Music for Airports

Chapter Two.

"Rise and shine, Carter!" Jack called as he knocked loudly on her door. The sun was already up, shining brilliantly in the cool early-Spring air. It was 0800, time to get this party started. He'd had a fitful, restless sleep the night before, all manner of permutations running through his mind on how this day would go. And even though he'd not got much sleep, he felt invigorated and alive, like he hadn't felt in so long. A bit of coffee would help drive the rest of the sleep from his eyes, so he'd brought along a couple of lattes for him and Sam. He knew what she liked, and had it ready for her.

"In a second, sir!" Came her sleepy, startled reply. He heard some rustling around in the room opposite him, facing the street, knowing that was her bedroom. He wasn't going to let his mind wander there, at least not yet. Be cool. You're friends. Team mates. General and Lt. Colonel... at least for now. Civilian.

"I've got coffee!" He yelled, practically in her face because she opened the door that second. "Oops, sorry; here," handing her the latte. "Just the kind you like, double tall vanilla, easy on the foam." He couldn't believe that he, a seasoned career Air Force General, had got so knowledgeable about something like espresso. Ah, change.

She took the coffee with a groan of appreciation and muttered a thank you, before blowing on the coffee and taking that first wonderful taste. Hmmm, coffee.... he knew her so well.

Jack took this chance to look at her. He'd seen her just awakened from sleep many times, on off-world missions, in the infirmary, but this was different. This was at her own place, in her own filmy nightgown, robe loosely hanging from her shoulders. Maybe she didn't realize it wasn't covering her too well? Rosy-pink and lace suited her blond hair and fair skin. She was flushed from sleep still, which only enhanced her beauty. He took a sip from his own coffee, eyes peering over the brim, focused on her focusing on her coffee. Her hair was rumpled adoringly, going every which way, she looked so natural and real.

She looked quickly up at him, the rising sun in her face lighting her blue eyes, almost like she was aware of his observation. He blushed and glanced away, down the street, focusing on something he'd heard. Her neighbor had come out to pick up the paper, and looked over at them, at this man standing at his neighbor's doorstep. Jack waved and smiled, "How you doing, this morning?" The man waved tentatively back, looked at Sam like, "Is he okay?" and picked up the paper. Sam smiled at the neighbor, touched by his concern, but assured him everything was fine with a nod.

"I'm freezing out here, we'd better go in."

They went to her living room, and he sat on the couch, figuring she'd take the reclining chair nearby. She didn't. She plopped down next to him, her robe falling open a bit more. Did she know what that was doing to him? She demurely tucked one leg under the other, and closed the robe, somewhat, but not entirely.

"Ah, warmer in here. I wake up sometimes just burning up, and going from that to standing at the door gave me chills." Shoulder to shoulder, she gave herself one final wake-up stretch, and Jack was hard-pressed to keep from turning his head to watch her stretch and groan in pleasure. She casually put her arm behind him on the couch, turned and smiled at him. Did she just do what I think she did?? he wondered. The oldest trick in the book for guys, the old "yawn and stretch," to have an excuse to drape one's arm over a girl's shoulder, at a movie theater, a walk in the park, in a car on a dark quiet night.

He crossed his legs and leaned back into the couch, liking the feel of her arm there, close but not quite touching him. Sitting that close, he could smell her hair, the lavender soap he knew she favored, the strong aroma of the coffee, sunlight beaming in through the light curtains. What he'd give to enjoy every morning like this. Kicking back, enjoying one another's company, sipping coffee, planning a big week. Patience. You just got here, nothing to rush, you've got lots of time to talk. Today and much of tomorrow, before the guys show up.

