"New Dawn" By Ruth M King

TITLE: New Dawn 1/1

RATING: NC-17

ARCHIVE: SJ yes

SPOILERS: None

DISCLAIMERS: Stargate SG1 is the property of MGM, Showtime, Double Secret and Gekko etc. I'm just playing for a while!

NOTES: Sequel to The Dress, and Mockingbird Song. SG1 Disappeared leaving Sam to cope with losing Jack. This story takes place some years afterwards.

*************

It wasn't the most comfortable night he had ever spent, but it was probably one of the happiest. Sam told him he looked like a bewildered puppy when he woke and saw her curled up beside him. She had changed....how could she not, it had been six years. The concept still left him reeling. He couldn't say anything at first. He just stared at her, doing his rabbit in headlights impression. She wore her hair longer now, allowing it to softly frame her face and he could see traces of grey within the golden depths. There were a few lines on her face, ones that hadn't been there before. Lines of worry, of loss and some of joy...of motherhood.

Then she hit him. A stunning blow across the face.

"What was that for?" he protested.

"Disappearing," Sam told him.

There were tears in her eyes, and he couldn't quite figure out who she was crying for. She added to his confusion by kissing him hard on the mouth, "What....?" he repeated.

"For coming back to me."

He reached out his hand to touch her, letting his fingers trace the familiar contours of her face. She returned the gesture, but her caress was uncertain. Sam doubted herself and her memories of him. It had been a long time. They had only had few short weeks together before the Stargate had snatched him away and she couldn't forget the reasons they had got together in the first place. The emotions he was feeling so strongly were supposed to be in her past.

"Jack.....," she began.

"It'll be OK," he mumbled, leaning in to press his lips to the nape of her neck.

What if he expected too much from her? She couldn't remember what he liked and what he didn't. What if she called him Simon?

Jack moved slowly, kissing, caressing, giving her time to say no, but she was half afraid to. If she did, would he stay ?.....and she wanted him to stay more than anything. He eased her back onto the couch, moving his hand beneath her shirt and pushing the material out of his way.

"Oh God, Sam," he breathed, as he stroked her skin.

She'd forgotten how much pleasure he could gain just by touching her. Her body was now a little older, but he didn't seem to notice the difference. His hands still reached for her breasts in a way that was growing more and more familiar. She stifled a cry as his mouth made contact with one nipple, sucking and teasing the sensitive nub. He raised his head and grinned at her, before turning his attention to the other one.

"Jack," she warned him.

"Shhh....no screaming."

"I do not scream!"

In reply, he slid his fingers along her ribs and tickled her. Sam squealed.

"Told ya," he smiled.

Damn, only Jack knew how to make her do that, he just loved to play. Simon had always been too serious about sex. Sam was annoyed with herself, but she couldn't help comparing the two men. Her mind should be concentrating on this....yow.....if Jack kept that up they would wake Joanna. She slapped him on the shoulder but he just gave an evil laugh and kissed his way back up her body, determined to cover every inch of her skin. He sat up for a second, so he could pull off his own shirt. Sam decided that it was time to help him out of all of his clothes, letting her fingers linger over certain areas. His breath caught in his throat, "Not fair," he gasped.

"And you tickling me was?" she giggled.

"No giggling."

"So what am I allowed to do?"

"This."

He bent down and kissed her, using the motion to pull her against him.

"Bed?" he asked.

"Bed," she agreed. It had been six years after all and she was getting too old for couches. Besides, if memory served, the last time they had tried to do it on the couch, Jack had almost suffered a concussion by rolling into the coffee table.

He picked her up in his arms and looked about himself.

"It's that way," she told him.

The playing stopped as he set her down on the bed. His kisses became more erotic, his touch more arousing. Her earlier doubts were swept away as he mounted a full scale assault on her body. He took it slow, drawing out the pleasure for both of them. Sam found herself crying when they finally stilled in each others arms.

"I love you," she heard herself whisper over and over. God, she had missed him. It was as if part of her had been closed off for six years. Jack kissed her tears away and, holding her close, coaxed her into sleep.

