A/N: working on the next chapter now, hope you enjoy this one.
Sam had cuddled up next to Jack on his couch, whispering the words so softly he thought, he made them up, but she looked up at him and told him the words he's dreamed of so many nights, she told him, "I love you."
Sam had fallen asleep on Jack's couch. Jack was still confused by how Sam had gotten to his home. She said Steven brought her here, but he wouldn't have just driven off and left her, right? Jack called Jacob, wondering if he had dropped her off. Jacob was confused by her daughter arriving at Jack's home but knew she was safe and knew that it would all make sense sooner rather than later.
Jack looked at Sam Carter sleeping on his couch, in an oversized sweater, she smelled like a campfire, and she looked so peaceful. Jack wasn't sure he'd ever seen her sleep so sound. He wasn't sure how she could be asleep. She had told the man she wanted, this, she wanted him. That was enough to keep him in thought for days. He had loved her for a long time now, but damn, she was so much smarter, younger, better looking. They couldn't be a match. She was too good for him, and he wouldn't dare make the first move.
Now the ball was in his court. She had said the words they had skirted around for so long. He couldn't simply ignore the facts anymore. He couldn't spin this any other way. She wasn't drunk when she came to his door. Lost and confused was certainly a possibility, but she was sober. She wasn't under any alien influence as far as he knew. He wanted to wake her and ask her whats was going on. He wants to know why today, of all days, was the time to announce her love to him.
Jack goes to the kitchen, grabbing a beer from the fridge and contemplating what life would be like with Samantha Carter.
He had loved her, dreamed of her on certain occasions, but he never had his mind go to her loving him. He knew she had feelings, more than they should. More than they would admit. After the whole ordeal with Martouf, Jack wasn't sure what was going on in her head as far as the romance department went. He had assumed that Sam had thought about a relationship with him. Actually, if Jack thought about it, they made a pretty good match, then Sam had to shoot the man with her own service weapon. He couldn't imagine the trauma. They had been through a lot over the years, but he thought for sure if she had nightmares, that was a regular one that plagued her.
After that day, they distanced themselves on purpose on both of their parts. It wasn't what they admitted, but then they both knew the timing was off, the world wasn't exactly safe, and this wasn't the way it should be. Now, the world didn't seem safer. Jack felt further away from retirement than he ever has, and here he has decided on how to handle this. He's never been the one for rules, and technically they haven't done anything wrong and wouldn't be if Sam wasn't on his team. Damn it, though. He needed her. She grounded him like no one else ever could. All his missions before he had lead charge, but he always had something in the back of his mind saying it wasn't the right call. With Sam by his side, it made him feel safer, better, and if they weren't out there fighting together, would it be safer. Jack wasn't entirely sure how this would work. He wasn't sure what words to say when Sam woke up, but he knew that they couldn't go back to the way things were after tonight.
Saturday Morning came early for Sam Carter. She bolted upright from Jack's couch, confused as to where she was. As her eyes adjusted to outlines, she realized that she was in Jack's living room and couldn't quite remember at first how she got there. Her thoughts rushed through the campfire, having sex outside with Steven, walking the neighborhood, and Steven quite literally leaving Sam on Jack's doorstep. Her stomach clenched, and she couldn't believe what had unfolded. She tried to make her rapid heartbeat slow, she tried to stop the tears from coming, and most of all, she tried to hold down the bile coming from her stomach up into her throat. It was too late as she rushed to Jack's bathroom, slamming the door and puking. Sam couldn't remember the last time she threw up. She knew she wasn't "sick." It was a panic attack for the move she had made the night prior. Sam laid her head on the toilet bowl, not caring that the water could splash in her face as it flushed.
"Sam?" Jack asked as he knocked on the door.
With the sound of his voice, Sam puked again.
Jack had turned the doorknob finding it unlocked, and looked at Sam's head in his toilet bowl.
"Are you okay?" Jack asks.
"Fine, Sorry to wake you," Sam claims.
