Title: "This Kiss"

Author: Sally Reeve

Email: sallyreeve@blueyonder.co.uk

Rating: PG

Classification: S/J UST, romance, fluff, song fic!

Spoilers: "Window of Opportunity"

Archive: SJA and Heliopolis.   Anyone else, please just ask so I can find you!

Summary:  Don't you hate it when you get a song stuck in your head?

Notes:  This is just a bit of fun!   I've been meaning to write something along these lines since SG3, where they played a great music video for "This Kiss" over, and over, and over..!  Here's the result.  Hope you enjoy!

Thanks to Ann M. for her speedy online beta reading, and to TL for pointing out a couple of 'issues' which I probably haven't adequately addressed.

Dedication:  To everyone at SG3 who was cheering at the right moments in the vid! ;)  You know who you are, girls!

Disclaimer: All publicly recognizable characters and places  are the property of MGM, World Gekko Corp and Double Secret Productions.  This piece of fan fiction was created for  entertainment not monetary purposes and no infringement on copyrights or trademarks was  intended.  Previously unrecognized characters and places, and this  story, are  copyrighted to the author. Any similarity to real persons, living or dead, is coincidental and not intended by the author.  And no doubt the lyrics to "This Kiss" belong to Faith Hill: thanks for the loan.
 

"This Kiss" by Sally Reeve

Part One

As soon as Sam stepped into the bar she knew it was a mistake.  How the hell had Janet managed to persuade her to come along?  The room was crowded and noisy, complete with a small dance floor in the corner upon which people way too old to be strutting their stuff were...well, strutting their stuff.

The music was decidedly eighties, conjuring up images of big hair, bad perms and leg-warmers. God.

"Sam!" Janet yelled, somehow making herself seen and heard over the crowd. She was waving frantically, and, Sam realized, was standing on a table.  Oh Lord.  And it wasn't even ten o'clock yet.

But as she pushed her way through the crowd, Sam couldn't help but be infected by her friend's enthusiasm.  Give her a couple of Bloody Mary's, and the serious Doctor Fraiser went into retreat in the face of 'Janet'. "Hey, Janet!" Sam smiled, watching as several airman all tried to help the doctor down from the table.  Janet grinned at them, before briefly hugging Sam.

"You made it!" she beamed.

Sam rolled her eyes as she glanced around the bar.  "So where's Major Davies?" she asked.

"At the bar," Janet said, tugging on her arm.  "Let's go say hello.  I promised him a birthday kiss."

Sam laughed.  "You promised to kiss Major Davies?"

"No!" Janet chuckled.  "I promised him you would!"

***

From the far end of the bar, Jack watched as Fraiser - clearly well on her way to a good evening - dragged a reluctant Carter through the crowd.  He was far enough away that he figured he could watch her with impunity. Casually dressed in black pants and a black shirt that plunged rather dramatically at the neckline, she looked...hot.  Okay, it wasn't the most PC term he could have come up with, but what the hell?  No one was listening. She looked hot.  Damn hot.

With a sigh he took a long swig of his beer.  God, he had decided, had a bad sense of humor.

On the one hand, he set him up with probably the best officer he'd had the honor to serve with as his second in command - smart, innovative, dependable, and utterly loyal to the team.  On the other hand, he made her...gorgeous.  Sexy.  And completely unaware of the fact.  In some ways, it was Carter's utter lack of self-consciousness about her looks that made her so irresistible.  She didn't primp and preen like so many women, she was just comfortable with herself whether she was buried under a hundred pounds of kit, or just looking fantastic in black pants and a shirt that drew Jack's eyes to places they had no right straying.

Irresistible.  Well, maybe not, since he'd spent the best part of four years doing just that.  Resisting.  Of course, he'd been helped along at the beginning by the conviction that she could never see him as anything more than an aging and irritable smart-ass old soldier.  It had actually been fun at first - the flirting, the jokes he'd cracked in order to see her smile, the little warm ember in the pit of his stomach that had glowed happily whenever he thought about her.  It had been fun until the day he realized that it wasn't fun.  That the ember had turned into a torch that he really shouldn't be carrying.  But by then it was too late, and all he could do was try and hide the blazing flames before anyone noticed that he was utterly smitten.

He wasn't sure how successful he'd been.  Hammond knew, for sure.  And not just because he'd seen the tapes of the whole, humiliating, zay'tarc thing. And Daniel knew, because he was smart, but mostly because there'd been that drunken evening, over a year ago, when Jack may have...might have... had probably...definitely mentioned the 'L' word.  And Teal'c?  Well, he'd heard it straight from the horse's mouth when Jack had been strapped to Anise's faintly ridiculous 'truth machine'.  Now *that* was something out of bad sci-fi.  But then, so was most of his working life.  He just hoped the open secret hadn't spread beyond his little circle of trust, because he knew exactly how dangerous that knowledge could be in the wrong hands.

He sighed again, took another swig of beer, and when his eyes returned inevitably to Carter he found that she was looking right at him. Helplessly, his heart tripped over itself, although practice kept the feeling from showing on his face.  Instead he raised his bottle in a solemn salute, which she returned with a smile that was painfully sweet.

"Friend of yours?"  a voice said at his side.

Jack glanced down at the young, toadish man perched on the bar-stall next to him.  "We work together."

"Cool," the man replied, leering across the bar at Carter.  "She's hot."

Somewhat sickened that the man's words mirrored his own thoughts, Jack rose to his feet.  "Yeah, well, buddy, you're out of luck because--"

"I can see that," Toady replied, with a wry grin.

