Sam stood outside the door, taking in a huge gulp of air. She knew that what she was about to do was the cause of her increased heart rate, blood pressure, pulse and temperature. Basically Janet would have a field day if she ran any tests on her now. But she had to do this, it was just a bit important. OK not *nationally* important, but to her it might as well have been. //Come on Sam, you can do this. Ok, on three, one, two, three.
OK, on four…// another gulp of air. //Four// before she had the chance to back out again, she forced herself through the open door.
"Sir, hi"
"Hey Carter, what's up?"
See, she knew this was gonna be hard. He was smiling that smile that stopped her brain working properly, looking at her with that spark in his chocolate eyes that provided a combination more lethal than anything she knew of. //Sam, pull yourself together, you only want him to do you a favour//
"Nothing's up Sir, I was just wondering if you would do me a favour?" She smiled back into his addictive gaze.
"Anything Carter, name it." He said with an authority that masked his curiosity. He had very rarely seen her nervous before, but she was now. //Why? //
She knew he'd do this. She knew he'd do anything for her, such was the nature of their relationship. //Yeah, but Sam, you haven't hit him with the catch yet, have you? // She squashed the annoying little thing called conscience. //Later, I'll tell him later//
"Well Sir, you see the thing is. I kinda have to go to a reunion this weekend and I'm supposed to bring a date. I had asked Daniel, but he's going to PX2 459 on a dig…"
"So, you where wondering if I would come to your rescue?" he smiled at her, but he was a little hurt that she'd asked Daniel first.
"Um, yeah. Would you? I mean if you can't or you think it may not be appropriate or..."
"Carter, shut up will ya. Yes, I'll go with you, no I don't think it's inappropriate, and don't I *always* come to your rescue?!" The relief that spread through her face made him smile again. Right then he didn't care that he'd been second choice. *He* was the one who got to be Sam's date for a weekend! //Don't you wish Jack, it's not a *date*. // His conscience provided //Don't care! // Came the reply.
"Thank you Sir, a lot. This means a lot."//Sam – you're babbling again// "ok, so I'll pick you up at about 5. That'll give us enough time to get there and sort ourselves out." He nodded, right then speech wasn't available as an option, the way her face had lit up had robbed that ability from him. As she headed for the door she turned
"Sir, just one more thing… oh never mind, it can wait. See you later"
//Ok, that was strange. Never mind. I get to be with Carter for a whole weekend! // He positively skipped through the rest of his paperwork; stuff that would have normally taken him hours took little over half an hour. With that he headed for the door and home to pack for something that he was gonna *really* enjoy.
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Sam sat in her car outside the colonel's house. He knew she was here and he was just getting his bag. //Sam, you're going to have to tell him sooner or later and sooner may be the better option seeing as how he's going to need to know *before* you arrive. // Once more she squashed little pesky little voice, she wasn't stupid. She was going to tell him while they where driving. // Oh man, what have I got myself into?!//
He locked the door behind him, bag slung over his shoulder, he turned to watch his major. He smiled, she *was* his, he just wished she knew that. Once more that smile crept onto his face, she was deep I thought, // wonder why? //
Using all his covert skills he crept up to the car. (Actually, she was so deep in her own mind that he could have gone upto the car carrying a Pneumatic drill and she wouldn't have noticed.)
"BOO!"
She jumped; his face was inches away from hers, a cheeky grin slapped about it. His eyes laughing at her daydreaming. She smiled back,
"Ready to go, sir?"
"Yep. Allez Mon-commandant"
//Did he just speak *French*? He did, didn't he? Oh my GOD! Yep, way to go Carter. Way more difficult than you thought! //
//*French* Where the Hell did that come from Jack?! What are you trying to do here? You're *not* *on* *a* *date*!//
They had been driving a while when he noticed her start to drift off again. He could tell by the look in her eyes that she was wrestling with something, //wonder what? // This time, his curiosity could not be abated.
"Spill it Carter"
"Wha…What?"
"What you're trying to decide to tell me. Come on lets have it"
//You have to now. Come on Sam, what do you think he'll do, make you take him back. You know him better than that. //
"Well, it's just a little 'thing' that I didn't mention. (Another deep breath) Well you see, my friends think that I'm bringing my… well they think I'm bringing my fiancé, Colonel."