Still in silence, sipping on their lattes, Sam watched O'Neill, to see if some reaction would break through that exterior he always kept facing the world. She knew her yawn-and-stretch, her robe falling loosely around her, would get to him. He'd noticed. He glanced shyly at her for a moment before leaning back into the couch, taking another taste of his coffee. He looked magnificent. She was still surprised to know he was nine years older than she. He always kept in such peak physical shape, and even though eight years had gone by since that first meeting at the SGC, he looked better, not older. His hair had silvered over time, but that only enhanced his unusual, rough good looks. That was one of the things Sam loved about him. He didn't reveal much that was really going on inside his head, but he had such a mobile face. He could go from being relaxed, joking, hamming it up with the team, to being the strong, stern leader she knew he was. She'd learned over time, as they'd faced many experiences, that even though he liked to play at being not-too-bright, she knew he was brilliant in things he did know. Like command. Flying. Fighting. He was a born leader, and even though she'd attained the vaunted rank of Lt. Colonel, not a small thing for a woman in the Air Force, she would always be his subordinate, always accede to his leadership. Didn't mind at all. It was a lucky airman to have a great leader that they could trust, that they knew 100% would always come for them, never be left behind. That was Jack's cardinal rule as a commander: You could always trust that no matter what, he'd be there for you. That endears lower-ranked personnel to their commander, makes a stronger, more cohesive unit. He had fostered that well with the newly-formed SG-1 all those years ago. Even Daniel, the scientist, and Jack forged a mutual respect for one another, and somewhere along the way became genuine friends.

And he was sitting on her couch, right next to her, on a glorious Spring morning. No worries today, no worlds to save or bad guys to fight or weird technology to crack. Just her and Jack. As it should be. As it might be. She suspected he wanted to talk to her, before tomorrow, before Daniel and Teal'c showed up at the cabin. She remembered the look on his face when she told him she'd broken up with Pete. He was good at hiding emotion, but not that good. His step had suddenly become lighter, his voice happier, he'd got that little glint in his eye. She knew he was ecstatic to hear it, just as she knew, so long ago when she first got with Pete, how it was tearing him up inside. His demeanor had changed then, and it changed again yesterday going to the cafeteria. She couldn't blame him; she'd felt the same elation when she heard Kerry was gone. It was like all these things were falling into place, like some karmic debt had been paid in full, and maybe, maybe they could finally be together. Colorado and Washington, D.C. weren't all that far apart, after all.

He was wearing what she loved to see him wear: Levi's and an old banged up Air Force sweatshirt, comfortable sneakers. Freshly shaven. Hair neatly in place. She ran her fingers through her own mussed hair when she realized how she looked.

"Oh, I'm a sight this morning," she exclaimed.

"Naw, you look beautiful," he said matter of factly. Looking at her. Being honest, not apologizing for such an admission as he would have in the past. Because it was true, she looked incredible. Hard to find a woman just woken up that looked that lovely.

She smiled and looked deeply into his brown eyes, the eyes she loved to lose herself in, when she could do so without being obvious. "You, on the other hand, look like you didn't get much sleep."

"I had a lot on my mind last night." he replied, still marveling at the almost-touching of her arm behind him.

"About what? Your new assignment?"

"Well, partly that, but more like what the next week is going to hold."

Her heart skipped a beat on that one. She wanted to ask, it was begging to come out, but she couldn't quite articulate it, not yet. So she set her coffee down on the coffee table and leaped up, tying her robe a bit to her, but not too much.

"I think the next week is going to be a blast, sir, when we get up there. I always love hanging out with the team, you know that." She went to the kitchen to get a glass of juice, and motioned to him if he wanted some.

He followed her in there, taking the juice and downing it. They were standing side by side, alone.... He smiled at her with that little smile she so loved. He had such a beautiful mouth. They just stood there, in the silence, looking at each other.

"Carter..." he started.

"Yes, sir?" she asked.

"We should have that little talk you wanted to have a couple weeks ago, since things have changed. You never told me what was on your mind."

She looked down shyly, paused a moment, took a deep breath and released it, and said, "I was feeling overwhelmed is all, about the recent missions, worry about Dad, what was happening with Pete."

He looked at her in silence, the question on his face. So this was it. It was going to come out now, or never.

"Sir....Jack," she said shyly, "What I really wanted was to talk about you and me."

"And this was before the whole civilian thing came up?"

