Author's Note: Thanks everyone for the glowing reviews. Knowing other people are getting enjoyment out of reading certainly makes me want to continue writing. Again, I'm fairly new to this whole letting other people read my work thing, so thank you everyone for the encouragement. This started pretty short, but seems to be growing of it's own volition. So...onward.
Jack:
The drive to the cabin usually takes me about 17 hours, and as much as I would love to jump a transport here the first time bringing Carter up, that is so much easier to track than the two of us driving up in my truck. We left before the ass-crack of dawn. Even for us military types, three in the morning is painful, but we agreed we'd rather get there with some daylight left. I think we've had a gallon of coffee each, and we've traded back and forth on driving most of the day. It's worth it though, because the last thing we need is some jackass using this against us and the entire stargate program to further his own agenda. No, we need to be careful, we're both paranoid enough, and it's easy to stay professional while we're in population dense areas.
Once we finally hit the Minnesota border, we both seem to loosen up a bit. I think we're both a little nervous so the extent of our rebellion at the moment is our pinkies touching across the bench seat. Carter has been quiet and a little skittish most of the journey, distracted eyes staring blankly out the passenger side window. Considering what happened on our last mission, this is kind of hilarious. After most of the day spent in awkward silence I can't take any more and decide to just call her on it so we can move forward.
I turn to her with a lecherous grin. "You know Carter...you don't have to be so skittish, I have made it past second base. I think we could probably stand to skip the whole nervous first date stage." She flushes prettily at this and I can't help but think I'm going to love getting to know this woman. Don't get me wrong I know the soldier, and the scientist, and I've seen enough of the woman to know I like what I've seen. But it's nice to know after four years in the field together, she still has plenty of surprises left for me.
"Don't get me wrong, I do have plans for us this evening other than taking all your clothes off." In fact I am quite proud of myself, considering we only got back from the mission three days ago, I certainly didn't have a lot of time to plan. Lucky for me I have a few good friends kicking around the Minnesota woods, and some of them owe me favors. I can see the cogs turning in her head, she's so inquisitive by nature that this is going to drive her nuts. "Don't even think about it, no way are you ruining the surprise." She opens and shuts her mouth a few times and then seems to give in. She knows me well enough to know that if I don't want to tell her...there is not a damn thing she can do about it.
"Sorry if it's been an awkward drive, I just don't really know where to start. Things seemed a lot simpler when we were acting instead of talking. I'm so used to pretending...I'm just trying to adapt here..." She looks so earnest, her bright blue eyes shining at me.
"Carter, I'm not so good at this whole talking thing either, but...since the ice planet, things have been...difficult. It nearly killed me to let you go again once we got home. I'm not exactly happy about the way this is happening, but I can't go back Sam, not this time. As far as I'm concerned, you're the best possible reason to break the regs. If that makes me a selfish bastard I'm sorry, but I do still ya know...feel...feelings. This isn't just a roll in the sack for me." Anxiety makes me clench and un-clench my hands on the steering wheel.
She looks a little flabbergasted, mouth opening and closing comically, I don't think she's ever heard me string together so many words, albeit still terribly, of a personal nature. I'm trying here though. As much as my actions on our last mission may say otherwise, I want more from her than a good lay. Don't get me wrong I want that too, but I'm selfish, I want it all, and I'm sick and tired of settling for less.
"Me too...Jack. I think it's safe to say we've both been in the military long enough that emotional honesty isn't exactly our fote. I think we both just need to make a conscious effort to be a little more open." It's the first time she's used my name since three days ago. The entire trip she's been carefully avoiding calling me anything. " A roll in the sack sounds like a lot of fun too though." When I look over there is a dangerous glint in her eye that makes me think of the Sam Carter I've seen mere glimpses of over the years... the daredevil, leather-clad, motorcycle riding Sam Carter. Yep, this woman may be the death of me, but I will die a very, very happy Colonel.
Sam
As we get further into Minnesota Jack seems to be getting more and more fidgety. Things have been a great deal more comfortable since we finally broke the ice a few miles back, but if I didn't know better I'd say he was nervous. Which I can say with certainty I do NOT get to see very often. It's kind of sweet, and it makes me feel a whole lot better about my ridiculous behavior earlier.
After a few more minutes of Jack's twitching we pull onto a logging road and follow it along for about 20 minutes. Up ahead I can just see the very top of a log cabin, in a small clearing nestled by spruce trees. It's beautiful, and as we get closer I realize it is the embodiment of Jack O'Neill. It's rustic and sturdy looking. Nothing too fancy. "Wow, it's gorgeous." I realize part of it is that he was afraid I wouldn't like it. As soon as the words leave my lips, his mouth turns up in a bright grin.
