AN- Sorry for the delay with this chapter, laptops was working itself. So, here's the last chapter of this one. Hope you enjoy it, let me all know what you think.
As soon as the air hit me I had to suppress a shiver. It was cold and I had only just stepped outside, I hated to think how cold she was. Looking around before I closed the back door, I spotted one of my jackets hanging over one of the dining chairs. Leaving the door half open I went and snagged it off the chair, before heading back outside. Approaching her she never moved, never acknowledged my presence, which was very unusual. Normally we could sense when the other was near when we were in close proximity to the each other. Stepping up right behind her I looked her over, she was awake so that was a good start. Sitting beside her, I draped the jacket over my lap and turned to look at her. She was sitting hunched over, her arms wrapped around her knees in a cross between a defensive posture and a way to ward off the cold. When she didn't move I finally broke the silence.
"Sam, how long have you been out here?" Starting with a fairly safe question.
When she didn't answer but continued to stare up at the dark, star-studded sky I moved so my body aligned with hers. Reaching over I took her hand and squeezed it.
"God, Sam, you're freezing. Here, before you get hypothermia." Letting go of her hand and wrapping the jacket around her shoulders, pulling it as snugly around her as I could.
When I was satisfied it was covering her as best as it could, I moved so I was sat behind her, my legs either side of her with both feet on the second step down. Leaning forward, I took hold of her shoulders and pulled her upright, her arms falling away as her back came in contact with my chest. Before I wrapped his arms around her, we managed to get my jacket on her properly and zipped up. Pulling the collar snugly around her neck, I finally wrapped her tightly in my arms and settled my chin on her shoulder, rubbing my cheek against the side of her face.
"So, fancy telling me how long you've been out here. To get this cold I'm betting at least an hour." Letting my warm breath brush across her face.
"I have no idea, time is irrelevant when you're in space, so is the cold. Ask Parker and Davidson. Oh wait you can't, they never made back." Closing her eyes as a single tear rolled down her cheek.
"Sam, you made the right decision. The needs of the many outway the needs of one, or few. Or something like that. I'm never letting T pick movies again." Reaching up to wipe away the tear with my left hand. "Being serious Sam, Everett found out today he can't save everyone, no matter what the ideal solution is. Hell, he may not be able to save himself, his ship, or even his unborn child when it comes down to it." Kissing her forehead before nuzzling her neck with my freezing cold nose. "Come inside, we did the near freezing to death before. I didn't like it then, and my knees sure as hell don't like it now. Neither does my ass now I mention it. Sam, I can't feel my ass." Shuffling around to try and get some blood flowing again in my very cold ass cheeks.
"Fine, but only because you asked so eloquently." Moving out of the warm embrace and standing up.
"Sam, some help would be very much appreciated here please." Reaching out to grab Sam's hand as I got up.
We both stumbled inside, shivering with teeth in full chatter mode. Shutting the door and locking it Sam made a beeline for the kettle and cups. A warm drink was definitely a good idea.
"I'll do the fire, warm us up quicker." Hobbling to the lounge and the big open fire.
Stacking it up with wood and a sheet of paper, I struck a match and watched as it sparked and hissed, a flame coming to life at the end. Touching the flame to the paper, it caught instantly lighting the dark space of the fire. I watched the paper burn, small flames licking at the wood. Finally, as the paper turned to ashes the logs caught alight, small flames licking around the dry bark. Lifting my hands up to the fire, I felt the heat that was starting to build up as the logs started to burn more. Turning around I looked over at the throw cushions on the couch and formulated a plan. Somehow I managed to stand up, knee locking not included and hobble even more so over to the couch. Shifting the small table to one side, I moved the couch closer to the now roaring fire. Pulling the cushions off, I placed them on the floor and arranged them into a pile for us to sit on. Taking the huge throw from the back of the couch I dumped it beside the cushion and turned to go help Sam in the kitchen. I hadn't even made it half way when she entered carrying two mugs on a tray.
"Will you sit down and take the weight off that knee. It's going to lock and that's you on bed rest." I heard her call over to me as I stopped and watched you walk in.
"I was coming to find you." Trying to take a seat on the floor before my knee did go and I feel down.
"If you get down will you get back up again? I'm not as young as I used to be and can't lift anything too heavy." She joked as I finally got settled on the cushions with my back against the couch.
Stretching my legs out, I made sure to have them spread a little so the heat that was now filling the room washed over my legs all the way around. I could feel the heat as it seeped into my knees, the relief instant. Sam slowly lowered herself down, shifting so she was flush alongside me. Turning slightly she reached to her right and picked up the two cups and passed one to me. I looked at the cup and smiled.
"Subtle Sam, real subtle. Who told you?" Taking a sip of the hot chocolate.
"No one told me anything Jack, I just know you." Using a spoon to scoop up some of the now mostly melted marshmallows and chocolate sprinkles, before putting the spoon in her mouth.
"Yeah right, so you haven't spoken to any of my men since you got back then?" Looking sideways at her and seeing her smile into her cup. "The only person who saw me was Walter, it was Walter wasn't it? Wait until I see him the little weasel." Hearing Sam laughing as I continued to call Walter names. "What did you give him to make him spill?" Now wanting to know what was more important than the deal I had struck with him for tickets to the big games.
