Transitions (11/12)
Title: Transitions (11/12)
Summary: Sequel to " Changes"Jack and Sam's relationship grows, going through it's ups and downs with a little help from their SGC family. SamJack, DanielJanet.
Timeframe: Takes place approximately one year after "Changes".
Characters/Pairing: Established SamJack, established DanielJanet, Team, Cassie
Genre: Drama, Hurt/Comfort, Family, Romance
Rating: T
Chapter Eleven: Home
Jack's stitches had finally come out, and there was now a fine layer of peach fuzz on his head where it had been shaved for the surgery. The bright pink skin of his healing scar was still a stark reminder of what he'd been through, something both he and Sam were reminded of every day. But it was also a reminder to Sam that he was alive, still with her, and would be for a long time to come. No way would she ever give him up that easily. He was hers. Forever.
Sam watched him eat his Froot Loops across the breakfast table, her mind drifting. She hadn't mentioned anything about the ring she'd discovered in his dresser, but that didn't bother her. If he was planning to ask her, he'd ask her.
"What?"
Shaking her head, Sam forced a quick smile at Jack as she realized he'd caught her staring. "Nothing." She noticed Dorothy standing by the back door, staring out through the glass. Sam pushed her chair back slowly, and stood. "Somebody wants out." She laughed as the German Shepherd eagerly dashed out across the back porch and then through the yard once she'd opened the door.
When she sat back down, Jack had finished his cereal and was watching her.
"Oh!" Sam gasped, suddenly remember something. She smiled excitedly at him. "I almost forgot; Janet called earlier this morning. She took a look at your latest scans and noted that there’s been a slight change in brain activity since the surgery."
His brows knit together slowly, a cautious look on his face. "Good or bad?"
"Definitely good!" she told him, eagerly. "She thinks the piece of shrapnel was impeding your body's Ancient-enhanced healing abilities, and your body is still making repairs."
Jack just shrugged. "Okay," he said slowly.
She knew the news didn't make him feel any different, but that he was probably pleased to hear that there was still room for improvement. He just didn't want to get his hopes up, which was understandable.
Getting up from her seat again, Sam went over to Jack and threw her arms around his neck, pressing her cheek against his. "This is good news," she said softly against him.
He nodded, and his face pulled into a grin as she kissed him.
-
Two weeks after his stitches came out, Jack had been doing well. He was back on anti-convulsants again, but still hadn't suffered any seizures, nausea, or debilitating headaches since the surgery. Janet had felt sure that with the removal of the shrapnel, he may no longer be suffering from the nausea or extreme headaches at all. Jack and Sam both remained cautiously optimistic at the idea.
Jack was helping Sam fold a load of laundry in the living room when he suddenly stopped what he was doing, and stuffed both hands in his pockets, smiling tentatively at her.
She cocked her head at him, wondering why he was looking at her with that cute, boyish look on his face. The fact that he was shifting from foot to foot nervously made her curious. "Jack?"
He stepped toward her, gently tugging the towel she was folding from her hands, before lightly grasping them in his own. "I love you."
Sam laughed softly, thinking that he was just goofing around. "Yeah, I love you, too. And I love that we can do laundry together. We should do this more often," she joked lightheartedly. When he stared back into her eyes, a serious expression in his dark brown depths, Sam didn't know what to think. Her whole demeanor changed from teasing to confused, and a little concerned. "Jack?"
"I'm pretty sure you've already seen it, and I don't think there'll ever be a perfect time to do this - 'cause hey, that would be a cliché, and you know how I feel about those." He smirked, tugging a very familiar-looking velvet box from his left pocket. "But, uh," He flicked the lid open with his thumb, smiling tenderly, his cocoa eyes never leaving her blue-sapphire orbs. "Sam, will you marry me?"
Her jaw dropped slightly, eyes stinging with the sharpness of sudden tears. Sam's heart thudded in her chest, and she suddenly realized that she'd been squeezing the life out of Jack's forearms. She swallowed reflexively, her throat surprisingly dry. "Holy Hannah," was the first thing to come out of her gaping mouth.
"Actually," Jack chuckled at her, "This is the part where you say yes . . ." He squinted one eye, making a funny face. "Or no."
