Teal'c, of course, had requested to use his time visiting family. However he couldn't leave for a few days. Added to this she knew the guys hadn't made any plans. This meant that they would probably be spending a lot of time together. Thankfully it was still 6:40 and Sam was determined to have that lay in she'd been dreaming of. She opened her eyes and stretched her arms above her head. Smiling idiotically at thought of staying in bed for at least another 2 hours.
Just then there was a gentle knock at the door. She groaned. Her bedroom was right above the door though so it seemed loud. Great! Just great. Sam thought sarcastically. Gotta be Jack, no one else would be this early.
With a lot of reluctance, she pushed herself out of bed and glanced out the window. Yep, Jack. She stood up and walked to her bedroom door until she realised she was only wearing a night shirt. She panicked for a second before having an idea. She ran down the stairs and positioned herself so she wouldn't be in eye site then the door opened.
"It's open!" she called. The door opened and a second later Jack was in view. Sam opened her hands and froze him.
"Yes! Er...sorry bout that Jack." She said, rushing back up the stairs. It wouldn't have taken more than 3 or 4 minutes except she had to keep coming back to check he was frozen. She at least managed to work out the freezing thing lasted for about 2 and a half minutes. Finally she was ready and ran back to her original place. She opened her hands again to unfreeze him.
"Hey Sam." He called, stepping in the door and seeing her.
"Hi Jack, whatcha doin here so early?" she said causally.
"Yeah, sorry about that. But I figured if you were asleep you wouldn't hear me knock."
Damn. He's right. Should've thought of that
"You ok? You look kinda, hot and tired."
That's what you get from running around to get dressed before your colonel unfreezes.
"Um, well, I just got up and..."
"...Went for a jog?" Jack finished
"Yep! That's it. That's what I did. Went for a jog." Sam exclaimed happily
"Right." He said it with a smile but she could tell he was nervous.
"So do you wanna a cup of coffee or anything to drink?"
Of course I do. Something alcoholic would be good. Sam heard him think, but his actual answer was slightly different.
"Um... no, I can only stay for a second really."
He fumbled with his hands and evidentially stuffed them in his pockets. Sam could tell he was nervous from the thoughts running through his head but they were so jumped she couldn't read them singly. She looked up and realised he was talking again.
"...And I'm going up to that little cabin I told you about, just for the weekend. Bit of fishing, walking, just generally relaxing. Last time just bored Teal'c to death so as soon as I offered he informed me of his plans with Daniel to go sight seeing. I wondered if you wanted to come.. It'll be fun, I promise." Sam was about to answer but she couldn't block out his strong train of thought, it was very distracting.
"Okay I've said it, it's out. She's not answering. She looks embarrassed. I shouldn't have asked her. She doesn't want to go. Okay, fine don't push it. Turn around and go. Go. For cryin' out loud she doesn't want you here now move! Yes Jack, that does involve moving your feet..."
"Yeah sure." She said, trying to hide the smile that threatened to show.
"Really?" he asked surprised, his thoughts saying the same thing. "I mean, are you sure? I don't want to push you or..."
"I'm sure." She interrupted. "When do we leave?"
"Err, Friday evening? 7:00."
"I'll try and be there." she smiled.
"Ok, great, but don't be late, I'm leaving at 7:00 on the dot." Jack said, smiling back. Suddenly releasing there was nothing else to say and looked at the door with a start.
"Well, I better be going, I convinced Daniel and Teal'c to play poker with me."
"Can I come?" she asked.
"You wanna come?" he asked, obviously surprised. " You play poker?"
"Oh not only do I play poker, I win poker." She smiled following him out the door.
"We'll see about that." He said. Sam had surprised him in so many ways, changing his ideas on a lot of things that he wouldn't be surprised if she was good at poker. However, he doubted she was a good as him who had had many years practising with team-mates.
As it happened, Samantha Carter was a very good poker player, but, as she thought to herself, she was an even better player when she had the ability to read minds....
"Bring your money Carter!" he called getting into his car. Sam raised her eyes brows and moved her wallet from the table into her back pocket.
""I've got my wallet, to put your money in." she grinned at him. But he was too busy laughing to notice she shut and locked the door with her mind not her hands.
"Let's go."
"And you owe me...40 bucks! Had enough?" Sam grinned. Jack glared at her,
I know you're cheating Sam. Just don't know how. Yet.
"Well I've had enough. Never you were so good Sam!"
