TITLE: Body Language

AUTHOR:  Becca Ramsey (rcramsey@mindspring.com)

RATING:   PG

DISCLAIMER:   The characters in this story do not belong to me. They belong wholly to MGM/Gekko, et al. who produce SG1. The characters are used here for entertainment and not for profit.

ARCHIVE:   SJD/SJA, Helio, my own site.

AUTHOR'S NOTE:   This one has been in the works for quite a while -- over a year. Thanks to Kels for working with me in the beginning, and thanks to Ann for reading it over before I sent it off. And to the HW -- you guys are a great cheering section. You might even get the muses off their strike!

As an aside, there will be an NC-17 version available at my site by the weekend. And if you're under 17 -- forget it. ;)

SUMMARY:   A evening of games snowballs into something much more interesting. (Sam/Jack)

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With a wary eye, Jack O'Neill looked down at the clapboard timer, pursing his lips. He then looked to the four Guesstures cards in his hands, each printed with two words. //I hate this game. Why do we always end up playing this game?// With a grumble, he weighed the points each word was worth to the ease with which he could portray it. //Guesstures, huh? More like charades from hell... //He sighed. Carefully, he placed the four cards into the slots atop the clapboard, arranging them from easier to hardest. He looked up. "You guys ready?"

Fellow teammates Jacob Carter, Lou Feretti, and Daniel Jackson sat in the rear of the small living room of his home. Jacob had taken residence in the overstuffed recliner, Feretti, the Queen Anne chair. Beside them, stuck with the wooden rocker, stolen from the porch, was Daniel. They exchanged glances, then looked across to the sofa where their counterparts sat. Sam Carter, Janet Fraiser, and Janet's daughter, Cassie, simply smiled back. Daniel cleared his throat, looking to Jack. "Ready," he said with a nod.

"Here goes..." Jack dropped the arm of the clapboard, activating the timer. Glancing about his open kitchen, he grabbed a spice canister from the counter. Holding it up, he pointed at it repeatedly.

"Rosemary?" Daniel called.

Jack grimaced, shaking his head. He looked to Jacob with an appealing gaze. "Spice?" the elder Carter asked. He furrowed his brow as Jack nodded emphatically, and began to gesture with his free hand.

//More...a little more, Dad, come on...// Jack thought. He paused, looking back over his shoulder. Spotting what he needed, he slammed the spice canister onto the bar, whirling to pick up a larger, clear plastic canister. He shook it violently, glancing at the timer as it ticked.

"Sugar!" Daniel exclaimed.

//Brilliant, Spacemonkey! Now, put the two together!// Jack grabbed the spice canister, holding the two up and tapping them together.//Sugar and spice, fellas. Come on, don't let me down...//

"Sugar and spice!" Carter called out at length.

Cassie fought back a laugh. "Not fair! He got to use props!"

Jacob turned to Cassie. "I think he's allowed to use props, as long as he doesn't *say* anything," he replied.

//Thank you, Dad!// Hurriedly, O'Neill whipped the card from the slot, moving on to the second one. //This is not going to be pretty,// he thought. Pursing his lips, he hesitated, thinking. His eyes flitted about the living room and kitchen, searching for help of any kind. //How do I do this?//

"Clueless!" came the shout from Feretti. Jack tossed him a glare over his shoulder.

Daniel chuckled, looking to Feretti. "Lost!"

"Good one, Daniel," Feretti said with a nod.

//I'll make you think good one, Feretti,// Jack thought. Exhaling, he drew in a long breath, puffing out his cheeks. He held his arms slightly arced at his side, and as he moved, he waddled.

Feretti bit his lower lip, then busted into laughter. Apparently he thought this was funny. "Bloated!"

Jack stopped, putting his hands on his hips. "Feretti, do I *look* like I know what bloated feels like?" he asked, arching a brow.

"Uhm, no, sir," Feretti allowed. He pursed his lips, still fighting his laughter.

"I think that's a disqualification," Janet piped up.

