A/N: Just another little update :) Please enjoy.

Following a quick debrief, Weir gave them a few days downtime before they had to officially report for work and submit mission reports.

Jack was pretty sure he could have spent the whole time in the shower with the almost unbearably hot water raining down on him. It was almost as good as the feeling of pulling on jeans and his leather jacket instead of the BDU's he'd been wearing for months. Still, in comparison with other things he'd done that day, nothing quite measured up to kissing Sam.

He smiled softly seeing her waiting on him at the elevators.

'Major.' he said, as they turned to the elevator doors.

'Sir.' she replied.

Jack rested his hand gently on her lower back as they stepped forward into the car.

They turned around to face the doors just as they closed.

'I'm starving.' Jack stated.

'Me too.'

He smirked, able to hear the smile in her voice without looking at her.

'I guess I'll have to get some groceries.'

'Me too.'

'Wanna come with?' he said looking over at her, glad to have a semi-legitamate excuse to continue to be with her off base and hopefully invite her round to his home later. They would have to figure out what they were going to to about their relationship but really he just wanted to spend as much time with her as possible. 'Though if you don't let me put cake and ice cream in the cart I'll be shake you somewhere around aisle 4.'

She smiled widely. 'Sounds like fun. And I'll let you get cake so long as there's some vegetables in the cart too.'

'Aw man.' he grumbled.

'Life is all about balance.'

The elevator shuddered to a stop.

He leaned towards her and whispered, 'Is that why we're finally letting ourselves have a life outside the SGC?'

She smiled slowly. Jack suddenly felt warm, warmer than he had done in the shower, and followed her out of the elevator a wide grin on his lips.

They moved quickly and precisely around the store picking up what they needed for just a day or two, transactions completed, they loaded their cars which parked side by side.

'Sam.' Jack said softly, coming to stand behind her.

She turned slowly and found herself surrounded by him, the street noise just seemed to fall away.

'I completely understand if you want to just go home and rest,' he murmured. 'Not that I'm suggesting that we do anything, but I'd really like it if you came home with me.'

'I don't want to be alone any more.' she said looking up at him.

He wrapped his arms around her tightly, not caring who might be watching. 'I will always be here for you, Samantha. What ever you need, if it's in my power, I'll make it happen.'

Several minutes passed and neither made a move to weaken their hold.

'We should get going before my ice cream becomes a milkshake.' he murmured.

She nodded.

'You wanna come come straight round to my place? I'm sure there's plenty of space for all our groceries.'

She nodded again and that, at least, was settled.

Jack lay on his back surrounded by the familiar warmth of his bed and the still new sensation of Sam curled at his side; his arm wrapped around her shoulders, fingers smoothing softly over her hip and his other hand joined with hers over his heart.

It was still quite early in the evening but they were both so exhausted from the days events that when he suggested going to bed straight after dinner she agreed wholeheartedly. They just lay there, wide awake, enjoying the simple pleasure of being in each others presence.

Sam didn't talk about what Fifth did to her and he didn't ask.

Though his heart ached every time she shivered against him.

After a particularly violent shudder she moved closer, bringing her body over his entire. She put her lips to his and kissed him slowly and deeply.

Jack hummed involuntarily as he kissed her back but he couldn't shake his worry.

'Sam.' he mumbled.

'Make love to me, Jack.' she whispered.

'I want to.' he really did, the memories he had almost felt like they were someone else's and he was desperate to experience it for himself. 'But...'

'You were dead. He made it seem like it was years later and I'd settled down with Pete. Then when I kept fighting it, kept disproving the little fantasy he'd built himself, he broke it. And spent the rest of the time manipulating real events. Every close shave, every near miss, he changed it; he made me watch you die a hundred times over. I need you, Jack. I need this.'

'I did promise I'd give you anything you need.' he said running his hands through her hair, 'Sure you're up for this?'

She nodded.

He kissed her slowly before rolling her body beneath his. He touched every inch of skin with his fingers, with his lips as if checking she was still in one piece. Every time she shivered, her eyes met his and he was reassured that it was a result of his teasing touches and not flashes of memories of her torment at Fifth's hands.

She smiled up at him as he settled over her.

'I love you.' she said reverently.

'I love you too.' he murmured softly, kissing her deeply as their separate bodies twisted into one.

She moaned and arched under him, her arms and legs holding onto him tightly.

He sighed deeply; he was home.

The next day passed in a lazy haze of kissing, cuddling and munching on all the junk food Jack had picked out at the grocery store the day before.

The phone rang just after three causing them both to start.

'You have to get that, it'll be the SGC.' Sam said shifting away from him to sit at the other side of the couch, feeling the need to give him a little distance if he was going to speak with the SGC.

He sighed missing her warmth instantly and answered the phone.

'O'Neill... Yeah, okay... Sure, of course, what time?... I'll see you tomorrow, bye.'

It had to be one of the shortest calls he'd ever had, but it sure did sound important.

'Weir wants to have a meeting with me tomorrow morning. Sounded kind of serious.'

'Did she say what it was about?'

'Nope, nothing.'

She sighed deeply.

'Are you going to talk to her about us?'

'I guess I'll see what she says first, then let her know I want to retire.'

'What?' she squeaked, staring at him in shock. 'Jack, you can't!'

'Sam, me knees are shot. Working in the field just isn't for me any more.'

'But I can't ask you to do this.'

'You don't have to. I'm ready for that part of my life to be over. I want to spend the rest of my life with you.' he said reaching over and resting his hand over hers, a wide smile on his lips.

She smiled softly, crawled over the couch and into his lap, wrapping her arms around his neck.

'You're amazing. You know that right?'

'I kinda figured after we'd saved the world a couple of times. Still, even though I know I'm amazing, I have no idea how I managed to get the hottest genius in the galaxy to fall in love with me.'

He grinned watching her blush and pressed his lips hard against hers before she could disagree.