The soft light of dawn filtered through the windows, casting a gentle glow over the cabin. Outside, birds sang their morning chorus, and the faint rustle of leaves in the breeze added to the serene atmosphere. The scent of pine and fresh morning dew filled the air, mingling with the faint aroma of the coffee Jack had brewed the previous night.

Sam woke slowly, her senses gradually taking in the comforting surroundings. She turned to see Jack asleep beside her, his face relaxed and peaceful. His hair was almost back to the regular military cut he sometimes used, although she preferred it longer. A small smile played on her lips as she watched him, memories of their honeymoon flooding back. The cabin had been their sanctuary, where they had laughed, loved, and created countless memories. She was determined to help him remember those moments.

Leaning in, she began to place soft kisses along his jawline, her lips brushing gently against his skin, feeling the light stubble. Jack stirred slightly, a contented hum escaping his lips. Sam continued her tender assault, moving to his lips and kissing him with increasing intensity.

Jack's eyes fluttered open, and he gazed up at her with surprise and pleasure.

"Morning," he murmured, his voice husky from sleep.

"Morning," Sam replied, her eyes sparkling with mischief and determination. She kissed him again, more profound this time, her hands roaming over his chest and shoulders.

Jack responded, his arms wrapping around her instinctively. But as the kiss grew more passionate, he pulled back slightly, a hint of hesitation in his brown eyes.

"Sam, we talked about this last night..."

"I know," Sam interrupted, her voice firm but loving. "But I'm not giving up on us. On you. I want you to remember, Jack. And if showing you what we had is the way to do it, then that's what I'm going to do."

Jack's resolve wavered as he looked into her blue eyes, seeing the fierce determination and love that had always drawn him to her. "Sam..."

She silenced him with another kiss, her hands moving lower, exploring the familiar terrain of his body. "Do you remember our honeymoon?" she whispered against his lips.

With a sad expression, Jack shook his head.

Sam kissed him again. She was changing tactics.

"We spent it here, and we barely left this cabin. We were so in love, so passionate. Let me show you, Jack. Let me remind you."

Jack's breath hitched as her touch became more insistent, her warm body pressing closer to his.

"Sam, this isn't fair," he managed to say, though his voice lacked conviction.

Sam smiled, a hint of the playful, seductive energy that had always been a part of their relationship.

"Life's not fair, Jack. But love... love is worth fighting for." She kissed him again, more fervently this time, her body moving against his with an irresistible rhythm.

Jack's hands found their way to her hips, gripping her tightly as his resistance began to crumble. The memories of their time at the cabin, the intensity of their connection, and the undeniable chemistry they shared surged through his mind.

"Sam..." he whispered in his voice, a mixture of longing and surrender.

"Yes, honey?" she replied, her lips never leaving his skin.

"I… I'm having some flashbacks," he said softly, his eyes locking onto hers. "I remember how we stayed here after the wedding. And the rest of the people left."

Sam's heart swelled with joy and relief, but she didn't stop. She wanted him to remember everything, to feel everything. Her kisses became more urgent, her touch more demanding.

Jack's resolve shattered completely as he rolled them over, pinning her beneath him. "You're impossible," he murmured with a grin, his eyes dark with desire.

"And you love me for it," Sam shot back, breathless.

"Yes, I do," Jack agreed, capturing her lips in a searing kiss.

"What else do you remember?" she asked, moving her hands to his boxers.

Jack swallowed hard.

"This bedroom…us", he said, breathing heavily as her hands became more determined.

"Right. We started here. Any particular activity came to your mind?" she asked, sucking his lower lip passionately.

Jack groaned loudly, feeling her body teasing him in an impossible way now. He had only two choices. Leave the bed or give in to what he was caving so desperately, and only his sheer will had stopped him from accepting her teasing.

He wasn't leaving the bed.

"Yes, I remember the activity very well," he said, his hands moving to her thighs.

Sam smiled widely as she felt his fingers.

"Are you sure? We haven't practiced in a long time… And I mean, a long time, Jack", she stressed, every word with a kiss.

Jack also smiled as some puzzle pieces started to fit into his fragmented memory.

