AN: After Forsaken.
Jack's tortured dreams brought to you by that line in Changeling when Teal'c is talking about dreams that seem real and dream Jack responds "Oooh, I love that kind." Sure, it's a dream, but dream Teal'c has an understanding of dreams so it stands to reason that they have talked about them before.
Sam sauntered across the bedroom, one hand rubbing the side of her neck, and the other dangling easily beside her. She looked relaxed and happy in her too tight white tank top and soft pink pants that clung to her hips. Her hip bones peeked out between the two pieces of clothing, and Jack was thirsty to get his fingers on them. She must have been reading his mind because she circled the bed, and instead of climbing in beside him, she climbed on top of him where he sat propped against the headboard. Sam scooted closer, pressing his hips between her thighs.
"Jack," she drawled. Sam stroked down from his shoulders to his hands, and raised them to her waist. The shape and size of her body seemed to be a custom fit for his hands. The way his thumbs fit perfectly against the ridge of her hipbones while his fingers could reach around her waist was perfection. Jack thought he had never felt anything better until she rocked her hips into him and rolled her head back with a purr. Oh, yes, Jack concluded. Her entire body was a custom fit to his. Every part—like a lock and key.
Beep, beep, beeeep.
Beep, beep, beeeep.
Beep, beep, beeeep.
Jack had never been so happy to wake up as he was this morning. He was hard under Sam, and the way she was moving over him felt so damn good. But he needed to see her. He opened his eyes hoping for a glimpse of white fabric stretched across her chest and clearly revealing the shape of her. But the sunlight invading his bedroom told him of a very different reality. Jack let out a frustrated sigh when he awoke from his dream. Giving himself one last squeeze, he pulled himself upright and rubbed the sleep from his eyes.
This had been a good one—so realistic, so believable, so much of what he wanted. Catching an eye full of her bedtime state a couple of weeks ago hadn't helped his situation. Or it had helped immensely, depending on one's perspective. Sam was full of contradictions. She was so strong and capable by day, but soft and feminine in her little pink pajamas. She had looked so sweet and vulnerable that night.
Damn, Jack thought to himself, as he came to a realization. This morning's dream wasn't about Samantha. He had decided years ago that it was permissible to dream about Samantha. Samantha was just a part of her. It was a part of her that he didn't know. Samantha only existed in his imagination. Sure, he liked to believe that his imagination was close to reality, but that wasn't the point. He needed Samantha to help him keep things compartmentalized. Sam was real. Sam was his friend. Sam was his second. Sam depended on him to keep it together. This dream was about Sam. Still, even knowing that he wouldn't be able to forget it when he saw her today, he was having a hard time regretting it.
"Jonas, I need to talk to you about this kissing on the first date thing," Jack began as Jonas sat down with his second serving of scrambled eggs. Jonas had done a standout job on their last mission. He was good at reading people. He hadn't allowed the escaped prisoner to manipulate him. Still, Jack had questions.
"What about it?" Jonas replied.
"It makes you suspicious?"
"Yeah. You don't think it says something about a woman's character when she just goes for it?"
"Yes. It says, it's a character I need to know better." Carter giggled and Teal'c smirked. Today was a good day already.
"But why would she want to kiss you?" Jonas asked. Sam watched the exchange with barely restrained glee as Jonas unknowingly insulted Colonel O'Neill.
"I'm going to pretend you didn't say that," the Colonel replied to Jonas.
"Nothing personal, Colonel. I'm sure most women would consider you an attractive older man, but it just seems like if a girl is trying that hard she must be up to something." Sam watched the bewilderment blossom on Colonel O'Neill's face for a moment before he locked eyes with her.
"Carter, you're a girl."
"Apparently," she replied, none too eager to be dragged into this conversation.
"Do you kiss on a first date?" Jack ignored Teal'c's eyebrow raise and the subsequent eye-roll. The big man stuffed an entire boiled egg into his mouth and began chewing slowly.
"Depends," she answered vaguely.
"On what?" Sam fought the temptation to immediately correct him. The truth was, it depended on whom. Not what. But those words would always mean something different to her, and she wasn't sure it was wise to bring them up again.
"I don't know. I wouldn't be categorically opposed to it."
"So, no kiss on the first date means what to you?" She knew this attitude. He was interrogating her, and she wouldn't be getting away with these half-assed answers.
"I guess it means, let's try again next time or let's never try again."
"Ouch. So, how many times? How many first date kisses have you had?"
"None."
"But, you said..."
"I said I wouldn't be opposed to it. But it hasn't happened yet."
"So Jonas, Carter here says that she's not opposed to first date kissing. So, what's your beef? Surely, you wouldn't question her character." Jack asked indicating his typically blameless Major.
"I'm curious Major Carter, how do you make the determination?" Jonas wanted to know.
"I don't know, a combination of things, I guess. I have to want to. It has to feel right. Obviously, I'd want him to be up for it."
"He would be," Jack chimed in absently as he shoveled in another spoonful of cereal. Three sets of eyes turned to him in a flash with one of three dropping rapidly back to her fruit cup. "What? Anyway, my point is, you could just accept that some girl wants to kiss you. Can't be alone the rest of your life. You're not built for it."
"When I'm ready. I've got things to do. Places to see, as they say," Jonas defended with a smile. Sam liked that he was sure of who he was in spite of the Colonel's needling.
"Yes, speaking of things to do and places to see," Colonel O'Neill had a faraway look in his eye now, "Carter, you ready? Hammond will be waiting for us."
"Ready," she answered dropping her fork onto her plate. The time had gotten away from her. "Jonas, would you mind grabbing my tray?"
"Yeah, no problem, Major." Jonas watched as Colonel O'Neill trailed behind Major Carter out the door. "Teal'c, I don't want to be intrusive, but are they..." Jonas gestured back and forth between the stacks of abandoned dishes at their table, "well, you know what I mean. Are they?"
"I comprehend your intent, Jonas Quinn," Teal'c replied.
"And?" Jonas pressed.
"We do not discuss it," Teal'c informed.
"So, yes?"
"Indeed."
"And does everyone know?" Jonas asked with an inclusive gesture around the dining room.
"With the unfortunate exception of Major Carter and Colonel O'Neill, everyone appears to be aware."
"I see, so..."
"We do not discuss it, Jonas Quinn. I will say no more."
