Adagio, 2 of 2
Dec. 13th, 2008 09:53 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
fantastic_jackieSorry I'm so late! I had technical difficulties! My laptop died..... As in can't be revived died. - atm, at least. Anyway, conclusion time!
Title: Adagio, Mvt. 2
Author:![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
patriot_jackie
Rating: G
Genre: Drama/Romance Fluff
Word Count: 3,156 Words
Season/Spoilers: Season 5, Fail Safe and Season 8, Threads
Summary: Adagio - A tempo mark directing that a movement is to be played rather slowly and gracefully; any slow dance.
Dedication: Still to Gater_62! Merry Shipmas!!
AN: This second part takes place after Threads. Or Moebius. Whatever. =P Not much else to say other than that! - Oh. I forgot that I was gonna call the chapters movements. Lol So I changed that.
Previously:
“We have it under control-”
“That’s just it, Sam. This isn’t something you should have to control.”
She turned from him, Daniel following her gaze to drift across the dance floor and settle on Jack. He was engaged in a conversation with a small group, a humorous expression on his face that didn’t quite reach his eyes. Teal’c was standing nearby in silent support. “If not for so many other factors,” she said wistfully, “I’d agree with you.”
It was a lot for her to admit, Daniel knew, and he was appreciative that she’d shared as much with him. But Daniel wouldn’t give up on them as it seemed they had. He was determined to see to it that someday, they both received their heart’s desire.
Mvt. 2
--3 Years Later--
Jack O’Neill bent down in the refrigerator and retrieved a beer – only to discover that it was empty. A quick perusal through the other bottles revealed that they too were missing their contents. There was absolutely no way... Daniel’s idea of a joke, probably - hiding the beers. All though, that seemed a bit sophisticated for him; the caps on the bottles were perfectly replaced. That left only one person…
“Where’s Car-Sam?” he asked passively from the kitchen of his Minnesota cabin. She was so going to get it. Maybe he could figure out how to drag her mattress onto the water tonight…
“She is outside by the lake, O’Neill,” Teal’c answered calmly. “I believe she is need of assistance.”
Jack nearly bolted for the door, tripping over his shoes slightly. “And why aren’t you assisting her?”
“It is an assistance only you can render.”
Jack froze, his hand on the knob, and turned to find the Jaffa giving him a steady, significant glance. Years of repression had him feeling immediately defensive: “Excuse me?”
Daniel, coming stand beside Teal’c, blinked at the tone and raised his eyes to Jack, giving a little shrug. “He’s right. She needs you. Only you, Jack.”
He pointed an angry finger. “Daniel! You’re meddling again. – And Teal’c! I expected better of you!-”
“As I do for you, O’Neill,” he steadily returned, interrupting Jack. “Colonel Carter has had many trials in the recent weeks. I say again that she is in need of your assistance.”
Jack let out a frustrated sigh, raising his hand to pinch between his eyes and attempting to calm his pounding heart. It was true that he’d hoped something might happen between himself and Carter on this trip, but this…. wasn’t at all what he’d had in mind. She was obviously far too raw, and he had absolutely no intentions… “You mind elaborating a bit, T? I mean, I know I’m her commanding officer, but I can’t do much more than give her a pep talk.”
“Oh, don’t give us that crap, Jack!” Daniel cut in. “Even assuming the technicality of being her CO, you’re both on vacation, and she’s leaving for ’51 the next week!”
“So?”
“So go out there and talk to her! You’ve waited for eight years! I think the powers that be will forgive you both if you jump the gun by a week!”
“Jump the gun?! What exactly are you implying-?”
“O’Neill. Samantha has lost her father, fiancé, and SG-1 all within a few weeks time,” Teal’c enumerated. “She is in need of the comfort only you can provide. I do not believe you doubt this, nor that your preference is to be here instead of out there.”
The big guy could be profound sometimes. Actually, whenever he said anything, it tended to be that way. He’d chalk it up to that whole wisdom and age thing, but he hated clichés. Instead, he just accepted that Teal’c was really smart and chose to show that intelligence in measured pieces. Actually, that sounded pretty familiar…
He sighed, knowing he couldn’t argue the point any further. He didn’t want to, anyway. Really, he just… wanted it to be between just him and Sam. Nothing against Teal’c and Daniel, but he was a pretty closed guy. Opening up to Carter was going to be one thing, but knowing that his two best friends would know what he was doing made him uncomfortable and nervous. But there weren’t any other options. And who said he had to open up, anyway? This was about her, right?
He glanced out the door window and caught sight of her standing stock still on his dock, arms wrapped around her middle, hands hidden by the long sleeves of her sweater. Leaving her out there without at least a friend was not a viable alternative. So he made his decision.