All-consuming. That was what this woman was to him.

In a swift movement, Jack made Sam lie beneath him, her hands pinned above her head as she breathed heavily. His eyes locked onto her blue ones for a moment before he buried his face in her neck, inhaling her scent to calm himself.

"Let me show what I remember," he whispered in her ear.

"Jack," she moaned as he bit her skin hard. She wrapped her hands around his neck before pulling him closer.

His hand started to move to her shorts and caressed her waist softly.

Sam fisted his hair when he thrust his tongue inside her mouth, creating a burning sensation in her whole body. His hands seductively traced her body, making Sam arch her back and traveling his kisses down to her neck and chest before squeezing her breasts tight.

He darkly chuckled and kissed every inch of her body with need and urgency. His kisses traveled to her cleavage to her breasts before squeezing them tightly, and Sam moaned.

"Jack..."

He snatched her breath, making Sam tap on his shoulder while he parted her legs before settling himself in between. God, he missed her!

He took her shorts with military precision and efficiency before breaking the kiss, making Sam catch her breath.

"This sounds remarkably familiar," he breathed, throwing the tiny shorts to the bedroom floor.

"I…I'm glad to hear that", she managed to say as goosebumps prickled her skin.

He knelt before her, tearing her panties away with a swift motion that sent a shiver through her. A fierce, burning sensation erupted inside her as he buried his mouth into her core, sucking. His tongue thrust and licked, pushing her to the edge.

"Oh God…don't stop", she begged.

The overstimulation sent waves of pleasure crashing through her, making her moan loudly and grip the pillow tightly. Her chest heaved in rhythm with his licks and thrusts. Sam arched her back, a deep groan escaping her lips as she finally let go, her grip on his hair loosening. Eyes closed, she threw her head back onto the pillow, overwhelmed by the intensity of the pleasure, and slipped almost into unconsciousness.

"I won't," he said, kissing her deeply.

Jack felt a thrilling sensation wash over him as he continued to remember. Their first night, all the times after. All that physical intimacy they had waited so long for. He kissed her again as he sat on his knees again, breathing hard.

"Ready for more, honey?" he asked, holding her waist tightly as he pulled her closer.

"Go for it, General," Sam said with a wide smile as she opened her eyes and looked at him.

Jack didn't wait anymore and thrust inside her without any warming. Suddenly, in just a second, he was all inside of her, making her gasp and moan loudly.

"Jesus…fuck, Jack," she said, grabbing his arms.

His thrusts felt like heaven, and Sam never wanted him to stop. She was on the brink of an orgasm so intense she was sure she had never experienced anything like it before. Or maybe her time in Atlantis was more than her body thought. And needed.

He grunted and groaned, feeling her tight walls as he tightened his grip over her waist and thrust as hard as he could, the bed shaking due to his intense movements. The room was filled with their body heat, skin slapping, and breathy moans.

"Jack…" she moaned louder. She was very close.

He started thrusting inside her faster and faster until she shattered through her orgasm. Sam's warm release made him growl loudly with satisfaction and pleasure. He increased his speed to an animalistic pace until he finally came apart in a powerful orgasm.

"Holy fuck", he groaned.

As they lay entwined afterward, breathing heavily and holding each other close, Jack whispered, "Thank you, honey. For not giving up on us."

"Never," she replied, her voice filled with love and conviction. "I'll always fight for you, for us."

Jack caressed her face, feeling his heart full of love for the woman lying with him in bed.

"I fell in love with you long before I said the words," he said.

Sam smiled, nestling her head in his neck.

"I know. I did, too", she said.

"I may never remember anything else, but I'm so glad I remembered us. Knowing that there's no other woman in the world or galaxy I even want to look at because the woman in front of me is all I need. When seeing you can turn a shitty day into a great one in an instant. When I truly feel like there's no one else I'd rather spend my last day on Earth with than you. You are my everything, Sam. Always", he said, slowly kissing her.

Sam had tears in her eyes.

"These last weeks have been pure hell, but if it meant you were coming back to me, I'll endure whatever it takes, Jack. As long as you come back to me," she said, holding his face and kissing him back.

