CHAPTER 12

It had been just over a week since they arrived at the Gamma Site. Things were going well and there was much activity around the base as everyone got to work. There was so much to do and it felt like they had so little time to do it. However, the busyness had kept Sam's mind off of the whole NID situation back home.

She had been running non-stop simulations of using aquadrium with naquadah generators. This was one of the first major steps they had to figure out before they could really move on with some of the other projects. Her eyes were focused on her laptop when she heard a slight knock at the door.

"You can just put it over there. Thanks," she said without looking up.

"Um...ok?"

"Oh, hi Jack! Sorry, I thought you were Dr. Turner. What do you have in your hands there?" she asked as her eyes wandered over to the tall glass dessert cup in his right hand.

"Well I've noticed that I never seem to see you in the mess hall during the day and I have a nagging suspicion that you've been working through lunch. So I thought I'd stop by and bring you at least a snack. Blue seems to be the only color they packed though," he replied handing over the cup of Jell-O.

"Good thing blue's my favorite."

"Lucky you," he smirked while handing her a spoon.

"What's in your other hand?"

"Cake. Ack!" he lightly cried and pulled the plate back closer to him away from the approaching spoon. "That's for me. If you don't mind the company?"

"Of course not. Did Daniel ask you to make sure I'm taking care of myself?"

"Wouldn't be Daniel if he didn't worry," answered Jack with a soft, affectionate smile as he took a bite of cake. They continued to eat in silence for a couple of minutes.

"Jack, I...I just want to apologize—"

"It's ok Sam," he interrupted now making direct eye contact with her.

"No it isn't. I was awful and I feel horrible about it."

"Don't. You have every reason to hate me."

"I don't hate you," she said sadly at the fact that he really thought she hated him. "And I didn't mean what I said. About everyone leaving."

"Well if the guys knew what was good for them, they would."

"No, they would do anything for you."

"That probably has more to do with the kind of people they are and not with me."

"I'm sure it has a little something to do with you." She offered him a warm smile. As he studied her face, he felt whatever malicious tension that was left between them gradually lift and fade away.

"I'm sorry too. For everything. I'm an idiot."

"Well I know how you can start to make it up to me..." she replied as her eyes and spoon pointed towards the cake on his plate. He softly chuckled as he surrendered the last bite.

Jack started dropping by Sam's lab every day around lunch bearing gifts of blue Jell-o and chocolate cake. Eventually, he was bringing a full tray of food for both of them to eat. At least this way, he also made sure she was actually eating. However, soon Jack found that lunch wasn't enough.

"Hey Sam. I need that report for, uh, Catherine."

"You mean the one you already picked up from me this morning?" she asked with an amused smile.

"Oh right. Yeah that one."

"You know you don't need a reason to drop by here."

I already have one big reason to drop by here. "I don't want to bother you or anything."

"I've worked with worse distractions."

"I'll take that as a challenge," he replied with a mischievous grin.

As the days progressed, so did the amount of time Jack spent in Sam's lab. They weren't alone often as many people were in and out throughout the day either reporting some findings to her or asking her a question when they were stuck on a problem that needed solving. Jack didn't mind though. He loved just watching her work. She was in her element, and it amazed him more and more every day how brilliant her mind was. Of course she was also right about working with distractions. She hardly noticed him stealing glances at her and just kept right on working.

It's not like Jack was doing nothing. Most of the time, he kept himself busy cataloguing the many expressions and nuances of Sam Carter. She would bite her bottom lip when she was concentrating. It would shift to her cheek when she was really stumped. The other day he experienced when she gives out a big sigh that puffed out her cheeks before blowing a few strands of her blonde hair in her face. Today she was sitting in her chair with one knee pulled close to her chest and her chin resting in her hand. He took a mental picture and decided this was his new favorite image...for now.

While he catalogued, Jack usually picked up something on her desk to fiddle with. Today that object was a small box the size of a Rubik's cube. He was tossing it up in the air and catching it when suddenly he felt Sam's hand catch his arm. With a silent smile, she took the box from him and replaced it with a circular object. He looked down to see a yo-yo in his hand. She giggled at the obvious confusion on his face.