Following the man's gaze, Jack watched with a sinking resignation as Carter - urged on by a giggling Janet Fraiser - took hold of Major Davies' face with both hands and planted a firm kiss on the shocked man's lips.

The bar - which had been all but taken over by the SGC - burst into applause, and Carter took a theatrical bow.  Davies tried for an encore, but to Jack's satisfaction Carter gave a pleasant, but firm, denial.  Good for her.  But still...  He'd never gotten a kiss.  Not even on his birthday. Not a real one.  Not one that she remembered, at least.  But as they both knew, that was the way it had to be.  Didn't make it any easier, of course. In fact, it made it a hell of a lot more frustrating to know that if things had been different, if...  Well, that was a road not worth travelling.  It was time to call it a night and leave Carter to her fun.  God knew she cold do with some.  Jack shrugged his jacket on and dug out a tip to leave on the bar, but as he slid his wallet back into his pocket he had the distinct impression that he was being watched.

Looking up, his eyes met Carter's again.  There was an embarrassed flush on her cheeks, brightening her eyes as she watched him with something that could have been apology - or was it invitation?  The expression was unusual and intriguing; it stopped him dead.  At Carter's side, Janet whispered something into her ear, but Carter's eyes never left his.  She smiled and her blush deepened as she raised a bottle of beer to her lips and drank deeply.

Well...  Maybe he wouldn't go home after all.  Maybe he'd just go on over there and say 'Hi'.  It was only polite, after all.

***

"He's been watching you since the moment you walked in," Janet whispered in Sam's ear.

Unable to deny her words, Sam simply smiled and took a drink of her beer. He had been watching her, she knew.  She could always tell when his eyes were on her, it was like a sixth sense.  And so she'd known that he'd been watching her as she'd kissed Major Davies - God, she was going to kill Janet for that!  There'd been nothing disapproving in his eyes when she'd glanced over at him afterwards, only a sad sort of resignation.  One her own heart echoed.

Which, perhaps, was why she'd found herself staring at him and willing him not to leave.

Which, perhaps, was why he was currently making his way through the crowd towards her.

Not that she was watching him, not that her stomach was dancing strangely. For crying out loud, she saw the man everyday!  Why on earth did she suddenly feel like a kid at the prom?  Maybe  it was the music, she thought bleakly.  Reminded her of high school.

Janet gave her an evil grin and muttered, "I think you pulled!"

Eyes wide, Sam kicked her friend's foot.  "Janet!"

"Just saying," the doctor smiled.  And then added, "Think I'll go rescue Daniel from Captain Rumori before I have to perform a surgical extraction. Excuse me."

With half a glance at where Rumori had a somewhat desperate Daniel backed up against the wall, Sam smiled.  What was it about him that attracted such...devoted admirers?  She had no idea.

"Hey Carter."  O'Neill.  His deep voice at her side startled her, scattering the butterflies in her stomach

"Sir.  Hey."

"So," he drawled, leaning casually against the bar.  "Come here often?"

She grinned and shook her head; he was treading dangerously close to the line they'd drawn between themselves.  "Only when Janet lures me here," she said, glancing over at the rapidly filling dance floor.  "What's the deal with the music, anyhow?"

O'Neill grinned.  "Does that mean you don't want to dance?"

Sam stared at him.  Was he serious?  There was a playful twinkle in is dark eyes, but nothing that spoke of deception.  "That depends," she said cautiously.

And suddenly it was serious.  He was still toying with a smile, but it looked more apprehensive than amused and he had gone very, very still. Every ounce of his attention was focused exclusively on her.  He barely looked as though he were breathing.  "Depends on what?"

Sam licked her lips nervously, and his eyes dipped for an instant to her mouth.  Her heart fluttered wildly.  And the words came out without thought. "On whether you're asking."  Oh, even closer to the line!

He said nothing, just stood there, leaning against the bar, watching her. And the intensity of his gaze was such that she was afraid she might melt if he didn't move.  But she couldn't break free, didn't want to.  His eyes held her fast, drew her into places she dreamed of, and hinted at a fire beneath their dark surface.  With a flash of heat, she realized that was a fire she wanted to touch, wanted to feel touch her soul.

And suddenly he moved, with the precise grace of a soldier.  "Come on," he murmured, removing the beer from her hand and taking her by the wrist.  His fingers were warm and held her gently as he pulled her through the crowd towards the dance floor.  Unable and unwilling to object, Sam let him lead her past the curious onlookers and into the midst of the dancers.

He stopped when they were lost in the crowd, and turned to face her.  He was smiling, and gave a little shrug as he took a step closer.  "I won't bite," he promised.

She guessed he must have seen the trepidation in her eyes. "I know," she replied and stepped confidently into his embrace, resting a hand lightly on his shoulder.  One arm slipped around her waist and his other hand took her own.  The music wasn't slow, but it wasn't fast either.  And fortunately, it was nothing she recognized; the DJ had obviously decided to break with the eighties theme for a while.  Thank God.  The last thing she wanted to do was dance with O'Neill to the strains of some obnoxious high school tune!

"So, what I want to know," the colonel said quietly, close to her ear, "is how come Davies gets the special treatment on his birthday."

Sam grinned.  "Janet's idea," she explained.  "I had no choice."

"Ah," he replied, and she could hear the laughter in his voice, "so the Doc' s the person I need to talk to."

Shaking her head, half in exasperation and half in an attempt to hide her guilty pleasure at the comment, Sam said nothing.  She just enjoyed the slow sway of their bodies as they danced to the music, a little surprised at how well they moved together.  They weren't so close that they were touching, but she was still acutely aware of the weight of his arm around her waist and the way his fingers were moving slowly over the small of her back.