"Obviously, your not exactly fine," Jack claims.
"I will be. I just, I guess I panicked. I didn't realize where I was." Sam explains.
Jack looks at her and nods, knowing he too quickly spokes when disorientated, but he's still never seen her quite like this.
"Here, let me help." Jack state. He grabs a few washcloths and gives her one, and puts the other on the back of her neck. He holds the mouth wash out of the medicine cabinet and helps her up.
"Jack." Sam sighs.
"What is it, Sam?" He asks.
"I'm sorry," Sam says simply.
With that one apology, she is asking for so much. She is sorry that now is the time they come face to face with their feelings. She is unfortunate they haven't done it sooner but ashamed that she hadn't waited for a better time. She is sorry that it took being with Steven to see that she wanted Jack more than anything. She is sorry that he's worried about her, and she mainly sorry that there is so much more to discuss and talk about, and she has no clue to start that discussion.
Jack looks into her pleading eyes and says just the right thing, "We'll figure it out, Carter."
Sam smiles at him. It's still too early, barely 3 am; Sam heads back towards the living room, but Jack pulls her towards the spare room.
"It's late. Come on." Jack says.
Sam nods and walks into the spare room. It's dark. She can't really see but the outlines. She's still in the oversized sweater and jeans. She realizes it's not the most comfortable and the wetness from sex hours earlier makes her squirm with discomfort. Sam is wide awake but doesn't want to keep Jack up running a shower. She doesn't have any underwear here and searches drawers. Sam knows that the bottom one is hers, the one above is Daniel's and the one in the middle is Teal'c's, and the top two are Jack's storage. She goes through praying there is something useful, and she finds a new package of boxer briefs. She rips them open, knowing she'll pay him back eventually, and find some pajama pants and a t-shirt. She realizes the campfire left to smoke in her hair, and the sweater could probably be smelled in Jack's room. Sam sighed and drifted off to a fitful sleep.
Morning came, and Jack got up; he had made breakfast for the two of them, but Sam still hadn't woken up by the time he had finished, and he wondered if she is really as sick. Jack went to the spare room and lightly knocked before opening the door. Sam was in a wad of covers her clothes from last night haphazardly on the floor, and he couldn't help but just stare at her.
"Carter?" He asked.
"Hmm?" She answered, not opening her eyes, and Jack smiled.
"Breakfast is ready," Jack announced.
Sam popped her eyes open and looked at Jack standing in the doorway.
"Of course, I'll be right down." She says, quickly suddenly awake.
Jack turned around, and Sam got up. She grabbed a sweater from the bottom drawer feeling chilly and went to the bathroom before making her way down to breakfast.
She found pancakes and eggs waiting for her.
"Thanks, you didn't have to," Sam claims.
Jack smiled, and the two ate in silence before Jack asked the burning question.
"Sam, what brought you here last night? Better yet, how did you get here last night?" Jack asks.
Sam blushes and looks at the man she had declared her love for, knowing that it was better, to tell the truth.
"I was with Steven last night, and…." Jack cut her off.
"That son of a bitch, what did he do to you?" Jack growled.
"NOTHING!" Sam yelled.
Jack eyeballed her.
"Listen, we've been seeing each other the past few weeks, and I was at his house last night. After some discussion, we realized it just wouldn't work out; we went for a walk and ended up here. He basically told me what I've needed to hear for a long time now." Sam stated.
Jack just looked at her, stunned.
"So, you were on a date with Steven, who dropped you off at my doorstep because he thinks your in love with me?" Jack claims.
Sam looks at him, knowing he's mad, thinking that Steven had conned her into professing her love.
"Jack, he was right. I've been fooling myself for a long time now and have known it for a long time too. I've always tried to wait for a good time to tell you, but…" Sam states.
"We're always under attack, we got everyone breathing down our necks, and in far too many instances, we literally have to save the world for total annihilation." Jack finishes her sentence.
"Exactly," Sam claims.