"I didn't say *anything* about infl -- about the clue!"

Sam's eyes twinkled. "She's right, sir. You spoke. Better move onto the next one."

"Carter, come on! I didn't --"

Sam cleared her throat. "The next card...sir?"

Jack gave a low growl, then shifted his attention to the two remaining cards. The clock was ticking and his palms were beginning to sweat. He wiped them down the front of his khaki pants, then licked his lips, turning his baseball cap around backwards. Making two fists of his hands, he turned. Placing the fists on top of one another, he made like swinging a baseball bat.

"Baseball?" Jacob Carter said, thinking aloud. His brow furrowed in concentration. "Baseball player?"

Jack nodded, then made one long swing. Bringing his hand up to his brow, he acted as though he were shielding his eyes from the sun. //Come on, boys, I'm running out of time here!//

"Home run!" Daniel shouted.

"Yes!" Jack exclaimed. Whirling, he grabbed the card and tossed it into the win pile. He then rubbed his hands together, adrenaline pumping. //Oh, hell...// he thought. He glanced frantically around. His heart pounded in his chest. //I get this one, we tie... we live it down. I lose this one, we lose, we never live it down.//

Frantically, he pointed at his lips, thinning them to a fine line. He looked to Daniel, who only frowned. "Mouth? No? Lips?"

Jack shook his head. He sighed. Looking to Feretti, he puckered his lips. Feretti blinked, furrowing his brows. "What? Sour?"

//Dear, God, no!// Jack tossed his hands up in frustration as the timer continued to count down. //Next time, *we* get the astrophysicist!//

His eyes fell on Sam, seated at the close end of the sofa. //Act it out?// Without a second thought, he stepped over the coffee table. Janet, Cassie, and Sam were still laughing, as were Feretti, Daniel, and Jacob. "Jack, what the hell are you doing?" he heard Jacob ask through the laughter. But before his mind could comprehend, Jack had already swept down, his eyes meeting Sam's in one fiery moment, his lips pressing firmly against hers in the next.

Carter gave a start, bringing her arm up to push him away. But as the seconds clicked by, her hand came to rest against the back of his head, fingers combing through his hair. //Not here! Not now!// his mind screamed. Before he could break away, however, she parted his lips slightly with her own, deepening the kiss.

//Oh, Sam, now is not the time for this,// the colonel thought. He was vaguely aware of the silence that fell around them and the loud pop of the clapboard as time ran out on the game. He was more aware, unfortunately, of his growing arousal in a room full of his fellow officers.

As though she suddenly remembered where she was and who was present, Sam broke the kiss, drawing in a deep, cleansing breath. "Sorry...sir..." she managed.

Jack cleared his throat. "Uhm, yeah, Carter. No problem." He straightened, licking his lips, wiping the palms of his hands against his trouser legs. //Thank heavens for baggy pants,// he thought.  Swallowing, he looked first to Feretti. Feretti met his gaze with raised brows and a wary expression, as did Daniel, seated beside him. Looking to Jacob Carter, however, Jack wanted to cringe. The general regarded him with a stern expression.

O'Neill felt his heart sink. //Oh, shit.//

Daniel cleared his throat. "Uhm.... kiss?" he ventured.

Turning to Daniel, Jack blinked. "Ya think?" He glanced back to Jacob. //Oh, it's going to be a long night.// A long moment of uncomfortable silence followed. He looked from Jacob to Feretti, then to Daniel. Both Feretti and Daniel were suddenly fascinated by the mantle clock across the room.

Abruptly, Janet cleared her throat. "Well, I think it's time Cassie and I headed back home." She pushed herself to her feet, then looked to Cassie. "You ready to go?"

"No," the teenager answered. "I like it here." Jack watched as Janet narrowed her eyes at Cassie. The young girl's attitude changed with that single glance. "On the other hand, I have a report I need to work on..."

"I thought so." Janet forced a smile, looking to the colonel. "Thanks for dinner, sir."

"Same time next week?" Jack asked. There was a hopeful note in his voice.