//Oh YES!!! Could this get any better? / But you're not on a date! / Don't care, I'm going to pretend to be her fiancé! //
She had kept her eyes glued to the road, not wanting to risk seeing the look in his eyes. Because of that, she didn't see them light up with…something.
"So not only do I get to be your knight in shining armour, but I have to be your fiancé too? Cool!"
//Ok, that reaction wasn't what you where expecting was it Sammy? //
"Sir, you're ok with that?"
"Why not, it's just pretend //unfortunately//"
"Well yeah, it doesn't make you uncomfortable?"
//Yeah, but not in ways it would be wise to let you know about//
"Not at all. Oh and Carter, since we just got engaged I think you better start calling me Jack!"
"Yes Sir, I mean Jack"
//Oh yeah *much* more complicated than you thought//
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They had spent the rest of the drive keeping each other amused by stories from their school years. Sam had concluded that Jack had been an unholy terror. He was a teacher's nightmare. He had been the kind of pupil who hated school, and the authority it brought. But he had also been bright enough not to need to be there. They type of kid who never turned up but always aced his exams. Like she said a teacher's nightmare.
Not much had changed with him. He still hated authority he didn't respect, but he had an intelligence about him that many weren't aware of. She smiled to herself, enjoying the look into his past he was giving her. Relishing every opportunity to find out more about Jack the man, not Jack the soldier. Little did she know that the spell she was under was more powerful than she had realised. Before, she had always been able to rationalise her feelings. Alien viruses, alternate realities, but here and now, there was no such excuse.
Jack had also been listening with interest about Sam's past. She had been an exceptional pupil, the type that was good at everything she had tried, including track and field. She'd been popular too, lots of friends and lots of male wannabe's. He didn't like that bit, but he expected it. She was beautiful, inside and out. One of those rare people that hypnotised onlookers, just like she had hypnotised him. Only he knew that with him, it was deeper than that, had been for a while, he had just never thought he stood a chance. But what he wouldn't give for one.
He had also figured out why she would need a pretend fiancé. You would have thought that someone who was so good at everything she did and who had had genuine friends at school would have been able to tell them the truth. But Jack knew her too well; it was precisely because of her success and reputation that she had to do this. How could she show anyone that she hadn't been successful in her love life too?
As she gave the valet her keys, she turned to Jack once more and said
"Sir, thank you so much for this, you have no idea how much this means to me"
"Sam, stop thanking me. I'm glad to do it. So lets have a good time, oh and call me Jack! Or do I have to make it an order?"
She smiled then, a real 24-carat beam that knocked him for six.
"No, no order Jack. Oh, almost forgot."
With that he watched puzzled as she fished around in her pocket and finally pulled out a simple diamond ring. She placed it on the third finger of her left hand. // Oh I get it, her 'engagement ring' Man she thinks of *everything*//
The smile they shared hid the feelings that such a simple act had caused. At that moment both realised how much they wanted that ring and this charade to be real. Neither knew how to handle that realisation, so just carried on with the show.
Placing an arm around her waist he led her into the foyer and into what was fast becoming more dangerous than either had bargained for.
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They entered the room that they would be sharing for the next two days and nights. //Why so stunned jack? Do you think that engaged couples stay in different rooms? //
//Sammy, here's one thing you didn't realise. Now you have to share a room for two days! // Her little voice prodded // I know, but it's not like we haven't shared sleeping quarters before. // Her reply was sound to her own mind //yeah, but you've never been playing engaged before, and you've never been so unable to excuse your feelings for him, have you Sammy? // OK, she was going to *ignore* that!
"Well Sam, we should really get ready, it starts in about an hour. You can even have the bathroom first and then use the bedroom. I'll change in the bathroom when you've finished" //Such gallantry Jack, I'm impressed, really! //
"Thanks Si… I mean Jack. See you in a minute then"
With that she disappeared into the bathroom carrying whatever she needed with her. He sat down in the chair and let his mind ponder over what the hell was happening to him. Usually he could control his feelings towards her, keep them deeply hidden enough so they didn't become obvious. But as the day had gone on, that was getting harder and harder to do, she was relaxed in his company and because of that was letting him gently break through that barrier of CO and 2IC that always seemed to stand between them. He hadn't thought his feelings for her could intensify any more. He'd been wrong.