"I don't recall signing off on a request for a yo-yo."

"But you did sign off on a bandalore, and Janet just so happened to understand what I meant."

"I thought you told Dr. Lee you needed a bandalore to fix some experiment he was working on."

"Ha I knew you were lying when you said you tuned out everything when I talk science."

"Sneaky, Carter. Very sneaky. You could've just told me to stop touching your stuff," he replied as he wrapped the string around his finger and released the yo-yo from his hand.

As she had hoped, the yo-yo kept Jack's hands and attention occupied for the most part. Unfortunately, it didn't stop Sam's attention from diverting to him. Turns out Jack O'Neill is very distracting, of no fault of his own. He wasn't trying to be distracting, but Sam just found it hard to fully concentrate on anything else when he was near her. She knew she would be getting a lot more work done if he wasn't there but the thought of his absence on a day to day basis made her frown.

At least her equipment was now safe from any potential damage Jack could cause. She was actually getting into a good stream of thought when suddenly there was a crash. Her head flew up and she saw Jack scrambling out of his chair to retrieve the yo-yo that had flung out of his hands and hit the cabinets.

"Sorry! Sorry!"

On second thought, maybe it's time for Plan B, she thought as she shook her head and gave him a playful smile. After reaching into a drawer and grabbing something out of a brown paper bag, she walked across the room and exchanged the item in his hand again.

"What the hell is this?" he asked when he looked down at the object.

"It's a fidget spinner."

"What does it do?"

"It spins. Just try it. For the sake of my lab."

With a towel slung over his shoulder and water bottle in his hand, Jack turned the corner and walked into the gym. The sight of Sam in there sparring with the punching bag almost knocked the wind out of him. He couldn't help but look at how her tight leggings clung to her curves or how much skin he could see around her tank top. His eyes probably lingered a little too long because by the time he met her eyes, she had stopped and was now sizing him up and down as well in his blue sweatpants and gray Air Force sleeveless shirt.

"You know you don't have to follow me everywhere."

"Who says I'm following you? You just happen to already be where I'm going," he bantered back with a grin. "Care for a sparring partner?"

"If you think you can handle it."

"Show me what you got, Carter."

They took their ready stances with their hands up. Jack took a few test jabs which Sam easily dodged.

"Don't go soft on me, O'Neill."

He grinned and then sent out a one-two punch still only at about half strength. She deflected his arm and caught him off guard with a blow straight to his chin almost knocking him to the ground. While he massaged his jaw and recollected himself, he looked at her with a surprised and curious look.

"You have met my dad right? Even though I didn't join the military, I've trained in hand to hand combat since I was a teenager."

"Alright Doctor. This is going to be fun."

He charged at her with full speed this time throwing punch after punch to which she defended and returned. Both managed to knock each other back a few times as they continued to dance around the mat. The intensity increased as their sparring advanced beyond punches and soon they mixed in a few kicks and body take downs as well.

Jack was impressed and getting very turned on. Luckily each blow he took knocked him back to his senses every time his mind started to fantasize just a little too much. Fatigue started to kick in as sweat soaked through their clothes and dripped from their brows. Both breathing noticeably harder, but neither wanting to relent first.

He saw her hands drop just slightly and with a burst of renewed energy came at her quick. She recovered well enough and threw a punch back, but he caught her arm this time and spun her to where he had a hold of her from behind. She struggled a little to test out his grip and assess the situation; then in one quick motion, she stepped on his foot hard, elbowed him in the abdomen, and had him flipped over on his back.

Jack laid there in exhaustion trying to regroup and catch his breath. Suddenly, Sam appeared in his vantage point leaning over him with her hands on her knees.

"Nice move."

"Not bad for a scientist?"

"Not too bad at all."

"Ready to tap out?" asked Sam as she offered her hand to lift him up.

Jack shook his head and before Sam could even look confused, she felt a swipe underneath her legs and then she was lying on the ground next to him.

"Ok, now I'm ready to tap out."

"Cheap move, flyboy."

