A/N: Ready for the grand finale? Heads up, it's a long one!

"No!" she nearly shouted. His face remained a blank mask – no reaction to her answer at all – and Sam hated that she couldn't tell what he was thinking. She rubbed her forehead as she tried to calm herself. "Well, actually, I don't know. I haven't taken it yet."

"Why the hell not?" Jack exclaimed, his mask falling as his emotions got the best of him. "Is it mine?" He asked the only question that had been going through his mind since seeing that box and learning about her breakup from Shanahan only fueled that need – even though he wasn't sure he wanted to know the answer. His heart was pounding as she seemed to take forever before giving him an answer.

Sam nervously smoothed her hands down her legs, gnawing her lip under his intense scrutiny. She shrugged slightly, wondering what she was going to do if she was pregnant with his baby. He looked so angry with her! "I-"

"God, you don't even know!"

"No! I mean, wait… Jack, just let me explain," she urged him in a pleading tone. Why did he keep jumping to conclusions? He hardly gave her any time to explain! "I'm on birth control. After we, um… were cured, Janet explained what had happened."

He nodded, remembering something similar from when he woke up. "Yeah, go on."

"She gave me emergency contraception." When he kept staring at her, she squeezed his arm reassuringly and continued. "The morning after pill, okay? It was just a precaution because of my elevated hormone levels and the effects of the virus. She just wanted to cover all our bases."

"And…?"

Sam shrugged indifferently. "She gave me the test two days ago, just another precaution."

"Why haven't you taken it yet?" Jack asked, feeling a lot calmer with her explanation.

"I have to wait a few more days, otherwise it'll be negative no matter what."

"Oh, I see." He turned around and paced the living room, unsure if he wanted to continue this line of questioning. To think he'd been worried about coming over to talk about his feelings, now his entire world was turned upside down! Carter could be pregnant and she was leaving the SGC! "Have you had your… um," he coughed awkwardly. "Are you late?"

She shook her head and turned back to the fireplace. "Janet said the drug delays or inhibits ovulation which can result in delayed menstruation."

"Ah," Jack mumbled, looking at her lonely figure. He strode over to join her and stuffed his hands in his pockets, giving her a sideway glance. "So it could be mine."

"If, against all odds, I got pregnant, yes," Sam reluctantly admitted. Looking at him, she frowned as his only reaction was a simple nod. She didn't know what she'd expected from him, but it wasn't this. Gnawing her lip, she leaned down and added a log to the fire. "Pete and I used a condom," she added in a soft tone, embarrassed about having to reveal such intimate details about her personal life to him.

Shocked at her revelation, Jack stared at her but she was looking into the fire so he couldn't see her face. That meant if she had gotten pregnant it would be his child… God, he couldn't remember the times he'd dreamed about someday being with Carter and maybe starting a family, but not like this! He wasn't completely old-fashioned, but he knew this wouldn't be a good start for a relationship. Hell, who was he kidding? Carter hadn't mentioned anything about a relationship and she didn't exactly seem thrilled at the prospect of being pregnant. Remembering her earlier comment about her breakup, he frowned. "Is that why Shannon broke off the engagement?"

"No."

"No?" he echoed. "I find that hard to belief."

Sam glared up at him and straightened, walking over to the patio doors to look out into the garden despite the darkness. "I didn't tell him."

Jack raised a skeptical eyebrow. "You didn't tell him about what happened, that you could be pregnant because of it or that the kid couldn't be his?"

"Yes." She grimaced and nodded slowly, one simple answer for all three options. "Besides, Janet said there was a very small chance I'd actually conceived."

Confused by her answer, he stepped up behind her so he could see her face via her reflection. "Wait, you didn't tell him anything? Why not?" His brows knitted together as he kept his eyes locked on hers. Relief welled up in him knowing the odds, but there was also a tiny jab of regret… he loved kids, but he'd already lost one and he couldn't go through that again. Not to mention that he didn't want to be responsible for screwing up Carter's career, hell her whole life. But the thought of having a baby with Carter was still somewhere in the back of his mind, locked away because it could never happen.

