Sunlight streamed through the gap in the curtains, casting a warm glow on Sam's face. She groaned sleepily, nestling deeper into her pillow and pulling the sheets to shield herself from the brightness. However, an unexpected chill roused her from her drowsiness, prompting her to open her eyes reluctantly.
The familiar white ceiling greeted her gaze, followed by the curtains she remembered hanging and the dresser she had ordered online. A thick and disorienting wave of confusion washed over her as she realized she was no longer in her living room but back in her bedroom, nestled in her king-sized bed.
Sam's gaze darted to the space beside her as the previous night's events flooded her mind. Panic, a wild and uncontrollable force, surged within her as she frantically searched for any trace of Jack—his wallet, phone, clothes—but found nothing. He was gone.
Anger and hurt swirled within her, and she couldn't help but let out a frustrated curse. Just as she was about to unleash her emotions, the bedroom door swung open, revealing Jack, already dressed, standing there, holding two steaming mugs of coffee.
"You're awake," he remarked casually, stepping into the room.
Sam's throat felt dry as she struggled to form words. "Why did you leave me?" she finally managed to blurt out, her voice tinged with hurt.
Jack approached the bed and sat beside her, setting the coffee mugs. "I didn't leave you," he replied gently. "I went to get these."
Like a slow and painful sunrise, Sam finally realized she had overreacted and felt embarrassed.
"Oh," she murmured, reaching for the coffee he had brought her, grateful for the gesture.
Jack arched an eyebrow as he slowly sipped his coffee. "Did you think I left?" he asked, surprised.
Sam blushed and looked down, realizing she was only wearing her T-shirt. She discreetly covered her legs with the sheets.
"I found the bed empty. By the way, I only remember us on the couch. How did we..." she trailed off, her eyes darting quickly to the bed.
Jack smiled and set the mug down on the nightstand.
"You passed out completely on the couch, so I thought we could have a more comfortable night here. Don't worry, nothing happened. I was a perfect gentleman," he reassured her with a smile.
Sam blushed furiously. "I wasn't implying that..." she stumbled.
Jack gently touched her knee, ensuring the sheet was between them.
"I could have slept on the couch, but it's too small for me, and I'm afraid I'm too old to sleep on the floor," he said softly, his tone apologetic.
Sam swallowed, gathering her thoughts. "I don't want you to sleep on the floor or the couch, Jack. If I had a problem with you in the first place, we would have never slept together. You are not him," she asserted.
Jack kept his hand on her knee.
"Are you absolutely sure about that, Sam? After everything you've been through? I would understand if you had doubts. Just as I looked at you at first and saw my wife, it's only natural that you might look at me and see him," he said in a low voice.
Sam swallowed hard, grappling with her emotions.
"You were an asshole at first, yes, but you never hurt me physically, Jack. And you had lost your wife. You were still grieving when I crossed into this reality," she said, her eyes locking onto his.
Jack remained very still, his hand a warm reminder of his presence. His heart felt like a drum, pounding a relentless rhythm against his ribs. Jack's voice trembled slightly as he broached the question, the weight of his apprehension hanging heavily between them.
"So, you never had a flashback when we were together?" he asked, his words laced with a vulnerability he couldn't conceal. It was a question born out of fear and hope, a desperate need to understand the impact of what she had shared with him last night. And something that had been drilling his thoughts since he had read her papers.
He held his breath, waiting for her response, knowing that her answer would have the power to shape the fragile threads of their connection.
Sam bit her lip, her eyes betraying the answer before she could speak. Jack let go of her knee and got off the bed.
"Fuck, I knew it!" he cursed, grabbing his hair in despair.
Sam also got out of bed and slowly approached him.
"Jack, please, look at me," she pleaded, touching his back lightly.
He remained unmoving. Sam bit her lip harder and took another step, stopping before him. His eyes were closed, tears streaming down his cheeks. Sam's heart almost broke when she saw that. She wiped his tears, and he slowly opened his eyes. They were nearly black.
