Stargate SG1; Sam & Jack; Times of Day: Night
Title: Night
Author/Artist: sjhw_tolerance
Theme: Times of Day: Night
Rating: Adult
Author's Notes: Schmoop warning.
NIGHT
The Hilton is like every other airport hotel he’s ever been in, the roar of jets taking off is faint-but always a constant reminder-that everything in life is transient. Their modern room is an equally sharp contrast to the rustic charm and comfort of the cabin. The air conditioning keeps the room nice and cool but he misses the fresh breeze that blows through the trees and the sounds of the lake at night. The king size bed is too big after a month spent wrapped around each other in the double bed at the cabin and Jack rolls over, scooting closer to Sam. Pulling her into the cradle of his body, he nuzzles her neck.
“Can’t sleep?” Her voice is drowsy.
“Bed’s too big,” he mutters. Sam chuckles softly and he smiles momentarily, before he remembers how big and empty his bed will be in DC. He wonders-for not the first time-what she’ll say if he asks her to come with him. In all their talks and discussion regarding their future, he’s never asked; and he’s not sure if it’s because he’s afraid she’ll say yes instead of no.
“I don’t have to go.”
The hand that has been lightly stroking her arm stops. He shouldn’t be so surprised at her comment, she always was good at reading his mind. She turns in his arms and the faint light seeping into the room isn’t enough for him to see her face, so he stretches, reaching over and turning on the bedside lamp.
“I’d never ask you to give up your career.”
Her smile is understanding, but he sees the sadness in her eyes and knows he’s the one that put it there. “I know,” she says, caressing his cheek. “That’s always been part of the problem, hasn’t it?”
He’s not sure what to say. He loves her and can think of nothing he wants more than to spend the rest of his days with her…and yet the threat of what hangs over the Earth is not something either of them can ignore. “Sam-”
“It’s okay,” she says, pressing two fingers to his lips. “Some day….”
She deserves better than some day, but he’s not that noble and he can face the long nights without her as long as he knows that in the end, she’ll always be his. More words won’t change what has already been decided, so Jack reassures her in the only way left to him.
Her lips are soft and willing beneath his and when her arms wrap around him, working their way under the old white T-shirt he wore to bed, an unexpected feeling of relief fills him. Suddenly everything is all right again, even the prospect of their impending separation fades when she’s in his arms. He’s content for the moment to just kiss her, slow and deep, savoring the taste and texture of her.
The easy contentment doesn’t last long though. Her nails rake delicately down his spine and he shudders, instinctively arching into her and she moans into his mouth, her fingers digging into his shoulders. Jack stops kissing her only long enough to strip off his T-shirt and boxers, her sleep T tossed to the foot of the bed along with his discarded clothing. She pulls him back into her arms he groans in pure pleasure when she cradles him in her warm embrace.
Jack has spent the last month learning everything about what pleases this woman, how to touch her and bring her to shivering release in his arms, and he puts all his skill and talent to work now. He refuses to think of this as a last time, but he still finds himself paying special attention to each nuance of her response, memorizing again the way her eyes turn all cloudy blue with love and desire when she looks at him; how her lips glisten moistly after their kisses; each soft sigh and murmured word of love and approval.
But what he burns into his memory against the long nights alone is the look on her face when he slowly slides into her. This is what he’ll miss the most…not the physical part, though he can’t deny that it’s great, but the emotional part-the connection between them that has survived so much for so long is at its strongest in these few moments when they’re both at their most vulnerable-and powerful. He watches while she unravels in his arms and then follows, losing himself in her love.
He groans softly when he feels the slight tug on his hair and he reluctantly moves off her, immediately pulling her back into his arms. They settle easily into a comfortable embrace, her head on his chest, one arm and leg thrown over him and he waits patiently until she finishes squirming against him before he turns off the light and pulls the covers back up over them.
“Thanks,” she murmurs, her hand moving idly along his ribs in a light caress.
“For what?” He’s not sure what she’s thanking him for and he’s misread her one time too often today, so he wants to be sure.
Jack feels her smile against his chest and then the quick press of her lips over his heart. “For making this time for us.”
He strokes her hair, smoothing a few stray locks behind her ear. The night will be over far too soon, but there is one thing he needs her to understand before the sun rises and they board their separate flights. “There’ll be more. I promise.”
Sam nuzzles her cheek against his chest. “And you’re a man who always keeps your promises.”