"Yes, I figured I had nothing to lose. It was either going to happen or not. It was before my father told me to find some way, but be happy, I deserved it. He told me that as he was dying, he didn't come straight out and mention you and me, but I knew that's what he meant, and wanted." She said it all in a rush, feeling sick inside, the juice and coffee mixing in her stomach in unpleasant ways.

The cards were on the table, the ball was in his court. All she could do now is wait and watch him and see what he'd do.

"Carter.... Sam.... Believe it or not, Kerry said almost the same thing to me. Maybe she and Jacob were in cahoots, I don't know. She knew my mind and heart were somewhere else, she knew she couldn't get in there, not like you've done. She told me to retire, to run the SGC as a civilian. This was just before I'd received my new orders, maybe she knew something I didn't, CIA and all."

They wandered back into the living room, back to their previous positions on the couch, neither saying a thing, but their bodies and minds and hearts were singing inside. Sam suspected she was glowing. She knew Jack was, he had such a look on his face, almost angelic, albeit a rascally angelic. If it had been dark, they probably would have lit up the room.

"So." Carter said, as they sat down.

"So." Jack echoed. "Where do we go from here?"

"We go where today leads us. Into the week at the cabin, enjoying the time we have before you have to leave." Her voice caught slightly at that, but not for too long. People have had long-distance relationships before. This might even be ideal for them both, being workaholics like they were. He had his job, she had hers. The time they spent together would be that much more special.

They turned to face one another on the couch, legs tucked underneath, arms on the back. Sam knew she was shaking, outside and in; the caffeine and the conversation were getting to her nerves and muscles. She was content to sit and stare, let those eyes melt into her, watch him watching her, wondering what he was going to do next.

And he was content as well. The culmination of eight interminable years was coming to an end, this was it, this was the moment, the second, the point in the space-time continuum he'd always dreamed would happen. Space-time continuum, I'm starting to sound like Carter! he thought. All the years, all the little subtle touches and glances, any more than that forbidden by the military they both served, could now develop into much more.

He broke the silence, quietly saying, "When you said, yesterday, that maybe you could come up to the cabin with me today to help get it set up, I almost fainted, I couldn't believe my good luck. And now we're sitting here, and we've said what we had to say, and the morning's just started. Carter, well Sam, I want to spend as much time as I can with you in the next two weeks, before I have to go to D.C. I want more, much much more, before I have to leave. But I don't want to rush. Part of me wants to grab you right now and lay the biggest, sloppiest, deepest kiss on you that there ever was," he said, waving his hands around to emphasise each point of this kiss, and she smiled. "And another part of me wants to take it slowly, carefully, enjoy the moment. For crying out loud, I almost feel like a teenager again."

She looked him up and down, very pointedly, his athletic build, his hands, his eyes, his sweet mouth, slowly and deliberately. She wanted him to know what she was doing, sizing him up, admiring him. Those jeans. Every man should be required to wear Levi's 501's, she thought. Especially when the man looked as good as Jack O'Neill. This time, he didn't blush, as he would have in the past. He was hers. It was her perogative to look him up and down like that, her eyes shining, a slight smile on her lovely mouth. He knew he looked damned fine for his age.

"Jack--" and that still sounded rather odd, coming from her mouth, "I'm all for slow and steady, but not too slow. We haven't got much time. We've got a lot of catching up to do, after eight years of working together." She reached out and touched his hand next to her, rubbed her fingers up and down, and the electricity was palpable, almost like a real static shock to her nerves. Not like in the observation room, when he was there as friend and comrade, to comfort her. This was a deliberate, sensual touch. She was so turned on just looking at him, touching him, that she wiggled a little, Jack none the wiser. She couldn't believe she was reacting this way. A simple hand touch. Sam had had her share of lovers, she was hardly a nun, but these first shy, almost awkward moments were to be cherished. There was time for more, but like she said, not too much time. Savor this moment. Enjoy the thrill of these first days, when everything was finally out in the open, and they could move on to the next level of exploring one another in ways they had never explored before.