"Unless something drastic happens -- " Janet's eyes flitted to General Carter "-- I don't see why not." She sighed, then gave Jack a genuine smile. "Good night, Colonel."

Jack returned the smile. "Good night, Doc."

"Night, Uncle Jack!" Cassie stepped over Sam, practically throwing herself at Jack. "See you next week!"

"Yasureyabetcha," O'Neill replied. He hugged Cassie back. "Get that report done!"

Cassie laughed. "Yasureyabetcha!" she echoed as she waved. She and Janet then disappeared out the front door.

"Yeah, I think I'd better be getting back to the base." Jack turned, finding Feretti on his feet. "We've got a briefing tomorrow at 8, so I guess I should get some shut-eye." He stretched theatrically, then turned to Daniel. "Need a ride back, Doc?"

"Uhm, sure," Daniel replied. He pushed his glasses up on his nose, standing. The rocker teetered noisily against the hardwood floor as it was suddenly without stabilizing weight. He cleared his throat. "Sorry."

Jack stuffed his hands deep into the pockets of his khakis. "No problem. Thanks for coming over, guys." He escorted the two to the door. "See you tomorrow sometime, Daniel."

Daniel cast one final glance to Jacob, then to Sam, before looking to Jack. "Night, Jack."

As Daniel and Feretti climbed into their car, Jack turned back to the living room. His eyes met Sam's briefly, then flitted to intently study the toes of his grey sweat socks. Jacob Carter cleared his throat, shattering the silence. "I, ah, guess we should be hitting the road, Sam," he said. He watched his daughter with what Jack considered a rather pointed expression.

Sam gave Jack a sidelong glance. She then looked back to her father. "Actually, Dad, I think the colonel and I have a few things to talk about before I can leave."

"How are you planning on getting home?"

"I'll drive her home, sir." Jack raised his eyes to Jacob's for the first time since the kiss.

Jacob narrowed his eyes in a silent appraisal of Jack. For his part, Jack suddenly felt as though he were asking permission to keep Sam out later than her curfew. Still, he couldn't leave this unresolved. After a long moment, however, Jacob nodded. "All right. I'll take the car." He crossed the room, planting a kiss on Sam's forehead. "See you later, Sam."

"Good night, Dad." Sam blushed slightly.

"Jack," General Carter said brusquely with a nod.

"Sir," Jack replied. He returned the nod, holding open the storm door. Jacob stepped out into the night, tossing one final glance over his shoulder. Jack waved, forcing a smile. "Good night, sir."

He stood watching a moment as the tail lights to Sam's car disappeared down the road. Then, closing the front door, he leant against it. The silence which settled over he and Sam was taut, neither knowing how to broach the subject. //Now what?// he thought.

"Carter --"

"Sir --"

Sam gave a rueful smile, diverting her eyes. "Go ahead."

"Sam -- *Carter* -- I didn't mean to --" Jack paused, unsure of how to continue. Sure, he hadn't *meant* to, but that didn't mean he hadn't *wanted* to. //Hell,// he thought, //I've *wanted* to for a long time.// But tonight was not the place. Tonight was not the time.

"It's all right, sir. I -- I really shouldn't have..." Sam allowed her sentence to hang. She seemed unsure of how or what to say.

"Reciprocated?" Jack suggested. He raised his brows, chin tilted downward, eyes on Sam. She nodded slowly. "But... you did."

"Yeah."

Another long moment of awkward silence. Jack shuffled, moving down the stairs from the door, eyes diverted to his stockinged toes. Standing before the sofa, Sam pursed her lips, scanning the cover of the astronomy book left open on the coffee table.

"It was kinda nice." Jack didn't look up from the floor, instead casting a sidelong glance at Sam. //Come on, Sam...// His lopsided grin grew wider as a smile twitched across Carter's lips. //Okay, good start, O'Neill...//

"It wasn't bad," Sam admitted at length. She returned the sidelong glance. Jack tried to fight his grin, but was sure she had seen it.