"Well, you never asked." She said grinning again and putting her money in her wallet. "Yeah, we're finished. For tonight." Jack said standing up and heading into the kitchen with a pizza box. Daniel headed for the bathroom and Teal'c and Sam began clearing the cards, bottles and other rubbish of the table.
"Indeed, Major Carter, you have exceptional talent at this game."
"Hey Teal'c, why don't you try calling me Sam. Major Carter is kinda impersonal and we know each other much better than that."
"Is it not appropriate and respectful to call someone by they're rank?"
"Yes Teal'c it is when we're on base, but we're on downtime now, and we're friends. You don't here Daniel calling me by my rank. And even Jack calls me Carter or Sam." Sam finished, at the same time Jack came back into the room.
"Okay Sam, give. How were you cheating?"
"Cheating? Me?" Sam exclaimed innocently, dropping another set of bottles in the bin.
"Yeah you. Look the games finished now, you can spill." "Not a chance in hell." She laughed. Jack smiled at her for a second then realised she was tidying up his kitchen single handily.
"Hey Sam, leave that I'll do it another time. The dishes will still be here after we come back."
"You're gonna leave these dishes dirty all weekend?
Uh-oh. Jack thought, take it back, take it back.
Sam laughed and continued with the dishes.
Wait, she's laughing it's ok. Why is she laughing?
"What's so funny?"
"Nothing."
"Yeah right."
Bet I know why she's laughing Sam heard Daniel's thoughts before he entered the kitchen. He came in and leant against the doorframe, looking directly at her. Don't I Sam
"Don't know what you're talking about Daniel!" Sam said with a smile, drying her hands, her face a picture of innocence.
"He didn't say anything!" Jack said,
"I'm going home to get some sleep." She said, quickly walking towards the door. As she opened it, realisation dawned on Jack.
"That's it! That's how you were cheating. Not fair. I demand a rematch!" he called after them, but they were already out the door.
Samantha Carter looked around her living room, bored. Yesterday she was looking forward to a week off. Now she was just bored. True she was going away that evening, but she needed to be doing something now. Walking out into her small garden and looked around for something to do. The next door neighbours cat, about to pee on the grass, looked up at her as she stood on the grass.
"Not in my garden you don't." she muttered, freezing it then moving the cat to its own garden before unfreezing it. The cat looked very startled then looked at her almost suspiciously. She smiled and went back inside with a sigh, flopping sideways onto an armchair, her legs dangling over the side. At the moment she had no idea what or where the guys were, but she was pretty sure she'd hear from them sooner or later. She lazily did a beckoning motion with her hand to move a vase to the right of a picture, paused for a moment, then shook her head and moved it back. Thankfully the doorbell rang to save her from her boredom and s
he jumped up with the motivation of having something to do, and opened the door.
"Hey Sam." Cassandra said, flinging herself at Sam as she opened the door. Sam laughed and picked her up.
"Hey, you're getting bigger every time I see you! And heavier." Cassandra giggled as Sam put her down.
"So. Whatcha doing here? No that I'm not glad to see you but..."
"We're going to the Water Park across town. You wanna come with us?" Sam considered it and looked out the door at a smiling Janet in the car. She looked back down at a hopeful smile on Cassie's face and gave in.
"Sure, give me a few seconds to get my swimsuit and stuff." Sam said walking towards her bedroom. Cassandra grinned and looked at her watch.
"One second... Two second..."
Sam smiled as she waved Cassandra and Janet off. She was glad she had gone. Cassandra had kept asking her to move things and read her mind but the whole day had been really fun. Walking into her living room she slumped down into a chair with happy sigh. A causal glance at the wall clock made her jump back out again. It was 6:50, she had exactly 15 minutes to change, shower, grab her stuff and drive to Jack's. Forget the shower She thought as she rapidly took off her jumper. I've been at a water park all day!Grabbing her pre-packed rucksack Sam jogged out of the house and opened the car door, chucking in her rucksack before climbing in. She was about to slam the door when she paused. Getting back out of the car she took a step backward to look at the wheel. Yep, as she thought, it was busted. She knelt down beside it and ran her hand over it. She must have run over something because the tire had a large jagged cut across it.
Sam stood up and stared at it. No way. No way was this happening, not now. She could put the spare wheel on but that would take ages, she was late as it was. She bit her lip angrily, not one of her powers was going to help with this.
