Mmmm, Jack and Sam scenes… my FAV… hope they are yours too. :)

Jack was taking a breather, at the ocean, soaking up the sun and watching the wave's crash against the rocks. He had always liked water. His favorite place in the world was in his very own backyard. The sun raining down on him, as he sat perched on a chair, a fishing rod in hand. He'd been trying to get Sam Carter out there for years, with no avail.

He was thinking about her when a shadow fell over him.

Looking up, he expected to see one of the Ti-marni family appear before him, but he was pleasantly surprised to find it was Sam.

"Can I sit down, Sir?" she asked in that angel-voice of hers.

Jack nodded. He struggled sometimes, to be alone with her. He knew the boundaries of their relationship and he respected that. He always had. His military rank over her, prevented any type of relationship between members of the team, that wasn't completely professional.

The proximity to Jack, Sam had chosen, was close, so close that he could smell the scent of her shampoo - tropical. It was overpowering to the point of physical pain. Jack wanted to touch her, reach out, feel the softness of her skin, the texture of her hand, but he refrained. She'd probably slap his hand away and call him a pervert.

Jack was almost 15 years her senior.

"What brings you out here?" Jack asked casually.

"Sir, I have a confession to make," Sam seemed to frown at her own words.

"I'm listening…" his voice trailed.

"I think you're cute, Jack," she said simply.

"Um… O-K," he hesitantly mumbled, stunned by the declaration of her words. This was NOT Sam's usual behavior, nor did she call him by his first name, and he instantly assumed it was the influence of the youngest, Ti-marni. "Thanks…" Jack knew not to draw too much attention to her comment, after all this was not of her own accord. Her mind had been manipulated. But while she spoke the words, he wondered if there was some truth behind them?

"You're welcome," she smiled and then giggled that adorable cackle that made his heart quicken. She was so innocent and child-like. The way her bottom lip curled down on one side, was more than he could stand at times. He found it hard to believe that she didn't do it on purpose, just to make him squirm.

"Okay, Carter," he stood then, regrettably, and held out his hand. He didn't want her running again, or worse, stripping off her clothes and doing the "naked-run" not that he'd complain TOO much.

Sam hesitated and then shyly, reached out and clasped her fingers with his. He felt the warmth of her skin against his own, and he had an overwhelming ache hit the centre of his chest. If only it were of her own accord that she had spoken those words… maybe, just maybe- no, he concluded silently as he lead her towards the Castle, he wouldn't have done JACK squat about it. He knew the rules, and he played by them, as much as he hated it. Because her life, he knew, was more important than his own. He would have rather die, than risk her life, and he had told her exactly that.

It wasn't easy though, especially at times like this, when he had her so close, and no one else was watching. They were alone, and she was so venerable, so loving… and as cocky as it seemed so INTO him. No, he thought shaking the thought from his mind; he'd never take advantage of her. Sam was too good for that.

"Where are we going?" she asked excitedly as she skipped alongside him, her hand still gripped in his.

"To talk to the Ti-marni," he told her easily.

"Awww," she whined immaturely. "I don't wan-na! I want to have FUN!"

Jack tried to add emphasis to his voice. "It's an adventure," he smiled. He spoke to her like she was a child, and felt himself pulling a face. How could he be so attracted to her, when she was functioning like a five-year-old? Dirty old-man, he scolded himself, this is NOT Sam.

They arrived at the Castle doors, and instantly, Sam stood still. No more than a few seconds later, she blinked and seemed to regain her usual composure. Jack watched in awe, as the Sam Carter he knew, came back to life.

"Sir, what are we-"

Jack shrugged. "You were under again," he said simply.

"Under?" she frowned. "I was? What did I do?"

"Nothing worth mentioning," he answered vaguely. She would have been embarrassed to know she was making a move on him, had he been brave enough to tell it how it was. He owed her, her pride at least.

"Really?" she looked unconvinced.

"Come on, let's have a chat with that child of theirs!" he groaned.

Madison Ti-marni appeared before them, as if she had already been summoned, materializing before their eyes. "I don't do anything bad," she reasoned showing no remorse for the havoc she was wreaking.

"What did you do to me?" Sam asked gently. She had always enjoyed being with children, her heart had pulled towards them for as long as Jack had known her – maternal instinct, she'd called it.

"Nothing that wasn't already in your head," she answered. "I allow you to do the things you restrain, sometimes, you are too afraid to do them yourself, or say them… and so I make you lose the fear."

"What was I afraid of?" her eyes flittered to Jack, who looked at her with intensity. So the feelings and thoughts had been there before, and only her ability to speak them had been manipulated. Sam's eyes crossed over to Madison.

"It's your thoughts," she stated matter-of-factly. "I didn't put them there. I just made it so you can say what you think."

Sam blushed, and it did not go unnoticed by Jack. But he held his smile in, careful not to make more of this than necessary, he didn't want to embarrass her further, despite the want to do so. He respected her more than that.

"Well, next time… do us a favor and manipulate your OWN damn thoughts!" he barked.

Sam turned to him, stunned by the harshness of his voice, towards a child. It was then that she noticed, her hand was conjoined with his. She looked down, his eyes followed hers. Jack pulled back quickly, as if he had been slapped.

"We were-"

"Forget it," he ordered avoiding her eyes.

"Sir, I apologize if-"

"You didn't do anything, Major… don't sweat it," he forced his voice not to break. But she seemed to see right through him. Instead, Jack turned his attention back to Madison. "I want to speak to your father!"

Madison lowered her head in defeat. She was in the doghouse!

A few minutes later, Jack stood before Daruis.

"I will NOT tolerate MY mind being manipulated by a child!" he roared. The man was patient as he listened to his guest, it wasn't the first time someone had come to him with complaints about his child's behavior.

"I cannot share my remorse for her behavior," he explained. "She shall be punished."

"I don't care about punishment," Jack snapped. "I don't want her doing it AGAIN! Do you hear me? Keep her out of my head!"

"Sir," Sam intercepted. "Don't be so hard on the man."

"She manipulated your thoughts!" Jack didn't understand why she was so calm.

Sam backed off. The mood had struck too high for her to control.

MMM, did SHE manipulate Sam's thoughts? Post a review and let me know you want to find out :)