It wasn’t a question, but he answers it anyway. “Always.”
THE END
Author/Artist: sjhw_tolerance
Theme: Times of Day: Night
Rating: Adult
Author's Notes: Schmoop warning.
NIGHT
The Hilton is like every other airport hotel he’s ever been in, the roar of jets taking off is faint-but always a constant reminder-that everything in life is transient. Their modern room is an equally sharp contrast to the rustic charm and comfort of the cabin. The air conditioning keeps the room nice and cool but he misses the fresh breeze that blows through the trees and the sounds of the lake at night. The king size bed is too big after a month spent wrapped around each other in the double bed at the cabin and Jack rolls over, scooting closer to Sam. Pulling her into the cradle of his body, he nuzzles her neck.
“Can’t sleep?” Her voice is drowsy.
“Bed’s too big,” he mutters. Sam chuckles softly and he smiles momentarily, before he remembers how big and empty his bed will be in DC. He wonders-for not the first time-what she’ll say if he asks her to come with him. In all their talks and discussion regarding their future, he’s never asked; and he’s not sure if it’s because he’s afraid she’ll say yes instead of no.
“I don’t have to go.”
The hand that has been lightly stroking her arm stops. He shouldn’t be so surprised at her comment, she always was good at reading his mind. She turns in his arms and the faint light seeping into the room isn’t enough for him to see her face, so he stretches, reaching over and turning on the bedside lamp.
“I’d never ask you to give up your career.”
Her smile is understanding, but he sees the sadness in her eyes and knows he’s the one that put it there. “I know,” she says, caressing his cheek. “That’s always been part of the problem, hasn’t it?”
He’s not sure what to say. He loves her and can think of nothing he wants more than to spend the rest of his days with her…and yet the threat of what hangs over the Earth is not something either of them can ignore. “Sam-”
“It’s okay,” she says, pressing two fingers to his lips. “Some day….”
She deserves better than some day, but he’s not that noble and he can face the long nights without her as long as he knows that in the end, she’ll always be his. More words won’t change what has already been decided, so Jack reassures her in the only way left to him.
Her lips are soft and willing beneath his and when her arms wrap around him, working their way under the old white T-shirt he wore to bed, an unexpected feeling of relief fills him. Suddenly everything is all right again, even the prospect of their impending separation fades when she’s in his arms. He’s content for the moment to just kiss her, slow and deep, savoring the taste and texture of her.
The easy contentment doesn’t last long though. Her nails rake delicately down his spine and he shudders, instinctively arching into her and she moans into his mouth, her fingers digging into his shoulders. Jack stops kissing her only long enough to strip off his T-shirt and boxers, her sleep T tossed to the foot of the bed along with his discarded clothing. She pulls him back into her arms he groans in pure pleasure when she cradles him in her warm embrace.
Jack has spent the last month learning everything about what pleases this woman, how to touch her and bring her to shivering release in his arms, and he puts all his skill and talent to work now. He refuses to think of this as a last time, but he still finds himself paying special attention to each nuance of her response, memorizing again the way her eyes turn all cloudy blue with love and desire when she looks at him; how her lips glisten moistly after their kisses; each soft sigh and murmured word of love and approval.
But what he burns into his memory against the long nights alone is the look on her face when he slowly slides into her. This is what he’ll miss the most…not the physical part, though he can’t deny that it’s great, but the emotional part-the connection between them that has survived so much for so long is at its strongest in these few moments when they’re both at their most vulnerable-and powerful. He watches while she unravels in his arms and then follows, losing himself in her love.
He groans softly when he feels the slight tug on his hair and he reluctantly moves off her, immediately pulling her back into his arms. They settle easily into a comfortable embrace, her head on his chest, one arm and leg thrown over him and he waits patiently until she finishes squirming against him before he turns off the light and pulls the covers back up over them.
“Thanks,” she murmurs, her hand moving idly along his ribs in a light caress.
“For what?” He’s not sure what she’s thanking him for and he’s misread her one time too often today, so he wants to be sure.
Jack feels her smile against his chest and then the quick press of her lips over his heart. “For making this time for us.”
He strokes her hair, smoothing a few stray locks behind her ear. The night will be over far too soon, but there is one thing he needs her to understand before the sun rises and they board their separate flights. “There’ll be more. I promise.”
Sam nuzzles her cheek against his chest. “And you’re a man who always keeps your promises.”
It wasn’t a question, but he answers it anyway. “Always.”
THE END