A/N: Alright, here's the final part of the series. I thank to all of you who had been following it, plus a special bonus for those who'd left a review :) So, this one takes place at Jack's cabin after Threads/Moebius (I know it's been done to death, but I just had to...).

Thank you so much once again and enjoy!

Fifth Time

The fifth time he liked the best, Jack decided and smiled smugly at the form of a woman wrapped in a plaid blanket with only a few spikes of blonde hair sticking out. Yep, definitely the best, he thought as Carter, no, Sam, stirred and turned to lie on her back with her head in his lap, letting out a soft sigh.

Jack hesitated whether or not he should put his arm around her. It was one thing that she finally felt comfortable enough around him to actually fall asleep in his lap. Which, technically she hadn't, since she'd started with her head resting against his shoulder, but as her body had grown limp, she gradually slid down to end up curled in the fetal position in Jack's lap.

And he hadn't stopped her. Not even adjusted her so that she she'd be lying in a less… compromising position, not this time. This time, he would just savor the moment and watch her sleep, without having to worry about impending doom or one of them being near death. This time, he would… he would wrap his arms around her body. To steady her, to protect her from falling down to the wooden floor, to make sure she was warm. And to assure himself that she was real. That she was really there, at his cabin, wrapped in an old blanket and sleeping peacefully in his lap.

Jack moved to put his left arm around her shoulders and carefully, so as not to disturb her, slid his other arm under her neck. Not that it was a particularly comfortable position, but what was a little discomfort compared to the sight of her snuggling deeper against his abdomen, with her features lit by the soft warm light of the fireplace. Jack watched the shadows dance on her serene features.

Serene? Getting poetic in your old age, are you, O'Neill? Jack snorted.

Suddenly, Sam, eyes still closed, raised one delicate eyebrow in what would have been a perfect imitation of Teal'c if…

"Carter?" Jack asked in a soft, yet teasing tone.

Sam smiled. "Hi..." she said softly and, opening her eyes, added gently, "sir."

He held her gaze for a moment and then said in a mock admonishing tone, waggling his eyebrows at her. "Carter, have you been pretending to be asleep when in fact you were fully awake?"

He would have sworn she blushed, but couldn't tell for sure in the dim light of the fire. "I would never expect such immature behavior of you, Colonel. I mean, me? Anytime, but… You? I am truly disappointed in you, Sam."

She smiled and replied playfully. "Well, normally I wouldn't, sir, but I just found this amazing pillow…" she trailed off, grinning.

Jack smiled smugly. "Well then, I suppose that is an acceptable excuse," he said. "I'll skip the court martial this time."

She sighed theatrically in relief and for a moment seemed to be content just lying there. As for Jack, he could have (despite himself) spent an eternity like that, looking into those blue eyes of hers.

But Sam broke the moment as she stirred and tried to look around. "Where're Daniel and Teal'c?"

Jack silently cursed himself for pushing her and replied nonchalantly. "Funny you should ask. Shortly after you had been overcome by sleep," again, he waggled his eyebrows, "Teal'c excused himself, said something about kel'no'reem, while Daniel had the sudden urge to… finish a book."

Sam chuckled and Jack noticed, again, that her cheeks were slightly darker than they had been the second before. She ducked her head a little, avoiding his eyes. Jack, realizing that his arms were still wrapped around her, once again mentally kicked himself for moving too fast and gesturing vaguely with one hand (thus effectively removing it from her shoulder), he suggested. "Yeah, well, it's getting late… Maybe we should…"

As if on cue, Sam yawned (and Jack had to admit she looked adorable). "Uh-huh…" she mumbled, turning again to curl into her original position with her head in his lap. She gave him a sleepy smile before her eyes slipped closed.

With a smile, Jack wrapped his arm around her body again.

On the other hand, sometimes you have to push things a little to get them going.

*