Chapter 3: All-Nighter

O'Neill tossed about in his bed, unable to sleep. He glanced at the clock and groaned. 01:54. He tried counting sheep and ended up counting bites of cake… imagining how good it tasted as its sweetness surrendered on his tongue until he ended its existence with a simple swallow. But that didn't make him any sleepier. Now he was awake AND HUNGRY.

His mind kept wandering back to the events of the day… the strange temple… the crystal on the altar… the energy discharge… Carter holding the crystal… Carter in her BDUs… Carter without her BDUs.

– Oh for crying out loud! Get her out of your head, O'Neill! She can probably hear you, remember! Think happy thoughts… that's it… happy thoughts… – D'oh – not THOSE happy thoughts! Argh!

O'Neill buried his head under his pillow and tried to imagine white, fluffy sheep.

Fluffy sheep jumping over a picket fence…

Fluffy sheep jumping over a picket fence and through the blue, shimmering Stargate….

Fluffy sheep passing by Carter and going through the blue, shimmering Stargate…

Carter going through the blue, shimmering Stargate...

Carter giving him a blowjob before going through the blue, shimmering Stargate…

Damn it. This isn't working. Can't sleep or think! This is sooo not happening. That's it, I've had it!

Carter… … … Caaarter… … …CARTER!

Uhmmghh… S-Sir?

Carter! Can you hear me?

Sir, is that you?

Ya. You awake?

Huh? Sir, do you have any idea what time it is?

Couldn't sleep.

Did you have to wake me up?

Hey, it's not MY fault I can't sleep.

Did you try counting sheep, Sir?

Of course I tried counting sheep. But when the sheep disappeared, I started thinking of you… and you were giving me a --

Stop! I get the picture.

Sorry. Wish you were here.

Sir?

Ah, forget it Carter. Go back to sleep. Didn't mean to wake you. Don't know what I was thinking.

Carter paused, knowing full well what he was thinking. This whole experience had changed everything. No longer could anything be hidden or explained away. No longer could they go on pretending or wondering how the other felt. She knew what he was thinking. She could hear his thoughts. All of them. And he knew hers.

I know what you were thinking, Sir. You can't hide your feelings. Not anymore. I - I want you, too.

Just so we're clear on this… I know I ogle over your body a lot, Carter – A LOT, but the truth is I really do care about you.

I know. I guess I always have. You must know I feel the same way.

He did. In fact, he knew exactly how she felt. He could not help but be aware of the warm fuzzy thoughts she got as she watched him leave the base that afternoon. He felt her breath catch when he smiled at her right before he turned away. He heard her mind instinctively try to force down any feeling, rationalizing that she should not be thinking that way about her commanding officer. He heard her inner voice yearn for things to be different, hoping that maybe someday…

As awkward as it was, that crystal had meshed their minds together somehow, and had forced them to confront the way they really thought about the other. Thoughts which could no longer be ignored.

Laying within the stillness of their own beds, Carter and O'Neill gradually allowed their thoughts and feelings to be opened and expressed. A sharing of memories… hopes… dreams. Their own secrets were shared in a way no other person could comprehend. Their genuine love transcended mere spoken words, and was instead felt by their own conscious souls.

…

I'm glad you picked up that crystal, Jack.

Me too, Sam.

She smiled, so glad to feel this close to him. Wishing they could be even closer. Wishing he was really here, in her bed. Wishing that right now he couldn't hear her thoughts because she couldn't help but be aroused as she pictured him in her bed. She squeezed her legs together in slight embarrassment.

You know, Carter, I can help you with that.

What?

You know very well that you can't play naïve when I know all your thoughts.

But I –

Don't even think you can 'talk' your way out of this one. Let me do this for you. For us.

Reading his thoughts loud and clear, Carter relaxed in her bed and felt his own amorous thoughts run over her. His fingers combed through her short silky hair. Hot, wet kisses trailed down her neck to her chest as his masterful hands caressed her breasts. Her need to feel him fueled his telepathic touch. Passionate thoughts and desires washed over her. His own need to touch her could never be more clear. Her body responded to his hunger. Wetness pooled at the anticipation of his strong, yet gentle caress. His mind conveyed his longing to taste her before he entered her warm, moist secret place, while long, skilled fingers swirled around her most sensitive region. Her body responded, her vaginal walls contracted around him as though he was really there.

His thoughts directed their movements. Her thoughts directed their hearts.

He didn't notice his room lighten as the morning pronounced its arrival. He was too exhausted to care. His mind had finally succumbed to sleep. A slight grin on his face left evidence of a night well spent… a night shared with the woman who never ceased to occupy his thought life… the woman who not only shared his inner thoughts, but who also held his heart.