What Happens In Vegas Stays in Vegas

Chapter 6: Know when to Hold'em

Jack had given up riding his Harley after Charlie died. His son always wanted to go for rides in the summer time. Sara did too but saw it more of a father son bonding. The Harley sat in the corner of his garage with a tarp covering it for the longest time.

Carter had talked about going for rides to here and there while on missions. She talked about going for a ride the second to last mission in particular. Because of that mission Jack decided to get the old Fat Boy road worthy and surprise her. Instead she surprised him by suggesting riding to Las Vegas. He didn't have anything planned so off they went without thinking, throwing caution to the wind. Now here they were riding through Las Vegas without those pesky fraternization regulations hanging over their heads.

God, he loved the women who immediately wrapped her long legs around his middle after leaving the rental shop. Lost in thought he spotted 'Shane's' Jewelry shop. Carter would need something to go with her dress. Turning on his turn signal Jack pulled into the parking lot much to her surprise. "Why are you pulling into here Jack? Don't you want to explore the town?" She asked getting off the motorcycle with Jack. Leading her into Shane's he smiled at her. "Sam, you can't wear a fancy dress without diamonds or pearls." She opened and closed her mouth trying to think of a reason for him not to spend that kind of money on her.

"Jack, I don't need jewelry. The dress will suffice." She said spotting the diamond section. Maybe small talk would act as a distraction from all the pretty jewelry she thought. "I'm glad they'll deliver our outfits. There was no way we could have transported them on your Harley." Sam added making conversation. "That's why I asked Missy if they could. She said they do it all the time." Jack answered following her quietly waving off the sales associate. He wanted Samantha to look around first. Let her inner woman take over while looking at all the sparkly stuff. After carefully examining all the diamond necklaces she focused on one in particular.

"I like this one Jack; it reminds me of the gate." Sam pointed out to him. "It costs a lot of money though." She said giving him a questioning look. The necklace Sam liked happens to be Diamond Infinity Pendant with a dark blue Sapphire in the middle. The chain was 14K white gold 18 inches long costing $570.00. Jack motioned for the previous sales associate to come over. "No worries Samantha, I don't spend that much money unless it's on Cassandra. Now I'll spend some on you." she looked at Jack with a loving gaze and disbelief. Her mother was correct. One day a knight in shining armor will appear, the man of your dreams. She knew Jack to be that knight, just out of reach until this morning. "...Excellent choice madam, will that cash or card sir?" the man asked opening the case. "Jack, you don't have to buy it for me." She said keeping her eye on the necklace. "Card, I don't carry that much cash around." Jack replied handing over his debit card. Sam looked at Jack then the box containing the necklace then back not believing her eyes. No man has ever bought such exquisite jewelry for her. "I don't blame you sir, I wouldn't either. I'll be right back with your recite. If your lady would like to try it on feel free to do so." The sales associate told them. "Can I Jack? I mean it's for tonight but I'd like to see how it looks on me now." Samantha asked with pleading eyes afraid to touch the necklace. "By all mean my lady." This made her blush a deep red. Jack gently picked up the necklace then placed on her. She looked in the mirror from different angles smiling the whole time. "It's beautiful Jack, I don't know what to say." Turning her around to him gazed into her eyes. "No need to say anything." Sam gently kissed him as a thank you. The associate waited giving the couple a moment then approached. "Here's your recite sir. The necklace looks good on you madam. I hope the two of you have a wonderful evening." Samantha didn't say anything as they walked out the door holding the Shane Box tightly. "Yes sir you betcha!" Jack replied.

The ride back to the hotel was uneventful. They spotted the Mob Museum, Pawn Stars (A/N1) and few other interesting places to visit.

Walking into the hotel Sam's phone rang. The caller Id showed Janet was calling from her home phone. Not knowing if she should answer. She looked at Jack who just shrugged his shoulders. "Janet will just call back." He told here scanning the area with his sun glasses still on. "Your right, what do I tell her. I would like to keep this to ourselves for now." Sam answered honestly. "Janet has needles, big honking needles. I for one don't want to cross her. Don't tell the small Napoleonic power monger that though." Jack replied making a show of how big the needles were. She giggled at his exaggeration. "I'll call her from our room. Do you want to listen in on the call?" Sam asked watching him look towards the poker tables. "Nah, I'll let you face her interrogation alone. You have a better chance of holding out." Jack said winking at her. "Thanks for the support Jack, I'll remember this." She said with a giggle. "I owe you one. Care to wish me luck Carter?" he asked with a smirk. Kissing him on the cheek she promptly went up to their room.