"I could never leave you, honey. It just took me a while, " he said with a smile while she continued kissing him.

"You scared the shit out of me, Jack! We went back to SG-1 and SGC times", she said, her hands moving to his chest.

Jack held her head against his chest, kissing it.

"I'm sorry. I honestly didn't remember", he said.

Sam took a deep breath. "I know you didn't, and that was the scary part—that you would never remember us, our love, what we've accomplished. Everything", she said in a low voice.

Jack kissed her head again.

"There are still things I don't remember, Sam, like where you are stationed right now, but regarding us, I remember," he said firmly.

Sam slowly lifted her head and looked at him.

"You don't remember my current post?" she asked slowly.

Jack shook his head.

"Atlantis", she said.

"Like the Atlantis in the Pegasus galaxy?" he asked, raising an eyebrow.

Sam nodded.

"Wow…you are…far", he said slowly.

Sam swallowed. This reaction was different from when she had been selected to command Atlantis. Back then, he had been over the moon, ecstatic about her promotion and the prospect of leading the flying city—much more than she had been if Sam was honest.

"You don't like that I'm that far?" she asked, still looking at him.

Jack took a deep breath. He had no idea she was in Atlantis, which was remarkably far away. It was in another galaxy, meaning they had probably been apart for a long time.

"How did I react when you were assigned?" he asked, trying to deflect.

Sam smiled.

"Nice try, General. I'm asking you now, Jack. What do you feel knowing that I'm posted in Atlantis?" she asked.

He decided to be honest.

"I don't know. My mind is tangled with what happened between us, and I can't think coherently about your post. I can't answer you honestly. Maybe later," he offered.

Sam kissed his forehead.

"Sure, no problem. There's no rush. We have time for that. What about a nice hot shower?" she asked.

Jack's smile lightened his face.

"Oh, a shower? Together?" he asked, his hands playing with her back.

"Together. Let's save some water and heat", she said playfully.

"We can try," he said, jerking the duvet and landing his feet on the floor before standing on them. Sam did the same, and they walked towards the bathroom. The mood was much better in the cabin, and for once, the outside world remained forgotten.

The morning was filled with the rediscovery of their love, bodies, and souls, reconnecting in the most intimate way possible. Sam's determination and Jack's rekindled memories brought them back to a place of unity and passion they had once known so well.

They knew their bond was unbreakable at that moment despite the challenges ahead. They had found each other again, and nothing would ever come between them.

The scent of sizzling bacon and freshly brewed coffee filled the air as Jack and Sam moved about the kitchen in comfortable synchrony. After their joint shower, the steam from which lingered in the bathroom, they had fallen into an old routine, working side by side to prepare breakfast. With its rustic charm, the cabin felt like a sanctuary from the chaos that had been their lives recently.

Jack poured coffee into two mugs and brought them to the table, where Sam set out plates of bacon, scrambled eggs, and toast. They sat across from each other, the morning sunlight streaming through the windows, casting a warm glow over everything.

"Thanks for making breakfast," Sam said, sipping her coffee.

Jack smiled. "It's nice to do something normal for a change."

They ate in companionable silence for a few minutes, the only sounds being the clinking of utensils and the soft hum of nature outside. Sam observed Jack, noting how he seemed more relaxed, more at ease than he had been in weeks. She decided now was the time to bring up the investigation, hoping that talking about it might jog more of his memories.

"Jack," she began cautiously, "we need to discuss the investigation."

He looked up from his plate, meeting her gaze. "The one you were told to stand aside?"

"Yes."

Jack nodded slowly, his expression serious.

"But you'll be disobeying orders by telling me?" he asked.

Sam bit her lip. "Yes", she said again.

"Do you feel comfortable disobeying those orders, Sam?" he asked.

His tone was now almost amusing. He still remembered her tendency to defy some of his orders at SG-1 and then throw him the hated sentence, "With all due respect, Sir." Oh yeah, he remembered that.

"At the point we are at, I'm willing to face the consequences of disobeying those orders," she said, her eyes determined.

"Okay. Tell me."