"What happened is classified."

Jack felt his anger ebb at the resigned tone of her voice and let out a deep sigh. His hands were already coming up before he realized what he was doing. Instead of wrapping his arms around her instinctively, he settled with a soft squeeze of her shoulders before letting his hands hang by his side. He knew she was a by-the-book officer and a stickler for rules most of the time, but he hadn't expected her to keep something like this from Shanahan. Especially not after the cop managed to get minimum security clearance after the stunt he pulled with their Osiris op last year. "Then why?"

"I broke off the engagement." Sam shrugged and turned around. Startled by how close he was, she brushed past him to give herself more space. Walking over to the kitchen, she grabbed a glass and filled it with water.

"Why?"

After taking a gulp of water to settle her nerves, she leaned on the counter. "What does it matter?"

"It matters," Jack countered. "Just tell me, Carter." Seeing her shake her head, he sighed and entered the kitchen, leaning on the other side of the counter. "I don't want you to suffer because I couldn't control myself."

"No it's not," she replied. "We both were infected thus equally responsible and I came to you. Besides," Sam shrugged and set her glass next to his forgotten mug of hot chocolate. "It doesn't matter, it's not because of what happened."

"C'mon, you were going to get married to him, don't throw that away because of what happened," he urged her with a thick voice. God, he loved her and he wanted her to be happy, even if that meant she'd get married to the cop. As if crossing the line with her wasn't enough, now she was giving up on her desire for a life because of his lack of self-control. Even if what Doc Fraiser had said was true and Carter wasn't pregnant, he'd still screwed up her life! "You'll finally get that normal life you always wanted, have a family…"

Throwing up her hands in frustration, Sam walked past him. "Who says I want that? You were the one who was always telling me to get a life!"

"And you were happy with the cop," Jack argued as he followed her. "He made you hum for crying out loud!"

Sam swiveled on her feet and glared at him. "Is that what this is about?" She couldn't believe he was pushing her to get back together with Pete. He had been the last thing on her mind these past few days, instead she couldn't stop thinking about what it was like to be with Jack. If anything, he'd made her purr and her blood zing! Maybe she was wrong and he didn't feel that way about her anymore. Against her better judgment she'd hoped his reaction to what had happened between them meant he still cared about her, that maybe he returned her inappropriate feelings. Apparently not, so maybe it was a good thing she'd asked for the transfer.

"Carter, you had a good thing going with him, why throw it away just because of a little bit of alien influence?"

She let out a humorless chuckle and shook her head in disbelief. It hurt to hear him talk like that about what had happened, because it had meant so much to her. "Not that it's any of your business," she replied defensively, "but I've thought about this long and hard… I shouldn't have accepted Pete's proposal in the first place. There was something missing in our relationship and I didn't love him the way I should," Sam elaborated. She refrained from telling him about the house or that her feelings for Pete were overshadowed by her inappropriate feelings for him. Frustrated with their conversation, she glared at him. "I don't have to explain myself to you."

"True," Jack conceded with a shrug, realizing he wasn't going to get anything else from her about this subject. If he was honest, he wasn't sure he wanted to. Secretly he was happy that she'd broken it off with the cop, but he feared she was doing it for the wrong reasons. It wasn't like Carter to give up without a fight or run away when things got tough. Yet, that's exactly what it looked like right now; as if she'd dumped Shanahan so she didn't have to tell him about what had happened or wait until she'd done the pregnancy test. Then again, she was a big girl who could take care of herself. If she didn't want to be with Shanahan anymore, who was he to argue with her? He chose to ignore the way his heart had skipped a beat when she confessed to not loving the cop and decided to forge ahead with the other major change in their lives. "What about your transfer?"

"What about it?" She countered, looking at him with a puzzled frown confused by the sudden change of subject.

"Another precaution?" he questioned, a hint of anger coloring his tone. "A preemptive strike in case you are pregnant? With my kid."

Sam shook her head in denial. "No. I just… I don't know how to deal with this," she waved her hand around, trying to encompass their situation. Her anger deflated and she just felt weary. Everything was taking its toll on her and she didn't want to argue with him! No, she had wanted to talk about this and try to explain her decision without giving away too much of her emotional turmoil.