"Damn it, Carter, this doesn't make it any easier," Jack claims.
"I know that, Jack. Why, do you think I haven't said anything all this time?" Sam asks.
"Because I thought you didn't feel the same. I knew after the damn incident to the Tokra, but I just thought it was; I didn't think you… I just figured…." Jack said, not completing the sentence.
Sam smiled at the man.
"I didn't say this had to change anything, although it will. I don't know what to say or do. I don't know the right answer, but I know I've been denying this for a long time. Steven may have walked me to your doorstep, but he didn't put words in my mouth." Sam claims.
Jack sighed.
"I know that. I just wish that this wasn't so damn complicated. Why is it anytime I find happiness something gets in the way?" Jack asks.
Sam looks at him for a moment.
"Please don't give up on this before it's even begun." Sam states.
"No, I won't. I just have a few calls to make. I'll see you tonight for team night. Do you know how to get back to your car?" Jack asks.
Sam nods and leaves her meal and heads back towards Steven's, hoping even if he does see her that he leaves her alone. She doesn't want to talk to anyone right now.
Sam leaves Jack's and goes back home with her dad in the kitchen baking cookies, and Sam gives him the oddest look.
"Well, someone has to make snacks for your team night, and someone didn't come home last night," Jacob claims.
"Sorry, dad, it's a long story," Sam stated.
"Probably one as your father, I don't want to hear, but I hope everything was okay. Jack called me and let me know you were at his place. What happened with Steven?" Jacob asks.
"We're not seeing each other anymore," Sam claims.
"Oh?" Jacob asks.
"Yeah, um, we both realized we were living in the past, and it wasn't really working," Sam claims.
"I'm sorry it didn't work out, sweetheart," Jacob claimed.
Sam nodded.
She walked into her bedroom, desperate to shower. She stood motionless for a long time, letting the water cascade over her and replaying the last 24 hours in her head. Damn, she wasn't sure what the next step was, but she felt like a weight had been lifted the moment she spoke her truth to Jack O'Neill.
She quickly used soap washed her hair, and wrapped herself in the towel. She sat on her bed and picked some comfortable clothes realizing for the first time her back was a little tender from having sex on the ground. She really had no idea what she had been thinking. If it had been Jack, it would have been planned a little bit at least, or she would have been on top. Then the very thought of having sex with Jack O'Neill, something she hasn't let herself think about, leads her to moan out for a second, realizing what she didn't. Even though she knew her dad didn't hear, it made her blush, and she got dressed quickly before going to the kitchen to see if her dad made something editable.
Jack shows up early, by about an hour, and Sam was surprised at the knock on her door. She got up, and Jacob looked at her.
"Colonel, you're early," Sam claimed.
"Couldn't wait to see you," Jack said and pulled her close and kissed her lips.
Sam let it happen, forgetting her dad was the perfect viewing range of the kiss.
Jacob was utterly lost and confused by the whole situation.
"JACK," Sam stated!
Although she smiling, she batted him playfully.
"WHAT ARE YOU DOING?" She asked.
"I told you I was making a few calls," Jack claims.
"Just like that, what's the catch?" Sam asks.
"No catch," Jack stated.
"Colonel," Sam said sternly, more like he was a child getting caught in a lie.
"Okay, maybe a teeny tiny, not of real consequence catch," Jack claims.
Sam has her arms crossed, and she's scowling.
"I talked to Hammond," Jack claims.
"He said if this was just newly discovered, there isn't much he can do and that at this point, he has no need or reason to break up the team." Jack claimed, but technically we can't say anything until we're ready to take the next step." Jack claims.
At this, Jacob walks quickly over to the couple.
"What are you saying, Jack?" Jacob asks.
"Hiya, Jacob, you see, well um, last night, we, Carter, and I had a discussion." Jack trailed off.
"Yeah, you're romantically interested in each other get to the point!" Jacob claims.
