Chapter Three

After everyone had eaten their fill, Cassie was asked to sit on the sofa, and the gifts were placed all around her. Janet kept telling her not to expect presents all the time...this was a special occasion, and her friends and family just wanted her to feel welcome into their circle.

"There will be no more presents from anyone until Cassie's birthday, which isn't until August," Jack informed the crowd. "Except for a few things that I've got stashed away at my house, of course," he added under his breath, and Janet gave him a dirty look. Cassie had heard him and smiled up at him where he stood behind the sofa.

"You are going to spoil her, Jack," Janet said, but she gave him a warm smile, wishing again that he felt something more than just friendship and camaraderie for her. 'In another lifetime perhaps,' she told her fanciful mind.

One by one the presents were opened, and Janet noticed that Cassie didn't need to be reminded to say thank you for each and every one. Janet had seen many examples of the good upbringing that Cassie's parents had given her; she was polite, well-behaved...well, most of the time...and very responsible for a girl of twelve.

When Cassie got to Jack's big box...which he had slid over the floor toward her...she looked up at him curiously. Then she tore into the wrapping paper, throwing pieces every which way. Under the shiny silver paper she saw the photo of a computer on the outside of the box.

"A computer just like the ones at school! Oh, thank you Uncle Jack!" Cassie jumped up from her seat and tried to reach Jack, who was standing behind the sofa. He leaned over and hugged her, saying, "I'll bring Carter over tomorrow, and we'll get it set up in your room." Sam, who was standing next to him, just nodded and smiled.

"Jack, you really shouldn't have," Janet said, and she meant it. He was way too good to the child...and to her. And there was that feeling again. Janet just smiled and looked at the floor, trying to hide the tears that she felt stinging her eyes.

Next came Sam's gift. She and Jack had stopped at a computer store on the way over, and Sam had bought Cassie two computer programs. One was an astronomy program, and the other was called Photo Shop. Daniel had given her a camera, so now she had everything she needed to pursue her new hobby! And when she opened Teal'c's gift, she found out why Sam had chosen the astronomy program. Uncle Teal'c's gift was a telescope! Cassie decided right then and there that she had the most generous family that any girl could ever have!

By ten o'clock most people had left Janet and Sam to clean up the mess. One of Janet's Aunts had remained behind too, and the three of them...along with Jack...soon had the house looking orderly again. Jack had made it his responsibility to pick up all the soda cans and plastics from the living room. He had even divided them into their respective recycling bins. Cassie's job had been to clean up all the wrapping paper, bows, ribbon and paper products. Soon she had three large garbage bags full of the stuff, which she carried out to the sidewalk. Janet was really glad that the garbage truck would be here in the morning!

Sam dried the last serving dish and gave Cassie a great big hug. It had felt good to be with the child again, even if in the back of her mind she held onto the idea that Cassie shouldn't forgive her so readily. On the ride home Sam was quiet, her mind a hodgepodge of emotions. She was happy for Cassie, but she still felt guilty about the part she had played when the child had been near death.

"Well, that was fun!" Jack had been trying to get Sam to talk to him all the way home. They were just pulling into her driveway when she finally spoke.

"Yes, I had a nice time. And Cassie really enjoyed herself, and that is the most important thing," she added.

"Yes, she did. And it is. But she wouldn't have, if you hadn't been there, Carter," he stated without a doubt, but he didn't think Carter looked convinced.

He had heard Cassie say exactly the same thing when they'd said good-bye. And he had seen the tears in Sam's eyes as the girl hugged and kissed Sam. Though he knew it would be totally inappropriate, he wished he could hug and kiss Carter right now…try to make her feel better.

'Carter would probably kick my ass if I even tried it,' he thought, slightly disgusted with himself. 'She's your 2iC for Pete's sake! Get over her!' he told himself, but Jack knew he didn't really want to get over his feelings for her.

"I'll walk you to your door," he told her, quickly climbing out of his truck and jogging around to open the passenger door for Sam. She already had it open and was stepping down by the time he got there. She turned to shut the big door and stepped right into Jack. His arms went around her, and for a few seconds time seemed to stand still, as they stared into each other's eyes.

"Sorry, Sir," she offered an apology, as she snapped out of the moment.

"No, my fault," he said, reluctantly letting go of her and stepping back. He wrenched the door out of her hand and slammed it. Then he followed after her, standing awkwardly by her side as Sam slipped the key in the lock.

She opened the door, but she made no attempt to go inside, and once again there was an awkward feeling between them. Sam was the first to speak. "Well, thanks for taking me. Actually thanks for convincing me to go. I'm glad you did."

"See, I knew you really wanted to go," he replied, smiling and nodding his head. "So...tomorrow...I'll pick you up about nine? We can go set up the munchkin's computer."

"I really don't think you need me for that, Sir," she told him. Even though he tried to hide it, she was aware of how really smart he was.

Jack was disappointed, but he wasn't about to give up. "I do need you, Sam. For the computer, I mean," he said, even though he was thinking how much he needed/wanted her every minute of every day.

'Ah, hell Jack, when did you ever play it safe,' his libido criticized. He was being a chicken shit, and he knew it. 'You want her! So take her!' he encouraged himself. His excited cock twitched at the thought, and now he let it lead him.

"I need you, Sam...all the time," he told her, placing his hand on her cheek. Now that's what I'm talkin' about, his body shouted, and he could feel his groin start to throb and swell. Sam just stood there as though thunder-struck, one hand still on the doorknob. Her other hand came up to his chest, her palm out flat against his black leather jacket. Jack wondered if she was going to push him away.

'Well, I'm damned if I do and damned if I don't. And since I've gone this far, I may as well go all the way,' his addled brain reasoned. So he stepped closer till their faces were mere inches apart. He felt relief when her hand slid over his shoulder and around his neck. 'Ah, that's my girl! I knew you wanted me,' his ego shouted.

Suddenly Jack was walking her backward into her house, as their hands caressed and fumbled to unfasten shirts and trousers and pull up sweaters. In less than a minute they were naked from the waist down, and her back was pressed against the wall of her foyer. The lights were still off, but neither of them needed light to find the objects of their desire.

Jack's talented fingers traced her moist heat and slipped inside, causing Sam to moan in ecstasy. Their mouths worked furiously, sending tongues exploring and tasting, as she lifted her right leg and wrapped it around his hips, trying to press him into her. Jack quickly complied, fisting his erection in one hand and aiming it into her tight hole. When he was positioned just inside her snug opening, he cupped her ass with both hands and lifted her, so that now both of her long legs were wrapped securely around his waist. Then he pulled her toward him and pushed into her at the same time, impaling her on his rock-hard cock.

An hour later, as Sam lay sleeping beside him in her bed, Jack was kicking himself for being such a self-centered asshole. This would ruin her career. How could he have done this to one of the finest officer's ever in the history of the Air Force? The answer was obvious; all he had thought about was his own selfish sexual needs. He had just taken what he wanted, and now Sam would be the one who had to pay. Oh, sure, he would lose his career too, but he'd already retired once. To him it would be no great loss. But Jack suspected her career meant everything to her, and now he had shot her down just as surely as if he had used a stinger missile! Plus he had no doubt ruined their friendship; he was certain she'd never forgive him for this.

Carefully he got out of her bed and found his clothes. In a few minutes he was dressed and in his truck, driving home. 'I'll have to find some way to fix this…at least for her,' he thought, as he distractedly drove toward his house.

TBC