Sam took a deep breath, gathering her thoughts. "We believe someone from the Nexus Network orchestrated the attack. Cyber warfare and espionage. Does it ring a bell?" she asked.

Jack thought a little. "The name sounds familiar, but I can't place it. I'm sorry", he admitted.

Sam swallowed.

"It's okay. They hack into sensitive systems, steal classified information, and disrupt communications. And they use bombs to target individuals at high levels. We managed to trace their activities and gathered pieces of evidence. Encrypted communications that I was handling and an auction at the Dark Web with old plans of the Stargate and mentioning your attack. Recently, we uncovered intel that mentions a 'Phase Two,'" Sam said, clearing her throat.

Jack's brow furrowed as he processed the information. "So, this group is after the Stargate information?"

Sam shook her head.

"I don't think so, but that is my opinion. I haven't shared it with anyone, not even General Landry. Not after what I discovered about 'Phase Two,' she said slowly.

Jack narrowed his eyes.

"What did you find out, Sam?" he asked.

"I found names of several high-ranking generals. However, when I reported this to General Landry, Agent Mike Davis from the FBI ordered the operation to be halted. He said he needed to consult with the FBI and White House superiors. It didn't make sense to me, and it felt like he was trying to keep us from digging deeper."

"What names?" Jack asked.

"Generals Bryant, Moore, and Kingston," Sam said slowly.

Jack leaned back in his chair, his eyes narrowing as he replayed the names in his head.

"Those names I remember. You are speaking about the Chief of Staff of the Army, Air Force, and the Chief of Space Operations. They belong to the Joint Chiefs of Staff", Jack said very slowly.

Sam nodded. Everyone recognized the names when she said them aloud in the safe house.

"Why would the FBI want to stop the Air Force from investigating an attack on high-level individuals? An attack that could be against some of the JCS?" Jack asked aloud.

"Exactly," Sam said, frustration evident in her voice. "It doesn't add up. It feels like there's something bigger going on, something they're not telling us."

Jack rubbed his temples, a familiar gesture that Sam recognized as him trying to piece together fragmented memories. "So, what do we do now?"

"I think talking about it, remembering what we know, might help jog your memory," Sam suggested. "Maybe there's something you know that could give us a clue, something buried in your memories."

Jack nodded, looking determined. "Alright. Let's go over everything we know. Start from the beginning."

Sam recounted the details of the investigation, from the initial attack on Jack to the discovery of the intel mentioning the Nexus Network and moving to 'Phase Two.' She described the raids made to Baltimore and Philadelphia and the photos the team had found of him. Jack's eyes occasionally glazed over as she spoke, his mind working to connect the dots.

"I remember something," he said suddenly, interrupting her. "But it is completely different from what you are telling me," he said.

Sam drank some water.

"What? What did you remember?" she asked.

Jack looked at her as if deciding to tell her or not. Sam knew that look very well.

"Ah, Jack, come on. Don't do that. You are not keeping things from me now," she said, seeing his expression.

Jack cleared his throat. He didn't want to fight with her, but at the same time, they were speaking about hazardous people who had already tried to kill him. What if they decided to go after her next?

"You kept many things from me to protect me, Sam," he said carefully.

Sam opened her mouth and then closed it.

"I guess sooner or later, I would hear that, and you would use it," she said, getting up from her chair and going to the sink. She looked outside, her heart pounding heavily on her chest.

Jack also got up and stood behind her, his hands on her shoulders, feeling the tension.

"I'm afraid you'll get hurt," he admitted.

Sam continued to stare at the small window in front of the sink, which overlooked the forest.

"Yeah," she said between her teeth.

Jack slowly started to massage her tense shoulders.

"You asked me before, while we were in bed, what I thought about your posting in Atlantis. I can answer that if you want," he said.

Sam's body tensed even further. He was a master of deflecting attention when he wanted to, throwing her information he knew she wanted instead of giving her what she asked for at the moment.

"Go ahead," she said, her hands grabbing the sink with such strength that her knuckles turned white.