The sadness in her voice tugged on his heart and Jack swallowed hard, trying to keep his emotions in check before he did something stupid. But the idea of her fleeing the state was affecting him more than he wanted to admit, especially if by some fluke she was pregnant and took his kid away! "Carter–"

"We can't even talk to each other," she continued, glancing at the floor. "I don't know how to go back to working together, being friends after everything that's happened."

"Oy," Jack murmured, scrubbing a hand over his face before plopping down on the couch. "I never meant to hurt you, Carter and-"

Looking up, she walked over and sat down next to him. "You didn't hurt me."

"Could have fooled me," he mumbled full of self-loathing and gestured at her fading bruises.

"I know you would never purposely hurt me," she elaborated, awkwardly squeezing his good knee in an attempt to reassure him.

Pleasantly surprised at her gesture, Jack patted her hand before he leaned back in the couch. Maybe she was right and they could salvage their friendship? "I understand though," he admitted, speaking from his own experience; after all, he had a hard time forgetting about what had happened too and couldn't stop thinking about her. "But I don't want your career to suffer from this. I'll contact Hammond, I'll retire."

"No!"

"Carter, you're doing a great job commanding SG-1 and there's no doubt in my mind you'll be commanding the SGC in a few years. I don't even like my job, I hate flying a desk and pushing paper around. I retired before, I can do it again."

She threw him a skeptical look and leaned back too, resting her head in her neck. "You'll be bored out of your mind in a month. Besides, General Hammond and the President will never agree to it, you're needed at the SGC."

"So are you," he countered. He was starting to feel at ease with her again as they fell back in their old routine, with one exception; she hadn't called him 'Sir' since he'd entered the house and it hadn't gone unnoticed by him. She'd actually called him by his name once. Not to mention that her behavior towards him wasn't anything like a junior officer towards their superior. Like they weren't bound by rules and regulations, simply equals arguing over something personal. Despite it changing the status quo, he liked it, a lot – or maybe too much.

"I can help from Area 51, make you some big honking space guns," Sam joked.

Enjoying their camaraderie, Jack shot her a lopsided grin before throwing his arm over his eyes. "God, I don't know, Carter." His nerves had settled but he was still feeling apprehensive about everything. He understood what she was trying to do and agreed with it at some level, but he also knew his feelings for her complicated matters. For him at least.

"Something has to change," she insisted, shifting in her seat to tuck her feet under her and turn towards him. "I can't just forget and act like nothing happened."

"Changing states will help you forget?" He asked despite himself.

Sam glared at him in annoyance and sat up. Why was he making this so hard? It wasn't that she wanted to leave, but it was the only option. "At least I won't have to act like nothing happened. No one will be watching me, waiting for me to slip up."

Jack's hand shot out when she started getting up. "I'm sorry," he apologized, tugging on her wrist to keep her on the couch. "I understand how hard this is." The reason he knew was because he felt the same, only he was afraid that he would slip up and do something stupid to ruin her career or mess up her life more than he already had. "But why Nevada?"

"Area 51 has wanted me for years."

He snorted, tempted to say he felt the same but he couldn't. "So?"

She shrugged helplessly, her eyes glued to the fingers still wrapped around her wrist. "It gives me the opportunity to do more research, work more on the alien technology we brought back through the 'gate without having to risk my life on a daily basis. Besides, Janet might feel a bit more comfortable with Cassie going to university there if I'm near."

"You'll also get command of Stargate R&D," Jack added, recalling the paperwork he'd seen as he doubted reassuring Doc Fraiser was her priority. "You're sure about this?" When she nodded, he let out a deep sigh. Of course she had thought it through, this was Carter after all. "Okay."

"Just like that?" Sam questioned with a small frown. It wasn't that she'd expected him to beg or declare his undying love for her, but Jack O'Neill wasn't known for his easy acceptance.