She laughed, blinking back the tears of absolute joy that threatened to streak down her cheeks. "Yes, Jack. Without a doubt; yes." Sam flung her arms around his neck and hugged him tightly, crushing her lips to his as they met with equal enthusiasm, his arms snaking around her waist and squeezing her tight. As he pulled back to slip the ring on her finger, she couldn't have been happier. Jack was doing so well, and they were both happy with their lives together. Confirming their love with a ring and a wedding license wasn't going to change that, but it was a reminder of what they had, what they would always have.
-
The announcement of Jack and Sam's engagement was a quiet affair among friends. They had a small get together at home, inviting the rest of SG-1, Janet and Cassie, and even General Hammond. Sam had been able to send a message on to her father, but he was busy with his Tok'ra duties, and unfortunately had been unable to come home for a visit.
When it was time, the announcement hadn't come as a surprise to any member of their extended family, though they all got a good laugh when Hammond exclaimed, "Well, it's about time, son!" and gave Jack a fatherly clap on the shoulder. Janet had a suspicious, knowing look on her face up until they told everybody, and Sam had an inkling that her best friend had known all along. She made a mental note to ask about that at some point.
In the days following the team's little family party, Sam had been busy with work. She, Daniel, and Teal'c had been scoping out several planets with the possibility of naquadah deposits, and she'd also been spending a lot of time in the labs, studying soil samples for traces of those deposits.
While she was at work, Jack was at home with Dorothy, still under orders from Janet to take it easy. Sam knew he wasn't taking those orders well, but had been trying to keep himself busy without doing too much.
Sitting back to give her eyes a rest from staring into her microscope for so long, Sam rolled her chair toward the wall where her lab phone was. She dialed home, smiling when Jack picked up after a couple of rings.
"O'Neill."
"Hey, Jack." She pictured him grinning at the sound of her voice.
"Hey. How's the geek work going?"
Sam rolled her eyes, twisting the phone cord around her fingers. "Good. I'm taking a break."
"Seriously?" The shocked tone made her laugh. "You feelin' alright, Sam?"
She shook her head, smiling to herself. "What are you up to?"
"Nothin' much. Just got in from taking a walk with Dorothy and . . ." Sam could hear a thumping noise in the background, followed by Dorothy's bark and a muffled voice. "Hang on a sec. Daniel's here. C'mon in, Daniel!"
Suddenly glad that Jack had some company, Sam said, "Make sure you feed him. I'm pretty sure Janet kicked him off base. He's been cooped up in his office all day and probably hasn't eaten anything."
Jack chuckled loudly, then his voice was muffled as she assumed he was holding the phone away from himself. "Sam told me to feed you." She heard Daniel's voice in the background, but couldn't make out the words. Then Jack was back, his voice more clear as he spoke to her. "He wants you to tell Janet where he is; proof that he hasn't snuck back to his lab."
Sam laughed. "Will do." She swiveled from side to side in her chair, knowing that she ought to get back to work so she could go home tonight. She'd had to leave the house early, and was really missing Jack today. "You boys try and behave now."
"Yes, ma'am," Jack teased.
"I'll see you later, Jack," she told him.
"Bye, Sam."
Hanging up the phone with a smile on her lips, Sam quickly returned to her work, even as thoughts of lounging on the couch with Jack, and cuddling up to watch TV filled her mind.
-
Jack watched Daniel's immense enjoyment in eating his chicken salad sandwich with something akin to amusement. He wondered at the last time his friend had eaten, and guessed that the answer wouldn't surprise him. Swallowing a bite of his own sandwich, Jack waved a finger at Daniel. "So, can you actually taste what you're eating as you wolf it down like that?"
Mouth full, and without missing a beat, Daniel said, "It's a very refined skill."
"Of which you have many, I'm sure." Jack chuckled. He plucked a stray piece of bread crust off his plate and fed it to Dorothy under the table. Taking another bite of his sandwich, he leaned forward with his elbows up, and chewed thoughtfully.
"Hey, did you guys set a date for the wedding, yet?" Daniel asked around a mouthful of food, swallowing after a few more chews and grabbing for his glass of iced tea to wash it down. Apparently, the archaeologist's wheels had been turning while he ate, as well.
Scratching at the back of his head, Jack shrugged. "No, ah, not really."
A skeptical eyebrow rose above the rim of Daniel's glasses. "Not really?" he parroted back.
"Sam's been busy." Jack shrugged again, suddenly looking down at Dorothy and finding the dog very interesting.