Sam stormed back into the house and threw her rucksack on the floor. She picked up the phone and punched in Jack's number, pacing back and forward as it rang. It rang 4 or 5 times before Sam realised he wasn't there and slammed the phone down. Next she tried his cell phone, no answer except a stupid message informing her the phone she was trying to reach was off. She hung up again and glanced at her watch 6:55 damn! Janet wouldn't be home yet, and she hadn't taken her cell-phone with her. Daniel! She suddenly thought, dialling his number quickly and trying to calm herself down.
"Hello?" Daniel's voice picked up.
"Daniel! Thank god! You couldn't give me a lift could you? I need to meet Jack and my car's got a flat tire."
"Yeah, sure Sam. I'm on my way but it'll be about 10 minutes before I get there."
"I know Daniel, just hurry."
"I'm on my way." He said and hung up. Sam grabbed her rucksack and left the house, locking the door and sitting on the front porch to wait for him. She raced to the end of the street when she heard his car 9 minutes later
Daniel's car stopped with a jerk and Sam jumped out of the car, grabbing her rucksack. It was 7:13 he must have left. Sam scanned the street without much hope his car was still there, just pulling out of his drive.
"He's leaving! He's leaving, without me!" Sam exclaimed and she rounded the corner with Daniel.
"Well, freeze him then." Daniel said in a bemused voice.
"Oh. Yeah." She said with a bashful statement after freezing Jack's car.
"Okay" she said with a smile, turning back to Daniel. "I gotta go, er, bye." She said jogging after Jack's car. When she got the place where he would see her, she slowed down, and started calling his name. Jack's car returned to motion but stopped two seconds later, spying Sam. She caught up and opened the passenger door.
"Thinking of leaving without me were you?" She panted, climbing in and throwing her rucksack into the back seat. Jack's stunned statement slowly turned into a smile.
"Oh, I thought you were going to walk all the way." He grinned.
"Wow Jack! So this is the place you've kept threatening to bring me" Sam smiled as they parked and got out of the car. Jack walked up ahead to the cabin door smiling too. He knew she'd like it.
" And it only took us what, 2 hours, 15 minutes to get here?"
"Try 2 hours and a half Jack. Though it might have been 15 if you hadn't got lost."
"The cabin looks much better in daylight." He said, swiftly changing the subject as Sam closed the door after them.
"It looks fine to me now." She said, running her hand over the wooden windowsill.
"Wanna cup of coffee?" he asked, waking over to what looked like a stove
"Yeah sure. It is a bit cold in here."
"Oh, I'll go and get some wood from the back in a sec."
"I'll get it, you make the coffee." She said going back out again. Jack smiled again as the door closed. While the kettle boiled he picked up their bags, put hers in the main bedroom and his in the guest. He'd just finished pouring the coffee when Sam came back in with a pile of logs, dumping them in the fireplace. He handed her a coffee after she took of her coat.
"So, what do you wanna do tomorrow? We could do some fishing or go walking..."
"I don't care. As long as I get my smores I'm happy." Sam said, snuggling into a chair.
Jack smiled over his coffee at her, this was going to be a great weekend.
The next day had a good start. Sam's bed last night had been really comfortable and she'd woke up really relaxed and with the sunlight streaming across her room. She couldn't remember ever feeling this happy without a care in the world and suddenly laughed out loud. Jack looked over his shoulder at her.
What's so funny? She heard him think.
"Nothing, I'm just happy." She smiled, kicking up a pile of golden and brown leaves.
"If you're happy and you know it clap you're hands," Sam began and clapped her hands, "if you're happy and you know it clap you're hands. If you're happy and you know it and you really want to show it, if you're ha..." she was interrupted by Jack clamping a hand over her mouth, hissing, "Sssh!" he released her and Sam cocked her head mischievously.
"Are you worried we'll get there and the fish will be gone?" she asked innocently, as they began walking again.
"I'm worried we'll get there and the fish will be armed." Jack muttered just loud enough for Sam to here.
A half-hour later they were at the jetty, if you could call it that. It was hardly big enough for Jack's chair, his fishing stuff and her. She had so far satisfied herself by sitting on the rocks a few yards from Jack, dangling her feet in the water. Jack gave her another sharp look as she lifted a foot out of the water, sending ripples across the lake.
Sam grinned. Let him fish. He wouldn't catch anything anyway. According to Teal'c there weren't any fish in this lake anyway. She tilted her head to the sun and stretched her arms upwards.