"What you going to do about it?"

She gave him one last playful elbow in the stomach before they both started laughing still laying on the mat. Jack was highly aware of how close her body was to his. He could smell the sweat and damn it turned him on. After the sparring session they just had, there were many, many more things he could add to his catalogue. He was definitely going to need a long cold shower after this.

About a month after they arrived, Jack decided everyone was working too hard and he could see that most, if not all of them, were going to burn out if they kept up their current pace. He ordered everyone to take the night off and was planning a movie night. Reynolds and SG-11 set up a make shift drive-in in the hanger bay. The movie wasn't mandated but no one was allowed in a lab after 1800.

"What movie are we watching Colonel?" asked Captain Hartmann.

"Um, well I made a list, but it looks like the only thing they sent us is Independence Day."

"Really sir? We live the real thing every day," commented Lieutenant Jackson

"Also do you think we should be showing a movie where Earth is fighting off aliens when we have the Soltarans with us?"

"I think they're smart enough to figure out that as long as they aren't trying to annihilate us, we come in peace," responded Jack.

"They could also realize just how easily they could annihilate us," interjected Reynolds.

"I think we'll be ok," Jack glared back. "C'mon, you guys are ruining movie night before we even get started. Besides half the fun is knowing how unrealistic it is! I bet Sam over here loves making fun of these kind of movies."

"Actually I love Independence Day."

"See?!" exclaimed Jack as more people started to file in and find seats. "Reynolds, pass out the popcorn!"

Sam sat down on one of the blankets laid out on the floor. Jack knew his back would hate him later but without hesitation he made his way over and plopped down next to her.

"I've actually never seen this movie," he whispered.

"You haven't?! This is going to be great," she replied with the shimmer of excitement in her eyes. "I'll try not to quote it out loud too much."

Sam wasn't kidding when she said she could quote almost the entire movie. She did her best to not be "that person" but Jack couldn't help but chuckle when she let a line or two slip causing her to blush.

"Don't hold back on my account," he eventually told her giving a playful bump with his shoulder.

Once the credits started to roll, everyone got up and cleared out back to their rooms. Jack was helping SG-11 put away the chairs and equipment when he saw Sam headed out towards the labs.

"Ack! I'm pretty sure I put the base on lockdown for the rest of the night. No exceptions."

"But working relaxes me," she pleaded.

"C'mon, let's go for a walk. It'll tire you out."

He turned to leave, and she reluctantly followed. Once they exited the hanger, they started walking out towards the gate. It was a nice night and the stars were really bright in the clear skies. They both found themselves enjoying the comfortable silence as they marveled at the serenity surrounding them.

"The stars are beautiful here aren't they?"

"Yeah they're amazing. I still haven't had the chance to enjoy them in Colorado. A friend recommended a couple of places but just never found the time to make it out there. Actually it was the same guy I was waiting for that night that I..." her voice trailed off.

"Carter. Don't do it. We've moved on remember?" he interrupted before guilt could rebuild inside of her. "So, what's the deal with you two?"

"We're just friends."

"Uh huh, that's not really the impression I got that night."

"Fine, we met on a dating app."

"Oh really?" he responded with a raised eyebrow.

"You think I'm pathetic?"

"Trust me. I could never think that."

"What if I told you that this is probably the most real relationship I've had with a man in a really long time, maybe ever."

"Wow, no wonder you were so nervous. But you've never met this guy right?"

"I know, I sound crazy!"

"No, that sounds completely sane," he smirked sarcastically as she bumped him with her shoulder. "Has he mentioned anything about meeting up again?"

"No, but that's ok. I mean I'm here for awhile so we can readdress it when I get back. I'm content for now even if he doesn't want to meet."

"Well I think he's an idiot if he doesn't want to meet you."

"He's many things; an idiot is not one of them," she retorted as she thought about the many things he was. He noticed the smile that started to grow on her face, the one that made her beam.

"You're like really smitten by this guy aren't you?"

"Is it that obvious?" she blushed. They continued on for a few minutes in silence. "You know what I keep thinking? What if he saw me and then left?"