"I had one flashback this whole time after I took Grace in the Chevy, and we fought in your house. And..." Sam's face faltered, and Jack's jaw clenched, his hands turning into fists next to his body. He was a pile of radiating tension.
"And you grabbed my throat," Sam said slowly, her hands moving to his, grabbing them. She mimicked the movement he had made despite his reluctance. "When you did this," she said, placing his trembling hands around her throat.
Jack became pale as a ghost.
"My mind returned to his room immediately because he did the same when we fought on the floor, Jack, but you let me go immediately. He didn't. He choked me on purpose. Until I almost passed out," she said, tears also running down her face. "I'm not afraid of you. I was terrified of him," she said, resting her forehead on his chest, which was heaving with heavy breaths.
Jack held her tightly in the quiet stillness of the room, his silent tears mingling with hers.
"I'm sorry, Sam. I'm so sorry for doing that", Jack said, his apology hanging heavy in the air, a raw admission of regret and remorse. With his face buried in her hair, he whispered his words, each syllable laden with the weight of his emotions.
Sam could feel the warmth of his tears against her skin, a tangible manifestation of his sorrow. Despite the pain, relief was in the air, as if acknowledging his mistake was a step towards healing. They remained locked in each other's embrace, the outside world fading away as they sought solace in one another's arms.
In this moment of vulnerability, their connection deepened, transcending words and actions. It was a moment of catharsis, where the wounds of the past were laid bare, and forgiveness began to take root. Through their shared embrace, they found strength in each other, a beacon of hope amidst the darkness of their history.
As time passed, the intensity of their embrace softened, but their bond emerged more assertive and resilient than before.
Sam finally looked up at him, her mouth almost dry. "Now you know everything. There are no more hidden truths, no more secrets, Jack," she said slowly.
Jack cleared his throat, his grip on her waist steady, anchoring them both at the moment.
"I believe you. And no matter how hard things seem right now, you can and will get through this. I'm right here and not going anywhere unless you want me to," he reassured her, his voice a soft murmur of support.
Sam shook her head, her hands finding their place on his back, seeking solace in his embrace. "I don't want you to leave, Jack," she confessed, her words carrying a weight of vulnerability.
Jack gently kissed her forehead, his affectionate gesture offering comfort in the face of uncertainty. "Good, because I plan to stay," he declared, a warm smile lighting up his features.
Slowly, Sam shifted her hands from his back to his chest, her touch tentative yet seeking reassurance. "What about Grace?" she asked, her voice hesitant, betraying the complexity of her emotions.
Jack swallowed, his expression reflective as he considered her question. He knew the path forward would require careful navigation of their intertwined lives.
"I know you don't want to lie to Grace about us and..." he paused, swallowing hard to quell the rising nerves. "And we never really talked about it because I was a jerk when you came to my office to discuss that," he admitted, the memory tasting bitter on his tongue.
Sam sighed, her frustration evident in the lines of her face.
"I don't feel comfortable lying to her, but as I said before, she is your daughter, Jack," she reiterated, clinging to the familiar argument.
Jack seized her hands tightly, his lips pressing gentle kisses against them in a silent plea.
"Yes, she's my daughter, but she loves you. And if we are building a true relationship based on honesty, Grace deserves to know. She'll be part of it. I want her to be a part of it. Don't you?" he implored, his gaze searching hers for understanding.
Sam met his gaze with her deep blue eyes, her stare momentarily stealing his breath away.
"I love Grace, you know that," she affirmed slowly. "And I would never do anything to hurt her. I don't want to hurt her, Jack," she cautioned, her tone laden with concern.
Taking a deep breath to steady himself, Jack's lips trembled slightly as he spoke.
"No one is hurting Grace, Sam. That's what I meant. I want us to be a family," he confessed, tenderly cupping her chin.
Sam gasped softly, her voice barely above a whisper as she sought clarification. "What?" she questioned, her uncertainty hanging between them like a delicate thread.
Jack tenderly swept a stray lock of hair behind Sam's ear, his touch sending shivers down her spine. With deliberate slowness, he traced his fingertips along the curve of her neck, his gaze tracing the same path.