As she stepped under the spray of the shower, she couldn't control the emotions running through her. All day she had tried to rationalise her feelings for him, put them down to gratefulness or nerves, but she couldn't hide behind that anymore. She realised with a huge big thud that she had fallen hard and deep for Jack O'Neill. What the hell was she going to do now? Seeing him relaxed and open had broke through any defences she had erected, and now she had to pretend that they where engaged. She quickly stopped her brain calculating the odds of disaster, all's she had to do was use the charade to mask her true feelings and hope to God that when they got back to base things could be hidden away once more. //Keep dreaming Sammy, not gonna happen! //
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She had relinquished the shower to him with the minimum of fuss, she'd been fully covered in a huge hotel robe and now she was debating the logic of the dress she had brought with her. She had wanted to make an impact, but she had wanted to have that impact aimed at her friends, not at her 'date'. But suddenly her little voice piped up once more // You Liar! You want him to be hit with both barrels. Don't try and convince yourself that you don't. You want to see his reaction to you looking all stunning! // And she knew she did, to hell with the consequences. With that she set about giving herself the impact she wanted.
He had watched with ill-concealed delight as she had trundled out of the shower, looking ridiculously cute in that huge robe. He'd hidden his smile and just nodded as she told him he could have the shower now. What she didn't know was that his mind had not stopped racing about how much more beautiful she was going to appear when she was dressed. He had been told it was smart dress and had brought the appropriate clothing, but he was scared //yes Jack you're scared// at what his reaction would be to her all done up. He had nearly collapsed at the adorable 'bathrobe' look, how the Hell was he going to cope with her later! // Well Jack, button your shirt, put on your jacket, wax you hair and go find out//
As she left the sanctuary of the bedroom, she knew she looked good, her walk confirmed it. Pure confidence. That was until she saw the man who was waiting for her, one hand in his pocket, the other leant on the fireplace. // Oh my God, you're a goner Sammy. That's it, Game over, he wins//
He did too; she couldn't control the violent shaft of lust that shot through every nerve in her body at the sight of him. There should be a law against any man looking so good, especially if that man is your CO and the man you have just realised that you love! He looked as relaxed as he did in dirty fatigues, but now those fatigues where replaced with an all black ensemble of trousers, shirt, tie and jacket and he looked //YUM// her conscience provided.
While she was busy controlling her own mental wanderings, she hadn't registered his reaction to her. If he hadn't been holding the fireplace he would have collapsed right there in a puddle on the floor. She looked amazing; a long blue sapphire blue dress that clung in all the right places and swished as she walked had knocked the stuffing right out of him. The dainty shoes that were definitely not military issue added a grace to her movement and her makeup highlighted every feature of her glorious face. He was only peripherally aware as she found her 'ring' and placed it back upon the designated finger.
He was on autopilot as he extended his arm to her. However when she entwined her arm around his the jolt of electricity that resulted brought him sharply out of his lethargy.
"Sam, you scrub up well. You're going to knock 'em dead tonight" His humour was used to mask the truth in his statement.
"Don't look so bad yourself, Jack"
"Shall we go then?"
"Yes Jack. Lets go"
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As they entered the function room, the pride at having this lady on his arm, belonging to him for the night shone like a beacon. Not a single person missed it. Well one did and that was the one who it concerned. She was too busy trying to get people she knew to notice the elegant but strong man she was here with. She couldn't wait to see the reactions he would cause. Not only did he look 'yum', his natural personality would charm the ladies and win over the men, and he was hers. Even if it was just for the night, he was hers, a fact that she intended to show off to the hilt, regardless of the consequences to either her mind or sanity.
As she introduced him around, all onlooker's noticed the sparks between them you couldn't miss them. They had an energy between them that was intoxicating. He looked at her with very thinly disguised love and pride and need, a look that she mirrored to perfection. No one could doubt the genuine emotion. They as a couple captured the hearts of all present. She laughed at everything he said, he said stuff with the express purpose of making her laugh. They looked so comfortable together, so right with each other.
Over the meal, they laughed and joked as if they had been together for years, they continued the exploration of each other's characters that they had begun in the car. Each finding more and falling deeper as the time went on. Jack shook off the niggling little voice of reason when he asked her to dance. He didn't care about tomorrow, just for tonight they *were* engaged and he wasn't going to waste it.