Suddenly, strong powerful thoughts entered her mind. She gasped. She couldn't block them out, she couldn't even read them. So much strength filled with...with love. She felt dizzy, ad mentally, as well as physically began to fall. Finally she hit the water, it was cold, so cold and slowly, everything dimmed and the thoughts, even her own, became silent.
Sam opened her eyes and found herself in an uncomfortable bed that she defiantly didn't remember falling asleep in. in fact, she didn't remember where she had gone to sleep.
"She's awake." She heard Janet's voice say as she pushed herself up into sitting position.
"Janet?" she asked
"Yes Sam it's me. How are you feeling?" Janet said. Sam squinting as a light was shone into her eyes.
"Um ok I guess. Why am I in the infirmary?" The light was clicked off but Janet didn't answer the question.
"What's the last thing you remember? " Jack said from the other side of her. She hadn't noticed he, or the rest of her team, were there, until just then.
"You sliding down that hill on your ass!" she said with a wicked grin.
"U-huh. That was a week ago Major." He said. Sam's smile dropped.
"It's ok Sam, the Numan children said this would happen." Daniel began, kneeling down beside her. "Now it's like remembering a dream. Remember, we were given a week's downtime. We played poker at Jack's house..."
"Yeah! I just beat you guys big time. God I can't believe I forgot."
"Then you accompanied Colonel O'Neill up to his cabin." Teal'c said as if telling a story.
"We got there and you went and got some wood. The next morning we went to the lake..." Jack said, joining in
"Yeah, you told me off for singing cause... cause I'd scare the fish!" she laughed.
"You told her off for singing?" Daniel quizzed Jack sceptically.
"Well, not told off exactly..." Jack began .
"O'Neill, I again remind you that I believe there are no fish in that lake."
"Um guys, this isn't really helping Sam" Janet interrupted.
"No, it is. The Lake, yeah, I was by the lake, and... and I don't know what happened. A rush of really strong thoughts, emotions."
While her eyes gazed into the distance trying to recover what the thoughts were, Daniel looked over at Jack, he had a very worried look came across his face face. Sam sighed.
"I... I don't know what they were but they were so strong, I... I must have blacked out. God, I can't believe that just happened! It's like for a while I couldn't even remember having my powers on earth.
"Well you don't anymore." Jack said softly. "Do you think you'll miss them?"
"No. I rather like hearing only my thoughts. I will miss that freezing power though. And the telekinesis. That could've saved a lot time and energy I guess."
"Cassie will miss them too!" laughed Janet.
"Well I for one are glad you can't hear what I think anymore. I don't have to watch what I think." Jack said with a smile.
"Ya think?" Daniel teased with a wicked grin.
"Shut it space monkey," Jack said.
"Well Sam, you seem physically healthy. You're free to go home." Janet said with a smile
"I think this calls for a party!" Jack exclaimed
"Yeah?" Sam asked "why?"
"When someone says this calls for a party Sam, just agree! Any reason's a good reason!" Jack said. Teal'c frowned.
"I do not believe this is true O'Neill. On many occasions..." Teal'C was cut off by Jack.
"Nevermind Teal'c. C'mon help us with the decorations."
"See you later Sam!" Daniel called as they began walking out of the infirmary.
"Wait a minute!" She called. "What time? And where? I don't have a car!"
"My place in a few hours. Janet, could you give her a lift."
"Sure." Janet smiled. Turning back to Sam she glanced at her watch. "I'll be done here in about an hour or so. How about we head back to my place and get ready then?"
"That'd be great." Sam said, watching the guys walked off.
Teal'c informed them that he'd meet them there in half an hour as he had some things to do. Neither of them were quite sure what it was he had to do but Nevermind. As Jack and Daniel entered the lift their laughing died down. There was brief silence until Daniel turned towards Jack.
"Jack. Were those... I mean, what were you thinking about just before Sam fell?" he asked. Jack swallowed and looked guiltily at the floor.
"Jack?"
"Oh, C'mon Danny I know you know. I was thinking about how god damn beautiful she looked so relaxed. And how much I flippin love her! Ok? So it's my fault!"
Daniel was silent. He had expected that answer but not in such a violent outburst. He had wanted Jack to admit he loved her but was surprised at the strength of it.
"Jack, what are you gonna do if she remembers?"
"I dunno. I really dunno. Do you think it'll be a big problem? Will she hate me?"
