A/N: I didn't imagine that I'd have this ready so quickly! (This was just 100 words of notes two days ago - my sincerest apologies if there are any mistakes) Many thanks to everyone for reading and reviewing. So this chapter takes place during Lost City, after Jack gets the ancients knowledge downloaded into his head. I hope you all enjoy this next chapter. Got maybe two or three more planned. On with the show! NOW RATED M!

He wasn't surprised when he heard a soft knock at the door. It did surprise him, just a little, that it was only Carter at the door. He'd expected the whole team to come by and check on him over the course of the weekend.

'Hi Sir.' she greeted as he opened the door.

'Carter.' His voice croaked softly.

'Did I wake you?' she asked.

'Sorta.' he admitted, he'd been dozing. Half awake, half dreaming ever since he'd fallen into bed last night and yet he'd experienced no rest.

'I couldn't sleep at all last night.'

'You could have called.'

Her eyes fixed on him. 'I'm not sure that would have ended well.'

'Depends.' he said tilting his head, wondering how that might have worked out and what would have been a good ending to a midnight phone conversation with her. 'Still, how is arriving at my house early in the morning any different?'

She gulped. 'Daniel and Teal'c will be arriving shortly, I just... I just wanted... I needed to see you, just you, at least for a little while.'

He opened the door and let her inside.

He breathed deeply as she passed him, drawing in her scent, he found that it revived him far more than his fitful slumber.

'There's coffee around here somewhere.' he said watching her enter his home before closing the door and disappearing to the kitchen.

'Maybe not.' he said a moment later, untwisting the caps off two bottles of beer. If she didn't want hers he'd quite happily drink the two.

She held a picture frame, as he entered the living room his gut twisted slightly. He watched as she carefully set down the frame exactly where it had been.

'Do you ever talk to her?'

'That's not why you came here, is it?' he said handing her a beer before moving around to take a seat on the sofa.

She held the bottle for less than three seconds setting it on the table and taking a seat next to him. 'How are you feeling?'

'Can we not talk about that?' he said fingering the label on his bottle.

She paused and stared at the bottle.

'I should have done it.'

'What? Stuck your head in that thing? Are you nuts?' he took a breath before continuing, wanting to be clear in his meaning with out saying what was burning to be said. 'Carter. You're one of this countries natural resources. If not National treasures. It couldn't have gone down any other way. I just hope it's worth it.'

It took more effort than he expected to say those words, he drew a long sip of his beer as she spoke.
'Even if we do find the Lost City. Even if we get there and find exactly what we're looking for to defend the planet...'
'That would be worth it.' he said.

She closed her eyes in resignation, it might have been easier for her to make her confession in the dark behind her lids but she needed to see him. She opened her eyes, whispering, 'Not to me.'

Carter.

That's what he should have said, he should have warned her off her current path, pushed her away. But he wanted her, wanted the comfort and warmth she was so willing to give so instead of growling Carter he whispered, 'Samantha.'

It came out as a plea. It was one she answered swiftly. She shifted closer and set her hand in his.

He watched as their fingers melted together, almost in slow motion. Her hand was smaller than his, but it was strong, he clung to her and swallowed as his gaze me hers. Her blue eyes were brighter than he'd ever seen them, glistening with tears he knew she wouldn't let fall. He smiled sadly.

Then he found himself sinking.

It was like there was an invisible black hole between them, pulling them together and slowing down time.

He shouldn't, he really shouldn't. He'd already gone too far. He watched as her tongue slipped out to lick her lips, it was so darn tempting.

But what would it do to her if he was gone in a week? Or worse, Thor would show up and they had to go back to work in a week. It was hard enough after the last kiss.

Jack tipped his head at the last instant and rested his forehead against hers preventing their lips from meeting. He could taste her sigh; it was filled with disappointment, frustration and just a fraction of relief.

He squeezed her hand just a little tighter.

'I'd do anything to keep you safe. I will do anything to keep you safe.'

'Jack...'

His eyes burst open at the sound of his name on her lips, his heart felt like it was beating out of his chest as he leaned back a little taking in the resolve in her eyes.

'I... I...' she stammered.

A loud knock stopped her from saying what she probably shouldn't say.

It was then that her eyes shut and a single tear escaped.

He raised his beer cooled hand and let his thumb soak that single tear before he drew back from her slowly and into the corner of the sofa, his thumb mixing the drop of moisture from her skin with the condensation on the bottle of beer.

'Hello?' Sounded Daniel's voice up and around the corner.

Jack reluctantly slid his hand from hers. As soon as his fingers were gone from her skin her eyes snapped open and he smiled softly at her before calling, 'In here.' to the men waiting at the door.

