A/N: Thank you for all your responses to Chapter 8!! Seriously, I really appreciate it so much, it's so lovely of you! Thank you! It really inspires me to know you're all enjoying it, so thank you. This one was fun to write... Enjoy!

Chapter 9: In which Sam and Jack go on a date, and she discovers another of his talents.

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"So Sir, where are we going?" Sam turned inquisitively to Jack, eyes lingering on his handsome profile as he concentrated on driving. He raised an eyebrow.

"Sir? Carter, we're going on a date, and you're gona call me Sir?" She began to blush furiously. "And anyway. It's a surprise."

"Sorry... Jack." His name came out almost in a whisper, feeling too intimate, special.

"S'ok, Sam." She grinned, loving the sound of her name on his lips, giggling as she noticed the smile on his face too. He turned round for a second, with a mock glare, and she threw back a sloppy salute. He turned back to the road. "I thought I'd ordered you not to giggle, Major?" He said teasingly.

"Can't do that any more, Jack." She felt like a naughty teenager. She winced for a second, wondering if that was a little too much, too soon. She was relieved by his reply.

"Doh."

The giggling started again, unrestrained, the sound joined by a chuckle from Jack.

The truck pulled up on the pavement near a large park that Jack often took a run in. Sam climbed out, taking in the breathtaking beauty of the area. Open green space stretched out around them, with trees dotted around, and she could see a sparkling lake in the distance. They stood side by side for a few moments, before Jack took a deep breath. He took her hand in his, squeezed it gently, and began walking.

"C'mon."

"Jack, this is beautiful," Sam exclaimed, his name coming a little easier now. "I can't believe I've never been here before!"

"I know," he smiled, looking ahead. "I like it."

The couple made their way across the grass, through the trees, heading towards the lake. Sam wondered what on earth they were here for; if this was just a short walk before dinner, or they'd be having a picnic, or something... She decided it was best not to ask, allowing herself to be surprised. She trusted Jack enough to know that it would be amazing, whatever it was. Not that she even cared about that; she'd be happy anywhere, as long as it was by his side.

Finally, they reached the lakeside. Jack looked around awhile, flashing an apparently confident grin at Sam. Inside, he was a wreck. He desperately hoped she liked what he had planned. He'd done it all for her. He began walking again, heading towards a small docking area. There was a small ferry moored there, for taking visitors on little trips around the lake. A sign stood on the dock, proclaiming the ferry was not operating that evening. Sam frowned, puzzled, as Jack led her past the sign towards it, where a man sat casually against the bollard. Jack raised his free hand in greeting.

"Hey, Jerry. We still on?" The other man stood, smiling profusely at Jack and Sam, looking between them.

"Evenin' Jack. Yep, it's all fine still. You owe me one though! I take it this is Samantha?" He offered his hand to Sam, who grasped it politely in return, smiling modestly.

"Yeah, this is Samantha," Jack grinned. "Sam, this is my good friend Jerry, owns this little beauty here." He gestured towards the small ferry. "C'mon."

"Sir?" Sam questioned. Jack merely winked at her, pulling her forwards as Jerry lowered the gangplank. He led her onboard, continuing up the nearby stairs. Sam gasped in astonishment as they ascended them.

The upper deck of the vessel had been cleared of the usual benches, now empty except for a small table in the centre. Soft lights hung around the railings, bathing the deck in a warm glow. The little table had a chair either side, a delicate lace cloth covering it. A single candle stood in the centre, with two places for dinner laid out either side. A single rose lay on one of the plates. Soft music began to play from the loudspeakers on the deckhouse, and the ferry began to pull away slowly from the dock. Jack folded his arms, waiting.

Sam stood, mutely staring at the romantic scene before her. Jack, a romantic? She never would have guessed. It was simply stunning. Her breath caught in her throat, tears rising, unbidden. She turned around slowly, taking everything in. Slowly, she made her way to the table, reaching down. Her fingers closed gently around the rose, picking it up. She twirled it in her hands, fascinated by the elegant simplicity of the layout, and touched by the evident thought that had gone into it.

She turned slowly to face Jack, who stood watching her carefully, his expression sincere. A few steps from each closed the distance between them. Sam stood in front of him, inches away, head bowed. She tilted her face up, meeting his warm gaze.

"Thank you," she whispered. "It's perfect." She was rewarded by a gentle, meaningful smile.