"No" said Daniel carefully. "No, I don't think that'll be the case. In fact, I think it'd be the opposite."
Jack frowned, hardly daring to believe what Daniel was suggesting could be true.
"So, you think she likes me?"
"Trust me when I say ya-ha."
"Are you sure? Cause Daniel I can't afford you to be wrong here, I..."
"Jack! Would you just shut up and listen to me. It's unbelievable that you have all this military training and you can't see what's right in front of you and obvious to everybody else. She loves you."
The lift doors opened and they didn't have a chance to talk anymore. However Jack threw Daniel many grateful a grin as they got the preparations for the party ready.
"Daniel Jackson, I do not understand the purpose of these 'party poppers'." Teal'c said. Holding one between his thumb and forefinger and examining it. Daniel grinned and walked over to Teal'c, taking the party popper off him.
"It's like a very small explosion that sends the contents flying out." Daniel demonstrated by pulling the string and the contents flying out. Teal'c looked thoughtful for a second and then smiled, picking up another party popper.
When Janet and Sam arrived the first thing that happened was Teal'c opening the door with a huge smile on his face.
"Hello Major... Hello Sam. Have a party popper." Teal'c said with a smile. Sam laughed as she stepped past him and took her first look at the house.
"Okay guys, I think you may have over-done it a little on the party poppers." Sam said with a laugh. Party poppers were strewn...everywhere. On the lights, the curtains, the chairs and both the tables, even in the Kitchen and over the T.V.
"Um yeah, Teal'c kinda liked those." Daniel apologised from the table where he stood putting out bottles of beer.
"So, do you like it?" Jack asked, gesturing the rest of the decorations. There was a banner across the entrance to the kitchen saying "Welcome back normal Sam!" written with lots of glitter and colours, balloon's taped to the corners of the room and the kitchen and living room table where covered in sweets, cakes and drinks. Sam smiled as she looked around the room.
"This is great you guys. You really didn't have to do this. It's not that big a deal."
"Yeah we know but we wanted to. And besides, it's been far to long since we had a party!" Jack said shrugging it off. The rest of the evening went like any other of their parties. A lot of drinking, too much eating and loud music even cards at one point. Jack obviously had over estimated his limit and started feeling queasy around 9:00. The others had a thoroughly good time all evening.
The next morning Jack woke to find Sam nestled in his arms. He smiled down at her savouring the moment. The rising sunlight danced across her face making her look more beautiful and innocent than ever.
Jack wound his memory back to last night, of which he had a very clear recollection. He had stuffed himself on chocolate and crisps and as a result spent half the night emptying the contents of this stomach into the loo. At the very mention of beer he had ran for the toilet again. He had gone to bed early and Sam; obviously looking for a bed to kip in had shared his.
For nearly two whole seconds her eyes were filled with nothing but love and happiness. Until the reality that she was in bed with her commanding office sank in and she leaped out of bed like a cat out of water. She stood nervously at the end of the bed making hand gestures between her and Jack and then to the bed.
"I.... Err...W...what happened, d...did we..." she stammered.
"No. Nothing happened." Jack interrupted, looking at her concerned. He sat up so he was on his knees looking at her and added with a quieter and gentler tone. "Would it be so bad if we had?"
"Yes!" she exclaimed. "Yes it would. You're... you're my CO, and, and..."
"Would you listen to me for a moment." He said, moving to the edge of the bed and gently holding her by the shoulders. "Please. Forgetting regulations for just a second, would it have been a bad thing. I need to know."
Jack's face was inches from her and she looked down, avoiding his eyes.
"Jack, it still would. That kind of thing is a very big deal to me. I couldn't, I mean it couldn't be a causal fling for me."
"That's what you think this is for me! Sam I can't believe you'd think that. I'm not that sort of person, and you mean too much to me." Jack stopped, for once not lost for words but just trying to choose the right ones to express his feelings.
" There are some mornings where you are the only reason I get up, just to see you smile or laugh at one of my stupid jokes. God Sam, I love you."
Sam looked at him, her eyes full with tears she was trying desperately to keep back. She looked deep into his eyes, searching for the confirmation she needed.
"Sam, I wish you could still read my mind so that you could believe me."
"I don't have to be psychic to know what you're thinking. I do believe you Jack." She said, tears now flowing freely down her face. She took that final step into his arms and rested her head on his shoulder. "I love you too."
THE END!
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