Year Eight

Sam padded through the unfamiliar cabin uncertainly. It was quiet. The ticking of the clock in the area designated by Jack as the den sounded loudly and the rumbling snores of the Jaffa curled up on the floor gave a strange counterpoint. The faint glow of the embers in the hearth lit Sam's way and she was able to pick out a path to the door of the cabin. She had dressed appropriately, having shrugged on a fleece jacket over her pyjamas before she had left the spare bedroom Jack had assigned to her for the duration of their fishing vacation.

Fishing vacation.

The words delighted her, sending a quiver of nerves to her belly.

Fishing.

With Jack.

Something she had thought she would never get to do; something she had thought she had lost the chance to do when she had believed he had stopped being in love with her; when she had tried to move on in response.

She shivered as her stockinged feet hit the rough wood of the porch and she pulled the fleece closer as she began to make her way around the side of the cabin to the dock. She had come so close to making a huge mistake; a gigantic mistake. She had almost married another man. Even just thinking it filled her with a sense of disbelief. She felt a twinge of guilt. Pete Shanahan was a good man and he had deserved better. She had fallen into the relationship after her hallucinations on the Prometheus had made it seem that she was holding onto Jack for all the wrong reasons. Pete had loved her but deep down she had always known she wasn't ready to marry him; she loved him but she loved Jack more, and that wasn't fair on Pete, her or Jack.

She loved Jack.

Sam smiled as she thought the words again. She loved Jack, and finally she was ready to admit it. More than that, she was ready to do whatever was necessary to make their relationship happen. And it would seem that the universe was finally ready to let them. The Replicators were gone; the Goa'uld were defeated; Earth was safe.

It was time.

And she was fairly certain Jack felt the same way although they hadn't spoken openly about it. Her brow creased and her cheeks heated as she remembered her mortification when she had gone to his house to talk; at discovering a woman there – a woman who he was clearly involved with. Kerry Johnson. Sam hadn't asked about what had happened between Jack and the CIA agent, but she knew him and Sam knew he would never have invited her fishing if he and Kerry had still been together. The fact that she knew Kerry had returned to Washington helped cement her belief that Jack's relationship with the woman was over.

Jack was no longer with Kerry; Sam was no longer with Pete, and for the first time in years Sam figured they were on the same page. She had known it the moment he had comforted her as her father lay dying; when she had thanked Jack for being there for her and he had replied 'Always.'

Her father was dead. Sam mourned him; missed him. But in a strange way, she was at peace with it. She had been able to say goodbye to him; had been able to hear him tell her to be happy. In his own way, she believed that he had given his blessing to her relationship with Jack. She would miss Jacob Carter but she knew she was going to do everything to make his final wish come true; for her to be happy.

Sam wrapped her arms around herself as she tiptoed across to the dock where Jack was waiting for her. She smiled happily as she stepped up close to him.

'Hey.' Sam murmured, letting her gaze run over his relaxed features, the ruffled grey of his hair. He was dressed in jeans and a fleece. His chocolate eyes warmed her before they fell to her feet which were only encased in woolly socks.

'You forget something Carter?' He asked amused.

'I didn't want to risk waking the guys.' Sam explained away the lack of shoes, nerves making her breathless. She had spent the last couple of hours anticipating their meeting, ever since Jack had caught her in the kitchen after dinner and asked her to meet him at the dock at midnight; ever since he had broke the news that he was transferring to Washington and wouldn't be in her chain of command at midnight over dinner.

Jack shook his head but he held out a hand and she confidently placed hers in his. He pulled her further onto the dock and positioned her in front of him. He wrapped his arms around her waist and she let herself rest up against his solid body.

'Comfy?' Jack asked seriously.

She nodded, her breath caught in her throat.

Jack pointed upwards. 'Look.'

Sam smiled. The constellation Jack had picked out of the sky years before shone above them. It was so clear and bright; Sam could swear it sparkled.

Jack turned her gently in his arms. Her heart pounded loudly in her ears as she caught the intent in his. His fingers slowly cupped her face and lifted her chin before his lips settled over hers.

The first kiss was reverent, gentle, slow and deep.

Sam remembered to breathe as Jack raised his head.

'Wow.' Sam said unevenly.

Jack smiled smugly. He dipped his head and she met his lips eagerly. Their second kiss was fierce and passionate; years of pent-up feeling that had been repressed. They pressed together; as close they could get. Both of them were breathing heavily when they broke apart. Jack wrapped his arms around her; his head dipping into her neck as they revelled in holding each other.

Eventually, their hold loosened.

Jack smoothed her hair back. 'So.'

'So.' Sam repeated gently.

They both smiled inanely at each other.

'You OK?' Jack checked and she saw the fleeting anxiety zip across his face.

Sam reached up and cupped his cheek. 'More than OK.' She assured him.

'OK.' Jack said, turning his head to drop a kiss on her palm, over the faint line of an old scar.

'What next?' Sam asked softly.

Jack shrugged. 'Whatever you want.' He told her confidently. 'We're together; that's all that matters.'

Sam nodded almost unable to speak. 'That's all I want.'

Jack's face brightened at her words. 'So you're ready to admit it's a dog.' He quipped wryly.

She laughed, a happy and light-hearted sound that added a music to the night. Her fingers stroked the strands of hair at the back of his neck. 'Jack, I love you but it's a bear.' Sam suddenly realised what she had said and stiffened slightly in his arms.

Jack's eyes widened; his hold tightened and his gaze held hers fiercely. 'I love you too.' He smiled suddenly and his eyes twinkled irrepressively. 'But it's a dog.'

Sam couldn't speak; didn't want to; she was happy and they were together. As he kissed her again, she knew he felt the same, and they held onto each other in the moonlight.

To be continued in the Epilogue