As promised, here's the second, and final, part. Enjoy! :-)

Sneaking Around Part 2

Christmas at Jack's:

He'd used a lot of what little spare time he had to make his house look exactly right for Christmas. The highly decorated and lit tree, holly, mistletoe, the whole works. He'd gone a little bit overboard, Jack thought, but it was fun and he thought Sam might get a kick out of it.

She arrived on Christmas Eve, the first time they were going to be alone together outside of Cheyenne Mountain since that night they'd been to the zoo. They'd agreed he would supply all the decorations, drinks and nibbles while she would bring the makings for their Christmas dinner.

They were going to prepare and cook the dinner together. Together, for crying out loud. Jack couldn't quite believe how excited he was by the prospect of sharing that chore with Sam. It seemed ridiculous to be as keyed up about it, but he couldn't help himself.

Cooking together was a thing couples did. For the first time, he was genuinely starting to believe they could be that couple. They could make this relationship work. The prospect thrilled him and he was as giddy as a schoolboy might be about Christmas. It had been far too long since the festive season had made him feel that way.

He'd shared Charlie's excitement about Christmas. What parent didn't? Now, Jack had something else to make him feel similar enthusiasm – or someone else. She was called Sam Carter, was the most beautiful, intelligent woman in the world, and she wanted to spend her precious Christmas vacation with him. It couldn't have been better if she'd tied herself up in red ribbon and sat herself under his Christmas tree.

Jack felt a bit foolish about his exuberance. He was getting too old to feel that way about Christmas, he thought. It seemed ridiculous, or it did when he let his hard head think about it. Most of the time, he just went with the flow and didn't let his older macho General Jack persona get a look in. The young boy with a gigantic crush on a certain blonde won. It was fun. It made him happy. Jack liked that feeling a lot.

He had the best Christmas present ever for Sam, but he wasn't telling. He wanted it to be a total surprise and he hoped she felt the same way about it as he did. Jack wasn't certain about anything, didn't take it for granted, but he hoped she'd be okay with it. One of his concerns was that it might appear he was taking too much for granted too soon. He couldn't help that. It felt like the right thing to do.

Jack tried not to let it make him feel too nervous so buried those feelings deep. He wanted to enjoy this Christmas and for Sam to enjoy it too. He wanted to relax and have a good time. He wanted it to be perfect, or as close to faultless as it could get anyway. Total perfection was a lot to ask.

His heart hammered rapidly in his chest as he answered the door to her knock. 'Stop it with the giddy schoolboy stuff already, O'Neill,' he told himself but the youngster within would not be listen.

"Merry Christmas Jack," she said with a bright smile when the door opened and his already rapidly beating heart went into overdrive.

"Merry Christmas Sam," he responded with an equally vivid grin. They stood silently eyeing each other in wonder for a while, letting the cold into the house and both feeling faintly idiotic.

"Help me with the food?" she said and they got the bags from her car and carried them in.

She made appropriately thrilled comments about his decorations and he stopped her under some mistletoe and gave her an appropriately loving kiss.

"Merry Christmas Sam," he said again as he pulled his lips away.

"Merry Christmas Jack," she repeated with a titter. "Is that all I'm gonna get out of you for the next couple of days?" she asked humorously.

"Don't know. Maybe." The somewhat shy expression on his face gave her a kick.

"Cat got your tongue?"

"You know me and talking."

"Are you as excited about this as I am?" she ventured and Sam noticed him visibly relax before he grinned and nodded. "Good. Where's that open fire and eggnog?"

She craned her neck to kiss the tip of his nose and he took her hand and led her into the living room.

"Looks great. Good job," she commented, pleased by the amount of effort he had obviously put in to make it look as Christmassy.

He said nothing, pulling her toward the fire he had burning in his hearth. Removing her coat, he urged her to sit while he went off to hang it up. When he returned, she was curled up on the rug in front of it, watching the dancing flames.

Jack squatted down next to her, hands on her shoulders. He briefly kissed the back of her neck and then sat by her side.

"No problems with the creaky old knees and back, Jack?" she queried mockingly and he laughed.

"Not right now."

"Then make love to me."

He drew in a breath, his heart rate leaping from relatively normal to rapidly erratic once again. "Right here?" he asked and she nodded.

So he did.


They deliberately held back from the present opening until after they'd eaten Christmas dinner. The food was a great success and Jack couldn't remember the last time he'd had that much fun in a kitchen. Sam seemed to enjoy it too. They were having so much fun they were surprised they managed to get dinner together at all. Jack had joked about having a couple of pizzas in the freezer if it came to it.