*************

"Where's mommy?" Joanna asked, sleepily.

"Still in bed. "

"Why?"

"She's tired."

"Why?"

"What would you like for breakfast?" he changed the subject.

Jack grinned at his daughter. Could she be any more perfect? Just like her mother. The smile on his face broadened by several notches, until it threatened to split his face.

"Ice cream."

"Let me rephrase that. What are you allowed to have for breakfast?"

"Cereal," she admitted.

"That sounds a little dull. Since it's the weekend what do ya say I make us some pancakes?"

Joanna clapped her hands and nodded. Jack picked her up and set her on the work surface, so she could watch him more easily.

"You're very smart," she told him as he mixed the batter.

"Not as smart as your mom, she's way smarter than I am. You want bacon with this?"

"Yes please."

They were sitting having breakfast, sharing what Jack was proud to call conversation, when there was a knock on the front door. Jack put his fork down and went to answer it. He didn't want to disturb Sam and he'd forgotten, for the moment, that this wasn't his house.

"Something I can do for you?" he asked the man who waited outside.

"Is Sam there?" the man replied.

"I'll go get her."

Jack turned away from the door, meaning for the man to wait outside but he didn't seem to take the hint. He pushed past Jack and into the house.

"Sam!" he called out.

"Hey...! She's in bed."

"I'm...I was her fiancee. I've seen it all before and I'm really hoping that you're just the sitter."

A small hand entwined itself with Jack's stopping him going after the intruder. He bent down so she could whisper in his ear.

"That's Simon," she told him.

"Well, he's a jerk...and you didn't hear me say that. Go finish you're breakfast. I'll be back."

He was in full protective mode as he followed Simon towards the bedroom. Jack paused by the door. Sam was sitting up in bed, one hand clutching the covers to her chest. Simon had her other hand and was speaking to her very intently. She was shaking her head.

"Please, Sam. I didn't mean to force you into anything," he pleaded.

"Simon, everything's changed. I can't......"

"You can take all the time you want."

"It's not a matter of time..."

"I know how you felt about him and I don't expect you to forget him."

Jack chose that moment to step into the room, "OK, that's enough," he said.

"Who exactly are you?" Simon snapped.

"I'm Jack......who else?"

Simon did a double take. The smile on Jack's face formed very slowly, and Sam had a struggle to stop herself laughing. That wouldn't have been fair to Simon, but Jack's sense of timing had been perfect.

"Sorry," she managed to say, with a reasonably straight face.

"I guess I underestimated the competition," Simon muttered. "Why didn't you just stay lost?"

"When I had Sam to come back to, not a chance."

Jack's serious words surprised Sam. He looked at her, that same penetrating gaze that had marked their first meeting. She couldn't look away. Silently, Simon let go of Sam's hand and pushed past Jack on his way out. Neither of them really noticed.

"Mom?" Joanna's questioning voice brought them both back to reality. "He's gone."

"I know, honey," Sam answered her daughter.

"Can we have breakfast now?"

"Sure. Mommy just has to get dressed. "

"Jack made pancakes and they're yummy."

"We'll save you some," Jack smiled, leading Joanna out of the room.

Sam lay back for a few seconds, reflecting on the past twelve hours. She hadn't known that it was possible to be this happy. Jack was on leave from the SGC for another month and by that time she should be able to arrange for a transfer. She was looking forward to it, even if it did mean Joanna changing schools. Probably a good thing, considering.

"Sam! Coffee's goin' cold," Jack shouted.

She sighed and pulled on her robe. They still had a long road to travel. Life wouldn't get perfect all at once. No one could expect it to, but as she walked into the kitchen she wondered how much better it could actually get.

*************

"Jack?"

"Hmmmm?"

His voice was heavy with sleep, but she couldn't put off this conversation any longer.

"We have a problem," she began.

"What? The new dohickey you designed for the Stargate?"

"No. Jack....I'm pregnant again."

He opened his eyes and grinned. "Cool." Rolling over, he moved his head down to her stomach. Sam sighed in amusement as he started a conversation, "Hey kid, this is Dad....."

*************

The End

Even Happier Ever After