"And you?" Daniel waved a hand vaguely.
Jack made a face of concentration, stuffing the last bite of his sandwich into his mouth and mumbling, "I've been thinkin' about it."
Daniel picked the last few crumbs off his plate and downed the rest of his drink before standing up. He must have been sensing Jack's eagerness for a change of subject, because he suddenly said, "Hey, you want to go for a walk or something? It's really nice out."
Smiling crookedly, Jack rose to his feet and carried his dish toward the sink, motioning Daniel to do the same. "I just went for a walk before you got here."
"So?" Daniel apparently had itchy feet. He lightly slapped Jack on the shoulder. "C'mon, you need to get out of the house more, and I could use the exercise."
Jack smirked at him, waving a hand at his friend's pasty complexion. "You could also use the sunlight. How long have you been buried under that mountain this time? You're starting to get as dusty as those old rocks of yours."
Daniel just ignored him, shaking his head. He put his plate in the dishwasher, then headed for the door.
Shrugging, and figuring, why the hell not, Jack called Dorothy to his side, found her leash, then followed Daniel outside.
-
They walked around the block, Daniel mostly doing all the talking, bringing up random conversation about work and family life, and just about everything in general. When he sensed Jack's sudden need for quiet, Daniel shut his mouth, and they continued on in companionable silence.
Daniel noticed they'd nearly reached the park that was close to Sam's old house when Jack's pace had abruptly slowed. Dorothy's leash was taut as she tried to keep going, but Jack staggered slightly, and Daniel quickly strode to his side and grabbed his friend's upper arm. "Whoa, Jack. You okay?" He looked at him with concern.
Jack stopped for a moment, patting Dorothy on the head when the big dog turned around and came up to him. "I'm fine," he insisted. "I just . . . I'm just tired all of a sudden."
Even though Jack hadn't needed anyone to really look after him for quite a while now, Daniel still felt a protectiveness toward the older man. He knew Jack was still recovering from his surgery, and too much activity tired him out easily. If Daniel hadn't been so jumpy to go out and do something, he knew he would have paid more attention to Jack when his friend had told him that he'd just returned from a walk before Daniel arrived.
Dorothy started whining, and moved closer to Jack, practically leaning up against his legs.
Daniel hadn't let go of Jack's arm. "Hey, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to drag you all this way."
Tilting his head, Jack rolled his eyes at him and finally tugged his arm away. "Daniel. I said I was okay."
This time, Daniel rolled his eyes right back. "Yeah, and since 'okay' really means exhausted, Sam's probably going to kill me."
Jack sent him a lopsided smile and shrugged. "Well, as long as she's mad at you and not me, I'm okay with that." He smirked, then tugged lightly on Dorothy's leash and headed back toward the house.
"Thanks a lot, Jack!" Daniel snorted and walked along at his friend's side so he could keep an eye on him as they made the long walk back to the house.
-
Jack sunk down on the sofa and closed his eyes for just a moment. He hadn't realized he'd been sleeping until he opened his eyes again to find Daniel sitting on the other side of the living room, staring at him. He blinked groggily, waiting for his vision to focus. "Daniel?" he murmured sleepily.
Daniel smirked back at him. "You fell asleep."
He yawned, dragging a hand through his hair and looking around. Dorothy was lying on the floor by his feet. "How long I been out?"
Glancing at his watch, Daniel said, "Oh, about an hour."
Still feeling tired, Jack stretched and pushed himself up so that he was on the edge of the sofa cushions. "Sorry," he muttered with a crooked smile and a shrug. "You didn't hafta stick around."
Daniel shrugged back at him. "I figured I'd wait around 'till Sam got home; keep you company. Besides, I can't go back to the base, Janet will have my head."
Jack chuckled, shoving himself to his feet. Dorothy got up with him, and he gave her a pat on the head. "You wanna go out, girl?" She raced up the steps from the lounge, heading for the back door. He took that as an emphatic yes, and went to let her outside.
Since Dorothy seemed to be taking her time, Jack closed the door and returned to the lounge. Daniel was flipping through the channels on TV. He sat down on the couch again, and they wound up watching the last half of a Cubs game before Jack got up again to let Dorothy back in the house. She'd been patiently waiting on the back deck, her tail swishing back and forth when Jack went to get her. He would never get over how good it made him feel that she was always so glad to see him, no matter if he'd been gone the whole day, or just a few minutes. After Jack returned to the lounge with Dorothy on his heels, he and Daniel broke out the chess set and started a game while waiting for Sam to get home.