With $400.00 in chips Jack walked around looking for a table he could join. Using years of observing peoples body language along with playing poker with various military branches, American and foreign, he chose wisely. A man walked away from a table frustrated. Jack walked up going into black ops mode, show only what you want the enemy to see. "Mind if join the game, I see you have an open chair." He asked getting the okay from the dealer. "How much to you have to lose to us mister? This isn't a game for weak of heart." A man in a business suit asked. Another man snickered taking in Jacks Homer Simpson for president shirt. The other two at table just ignored Jack focusing on their cards. "Good thing I don't plan on losing then." He replied taking the vacated seat. The dealer dealt Jack in not caring long as the other didn't have an issue.

"Sam, about time you answer your phone. I've been trying to call you for 30 minutes." Janet said kind of worried about her friend. "I'm fine Janet, I couldn't answer right away. I was...riding my motorcycle." She replied not revealing it was Jacks. "That's okay Sam. I am calling to see if you want to have a girl's night? Cassandra is staying at a friend's house. That way you can give me all the details about your date with the cop." Janet said with a smile. Sam needed a man in her life, a particular man. This cop might not be Mr. Right but could give Jack a reason to act she thought.

'Dang it, what do I tell my best friend?' Samantha thought to herself. "Sam, are you there? You did go on that date...right?" Janet asked suspicion rising. Sam didn't act excited about the date so maybe she got cold feet. "About that...I went on a motorcycle ride instead." She answered coyly. "Let me get this straight. You went for a ride on your Indian instead of a blind date your brother set up, one that we talked about last week." She asked secretly relived about. "Yes, the weather was really nice." Samantha answered leaving off the part where Jack showed up. "Sam, where are you?" Janet inquired digging for information really curious now. Feeling the pressure Sam decided to tell half truths. "Lost Wages, I've always wanted to ride my bike here." She answered using Jacks term for the town. "You expect me to believe that Sam?" Janet said then continued." Did you finally except Jacks invitation to his cabin?" Janet asked excitedly. "I promise not to say anything long as your careful." She added pushing to get more information. Maybe the talk of Sam going on a date with the cop prompted Jack to act? "Janet, you can't repeat what I tell you to no one, I mean no one." Sam told her friend. "I promise you can trust me." With the promise secured Sam began. "Jack has a Harley Davidson Janet. Did you know that? I was so mad at him for holding out! " the fact that Jack had a Harley didn't register to Janet. Reading between the lines she figured out Jack and Sam was in Vegas together...alone with no supervision. "Sam, are you telling me that Jack and you are in Vegas...together...unsupervised?" she asked in a low voice. "Um...yes. We uh...sort of started riding and surprise? We ended up in Vegas." Sam explained remembering Jack eyes wondering down to her cleavage that wonderful day. "Girl... start from the beginning...hold that thought. I'm going to get a bottle of red wine before you start." Janet told her friend. This story had better be good she thought. If they didn't have sex yet they had better. What happens in Vegas stays in Vegas after all.

"Not again, mister...I'd swear you're cheating somehow. But you're wearing a t-shirt so there are no hiding cards." The man in the business suit said looking at Jacks chips. "I agree, maybe we underestimated you. I'm getting out while I still have my shirt." One man said taking his chips elsewhere. Jacks pile had grown from the $400.00 to almost $4,000.00. "Believe what you want but I'm not the one drinking alcohol while playing poker." Jack replied getting an evil stare from the remaining two players. "Laugh it up old man. Luck only lasts so long." The business man said taking another drink.

"So let me get this straight! Jack walked out in nothing but a towel and your two 'angles', one good the other bad, pushed you to act?" Janet repeated making sure she heard right. "Yes, I mean...Is it getting hot in here." Sam replied waving herself. "What was I to do?" she asked memories coming back. "Jump him, that's what." Janet said taking another drink. Only if she could tell Walter just a little bit but a promise is a promise especially to a friend. "I did, or tried to but Jack stopped me." Sam told her causing Janet to pause. "He stopped you..." She repeated in disbelief. "...I know Janet. I had every intention of blowing that door off its hinges. But Jack had a plan for when I opened the door." Samantha replied laying her head on the Jacks pillow. "Plan, what kind of plan is stopping you from jumping him?" Janet asked. "This is may come as a shocker to you, it was to me. Jack called the president Janet." The doctor sat up completely caught off guard. "Why would the colonel call President Hayes?" she asked?