"You're kidding right? There's absolutely no way that happened."

She shrugged with her head fixated on the ground with genuine uncertainty.

"You really don't know how beautiful you are, do you?"

She blushed harder now—not in flattery, but in self-conscious embarrassment. He could tell from her reaction that she was uncomfortable hearing and accepting the compliment. He knew she had gotten out of a not-so-great relationship before they started talking, but he had to wonder what kind of relationship would make someone as wonderful as Sam so unsure of herself. It angered him to think of the sorry excuse for a man who doesn't make her feel like the amazing and gorgeous bad ass that she is.

They were almost back to the base when he stopped her right outside the door. He took her hands and waited until she looked up to meet his eyes.

"Well you are...both inside and out."

This time she responded with one of her true smiles. "You were right. That did tire me out. I'm think I'm going to head to bed now. Thanks for the walk."

"Night Sam," he replied as he let go of her hands and she disappeared through the doors.

Jack was on his way to Sam's lab for their usual lunch. He had an extra pep in his step today. The aurora was tonight, and he was excited to see Sam's reaction. She had been waiting weeks for this and they had been talking about it nonstop for the past few days. Her excitement was contagious and he almost couldn't contain his today. As he rounded the corner, he heard Kashwin and Sam still in her lab.

"Samantha, you are a remarkable woman. You're smart and also very beautiful."

"That's very kind of you," she replied a little uneasy.

"I was wondering if you would join me to watch the aurora tonight."

"Uh, I don't know what to say, Kashwin. I'm flattered," she paused and looked at the clock. Jack would be here soon and she really wanted to end this conversation as soon as possible.

When Sam hesitated, Jack's heart dropped. Of course she would be more interested in Kashwin. He's a better match for her anyways. Jack had been kidding himself that someone like her could ever be remotely interested in him. He quickly turned around and left before he heard something that he regretted.

"But I was actually planning to watch it with someone else tonight," Sam finished.

"I understand. I hope you have a nice time. It will be quite a sight to see."

"Thanks Kashwin. I hope you have a nice night too."

Jack never showed up in her lab that afternoon. She decided to wrap up her work a little early and find him. They had been talking about going to this spot on a hill about fifteen minutes from the base, but they hadn't actually made any concrete plans. She found him walking the perimeter around the Stargate.

"Hey." He only responded with a nod. She couldn't see his expression behind his sunglasses but his posture seemed to suggest he was slightly annoyed at something. "I missed you at lunch."

"Yeah sorry, something came up and I had to meet with SG-11."

"That's alright. So the aurora is tonight. Were you planning on watching it?"

"Actually, I think I'll pass." She was caught off guard by his response and didn't know what to say before he continued. "You planning on showing Kashew? You know return the favor for when we were on Soltaris?

"Why are you doing this?"

"I just figured you'd enjoy talking to someone who actually understands what you're talking about for once," he continued with a stone wall face.

"You know what, I think I will ask Kashwin to join me tonight," Sam replied now thoroughly irked with his childish behavior.

"Good for you. That's nice."

"So that's it?" she asked throwing her hands up. He didn't reply. "Fine."

"Fine."

"Fine." She quickly turned and stormed off.

Later that evening, while many of the others were headed outside to find spots to watch the aurora, Jack was roaming the corridors back towards his room. He definitely wasn't in the mood anymore. On his way, he passed a group of Soltarans, including Kashwin.

"Hey Kashwin, why aren't you with Sam?"

"Should I be? I have not seen Samantha Carter since this morning."

"Oh I thought you were watching the aurora with her tonight."

"I had asked her, but she said there was someone else she wanted to watch it with."

Suddenly everything started dawning on him. Ugh, I'm a complete fool. Jack hurried out and headed towards the overlook. He carefully made his way through the forestry until he came to the clearing and found her sitting there alone. She was leaning back on a fallen tree trunk staring up in the sky in anticipation. As the moonlight hit her face, he was sure he saw a tear fall down her cheek. These were not the emotions he thought she would have tonight. He mentally kicked himself again.

