A/N

so here's the next chapter. It's only a short one again but the next one is shaping up to be longer. Hope you enjoy

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Jack was pretty sure he knew what the commotion had been about last night in the mess hall, plus he'd overheard a few comments made by the boys he had the 'pleasure' of instructing this morning. He made sure not to pay Carter too much extra attention even though she deserved his attention so much more than those little...

"Calm down Jack," he mumbled to himself as he helped Carter strap herself in to the old fighter they were about to take up.

"Did you say something Sir?" Sam asked, her heart beating wildly at having Jack so close to her. Holy Hannah he smells so nice.

"Ah, nothing really Carter. Just haven't been up in one of these for a while," he lied.

Much to his annoyance she had started calling him 'Sir' this morning after the incident in the mess hall. But even he had to admit that it was probably a good idea since none of the others would dare call him anything but. She was one smart cookie he had to give her that. He looked at her a moment. God those eyes get me every time! She shouldn't have to deal with jerks like that! It just makes me so so mad thinking about some pimply, gangly kid pawing at her...she deserves something better than that...something like you Jack?

Jack blew out a breath and smiled at her, trying to will away that particular train of thought. She's just a kid for cryin out loud! As he reached across her for the other harness strap that reasoning was pretty much blown out the cockpit! Some kid!

"All set," he said tapping her on the leg when he'd finished strapping her in.

She beamed at him. "I can't wait to get up there and fly with you Jack." Her eyes widened, her hand flying to her mouth when she'd realised her slip up. "Sorry Sir," she corrected quickly.

Jack laughed. "That's okay Carter," he moved in towards her as if wanting to speak confidentially.

Sam's heart was beating so hard now she knew he just had to be able to hear it

"I'd like you to still call me Jack when those little jackasses aren't around."

Sam giggled. "They are jackasses aren't they?"

Jack smiled. "Yeah they are, especially that one..."

Sam rolled her eyes. "Barney!"

"Yeah him." Jack studied her face before continuing. "What was he sprouting off about in the mess hall last night anyway?" He knew he probably shouldn't ask but he couldn't stop himself.

Sam started to panic, she didn't want to lie to him, but how could she tell him she was completely and madly in love with him and they were teasing her about him being her boyfriend!? Then it struck her...tell the truth...just don't tell all of it. She shrugged trying to be as casual as she could. "Barney's friend Dan asked me to go to the end of camp dance with him and I said no."

Jack scrunched up his face and held up a hand to stop her. "Wait...there's a dance?"

Sam nodded.

"Nobody tells me anything!" He complained.

"Well I'm sure there must have been a memo or something," Sam reasoned.

Jack pictured his overflowing inbox and shook his head. "Never mind that now," Jack said wanting to take the focus of the conversation away from his lack of memo reading skills. "Hasn't anyone noticed that you're the only girl here Carter?" he asked. "Won't that put the boy girl thing off a bit?"

Sam giggled thinking of Barney and Dan dancing together. Slow dancing together.

"There's a "girls camp" in the next county," Sam explained putting the girls camp in air quotes and rolling her eyes at the same time.

"Oh yeah?" Jack asked, the thought bringing back years of summer camp memories. "What's the camp for?"

Sam shrugged. "Don't know, could be just a summer camp I think."

"And what's wrong with that?" Jack asked noticing Sam's seeming contempt for the idea.

"Have you ever been to a girls camp Jack?"

Again that brought back teenage memories, but of the kind that he didn't think he should share just now. "Can't say that I have Carter."

"Well it's so boring!" She exclaimed. "All they want you to do is stuff they think girls should do and should be interested in."

"Ah I see," Replied Jack understanding why Carter wouldn't enjoy having those particular stereotypes thrust upon her. "And that's it?" He asked skeptically.

"That's what?" She asked.

It was Jack's turn to roll his eyes. "That's what all the fuss was about in the mess hall last night?"

Sam knew she shouldn't be proud of resorting to violence to sort out her problems but she couldn't help the smile that surfaced. "Well he wouldn't really take no for an answer..."

"That little prick!" Jack interrupted indignantly, looking around the airstrip for the offender. "Wait until I get my hands on him!"

Sam was secretly thrilled by Jacks reaction, deciding to interpret it as jealousy even though she knew her dad would have reacted exactly the same. "That's why I punched him in the face," she replied ducking her head a little.

Jacks eyebrows rose. "You did what?"

Sam looked down at her lap feeling suitably chastised just by the look on Jacks face. "I know I shouldn't have hit him, and I'm lucky that I didn't get kicked out, but..." She was pulled up short by Jacks bark of laughter. She looked up to see him staring at her with something like pride on his face.

"Sounds like the jerk deserved it Carter," he looked at her earnestly. "Don't ever be afraid to stick up for yourself."

Sam grinned at his praise.

"Good for you kid," he said nudging her leg.

Her grin dropped instantly. Kid!? He thinks I'm still a kid...she thought miserably.

Jack noticed the affect his words had on her and sighed inwardly. Don't pretend you haven't noticed the way she's been looking at you Jack...and don't pretend you've done anything to discourage it...

Jack pushed those thoughts to the back of his mind deciding they were just too damn difficult to deal with right now, instead turning his attention back to the task at hand.

"Enough of the small talk...let's get up there huh?" His mood lightened when that smile returned to her face. That smile she gives only to you. "Shut up for just five minutes would ya!?" he grumbled at his subconscious as he climbed into the back of the cockpit and secured his own harness.

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hope you enjoyed. As always thanks for the reviews so far and as always more reviews makes for faster writing :D