“You kids…head onto bed…” Jack said quietly, not believing his own ears. “Carter and I need a little privacy.”
Had he paused to look behind him instead of opening the door and stepping out silently, he would have seen the shock that registered on both Daniel’s and Teal’c’s faces.
-/\-
The steady tread of his heavy shoes clunking on the wooden dock gave his approach away, and he was soon beside her. They stood in silence, looking over the lake and the trees and the stars above. Jack glanced at her features sidelong, to discern what she was thinking. Her expression was sad, but blank, giving nothing away. Looking back towards the lake, he shuffled his feet, using the movement as an excuse to stand a little closer to her.
“A bit chilly out here, isn’t it?” he commented aimlessly, breaking the silence.
She shrugged.
“A little late, too,” he continued.
A small smile. ”I’m okay, Sir.”
“Sir?” He said it as casually as he could, though it came out slightly sarcastic.
She smiled wearily and shook her head. “Sorry, Jack.”
He grinned. “That’s more like it.”
They were silent again, she looking over the calm waters, he following her gaze for a minute or so before turning his attention to the sky above. What was he supposed to say here?
A cloudless night stretched overhead, and the distant bodies within and without their galaxy twinkled in all their heavenly glory. It was a breathtaking sight, a breathtaking thought. Had he really gallivanted across the stars with the two men in the house and the beautiful woman at his side, danger and certain death at every turn? Had he really given that up, now officially, for a chance at something he’d previously thought lost forever? With another sidelong glance to her, he supposed neither question was really so difficult to answer after all.
“So… I know you’re probably tired of this question, but how are you holding up?” Great. Get the conversation started by asking the one question she must hate. Brilliant, Jack. “Really.” He added on the end in a lame attempt to make it better. Maybe. Probably not.
She breathed a tired sigh. “Well, I suppose. All things considered.” And then she did consider for a moment, undoubtedly knowing he would want a more specific answer. “It’s just…” She trailed off.
“It’s just what?” he probed.
“It’s just a lot to take in all at once, is all,” she said with a shrug. “So many changes, you know?”
“Carter,” he said with a hint of exasperation. “Do you actually work on understating anything that bothers you?”
“Carter?” she retorted.
“Ah!” he raised a finger. “Don’t change the subject… Sam.”
“Better,” was all she said in reply.
He shook his head, rubbing absently at his short hair as he searched for the right thing to say. He wasn’t exactly the epitome of open expression himself, so he couldn’t really fault her for keeping it to herself. He understood, even. It was hard to… say things. “I suppose I never thought things would change,” he said thoughtfully. “I always imagined we’d win eventually, but I guess… I guess I just never thought about what we’d do beyond that. You know, once it actually happened.”
“All three threats to Earth’s security being eliminated at once is a bit of a dream come true, but it completely changes our priorities,” she replied in agreement. “With all three of you guys moving on, and even Dad… and Janet… I know I can’t stay at the SGC. It would be too surreal.”
“Yet you’re unhappy with the thought of moving to Nevada,” he stated. He’d known that Janet’s absence was still affecting her acutely. He wasn’t sure what to think of her acknowledging that to him, though.
“I’m not unhappy,” she said immediately. “I’m just… pensive. It’s almost like starting a whole new life. New location, new house, new job, no Stargate… And we’re all going our separate directions….”
And just like that, he understood.
“Sam,” he said gently and placed a hand on her shoulder so she turned to face him. He waited until she met his eyes. “We’re always a team, no matter where we are. You can’t believe anything else. Just because we end up on different planets or opposite sides of the galaxy even, doesn’t mean we’re anything less. ”
She finally looked at him then. Really looked at him. Even in the dim light, Jack could see that the slight smile she wore touched her eyes. “You’re right,” she said softly. Repeating, almost, as if to herself as much as to him.
He stepped a little closer, instinctively tucking a rebellious strand of loose hair behind her ear. “Always, Sam.”
She leaned into his touch. “You’re going to be good in Washington, Sir.”
He arched his eyebrows in surprise, not expecting her sudden expression of confidence in his abilities. “You really think so? You think they’ll listen to a single word I say? – Better yet, you think I’ll listen to a single word they say?”
A quiet, throaty chuckle was his reward – and what a reward it was.
She moved then, he belatedly realizing that she was wrapping her arms around him in a tight hug. She rested her head on his chest, beneath his chin as he returned her embrace. She held him tightly as he tensed for an instant, drawing a quick, silent breath. After another silent moment, he murmured quietly, “What’s this for?”