They were already friends, team mates, had already gone through so very much together. Fought alongside one another, defended each other, not many couples can make that claim. It bonds one closer than friends, to face such situations, and they had already gone through that phase. Now it was time to just be together. Sam and Jack today, then Daniel and Teal'c tomorrow, all of SG-1.

She suddenly wondered what Daniel and Teal'c were doing today. About that little grin she'd seen Daniel suppress yesterday. No, they weren't stupid. They knew. It was hard to hide anything amongst themselves. By the time they saw the guys at the cabin tomorrow, the relationship would be signed, sealed and delivered.

Jack and Sam fell into this new understanding comfortably. Good friends have a license with each other, they can do things without having to ask permission. Jack gave Sam's hand a final squeeze and stood up, then turned to gaze down at her. With her looking up at him, her brilliantly blue eyes glowing, her fair cheeks flushed, blonde hair tousled, he drank her in. She'd looked him over deliberately, now it was his turn. And he didn't hide it either, and she didn't blush, but continued that glowing flush. There was a difference. Blush was from embarrassment; flush was from excitement, anticipation.

He could now do what he'd longed to do for so many years: just blatantly stare at her, with her awareness of it, no more stolen glimpses, no more sneaky peeks when he thought nobody was looking. He had always admired her form, her grace. She was such a warrior, and that turned him on in ways she didn't know. Level III hand-to-hand combat training. Knowledge of many types of firearms and ordnance. Athletic build. He knew she worked out in the SGC gym many times each week, when not working on mission tasks. Scholar and warrior, and still definitely feminine. She managed to remain a lady and an officer in a man's world, and managed with grace and dignity. She was a great leader in her own right, and people working under her knew that. That was one of the many things that endeared her to him, attracted her so to him.

When they'd first met, and he told her it was scientists he had a problem with, not women, she revealed to him she'd spent over 100 hours in airtime during the Gulf War. That was the first stab she laid into his heart and soul. Brilliant and a warrior. Oh my. Gorgeous, too. Blonde, blue-eyed. Those blue eyes, piercing right through him as she looked him over. Did she have any idea what she was doing to him? He loved blondes. Short hair, smartly done for the military life. No nonsense woman, here. Doesn't use coy feminine tactics to get her way. Rose through the ranks to Captain, then Major, then finally to Lieutenant Colonel on her own merit, never mind that her father was an Air Force General. He liked that she never used that for leverage, as some officers had done.

She was there in front of him, sitting on the couch, shaking slightly, watching him admire her so obviously. Saw his eyes go up the length of her legs, partly covered by her nightgown and robe, tantalizing him, not quite showing anything inappropriate. The way she had her leg tucked under her hip showed just a taste of where thigh met hip, and he lingered there for a moment, his eyes drilling into her. That nightgown was something else, he thought, not quite sheer, still leaving a bit of mystery to explore. Her arm draped on the couch made her breasts do some wonderful things, the lace, the satin of the gown, the robe falling haphazardly open. He took his time there, his face flushing in excitement. He didn't know that his gaze was affecting her almost as much as the electric hand-touch earlier did. She wiggled again, and him again none the wiser.

He reached down to take her hand, and brought it to his mouth. Oh, my, how I love that mouth! she thought, as he delicately kissed the palm of her hand, then turned it over to kiss each of her finger tips. More wiggling. Those jeans, almost eye level with her now. She could tell she was getting to him too, in more ways than his sweet smile and glowing eyes. Her gaze didn't linger there too long, admiring those lovely jeans, she didn't want to embarrass him. She looked up again, into his face, his eyes closed as he concentrated on the moment, kissing and touching her fingers, so seductively, so innocently. Nothing major, nothing you couldn't see on a TV show, she thought, yet the fire raging through her threatened to overwhelm her.

It was coming, it was happening. That first kiss is only seconds away, I just know it, she thought. Sam wasn't going to put too much intellect into it. Just do it. Relax. He's in command, he's got control. Wait to see what he does.