After their lovemaking session the previous evening, they'd spent some time preparing for the dinner, getting as much done as possible in advance. They decided to give their planned attendance at Midnight Mass a miss and stay indoors, cozying up together and canoodling on a large chair close to the fire instead.

They didn't talk much and neither of them felt the need to. It was nice just sitting there peaceably, watching the flames create fiery pictures in his fireplace - interspersed with the odd kiss and affectionate caress. They were more comfortable about it than either of them had ever imagined. It felt right.

Neither of them knew quite how much it meant to the other to wake up together that Christmas morning. They avoided exploring or expressing those feelings, just running with them instead.

After breakfast and placing their turkey in the oven, Sam seduced Jack right there in his kitchen. She took control of their lovemaking for the first time and he certainly wasn't inclined to fight it. His kitchen chairs would never be the same again. The one she sat him on, writhing on top of him until they were sated, would forever seem magical rather than just a piece of furniture.

Sam stunned Jack with that seduction, moving him almost beyond reason. He hadn't anticipated the wildcat seductress lurking in his lover. She'd always appeared very in control, uptight even. Jack was so overwhelmed he almost blurted out something about feelings - about love – but he just about managed to contain himself.

Later, he wasn't sure he should have held back. He regretted not simply coming out with it. He argued with himself about it for a while and then forced himself to forget it and simply live and enjoy the moments.

Afterward, they continued with festivities as usual, as if what had just happened was a commonplace occurrence. Jack liked that a lot. It was like they were a normal couple doing normal things. It felt good.

"I'm as stuffed as that turkey," he declared after his final mouthful of plum pudding. Sighing, he leaned back in his chair and surveyed the table. It seemed they had enough food left over to feed a small nation. "Talking of which, we'll be eating that sucker until New Year," he said with a wry grin.

Sam smiled, noting his use of the word "we" but saying nothing. She hoped it meant he anticipated spending more time together, perhaps even New Year's Eve itself. However, they had to get through Christmas first. They'd cross that bridge when it came to it, as Jack might say.

"I like leftovers," she said. "We can donate some turkey to Teal'c."

She knew their friend loved turkey and felt a slight twinge of regret that they hadn't invited him or Daniel to share this special day. The pang didn't last for long. Spending this time alone with Jack meant too much to her to regret it.

"Christmas present time?" Jack asked with a hint of excitement in his voice. His smile made him look years younger, she thought, treasuring that youthful grin. She kissed his cheek, nodding enthusiastically and tugging on his hand to lead him back into the living room.

Sam had brought all her presents with her and she had tucked them under the Christmas tree alongside his. Having no family of his own, Jack had fewer gifts than her and she sadly wondered what his Christmas days up until now had been like. Had he been alone and lonely? She wanted to ask but didn't although what he said next gave her a big clue.

"This sure beats spending Christmas Day at the SGC," he said and from those words she assumed he'd spent a few of those Christmases on duty inside the mountain. It surprised her to realize she hadn't known that.

"You're normally on duty?" she ventured to query and noted a trace of sadness in his eyes as he replied.

"Someone has to mind the shop."

Sam tried to picture the skeleton staff looking after things on base over the holiday. He was right that someone had to do it and wondered how they celebrated.

"There's always cake," he commented with a sardonic smile and she squeezed his hand lovingly but said nothing. Stopping in his tracks, he faced her and used his free hand to grasp the top of her arm. "It's good having you here today Sam," he said, staring into her eyes. His facial expression was blank but his eyes spoke volumes. Kissing her lips briefly, he pulled away and urged her to sit on a chair close to the Christmas tree near the fire. "Hold it right there. I'll be back."

He strode out of the room and when he returned a couple of minutes later, Sam couldn't help but laugh. He'd put on a false white beard and had a red Santa Claus hat perched on his head.

"In a few years, I won't need to wear a false one and play dress up," he joked, stroking the beard. "Merry Christmas, Sam." Then he approached the tree and picked up one of her presents, handing it to her.

"Merry Christmas, Jack," she said with a grin as she took it from him. "I'm glad I'm here."

Before they started on the presents, she persuaded him to take the chair and sat on the floor between his knees, kneeling to face him. As they opened each gift, Jack made an amusing or sarcastic comment and Sam happily joined in with the banter. Then, finally, they came down to their presents for each other.