"Don't get me wrong Jack he loves ice hockey, but he likes living more. All I had to do was look at him and he spilled. I have that effect on men." Seeing her finish her drink and turn slightly so her head was resting on my shoulder.
"You do have that effect I suppose. I've seen my share of that glare of yours. Did you use the hand on the hip thing as well, or was the look enough?" Knowing fine well the look was enough.
"Just the look, he knows if I use the hand on the hip thing he's in bigger trouble." Feeling her arms slide around my waist as she snuggled closer. "Any look I give you works. So, how much coffee did you actually drink? Walter says two, I say at least three or four. You had that coffee high look in your eyes liked you'd drank too much. You should know when you ease off it, the high you get when you over indulged is obvious." Her face taking on a sleepy look as she started to grow heavy against me.
"No idea, I lost count. Walter did keep bringing me tea but lord, that man couldn't make tea if his life depended on it. I saw you swapped him to bags, at least they aren't too bad, he can't really mess them up, except if someone buys the wrong ones, which is inevitable in a place that big." Finishing my drink and putting the cup on the floor.
"You know what the doctor said Jack, you're not in the field anymore. You don't burn off as much as you used to. Same as Cake, you can't use cake as a meal substitute, and yes, the canteen staff know as well." I have everybody up to speed, except you of course. Jack, you need to take this seriously. We heard what the doctor said, weight gain, lack of exercise, and the fact you're no spring chicken anymore means you have to take care. I can't lose you, Jack, not now, not after everything we've been through to get to this point." Feeling both her arms come around my waist as she hugged me tighter.
"I do take better care of myself, but I do have bad days when only coffee and chocolate cake makes it bearable. Sam, I sent you out into an unknown situation again today. I sent you on another mission that could have either blasted you into a million unretrievable pieces or sent you back in a box. A box I would have to face, knowing it was my fault you were in it." Taking a deep breath as the smell of her shampoo invaded my nostrils.
"Jack, look at me." I heard her say as she moved to sit up and look at me. "You just gave me the lecture about jobs and what needs to be done. You did what was needed of you, you sent out the nearest battle-ready ship to intercept and defend against attack. Just because that ship was mine should not make your decision any different. You led me, day in, day out, with both of us in danger at times, and still did what was needed. What is so different now? I place my life in the hands of my team aboard The Hammond to do as I ask, to follow my orders, and yes, as I found out today, die if needed to fulfil the mission we were sent on. It makes no difference who issues the orders, be it General Hammond, General Landry, or a certain General O'Neill who send me out on a mission or two when he was in charge of the SGC. I take my orders, do my job, and if I have a say in the matter, come home in one piece to Earth and you. Jack, do what you need to do, I will do what I do, and we will meet in the middle." Taking my larger hand in her smaller one. "Here," squeezing my hand as she spoke, "is where we meet in the middle, where we leave the rank and protocol at the door. We waited long enough for this. No bad guys, deranged would be Gods, or some jumped up band of thugs is going to stop us. I love you, Jack. Just hold back on the coffee and cake, please. I need you around a bit longer, especially since it took me so long to get you." Leaning in and resting her forehead against mine.
"Fine, but we need to compromise on the coffee thing. How about "Under rules of engagement," moving my head just enough to let my lips brush hers, "with enemies that place Earth, or you, especially you, in danger, I get coffee and cake." My mouth capturing hers before she could answer with words to protest.
As I finished the kissed and bit gently on her bottom lip, I felt her smile against my lips.
"You give a good argument Jack O'Neill, now how about we go to bed and you can continue with this compromise." This time she captured my mouth with hers and managed, without any resistances, to work her tongue into my mouth.
The next thing I recall was being laid out on my back with her somehow half straddling me, pinning me to the cushions. Sucking my bottom lip, she giggled as I moaned and gripped her hips tightly. She was starting things that were most definitely for better places than the lounge floor.
"I think you should slow down Carter," using the grip on her hips to pull her closer and let her feel the effect she was having on me. "I am sure you mentioned bed before you pinned me to the floor." Kissing my way across her jaw and down her neck, nipping her pulse point with my teeth before swiping my tongue over the red mark I had just left.
"I did, and check the dog tags Mr, it's Carter-O'Neill to you. Just cause the suit says Carter, doesn't mean I forgot." Feeling her push down against me for extra emphasis on my predicament.
"You are indeed," using my teeth the fish past her top and pull out her dog tag chain, "but you will always be my Carter." Looking down at both the tags and the view her semi-open top was giving me.
"Always." Kissing me a final time before she rolled off me and sat up. "Now bed, I have plans for my husband." Seeing her smirk as she looked down at my tented pants.
Standing up, with a little help from the couch, I followed her to the bedroom. Where true to her word, she did have plans for me. Afterwards, as she lay sleeping in my arms, legs tangled with mine, brown hair draped across my now silver-haired chest, I looked out the window to the sky. The sky I placed her ship, and her in. The sky that held the stars we had travelled together, bring us to the point we were at. Turning back to her, I brushed her long brown hair away from her face and looked down at her angelic face. Closing my eyes as sleep slowly took me, I placed a feather light kiss on her temple before whispering,
"I love you Mrs Samantha Carter-O'Neill, always."