She sighed into him, shaking her head and getting closer. “Nothing. For just being you.” Then she stiffened, pulling away slightly. “You don’t mind, do you?”
He tightened his arms around her, pulling her more securely into the embrace. “Of course not.”
She hummed against him, loosening her vice just a little, gripping his shirt loosely instead. “Good.”
They stood pressed together without exchanging a word. Silence with Carter had rarely ever been uncomfortable, which was something he really did love about her. They were both independent people, and they didn’t have to interact to enjoy each other’s company. Although… being as close as they were, interaction was hard to avoid.
Why he started moving, he didn’t know. Perhaps it was his usual inability to remain still for any amount of time shining through, or maybe it was because he had his arms full of Carter, and moving just seemed to be the thing to do. Whatever the reason, they were full out swaying in a matter of minutes with a gentle creak, creak, creak under their feet.
From her snuggled position - and she was snuggled; there was no other word for it - she asked curiously, “Are we… dancing without music?”
Jack stopped abruptly, panic and embarrassment coursing through him as he floundered for an excuse. An explanation. Anything! Why had he thought- Why had he done-
“No, that’s not what I meant.” She shifted against him, still as close as could be. “Don’t stop. Please.”
His heart gave a particularly enthusiastic beat, which he was sure she felt. – Or maybe not, since he’d just about had a heart attack a second ago, and it may have been indistinguishable. – Though she couldn’t see it, Jack smiled, and he eagerly restarted his slight motions. She followed, the only sound the creaking of the wooden planks beneath their feet. Rocking from side to side, they twirled slowly about.
“I want you to promise me something, Carter,” he said quietly.
“Hmm?”
“When you get there, if you get lonely or upset or just want someone to talk to, I want you to call me.”
She pulled away from him enough to see him. “Sir?”
“I mean it, Sam. I meant what I said,” and he didn’t need to explain what he was referring to. “I’ll be there.”
She swallowed hard. “On one condition, Jack,” she replied softly.
“What?”
“You do the same. Call me. Anytime, anywhere. I’ll be there,” she said firmly.
He pulled her back to his chest and rested his cheek atop her blonde head. “You have yourself a deal.”
Sam sighed against him in contentment.
“It’s been a couple years since we did this,” he noted, thinking back to the unsatisfying ending they’d had three years ago.
She clutched at the fabric beneath her fingers, wanting to be closer. “It’s been too long.”
He turned his head in her hair and pressed a kiss there. She shivered in delight. “Yes,” he agreed. “It has.”
-/\-
“Yes!” Daniel cheered with a muted pump of his fist. He was peering out the window watching the scene unfold between his two friends.
Teal’c stood away from the window, respecting Jack’s request for privacy with Sam. “O’Neill and Colonel Carter would be most displeased with you if they knew you were spying on them.”
Daniel waved his hand in dismissal. “I’m not spying, Teal’c. I just want to make sure.”
“Ensuring what?”
“That they get together finally,” he answered naturally. “Oh, yes! Yes! Brilliant!”
Teal’c only tilted his head slightly to the side in confusion.
Daniel didn’t see his reaction, but he explained anyway: “They’re dancing! Yes! Finally!”
Teal’c frowned, not following. “I do not understand, Daniel Jackson. Is music not required for dancing?”
Turning, Daniel smiled and motioned for Teal’c to come stand beside him to peer through the blinds at their friends. Had curiosity not been burning within him, the Jaffa would have hesitated to cross the room; he did not. He peeked out, eyes falling on the two figures pressed closely together as they shuffled, turning slowly around in place. He was not as comfortable watching them as Daniel seemed to be and frowned, turning back to him, not comprehending what the younger man was trying to show him.
Daniel shrugged. “It’s possible one or both of them are humming.” The eyebrow rose, so Daniel continued, “But they don’t need music.”
Understanding dawned on him, and after a moment of indecision, Teal’c returned to his silent watch beside his friend. He had been a silent supporter Samantha and O’Neill as they skittered around their feelings for each other over the many years, much like DanielJackson. This was what they had wanted for their military friends, and in an odd way, Teal’c felt that he and Daniel almost deserved to witness the happy ending. Or, as was probably a more adequate description, a happy beginning.
Teal’c only hoped that neither discovered his duplicity in Daniel’s surveillance.
-/\-
“Are they still watching?” she asked, her words muffled by his shirt, and Jack thought that she may have been drifting close to sleep even though they were still rocking back and forth.
With a quick, inconspicuous glance, he noted the bend of the blinds and the gleam of a familiar pair of glasses. His chest huffed with a stifled laugh as he saw Teal’c there, as well. “Yup.”
Sam chuckled, her fingers gripping onto him a little bit more – the only hint he had that she was the least bit embarrassed. “What are we going to do with those two?”
