Chapter 4

"And if life is a bar room in which we must wait

'Round the man with his fingers on the ivory gates"

"What's with the car, Sir?" Sam said when she spotted the long sleek black car parked at the end of her drive.

"All part of the experience, Carter," he said with a wink. He opened the door…' As she passed him, the smell of her perfume caught on the faint breeze and he inhaled slowly, closing his eyes momentarily. The delicate smell almost did him in but he righted himself, closed the door behind her and ran around the car to settle himself beside her.

"Drink Carter?" Jack said casually when the driver had raised the screen to give them some privacy.

"I'll have a diet soda, Sir," she said . She then promptly turned to him and said, "What? I like the taste better!" When she spotted the smirk on his face

"Sorry, no diet soda here Carter! Champagne?" Jack said, a cheeky glint in his eye.

"Well," Sam said, "I suppose as it's a special occasion…I'll have a small glass."

Sam accepted the glass and took a small sip. The bubbles tickled her throat and she smiled as she relaxed into her seat. She started humming again, while absentmindedly staring out of the window and momentarily let her mind wander.

"What is that you're humming Carter?" Jack asked taking a long sip from his glass. He wasn't particularly fond of champagne, but it'd have to do until he got himself to the bar and replaced it with a cold pint of Guinness.

"Just something I keep hearing ," Sam said, blushing slightly. "Sorry sir, I don't realize I'm doing it."

"Don't apologize Carter, it's rather melodious," Jack teased. He rarely heard Carter hum, or sing for that matter, as she was generally immersed in some kind of technobabble-inducing experiment. He decided the sound was rather angelic.

"So, Carter," Jack said, "What do you think Teal'c will make of this evening? I have to admit, I'm rather looking forward to seeing the big guy dance. I'm imagining all kinds of strange Jaffa shapes and moves. I'm probably way off, but whatever it is, it'll be interesting."

"I'm rather looking forward to that myself," Sam admitted and they laughed simultaneously. The sound of her giggle sent shockwaves through him. They stared at each other for a long moment. She tilted her head to the side slightly in that way he loved, smiled broadly and said, "What?"

"Hey, that's my line," Jack replied and smiled.

"You know, Carter", Jack said, shifting slightly so he was now sitting sideways in the seat, his hand subtly brushing against hers, "You really do look amazing. I don't mind admitting that you kinda took my breath away when you opened the door. Wait until the guys see you. Oh, and the red polish... Very un-Carter like."

Sam stared at him, his chocolate brown eyes locked on her crystal blues, his thumb gently gliding over her knuckles, neither of them daring to be the first to turn away.

"You don't look too bad yourself, Sir," she said.

"Not bad for a man in his fifties…huh?" Jack quipped.

Sam took a long sip from her glass and looked at him, licked the champagne from her lips slowly and said; "You know, I've always thought life experience looks good on a man."

"Is that so" Jack said stumbling slightly over his words

She turned to stare out the window again, and continued humming to herself with a smile.