"I don't want us to hide, Sam. Once my retirement takes effect, I envision us as a family. You, me, and Grace," he murmured, his knuckles grazing her collarbone, inching teasingly lower along her neckline.
Sam's skin tingled under his touch, her cheeks flushing with anticipation and nervousness.
"A family?" Sam echoed, her voice barely above a whisper, her heart fluttering with emotions.
Jack's eyes held hers for a moment before trailing back to her face, a soft smile playing at the corners of his lips. Leaning closer, his breath brushed against her earlobe as he whispered, "Don't you want that? To be a family?"
As he wrapped his arms around her waist, pulling her firmly against his chest, Sam's breath caught in her throat.
"I...I do," she finally confessed, her voice barely audible amidst the rush of emotions swirling within her.
Jack was momentarily stunned as he heard her say those words aloud, but then he closed his eyes and gently cradled Sam's face, pressing his lips against hers. Their kiss was filled with an intense passion, each movement a blend of tenderness and desire that left Sam breathless against him. With an arm wrapped securely around her waist, Jack pulled her closer, their hearts beating in sync as if echoing the same rhythm of their emotions.
Sam's hands found their way into the soft strands of Jack's hair, her fingers intertwining with the gray locks as he groaned softly into their kiss. She tugged gently at the ends of his hair, eliciting his more profound response.
"Oh God…" she mumbled when they stopped for air.
But he didn't give her time to breathe. Jack's lips met Sam's once more, igniting a fiery kiss fueled by longing and desire. Each brush of his lips against hers stirred a hunger within her, a yearning to lose herself entirely in his embrace. Sam's heart pounded with anticipation, butterflies swirling in her stomach as she surrendered to the intoxicating sensation of being enveloped by his passion. All else faded away in that moment, leaving only their blissful connection.
Then he slowly pulled back, allowing them space to breathe.
"I might have gotten a bit carried away...," he admitted between breaths, a hint of amusement in his voice.
"With what?" she asked, whispering the words softly.
Jack cradled her hips, his deep brown eyes locked onto hers with an intensity that sent shivers down her spine. "You, your body, your delicious lips... everything," he murmured, leaning in to trail soft kisses along the bridge of her nose.
Sam's cheeks burned with embarrassment, her heart racing erratically. "I... I quite enjoyed it. All of it," she managed to stammer out, her breath catching in her throat.
A smirk danced across Jack's lips as he leaned in to plant a lingering kiss on the bridge of her nose. "Good," he replied, his voice laced with satisfaction. "So, what do you say we take a little break? You can shower nice, and I'll take care of breakfast." He held her in his arms, still relishing the closeness between them.
Sam continued to blush, feeling a mix of nervousness and excitement. "Ah... that sounds nice, but I already had coffee," she admitted hesitantly.
With a gentle peck on her lips, Jack released her from his embrace. "I know; I brought it, remember? Go shower," he said with a smile before grabbing the mugs he had brought in and leaving the room, a soft tune escaping his lips.
Sam swallowed hard, feeling a rush of emotions as she followed his instructions and headed to the shower. Her mind buzzed with anticipation for what the day might hold.
Jack hummed softly and poured maple syrup over the pancakes. Then, he decoratively kept the blueberries he had found on the fridge on one side of the plate and two half-cut strawberries on top of the pancake layers.
"Hello again," Jack greeted merrily.
Sam's brows furrowed. "What's going on?" She approached the kitchen counter and sat suspiciously on a stool, eyeing the pancakes.
"I made you breakfast," he said with a smile.
"I see that." Sam stared at the pancakes momentarily and then turned to him with narrowed eyes. "You know I only drink coffee," she added.
"Yes, I know, and you just reminded me in the bedroom," he replied with a playful smirk, crossing his arms and fixing her with a mischievous gaze. "I hoped to tempt you to change your breakfast habits a bit."
Sam cast another glance at the plate of pancakes, her stomach grumbling at the sight of the delicious stack. "I suppose I could try one since you went through all this trouble," she said tentatively, her gaze meeting Jack's.
