AN: Ok if anyone has noticed I slowed down.. it's canning season. When I run out of stuff to can I'll get back to writing more but um... expect to only get a chapter every other day for a while. Today is the start of processing the elderberries and just stemming them takes all day.

Chapter 2

Two weeks later, Jack got his answer… "Sorry Jack… I tried."

"It's all right, sir… It was a long shot and I knew it."

They were in Hammond's office prior to a briefing. George felt it might go over better at work where neither of them would say anything they shouldn't on the matter.

Jack would just have to see how things go he supposed and they both headed for the briefing room for the next mission plan. Sam was surprised to see Jack had arrived first when she sat across from him but his expression was closed even when she gave him a puzzled 'what's up?' look.

If Jack was moody, the rest of the day no one said anything to him about it. Jack was prone to moodiness anyway and Daniel didn't have to ask what was eating at him. He'd watched things play out in real time this time.

Jack spent the rest of his day brooding until well after the time he was supposed to sign out for the day. Finally not even drowning himself in paperwork was enough to make him forget his disappointment and he logged out.

He drove home wallowing further in his disappointment. He stopped at the convenience store down the street from his house and got one of their cheap greasy pizzas and a six pack of cheap beer. His stomach would hate him tomorrow but he didn't care.

He all but tossed the pizza on the table as he set the pack of beer on the counter that ran along the back of the dinette. Jack shrugged off his leather jacket and sat at the table. But instead of eating his pizza he slid down and put his head on the table next to it and sighed. He wondered if an 1800s marriage license would hold up in tribunal. Ladies and gentlemen of the tribunal, I submit my marriage license to Dr. Samantha Carter which predates the existence of the USAF. Of course then they would court martial him for adultery with his ex-wife.

"Are you just going to sit there wallowing or offer me a beer?" A feminine voice he'd recognize from anywhere said from the shadows.

Jack startled. "When did you get here?"

She walked into the small circle of light in his kitchen. "About an hour before you did." She admitted and sat down in the chair next to his.

"Sam… you shouldn't be here by yourself at night. It looks bad."

Sam leaned forward and put her chin in her hands.

He sighed. Clearly she wasn't going to leave him to wallow in self pity. "I put in for retirement a couple weeks ago."

"I see."

"They denied me."

She smiled sadly at him. "I'm sorry." She finally said.

Jack nodded a couple times. "I tried, Sam." His voice was choked with emotion.

Sam just sighed though. She didn't know what to do. Their feelings hadn't changed, if anything they had gotten stronger since being forced to admit them or literally be killed. The last eight months of their lives hadn't helped. They had both been ready to call it and just get married, thinking they couldn't get home. She'd never been so happy and miserable at the same time… and… suddenly she understood the look on Jack's face after she got her memories back.

Jack pulled a beer out of the six pack and twisted the cap off and handed it to her. Sam accepted silently and he opened a beer for himself. They sat that night in near silence while they ate a questionable pizza and drank three less than high quality beers a piece.

He supposed he could tell her what Hammond said but he knew she needed to come to that decision on her own. He wasn't ready to talk about the long missives Ernie had sent him. Not until Bub read them first anyway.

"We should probably cool things off a little, sir." Sam finally said.

"Yah." He said… though his agreement wasn't really one. He noted the 'sir' bit.

Sam fiddled with an empty beer bottle. "I um… I should probably go." She said.

Hs hand shot out though and he held hers. "Stay." He said, and looked into her eyes, trying to convey all his regret and love in that one expression. "I mean… You had three beers. You shouldn't drive yet and by the time you do, it's going to be really late…. Stay." He looked deep into her eyes, looking for answers. "Please?"

She hesitated. She wanted to.

"We'll just sleep. I promise." He told her.

Sam nodded slowly. "You're sure?"

He gave her a lopsided smile. "No, but I'll give it a shot."

Sam laughed. "As long as you're honest about it."

"Could you please go back to not calling me 'sir' in my house at least?" He asked her. "It's a little weird after everything we… well… you know…." Jack finished lamely with a shrug.

Sam snorted and bit her lip. "So we go back to waiting then?"

"Pretty much." He agreed.

Sam thought about it for a little bit. "What if I retried?" She put up a hand when he started to object. "They don't need me in the field, Jack. I could still do my job… just not out there…"

"I would never ask you to do that, Sam." He put a finger in her lip when she started to object. "Sooner or later we'll win this stupid war and when we do, the government is going to owe us a lot of favors. Especially after denying my retirement twice now."

"Twice?" She asked in confusion.

"Yah… there was that other time…"

"Oh…" She colors slightly. There had, in fact, been several other times.

"Will you still come over to watch the stars with me?" He asked her, a soft plea in his voice that made her smile gently at him.

"Will you still take Cassie and me to the opera?"

Jack grins. "I'd be disappointed if you decided not to come."

"I'd be disappointed if you stopped inviting me."

"Want to go fishing?"

Sam grinned.

"Is that a yes?" He said hopefully.

"Ask me when the war is over… Jack."

"Yes ma'am." He said with alacrity and a grin. "C'mon. Let's hit the hay. And I promise… just cuddling."

"Just cuddling?"

"Ok… there might be a little kissing." He admitted as he led her upstairs.

"Define a little." She teased.

"I was thinking 'chaste, our parents are watching'."

"I was thinking more heavy petting and tonsil hockey."

"Were you now… Describe in detail this heavy petting." He joked as the door closed behind them.