Both hands now returned to the safety of the glass bottle he shivered, missing her warmth, her strength. He kept his eyes fixed on hers until he spotted Daniel creeping round the corner over her shoulder.

'Oh sorry, are we interrupting anything?' he asked.

'No.' they chorused.

'Well, I'd best be off.' Hammond said getting to his feet.

Jack and Sam got to their feet in unison.

'General.' Sam said softly.

'Major.' he responded.

'I'll walk you out, Sir.' Jack said walking round the table and following up the stairs to the hall.

'A word outside, Jack.' Hammond murmured softly, not wanting the others to hear what he had to say.

'Yes, sir.' he answered opening the door, stepping out onto the porch along side the general and closing the door softly behind him. A beer bottle swayed slightly between his fingers as he looked up to the trees waving in the twilight of the evening.

'That was a rather cozy scene on the sofa there, Jack.' Hammond remarked.

When he'd arrived earlier in the day he wasn't surprised to see the whole team present. As everyone took a seat, he got a twisting feeling in his gut. Something wasn't quite right and it had nothing to do with the news he was about to break to them.

His gut twisted again when he saw the way Major Carter looked at the Colonel and it all fell into place.
The two officers where sitting just a fraction too close than was appropriate on a couch that could have accommodated three people. Jack's arm was stretched across the back of the sofa, practically around her shoulders. And Major Carter seemed more than content with his proximity, relaxing deep into the cushions and against her commanding officers extended limb.

But it was the look in her eyes that had tipped him off; is was the deep ache of heartbreak and the last flicker of hope dying the instant the ramifications of his words became clear to her.

The too-quick glance Jack had in her direction confirmed that whatever it was between them was strong and mutual.

'And your point is, Sir?' Jack said not even trying to deny what the General saw.

'What I'm saying but also trying not to say is that I'm not blind, son.' he said turning to the younger man, waiting for him to make eye contact before proceeding. 'What used to be a questionably close relationship seems to have become even closer in the past few months.'

'There's nothing...'

'Don't mock me, Colonel!' he growled tersely.

'Sir.'

'I've tried, you know. The situations we face everyday, the situation you're in now, they haven't made a rule book for that yet. I'm sure one day they will but for now all we've got are the regulations of the US Air Force. Like I said I've tried, but position of base commander doesn't lend itself to bending the rules, not unless someone steps down from SG-1. I may be able do more from Washington. But you need to be careful.'

'Yes, Sir.'

Hammond sighed and turning his gaze to the heavens.

'Jacob would have a fit if he knew.'

'I'm sure Dad would want her to be happy, no matter what.'

'I hope your right, son. For your own sake as well as hers.' He extended his right hand.

Jack shifted his bottle to his left then gripped his superiors hand, shaking it gently.

'Good Luck, Jack.' he said warmly.

'Thank you, George.' Jack responded with a cheeky smirk.

The older man chuckled. 'Don't push it.'

'Yes, sir.'

Hands lowered the two men shared a brief nod and the men parted company, perhaps for the last time.

Sam had been quiet ever since Hammond had left. Daniel, though significantly more sober than he was earlier in the day, seemed not to have noticed and was doing an excellent job of talking for the whole group. But Jack knew Teal'c had definitely picked up on the tension in the room when his voice issued an abrupt declaration that he and Daniel should leave.

'What? There's still pizza and beer.' Daniel whined.

'I believe you have consumed enough alcohol for the evening. We shall depart.' he said standing.

Daniel was about to argue but then Teal'c did that staring thing whilst looming over him. Daniel was hit with a wave of nausea and vertigo looking up at him. Perhaps he was right.

'Okay.' he agreed, the alcohol induced rouge on his cheeks giving way to a sickly white.

Teal'c helped him stand and together they made their way to the door, Jack following close behind.

Sam remained sitting quietly on the couch.

'It's going to be okay, Jack.' Daniel said, leaning heavily against Teal'c. 'We'll figure something out. We always do.'

'Sure, Daniel. Safe drive home.' he watches them climb in the truck, start it up and back up his driveway. He waved goodbye and closed the door.

He felt the heat of her presence at his back the instant the door was shut. He remained still as she snaked an arm around him and turned the lock on the door. She moved round to his left side and slid her hand in his. Her gaze was focused on their joined hands, he could tell from her profile that every move she made was methodically planned and wholly intentional. As her head turned towards the empty hallway that led deeper into his home, he realised that they were moving.

He remembered the words he'd murmured the night he kissed her; it was always her decision, when it came to them he was always going to follow her lead.