"...Full house campers, aces over kings." Jack said laying his cards down. The other player had left two hands back leaving the businessman and Jack. "Dammit, how in the hell did you win? You're a card counter aren't you? Dealer I demand security to kick this man out and my money back!" said the angry man. "Sir, please calm down. The only time counting cards give people advantages is in Black Jack. I didn't observe Mr. O'Neill cheating." The dealer explained. "Here is your winnings sir, have a nice rest of your day." He continued watching security approach cautiously. "Thank you Dennis, here is $200 for your troubles. Have a wonderful day." Jack said ignoring the drunken businessman. There was no need to wait for security. Being the center of attention wasn't his idea of fun. "Now wait a minute mister. You aren't leaving with my money that easily." The man said placing a hand on Jacks shoulder. "Oh for crying out loud, what is it with people today?" Jack asked out loud to nobody in particular.

"Let me get this straight in my head Sam?" Janet said not believing what her friend just explained to her. "Jack arranged deferment papers with the president a couple of years ago without telling you." she asked getting confirmation from Sam. "Then Jack waited for you to make the first move. So he could call in his marker with the president." Janet continued putting the pieces together. "The president had a bet with General Hammond as well." Another conformation from Sam made Janet take another sip of wine. The colonel was more cunning that a wild cat. "So when Jack got off the phone with the president you jumped him right..." she didn't need the answer, just wanted to hear it again. "Janet, I've never been so satisfied in my life. The dreams I shared with you didn't even come close to the love he showed me this morning." Samantha said lying on the very pillow her head rested on while making love. "Sam, those dreams were vivid and you're telling me they didn't come close. You're going to have to give me more details than that girlfriend."

"...Listen Mr. Burns..." Jack said turning to face the angry businessman. "You want to know why you lost and lost big?" he asked looking down at the man. "Yes I do, I want to know how you cheated." Jack sighed; sore losers never look in the mirror. "You have tells Mr. Burns. That and you never drink and gamble for one. Two, when you get nervous you play with your watch or tie." He told the man who now had two large security personnel behind him. "Third, when you have a good hand never bet quickly. Then expect the other players to do the same, it doesn't work on everyone. Never underestimate anyone, this time it was only money. Next time it could be life and death." Jack told him in a low cold voice. This caused the businessman and security personnel take notice. "Just who the hell are you mister?" one of the security guards asked. Putting his sunglasses back on Jack smiled. "Me, I'm no one special... just a man who's got a beautiful lady waiting for him. Now if you'll excuse me." He answered walking away singing Kenny Rogers song 'The Gambler' (A/N2).

"Samantha, I don't know what to say. I do know I'm jealous of you. The ATA gene has to have something to do with his stamina. When I do treadmill tests the setting I use is at its limits. Now tell me about the dress you bought for the dance." Janet said truly happy for her friends. "Janet, it's a beautiful dress, Jack hasn't seen it but I know he'll love it. The dress is form..." Sam started describing when there was a knock at the door. "Hold on Janet, there's someone at the door." Janet waited patiently wishing she was there along with a certain sandy hair archeologist. "I'm back, that was Missy with our outfits for tonight. Now where was I?" Samantha asked smiling thinking about tonight, more important later that night and what she was going to do with Jack. "I'm on pins and needles here, more details Sam." Janet told her friend. "The Dress if form fitting in all the right places. Jack won't get an eye full but that don't matter anymore does It." She said causing both women to laugh. "The dress won't last long after you get back will it?" Janet said with a smirk. "No it won't but I don't..."

Jack put his room card in the door getting a green light. Sam looked up seeing the handle move realizing her boyfriend was back from gambling. "Janet, Jacks back...I'll call soon as I can." Then she hung up abruptly. "Sam don't hang up, you haven't finished telling me about the Secret Service agents or necklace he bought you. Sam...Sam! Dammit, why did the colonel have to return so soon? Now I got to wait until tomorrow." Janet said with a huff. "Well, at least I have red wine and cheesy romance novels to keep me company." Smiling Janet thought about calling Walter and teasing the man. He always came to her for bits of intelligence on Jack and Sam. Laughing she picked her book up eventually falling asleep on the couch happy for her friends.

A/N1: Pawn Stars first episode aired 2009, July 19th. Jack and Sam's visit Las Vegas in 2004.

A/N2: the Gambler is a song by Kenny Rogers was released in 1978.

LoneWolfO'Neill