lop-sided, not so innocent, grin. He looked a hell of a lot younger than his half-century years when he did that. He always acted younger than his age, that was one of the reasons she loved him so much; he was young at heart, and certainly not as dumb as he acted.

Daniel swallowed harshly. They'd left him with Janet of all people. He tried to quell the rising panic and fixed his eyes over the top of the tiny medic's auburn head as he whirled her round the floor unable to think of something to say. Janet was trying hard to have a decent conversation but it was difficult when she either had to content herself with talking to his chest or give herself a crick in the neck trying to look up at his face. Feeling something needed to be done, she deliberately missed the next steps and trod on his toes with her high heels.

Daniel yelped and hopped around, while Janet, tongue in cheek, gushed out profuse apologies and helped him back to their seats. She made a big thing out of insisting she took a look at his foot to make sure he was okay. She also insisted that he should drink something for the shock, so Daniel found himself drinking a glass of Jack Daniels practically poured down his throat and gasping for breath as it burned a trail of fire down his gullet.

"I'm fine Janet. Honestly. More than fine, really," he spluttered still trying to catch his breath.

"Are you sure Daniel? You're a little flushed and you are gonna have a nasty bruise there for a few days."

"Actually," he said, feeling somewhat braver after his second glass of the amber liquid. "I think I'm in need of some extended first aid here."

Janet's face fell, thinking that perhaps he was really injured, maybe she had broken his toe?

"What is it? Tell me Daniel," she cried full of remorse and reaching for the whiskey herself .

Daniel looked over to see Jack and Sam watching closely from their position and Teal'c sitting at the table with General Hammond watching him closely. The girls were too busy giggling and making goo goo eyes at the young airmen around the room to notice them.

"I think I definitely need reviving after that shock. Maybe a little mouth to mouth might work?" Daniel suggested hopefully. What the heck, if you can't beat them, join them!

"I believe, Cassandra Fraiser," Teal'c proposed, "that it would be prudent for us to move onto the dance floor."

Cassie giggled, having sampled a few glasses worth of whatever was available at their table while everyone was busy dancing.

"Okay Teal'c. Can you dance?" she asked. She'd glanced over at her mother and could see her downing a glass full of booze, certain that her mother was going to have a hangover in the morning.

Janet watched her daughter go off with Teal'c and knew he'd look after her, so she made herself comfortable on Daniel's lap and began her life saving manoeuvres.

"How many of those has she had?" Hammond asked Teal'c as he withdrew from the table too, taking his granddaughters onto the floor to dance with the Jaffa and Cassie.

"I am not sure General Hammond. I believe she referred to her second glass as much needed 'Dutch Courage'. Though I am mystified as to what Dr. Fraiser's consumption of alcohol has to do with that nation."

Hammond chuckled and told Teal'c that he should get Daniel to explain it to him in the morning. He decided that it really was time to take the girls home after the music finished, before things got out of hand. Learning about sex education was one thing but to see it up close and personal in public was a little too much at their age. Especially as he didn't know how far those two would go. At least Jack and Sam had more sense.

Who would have thought that his CMO had that much fire tucked away in that petite frame of hers. As for Dr. Jackson, well, they say it's the quiet ones that you should keep an eye on, and boy were they right! Those two were certifiable! Good job it was fairly dark in the room with the lowered lighting. They had already decided that Cassie should go home with him and stay overnight at his house; the girls would love to have her company so there would be no need for the Doctor to worry about her daughter.

As soon as Jack and Sam came back to the table, General Hammond congratulated them again and said goodbye, reminding them that they only had a week away before they were due to return to the SGC to start work.

Jack hugged Cassie, Tessa and Kayla and walked them to the door along with Sam, waving them off.

OoOoOoOoO

After many more dances with friends and relatives. Sam and Jack danced the last dance of the evening together to a gentle rendition of 'The Wind Beneath My Wings'.

Did you ever know that you're my hero,
and ev'rything I would like to be?
I can fly higher than an eagle,
'cause you are the wind beneath my wings.

It might have appeared to go unnoticed,
but I've got it all here in my heart.
I want you to know I know the truth, of course I know it,
I would be nothing with out you. Did you ever know that you're my hero,
and ev'rything I would like to be?
I can fly higher than an eagle,
'cause you are the wind beneath my wings.