Jack shrugged. “Give them what they want?”
She lifted her head from his shoulder, and he immediately missed her warmth, though he couldn’t deny that the view was certainly better. “What they want?” she asked.
He opened his mouth to reply, but stopped short of saying anything. Exactly how did one tell an Air Force Colonel and Genius Astrophysicist that he wanted to kiss her? Make out with her. Stick his tongue down her throat.
Okay. This definitely wasn’t helping.
When plan A doesn’t work, always switch to plan B. And when you don’t have a plan B… you ask someone else to come up with it.
“What do you think?” he asked, somewhat cautiously.
“What I think,” she said in a confident way that did things to Jack, “Is that it’s been almost eight years since I kissed you, and that’s a lot longer than three years.”
Wow. Leave it to Carter to come up with the best plans.
Wait. Did he say that out loud? She was frowning at him in that confused way…
“Too long ago, you say?” he covered, bringing them back on track.
“Much.”
“Well, Carter,” he said just hovering over her lips. – When exactly had they moved, anyway? – “I think there’s a way we can resolve that.”
He didn’t know who kissed who, but he certainly felt the fireworks as their mouths met. Again. And again. Each touch a new level of enjoyment and satisfaction, and yet, he couldn’t get enough of her. Faster, slower, always passionate. She moved against him, hands roaming his chest and back, and probably for the only time in his life, he wished his dock had a wall somewhere. Or maybe a bed… If Danny and Teal’c were still watching…
“Hey!” he said, suddenly remembering something and breaking away from her with a wet pop.
She jumped at his tone. “What?” she asked breathlessly. Had he done that to her? He couldn’t help but feel smug: Sweet.
He delayed for a bit, letting her sweat it out momentarily, his mischievous urge undeniable.
“Jack?” she asked. A shiver ran down his spine, and he tightened his grip on her. She didn’t seem to mind. “What’s wrong?”
He leaned in, brushing soft kisses across her cheek and down her jaw. She whispered his name as he came to pause at her ear. He grinned, gut clenched in pleasure from her reactions to him, and after another infinite moment, he breathed the words of his question: “What did you do with my beer?”
It took a moment, but Sam laughed. A full, hearty laugh that warmed every inch of Jack to hear as her head fell to rest on his shoulder while they waited for her mirth to subside. Jack would have laughed too – but he really wanted to know what she’d done with that beer.
She leaned back, arms crossed behind his neck. Her blue eyes sparkled with an extra glimmer, though whether from her amusement or an errant beam from the cabin, Jack wasn’t sure. He wouldn’t be surprised if it came from within; Samantha Carter was most definitely the light of his life.
And oh dear G--, he was turning into a sappy poet wannabe.
“Jack O’Neill,” she said grinning at him, “I think this is going to be a lot of fun.”
Somewhere, he noted that she hadn’t answered his question, but he could always ask her later. And he would. Which she probably knew. But for now…
He arched his eyebrows at her assessment. “Well, Samantha Carter, I think after eight years of dancing around this thing,” he pulled her as tightly as possible to him, “It d--- well better be.”
She pulled him down to meet her mouth again, and he willingly accepted her affection. Even bestowed some of his own!
Slow, this time. Soft and gentle. Patient, like they’d been for all those years leading up to this.
She made a soft, vocal sound.
Oh yeah. The beer could totally wait.
The End
AN: Sorry about the wait again. My laptop completely died – he can’t recognize his power source – and the fic is on his hard drive. I had to work between two nearly drained batteries to get the fic sent to myself so I could post it from another comp!!
Return to Mvt. 1
Return to SG-1 Index
Return to Master Index
Title: Adagio, Mvt. 2
Author:
patriot_jackieRating: G
Genre: Drama/
Word Count: 3,156 Words
Season/Spoilers: Season 5, Fail Safe and Season 8, Threads
Summary: Adagio - A tempo mark directing that a movement is to be played rather slowly and gracefully; any slow dance.
Dedication: Still to Gater_62! Merry Shipmas!!
AN: This second part takes place after Threads. Or Moebius. Whatever. =P Not much else to say other than that! - Oh. I forgot that I was gonna call the chapters movements. Lol So I changed that.
Previously:
“We have it under control-”
“That’s just it, Sam. This isn’t something you should have to control.”
She turned from him, Daniel following her gaze to drift across the dance floor and settle on Jack. He was engaged in a conversation with a small group, a humorous expression on his face that didn’t quite reach his eyes. Teal’c was standing nearby in silent support. “If not for so many other factors,” she said wistfully, “I’d agree with you.”
