Somehow they had ended up on the bed fully clothed.

Jack knew that once all the formalities were over, Sam would escape to her guest quarters and quietly mourn the loss of her command in private. A mixture of pain and relief had crossed her face when he'd stuck his head around the door and peered inside.

He'd enveloped her in a fierce hug the moment that she'd taken one step towards him. And somehow, between her silent and yet tearless sobs, he had pulled her down onto the bed and held her close.

They had lain there in silence for quite some time, Jack flat on his back with Sam's head in the crook of his arm. His fingers ran up and down her back every so often; hers simply toying with his shirt.

"You know," Jack's voice was soft and quiet. "If someone had told me many years ago, where I'd be right now... I never would have believed them...That some smart, sexy female scientist - and that point alone is worthy of something – would be interested in me..."

Sam's hand stilled on his chest and she shifted slightly, raising her head and throwing him a small smile, before settling back down into his embrace.

"A woman under my command," Jack continued, "Would end up wanting me for more than just a tool to work her way up the ladder..." He shook his head.

"Somehow you worked your way through my defences... latched onto a part of me that I forgot even existed... and then..." He paused, taking a moment to swallow. "Somehow along the way, I guess I lost control and you... you took me over and now..." He sighed, part of him not knowing how to continue. "You know I'm not very good at these things," he murmured. "But... even though I hate what has happened, I'm glad that I've got you back..."

Sam held him tighter, her own voice mute for a moment.

"Jack...?" After a few beats of silence, she twisted within his grasp and lifted her head, resting her chin on her hand upon his chest. "Were you... just comparing me to a military tactic?"

He glanced down at her face, his own expression deliberately blank. "A coup?" She had one eyebrow cocked up, a smile threatening to emerge upon her lips. He shrugged. "Well... it was a good move – effective, concise..."

If his hands weren't busy elsewhere, Sam was sure he would have waved one in the air. She rewarded him with one of her trademark grins.

"Well," she said, "I guess that makes two of us..." She watched as Jack's expression managed to mirror her own from just moments before. "You're not the only one whose world was invaded and thrown upside down..." They shared a smile and suddenly Sam felt a weight leave her shoulders. "And I feel the same..." she whispered. "Being apart for so long was hard... and yet part of me can't help but think, in the long run, maybe it's done us some good..."

"You do?" Jack asked. They studied each other for a few moments, taking in each other's expressions, each suddenly conscious of where their bodies came into contact.

"Yeah," Sam nodded, a grin threatening to split her face. "It also means we get to make up for lost time..."

Her lips touched his softly, his hand appearing under her chin and pulling her closer. Despite their talk, the caress was pure warmth rather than any form of desperation. Jack suddenly realised that this was their first kiss since she'd set foot on the planet. And it had surpassed all his expectations.

They pulled apart slowly and resumed their previous positions, eyes still wandering over each other's faces. In a beat of sudden clarity, Jack wondered what he'd been waiting for all this time.

Just as his lips parted to speak, a knock sounded heavily on the door. They both paused, their eyes flicking to each others, before Sam pulled back slightly.

"Who is it?" She called out.

"It's Daniel."

A puff of air flew over her face and Sam couldn't help but chuckle silently at Jack's frustration.

"It's open."

The door creaked open, and Daniel poked his head around it, suddenly appearing somewhat uncomfortable when he saw the two of them sprawled out on the bed. Sam's chin was resting on Jack's chest, her eyes now gazing up at the door, while Jack's hands sat resting on her backside.

"Er... Hi..."

But before the guest could utter another word, the door flew open and in strode Vala, with Cam and Teal'c trailing behind her. "It's jello day!"

Daniel righted himself and all four stood gazing at the couple, somewhat embarrassed.

"You do realise," Vala began, eyes wandering over the two figures and drawing out her words, "that that is way more fun without any clothes...?"

Sam couldn't help but grin at the woman before her. She pulled away from the warmth of Jack's body and attempted to sit up.

"We just came to see that you were okay," Daniel offered, trying to change the subject. Hands deep in his pockets, he shifted awkwardly from side to side.

"And grab some jello," Vala inputted.

"Blue?" Jack asked Vala, his legs swinging over the bed and shoulder deliberately bumping Sam's as he settled beside her.

Vala nodded. "And they have some cake, of course..."

Sam and Jack exchanged a look.

Jack hid a smile and glanced up at the others. "Commissary, it is..." He said, and stood up as the others began heading out of the door. A hand suddenly snaked into his, preventing him from moving and he glanced back at the woman still sitting on the bed.

Sam offered him a sad smile and squeezed his hand gently. Knowing what she was trying to say, Jack cocked his head to one side and gave her a lopsided smile. He gave her hand a quick squeeze before tugging on her arm and pulling her up to his side. "Later," he whispered. He had plenty of time, after all.