The rest of the weekend passed without any further discussion or objects flying through the air but by Monday morning Sam nervous were back full force and she was having a hard time hiding them. Jack had noticed but pretend not to.
They were having coffee in the now clean kitchen after Jack bought a new coffee machine. He was in his dress blues and she was in her PJs. While he was carefully watching her she hadn't look at him since coming back from her room.
"I was thinking that if you don't have anything for today, you could have lunch with me?" he asked tentatively while sipping coffee and keeping an eye on the sports part of the paper.
Her eyes showed surprised despite her best attempts to cover it.
"Lunch?", she asked carefully.
He put the paper down and the mug in the washing machine, like he was used to do when he was alone.
"Yes, lunch. I have an opening today and thought it might be nice. We can go anywhere you want. Just tell Margaret, or not", he said picking his briefcase and jacket. He was tempted to give her a kiss in her forehead but decided against it. Too soon.
"Have a nice day, Sam. Call me if you need anything". He was out of the door before she could say anything.
Sam stood in their kitchen for quite some time, thinking, her coffee cold, completely forgotten in her hands. Finally, she decided that she wanted to have lunch with Jack. If they were to get their marriage on track, they had to start somewhere. He apparently had taken the first step. She would follow. After a quick shower she went to her old room where Jack now slept and look at her wardrobe. She picked up a silk blouse and a fitting skirt that complemented her long legs. Instead of her practical heels, Sam choose a pair of black high heels that gave her the right height when she was close to Jack. She knew he love that shoes. If he was making an effort, so could she.
Picking her cell, she dialed Margaret and after the uncomfortable first words due to their last meeting she confirmed that the General was indeed free for lunch until 15:00. She asked her to make a reservation in one of their favorite restaurants that was not usually frequented by military personnel. She said that she would wait for Jack at the restaurant. It was still too soon to get back to his office. To many bad memories. Margaret understood perfectly and was convening the message to the General.
Sam picked the computer and sent a quick message to Daniel telling that she was back to D.C. and would talk to him soon. She need to talk to him. He was a grounding force in her life and although she knew sometimes Jack was jealous of their bond since they met at SGC, he was like her brother and that was not changing. Married or not.
Looking at the time she noticed that she still had some time to kill so she picked up her coat and purse and left the house. She decided to take a cab, not feeling up to great walks in high heels. She arrived early to the restaurant so she went to the bar to pass time. Only a young couple and a man were there so she took a stool in one of the corners and ordered a martini. Picking her cell she started to scroll her email messages seeing that she already had some regarding the repairs of the Hammond.
"Is this seat taken?"
Barely lifting her eyes from her cell Sam saw the man that was already in the bar when she arrived. He was taller than her, black hair, a little longer to her taste and green eyes. A two days' beard gave him a some-what not bad looking appearance, if she was interested. She was not.
"Have no idea", she answered not taking her eyes from the cell.
Her martini arrived and she took a sip. He was drinking whiskey apparently.
"Alone or waiting for someone?", he asked turning his long body towards her.
"Waiting", she answered briefly.
"Me too." He drank the rest that was on the glass and ask for a refill. "Hey we can wait together", he said with a smile.
"Not interested." She was quickly losing her patience.
"Ah give me a break, how come a woman such as yourself is in bar alone, drinking without proper company? That is plain rude", he said with a pleasant smile.
It was a couple years since she was pick up in a bar such outrageously like this but it continued to bother her nevertheless.
"I'm fine by myself, thank you", she tried to getting him to go away.
"Well that is impossible. You have to have company. A face and a body like yours cannot walk alone like that. It is a crime against humanity", his smile was turning less agreeable.
Sam was really considering leaving the bar and wait for Jack outside when she felt a hand in her elbow. She did not jump because she would had recognized that hand anywhere. Jack.
"I believe the lady told you she was not interested". Jack's voice was between command and murder in the first degree and the other man had the intelligence to understand. Jack's dress blues full of medals and ribbons might also have helped. The guy just took off.
"Are you ok?" he asked his voice full of concern while sitting in the stool now vacant.
"Yes, thank you", she said smiling. Sam missed this possessive side of her husband when someone especially a man tried to approach her. Oh she really missed him. On other occasions they would been kissing furiously after this.
"Hungry?" he asked casually looking at her clothes, stopping at her high heels.
"I can eat. Shall we?" She went to the restaurant section noticing that he stood behind, surely admiring the view. With a smile she went to their table and sat. Jack was unashamedly looking at her six. He sat in front of her with a smile.
"You look lovely", he said smiling with his eyes.
Sam felt herself blush. "Thank you".
