Music for Airports

Chapter Three.

Sam smiled at Jack as they got to the final leg of their journey, the dirt road that led to his cabin in the woods, in the mountains. The air here was crystalline, crisp and clear. They had gone to the local supermarket to pick up food and other supplies, things one used on a campout. The store, used to such customers, had had everything they needed. Knowing the guys' food preferences so well, they got exactly what they knew all four could agree on, good healthy whole foods, nothing complicated. Meat for barbecuing, hearty breakfast fixings, fruit, salad stuff.

If felt so unusual to Sam, to be doing such domestic tasks with Jack, shopping, preparing, almost nesting, but on the other hand, it felt wonderful. With him, she could see doing domestic, almost house-wifely tasks. She never pictured herself wanting this. It was only temporary, she knew, not something to be locked into, so she relished the moment.

He returned her gaze and her smile, taking her hand briefly in his to again kiss her palm, again sending tingles through her. She was still amazed how such a seemingly simple touch could reach her. He turned his eyes back to the road, but could sense she was still looking at him, still smiling.

"What?" he asked her with a glance.

She smiled, "Oh, nothing, this just feels so strange, but so good. Shopping together, doing all this. Doesn't seem like our usual off-duty time."

"Relax while you can, we've got a bit of work to do at the cabin. I haven't been there since Fall last year, so there are likely to be minor repairs to do after Winter, things to set right, wood to chop, dusting, the works. I've got a compact washer and dryer there too. How about you start laundry, sheets and towels and all, and I'll start with the wood chopping. Still a bit cool up here at nights to not have a fire."

"Sounds good to me, after we get the groceries put up."

He pulled into the driveway, grabbed some groceries Sam handed to him, and went to open the cabin. All seemed right in the world. He'd had a problem with vandals before, but was lucky this Winter. The air was a bit dry and musty from being closed in so long, so he and Sam began opening windows and doors to let in the fragrant Spring air.

"Shouldn't take long to air out the place. As you see, I did a pretty good job last year preparing for Winter. Shouldn't take long to just dust things down, wipe things off, get the linens and such ready. I put a plastic cover on the mattresses, so they should be fine too." He winked at her, when he mentioned mattresses. She rewarded him with one of her sweet blushes, as he knew she would.

"There're two bedrooms here, one with a shower, and a main bathroom over there," he said, pointing. "The laundry center is by the bathroom, near the hot-water heater."

"Wow, this isn't as roughing-it as I thought it'd be," she said, impressed. More a small house than a cabin, she realized, although the walls were of rough-hewn logs, inside and out, with a rugged hand-built fireplace. "Did you make this cabin?" she suddenly asked. "This wonderful fireplace?"

He blushed a little himself, rather shyly for him, and said, "I had a hand in it. My wife's family and I put it together, when Charlie was little. She and her brothers were quite talented in such things, so I came along to help where I could. I helped a bit on the fireplace, yes, enough to be proud of the work I did."

He was amazed he could talk so freely about his previous life, pre-SGC, his child, his ex-wife, with Sam. It was always one of the forbidden topics for him. But everything was open and bared now, no holding anything back. He'd had enough of that nonsense. This was the one woman in the world he'd trusted with his life and more. He trusted her with his heart, soul and spirit now, he was hers.

They finished with the groceries after turning the refrigerator back on. She was wiping down the sink, free of dishes and clutter she noted, and he gave her a quick kiss on the back of the neck. She froze in her task, just standing there.

"Was my mouth cold or something?" he asked, leaning down to put his lips near her ear, lightly breathing on her. "I hope not, because between now and when the guys get here, I want to sneak all the little kisses I can on you."

Her skin had felt so hot, so he suspected he'd felt cold to her. But she turned to face him, with his arms on both sides, caging her in against the sink.

"Cold, no, tingly, yes," she said, looking at his mouth yet again. She couldn't stop staring at that beautiful mouth of his, now that she could do so freely. He moved in on her mouth, lightly and lovingly kissing it, not too briefly, but not too long. He had to get this work done so they could enjoy the evening.

"I'd better get to choppin' wood, Maw," he said, and she chuckled at his southern drawl. He reached down to the hem of his sweatshirt and pulled it off, revealing a simple black t-shirt underneath. She watched him do this, the dance of his muscles in his arms, his shoulders, his chest, the t-shirt tucked into his trim jeans. Whoa she thought. I've seen him in a t-shirt thousands of times, but now... now I can actually look at him, in those blue jeans, that snug shirt. He caught her gaze after he'd pulled the sweatshirt off, having deliberately done it in front of her like that, knowing he looked great. All those work-out sessions really paid off. He gave her a little grin, like asking, You like? and winked at her, before he headed outside.

She set to her tasks, and a couple hours passed by. She got the linens done, dusting and wiping down, arranging things a little to her suiting (hoping he didn't mind her setting some things up in her fashion). She hadn't seen him for quite some time, but she heard the continual chop-chop of the axe hitting the wood. She made some iced tea and went to the back door to bring it to him.

Sam couldn't believe what she was seeing. Oh. My. God. is all she could think. He'd worked up such a sweat in the warming day, that he'd removed the t-shirt, and was only in jeans and sneakers. Magnificent didn't describe it. He was unaware of her scrutiny, her frozen form, holding the iced tea, just gawking. His back was mostly toward her, and she marveled at what she saw. He'd pick up a log, set it down, swing the axe back and let it fall onto the log, splitting it cleanly with his strength. One hit was all it took. She watched the movement of muscles throughout his back, his shoulders, his upper arms, his strong hands deftly pivoting the axe. The sun was shining on him, his muscles, his sweat. And those jeans. Oh my, Levi's, she thought again. He had just the most perfect ass, and those jeans, well... they did him justice. Yea, 501's.

She waited until he'd finished the next log, then walked up behind him, making sure he knew she was there, so she wouldn't get an axe in the face. He glanced in surprise behind him, and wiped his forehead with the back of his hand.

"Oh, Carter, you read my mind. Thank you so much!" He took the icey-cold glass from her, with a lemon wedge, and guzzled it halfway down. "Ah!!"

"Not too fast, sir, you don't want to put your body into shock."

They were back to Carter and sir. Old habits died hard, but it felt comfortable at the moment. Just the two of them, saying what came naturally. The sun had passed its zenith, and stood high and behind Jack. With it shining that way, he seemed to glow, the warmth, the sweat, the musky odor coming off of him from his aftershave. She just stared.

"What, did my work bring out spots on my face or something? How's it going in there?" he asked.

She looked away quickly, to the pond and surrounding trees behind him, and said, "Oh, I'm about done in there. Need help stacking this stuff?" She walked over to the pile of logs he'd cut. She couldn't believe how much he'd got done in just two hours.

"Um, Jack... are you going to need a nap after all this? This was a lot of work you did!" She knew her unspoken words were "because I hope to God you're not too tired and sore from this!"

"A nap? I'm not that old, Carter. Naw, but a shower before dinner will do wonders, maybe you can rub some liniment into my shoulders and back after. Damned desk job, making me go soft." He knew he was leading her toward something, give her a chance to touch him, like he knew she was aching to do. He realized, from the flush in her cheeks, that she'd been watching him work.

"Sir, soft you aren't." She winked at him as she turned to grab a handful of wood. Her hands weren't all that big, but they were strong, and he in turn loved to watch her working like this. She picked up the wood like it was nothing, and proceeded to set it in a neat stack against the cabin, away from possible rain.