"I'm glad you like it," he murmured. He reached his hand out, taking the rose from her grasp. Laying it gently down on the table again, he resumed his position in front of her. After contemplating each other in weighty silence for several moments, Jack looked up pointedly at the loudspeakers. The music's volume rose a little. He smiled down at Sam, taking her hand gently, placing his other around her waist, carefully drawing her in to him. "C'mere." He leaned forwards, his lips almost brushing her ear. Her eyes fluttered closed as his low voice caressed her senses.

"Care to dance?" She nodded mutely. Jack began to sway her, dancing slowly, tenderly, around the deck. She leaned into him, resting her head gently on his warm shoulder, trusting him. She found she could feel from the slightest pressure of his body where he would step next, and her feet followed instinctively. They twirled gracefully around the deck, savouring the sensation, and each other. Jack was finding it hard to breathe, skin tingling where he could feel Sam's breath lightly on his neck. He found the gentle weight of her head on his shoulder comforting, she felt just right to hold in his arms like this, warming every inch of him. He didn't know how much time had passed, but he never wanted the feeling to end.

As they slowed to a stop, Jack reluctantly drew away from her, brushing his lips so gently across her cheek as he withdrew, just a fleeting touch that made both of them catch their breath. He smiled gently at her, not yet letting go of her hands. Shaking himself to prevent being lost in her eyes, he looked down briefly.

"Want to eat?"

Sam realised as her stomach growled that nearly an hour had passed.

"Yeah, I'd love to," she smiled. Sitting down delicately, she couldn't stop staring in wonder at Jack. The man who would never cease to amaze her. She couldn't put into coherent thought how she felt, only that her mind and senses were completely filled with him, and nothing else seemed to matter.

Jerry appeared from below, carrying a silver food platter. He served both Sam and Jack, with whom he shared a wink, popping back periodically like a waiter with more food, more wine (non-alcholic, Sam noted, impressed), fresh napkins, everything perfect. Sam was overwhelmed. They passed the meal pleasantly, watching the sky darken, bathed now in the soft light from the railings, chatting light-heartedly. Sam couldn't believe how amazing everything was, how much effort Jack must have gone to. He assured her modestly that Jerry was just an old friend, had know about Sam for years, and was more than happy to help Jack out for the evening. He just hoped Sam was enjoying it. She was. As Jerry brought dessert up, delicate cheesecake with ice-cream in little silver dishes, Sam couldn't help commenting.

"Jerry, this food is delicious," she smiled. "Thank you so much for doing all this for us! It's gorgeous, really. I haven't had such nice food in a long time. You must have gone to so much trouble, thank you."

"Too used to the junk in the commissary," Jack quipped, winking at her. Jerry raised his eyebrows at Jack, turning to Sam with a cheeky grin.

"Well, Samantha, please don't give me any credit for it, Jack deserves it all." Jack found something incredibly interesting on his napkin to study, as Sam's eyebrows rose in pleasant surprise. "He's been here cooking since this morning, sweetheart, I only had to warm it up again. He spent the rest of the afternoon decorating up here." He grinned widely at Jack, who reluctantly looked up from his napkin to glare at Jerry, who merely shrugged with a smile and left. Sam continued to stare at Jack with incredulity, her face lighting up with an embarrassed smile.

"You.. Jack, you... Did all this yourself? Just for us?" He shrugged modestly, clearly uncomfortable with the praise.

"Well, I.. Not for us, more for you really... But, I ah.. Well. I wanted to."

"Thank you, Jack," she gushed sincerely. She felt incredibly touched that he should have gone to so much effort for her, just to make this evening special. "It's incredible. Thank you."

"You're welcome," he smiled back. He loved so much to see her happy, and the thought that he was the cause of that happiness caused him no end of joy. Maybe... Maybe they'd be ok. This could work. He certainly hoped so.

The meal finished, Sam walked across the wooden deck to the rail, leaning out slightly, watching the swirling water beneath, entranced. She sensed Jack step behind her, as he laid the shawl she'd brought along gently over her shoulders. She shivered, not from the cold, but from the touch of his hands on her arms. His hands moved down them delicately, cherishingly, stepping forwards til their bodies were practically touching, his hands coming to rest on hers. Neither one moved for several moments, staring at their entwined hands. Sam pulled her left hand gently out from under Jack's and turned her right one over, taking his hand in both of hers. She stroked it gently, wonderingly between her hands, mesmerised by the simple action, not quite believing she was doing it. After all, that was the way it had always been between them. Look, always look, but never, ever touch. She wasn't quite sure what to do now she could touch. Her fingers traced softly over his hand. So rough, calloused, and yet so gentle. Hands that could skilfully hold a weapon, hands that could kill. Hands that could take a child's, that could touch tenderly. She traced all the lines, trying to memorise them, savour them, as though she would never touch them again. She turned it over, feeling the gray hairs tickle against her palm. Concentrating on each long finger in wonder. They were in a spell.