Once we pull up he tells me to stay put for a minute, and quickly grabs our bags from the back, ferrying them into the cabin and dropping them inside the door. He's only gone for a minute or so before he's back at my side. He doesn't say anything for a minute, eyeing me speculatively and then reaches into his denim jacket pocket and pulls out what looks suspiciously like a blind fold. "Trust me?" If it were anyone else, there would be no chance in hell of that thing going on my face, but I trust him, more than most people ever have to find out. Maybe this is why he was so nervous. He was afraid of my reaction.
I can see him getting even more nervous because of my brief hesitation, but before he can try to backtrack I crack a smile and shove his shoulder lightly with mine. "Little kinky for a second date, don't you think?" He grins back relieved. I turn my head so I'm facing away from him, giving him access so he can slide the blind fold down over my eyes and tie it at the back of my head. "You better be planning to help me down from this monster of a truck. I do not need to explain to Janet how I busted an ankle on my vacation, while being led blindfolded by my CO."
"Oh don't you worry, that would ruin all my fun plans for the next two days." Getting me down ends up being a little more hands on than I expected. As in hands on my ass, when I accidentally slip while trying to get my footing on the step down. Luckily we both seem to have gotten beyond our earlier shyness, because he seems to figure he might as well cop a feel while his hand is in the neighborhood. His other hand is hot on my rib cage, and I can't help the groan that leaves me when he presses me into the side of the truck to stop my descent. He must have moved on instinct, because he seems just as surprised at the contact as I am and let's out a hiss in my ear, sending a nice little tingle down my spine.
After a few seconds he seems to get his bearings again and sets me down gently. After stepping back for a minute to breathe he grabs onto both of my hands in one of his, leading me off to the side of the cabin. It's slow going, as he guides me over a few rocks and roots, and around what I'm guessing from my brief glance at the cabin before being blindfolded, is an old canoe. He puts his hands on my shoulders to turn me just slightly. We step onto the dock, swaying gently with the flow of the lake. He leans in so his breath is in my ear again. "Ready?"
"I think so.." He slowly unties my blindfold, allowing it to slip down off my face. My eyes actually start to tear up at what lies in front of me. Someone has set up a small round wooden table in the middle of the dock. There's no table cloth, just bare wood. In the center of the table lies a pair of orange lilies, held down with smooth stone, so they don't blow into the lake, a lantern, with a big beeswax candle in the center that would likely burn for days, and a bottle of what looks suspiciously like my favorite red is also a plate of cheeses and berries covered by a glass top and a bowl of...purple jello. Oh dear lord, I'm pathetic. Where is all that military training when I need it. It makes me feel better to know that he is equally pathetic though...Purple Jello...Seriously?
He's tapping his foot nervously, waiting for me to take it all in. I turn towards him and wrap my arms around his neck, my face settling into what I can admit now is it's favorite spot, right at the crook of his neck. I drop a kiss to his collar bone and pull back with a slight sniffle. I manage to keep the waterworks under wraps, something I am luckily very good at. "Thank you, it's beautiful. Now wouldn't Danny and Teal'c just love to know you are a closet romantic."
"There will be no rumor spreading. I have a reputation to protect here." His voice is an octave lower and he has a look on his face I am absolutely positive I have never seen before. And I have spent a LOT of time in his company. "I don't think they'd believe you anyway." I'm sure this comes out a little more wistful than he intended. He looks awed, and a little dumbstruck. His hand comes up to tuck a strand of hair behind my ear, and then it's sliding around my cheek. He comes in for a kiss, our first since the planet. It's sweet and gentle and in absolutely no hurry. He seems to put great effort into pulling back. Grabbing my hand he leads me farther onto the dock. There's a little CD player tucked under a table leg and he releases my hand to lean down and hit play. It's playing pretty softly, but I'm pretty sure I'm hearing Ani Difranco. Who is this man, and what has he done with the Colonel?
The next couple of hours are spent discussing everything and anything, from adolescent mishaps to weird work related dreams. I am amazed at how easy it's been to shift from Superior and Subordinate, to a couple, doing couple things. We seem to have dispelled the rest of the awkwardness in the car, and I am grateful. We've slipped back into the easy, innocent roles of Jonah and Thera, and for the first time since we were trapped in that hell, I'm grateful for everything they've given us. Jack heads inside to grab another bottle of wine. It's almost 10 minutes later when he finally emerges, with a bottle of wine, a couple of his old sweaters, and a plaid blanket
I'm grateful for the sweater, it's getting a little chilly out here and I am not ready to give up and head indoors just yet. It also has that deep woodsy smell permeating the fabric that I have always associated with Jack. The sun set some time ago and the moon in reflecting beautifully off the water, the wine has left me warm and tingly, and I'm rather enjoying getting to know all of the facets of this man. It's got to be past 23:00 hours, but I've not nowhere to be for the better part of the week, so staying up all night with...Jack, sounds like a great start to my mini vacation.