When he saw her shiver, he realized it was chillier than most nights on the planet. He then remembered that he had planned to ask her to come up here with him. He went over to the tree where he had planted his bag earlier that day. As he approached, he cleared his throat as to not startle her.

"Hey."

She turned to look at him briefly before returning her gaze back to the sky without a word. He proceeded to pull out a couple of blankets offering her one while he laid the other one down on the ground.

"You know I'm an idiot right?"

She glanced at him again with a look that said she didn't disagree with that statement.

"I just thought...it doesn't matter what I thought. You see, I'm not used to caring so much about what women think. About me," he added quickly. "That didn't come out right. Basically, I make assumptions and then I don't say the right thing sometimes." He stopped and let out a long sigh. "I told you I wasn't very good at this. Words aren't exactly my forte."

"What else is in the bag?" she asked ignoring his babbling.

"Um, just some supplies."

She reached over and opened the bag. Inside were candles, forks, plates, and glass flutes. She moved her gaze back towards him as she realized what the contents in the bag showed. Jack O'Neill was not a man of words. He was a man of action.

"What's all this for?"

"I thought you might want to enjoy dessert with the show. I got a bottle of sparkling cider and had the kitchen make that cake you really like. It's probably in your room. I had it sent there instead."

"What—why?"

He shrugged. "You deserved to be wooed tonight, even if it is by me."

"You say that like it's a bad thing."

"My resources were kind of limited."

"This is really sweet, Jack. Thanks," she said as she placed her hand on his arm and gave it an appreciative squeeze.

Jack smiled back at her then saw her eyes drop to his lips. He started to lean over and close the gap between them when a green tone started to creep over their faces. Her face turned towards the light in the sky with renewed excitement.

"It's more amazing than I could have imagined," she awed.

The sky slowly started to dance with all the colors of the rainbow. He had seen the Northern Lights before but this was different. The sky was alive and the lights looked like they were...falling?

"How is this happening? Is something really landing over there in the distance?"

Sam smiled that full beautiful smile that lit up her face. The one that Jack decided he liked the most.

"There are geomagnetic storms on the planet's sun that cause a shift in the electric field of the planet's atmosphere pulling it towards the sun. Normally this would just cause a change in visible light. However, there's a nebula in close proximity to here that is also affected, and cosmic dust is collected on its way to the sun. But when we're positioned between the sun and the nebula, that energy and cosmic dust actually enter the atmosphere and falls to the surface which causes the illusion of it raining color."

"Fascinating."

"Did that answer your question?"

"Yup."

"Really?" asked Sam skeptically.

"Yeah it's caused by...magnets."

She couldn't help but laugh out loud this time before she shivered again despite being wrapped up in the blanket.

"C'mere."

She accepted the invitation of his held out arm as she scooted closer to him opening the blanket from around her body to envelop him as well. The warmth of his body quickly spread throughout hers as she nuzzled her head into his shoulder. He tightened his hold on her when she did. His heart thumping faster by the minute. He had only daydreamed about being this close to her. He could touch the soft skin of her arm and smell the shampoo in her hair. He suddenly found it quite hard to breathe until he felt her fingers making shapes as her hand rested on his leg. The soothing motions relaxing his body.

They sat like that for hours watching the colors change and star dust fall while enjoying some light banter and the closeness of each other. Eventually, he felt her body slowly relax completely into him. He probably should wake her up, but she hadn't stirred in half an hour and he didn't want to disturb her when she was actually sleeping. His whole body was going to hate him in the morning, but he had no desire to move a muscle as he felt his eyelids grow heavier until they shut completely and he drifted off into his dreams.

He was half awake when he felt an arm squeeze around his stomach. It only took him a second to realize last night wasn't a dream and she was still in his arms. The sun was just starting to rise and he figured it was some time around 0530. Her hand which was already inside his jacket started to wander freely around his abdomen which only enhanced the tightness in his pants that was already there. Her hand froze just as it was about to travel under his shirt and her whole body tensed up. She turned her face up towards him with a sheepish expression but relaxed when she saw the smile on his face.

"Morning."

"Morning."