Jack pales and quickly burst out, "As long as we're discreet, it doesn't matter until we decide to get married, and then, it might get a bit complicated, but he's willing "to look the other way." and he's okayed looking the other way with the president." Jack claims.
"Are you serious?" Sam asks.
Jack smiles and nods his head slowly.
Sam is beaming the biggest smile brightly Jack had ever seen from her, and that's saying something.
"Well I guess, we should have some Champagne tonight. If you let me, Sam, I'll take your keys and give you some time alone," Jacob claims.
"Dad," Sam claims.
"Remember Daniel and Teal' will be here in the 30 minutes," Jacob claims.
Sam feels like a teenager being warned not to have sex with her boyfriend and rolled her eyes as her dad walked out the door.
"Where were we?" Sam asks.
Jack kisses her again, and this time she relaxes into him. Feeling free to indulge in her feelings.
"Sam, I'm sorry it took this long, but I'll do my best to make it up to you. Not sure how you can be interested in an old man like me, but I'm not arguing." Jack claims.
Sam smiles up at him feeling safe and secure in his embrace.
"Jack, I'm fine with Teal'c and Daniel knowing, and family, but we can't let this get out," Sam stated.
"I know, too many risks, we'll make it work," Jack says.
"I know," Sam claims. Jack goes over to the couch and sits down. Sam leans into him, and her heart flutters with the fact that they can do this now. Her head on his chest and his hand combing her hair.
"We can take our time, you know, this is really nice," Jack claims.
Sam smiled.
"It could be nicer, though," Sam claims.
"Yeah?" Jack asks.
"Yeah." Sam smiles and turns her head to kiss his lips.
She giggles because she can't believe after all this time this happening.
She expects him to tell her, "no giggling." But he doesn't.
"God, I love when you giggle, Sam," Jack claims
Sam laughs again, realizing he wanted her to shut up, not because she was annoying him but because she was making him think of her in a way he shouldn't.
Sam wanted Jack all to herself tonight, but that wasn't happening. The doorbell rang with Daniel and Teal'c at the door with various foods and drinks in hand.
Jacob returned back from the store, champagne in hand.
"What are we celebrating?" Daniel asks.
"Daniel, have I ever told you how much it annoys me when you're always right?" Jack asks.
"All the time, but I don't get it." Daniel states.
"Carter, are you going to tell them, or am I?" Jack asks.
"What if we show them?" Sam asks.
"I like the sound of that," Jack smirks.
Even though it was a very new feeling for the both of them, Jack and Sam hold each other close and kiss each other on the lips for just a second.
"FINALLY," Daniel shouts.
"It appears that you and Samantha Carter have finally proceeded to express your romantic feelings to one another. Congratulations indeed." Teal'c smiles.
Sam laughs, and the group drinks champagne and eats food, they talk about the upcoming mission, and other than the fact that Sam and Jack curl up next to each other while watching the movie, nothing else was different.
As per usual, they stay up late into the night, and Sam offers everyone to stay. Jacob goes to the spare room. Teal'c grabs a book, Daniel is already making his bed on the couch, and Sam is pulling Jack to her room.
Jacob clears his throat.
"What, dad?" Sam asks.
"You've been together less than 24 hours, and you're taking him to your room?" Jacob asks.
"Dad trust me, I've done worse, and besides with how drunk we both are and the fact I have a twin bed, I don't think I have the coordination to try that tonight," Sam claims
Jack is looking at her, shocked she would say that to her father.
"Alright, Sammy, have a good night. See you in the morning," Jacob claimed.
Jack and Sam barely fit on her twin bed.
"Why on earth is do you have the smallest bed ever made?" Jack asks.
"Well, I didn't plan on sharing it exactly," Sam claims.
"I haven't shared my bed in since Sarah, Sam but I still have a queen," Jack stated.
"Well, sorry, if you want to sleep on the floor, there is plenty of room," Sam claimed.
That shut Jack up quickly. He laid on his side and wrapped his arm around her.
"Night, Sam." He claimed.
"Night," Sam replied.