Gazing over his shoulder, she saw Janet watching them from the bar.  Fraiser raised her glass in a mock toast when she caught Sam's eye, making her blush.  She looked away, and found her eyes caught once more by O'Neill's dark gaze, just as the music changed.

Again the tune was nothing she recognized, although it was a little faster than the previous song.  "Fraiser's had way too much to drink," O'Neill told her, the smile in his eyes belying his gruff words.

Sam rolled her eyes.  "No kidding.  The woman's dangerous!"

"She's not the only one," he said very softly, so close to her ear that she almost missed it.  "You.  You're dangerous, Carter."

She blinked, staring up into his eyes as her heart raced.  "So are you, Sir. Very."

He smiled at that, as if pleased with the idea.  But he said nothing, and they simply danced slowly in each other's arms.  She found herself increasingly lost in the moment and the music, day dreaming about impossible scenarios, imagining things that could never be, should never be; warm breezes, moonlit nights, his arms around her, warm lips exploring..

You can kiss me in the moonlight
On the rooftop under the sky.

Sam's eyes widened as the song's lyrics broke into her daydream.  His rooftop.  In the moonlight.  Oh God.  Who read her mind?

Kiss me in sweet slow motion.
Lets let everything slide

Slide.  Regulations sliding.

This wasn't funny!  She felt a blush heat her cheeks when she saw that O' Neill was watching her through eyes alive with laughter.  He was obviously sharing the joke, and she couldn't help but laugh out loud at the ridiculous situation.

This kiss, this kiss.it's criminal

Oh yeah!  Court martial, for sure.

This kiss, this kiss.

His arm tightened around her, pulling her just a little bit closer.  Close enough that when he spoke she could feel his warm breath on her cheek. "Sometimes," he murmured, "I think The Powers That Be really do have a sense of humor."

"A warped one," she agreed.  He chuckled and, to her surprise, gently squeezed the hand he was holding; she found herself returning the gesture. Maybe, she thought as their laughter mellowed into something sadder, it would almost be worth the risk.

This kiss, this kiss.it's criminal
This kiss, this kiss.

***

Jack sat atop a pile of rocks, squinting into pale sunlight through his sunglasses.  Beneath him, at the bottom of the shallow hill, Daniel was sitting in the dirt, pawing over something that he'd assured Jack was 'of astronomic cultural significance'.  Jack believed him; it was easier than listening to the explanation.

He scanned the horizon.  Still no sign of life, or anything remotely threatening.  Shame.  Six hours they'd been there, watching Daniel enthuse. He could do with a little action.  Teal'c and Carter had hiked off over the hills behind them, he suspected more out of boredom than anything else.  But she'd muttered something vague about 'mineral deposits' and he'd let her go without pressing for details.  How many people did one archaeologist need to keep him safe, anyway?

He picked up a stone and bounced it idly in his hand.  It wouldn't have been so bad, normally.  He could have stretched out in the thin sunlight and let his imagination take flight.  Or dozed off.  But not today.  Today his restless mind wouldn't pause for a moment.  Because, endlessly circling, like buzzards waiting for the kill, that little tune played in his mind.

This kiss, this kiss.it's criminal
This kiss, this kiss.

He just couldn't get it out of his head.

And with it, of course, came memories.  Carter smiling, laughing.  Carter in his arms, so close he could smell the flowers and spice of her shampoo.  Her cool fingers in his hand, his arm around her slender waist, the soft swell of her.

Okay!

He jumped to his feet, losing his grip on the stone he'd been toying with and sending it skittering down the hill.

"Hey!" Daniel groused, glancing up and rubbing at his shoulder.

Jack grimaced.  "Sorry!"

This kiss, this kiss.it's criminal
This kiss, this kiss.

Gah!

***

If she just kept talking, Sam figured, it would go away.  If she just kept words coming out of her mouth she could ignore the ones looping in her mind like a damaged CD.

".and so I'm hoping that General Hammond will approve the project, because I really think that the benefits to the SGC as a whole, not to mention the whole Air Force."

This kiss, this kiss.it's criminal
This kiss, this kiss.

Argh!  "And, as you know, we need all the help we can get with the.Teal'c?" Stopping, Sam realized that Teal'c was no longer at her side.  Turning around, she saw her friend standing some distance behind her.  Now what? "Teal'c?  What's wrong?"

"I believe it is time for us to return to Colonel O'Neill, Major Carter."

Sam glanced at her watch.  He was right.  "Sorry, Teal'c," she apologized, heading back towards him.  "Lost track of time."

He inclined his head in a gesture that was probably forgiveness.  Or simply an acceptance of human frailty.  "Perhaps," he suggested, as they headed back towards the gate together, "a period of silence would assist your concentration?"

Sam glanced at him sideways.  That was the closest Teal'c would ever get to 'shut the hell up'.  She smiled.  "Sorry, Teal'c.  I guess I was kinda babbling."

He raised a distinctly silent eyebrow.

"Still am," she agreed.  "Right.  Got ya."

Silence.  If only.

This kiss, this kiss.it's criminal
This kiss, this kiss.

***

O'Neill was stretched out on the ground, arms behind his head, a small smile playing over his lips and his eyes hidden behind his dark glasses.

At first Sam thought he'd dozed off; it wasn't entirely professional, but it wouldn't have been the first time.  There wasn't a threat for miles around, and they all knew it.  She shot a glance at Teal'c, whose silent reply managed to convey mild disapproval and indulgent acceptance of their CO's slightly unorthodox operating procedures.  But as they drew nearer, Sam realized that the colonel wasn't sleeping at all.  What he was thinking about, stretched out there and smiling to himself in the cool sunshine, she could only imagine.  But what she knew for sure was that the tune he was humming to himself was very, very familiar...