-
Daniel was losing to Jack horribly by the time Sam arrived. He finally threw his hands in the air in defeat when his friend smugly declared "Check mate!" Sighing and shaking his head, Daniel leaned forward to rest his chin in his hand. "That's it," he said to Jack pointedly, "You've officially got way too much time on your hands to have gotten this good."
Jack smirked, turning his head as Sam stepped down into the lounge. He was waving a hand at the chess board when Dorothy got up from the floor to greet her. "Hey, you're just in time to catch the look of defeat on Danny-boy's face!" He cocked his head, sticking out his lower lip as if a thought just occurred to him. "You don't happen to have a camera on you, do you Sam?"
She rolled her eyes at him, shooting Daniel a sincerely apologetic look. "I apologize for his behavior, Daniel. It's probably my fault that he's gotten so good."
"Hey!" Jack cried out indignantly. "I'll have you both know, I am I fine chess player in my own right, without your coaching!"
"Right," Daniel muttered loud enough for his friend to hear, grinning when Jack narrowed his eyes at him. Smiling widely now, he leaned back in the chair he'd pulled up beside the coffee table, stretched his arms, and got to his feet. "Okay, I think I've officially outstayed my welcome."
"Ya think?" Jack grumbled with feigned annoyance.
"You're not staying for dinner?" Sam asked him as she took a seat beside Jack on the couch.
Daniel shook his head and went to get his coat. "No, I've just been hanging around to keep Janet off my back about being in my lab all day." He shrugged sheepishly when Sam laughed at him, and made his way to the door. "I'll see you guys around."
"Bye, Daniel."
"See ya, Danny-boy. Thanks for the company!" Jack called after him.
Daniel opened the front door and waved back at his friends. "Anytime."
-
Lounging on the couch after dinner, Sam snuggled up to Jack and heaved a contented sigh. She laid her head on his shoulder, an arm behind his back and around his waist, the other hand resting on his stomach. Craning her neck to look up at him, she saw his eyes shift disinterestedly as he idly flicked through the channels on the TV, and smiled. "Hey, Jack?"
"Yeah?" He asked softly, lingering on an old John Wayne western, and dropping the remote.
"How are you feeling?" she asked, subtly testing the waters without giving him a clue as to her intentions just yet.
"I'm fine." Jack answered as though it were automatic, then his lips curved into a brief smile and he added, "Good, even."
Still not giving anything away, and trying to sound nonchalant, she softly questioned, "Do you want to go to bed?"
She felt him shift slightly, no doubt getting ready to be on the defensive, thinking she was just trying to get him to rest. "I'm fine, I'm not tired."
This was fun. Grinning wickedly to herself, Sam turned her face into his neck, kissing it while she slid one hand slowly up under his t-shirt. "I didn't ask if you were tired, I asked if you wanted to go to bed," she whispered seductively, her warm breath on his neck as she began to trace lazy circles on his stomach.
Jack's head jerked, and she felt the muscles of his stomach tighten with anticipation as realization struck him. "Really?" He twisted so that he could look at her.
Sam sat back and smiled at him, adoringly. It had been a while since they'd made love. With Jack's surgery and everything, the two of them had wanted to go slow to be sure he was healthy enough to participate. Janet had warned him about "taking it easy," after all. Sam pulled her hand out from beneath his shirt and gently took his hand, her thumb making lazy circles over his knuckles. "You've had more than enough time to heal after the surgery, and as long as you're feeling up to it . . . I don't think Janet would object."
With an excited, boyish grin spreading across his face, Jack stood quickly, pulling Sam up with him and causing Dorothy to leap to her feet where she'd been lounging on the floor. Still holding onto her hand, Jack eagerly tugged Sam to the steps leading from the lounge, in a hurry to get to their bedroom.
Sam laughed softly at Jack's enthusiasm, allowing herself to be practically dragged after him. "There's no need to rush!" she said, laughter coating her voice, though she was just as eager as he was.
"Who's rushing?" He glanced back at her, suddenly stopping in the hall, just in front of the bedroom door. Grinning roguishly, he tugged her against him and kissed her with deep longing. Jack's dark eyes were alight with arousal and need as he said, "I want this to last."