She felt like their first dates after they were allowed to get together and move past the pesky regulations of the Air Force. Sam remembered those times as one of the most romantics of her life where Jack had shown a side that she never in her wildest fantasies had never dreamt of. Despite the hard life and façade of a black ops soldier, Jack was a romantic at heart.
Grabbing his menu, Jack tried not to stare at his wife in a too obviously way. She was particularly attractive today although to his eyes she was the most beautiful woman in the world. Had been since the first time he had laid eyes on her, chip on her should and arm wrestler challenge included.
"So I happened to receive an invitation today from the White House for a gala the president is offering in a couple of days", he said while looking at the menu. He hoped his voice appeared casually and not anxious. He really wanted her to attend.
Sam look at him not very impressed. She was not particularly inclined to social events at the present time. White House included.
"Oh, nice for you", she said without enthusiasm.
He cleared his throat and put the menu down.
"The invitation is for both of us, actually. Mrs. Hayes is really counting with your presence", he said. It was actually true. The President's secretary had called him to tell him exactly that.
"Is she now?". Sam was surprised. She was on Earth for barely more than two days and they already expected her to attend social galas at the White House? The notion of downtime was apparently unfamiliar to the president and his wife.
"Well I'm sure you can find an excuse for me", she said putting also her menu down.
Jack couldn't hide his disappointment hearing her say that but tried to see if he could change her mind.
"Come on Sam, we don't have to stay long and there will be lot of people dying to see you…" he tried with a smile.
"I'm sure Kerry Johnson will be in the front line", she said without thinking.
Jack closed his hands into two fists but didn't said a word while Sam bit her cheeks furious with her lack of self-restrain. Things were going so well.
"If you want, she won't be there", he said promising something he could not promise yet.
Her mocking look told him that she knew exactly that.
"Don't make promises you can't keep, Jack. You never have, don't start now. It's unbecoming of you". Her tone was not hard but was hardly soft either.
Promising himself he would talk to Hayes directly, Jack decided to gamble.
"If I guarantee you she won't be there, will you come with me?", he asked seriously.
With a small laugh, Sam drink a little of water to gain time. He could not guarantee that even if he was one of the President's darlings. It was too personal and Jack didn't ask personal favours, especially of this nature. She was game.
"Sure, I'll go with you if she's not there. Guaranteed", she added.
"Ok, you've got yourself a date, Mrs. O'Neil", he said with a big smile.
"Carter-O'Neill", she immediately corrected.
"As you wish", he didn't insist. He had what he wanted. Now he just had to talk to the President of the United States to convince him to veto the entrance of a certain woman to the gala who he had been having an affair with and try not to be shoot by Hayes himself when he heard that he had cheat on one of his favorite Colonels of the Air Force and resident genius of planet Earth. Piece of cake.
The rest of the lunch went surprisingly smooth, both keeping to safe topics and avoiding personal discussions. Almost as when they were CO and 2IC and they had more than 8 years of practice in that. It was almost an art. They could sell books and be filthy rich. When they're both finished he offered a ride back since he had the official car with him and the driver. She accepted.
"Mrs. O'Neill, good to have you back", the driver greeted as he opened her the door.
She didn't bother to correct him. She was dressed as a civilian and usually when that happened she didn't use her honorific. Just her married name.
"Thank you, Mitchell", she said entering the black sedan.
Putting his sunglasses, Jack opened his door and sat next to her, adjusting his trousers. The jacket was in his lap. She had hers on because it was a little chilly and she had only her blouse. His eyes went immediately to her legs, showing between the expensive chashmere coat. The coat had been a gift from him. He liked to give her expensive things mainly because she couldn't care less. His mouth was suddenly dry and he quickly wet his lower lip with his tongue. How many times had they made out in the back of that same car, with the privacy curtain closed? His body was starting to remembering those hot moments and he briefly glanced to his wife who was looking towards the window. Taking a chance, he slowly put his hand on top of hers and she quickly moved her head looking at him, surprised.
"Thanks for having lunch with me, Sam", he said interlinking their fingers as she had still not removed her hand.
She looked at their hands, then at him and went back to the window. Their hands however remained joined. The car eventually stopped at their townhouse and he took his hand.
"I won't be too late", he said softly.
"That will be a first", she murmured between her teeth. "You don't have to change your work because of me, Jack. You've never have. We never have so I know you are busy, keep doing what you've doing, working related", she added quickly.
He almost smiled with her last sentence.
"Well maybe some things need to change", he said taking his sunglasses. "Work isn't everything, Sam. I remember keep telling you that many years ago. I think it's time I take that advice myself". His face was serious and his eyes a little darker than usual.
"Ok, do what you think is best", she said eventually and opened the door, leaving him alone in the car.
Sam watched the sedan drive away and hugged the coat closely around herself trying to warm up. It had been a nice lunch, better than she had hoped.