She drew in a sharp breath as his mouth left her fingertips, her hand, and he pulled her standing. Moving to him, eyes locked. This is it, she thought, within kissing distance... but he surprised her. He continued with his sweet, mobile lips and turned her arm, so he could kiss up the length of the sensitive inside. He still had his eyes closed, as he touched that lovely arm, lightly putting his lips to it, softly and gently blowing on her skin, making her tingle in many places at once. This was an aspect of him she'd never considered, a slow, sweet seductive Jack O'Neill. He'd never let on in all their years together what a romantic he could be.

She put her other hand on his arm, his strong, firm arm, ran her hand up the length of his bicep, reveling in the feel of him, the closeness, to his broad shoulder, barely able to stand straight from being so turned on. I'm going to go bow-legged in a second here, she thought. Oh, how she loved his shoulders. Broad, strong shoulders, that she could get her hands onto, grab hold of... she longed to grab hold of those shoulders in another way, bared and moving above her. Patience, Sam, patience.

Jack reached the top of Sam's white arm, softly touching it with his lips, not revealing how very strongly such a seemingly innocent action was affecting him inside. Part of him wanted to just grab her right there and tear that gorgeous nightgown off, but no... this was for her, and her reaction to him was for him. That was a big part of the chase for him, knowing how he was affecting her. And he wasn't disappointed. He knew he was getting to her, had seen the subtle little wriggles, knew what those movements of hips and ass meant. He opened his eyes briefly as he approached her shoulder and looked down at her lovely breasts. Oh, he so longed to touch them... they were so firm, so high, she kept in such wonderful shape. And he could tell he was getting to her, her nipples were hard against her nightgown, he got a bare hint of their outline through the sheerness of the rosy pink, the sunlight illuminating the material just right. He could see her rosy pinkness himself, and that further excited him. Slowly, take your time, O'Neill. No rush. We'll get there, the journey now is what's important. He didn't know how this would end, this lovely Spring morning; maybe they would make love, maybe not. There was time for all things. They had a day and a half together, before the guys showed up. But he didn't want to think about Daniel and T right now. He'd reached the gentle curve of her neck.

As his lips left her arm, to work their way to the curve of her neck, Sam thought she'd explode inside, right then and there. How could he know she had a neck thing? Just having his mouth close to her neck, let alone touching it, was enough to send her into rapture. They'd been close enough to do that before, in various situations over the years... Hiding behind a column in a Goa'uld palace, feeling his warmth behind her, his breath on her neck. Sneaking around ruins and hiding, so close their auras mingled together. She would get mad at herself for such a reaction, but couldn't help it. Having Jack in that close a proximity did it to her, even when they were facing certain death. Maybe that's why she reacted that way, the danger, the adrenalin rush, and him so close, yet so far. He was here, now, no Goa'uld, no replicators, no exploding alien ordnance, nobody around. It was here, and it was now. She wasn't sure how far it'd go this morning, whether they'd end up in her bed or not, she was just enjoying the sensation, enjoying the ride as it were. Almost like a first date, those first explorations. They hadn't really done anything untoward, merely looking, light touching, a little kissing. But oh, the tension was exquisite.

Her arm now freed from his hand and his lips, she put her hand on his other shoulder. He was taller than she, but that was okay. She liked tall. She rubbed his broad shoulders, enjoying their strength, the feel of the hard muscle and bone, closed her eyes, the sensations from her neck, her hands, sending her again into another realm. She was so turned on it was dizzying, and she had to grip his shoulders for support. His delicate lips touched and licked the curve of her neck, and she leaned her head back, a slight groan escaping her open lips, breath coming more rapidly. He muttered something into her neck.

"Carter..."

"Yes, General?" she whispered, deliberately using his title. General O'Neill. That, too, was one of the many turn-ons. A General! But not for long...civilian. She never thought she'd love that word so much!

She heard his chuckle against her skin, felt the smile, probably had his eyes open by now, looking down her back, or at her ass. He'd placed his hands on the small of her back after he'd reached the tender spot of her neck, and was slowly lowering them to her hips, feeling them, gripping them. Oh, his shoulders under her hands, her hips under his hands, this was beyond delight.