This kiss, this kiss...it's criminal
This kiss, this kiss...

She cleared her throat.  "Sir?"

O'Neill sat up like he'd been shot.  "Carter!"

"Sorry we're late."

Climbing to his feet, obviously more ruffled than he wanted them to know, O'Neill cleared his throat.  "Well, don't sweat it.  Daniel's still translating...or whatever it is he's doing down there."

As if summoned by the words, Daniel appeared over the low rise.  The smile on his lips told Sam that the day had been profitable.  "Hey!" he grinned. "Ready to go?"

"Oh, yeah," O'Neill nodded, hefting his pack over his shoulders.  "I'll take point," he muttered and headed out without a backward glance.

"Something I said?" Daniel asked Sam, falling in beside her as they followed the colonel.

She smiled and shook her head.  "Doubt it."

Maybe her smile had been a little too warm, or a little too knowing, or maybe Daniel was just too smart for his own good.  Either way, he frowned in that way he had, pushed his glasses up his nose and said, "So...you two looked friendly last night."

Sam blinked.  "What do you mean?"

"Friendly.  You know, dancing.laughing.  Friendly."

"Nothing wrong with that," Sam replied, keeping her eyes fixed on the pale rocks at her feet, making sure she didn't misstep.

"Didn't say there was."

"So why mention it?"

He shrugged and glanced at her out of the corner of his eye.  "A little defensive, aren't we?"

"I just don't see why it's such a big deal," she muttered.  "So we danced. So what?"

There was a long silence, and then, "It was nice to see, that's all.  You looked happy.  Both of you.  It was nice."

Sam felt herself blush and scowled angrily at her feet.  "I'm sorry, Daniel. I didn't mean to snap.  It's just." she sighed, ".it's just difficult.  You know?"

"Yeah," Daniel agreed quietly.  "I know."

***

"What is that you're humming?" Fraiser asked, just as she jabbed the needle into his butt.

Jack grimaced, from the mild pain and the fact that he'd been caught out. "No idea," he told her.  And that was no lie.  "It's been going through my head all day though."  He glanced over his shoulder at her as he pulled up his pants.  "Don't have a cure for that, do you?"

Fraiser gave him a surprisingly wicked smile.  "Maybe I do."

He raised an eyebrow and turned to face her.  "Go on."

"Another time," she told him, all business again.  "Although.you know I've heard that tune somewhere before."

Shrugging on his jacket, Jack nodded.  "They played it last night."

Nodding slowly, Fraiser said, "No, that wasn't it."  And then her smile bloomed again, slightly dangerous.  "Sam was humming it when she was in here earlier."

"Carter?"

Fraiser grinned.  "You're all done, Colonel."

He nodded absently.  Carter had been humming the same tune, huh?  He smiled a little.  So, maybe he wasn't the only one whose mind refused to move on from that short, timeless dance they'd shared?

***

Sam hated malls.  She avoided them at all costs; ordered almost everything online and what she couldn't get there she'd try to find anywhere but the mall.  But this was an emergency, and so she had no choice.

Tower Records was crowded, mostly with kids in jeans that dragged in tatters around their ankles and looked about three sizes too big.  She rolled her eyes, and told herself she'd never looked that ridiculous when she'd been a teenager.  Although, there had been that raa-raa skirt.  Best not to think about it.

The music was so loud it was hard to think as she pushed her way down the aisle of the 'country' section.  Digging in her jacket pocket she pulled out the scrap of paper that Janet had given her and re-read the name: 'There You 'll Be' by Faith Hill.  Shaking her head, she sighed at herself.  How old are you, Sam Carter?  Too old to be buying CD's to remind you of one stupid dance.

God, she wished they'd change the music.  What the hell was this crap anyway?  Did it even have a tune?  Gah!  Now she sounded like her Dad.  At last she found the 'H' section and started searching.  Hill. Hill.  Aha! There it was.  She reached out for the CD so fast she almost collided with another hand reaching in the same direction.  "Sorry," she laughed, looking up and straight into a pair of very familiar, and somewhat shocked, brown eyes.

"Carter!"

"Sir!"

They both stood there staring and silent for a long time as the music beat on above them.  At last O'Neill looked away, laughing slightly.  "I was just.looking for."

"Faith Hill?" Sam suggested, half-embarrassed and half-delighted to have found him there.

He grinned sheepishly.  "Yeah, I think that's it."

Sam reached down and picked up the CD, checking the back.  Yup, number two: 'This Kiss'.  "This is the one," she said, offering it to him with a hesitant smile.

He took it from her, watching her with a soft intensity.  "Thanks," he said, so quietly she could barely hear him over the music.

"Janet says it's a good CD," she added.  "Cassie has it, apparently."

He nodded, although she could tell his mind was elsewhere.  And after a moment he said, "Look.you wanna do something?  Grab a coffee or.?"

He trailed to a halt, probably because he'd seen the anguished look flash over her face.  If only she could say yes, but after last night she wasn't sure she dared.  Dancing had been nice, too nice.  So nice that it was difficult to remember why they shouldn't - couldn't - do it again. "I.really need to be going," she told him, trying not to notice the disappointment in his eyes.  "I need to, um, hit the grocery store on the way home, a--"

"That's fine!" he told her with a quick grin.  "I'm pretty beat too."

She nodded and smiled awkwardly.  "So."

"So." she agreed.

"Guess I'll go pay for this," he said, tapping the CD against his other hand.  "'Night, Carter."