Jack swallowed thickly, looking over Sam's shoulder, electricity coursing through him at her touch. His left hand rose from the railing, and curled around Sam's body, resting tenderly on her abdomen. His eyes closed as her scent washed over him, lost in the wonder of her embrace. She leaned back into him, head turning to rest comfortably against him, both breathing heavily. Leaning forwards gently, he brought his lips to her ear.

"Samantha," he murmured, caressing her with his voice.

"Mmm?" She raised her head, but couldn't even think to make a coherent response; she was too wrapped up in Jack. She heard him sigh gently, rest his forehead on her shoulder.

"Sam, I know by now this is probably a stupid question... Hey, I'm good at those.. But there's one thing I need to clear up."

"What?" She asked, beginning to worry. His right hand began to rub up and down her arm soothingly.

"I.. Hey. I'm gona miss you on SG-1. On missions. It won't be the same without you." His lips brushed her shoulder tenderly. "Don't get me wrong, I like this.. I'm very happy with the current situation, but.. You are... Definitely alright with that, aren't you? You won't miss it too much?"

Sam smiled, relieved. That was all he was worried about? She turned her body around to face him without leaving his embrace. Her hands came up to rest on his chest, and she tilted her face up to him. Knowing that now was not the time for jokes or playing, she spoke sincerely.

"No, I don't mind. I'll miss it like hell," she smiled ruefully, "I really will. But... I've done that, now. I've had some amazing years on SG-1, and I wouldn't change that for the world, and I'm sorry it's ending. All the fun you'll have without me!" They chuckled lightly. "But honestly, Jack, this will be amazing. I'll just be doing all the things I never had time to do between missions. I'll be able to concentrate fully on my scientific work."

"Unlimited doohickey time?"

"Yeah," she smiled into his shoulder, enjoying the sensation for a few moments before raising her head again. "And doing that, means that when I have some leave, I won't have lots of experiments to catch up on, and I'll be able to -"

"Actually leave?" Jack quipped, smiling at the thought of how many times he and Carter had argued over the issue of having fun, and the fact that Sam rarely left the base, even to accept his fishing invitations, when they did had leave.

"Yeah," she grinned up at him, before looking down bashfully, playing with his shirt. "And you never know, if there's a certain Colonel around who happens to be free..."

"He'd love it if you'd spend it with him," the certain Colonel in question murmured into her hair.

"Well that's good," Sam whispered, tucking her head under his chin, cheek resting against his chest. "Because I intend to." Jack's arms wrapped around her, and hers around him. They stood against the rail, drinking each other in, relishing the embrace and the feelings of warmth spreading through them, connecting them.

Finally, reluctantly, Jack pulled away slowly, just enough to face each other. His hand came out from around her waist, tilting her chin up gently to face him. They stood, contemplating each other, processing the next step between them, silently asking permission and granting acceptance simultaneously with their gaze. Jack's eyes sparkled darkly, intently, boring into her soul. She gazed openly back, unafraid, welcoming him. No words were needed between them. They'd never needed words. They could say far more like this. Slowly, as if in a trance, Jack's face lowered as hers rose to meet him. Their eyes fluttered closed, noses brushing gently. When they were so close to blissful contact, barely a layer of atoms separating them, they paused, unable to take in the enormity of the situation. Jack rested his forehead on Sam's briefly, sensing the smile pass between them. Gathering courage, he nudged her nose gently with his, seeking and finding acceptance. Their lips connected sweetly, barely touching but electrifying. Jack felt like his heart and mind were about to explode, it was too much to take in. He couldn't breathe, and could feel that Sam wasn't doing so either. His lips pulled gently away, foreheads resting against each other again. Both took the time to breathe deeply, unable to think or feel anything but the sensations connecting them. His hands tightened around her waist, as her arms came up to drape around his neck. Jack slowly kissed her again, gently, sensuously. To his great pleasure, he felt her respond, and he smiled into her lips.

He was kissing Samantha Carter. It felt so good. She was sweeter, more delicious, than he'd ever dared to imagine. And she seemed to be enjoying it.

Sweet.

TBC

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A/N: Well, there we go! Hope it's alright, I've never written a kiss before. Well, or anything of the sort, really! I hope you enjoyed it as much as I enjoyed writing it. Thanks for reading! I'd love to know what you think, and would greatly appreciate reviews! Thank you!!