-
Chapter Twelve
Back to Chapter One
Summary: Sequel to " Changes"Jack and Sam's relationship grows, going through it's ups and downs with a little help from their SGC family. SamJack, DanielJanet.
Timeframe: Takes place approximately one year after "Changes".
Characters/Pairing: Established SamJack, established DanielJanet, Team, Cassie
Genre: Drama, Hurt/Comfort, Family, Romance
Rating: T
Chapter Eleven: Home
Jack's stitches had finally come out, and there was now a fine layer of peach fuzz on his head where it had been shaved for the surgery. The bright pink skin of his healing scar was still a stark reminder of what he'd been through, something both he and Sam were reminded of every day. But it was also a reminder to Sam that he was alive, still with her, and would be for a long time to come. No way would she ever give him up that easily. He was hers. Forever.
Sam watched him eat his Froot Loops across the breakfast table, her mind drifting. She hadn't mentioned anything about the ring she'd discovered in his dresser, but that didn't bother her. If he was planning to ask her, he'd ask her.
"What?"
Shaking her head, Sam forced a quick smile at Jack as she realized he'd caught her staring. "Nothing." She noticed Dorothy standing by the back door, staring out through the glass. Sam pushed her chair back slowly, and stood. "Somebody wants out." She laughed as the German Shepherd eagerly dashed out across the back porch and then through the yard once she'd opened the door.
When she sat back down, Jack had finished his cereal and was watching her.
"Oh!" Sam gasped, suddenly remember something. She smiled excitedly at him. "I almost forgot; Janet called earlier this morning. She took a look at your latest scans and noted that there’s been a slight change in brain activity since the surgery."
His brows knit together slowly, a cautious look on his face. "Good or bad?"
"Definitely good!" she told him, eagerly. "She thinks the piece of shrapnel was impeding your body's Ancient-enhanced healing abilities, and your body is still making repairs."
Jack just shrugged. "Okay," he said slowly.
She knew the news didn't make him feel any different, but that he was probably pleased to hear that there was still room for improvement. He just didn't want to get his hopes up, which was understandable.
Getting up from her seat again, Sam went over to Jack and threw her arms around his neck, pressing her cheek against his. "This is good news," she said softly against him.
He nodded, and his face pulled into a grin as she kissed him.
-
Two weeks after his stitches came out, Jack had been doing well. He was back on anti-convulsants again, but still hadn't suffered any seizures, nausea, or debilitating headaches since the surgery. Janet had felt sure that with the removal of the shrapnel, he may no longer be suffering from the nausea or extreme headaches at all. Jack and Sam both remained cautiously optimistic at the idea.
Jack was helping Sam fold a load of laundry in the living room when he suddenly stopped what he was doing, and stuffed both hands in his pockets, smiling tentatively at her.
She cocked her head at him, wondering why he was looking at her with that cute, boyish look on his face. The fact that he was shifting from foot to foot nervously made her curious. "Jack?"
He stepped toward her, gently tugging the towel she was folding from her hands, before lightly grasping them in his own. "I love you."
Sam laughed softly, thinking that he was just goofing around. "Yeah, I love you, too. And I love that we can do laundry together. We should do this more often," she joked lightheartedly. When he stared back into her eyes, a serious expression in his dark brown depths, Sam didn't know what to think. Her whole demeanor changed from teasing to confused, and a little concerned. "Jack?"
"I'm pretty sure you've already seen it, and I don't think there'll ever be a perfect time to do this - 'cause hey, that would be a cliché, and you know how I feel about those." He smirked, tugging a very familiar-looking velvet box from his left pocket. "But, uh," He flicked the lid open with his thumb, smiling tenderly, his cocoa eyes never leaving her blue-sapphire orbs. "Sam, will you marry me?"
Her jaw dropped slightly, eyes stinging with the sharpness of sudden tears. Sam's heart thudded in her chest, and she suddenly realized that she'd been squeezing the life out of Jack's forearms. She swallowed reflexively, her throat surprisingly dry. "Holy Hannah," was the first thing to come out of her gaping mouth.
"Actually," Jack chuckled at her, "This is the part where you say yes . . ." He squinted one eye, making a funny face. "Or no."