"How would *you* have done that one?"

Carter smiled slightly, meeting him halfway and planting a light kiss on his cheek. "Something like that, I'd assume," she answered.

"Even with the adrenaline pumping, the gals shouting wrong answers at you, and the timer clicking away all those precious seconds?" O'Neill quirked a brow. An impish gleam glittered in his hazel eyes.

Sam raised her eyes to his, the gleam matching his. There was a flicker, then a spark, and a feeling of deja vu swept over him. Before Jack could blink, Sam had closed the distance between them, her lips against his, firmly; his hands automatically came to rest against her cheeks, framing her face. He gently deepened the kiss. To his surprise, she offered no resistance, instead returning the favor.

//Oh God, Carter,// he thought, his mind whirling. //What the hell is going on tonight?// He could feel the clutter in his mind clearing, slowly being replaced by the sheer strength of feelings tightly reined in over four years. His hands slid to her shoulders. Moving slowly, he gently dotted kisses down her jaw line, brushing his lips lightly against her neck. He allowed his hands to slip further down, coming to rest against her jean-clad hips.

As he pulled her hips to his, she gave a soft sigh. Her hands, having rested against his chest, slipped seductively around his neck, her fingers once again entwining themselves in his short salt-and-pepper hair. "Jack," she whispered.

Jack drew back abruptly, hands still on her hips. "Sam?" he asked. He raised his eyes to meet hers, troubled.

"We can't leave it in the room, can we?" she asked huskily, her eyes smoldering.

"It's up to you, Sam. But now's the time to let me know." Jack drew in a breath, feeling the tickle of her fingers shifting through his hair. An involuntary shiver ran down his spine as her lips lightly brushed his neck. //Much more of that and it's a moot point...//

"Maybe it's time we talked about it." She glanced up at him and flashed a wry grin.

"Is that what this is? Talking?" Jack's voice became strained as she continued her ministrations. His blood pounded in his ears as her lips tasted his skin with a feather-touch.

"Mmmhmm," Carter replied. Slowly, deliberately, she worked her way up his jawline, then balanced on the balls of her feet. She leant forward, her lips hovering a breath away from his. "Think of it as more Guesstures, sir."

Jack cupped her face in his hands as his eyes traced the gentle lines, burning them into memory. "No guessing involved, Carter," he said at length. Chuckling, he added, "Besides, I hate that damned game."

"Then why do we always end up playing it?"

His eyes danced with mischief as he looked down at her. "I dunno. I'm beginning to like this version, though."

Sam grinned back up at him. "I think I'm beginning to as well."

"Do we have a time limit?" Jack asked between kisses.

"Get me home before dawn?" Sam breathed. Jack smoothed his hands up her sides, sweeping to her back. He buried his face in the crook of her neck, trailing kisses along her collarbone. She sighed. "Then again..."

"It could be a long conversation," Jack commented. His breathing was becoming more erratic as the moments progressed and her fingers trailed seductive circles across his back. Breaking the kiss, she tugged at the front of his shirt, leading him toward the back stairs.

Several moments later, cocooned beneath the covers of the guest bed, Jack drew Sam close. "Sam?" he whispered. Gently, she shifted, bringing her weight to rest on her elbow as she looked down at him. With his index finger, he gently swept a stray blonde strand from her forehead. //Four years,// he thought. Was he finally allowed to say it? He swallowed. Now was the time to at least try. "I -- "

With a faint smile, Sam stroked his cheek and shook her head. "Don't." she said quietly. "I know."

"Oh?" Jack asked, brows raised.

"Body language," she replied. Slowly, she lowered her head and kissed him. Her eyes glassed slightly when she looked back to him. Jack knew that look. "And I --"

Jack shook his head. He gave a rueful smile. "Shhh. It's all right, Sam. I read you loud and clear." He then drew Sam close once again, her head resting on his chest. Silence drifted in, and sleep crept over them. It was with a troubled sigh that Jack resigned himself to it.