Chapter 14
The day was clear, if a bit chilly. Jack and Sam set off down a path that lead deep into the woods surrounding Jack's lake. Both slipped without conscious thought into the rhythms of long years together in the field. When the trail narrowed and would accommodate passage only single file, Sam would take point, as Jack fell back on her six. But their growing relationship was melding into the old, established forms - when the trail was wide enough to walk side by side, they would reach out to clasp hands, walking close enough to brush shoulders, bump hips, both enjoying the tactile comfort, as they made unhurried passage along the trail.
They spoke little, both content to absorb the beauty surrounding them. Tall pine and bushy spruce and fir, thick with resin, left a sharp tang in the air and shed needles soft under foot. Cedar, oak, maple, elm and ash were beginning to show off their glorious fall colors. Here and there splashes of red and yellow bright advertisements of the encroaching winter.
Squirrels scampered and chattered noisily as they ran furious errands to stockpile food. An occasional hawk would scream a loud, lonely cry of the hunt.
Sam was entranced. The land held such beauty. Untouched and wild, it called to her spirit and settled its peace softly over her as they walked.
"I understand."
Jack glanced at her, curious. "Understand what?"
Sam paused and looked up at him. "Why you come here. Why you love this place so much. It's unspeakably beautiful. There's such a sense of peace."
Jack squeezed her hand in acknowledgment, but didn't answer immediately. He felt relieved that she understood.
After a time Jack smiled softly and spoke. "When I come here, I can almost forget the world outside exists. Other than Teal'c and now Daniel and you, I've never brought anyone here."
"I wish I had come before, had been able to come before. I always wanted to say yes, Jack. I used to dread hearing you ask, because I knew I had to say no, but I was also afraid you'd stop asking."
Jack looked deep into Sam's eyes. He felt like she was reaching into his soul, stroking a loving balm over the jagged edges, soothing the rough and torn pieces of his spirit. "Sam, this has always been my place. The one place I could come and be me, just me, but now, I can't imagine this place without you. I think I always knew that if I was ever able to get you here, I would never want to leave . . . and I don't. I don't want to leave." Jack paused and jutted his chin in a sharp denial of reality. "I know we have to go back. I have to go to Washington. We're going to be separated, but here . . . this will always be our place, now. In my heart, it will always be ours."
Sam gazed at him, love a clear banner written in her eyes. Jack continued to surprise her at every turn. Eight years working with him and she'd never even suspected these facets of the passion contained behind the mask he wore.
"I love you. I don't know how yet, Jack, but we'll manage. We have to. We finally have each other. We're finally allowed to be together. My heart's true place is here with you and no matter where we are, my heart will always be with you." Sam reached up and pressed her lips to his. Her breath warming his chilled mouth.
Jack kissed her back, opening his mouth and parting her lips gently with his tongue, slipping soft, wet caresses of teeth and gum before pulling away to bury his head in her neck and crush her in a warm hug.
"Will you marry me?" The words slipped out involuntarily. Jack's guard was down. All his barriers lowered in this time out of place. He almost panicked as he heard himself whisper the words in Sam's ear. Was that really him? Had he really just asked Sam Carter to marry him?
Jack might have panicked if he'd had time to contemplate, but her answer came fast on a sharp, quick indrawn breath, "Yes."
Jack brought his head round and slid his hands up to gently hold Sam's cheeks, his thumbs stroked over her lips. "Yes?"
She nodded. Tears were in her eyes. "Yes."
No two week waiting period. He could see the surety in her eyes. The look she'd always given him in the field when she acknowledge his orders and he knew beyond doubt that she had his back.
Jack clutched her tightly to him and swung her off her feet in dizzying circles. She'd said YES! As he swung her round, Jack's pocket chirped and chirped again. Damn! His blasted cell phone was ringing and of ALL the times! He put Sam down, reached into his pocket for the offending little piece of technology, flipped it open and barked, "WHAT!"
"Ahhh. Hi, Jack. Is everything okay?" Daniel's disembodied voice rang in his ear. Jack groaned. Leave it to Space Monkey to pick the worst of times to interrupt.
"Fine, Daniel, why do you ask?"
"Teal'c and I just called to see how you two were getting along . . . wondered if you needed anything . . ." Daniel trailed off. He was getting the clear impression that he'd interrupted.
"We're fine, Daniel. How's the sightseeing?" Jack was giving nothing away. He was so not going to tell Danny-Boy a bloody, freaking thing. The man deserved it for the interruption.
Sam knew what he was doing and started giggling. Jack covered the receiver and glared at her. "No giggling, Colonel."
Sam tried, but stifling the giggle lead to a loud snort, that gave way to a laugh. Daniel had interrupted Jack's proposal. Jack's Proposal! Daniel had a long standing habit of bad timing, but this had to be a record.
"We're doing just fine, Daniel. We'd be doing even better this moment if I weren't talking to you!" Hah! Let Daniel chew on that for a while.
Sam had to sit down. She was laughing so hard her knees had given way. It was all just incredibly surreal. Jack had proposed, she'd said yes and Daniel had picked that precise moment to call and check up on them. Sam hung her head between her knees and gasped for air. Jack continued to glare at her as she heaved.
"Ahhh, Jack. Is that Sam? Is she alright?"
"She's fine, Daniel." Jack was grumping now. This was so not going how he'd imagined. He'd imagined proposing to Sam so many times and never once in all those imaginings had he been on the phone with Daniel, while Sam was practically prostrate with laughter.
"Ahhh, alright. If things are going well there, Teal'c and I figured we'd take in a couple more days and see you at the end of the week, okay?"
Jack sighed, "Yeah, Daniel, that sounds good." Jack looked at his watch. "Today's Wednesday, how 'bout we see you back on Saturday? We can spend Sunday together and then head back on Monday."
Daniel paused and thought things must be going well, or Jack wouldn't ask for the extra days alone with Sam. "Okay, Jack, if you're sure you're alright."
Jack relented. He knew if he didn't give Daniel a bone, the man would continue to call. "I'm sure, Daniel. Besides, she said yes. And don't call again, unless it's an emergency!" With that, Jack snapped his cell phone shut and turned it off. Oh, yes, revenge was sweet. Daniel would have to spin on that for the next few days!
Jack looked down at Sam, who had finally managed to contain her laughter into deep, shuddering breaths. She looked up and a grin spread wide across her face and she began to giggle again uncontrollably, gasping around her words. "Oh, god. I'm sorry. It's just so Daniel!"
Tears were streaming from Sam's eyes and she was grinning like a maniac. Jack had never seen her so overcome with maniacal laughter and it made him smile. God, she was beautiful and she'd said YES! Jack grinned back at her, finding the humor. Yep, leave it to good old Danny-Boy. Jack reached down and grasped her wrist, pulling her to her feet and again into his arms.
"You said yes, right?"
Sam suddenly sobered and breathed a low "Yes," before she captured his lips to seal the promise.
Jack sighed and twirled her once more before stepping back. "C'mon, let's go back. We can have a late lunch. I can show you the rest tomorrow. Besides, I can't guarantee my behavior if we stay out here." Jack's gaze turned heated. He wanted her, badly, but he wanted to take his time and a quickie in the woods was not his idea of a good way to celebrate her saying yes.
Sam smiled, lowered her lashes and licked her lips as desire washed through her. She grabbed his hand. "Lead on, flyboy!"