He tightened his grip on her briefly and gave her a small smile. "There's nothing I can do to stop you," he shrugged, before turning serious. "Look Carter, if transferring will help you deal, then so be it. I don't want to traumatize you any further by–"

Startled that he would even think such a thing, she pulled back. "That's not what I meant, you didn't–"

"–keeping you at the SGC," Jack continued, ignoring her interruption. "Where you'll have to continue working with me and-"

"Jack!" Sam cried, punching his shoulder to get his attention.

He was shocked but easily caught her fist and held it. "Carter, what the hell?"

"Now will you listen to me?" She scowled at him.

Jack swallowed hard but gave her an almost imperceptible nod. It was the least he could do. "Yeah."

Sam took a deep breath as she tried to muster up the courage to explain what she'd actually meant. Feeling the scrutiny from his dark orbs, she lowered her gaze and noticed he was still holding her hand on his lap. She smiled sheepishly at the sight of his tanned hand securing her fist, almost as if he expected her to hit him again. "Do you think if I was traumatized by being around you, I'd be sitting here?"

He frowned as he took in her words. "Well, I didn't give you much choice by waltzing in here."

"Jack," she sighed and rolled her eyes in exasperation. Why was he being so stubborn? He knew her and therefore he had to know that if she really didn't want to see him she wouldn't have let him inside her house – commanding officer or not, she could still slam the door in his face. It was almost as if he wanted her to hate him for what had happened, but she knew she couldn't. She surprised herself though by how easily his name rolled off her lips. "We already went over this and established that neither of us is to blame for what happened. It wasn't," she took a fortifying breath, "it wasn't rape. We were both willing participants and I won't let you blame yourself over this."

"Carter, you came to me for help and I took advantage of you," he replied irritably.

Snorting, Sam cast him a disbelieving glance. "I think we both know my mindset was… um, of a more primitive nature," she blushed and looked away. "Why do you keep beating yourself up over this, it happened and now we have to move on."

"Because there are consequences," Jack replied, heaving a sigh. "And you're bearing the brunt of it." Seeing she was about to reply, he held up his free hand to stop her. "Carter, you've broken off your engagement and requested a transfer to a different state, for crying out loud! Not to mention that you could be pregnant."

She squirmed on the couch, her mind racing light-years a minute to find a way to explain her actions without giving too much away. "I won't deny that the… incident caused me to reevaluate certain things, but it also made me realize that Pete wasn't right for me, that I couldn't marry him. As for the transfer, I can use a change in pace after being shot at for almost eight years on a daily basis."

Jack huffed at her explanation and reached in his pocket with his free hand. "What about this?" He asked, holding up her engagement ring. He tried to keep the pain over what it symbolized off his face and out of his voice, but he couldn't help feel it. Of the few times he'd dared to imagine showing Samantha Carter an engagement ring, this definitely wasn't one of the scenarios.

"I guess I don't need it anymore," Sam whispered with a wistful smile. She wasn't sure if the melancholy she experienced was because of yet another failed engagement or because of the man in front of her. Never in a million times had she imagined she would be able to hurt the great and irreverent Jack O'Neill, but she couldn't mistake the pain in his eyes. That realization shook her to the core… did that mean he still cared about her? Was there still a chance for them? She locked her eyes on his and made a dismissive gesture with her hand towards the object.

"What, I'm not keeping it," he replied as he tried to unclench her fist and return the item in her palm. "It's not really my style, too gaudy," he joked, trying to inject some levity in their current situation. "Too bad you're transferring to Area 51, otherwise you could have pawned it off-world. I'm sure Ba'al or one of his few remaining cousins would love it."

Despite herself she giggled and took the ring from him. Leaning over, she tossed it on the table. She would figure out what to do with it later on, maybe send it back to Pete or something. Right now that wasn't really her concern, her main focus was – and would probably always be – on Jack O'Neill. "Jack, I'm trying to be serious here," she protested, trying to sound stern.

"I know," Jack said softly, casting his eyes to his lap. His fingers were still holding hers, almost like they were holding hands… "You know I'm no good at this talking stuff, Carter."