Soon they were enveloped by the darkness of his bedroom. The only light was that which trickled through the doorway. The bed was rumpled and unmade from his tossing and turning last night. There was a slight staleness to the air suggesting he should change the sheets, it didn't seem like a priority last night figuring he'd only be sleeping there another week. Now though he was wishing he had.

She turned to face him her hand slipping from his, half bathed in light, half cast in shadow her gaze fixed on his chest, almost as if she was trying to see his heartbeat, see his chest expand with each breath.

He remained still.

Her fingers found the hem of his sweater and t-shirt combined slowly lifting the two items of clothing up his torso. He lifted his arms and pulled them off the rest of the way, unhappy at the thought of losing sight of her for even an instant he did so quickly before tossing the clothes behind him. Her gaze had shifted, settling on the bright red splash on his side where a staff blast struck him just a few months ago.

He was stoic as her fingertips delicately traced the slowly fading wound, though his flesh quivered more than once under the intimate touch. Her features remained fixed in a state of serious contemplation and calm. That was until her palm rested hotly against the wound and her gaze slowly drifted up to meet his.

There should have been a shimmer of a blue force field between them, that was the last time he saw this exact expression on her face.

The expression changed to one of almost panic as her hands leapt to her blouse; hands that had defused alien bombs, built a particle beam, hit a dime sized target with a P90 at 200 yards now struggled to undo buttons on a shirt.

Jack wrapped his hands around hers to still them. 'Samantha,' he waited for her eyes to meet his before continuing. 'Are you sure?

'Yes.' sounded her whisper, small but steady. 'Yes, Jack, I'm sure.'

Stepping closer his hands moved from around hers to cup her cheeks. His nose nudged hers gently as his mouth brushed so briefly against hers.

She sighed yearning for more, her hands sliding up around his neck.

'So, just to be clear, we're going to have sex?' his breath whispered against her skin as he spoke

'Yes.' she murmured.

'Which is a good thing, right?' he asked his thumb sweeping across her cheek.

'Yes.' she hissed.

He smiled down at her. 'Shouldn't you be smiling then?'

'And forget everything else that's going on?'

'Yes, Sam.' his voice pleaded softly.

'But if...'

'I know. We wouldn't be doing this if it wasn't for everything that's happens but,' he glanced at his watch, 'we've got nearly 34 hours before we need to report on Monday morning, until then can we just be us?'

'Okay.' she nodded, but her demeanour was still tense.

'Sam.' he chided softly.

A smile spread over her lips, slow and warm. '34 hours?' she asked, her voice filled with a mischievous tone he rarely heard.

He grinned. 'Give or take.'

'Sounds like fun.' she said, her fingers teasing the back of his neck, drawing him down, pulling him in.

'Ya sure ya betcha.' he murmured before pressing his lips forcefully against hers.

Despite the attempt to lighten the mood and establishing that neither had any intention of going anywhere over the next day and a half, their touch was desperate and raw.

Soon stripped bare and lying naked next to one another, Jack slowly shifted moving over her body and settling between her thighs.

'Jack.' she whispered.

'Mmm.' he hummed against her breast, his lips softly teasing her skin.

'I... I know, but I want you to say it. I want to hear you say it. I want you to tell me.'

He leaned back in a kneeling position.

'Come here.' he said softly, helping her upright, her legs tight around his waist, bodies pressed together but not quite joined. Those beautiful eyes of hers were glistening once more. He felt like his heart was breaking with every thud against his chest but still he smiled gently, stroked her cheek and whispered. 'I love you, Samantha. I love you.'

He kissed her as gently as he was able. Moments later a single wet salty droplet spread across their joined lips. He felt her draw a long and steadying breath. It left him breathless, as if she'd stolen the air from his own lungs.

'I love you too, Jack.' she murmured against his lips.

He kissed her deeply, their bodies shifted very slightly then all of a sudden they were one, he was simultaneously shattered and made whole. Her body drew him in achingly slowly until he was nestled in her entire. They gasped and shuddered clinging to one another desperately.

Heated kisses were exchanged. Every so often her muscles would clutch at his length, an involuntary reaction of her body desperately seeking more sensation; it caused them both to groan and shudder.

Just as he thought that he wouldn't be able to take much more of this glorious torture she whispered his name. He lay her down gently, brushed his lips sweetly against hers then let himself become lost in her, in them. Their voices rose up in chorus as the most delicious sensations and dizzying highs thundered through their bodies.

Exhaustion quickly followed. Lazy kisses were exchanged. His body pressed against her back, an arm tight around her waist, holding on like he would never let go.

He kissed her bare shoulder one last time before being overcome with an overwhelming sense of peace and giving in to sleep.