"Did you sleep well?" he asked.

"Actually, yes. I don't remember the last time I woke up feeling this refreshed. Can't believe we slept here all night."

"Me neither. I actually almost didn't believe last night happened."

"It was a nice night wasn't it."

He nodded in agreement as he replayed his favorite parts of the night in his head including the moment right before the lights started. She must've been thinking the same thing because he saw her eyes drop again to his lips like they had done the night before. He looked down at hers before quickly looking back into her eyes. Those big blue eyes that were definitely asking him to kiss her.

He slowly moved his hand up to cradle her cheek as he tilted his head towards her until his lips brushed hers softly. The sound that she made told him all he needed to know, and he went to capture her lips again. He was the one to let out a groan next when she ran her fingers through his hair and pulled him closer deepening the kiss and opening her lips to his tongue. He started to let his hands wander further underneath the blanket when suddenly his radio sounded.

"Colonel O'Neill, do you read?"

Sam didn't stop so Jack decided to also ignore it until it went off again.

"Colonel O'Neill, come in."

"Oh for crying out loud," he muttered against her lips. Reynolds had better have a damn good reason for calling. He reluctantly let her go and moved his body away from hers to grab his radio.

"This is O'Neill. Go ahead."

"Hey Jack. What's your status? Went by your quarters this morning and you weren't there. We need you back at the base."

"I was just out for a morning walk. I'm on my way back now. Be there in twenty."

"Copy."

He looked back over towards Sam who had now gotten up and was starting to pack up the blankets signifying that the moment was over. She flashed him another one of her dazzling smiles that made her even more radiant—which he didn't think was possible—in the morning light as she drifted towards him.

"We'll finish this later?" she asked rhetorically as she gave him a quick soft peck on the corner of his mouth.

"Ya sure you betcha," he replied now with the biggest grin on his face.

They quickly finished packing up everything in his bag and headed back towards the base in silence and anticipation of finishing that kiss. Yup this had better be a damn good reason.

Jack decided not to hang around Sam's lab the rest of the day. Of course he wanted to see her, but he honestly wasn't sure he would be able to behave himself around her. He could still taste her kiss and feel her body pressing closer to him and that was not conducive to work. So he decided to check up on every other person on the base to keep his mind off of Sam.

"Lieutenant Jackson, what are you up to?"

"Afternoon sir. I'm just checking in the inventory that came from the SGC this morning."

"Nice. Can I take a look at the receipt? I like to assess the damage," he said as he took the clipboard from the young officer and started skimming its contents. "What's this miscellaneous package here for Dr. Carter?"

He was diligent in signing off on everything that was requested from Earth, but he was especially careful for what was brought to her and he hadn't remembered her requesting anything this time.

"Not sure sir."

"Ok, I want to take a look at it. Where is it?"

"I had Captain Hartmann put it in her quarters like the sheet said to."

"You what?!" Jack instantly started towards the building, throwing the clipboard to the side as he ran. He didn't stop for anyone in the hallways until he reached her room and knocked franticly.

"Sam! It's me."

No answer. He knocked again, louder this time.

"Sam! Open up!"

Still no answer.

"Sam, I'm coming in!" he shouted as he turned the door handle.

When he burst through the door, he found her lying on the floor with the open box next to her. He immediately dropped to her side and checked for a pulse while examining her body for any injuries. He let out the breath he'd been holding when he felt her blood pulsating against his fingers, a little slow but steady. Her breathing was shallow though. He resisted the urge to pick her up or move her and grabbed his radio instead.

"This is O'Neill. Dr. Carter needs medical attention. She's incapacitated but stable. I need a stretcher to her quarters STAT. Dial the gate home and have a medic team on stand by."

C'mon Sam, wake up for me. He continued to watch her carefully for any changes keeping his fingers along her carotid artery. Her breathing continued to get shallower as he saw her chest started to rise lower and lower until it stopped altogether. His chest tightened and everything else became a blur as he lowered his mouth to hers. He never imagined that the next time he'd feel her lips, he would literally be breathing life back into her lungs. They needed to get her back to Earth...now.