This is part two of the chapter. Sorry that break may have been a little melodramatic, but I just couldn't resist making it :-) So here we go again.

There it was. Finally she had said it. He was dumbfounded. How could she possibly -

"Did you mean that?", he asked, and it sounded as if he expected her to backpedal. And it was obvious that his heart would shatter into pieces if she did.

She moved closer to him and gently stroked his cheek.

"Yes, Jack, I did."

"But, how can you love me after everything you know about me? I don't deserve that. I'm just not worth it."

"It's a gift, Jack. You don't have to earn it. I give it to you gladly. Actually you always had it. You still do, and you always will."

He moved closer until his forehead rested against hers.

"You are the most important thing in my life, Sam. If you're really willing to pull this off, I'll be out of your chain of command by tomorrow."

She broke contact to look at him. He kissed her cheek and said:

"Let's not talk about it right now. I'll take care of it, OK?"

"OK, Jack."

They got up to get changed for bed. When they were laying side by side Sam said very carefully:

"Can I touch you, Jack?"

"Still asking for permission? Like back in the infirmary?"

"You remember that?"

"Yeah. It's the first thing I remember. Before that I know nothing. Had I been conscious when you got to me?"

She sat up and rested her back against the headboard.

"Conscious, but not responding. You did what you were told – get up, come with us – but we might as well have been strangers to you. You stayed like that for a long time after we had gotten you back to the SGC. Until that night in the infirmary."

"Until you asked for my permission."

"Yeah."

"I guess you don't need that now."

"Yes, I do, Jack. I won't take anything for granted. I long to touch you, but I won't unless you tell me it's OK."

"Yes, Sam, it is."

He looked up at her face, and she bent down to kiss his cheek. She moved back onto the mattress and put small kisses on his temples, his forehead and his cheeks, stroking his face with her fingertips. She stopped an inch away from his mouth, waiting for permission again. Instead of giving her permission he took control. Her body reacted instantly. This was the man she had been longing for all these years, and he wanted her. She gave herself into the kiss without hesitation. He was the center of her universe, and she surrendered to him completely.

~o0o~

TBC