Title? Distractions – Chapter 3

Author? MerlynLover

Summary? Sequel to Distractions 1 & 2; Sam and Jack are at lunch (first date… yup) and talk about some things

Ship? Sam/Jack

Rating? K

Disclaimer? None of these characters are mine, please don't sue me

A/N? WOW! You all make me feel so great! As this is my first ever written down fanfic, I wasn't sure if it was horrible or not… I wasn't planning on adding chapters to it, it was just going to be a one-shot. But with so many people asking for more, I did. I tend to be writing these new chapters at 1am though, so if something turns out completely insane, let me know! But thanks to everyone who encouraged me to keep writing… you make my day!

And I apologize for the delay… its NaNoWriMo month (50,000 words in 30 days – check it out)… so I'm busy trying to write a novel and this fic during midterm season… hehe…

And also… my internet decided to kick the bucket for a little while, so I lost the updating ability… but now, I get to make everyone happy and post Chapters 3 – 6 right away and I am writing Chapter 7 tonight! Hope you like where I'm going… and if you don't, feel free to tell me I suck… :)

Now, on with the story… Enjoy! (and don't forget to review… I shall give you a cookie if you do!)

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"That," he said quietly, hand still on her cheek, "is how we know."

Jack O'Neill and Sam Carter grinned in unison before Sam leaned in to kiss him lightly once more. She kept it short, however, as being in a restaurant now was a curse and a blessing. When she pulled away from his lips for the second time, still smiling, he asked "Still nervous?"

"A little," she admitted, leaning towards the back of the chair again. Jack copied her movement before adding, "Alright, so how about we get the other nervous-related questions out of the way now then? Have somewhere to stay while you're here?"

Sam but the side of her bottom lip, pausing before slowly answering "No…" as she eyed him warily.

Noticing her suspicious expression he held up his palms to her as answered her eyes "Hey, I'd be well behaved. I was planning on sleeping on the couch." He followed up the serious phrase with a joking "What? Don't you trust me?"

Sam cracked a small smile at his teasing as she answered his question in her head 'with my life, yes. With my heart, I don't know yet. Though I don't have a reason not to. If anyone shouldn't be trusting, it should be him. After all, I was the one who left him for Pete.' As she finished this mental conversation, she noticed Jack was speaking again.

Watching her face as if he were planning which tactic to use on a mission, Jack continued carefully "Hotel O'Neill is way better than any other place you could find around here. And a lot cheaper too," he announced proudly. Sam was smiling again, so he continued. "It's a bigger room, more comfortable accommodations, better company," he added the last bit with a grin. "And of course, don't forget, a first class breakfast, made by yours truly. My secret recipe omelets are to die for."

Sam waited a beat before nodding, but adding "Well Sir-Jack…"

"Don't force it, it'll come," Jack told her easily in response to her name stumble.

She nodded again before continuing "I should probably be the one to sleep on the couch. I know I would not be looking forward to your grumbling the next morning about everything being sore."

Jack nodded before he seemed to catch on to her veiled insult, "Hey… did you just call me old and cranky?"

"Yes sir," she quipped back, grinning

"Getting snarky these days I see…" He joked back.

Sam opened her mouth to respond, but then turned as she saw the waiter appear in her vision. The man passed their drinks to them apologizing, "Sorry for the wait. It's rather busy in here today."

"No problem. Your timing was perfect actually," Jack commented, sneaking a glance at Sam, who recognized the mischievous twinkle in his eyes.

When Sam looked down, staring confused at the drink before her, Jack supplied "Diet Coke."

"Thanks," she replied, smile only widening and turned back to the waiter as he asked,

"So, are you ready to order?"

The two ordered their food and after the waiter left, Jack turned back to her, "I was thinking the other day, and I noticed that even after so many years of working together, I don't really know all that much about you." When Sam looked puzzled he continued, "I mean… I know how you fight, how you show your emotions, but I don't know the simple things… like what your favorite color is – though I would suspect blue – what's your favorite non-science-y book, why you got into motorcycles…" He trailed off realizing he'd rambled on way too long.

To his surprise, Sam just grinned. "Alright," she answered, "then today is about truly getting to know each other… that's usually the first step when people start dating, right?"

He grinned, unused to hearing the word 'dating' at his age, but he liked it, especially in regards to the blonde sitting next to him. "Yeah sure ya betcha."

~*~*~

Sam and Jack spent the meal trading questions like 'What pets did you have?' and 'Who was your first kiss with?' At the end of the meal, they leaned back in their chairs feeling content and full. "Chocolate cake?" Jack proposed dessert.

Sam sighed and contemplated her full stomach. She tried to decide if she could fit the cake in for a long minute or two before asking, "What if it's gone?"

Jack's eyebrow's rose, puzzled, he asked "Didn't we already answer that question?"

Sam laughed, realizing she had used the exact same question 45 minutes ago but in a completely different regard. "The cake," she informed him, "What if they're out? I only saw a few pieces left in the case when we walked in."

Realization dawned on his features and he chuckled a little before shrugging and saying, "Well, we can ask."

~*~*~

It turned out that Sam was right, they had run out of the cake, so Jack paid the bill, with Sam's opposition, and they left the bustling restaurant and entered onto the hurried streets of the city. The tourists, now revived after a lunch break and faster than ever, weaved in and around the two officers, who slowly made their way back towards the Pentagon. When the pair made it to the quieter section as they neared the five-sided building, Jack glanced at her and asked "Do you have something to do while I ecstatically head back to my paperwork?"

"Yeah," she responded, "Daniel said I should come out to D.C. and look up some old friends while we have time off. I have a few friends still working here, so I can catch up with them for awhile."

"Daniel suggested that huh?" Jack asked sarcastically.

"I know. I didn't buy that reason either. He was getting so pissed off at the two of us, it was starting to drive me crazy… which I guess is why I actually came out and somehow talked myself into visiting you while on the plane."

Jack laughed, "I guess I'll have to add that to the list of things I need to thank your brain for then."

Sam laughed now as they reached the first security checkpoint to enter the building. They didn't talk much more as they traveled the short distances between the checkpoints to get to the inner rings of the Pentagon where they could move more freely. Sam stopped part way to Jack's office and pointed down the hall in another direction, "I'm off this way," she supplied.

Jack turned back to face her, nodding and adding "I'll call you when I'm finishing up… but it might not be for quite awhile."

Sam nodded, "I'll see you later then."

Jack moved a hand up and put it behind her head, pulling her in for a light kiss before pulling back muttering "Later." They grinned and turned to walk their separate ways. Later seemed way too long to wait.