It was a lot for her to admit, Daniel knew, and he was appreciative that she’d shared as much with him. But Daniel wouldn’t give up on them as it seemed they had. He was determined to see to it that someday, they both received their heart’s desire.
--3 Years Later--
Jack O’Neill bent down in the refrigerator and retrieved a beer – only to discover that it was empty. A quick perusal through the other bottles revealed that they too were missing their contents. There was absolutely no way... Daniel’s idea of a joke, probably - hiding the beers. All though, that seemed a bit sophisticated for him; the caps on the bottles were perfectly replaced. That left only one person…
“Where’s Car-Sam?” he asked passively from the kitchen of his Minnesota cabin. She was so going to get it. Maybe he could figure out how to drag her mattress onto the water tonight…
“She is outside by the lake, O’Neill,” Teal’c answered calmly. “I believe she is need of assistance.”
Jack nearly bolted for the door, tripping over his shoes slightly. “And why aren’t you assisting her?”
“It is an assistance only you can render.”
Jack froze, his hand on the knob, and turned to find the Jaffa giving him a steady, significant glance. Years of repression had him feeling immediately defensive: “Excuse me?”
Daniel, coming stand beside Teal’c, blinked at the tone and raised his eyes to Jack, giving a little shrug. “He’s right. She needs you. Only you, Jack.”
He pointed an angry finger. “Daniel! You’re meddling again. – And Teal’c! I expected better of you!-”
“As I do for you, O’Neill,” he steadily returned, interrupting Jack. “Colonel Carter has had many trials in the recent weeks. I say again that she is in need of your assistance.”
Jack let out a frustrated sigh, raising his hand to pinch between his eyes and attempting to calm his pounding heart. It was true that he’d hoped something might happen between himself and Carter on this trip, but this…. wasn’t at all what he’d had in mind. She was obviously far too raw, and he had absolutely no intentions… “You mind elaborating a bit, T? I mean, I know I’m her commanding officer, but I can’t do much more than give her a pep talk.”
“Oh, don’t give us that crap, Jack!” Daniel cut in. “Even assuming the technicality of being her CO, you’re both on vacation, and she’s leaving for ’51 the next week!”
“So?”
“So go out there and talk to her! You’ve waited for eight years! I think the powers that be will forgive you both if you jump the gun by a week!”
“Jump the gun?! What exactly are you implying-?”
“O’Neill. Samantha has lost her father, fiancé, and SG-1 all within a few weeks time,” Teal’c enumerated. “She is in need of the comfort only you can provide. I do not believe you doubt this, nor that your preference is to be here instead of out there.”
The big guy could be profound sometimes. Actually, whenever he said anything, it tended to be that way. He’d chalk it up to that whole wisdom and age thing, but he hated clichés. Instead, he just accepted that Teal’c was really smart and chose to show that intelligence in measured pieces. Actually, that sounded pretty familiar…
He sighed, knowing he couldn’t argue the point any further. He didn’t want to, anyway. Really, he just… wanted it to be between just him and Sam. Nothing against Teal’c and Daniel, but he was a pretty closed guy. Opening up to Carter was going to be one thing, but knowing that his two best friends would know what he was doing made him uncomfortable and nervous. But there weren’t any other options. And who said he had to open up, anyway? This was about her, right?
He glanced out the door window and caught sight of her standing stock still on his dock, arms wrapped around her middle, hands hidden by the long sleeves of her sweater. Leaving her out there without at least a friend was not a viable alternative. So he made his decision.
“You kids…head onto bed…” Jack said quietly, not believing his own ears. “Carter and I need a little privacy.”
Had he paused to look behind him instead of opening the door and stepping out silently, he would have seen the shock that registered on both Daniel’s and Teal’c’s faces.
The steady tread of his heavy shoes clunking on the wooden dock gave his approach away, and he was soon beside her. They stood in silence, looking over the lake and the trees and the stars above. Jack glanced at her features sidelong, to discern what she was thinking. Her expression was sad, but blank, giving nothing away. Looking back towards the lake, he shuffled his feet, using the movement as an excuse to stand a little closer to her.
“A bit chilly out here, isn’t it?” he commented aimlessly, breaking the silence.
She shrugged.
“A little late, too,” he continued.
A small smile. ”I’m okay, Sir.”
“Sir?” He said it as casually as he could, though it came out slightly sarcastic.
She smiled wearily and shook her head. “Sorry, Jack.”
He grinned. “That’s more like it.”
They were silent again, she looking over the calm waters, he following her gaze for a minute or so before turning his attention to the sky above. What was he supposed to say here?