She laughed, blinking back the tears of absolute joy that threatened to streak down her cheeks. "Yes, Jack. Without a doubt; yes." Sam flung her arms around his neck and hugged him tightly, crushing her lips to his as they met with equal enthusiasm, his arms snaking around her waist and squeezing her tight. As he pulled back to slip the ring on her finger, she couldn't have been happier. Jack was doing so well, and they were both happy with their lives together. Confirming their love with a ring and a wedding license wasn't going to change that, but it was a reminder of what they had, what they would always have.
-
The announcement of Jack and Sam's engagement was a quiet affair among friends. They had a small get together at home, inviting the rest of SG-1, Janet and Cassie, and even General Hammond. Sam had been able to send a message on to her father, but he was busy with his Tok'ra duties, and unfortunately had been unable to come home for a visit.
When it was time, the announcement hadn't come as a surprise to any member of their extended family, though they all got a good laugh when Hammond exclaimed, "Well, it's about time, son!" and gave Jack a fatherly clap on the shoulder. Janet had a suspicious, knowing look on her face up until they told everybody, and Sam had an inkling that her best friend had known all along. She made a mental note to ask about that at some point.
In the days following the team's little family party, Sam had been busy with work. She, Daniel, and Teal'c had been scoping out several planets with the possibility of naquadah deposits, and she'd also been spending a lot of time in the labs, studying soil samples for traces of those deposits.
While she was at work, Jack was at home with Dorothy, still under orders from Janet to take it easy. Sam knew he wasn't taking those orders well, but had been trying to keep himself busy without doing too much.
Sitting back to give her eyes a rest from staring into her microscope for so long, Sam rolled her chair toward the wall where her lab phone was. She dialed home, smiling when Jack picked up after a couple of rings.
"O'Neill."
"Hey, Jack." She pictured him grinning at the sound of her voice.
"Hey. How's the geek work going?"
Sam rolled her eyes, twisting the phone cord around her fingers. "Good. I'm taking a break."
"Seriously?" The shocked tone made her laugh. "You feelin' alright, Sam?"
She shook her head, smiling to herself. "What are you up to?"
"Nothin' much. Just got in from taking a walk with Dorothy and . . ." Sam could hear a thumping noise in the background, followed by Dorothy's bark and a muffled voice. "Hang on a sec. Daniel's here. C'mon in, Daniel!"
Suddenly glad that Jack had some company, Sam said, "Make sure you feed him. I'm pretty sure Janet kicked him off base. He's been cooped up in his office all day and probably hasn't eaten anything."
Jack chuckled loudly, then his voice was muffled as she assumed he was holding the phone away from himself. "Sam told me to feed you." She heard Daniel's voice in the background, but couldn't make out the words. Then Jack was back, his voice more clear as he spoke to her. "He wants you to tell Janet where he is; proof that he hasn't snuck back to his lab."
Sam laughed. "Will do." She swiveled from side to side in her chair, knowing that she ought to get back to work so she could go home tonight. She'd had to leave the house early, and was really missing Jack today. "You boys try and behave now."
"Yes, ma'am," Jack teased.
"I'll see you later, Jack," she told him.
"Bye, Sam."
Hanging up the phone with a smile on her lips, Sam quickly returned to her work, even as thoughts of lounging on the couch with Jack, and cuddling up to watch TV filled her mind.
-
Jack watched Daniel's immense enjoyment in eating his chicken salad sandwich with something akin to amusement. He wondered at the last time his friend had eaten, and guessed that the answer wouldn't surprise him. Swallowing a bite of his own sandwich, Jack waved a finger at Daniel. "So, can you actually taste what you're eating as you wolf it down like that?"
Mouth full, and without missing a beat, Daniel said, "It's a very refined skill."
"Of which you have many, I'm sure." Jack chuckled. He plucked a stray piece of bread crust off his plate and fed it to Dorothy under the table. Taking another bite of his sandwich, he leaned forward with his elbows up, and chewed thoughtfully.
"Hey, did you guys set a date for the wedding, yet?" Daniel asked around a mouthful of food, swallowing after a few more chews and grabbing for his glass of iced tea to wash it down. Apparently, the archaeologist's wheels had been turning while he ate, as well.
Scratching at the back of his head, Jack shrugged. "No, ah, not really."
A skeptical eyebrow rose above the rim of Daniel's glasses. "Not really?" he parroted back.
"Sam's been busy." Jack shrugged again, suddenly looking down at Dorothy and finding the dog very interesting.
"And you?" Daniel waved a hand vaguely.