He pulled her into his arms and they began a gentle sway to some song about a guy amazed by every little thing his girl did. Perfect. // What, her or the song? Both//
All the other couples on the dance floor stopped and took notice of the pair now lost in their own world of emotion and sensation. Arms reached for hands as couples reached for their other halves, struck by the feelings that was washing over them at the sight of the two so obviously and completely in love.
As the music faded all watched as she looked into his eyes, all witness to the meaning that passed unspoken between them. All waiting for the inevitable climax. They where not disappointed, the kiss that followed was so sweet and tender and was filled with such promise that tears crept into many onlooking eyes.
Still no words where spoken, but the couple who had enchanted all present left quietly no-one in any doubt as to why or wondering where to.
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Sam awoke to an empty bed, momentarily confused //no Sam, it wasn't a dream, honest. // Just then she saw the note on the other pillow and a rose laid over it. She smiled as she took it; he really was the most surprising package. On the outside he was tough, uncompromising and gung-ho, but beneath that sarcastic shell was a man of amazing depth. Capable of a sensitivity and vulnerability that had shook her to her very core and she loved him more than ever.
She opened he note, it simply read.
"Sam, had to go and pick something up. Won't be long angel. Jack"
She looked at the time, they were due to meet with more friends soon, and she had to get ready. She padded over to the bathroom on a cushion of clouds.
She was dressed and just applying the finishing touches to her makeup when he returned. He didn't waste anytime in coming to her, planting a sweet kiss on her lips and smiling the smile that she would never forget.
"I got something to show you, come on"
She followed slightly puzzled and excited at what he'd been doing all morning.
"Sam I got something for you" He reached down and took her hand in his, gently he removed the 'ring' from her finger and dropped her hand once more. She watched mesmerised as he reached into his pocket and took out a small square box.
Opening it he continued.
"Sweetheart, I would rather you wear this today"
He opened the box fully, revealing a stunning single gem ring that sparkled like fire in the light. Her smile was electric as he slid the ring onto the appropriate finger.
"Is that a proposal Sir?" //please let it be, oh god please let it be//
//And I'm the dumb one! //
"Yes Sam it is. Will you marry me and let me make this charade real?"
"Yes Sir."
"It's not often I have to reissue orders to you Major"
"No need, yes *Jack* I will"
He drew her into his arms for a kiss that spelt the way to their future, soft and full of promise, conveying the emotions that words were not capable of describing. Suddenly she pulled away, her brows knitted together.
"What are you thinking Sam? What is it?"
"Jack, the regulations. Oh god what are we going to do about the regulations?" if the situation hadn't have been so emotionally charged he would have made a sarcastic comment, but he didn't. Not this time.
"Sam, what do you think I've been doing all morning? I've been having my ears bashed by a certain General who will remain nameless." Her shock was palpable, so he continued
"He wasn't too happy either, said something us causing him enough headaches already and asking if we where trying to kill him and then about hating to admit Daniel was right! Anyways, to cut a *long* phone call short, he eventually gave us the green light. The only alternative I gave him caused our beloved general to say some things that were definitely not for public consumption. It seems that threatening to retire had the intended effect. So at that means we are clear of the regs sweetheart, and we have a wonderful CO to thank for that, who wanted me to tell you, and I quote '*finally*'"
The smile that lit up her face as she ran into his arms was the type that he had planned his future around, he hugged her close and tight silently promising never to let her go.
"What are *you* thinking about Jack?"
"Actually, a honeymoon and that place with the big beaches and little bikinis"
Her laugh was silenced by his kiss,
//I think we're going to be late! //
//Ya think! //
The End.
Feedback? Pretty Please with cherries on top!
Story Notes: SPOILERS: None
SEASON: End of Season 3
ARCHIVE: SJA, Heliopolis, anyone else just needs ask.
NOTES: I have spend two *long* stories playing with the minds of our favourite couple, so I thought I'd let you take a peak at how their minds work. < > indicates thoughts. Hope you like it, let me know. I love feedback.
SEASON: End of Season 3
ARCHIVE: SJA, Heliopolis, anyone else just needs ask.
NOTES: I have spend two *long* stories playing with the minds of our favourite couple, so I thought I'd let you take a peak at how their minds work. < > indicates thoughts. Hope you like it, let me know. I love feedback.
DISCLAIMER: All publicly recognisable characters, settings, etc, are the property of their respective owners. Any original characters and plots are the property of the author. No money is being made from this work. No copyright infringement is intended. ... [ read more ]