"Night, Sir."

And with that he was gone, pushing quickly through the crowd.  Sam felt her heart sink and miserably reached for her copy of the CD.  The whole situation was ridiculous; two grown adults, mature adults, reduced to acting like angst-ridded teenagers because of the Air Force's stupid - yet undeniably sensible - fraternization regulations.  It sucked.

She sighed and headed over to the clerk.  Maybe one day things would change, she mused idly, or she would change.  And maybe one day she really would get her kiss.criminal or otherwise.

***

Okay, Jack decided, as he slouched on his sofa with a beer in hand, it wasn't working.  He'd listened to the damn song at least ten times, and still the words scooted around his head.  The images, the physical memory his body seemed to have of hers, would not fade for a moment.  If he closed his eyes, all he could see was her face; the way she'd smiled at him that night had taken his breath away, so much more Sam than Major Carter.   He sighed, just as the damn song came on again.  Okay, so he had the CD on loop.

It's perpetual bliss
It's that pivotal moment
Its.ah.impossible
This kiss, this kiss

He grunted and drained the bottle of beer.  Impossible?  Never a truer word had been spoken.  Or sung.

It's perpetual bliss
It's that pivotal moment
It's.ah.unthinkable.

Impossible, unthinkable.and yet.  God!  He thought about it all the damn time!  He could still remember the hot  touch of her lips against his, the soft curves of her body, and how slender she'd felt in his arms.  All from that one stolen kiss she'd never experienced, and yet the memories of which haunted him as doggedly as this damn song.

You can kiss me in the moonlight
On the rooftop under the stars
You can kiss me with the windows open
While the rain comes blowing inside.

He jumped up and turned the stereo off.  On the rooftop?  God!  How often had that particular scenario run through his mind?  Too damn often for his own good, especially on those dark nights when they'd sat up there until far too late, talking about everything and nothing, freezing their butts off but not wanting the break the spell.  How often had he looked over at her, seen the moonlight in her eyes and wanted to, just for one moment, claim her for himself?  Every time, that was how often.  He squeezed his eyes shut, but the memories wouldn't leave.  One kiss.  Would it really be so bad?

He knew the answer, of course.  Yes, it would.  Because after the brief, intoxicating kiss they'd shared only seconds before the time-loop had reset he'd known without doubt that he couldn't stop with just one.  He knew himself too well, which was exactly why he'd timed that particular kiss as he had done.  Six seconds of bliss.  What was it that damn song called it, 'perpetual bliss'?  Huh, if only.

With a sigh he headed into the kitchen for another beer.

***

Louder.

It's the way you love me
It's a feeling like this
It's centrifugal motion
It's.

Centrifugal motion?  Sam laughed to herself as she drove.  How the hell did she get 'centrifugal' into a love song?  The woman deserved a prize.

This kiss, this kiss.it's criminal.
This kiss, this kiss

Her laughter faded.  It was stupid.  She was stupid.  Someone the wrong side of thirty should *not* be obsessing over one song and one dance.   It was embarrassing, and.

On the other hand.  A smile crept back onto her lips.  She obviously wasn't the only one.  And he was certainly the wrong side of forty, which made her feel a little better about her juvenile behavior.  And what harm was it doing anyhow?  It was just a song, and it wasn't like she was ever going to actually do anything about the persistent craving she felt gnawing in her belly.  It wasn't like they were ever going to kiss or do anything remotely--

Bleep-bleep.

Cell phone.  She grabbed it from the dash, and fumbled to turn down the volume on the stereo.  "Carter," she snapped into the phone.  The CD kept playing.

It's the way you love me
It's a feeling like this
It's centrifugal motion
It's perpetual bliss.

There was silence, and then.  "Carter.  Hey."

Her heart nearly beat right out of her chest.  "Colonel?"

"Yeah."  More silence.  "Look, I know it's late and you're tired.  And you have groceries.  But."

"But?" she asked, feeling ridiculously breathless.

"Well..." he was very hesitant, nervous.  She'd never heard him sound so uncomfortable.  "I just realised the lunar occlusion of Saturn starts tonight.  I thought you might be interested...we should get a good view from...my rooftop...under the sky."

Sam almost choked.  "...rooftop under the sky?" she repeated faintly.

"Only if you're interested...."

Somewhat dazed, Sam didn't see the break lights ahead of her until.CRUNCH!

"Shit!"

"Carter!" O'Neill's voice had lost all its hesitancy and was the familiar bark of concern she knew so well.

"It's okay," she muttered.  "Fender bender.  I've gotta go."

"You okay?" he asked, suddenly very far from the commanding officer she knew in the field.  His gentle concern touched her, more than it should.

"I'm fine," she assured him, conscious that her own voice had dropped into a more intimate tone.  "Just...wasn't concentrating."

"I'm sorry."

"It's not your fault."  Well, that was a lie, but she had no time to worry about it as the driver of the car she'd hit climbed out.  He did not look pleased.  Sam grimaced.  "I gotta go."

"Call me."

Despite the man throwing her looks like daggers, Sam couldn't help but smile.  Call me?  What the hell had gotten into him tonight?

***

Jack wasn't the sort of man who believed in omens, but he couldn't ignore the fact that he'd called Carter up with the express purpose of inviting her to do something.not entirely professional.and the end result had been causing her to crash her car.  God, she loved that car.  She'd probably kill him.