Jack made a face of concentration, stuffing the last bite of his sandwich into his mouth and mumbling, "I've been thinkin' about it."
Daniel picked the last few crumbs off his plate and downed the rest of his drink before standing up. He must have been sensing Jack's eagerness for a change of subject, because he suddenly said, "Hey, you want to go for a walk or something? It's really nice out."
Smiling crookedly, Jack rose to his feet and carried his dish toward the sink, motioning Daniel to do the same. "I just went for a walk before you got here."
"So?" Daniel apparently had itchy feet. He lightly slapped Jack on the shoulder. "C'mon, you need to get out of the house more, and I could use the exercise."
Jack smirked at him, waving a hand at his friend's pasty complexion. "You could also use the sunlight. How long have you been buried under that mountain this time? You're starting to get as dusty as those old rocks of yours."
Daniel just ignored him, shaking his head. He put his plate in the dishwasher, then headed for the door.
Shrugging, and figuring, why the hell not, Jack called Dorothy to his side, found her leash, then followed Daniel outside.
-
They walked around the block, Daniel mostly doing all the talking, bringing up random conversation about work and family life, and just about everything in general. When he sensed Jack's sudden need for quiet, Daniel shut his mouth, and they continued on in companionable silence.
Daniel noticed they'd nearly reached the park that was close to Sam's old house when Jack's pace had abruptly slowed. Dorothy's leash was taut as she tried to keep going, but Jack staggered slightly, and Daniel quickly strode to his side and grabbed his friend's upper arm. "Whoa, Jack. You okay?" He looked at him with concern.
Jack stopped for a moment, patting Dorothy on the head when the big dog turned around and came up to him. "I'm fine," he insisted. "I just . . . I'm just tired all of a sudden."
Even though Jack hadn't needed anyone to really look after him for quite a while now, Daniel still felt a protectiveness toward the older man. He knew Jack was still recovering from his surgery, and too much activity tired him out easily. If Daniel hadn't been so jumpy to go out and do something, he knew he would have paid more attention to Jack when his friend had told him that he'd just returned from a walk before Daniel arrived.
Dorothy started whining, and moved closer to Jack, practically leaning up against his legs.
Daniel hadn't let go of Jack's arm. "Hey, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to drag you all this way."
Tilting his head, Jack rolled his eyes at him and finally tugged his arm away. "Daniel. I said I was okay."
This time, Daniel rolled his eyes right back. "Yeah, and since 'okay' really means exhausted, Sam's probably going to kill me."
Jack sent him a lopsided smile and shrugged. "Well, as long as she's mad at you and not me, I'm okay with that." He smirked, then tugged lightly on Dorothy's leash and headed back toward the house.
"Thanks a lot, Jack!" Daniel snorted and walked along at his friend's side so he could keep an eye on him as they made the long walk back to the house.
-
Jack sunk down on the sofa and closed his eyes for just a moment. He hadn't realized he'd been sleeping until he opened his eyes again to find Daniel sitting on the other side of the living room, staring at him. He blinked groggily, waiting for his vision to focus. "Daniel?" he murmured sleepily.
Daniel smirked back at him. "You fell asleep."
He yawned, dragging a hand through his hair and looking around. Dorothy was lying on the floor by his feet. "How long I been out?"
Glancing at his watch, Daniel said, "Oh, about an hour."
Still feeling tired, Jack stretched and pushed himself up so that he was on the edge of the sofa cushions. "Sorry," he muttered with a crooked smile and a shrug. "You didn't hafta stick around."
Daniel shrugged back at him. "I figured I'd wait around 'till Sam got home; keep you company. Besides, I can't go back to the base, Janet will have my head."
Jack chuckled, shoving himself to his feet. Dorothy got up with him, and he gave her a pat on the head. "You wanna go out, girl?" She raced up the steps from the lounge, heading for the back door. He took that as an emphatic yes, and went to let her outside.
Since Dorothy seemed to be taking her time, Jack closed the door and returned to the lounge. Daniel was flipping through the channels on TV. He sat down on the couch again, and they wound up watching the last half of a Cubs game before Jack got up again to let Dorothy back in the house. She'd been patiently waiting on the back deck, her tail swishing back and forth when Jack went to get her. He would never get over how good it made him feel that she was always so glad to see him, no matter if he'd been gone the whole day, or just a few minutes. After Jack returned to the lounge with Dorothy on his heels, he and Daniel broke out the chess set and started a game while waiting for Sam to get home.