Gnawing her lip, Sam came to a decision. "Then just listen," she told him, before entwining her fingers with his.

Surprised at her gesture, he couldn't form a reply even if he wanted to so he just nodded and squeezed her fingers. Listen, he could do that; he could listen to her for days!

"What I meant was that since we've, um… been intimate," she cleared her throat awkwardly, suddenly unsure of how to proceed now that she had his attention. Daring a glance in his direction, she realized he felt awkward and uncomfortable as well. He was frowning and looked a bit flushed, which Sam thought was a cute look combined with his wayward hair. Focus Samantha, she told herself. "Since then, I just don't know… I don't know how to act around you," she finally confessed in one breath. "Not because you hurt me," she was quick to tell him when he frowned and abashedly looked away. "We were both more than willing… anyway, we crossed a line and I don't know how to go back. Back to being your 2IC and a friend after we, eh, had sex."

Jack sighed and dragged his hand through his hair in frustration as she was rambling. "Carter-"

"Let me finish," Sam berated him. When he fell silent and motioned for her to proceed, she was at a loss for words. So far she had only been thinking about talking to him about this and getting him to shut up and listen, but she hadn't planned ahead to when he would actually listen. "I'm supposed to keep my personal and professional life separate," she finally continued, her brows knitted together as she racked her brain for an explanation. "I don't know how to keep them separate anymore, to keep from crossing that line. It's as if the line disappeared together with the virus and now it's gone, and I don't know what to do."

Unsure of what to say – if he was even allowed to speak – Jack kept quiet, waiting for her to take a deep breath and calm the heck down, because she was rambling and not making a lot of sense. Their infection must have really shook her because he'd never seen her like this, so… unsure of herself and almost a bit panicked for lack of a better word.

"Every time I look at you, I'm reminded of what happened," she whispered, staring off in the distance. "I can't sleep because it all comes back in my dreams and I have a hard time focusing…"

"Carter," Jack hushed her when she nearly sobbed as her voice trailed off. His feelings for her were rising to the surface at seeing her so distraught, close to losing control and he wanted to comfort her. "C'mere," he murmured, sliding his free hand around the back of her neck and tugging on her fingers with the other until she fell in his embrace. After a few seconds of awkwardness she nearly melted against him. He dipped his head in her neck, burying his nose in her hair as she tried to regain control of herself. Despite her earlier reassurances, he still felt guilty especially now that she was nearly sobbing in his arms. He couldn't imagine what was going through her head because he'd never seen her like this and yet he was sure he was the cause of it. But why would she let him hold her if he upset her so much? It made no sense to him at all, but he enjoyed their embrace too much to pull back already.

Sam buried her face in his chest, one hand clutching his sweater while the other was still holding his. "I can't forget how it felt, what you tasted like and… how right it felt."

"Wait, what?" He tensed, wondering if he'd misunderstood her muffled voice. She tightened her hold on him and pressed herself even closer to his body, which, admittedly, felt good but he was still confused. "Carter?"

"Remember the… zatarc detector?"

Jack nodded, feeling a sense of doom rise at the memory. He'd been forced to confess he'd rather die than lose her, because he cared about her. A lot more than he was supposed to. "Yeah…"

Sam swallowed down her embarrassment and tried to hide her burning cheeks in his sweater. "Remember what I said?" Closing her eyes as she awaited his reply, she became aware of his heart pounding in his chest.

"Always," he murmured, after straining his ears to hear her softly spoken words. He'd never forget her admission. Even if they had agreed – well, she had suggested it and so he went along – to leave it in the room, he had been unable to keep her words from being etched in his memory, in his heart… Taking a deep breath, he was about to say something when she beat him to it.

"I still feel that way."

Jack's eyebrows nearly reached his hairline in shock at her whispered confession. "What, Carter?" He grabbed her arms and pulled her off him so he could look at her face. A flush had spread over her neck and face, but her eyes were closed and her mouth set in straight line of resignation.

"I know," Sam mumbled, feeling his eyes on her but unable to look at him. "I shouldn't. But I thought I could handle it and I did!" She opened her eyes and found herself mesmerized by his dark orbs, so close to hers. "But then this… this virus came along and I don't know anymore."