But cars aside, he figured it was probably a sign from whoever kept an eye on the world that his dishonorable intentions were doomed to failure.  Just as they should be.  What the hell had he been thinking?  Carter was Carter; his second in command.  Just because his brain had been branded permanently with that damn song, forcing him constantly to think about her in all the wrong ways, did not give him the right to vault over the barriers they had so carefully erected between themselves.  He shook his head and reached for his jacket.  "Jerk," he muttered.  Well, someone had to say it.  Yanking open the door, he stepped outside.

The air was cold and still.  Just as he liked it.  The night was clear and the stars were bright, the moon slender and new.   Everything was drawn in cold, sharp lines; as hard and beautiful as gemstones.  He sucked in a deep, invigorating breath.  Perfect.  Almost perfect, anyway.  Perfect would have been.  "Don't even think it," he warned himself out loud.  "Just  don't."

Hefting his telescope case over one shoulder, he walked around to the side of the house and climbed up the ladder.  It was an illusion, but it seemed even colder up there.  Carefully, he set up his telescope.  It had been a while since he'd had time, or made the effort.  But he hadn't been spinning a line to Carter about the lunar occlusion and he figured it would.might.take his mind off other things.

It didn't take long to set up; he had an instinctive ability with anything mechanical from weapons to telescopes.  His fingers seemed to work of their own accord, adjusting and tweaking to perfection.  With a satisfied nod he sat down and put his eye up to the cool rubber eyepiece and started adjusting the focus.  He could have booted up "Starry Night", but pretty much knew where in the sky to look.  Besides, it was more fun this way; gave the illusion of exploration.

Carefully moving the telescope across the dark sky, Jack found a moment of peace.  Thoughts faded, disappointed desires were forgotten as he concentrated on the pin pricks of light and the vast beauty of the cosmos. No matter how many times he stepped through the gate, nothing would ever fill him with wonder like the night sky.

So lost was he in the moment that he didn't hear the approach of the car until it turned into his driveway with an odd scraping sound.  Hope spun his heart into a back-flip.  He jumped to his feet and peered down from the rooftop.  Back-flip, somersault, back-flip; Carter's car limped to a halt outside his house, one headlight dark and the fender wobbling like a bad tooth.

Stepping out, she slammed the door in obvious disgust and went around the front to inspect the damage.  Crouching down she pushed at the fender, bent her head to take a look beneath, and stood up with a muttered curse that was loud enough to reach the rooftop.  Jack couldn't help but smile.

"Hey!" he called down.

Turning, she was disorientated for a moment before her eyes rose to where he stood.  Even in the darkness, he could see the brilliance of her smile. "Sir.  Did I miss it?"

"Miss what?"

Her eyes widened.  "The lunar occlusion?"

"Oh!"   He grinned at himself.  "Not likely, it's gonna take a few days. Come on up."

It didn't take her long to reach the top, not even remotely breathless from the climb.  "Hey," she said again, as she clambered up.

"How's the car?" he asked immediately, scanning her face for the real emotions she was so good at hiding.

But she just rolled her eyes.  "It's gonna cost a fortune."

"How about the other guy?"

"Huh," she groused. "I almost decked him when he accused me of being a 'stupid woman driver'."

Jack winced.  "You didn't shoot him, did you?"

"Well, if it hadn't been my own stupid fault, I might have done," she confessed dryly.  "As it was, I couldn't really argue about the 'stupid' part."

Jack shook his head.  "I can't help feeling a little responsible," he apologized.  "I shouldn't have called you."

They both knew his words were layered with meaning.  Carter held eyes held his for a silent moment, large and luminous.  And then she said, "Probably not.  But I'm glad you did."

Silence.  She looked at him, he looked at her, and above them the stars twinkled brightly, oblivious to the sudden tension that had gripped them both.  He knew why he'd invited her here, what he wanted.  But did she feel the same?  Is that why she was here?  How the hell could he find out?

You can kiss me in the moonlight
On the rooftop under the sky.

Jack shook the song out of his head, breaking the moment.  He cleared his throat.  "So, you wanna come and take a look?  Apparently we should be able to see the rings in a lot more detail..."

***

It was interesting.  It really was.  And Sam would have found herself engrossed were it not for the fact that she was sitting so damn close to O' Neill.  His arm was looped around the back of the narrow chair, simply to get it out of the way, as he directed her to the right spot in the sky.  And however hard she tried to concentrate on what he was saying, all her mind could think about was the fact that he'd purposely invited her to his 'rooftop under the sky' and that she really, really wanted him to kiss her.

Which was bad.  Very bad.  Unprofessional, immature, unbecoming to her rank, demeaning to her gender.yadda, yadda, yadda.  She knew it all.  But it didn't stop her from being so alive to his closeness that she could feel his presence as if he were on fire; the tension was so acute she could see the sparks.  Damn it, why the hell was he still talking about lunar occlusions? Didn't he realize she was sitting right there?  Didn't he.?

His arm suddenly left the back of the chair and crept around her shoulders. She jumped, he started, and she found herself staring into his dark, startled eyes.  "Sorry," he muttered, removing his arm.  But she wasn't going to let him go that easily.

"Don't be.  It felt nice."

"Oh."

She shifted a little in her seat, facing him.  "As much as I enjoy astronomy," she told him, "that's not why you asked me here."  He stared blankly, and her confidence faltered.  "Is it?"

Obviously surprised that she was addressing the subject so boldly, he stammered, "Ah.no.  Not really."

She smiled a little, an expression he mirrored, and quietly said, "Good, because that's not why I came."

O'Neill swallowed hard.  And then a devilish smile starting twitching his lips, his eyes suddenly brighter than the stars.  "Why are you here, Carter?"

"Therapy," she explained.

His eyebrows rose.  "Therapy?"

"I've got this stupid song stuck in my head.  I can't seem to get rid of it.."