-
Daniel was losing to Jack horribly by the time Sam arrived. He finally threw his hands in the air in defeat when his friend smugly declared "Check mate!" Sighing and shaking his head, Daniel leaned forward to rest his chin in his hand. "That's it," he said to Jack pointedly, "You've officially got way too much time on your hands to have gotten this good."
Jack smirked, turning his head as Sam stepped down into the lounge. He was waving a hand at the chess board when Dorothy got up from the floor to greet her. "Hey, you're just in time to catch the look of defeat on Danny-boy's face!" He cocked his head, sticking out his lower lip as if a thought just occurred to him. "You don't happen to have a camera on you, do you Sam?"
She rolled her eyes at him, shooting Daniel a sincerely apologetic look. "I apologize for his behavior, Daniel. It's probably my fault that he's gotten so good."
"Hey!" Jack cried out indignantly. "I'll have you both know, I am I fine chess player in my own right, without your coaching!"
"Right," Daniel muttered loud enough for his friend to hear, grinning when Jack narrowed his eyes at him. Smiling widely now, he leaned back in the chair he'd pulled up beside the coffee table, stretched his arms, and got to his feet. "Okay, I think I've officially outstayed my welcome."
"Ya think?" Jack grumbled with feigned annoyance.
"You're not staying for dinner?" Sam asked him as she took a seat beside Jack on the couch.
Daniel shook his head and went to get his coat. "No, I've just been hanging around to keep Janet off my back about being in my lab all day." He shrugged sheepishly when Sam laughed at him, and made his way to the door. "I'll see you guys around."
"Bye, Daniel."
"See ya, Danny-boy. Thanks for the company!" Jack called after him.
Daniel opened the front door and waved back at his friends. "Anytime."
-
Lounging on the couch after dinner, Sam snuggled up to Jack and heaved a contented sigh. She laid her head on his shoulder, an arm behind his back and around his waist, the other hand resting on his stomach. Craning her neck to look up at him, she saw his eyes shift disinterestedly as he idly flicked through the channels on the TV, and smiled. "Hey, Jack?"
"Yeah?" He asked softly, lingering on an old John Wayne western, and dropping the remote.
"How are you feeling?" she asked, subtly testing the waters without giving him a clue as to her intentions just yet.
"I'm fine." Jack answered as though it were automatic, then his lips curved into a brief smile and he added, "Good, even."
Still not giving anything away, and trying to sound nonchalant, she softly questioned, "Do you want to go to bed?"
She felt him shift slightly, no doubt getting ready to be on the defensive, thinking she was just trying to get him to rest. "I'm fine, I'm not tired."
This was fun. Grinning wickedly to herself, Sam turned her face into his neck, kissing it while she slid one hand slowly up under his t-shirt. "I didn't ask if you were tired, I asked if you wanted to go to bed," she whispered seductively, her warm breath on his neck as she began to trace lazy circles on his stomach.
Jack's head jerked, and she felt the muscles of his stomach tighten with anticipation as realization struck him. "Really?" He twisted so that he could look at her.
Sam sat back and smiled at him, adoringly. It had been a while since they'd made love. With Jack's surgery and everything, the two of them had wanted to go slow to be sure he was healthy enough to participate. Janet had warned him about "taking it easy," after all. Sam pulled her hand out from beneath his shirt and gently took his hand, her thumb making lazy circles over his knuckles. "You've had more than enough time to heal after the surgery, and as long as you're feeling up to it . . . I don't think Janet would object."
With an excited, boyish grin spreading across his face, Jack stood quickly, pulling Sam up with him and causing Dorothy to leap to her feet where she'd been lounging on the floor. Still holding onto her hand, Jack eagerly tugged Sam to the steps leading from the lounge, in a hurry to get to their bedroom.
Sam laughed softly at Jack's enthusiasm, allowing herself to be practically dragged after him. "There's no need to rush!" she said, laughter coating her voice, though she was just as eager as he was.
"Who's rushing?" He glanced back at her, suddenly stopping in the hall, just in front of the bedroom door. Grinning roguishly, he tugged her against him and kissed her with deep longing. Jack's dark eyes were alight with arousal and need as he said, "I want this to last."
-
Chapter Twelve
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