His hands came up to cup her face as she shook her head. "Carter, shh. Calm down."

"I can't," she exclaimed, trying to pull away from his grasp. "I can't stop these, these… these inappropriate feelings. I don't want to feel them, but I can't help it!"

"Sam," Jack reached for her arm to keep her from walking away.

She tried to avoid his grip to get off the couch. "Now everything has been ruined!"

"What?" He barked in confusion and pulled her back before she made a run for it.

"I can't undo what happened and I can't forget," Sam elaborated before he tugged on her arm and she lost her momentum.

Jack fell back against the couch, the air expelled from his lungs as Carter fell on his chest. "Oomph!" Out of instinct his arms wrapped around her, keeping her sprawled form on top of him. "Sam," he panted, trying to breathe in some air. "Stop struggling," Jack ordered as soon as he could form two words. Her writhing body on top of his was not doing anything for his blood pressure and he could already feel himself responding to her closeness. "Talk to me, damn it."

"I was," she gritted through her teeth, her hands on his chest as she tried to keep still. "Just let me go."

"Promise not to run?" He questioned as he loosened his hold on her. Her response betrayed her though and before she could climb off him, he'd rolled them over on her small couch thanks to his special ops training. "Carter," Jack reverted back to the name he usually called her since she didn't seem to respond to her given one. At least, not when it came out of his mouth. Or maybe she was too distressed to notice it. "Just, take a deep breath and calm down," he suggested as he hovered above her, using his hands to keep his weight off her. It was a better position than the previous one for his ribs and there was less physical contact, although he already missed her body heat.

Sam turned her face away, her blood already zinging with his nearness and desire streaming through her veins. "I wasn't going to run. I just need some space," she mumbled, pushing gently against his chest to get him to move.

"Really?"

Hearing his skeptical tone, she narrowed her eyes and glared at him. "Yes, really. This is my house after all."

Jack simply arched an eyebrow in response and made no move. "Carter, talk to me."

"No," she protested lamely. God, what had she done? "I already said too much."

"No you haven't," he argued, leaning his weight on one arm to grasp her chin with his free hand. "Carter?"

Taking a deep breath, Sam looked at him and decided she might as well finish it. "What happened in your quarters… I don't know, I just can't stomp my feelings down anymore. After I was cured, I realized I still felt the same for you if not more but now that we've had sex I can't deny it anymore."

Jack's heart skipped a beat at her confession before it started pounding loudly. He couldn't believe what she was saying! Did that mean…? His mind was going in overdrive as he tried to process all the things she'd told him. "But-"

"I can't report to you anymore," Sam told him in an even tone. Now that she'd gotten it all off her chest she felt her control returning. She still felt embarrassed at her behavior and her confession, but at least she didn't have to pretend anymore. Up until this moment she hadn't realized how much energy it had taken her to suppress her feelings for him. "I had no choice but to request a transfer," she concluded.

He nodded slowly at her words, understanding sinking in. But he still couldn't comprehend what she'd said about her feelings for him. "I know," he blurted out. Frowning at himself, Jack wondered what the hell he was doing. He couldn't tell her what was on his mind or how he felt about her, instead he should leave. Now!

As she was watching the emotions flitter over his face, Sam finally understood. He meant it because he felt the same! It made sense now, his earlier behavior and how he'd tried to take the blame for everything. He felt guilty because he'd wanted it too… he'd enjoyed it as much as she had. Because of his position as base commander he'd kept his distance and tried to sweep it under the carpet. At first she'd thought it was because he didn't care about her but now she started to suspect that he'd done it because he cared about her. "Jack…"

"No," he shook his head. "I should go, this was a bad idea."

"Don't!" Sam cried out, grasping his upper arms with her hands to keep him in place. "I love you, Jack O'Neill," she whispered as she held his gaze.

Jack swallowed hard and tried to ignore the joy he felt at her words, to suppress his longing and the desire he felt for her. "Carter, don't… you can't-"

"I can," she stated calmly. Digging her nails in his arms, she lifted her head and pressed her lips against his. Before he could pull away she wrapped her arm around his shoulders and slid one hand in his hair to keep him in place.