Jack nodded eagerly. "Go ahead. We can enjoy them together," he suggested, sitting beside her and pouring her a fresh cup of coffee.
Clearing her throat, Sam hesitated. "I'm not accustomed to this, Jack," she admitted slowly, her eyes flickering between him and the pancakes on the plate in front of her.
Jack reached out, gently squeezing her hand.
"I understand, but that doesn't mean you can't embrace something new," he said softly, placing a pancake on her plate. "Your past doesn't define you, Sam. Every day is an opportunity to shape a new future. Let me be a part of that journey with you."
Sam felt a lump form in her throat, tears threatening to spill over. This time, she didn't hold them back. "Okay, let's try it," she agreed, trembling slightly as she caressed his hand.
A warm smile spread across Jack's face as he took a bite of his pancake.
"That's the spirit," he encouraged, his eyes reflecting his genuine happiness. Together, they embarked on a new chapter, one pancake at a time.
Back in the SUV on their way to pick up Grace, they delved into the logistics of broaching the subject with her. Jack suggested that Sam move into his bedroom, but she hesitated, wary of rushing things and concerned about overwhelming Grace – and herself. Despite her newfound certainty about her feelings for Jack and her place in this reality, the prospect of building a family – a dream she had long pursued – felt almost within reach, yet it terrified her. Happiness was unfamiliar territory for Sam; she had known only pain and suffering, and the fear of it slipping away lingered like a shadow.
"Let's start by telling her that we're... together," Sam suggested, her cheeks flushing as Jack halted at a red light.
Jack nodded, a discreet smile playing on his lips. "Okay, we'll take it at your pace," he assured her, keeping an eye on the traffic.
Sam let out a heavy sigh. "I don't feel comfortable with any of this, Jack," she confessed, the weight of uncertainty pressing down on her.
Jack reached out, gently taking her hand in his. "I understand. I'll adjust, Sam. Just let me know if I'm moving too fast, and I'll slow down," he promised, his concern evident in his voice.
Sam swallowed hard, suddenly feeling suffocated by the weight of her emotions. "Do you mind stopping for a minute?" she managed to ask, her chest tightening with each breath.
Alarm flickered in Jack's eyes as he glanced at her pallid complexion. Without hesitation, he pulled over, and Sam stepped out of the car, gasping for air. Jack followed suit, joining her by the roadside as she struggled to catch her breath. Tears streamed down her eyes, and her body was shaking. Sam squeezed her eyelids shut, trying to block everything around her.
He gently clasped her cold hands, his touch a comforting anchor amidst the turmoil of her panic attack.
"I'm here, Sam. Try to focus on your breathing," he said soothingly amid her chaos.
Following his guidance, Sam concentrated on inhaling and exhaling, allowing the rhythm of her breath to steady her racing heart. Standing there on the sidewalk felt like an eternity, but gradually, the tightness in her chest dissipated, and clarity returned.
As her vision cleared, she met with Jack's concerned gaze. "How are you feeling?" he inquired softly, still holding her hands tightly.
"Better," she replied, a sense of gratitude washing over her.
Jack offered her a relieved smile. "That's good," he murmured, his fingers gently squeezing hers.
"I'm sorry," Sam apologized immediately, her voice tinged with regret.
Jack shook his head, his expression tender. "You don't need to apologize, ever. I'm here for you whenever you need me," he reassured her, pulling her close in a comforting embrace.
Sam closed her eyes, feeling the warmth of his embrace enveloping her. "Thank you," she whispered sincerely.
"I love you, Sam. Things may feel complicated, but we'll navigate through them together," he whispered into her ear, his words a source of comfort.
She nodded in response, her heart still racing with emotion.
"I feel better now. We can go," Sam announced after a moment, though Jack held her close.
"Let's stay like this a little longer. I rather enjoy holding you," he suggested with a smile, feeling the wild rhythm of her heart gradually slowing beneath his touch.
After a few moments, he released her with a gentle kiss. "Okay, let's go get Grace," he said, his voice filled with determination.
Sam nodded, re-entering the SUV. The drive was quiet, but Jack held her hand until they arrived at Dakota's house.