"So you think Danny and T know what's happening yet? They're bound to be suspicious about the fact that I didn't have to drag you kicking and screaming from the mountain." He fills my glass again and I follow him over to where he has laid out the blanket on the end of the dock. He sits first, adjusting himself to make room for me between his legs.
"Mmm, Teal's has probably known this was coming for months, and Daniel's been looking at me funny ever since our last mission, so either Teal'c said something...or they both saw something." I lean back in his embrace, my back against his chest.
"Well, at least we can trust them to keep their mouths shut when it counts. I'm sure there will be an endless amount of ribbing to come though." I let out a huff of laughter at that. No doubt there will be, at least if Daniel pushes too far I can still kick his ass. Teal'c will just try to eyebrow us both to death, and maybe spout some brief but incredibly embarrassing Jaffa wisdom. Jack's arms wrap around me and I snuggle back a little further into the warmth. His sigh of contentment makes me smirk.
"Jack O'Neill, I never would have pegged you for a cuddler."
"Yes, well. You have a lot to learn. And so do I." He wraps his arms tighter around me, holding me tight to his chest. "In fact now that I have you where I want you, care to tell my about this bad-ass Carter I keep catching glimpses of? I'm deeply interested to learn more about her, and I think dad would kill me if I ever asked HIM such a question. Although he might kill me anyway." I squirm around until he loosens his arms and turn to straddle his lap, grinning at him evilly.
Hmmm, so he wants to see evil Carter eh? Well that can certainly be arranged. I come up on my knees so my chest is level with his face. "Why whatever do you mean Colonel? I am a perfect angel." I scratch my nails down the back of his neck, causing him to let out a low growl. "Although, I may, possibly, on occasion..." I lean back again, resting my butt on his thighs. "Like to have a little fun..."
"You're trying to kill me aren't you?"
"Hey, you wanted to know about evil Carter, I was merely obliging." I grab both of his hands, tangling our fingers together. "In all seriousness though, I was an air force brat. After mom died it was just me and dad. Mark was pretty much done with the both of us. Dad, because he blamed him for mom's death. And me for forgiving him. I spent most of my teens being two years younger than everyone else in my classes. " I can tell he's surprised I'm revealing so much, but I want to show him I'm capable of opening up, and if this is what he wants to hear about then so be it.
"I was pretty gawky up until the end of high school. I spent so much time being the good girl, that sometimes, I just went the other way. I bought my first bike when I was 17, my first fake ID when I was 18. I'm pretty sure I payed my most of my tuition from pool sharking. After that I joined up, so free schooling, and well blowing things up is much more fun than pool sharking."
"Thank you. For sharing all that. I can't picture you as ever having been gawky." He gives me a once over that causes my heart to beat against my rib cage. "I can definitely see you distracting a bunch of cocky fly boys into parting with most of their money though, well that and you've kicked my ass at pool many a time." His hands seem to have developed a mind of their own while I've been talking. One is resting benignly on my hip, the other is creeping up my ribs under the back of my shirt. Not that I'm complaining.
"Oh that, and there may have been a few men, several years older than me that dad may have threatened the lives of." I decide to let my hands wander as well, one holding my balance at the back of his neck, the other also creeping up under his sweatshirt to meet warm flesh.
"Mmmm, like older men do we Carter?" i think at this point we're both having a hard time keeping up a conversation, wandering hands driving us both to distraction. I think we're both enjoying the foreplay too much to be quite ready to let it end. Though you'd think we'd be over it after years of foreplay.
"Oh yeah. I like my men to have...navigational experience." I lean forward until our mouths are mere inches apart. "Gives them a certain...tactical advantage." His breath is hot and damp against my neck, his tongue darting out to moisten suddenly dry lips.
"I like to think I'm pretty good at...strategic planning. Although when I jump you mid briefing, next time we're discussing tactics, you have nobody to blame but yourself." I let out a giggle at that, but it's cut off half way by his lips slamming into mine. He seems to have had about enough of the teasing. His fingers are digging into my hip, his other hand clutching the back of my head. His tongue is fighting mine for dominance and after a moment I let him have this one. There will be plenty of time for me to have control later. Our teeth click together as he tries to get closer, tonguing the roof of my mouth and prodding insistently against my teeth. Kind of like the other parts of his anatomy that are prodding insistently. We kiss until we both need to break for oxygen, and I pry myself back from him, trying to slow things down a little...I don't really want our first go at this to be on his dock...though maybe later.
"So do I ever get to see the inside of this cabin?"
He just smiles and pecks me on the lips one more time, gesturing me up out of his lap. I get to my feet precariously, due to the hand that's slid down to cup my ass, throwing off my balance. I finally have to swat his hand away of risk falling in the lake. I free myself and pull him to his feet. We grab our wine glasses the jello, and lantern, stumble walking our way to the cabin. We're both hesitant to completely let go of each other.
TBC...