His arm was around her shoulders again, this time pulling her a little closer.  "I think I know the one," he confessed.  "Something about a rooftop and.a kiss."

She smiled, but it was suddenly a shaky smile.  He was very close, and the reality of what she was about to do started to hit home.  This was her CO! If she let this happen, everything would change.  Everything.  She'd be letting down the team, herself.the insanity of the situation started to creep through her previous euphoria.  Klaxons were wailing, lights flashing. Danger!  "Oh God," she sighed, looking away, "this is crazy."

She could almost taste his disappointment, and it was as bitter as her own. "I know," he murmured.

"I just want to--"

"Yeah," he agreed.  "Me too.  But--"

"It would be wrong," she said sadly, glancing up at him again.  "We both know it."

"It's already wrong.  Has been for years."

Sam blinked.  "It has?"

His face had lost its mischievous light, and he was looking at her with a gravity she'd rarely seen.  "How I feel," he explained quietly, "is the problem.  One kiss wouldn't change anything."

"You sound very certain."

He smiled a little at that.  "I am."  And then he looked away, out across the dark street below.  "The problem is, Carter, that I care.," he trailed to a halt, shaking his head.  After a moment he looked back at her, skewering her with a penetrating gaze.  "The real problem is that I love you."

The breath caught in Sam's chest, knotting her heart painfully.  Had he really said that?  But even if she'd doubted her ears, she couldn't doubt the way he was watching her, every feeling on display.  She'd never seen him so exposed, and her heart reached out to him.  Offering a reassuring smile she quietly said, "That's only half the problem."

He smiled at that, understanding her completely.  "I should have gone to Hammond a long time ago," he said then, rubbing a frustrated hand over his face.  "But I don't want to lose you from the team."

"I don't want to be lost," she replied, a little nervous at his line of thought.  "You're not thinking of saying anything, are you?"

Looking over at her, he shook his head.  "No.  I just meant.the *problem* - if that's how we're going to look at it - is more than one kiss.  I mean.one kiss wouldn't change anything."

"You don't think so?" she asked, feeling a sudden return of her previous excitement.  "You don't think it would change anything between us?"

"I know it wouldn't," he assured her with absolute confidence.  Too absolute.  She looked at him curiously.

"How do you know?"

Guilty.  He was looking guilty!  "I. Just a feeling."

Sam wasn't buying it..  "You're not telling me something," she stated, edging a little closer to get a better look at him.  He was distinctly uncomfortable.  "What is it?"

"Nothing," he replied, waving a hand to dismiss her concerns.  "Just.you know, I think that it would--"

"Colonel," she interrupted, injecting a note of warning into her voice, "you're hiding something."  She felt herself blush, and ran a cold hand through her hair.  "It wasn't P3X -595 was it?  I didn't do something.embarrassing?"

"No," he assured her hurriedly, turning towards her and ending up rather closer than he'd probably intended.  But he didn't retreat, and neither did she.  "No, it wasn't there."

"But it was somewhere?" she pressed,  There was no *way* she was going to let this go!  "What happened?  Why don't I remember?"

O'Neill grimaced, looked away and looked back at her.  And then he chuckled, a self-conscious laugh that made Sam smile.  "Oh God, I knew this would happen one day."

Sam's grin broadened, amused and intrigued at the same time.  "Tell me," she pressed.  "What the hell happened?"  His eyes met hers, still amused but alarmed as well.  She lost her smile, picking up on his anxiety.  "Sir?"

He nodded.  "It was the time warp thing."

What?  "The time warp thing?"

"Yeah," he nodded again.  "You know the.looping."

She remembered.  "When you and Teal'c were caught in the time loop."  And then her eyes widened.  "We kissed?!"

O'Neill grimaced.  "I'm sorry.  I can see why you would be mad and I--"

"I'm not mad," she told him, reassuring him with a touch on his arm.  Only her hand didn't leave its resting place, lingering on the soft leather of his sleeve.

His gaze softened, warmth replacing trepidation. "You're not?"

"Tell me about it," she demanded quietly.  "How did we.  I mean.how did it happen?"

He shrugged.  "I resigned.  Then I kissed you."

"That's it?"

"Well--"

"Did I kiss you back?"

He smiled at that, a slow smile that almost melted her.   "Oh yeah."

Heat rose to her cheeks and she was forced to look away, down to where her hand was still resting on his arm.  "You know this is very unfair, don't you?" she told him.

"You think I took advantage of the situation?"

She smiled and shrugged.  "No more than I would have done, I guess."

"Really?" The astonishment in his voice was enough to draw her gaze back to his face.  "You mean you would have--"

"Kissed you?  Oh yeah.  Hell, with no consequences, I would have--"  She stopped herself short with a self-conscious grin.

But he wasn't letting go.  "Would have what, Carter?  I'm curious."

Sam considered her answer for a moment before she laughingly said, "I guess I would've gone fishing."

The look on his face was a picture!  "Fishing?" he squeaked.  And then with a theatrical sigh, he slapped his hand to his head and said, "Why couldn't it have been you stuck in that damn loop?"

She laughed at that.  "Don't think I haven't considered it!"

He chuckled, looking at her affectionately.  "You're full of surprises, you know?"

"You think?" she asked.  "Who wouldn't do exactly what they wanted, if there were no consequences?"

He nodded, sobering again.  "It's the consequences that are the killer," he agreed.  And then a sly look came across his face.  "You know.I can speak from personal experience when I say that there were no consequences from that kiss."

"But I didn't remember it."  She pointed out, and then frowned, "Or experience it, actually."