A cloudless night stretched overhead, and the distant bodies within and without their galaxy twinkled in all their heavenly glory. It was a breathtaking sight, a breathtaking thought. Had he really gallivanted across the stars with the two men in the house and the beautiful woman at his side, danger and certain death at every turn? Had he really given that up, now officially, for a chance at something he’d previously thought lost forever? With another sidelong glance to her, he supposed neither question was really so difficult to answer after all.
“So… I know you’re probably tired of this question, but how are you holding up?” Great. Get the conversation started by asking the one question she must hate. Brilliant, Jack. “Really.” He added on the end in a lame attempt to make it better. Maybe. Probably not.
She breathed a tired sigh. “Well, I suppose. All things considered.” And then she did consider for a moment, undoubtedly knowing he would want a more specific answer. “It’s just…” She trailed off.
“It’s just what?” he probed.
“It’s just a lot to take in all at once, is all,” she said with a shrug. “So many changes, you know?”
“Carter,” he said with a hint of exasperation. “Do you actually work on understating anything that bothers you?”
“Carter?” she retorted.
“Ah!” he raised a finger. “Don’t change the subject… Sam.”
“Better,” was all she said in reply.
He shook his head, rubbing absently at his short hair as he searched for the right thing to say. He wasn’t exactly the epitome of open expression himself, so he couldn’t really fault her for keeping it to herself. He understood, even. It was hard to… say things. “I suppose I never thought things would change,” he said thoughtfully. “I always imagined we’d win eventually, but I guess… I guess I just never thought about what we’d do beyond that. You know, once it actually happened.”
“All three threats to Earth’s security being eliminated at once is a bit of a dream come true, but it completely changes our priorities,” she replied in agreement. “With all three of you guys moving on, and even Dad… and Janet… I know I can’t stay at the SGC. It would be too surreal.”
“Yet you’re unhappy with the thought of moving to Nevada,” he stated. He’d known that Janet’s absence was still affecting her acutely. He wasn’t sure what to think of her acknowledging that to him, though.
“I’m not unhappy,” she said immediately. “I’m just… pensive. It’s almost like starting a whole new life. New location, new house, new job, no Stargate… And we’re all going our separate directions….”
And just like that, he understood.
“Sam,” he said gently and placed a hand on her shoulder so she turned to face him. He waited until she met his eyes. “We’re always a team, no matter where we are. You can’t believe anything else. Just because we end up on different planets or opposite sides of the galaxy even, doesn’t mean we’re anything less. ”
She finally looked at him then. Really looked at him. Even in the dim light, Jack could see that the slight smile she wore touched her eyes. “You’re right,” she said softly. Repeating, almost, as if to herself as much as to him.
He stepped a little closer, instinctively tucking a rebellious strand of loose hair behind her ear. “Always, Sam.”
She leaned into his touch. “You’re going to be good in Washington, Sir.”
He arched his eyebrows in surprise, not expecting her sudden expression of confidence in his abilities. “You really think so? You think they’ll listen to a single word I say? – Better yet, you think I’ll listen to a single word they say?”
A quiet, throaty chuckle was his reward – and what a reward it was.
She moved then, he belatedly realizing that she was wrapping her arms around him in a tight hug. She rested her head on his chest, beneath his chin as he returned her embrace. She held him tightly as he tensed for an instant, drawing a quick, silent breath. After another silent moment, he murmured quietly, “What’s this for?”
She sighed into him, shaking her head and getting closer. “Nothing. For just being you.” Then she stiffened, pulling away slightly. “You don’t mind, do you?”
He tightened his arms around her, pulling her more securely into the embrace. “Of course not.”
She hummed against him, loosening her vice just a little, gripping his shirt loosely instead. “Good.”
They stood pressed together without exchanging a word. Silence with Carter had rarely ever been uncomfortable, which was something he really did love about her. They were both independent people, and they didn’t have to interact to enjoy each other’s company. Although… being as close as they were, interaction was hard to avoid.
Why he started moving, he didn’t know. Perhaps it was his usual inability to remain still for any amount of time shining through, or maybe it was because he had his arms full of Carter, and moving just seemed to be the thing to do. Whatever the reason, they were full out swaying in a matter of minutes with a gentle creak, creak, creak under their feet.
From her snuggled position - and she was snuggled; there was no other word for it - she asked curiously, “Are we… dancing without music?”
Jack stopped abruptly, panic and embarrassment coursing through him as he floundered for an excuse. An explanation. Anything! Why had he thought- Why had he done-
“No, that’s not what I meant.” She shifted against him, still as close as could be. “Don’t stop. Please.”