Fly, fly, fly away,
you let me fly so high.
Oh, fly, fly,
so high against the sky, so high I almost touch the sky.
Thank you, thank you, thank God, for you,
the wind beneath my wings.

The music ended and Jack held Sam against him whilst people came up to them and shook hands or hugged and kissed Sam, wishing them well for the future. It was time for them to leave the party. They had a special flight laid on to get them to Minnesota.

Jack looked down at the couple engaged in tonsil hockey and snorted with amusement. He tapped Daniel on the shoulder, interrupting the kissing.

"Daniel. Do everyone a favour, go get a room huh? Sam and I are off now."

"Already?" they both gasped, embarrassed and looking a little worse for wear. "It can't be that time already?" Janet added looking at Daniel's watch. She now noticed that both Sam and Jack had already changed out of their wedding outfits and were wearing casual clothing under black leather jackets.

"It is, and we're off. We'll see you guys next week."

There were hugs all round and kisses for Sam. The happy couple then left the reception waving behind them to all their friends as they were driven away.

Jack held Sam's hand all the way across town back to the SGC where they were to catch their ride.

"Happy Sam?"

"Hmmm!" she replied contentedly, snuggling into his shoulder. "Very!"

"Good!" he sighed satisfied with his lot. He pressed a kiss to the top of her head and smiled. He reckoned he was the happiest man alive. Something he never thought he would ever be again.

OoOoOoOoO

Mac had whined for most of the afternoon and evening while the wedding was taking place. Walter had been given the task of looking after him at the base while Colonel O'Neill and Colonel Carter were celebrating their marriage, until they returned that evening to collect him and rendezvous with Thor.

The dog went absolutely crazy with joy as his master returned for him, smothering both of them in wet kisses and wagging his tail so hard that Jack thought it would fall off. They made their way to the briefing room where Walter was the only one to witness their departure in a blaze of bright light.

Mac didn't go much on being transported and barked at Thor to show he disapproved of being 'beamed' anywhere.

Jack smoothed his ruffled temper and fussed over him until he felt happier. Thor congratulated them on their nuptials and moments later, they were 'beamed' down to the cabin by the lake.

Alone at last, Jack lit the already prepared fire in the grate and watched for a few moments until the wood caught light, sending a warm flickering glow around the room. Mac immediately curled up on the rug in front of the heat, and settled in for the night.

They snuggled side by side for a while, just happy to be there while they chatted about the days events over a beer until it was late and the fire had died down.

Jack stood, and pulled Sam up into his arms, wrapping them round her snugly. She melted into his warm embrace, snaking her hands up under his shirt, making him shiver involuntary.

"God Sam. You looked beautiful today." Sam frowned up at him, and Jack realised that what he'd said and what he'd meant were two different things. "Well, I mean," he stumbled along, "you always look beautiful to me, but today; today you were absolutely stunning."

"Nice save, flyboy!" Sam giggled, making Jack sigh in relief at not being misunderstood. For a minute there he imagined that the impending divorce would have set a world record if he'd not corrected the error of his words.

"Oh c'mon Sam, for cryin' out loud. You know me and words. I meant you looked even more beautiful if that was at all possible."

Sam merely smiled at his wry expression. She raised a hand to cup his cheek, drawing his face down towards her to bestow a kiss on the slightly stubble covered chin. Then she gave him an absolutely blistering kiss that burned its way through his veins that sent all of his blood rushing south and set his toes curling in anticipation.

"Come to bed, husband," she growled wantonly and pulled away to unbutton his shirt slowly only to trace her fingers lightly over his pecs and trail them down his ribs towards his waist, making him shiver once more. He sucked in a huge breath, and thanked god that he certainly wouldn't be needing any little blue pills for a long time, if ever at this rate.

Taking his hand she led him towards the bedroom, almost purring whilst fluttering her eyelids at him. He followed meekly; his feet automatically moving him forward, driven by his mounting desire. So why did he get the feeling that he was the proverbial lamb being led to the slaughter?

Oh man, was he in for one hell of a ride! He only hoped he could keep up with his younger wife. It was either that or he was gonna die a very, very happy man.

TBC