"But I did, and nothing's changed.  Has it?  There *were* no consequences."

She had to agree.  "I guess not."

"So.?"

She blinked.  "So, what?"

He shrugged, glanced up at the sliver of moon, and back down at her face. "So.we're on a rooftop under the sky."

You can kiss me in the moonlight
On a rooftop under the sky

"So we are," she agreed.  They were staring at each other intently now, each measuring the other, trying to judge the situation.  Cautiously, Sam said, "Are you suggesting that we let everything slide?"

Kiss me in sweet slow motion
Let's let everything slide

He just nodded.  But he didn't move, waiting for her to say something.  Let everything slide; the regulations, their military ranks, their duty, their professionalism?  Let it all slide for this one single kiss?  It was impossible, unthinkable, criminal.but ultimately unstoppable.

With a nervous smile she leaned closer, feeling his arm once more around her shoulders.  Slowly, savoring the moment, she let her lips brush his, and wondered if this was how it had been for him the first time.  The time she couldn't remember.  Starting slow, the kiss evolved a gentle rhythm growing ever stronger and deeper.  As his arms tightened around her, crushing her delightfully, she reached up and touched his face, letting her fingers run through the short hair at his temple.  He made a soft sound, deep in his throat, but didn't break the kiss.  They both knew this was a one-shot deal. One kiss; no consequences.

It seemed to last an eternity, a dizzy, breathless eternity that Sam never wanted to end.  But end it did, as slowly as it had begun, with a gentle and mutual separation.  But she stayed in his arms and laid her head on his shoulder as they sat in silence, his fingers stroking her hair.  It was a sweet moment, flecked with the bitter knowledge that nothing would change. Sam sighed, and wondered if, perhaps, consequences weren't such a bad thing afterall.

"It's getting late," O'Neill said softly, his voice sounding odd with her head resting on his shoulder.

"I should go," she sighed.  But it was, quite simply, the last thing she wanted to do.

He was silent, but his arms drew her closer.  "If you stayed--"

"We'd regret it," she told him, although she had to grit her teeth against the overwhelming desire.

Neither of them spoke for a long time, despite the lateness and the deepening cold.  They didn't speak or move, simply sat in each others arms and drew what comfort they could from each other.  At length, when the night was well into the small hours, O'Neill said, "You want to know something?"

She smiled and shivered.  "Sure."

"That was much, much.nicer."

"Nicer than what?"

"Than the time warp kiss."

She chuckled.  "Time loop," she corrected.  Then added, "I'm glad."

He moved then and she sat up, regretful but aware that she had to go.  He didn't move far, and was still close enough to take her hand.  "I swear this won't change anything, Carter," he said.  "But.God, I wish it--"

"Shh," she cautioned him, touching his lips with an icy finger.  "I know. You don't need to say it."

"One day," he promised.

Sam smiled.  "One day, we'll go fishing.  For sure."

"I'm gonna hold you to that," he warned her.

Her smile broadened into a wide grin.  "I'm counting on it."

***

When Sam arrived in her lab the next morning, she was a little surprised to find a CD sitting on her desk.  It was blank, or looked blank.  But a post-it note was stuck on the cover that simply said, "Track 4".

Recognizing the handwriting as O'Neill's, and still far from composed after the previous night's adventure, she sat down and cautiously slipped the disk into her PC.  Somewhat afraid that the colonel had a sentimental bent of which she was unaware, she plugged in her headphones and obediently selected track four.  She was immediately relieved that a soppy love-song didn't start playing, but somewhat confused by his choice.

Sam Carter may have been something of a nerd in high school, but even she'd seen "The Rocky Horror Picture Show".  And why O'Neill should be suggesting that she listen to that CD was beyond her.  Nonetheless she dutifully listened:

It's just a jump to the left
And then a step to the right
With your hands on your hips
You bring your knees in tight
But it's the pelvic thrust
That really drives you insane

Let's do the Time Warp again
Let's do the Time Warp again

Sam started to smile.  Time warp?  Wasn't that what the colonel called the time loop?  Let's do the time warp again?  Oh boy.

With a bit of a mind flip
You're into the time slip
And nothing can ever be the same
You're spaced out on sensation
Like you're under sedation

Let's do the Time Warp again
Let's do the Time Warp again
 

Her smile turned into a grin.  Mind flip?  Time slip?  Nothing can ever be the same?  Spaced out on sensation?  Oh yeah!

Well I was walking down the street
Just a having a think
When a snake of a guy gave me an evil wink

Sam chuckled.  Snake of a guy?  Very good, colonel.

He shook-a me up, he took me by surprise
He had a pick up truck and the devil's eyes

Devil's eyes?  Another chuckle.  This was too stupid.

Let's do the Time Warp again
Let's do the Time Warp again

As the song rolled to its conclusion, Sam pulled the headphones off with a final chuckle.  Only O'Neill could consider "The Time Warp" a romantic gesture, but she had no doubt that was how it was intended and understood entirely.  Who knew when they'd ever do the 'time warp' again, but she had a feeling that they would.  And then some.

Still smiling, she pulled out the stack of paperwork from her inbox and started going through it in her normal, methodical style.  Unfortunately, she hadn't got half way down the first page when she noticed something looping in her head.  Words.  A tune.  Words and a tune that circled like lazy vultures, refusing to leave.

It's just a jump to the left
And then a step to the right.

Sam let her head thud resignedly against the desk.  She was gonna kill him. Oh, she was *so* gonna to kill him for this.

~End~

Thanks for reading!  Hope you enjoyed it and, as always, I'd love it if you let me know what you think at sallyreeve@blueyonder.co.uk