His heart gave a particularly enthusiastic beat, which he was sure she felt. – Or maybe not, since he’d just about had a heart attack a second ago, and it may have been indistinguishable. – Though she couldn’t see it, Jack smiled, and he eagerly restarted his slight motions. She followed, the only sound the creaking of the wooden planks beneath their feet. Rocking from side to side, they twirled slowly about.
“I want you to promise me something, Carter,” he said quietly.
“Hmm?”
“When you get there, if you get lonely or upset or just want someone to talk to, I want you to call me.”
She pulled away from him enough to see him. “Sir?”
“I mean it, Sam. I meant what I said,” and he didn’t need to explain what he was referring to. “I’ll be there.”
She swallowed hard. “On one condition, Jack,” she replied softly.
“What?”
“You do the same. Call me. Anytime, anywhere. I’ll be there,” she said firmly.
He pulled her back to his chest and rested his cheek atop her blonde head. “You have yourself a deal.”
Sam sighed against him in contentment.
“It’s been a couple years since we did this,” he noted, thinking back to the unsatisfying ending they’d had three years ago.
She clutched at the fabric beneath her fingers, wanting to be closer. “It’s been too long.”
He turned his head in her hair and pressed a kiss there. She shivered in delight. “Yes,” he agreed. “It has.”
“Yes!” Daniel cheered with a muted pump of his fist. He was peering out the window watching the scene unfold between his two friends.
Teal’c stood away from the window, respecting Jack’s request for privacy with Sam. “O’Neill and Colonel Carter would be most displeased with you if they knew you were spying on them.”
Daniel waved his hand in dismissal. “I’m not spying, Teal’c. I just want to make sure.”
“Ensuring what?”
“That they get together finally,” he answered naturally. “Oh, yes! Yes! Brilliant!”
Teal’c only tilted his head slightly to the side in confusion.
Daniel didn’t see his reaction, but he explained anyway: “They’re dancing! Yes! Finally!”
Teal’c frowned, not following. “I do not understand, Daniel Jackson. Is music not required for dancing?”
Turning, Daniel smiled and motioned for Teal’c to come stand beside him to peer through the blinds at their friends. Had curiosity not been burning within him, the Jaffa would have hesitated to cross the room; he did not. He peeked out, eyes falling on the two figures pressed closely together as they shuffled, turning slowly around in place. He was not as comfortable watching them as Daniel seemed to be and frowned, turning back to him, not comprehending what the younger man was trying to show him.
Daniel shrugged. “It’s possible one or both of them are humming.” The eyebrow rose, so Daniel continued, “But they don’t need music.”
Understanding dawned on him, and after a moment of indecision, Teal’c returned to his silent watch beside his friend. He had been a silent supporter Samantha and O’Neill as they skittered around their feelings for each other over the many years, much like DanielJackson. This was what they had wanted for their military friends, and in an odd way, Teal’c felt that he and Daniel almost deserved to witness the happy ending. Or, as was probably a more adequate description, a happy beginning.
Teal’c only hoped that neither discovered his duplicity in Daniel’s surveillance.
“Are they still watching?” she asked, her words muffled by his shirt, and Jack thought that she may have been drifting close to sleep even though they were still rocking back and forth.
With a quick, inconspicuous glance, he noted the bend of the blinds and the gleam of a familiar pair of glasses. His chest huffed with a stifled laugh as he saw Teal’c there, as well. “Yup.”
Sam chuckled, her fingers gripping onto him a little bit more – the only hint he had that she was the least bit embarrassed. “What are we going to do with those two?”
Jack shrugged. “Give them what they want?”
She lifted her head from his shoulder, and he immediately missed her warmth, though he couldn’t deny that the view was certainly better. “What they want?” she asked.
He opened his mouth to reply, but stopped short of saying anything. Exactly how did one tell an Air Force Colonel and Genius Astrophysicist that he wanted to kiss her? Make out with her. Stick his tongue down her throat.
Okay. This definitely wasn’t helping.
When plan A doesn’t work, always switch to plan B. And when you don’t have a plan B… you ask someone else to come up with it.
“What do you think?” he asked, somewhat cautiously.
“What I think,” she said in a confident way that did things to Jack, “Is that it’s been almost eight years since I kissed you, and that’s a lot longer than three years.”
Wow. Leave it to Carter to come up with the best plans.
Wait. Did he say that out loud? She was frowning at him in that confused way…
“Too long ago, you say?” he covered, bringing them back on track.
“Much.”
“Well, Carter,” he said just hovering over her lips. – When exactly had they moved, anyway? – “I think there’s a way we can resolve that.”