Sam insisted she take over the Santa role and that he open her presents to him first. She grabbed the red hat from his head, making him chuckle with delight, and passed him one. There were three of them altogether.

The first was a shirt. Light blue. Sam had spent a little while hunting down exactly the right shade. She'd imagined him wearing this shirt when she was hallucinating on board "The Prometheus" many months ago. In her memory of that hallucination, he'd looked darned hot and she knew it would suit him perfectly. He seemed to like it.

Next was an executive toy. The kind of thing one keeps on one's desk to play with when needing distraction. A puzzle. Sam knew it would keep Jack's hands occupied for hours. She pictured his fingers running over it, trying to work it out, getting it and then starting again. It was a good present for a man like Jack - a man who liked to play, who needed to keep his hands occupied virtually all the time. His eyes lit up when he realized what it was and he laughed gaily.

Finally, she handed him the more personal gift. Sam was a little bit nervous about this one, wondering if it might seem a little bit forward, as if she were taking too much for granted. When he opened it, however, she could see from his delight that she had made the right decision. He was openly thrilled, nothing hidden.

The picture frame itself was plain and simple. Silver, but unadorned. Inside the frame was a photograph of Sam. A recent one, a head and shoulders shot. It wasn't a professional photograph but Sam had a friend who knew his way around a camera and had taken it especially. He had taken a few and she had chosen this one. Sam was smiling and her eyes appeared to glisten with joy.

To Jack, it seemed as if Sam was looking directly at him from this photo. She was smiling at him, especially for him. He loved it and knew it would take pride of place where he could look at that stunning smile when he needed a boost. When he missed her, when he wished she was there with him. Maybe he'd place it next to his bed or in his den. Wherever, he'd cherish it.

"It's a great photo, Sam," he said, still grinning jubilantly. "Thanks." He caught her eye and smiled straight at her, a smile of gratitude, of excitement. It made her heart skip a beat.

"Glad you like it."

"You look… beautiful," he declared with open admiration. Taking a hand in his he lifted it to his lips to kiss it. She trembled from the thrill that ran through her. It had been tough trying to think of suitable presents for Jack but so worth it.

Then he handed her his present. It was small, perfectly wrapped. Her heart skittered with excitement as she ripped the paper off the gift, revealing a small box. Jewelry, she could tell by the type of box and was both eager and nervous to see what lay within. It was a ring. She seen such a thing before but didn't know what it meant.

"It's a Claddagh ring," Jack said hastily, leaving her none the wiser. "To my people, the Irish, it's a ring of friendship. Close friendship," he went on to explain, failing to mention that the Celts had traditionally used the Claddagh as a wedding band once upon a time. The ring bore two hands clasping a heart surmounted by a crown. The heart represented love, the hands friendship and the crown loyalty. In essence, it meant "with my two hands I give you my heart, and crown it with my loyalty." Jack, however, didn't explain further.

"I hope it fits," he said, placing it on a finger of her right hand with the heart pointing inward.

Jack knew the way one wore the Claddagh ring also conveyed a particular message; what hand one wore it on and whether the heart pointed inward or outward. Worn on the left hand it meant engaged or married. He couldn't claim either of those things with Sam.

On the right hand, however, if the heart pointed inward it showed that the wearer was in a relationship, that someone had captured their heart. This was exactly what he hoped for and what he intended with the gift, although he did not intend to explain any of it to Sam. One day, perhaps, but not yet.

He didn't really need to explain. Although Sam might not have been aware of these intricacies surrounding the ring, as far as she was concerned it was a ring. A ring with a heart on it and Jack had given it to her. Sam hoped she knew what it meant. It was important - an indication of his feelings and intent. For now, this was all she needed to know.

"It's beautiful, Jack," she whispered, visibly moved by the gift.

"And it fits!" he exclaimed with a lighthearted grin.

She realized his quip was a typical Jack O'Neill ploy, intended to detract from a serious moment he wasn't sure he could deal with. Sam played along, saying nothing but murmuring her thanks and, pulling off his false Santa beard, she stretched up to kiss his lips. Wrapping his arms around her, Jack turned the small peck of gratitude into a more evocative kiss, both loving and passionate.

"I wish I'd given you something more meaningful too," she said as their mouths parted.

"You did," he replied and she gave him a quizzical look. "You're here, aren't you? And there's this," he added, reaching for the photo she'd given him. "It's pretty special."

Grinning, she settled back down to her previous position on the floor, this time, resting her chin on his knee and clasping his leg just above her head.

