Chapter 9

"Where you thirst and you hunger for justice and right,
Then your heart is a pure flame of man's constant night"

Sam excused herself to go freshen up and Daniel slid into her empty chair and looked at Jack.

"Well, that was SOME dance ", he said grinning from ear to ear .

"I don't know what you mean" Jack replied , smiling right back.

"Of course you don't , hell Jack, the whole room stopped and watched you both. It was really something"

Daniel waved his hand around the room for emphasis.

Jack looked to where General Hammond and General Landry stood and both men were looking directly at him. They smiled a knowing smile , nodded and returned to their conversation.

Jack grimaced , Daniel was familiar with the expression as it was normally followed by a shout of "Shut up Daniel" , he threw his eyes up to heaven and opened his mouth to protest but Daniel stopped him with a sudden lifting of his hand in Jacks face"

"Listen to me Jack, and I don't mean listen and interrupt and shout DANIEL in that tone you have , I mean really listen. You've told me about the conversation you had with Jacob while he was , um , well you know. She left him, undoubtably for you. You're moving away and she won't be in your chain of command anymore. She knows this Jack and presumably that's why she's let her guard down and danced with you the way she has. Because she's finally allowed to. You've had enough discussions with me over feelings and regulations and more feelings and we've drank more beers and burned more meat not talking about Sam than I care to remember. I'm not stupid, you're not stupid and Sam is most definitely not stupid. You two have something. I never knew exactly what it was, but I've just witnessed , what I can honestly say is the most romantic exchange between two human beings I've ever seen. Both of you finally accepted it, you felt it, she felt it, hell Jack I felt it. You deserve happiness and Sam makes you happy. The regs can't get in the way of what you both want anymore. Finally! We all know that. Talk to her Jack, really talk to her and make her listen. Sam needs to hear you Jack, not The General- YOU. You need each other.

Whatever happens , I'm here for you both and I'll support whatever you both decide. "

"Thanks Daniel- you know you really make a lot of sense sometimes " Jack said quietly scrubbing his face with his hands.

Daniel waved at Teal'c , who was spinning Major Meredith Fortune around the dance floor to a song Jack hadn't heard before and stood up to join them.

He looked at his best friend , who was more fragile looking than he'd ever seen and rested his hand on the mans shoulder

"Just talk to her Jack. "

Jack gave a little nod and Daniel turned and walked away to join Teal'c on the dance floor.

Jack felt her presence before he saw her and turned instinctively just as Sam arrived back at their table. She grazed her hand across his back as she passed.

"Hey you," she said quietly.

"Hey yourself," he replied watching her settle herself into her seat and reached out under the table to gently lock his fingers with hers.

"Wanna get out of here? " he asked hopefully. "I think we've stayed the appropriate amount of time to be polite."

"I think we probably should," she said looking down at their hands, which were still intertwined and now resting on his knee. "What did you have in mind?"

"Nothing in particular ,I just think in light of recent, em..." Jack glanced at their interlocked hands, "developments , we should probably talk?"

"Sounds perfect" she said, a soft smile gracing her face.