He didn’t know who kissed who, but he certainly felt the fireworks as their mouths met. Again. And again. Each touch a new level of enjoyment and satisfaction, and yet, he couldn’t get enough of her. Faster, slower, always passionate. She moved against him, hands roaming his chest and back, and probably for the only time in his life, he wished his dock had a wall somewhere. Or maybe a bed… If Danny and Teal’c were still watching…
“Hey!” he said, suddenly remembering something and breaking away from her with a wet pop.
She jumped at his tone. “What?” she asked breathlessly. Had he done that to her? He couldn’t help but feel smug: Sweet.
He delayed for a bit, letting her sweat it out momentarily, his mischievous urge undeniable.
“Jack?” she asked. A shiver ran down his spine, and he tightened his grip on her. She didn’t seem to mind. “What’s wrong?”
He leaned in, brushing soft kisses across her cheek and down her jaw. She whispered his name as he came to pause at her ear. He grinned, gut clenched in pleasure from her reactions to him, and after another infinite moment, he breathed the words of his question: “What did you do with my beer?”
It took a moment, but Sam laughed. A full, hearty laugh that warmed every inch of Jack to hear as her head fell to rest on his shoulder while they waited for her mirth to subside. Jack would have laughed too – but he really wanted to know what she’d done with that beer.
She leaned back, arms crossed behind his neck. Her blue eyes sparkled with an extra glimmer, though whether from her amusement or an errant beam from the cabin, Jack wasn’t sure. He wouldn’t be surprised if it came from within; Samantha Carter was most definitely the light of his life.
And oh dear G--, he was turning into a sappy poet wannabe.
“Jack O’Neill,” she said grinning at him, “I think this is going to be a lot of fun.”
Somewhere, he noted that she hadn’t answered his question, but he could always ask her later. And he would. Which she probably knew. But for now…
He arched his eyebrows at her assessment. “Well, Samantha Carter, I think after eight years of dancing around this thing,” he pulled her as tightly as possible to him, “It d--- well better be.”
She pulled him down to meet her mouth again, and he willingly accepted her affection. Even bestowed some of his own!
Slow, this time. Soft and gentle. Patient, like they’d been for all those years leading up to this.
She made a soft, vocal sound.
Oh yeah. The beer could totally wait.
AN: Sorry about the wait again. My laptop completely died – he can’t recognize his power source – and the fic is on his hard drive. I had to work between two nearly drained batteries to get the fic sent to myself so I could post it from another comp!!
Return to Mvt. 1
Return to SG-1 Index
Return to Master Index
![[identity profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/openid.png){kind=small}
no subject
Date: 2008-12-14 04:22 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2008-12-17 07:01 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2008-12-14 05:59 am (UTC)and will he ever admit that it's only been 4 years since he kissed her?
and so glad she called him on 'carter'! that kida ticked me about that wedding fakeout. she has to say jack but he got to keep carter? err, no.
'go to bed kids' rotflol
well done!
no subject
Date: 2008-12-17 07:04 pm (UTC)Funny you mention the WOO kiss. In the original version, I did have him mention it, but it broke the mood into a short, silly tangent, so I took it out. But I imagine he will some day!
Yeah... Though I still think that both Sir and Carter are strange endearments to them, anyway. Me and my shippy-tinted lenses.
I love that he always calls them kids; especially since Teal'c is so much older than him!
no subject
Date: 2008-12-17 07:18 pm (UTC)they are endearments. especially with the inflections they put on 'em. snerk, her 'Sir' has a habit of being a lot more firm than a lot of other people's supposedly more blunt o'neills...eheh. and so me of his Carters... shippy sigh
rotflol, watched The Serpent's Lair last night. (VEG) O'neill took a little geting used to not being top dog.. Bratac didn't have teal'c way of letting him take charge.. snort
no subject
Date: 2008-12-17 07:32 pm (UTC)It raises the shippiness in the series exponentially when you think of them as endearments. \o/
I love that episode JUST for the interaction between Jack and Bra'tac! And it's funny, because Jack is always trying to impress him or gain his approval, and Bra'tac just refuses to be impressed by anything less than Jaffa. LOL
no subject
Date: 2008-12-17 07:40 pm (UTC)Bratac and Jacob were such great foils for Jack...
no subject
Date: 2008-12-14 01:11 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2008-12-17 07:05 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2008-12-14 02:06 pm (UTC)Hahahahahahaha....splendid! :)
I seriously love that line.
Good work.
no subject
Date: 2008-12-17 07:11 pm (UTC)Thanks for the R&R!!
no subject
Date: 2008-12-14 05:06 pm (UTC)Oh that's so sweet. *happy sigh* I don't think I will ever get tired of reading cabin fic. :)
no subject
Date: 2008-12-17 07:12 pm (UTC)