He gave one final snuggle to her neck, and pulled his head back to look her in the eyes. "Are you okay?" he asked.

"Jack, I passed 'okay' a while ago, I'm so beyond okay now I think I'm going to faint." Her eyes glittered at him, her cheeks still holding that flush. Her lips were full and red like lips get when a woman is truly excited, half-opened, almost daring him to taste, to touch them.

O'Neill lost himself in those huge blue eyes, as she gazed up at him. Her eyes, her flush, her slightly opened mouth... He could no longer resist, this was it. He knew what she meant, he too was so beyond okay he could barely stand straight. Damn, these jeans are snug, I wonder if she's noticed how she's getting to me? he thought. He wanted to drink her in, to taste her, to touch those lips again after all these years, after that wacky looping day when he'd stolen a kiss from her.

He saw her anticipation, her openness, her glance from his eyes to his mouth, knowing what was coming. And knowing she didn't mind at all, he'd really got to her with the light kissing and nibbling on the fingers and arm and neck. It was leading to this, maybe this was how it'd end, for now, this bright morning. He slowly leaned down to her, again kissing and nuzzling her neck, both sides, like he was missing the target of her succulent lips on purpose, kissed along the side of her chin, brushed his mouth against her hot cheek. He pulled her tightly to him, strong hands on her lower back, and started to nip at her lower lip, teasingly, playfully, feeling her breath on him, taking her all in. She instinctively arched, pressing her hard-tipped breasts into his chest, and that was it, he was gone. The feel of her breasts, her nipples, the touch of lavender, the sensation of soft skin, fragrant hair, finally overwhelmed him, and he covered her mouth with his. Passionately, ardently, not desperately, he was pleased to note somewhere in the back of his mind. The uncertainty of what might happen, some day, with Carter was gone. This was it.

She let him kiss her like that for a few seconds, taking in the taste of his mouth, the feel of his lips, the passion pouring from him to her like a conduit, and let her mouth open even more. He was an amazing kisser, she realized, but what else could he be, with that incredibly sexy mouth? She felt his tongue exploring, not being too demanding, lightly feeling her tongue respond. Nothing animal or base in this kiss, she thought, tasting, touching, listening... he sounded amazing, the little moans he was letting out got their roots into her and took hold, and she moaned in response.

This first incredible kiss seemed to last forever, but finally they pulled apart. Jack looked down at Sam's face, her eyes closed, her mouth still slightly parted, as if the lips refused to believe it was over. He nibbled on her lower lip again, a quick little bite, as if to say, Oh, no, that wasn't it, not by a long stretch. She opened her eyes and smiled that smile that melted his heart so completely.

"Carter."

"Jack."

"C'mere." he said, and pulled her to him. His words echoed in her head, like when he'd said them so long ago, when she told him how relieved she was that he hadn't died from that staff weapon blast. The day Janet had died. A much happier time to hear those words today. Him saying that, hugging her to him so tightly, like he'd done that day, only made her love him even more deeply, if that was possible. He'd been there for her so many times: on that tragic day, on the day when her father died, and now.

He hugged her to him fiercely, protectively, almost too roughly. She was his, he was hers. They were so close now, he felt like she was one with him. In some ways, she was. She was going with the flow, letting what happened just happen. He knew her ways, he knew she had a habit of analyzing everything. She hadn't done that today, she was completely in his grasp. He knew this was it, for now, this blazing first kiss. He wanted the memory of it to sizzle itself into his brain, so he'd never forget. He'd be in D.C. in a couple weeks, settling into his new tasks, and he wanted something to think about when he had two minutes to spare from what was sure to be a crazy job. This first time, and the next first time, when they made love. Finally. But that could wait, "all good things" and that stuff.

He again pulled back a little, not wanting to release her, so he left his hands on her shoulders.

"Samantha, maybe we should start planning our day?" he asked with that cute half-quirk he did with his mouth. She smiled in acknowledgement. He was right. Slowly and surely was the way. No rush.