Jack slowly turned her around, his hand gently moving to her chin, forcing her to meet his gaze. She was furious—a controlled fury, but angry nonetheless. Her lips remained tightly sealed, but her piercing blue eyes spoke volumes, revealing everything he needed.

"Sam," he began softly, his voice tinged with love. "Don't be mad."

Her eyes narrowed, and she pulled away from his grip, crossing her arms defensively. "Then tell me what you remembered about the investigation?" she demanded, in a low and steady voice masking the storm within.

He sighed, running a hand through his hair. "I just want to protect you. Same thing you did with me."

She shook her head, a bitter smile playing on her lips. "How many times will you throw that to my face?"

Jack leaned back at the table.

"I don't know. I admit it still messes with me. I'll have to work on it. But we have more things to address," he said.

Sam shook her head.

"No, we don't. We can't move on to anything if you resent me that much. And I'm realizing that you do resent me a lot. And because it will always come back to this", she said, trying to steady herself.

His shoulders sagged, the weight of her words hitting him hard.

"Maybe we need to cool down a little," he said.

She studied him for a long moment, the silence stretching between them. Finally, she spoke, her voice soft but firm.

She said, "I think you are right. I'm going for a walk," and left the kitchen.

Jack silently cursed as he heard the front door close with a loud bang. After everything that had transpired between them that morning in bed, this was the last thing he had expected. He sighed heavily, the weight of the situation pressing down on him, and began to collect the breakfast plates, hoping that a walk would calm her down.

The clinking of dishes filled the quiet kitchen as he methodically rinsed and scrubbed. His mind replayed their heated exchange, the raw emotions still fresh. He had seen the hurt in her eyes and the frustration in her voice, which gnawed at him. Jack knew he had thrown his resentment to her face, but he hadn't anticipated how deep the wound would cut.

As he dried the last plate and set it aside, Jack glanced out the window, hoping to catch a glimpse of her walking along their familiar path. The sun was beginning to rise higher in the sky, casting long shadows across the lawn. He could picture her out there, her steps brisk and determined, trying to walk off the anger and confusion that had consumed her.

Jack wiped his hands on a towel and leaned against the counter, his thoughts racing. This morning, they had started so differently. They had been entwined, their bodies warm, and their physical connection relinked.

Determined not to let things fester, Jack decided to go after her. He grabbed his jacket and stepped outside, the cool air a stark contrast to the warmth of the kitchen. He followed the path she often took, his eyes scanning the horizon for any sign of her.

As he walked, he rehearsed what he would say. Apologies felt inadequate, but he needed to start somewhere. He needed to tell her how much she meant to him and how committed he was to making things right. Each step brought him closer to where he hoped she would be, and with each step, his resolve strengthened.

Finally, he saw her in the distance, standing by the old oak tree where they had shared so many conversations. Her back was to him, her shoulders slightly hunched as if the weight of their argument was pressing down on her.

Jack approached slowly, not wanting to startle her. "Sam," he called softly.

She turned to face him, her expression a mix of surprise and lingering anger. "What are you doing here, Jack?"

He took a deep breath, closing the distance between them. "I couldn't just leave things like that. We need to talk to try and make things right."

Sam looked away, her jaw set stubbornly. "Not everything is fixed with words, Jack."

"I know," he admitted, his voice sincere. "But we have to start somewhere. I'm sorry for what I said. I love you, Sam, and I want to work through this together."

She was silent for a long moment, the tension palpable. Finally, she sighed, her shoulders relaxing slightly. "Things won't get better by magic, Jack."

"I know," Jack said, stepping closer and reaching for her hand. "Just... please, let's not give up on us."

Sam looked at their intertwined fingers and then up at him. Her eyes softened just a bit, a flicker of hope shining through. "Alright," she said quietly. "We've said this before, but it needs to be repeated. Let's start by being honest and open. No more secrets, no more hiding things."

Jack nodded, his heart lifting at her words. "No more secrets," he promised.

As they stood there, the morning sun casting a warm glow around them, Jack felt a tentative but hopeful beginning to their reconciliation. It wouldn't be easy, but he was ready to face whatever challenges lay ahead as long as they faced them together.

They returned to the cabin in silence but holding their hands.