"There's something else," he told her, his expression serious. Sam thought she detected a hint of trepidation in his eyes as he handed her an envelope.

"Open and read," he urged.

Curiously, she ripped the envelope open. Inside was a letter typed on official headed paper. Jack was excited about its contents. To him, it seemed like a perfect Christmas present and he hoped she would be equally pleased.

As Sam read, her eyes widened and her mouth hung open with shock. In effect, the letter contained permission for the pair of them to do what the regs forbade – fraternize. It went on to provide detailed orders about the chain of command and reporting procedures. As a result, Jack's command was going to subject to even closer scrutiny than usual.

"Wha… H-how?" she asked in a tone Jack took to be horror. Swearing internally, he wondered what she was thinking. Had he acted too hastily? Should he have spoken to her first?

"I talked to George Hammond," he explained. "He did the rest."

"You-you talked to General Hammond and not to me?"

'Crap!' Jack thought. 'She's mad.' He could not tell from her expression what she was thinking but the pit of his stomach lurched uneasily as he realized he might have screwed everything up.

"I, um… damn," he spoke aloud, not sure what to say. "I thought… um… I hoped you'd be okay with the outcome. Too much, too soon?" His tone was clearly nervous and hesitant.

Sam's initial thoughts had been shock and dismay. By acting without saying anything, Jack had messed with her career. If it had gone badly, there was no knowing what might have happened. It scared her. He had no right.

The upshot of his actions, however, was good for them. No more breaching the regs, no more guilt or sneaking around. Sam liked that very much. And the fact that he wanted this for them told her a lot too, about his feelings for her. Words he'd not yet spoken. All in all, therefore, it was positive. She could tackle him about the consulting her first issue another time. She shouldn't spoil the moment, she decided.

So, in answer to his question Sam shook her head, getting up to ease herself onto his knees and then kissing his cheek and softly stroking his neck. Then she smiled; a big smile that immediately calmed Jack's nerves.

"It's a great Christmas present. The best," she said. "I love you, Jack." Surprised by Sam's pronouncement, he stared at her openly dumbfounded for a moment and she began to look jittery, worrying her bottom lip with her teeth. "Too much, too soon?" she asked, repeating his own words back to him.

"Not a chance," he replied reassuringly, grinning and pulling her in his arms. "I'm just… stunned is all."

He buried his face in her neck not wishing Sam to see his overly powerful reaction to her declaration. Jack had tears swimming in his eyes, although he never allowed them to fall. It wasn't the Jack O'Neill way. He wasn't sure how to respond - simply telling her he loved her too seemed a little bit trite, as if he was saying it because she had.

"You must have known," she said, slightly disappointed he hadn't come clean with his feelings right away, although Sam figured he must feel the same what with the ring, the letter and all.

"I didn't," Jack replied. "Not for sure. I wanted… I hoped…"

He pulled back and, as he revealed his face, Sam could see emotions in his eyes of the like she had never seen before. Only fleetingly, though, because he quickly recovered his composure and became the Jack O'Neill she knew so well; the man who frequently hid behind his military mask. The short moment of revelation, however, was as demonstrative as anything he might have said.

Smiling brightly, she let the moment pass because Sam was confident she knew what lay in his heart. With Jack, she had to learn that words were not important. Words weren't his thing. He was an action kind of guy and action was exactly what he took.

Radiating with a high voltage smile, Jack kissed her. It was a kiss overflowing with all the feeling Sam could ever have wished for; a kiss that made her tingle from the ends of her toes to the tips of her fingers; a kiss that thrilled and enchanted her.

Jack was ebullient. For once, Plan A was coming together. This was one of his best Christmases ever and it seemed Sam was happy and content too. No more sneaking around, not more lying to their friends. The first thing he was going to do after Christmas was take her out on a real date, in front of real people in a public place. Alone, no chaperones required to protect their previously closely guarded secret.

Although before that, he had something to tell Daniel and Teal'c. He had something to say to Sam too, but it could wait.

The End

Disclaimer: Stargate SG-1 and its characters are the property of Stargate (II) Productions, Showtime/Viacom, MGM/UA, Double Secret Productions, and Gekko Productions. This story is for entertainment purposes only and no money exchanged hands. No copyright infringement is intended. The original characters, situations, and story are the property of the author. This story may not be posted elsewhere without the consent of the author. Any similarity to real persons, living or dead, is coincidental and not intended by the author. Copyright © 2009 Su Freund