"No," he mumbled against her mouth. But before he could do anything, her lips were moving against his and then her tongue peeked out… "Oh fuck," he growled when her hips moved against him.

Sam took the opportunity and thrust her tongue inside his mouth as she brought her leg up to his hip. "Jack, please," she mumbled between kisses.

Finally giving in, he responded and ground against her while his tongue dueled with hers. She tasted so sweet and god, her body fit his like it was made for him. "Sam," he whispered, breaking off the kiss. "Samantha…"

"Don't stop," she whimpered, nuzzling his neck. "I love you."

Jack's control was slipping and all he could think about was making her his. Making love to her the way he'd always wanted to, instead of going at it like a couple of primitives. "We can't," he forced himself to say as he dropped his forehead on her shoulder.

"Yes, we can," Sam mumbled as she pressed a kiss against his temple. "Remember? I can't report to you anymore," she reminded him of her earlier words. It had hit her the moment she told him. "I report to General Hammond starting Monday."

"You sure?" He asked breathlessly, holding on to his control even as her hips continued to roll against his.

She bobbed her head and gestured towards the coffee table. "Check the paperwork…"

"Fuck the paperwork," Jack growled, trusting her on her word. "You're sure about this?"

Sam was about to get up and show him the papers, until she looked into his eyes. He was asking her if she was sure about them. "Never been surer of anything in my life," she smiled.

"Good." Her megawatt smile stole his breath away, making him grin in kind as he rose up on his knees. Reaching out his arm, he grabbed her hand to pull her up. "I want to do this right. Besides, my ribs are killing me."

"Holy Hannah, I almost forgot!" Sam's hand immediately reached for his bruised ribs when she stood, but he caught it against his chest.

"Bedroom, Samantha," Jack whispered with a twinkle in his eyes.

Lying on the bed, Sam held his naked body close to her. His weight pressed her back in the mattress, the cool linen underneath her a welcoming contrast to his body heat. She let her hands slide down his back, careful not to bump against his ribs with her arms. Her eyes fluttered close as his mouth trailed kissed down her neck. She gasped when he nipped on her pulse point and she could feel him smile against her overheated skin. His fingers brushed up and down her side, leaving goose bumps in their wake. She shuddered when he shifted in her arms, his hips grinding against hers. Lifting her legs she opened herself further for him as he continued kissing a path down her body. "Jack, please," she pleaded.

Jack reverently licked and kissed all the marks he'd left on her body, trying to soothe her pain. "So sorry," he mumbled against her skin, over and over again as he reached a new one.

Sam was barely aware of her surroundings, only the feel of him. His touch, his delicious scent and the way he tasted. It made her head spin, blood racing through her body and it was heard to hear anything besides her pounding heart. She kneaded the muscles in his lower back, before sliding her hands lower and cupping his ass. "Jack," she pulled him closer. "Make love to me."

Opening his heavy-lidded eyes, he found her dark blue orbs staring back at him. He smirked, moving up her body to capture her lips with his. His tongue slipped inside her mouth, exploring, tasting. Her warm skin, her taste and the delicious vanilla body lotion mixed with her Carter scent was driving him wild. But he reined in his desires as he'd promised himself that he wouldn't hurt her again. Slowly but surely his hand cupped her breast, kneading the firm mound before his fingers toyed with her hardened nipple. He remembered everything that had happened between them when they'd been infected and he knew what she liked, he just had to be gentle this time. The soft little whimpers his fingers elicited from her made him harden even further, his body restless and in need for more contact.

As he ground harder against her, Sam gasped. Her legs tightening around his hips as she tried to pull him in. Her breathing became labored when he sucked a nipple in her mouth, her hands moving restlessly over his back. "More," she moaned, rubbing herself against his erection. The friction of their heated flesh fueled her arousal further and she slipped her hand to the back of his neck to steer his ministrations. Jolts of arousal went straight to her core as he switched to her other breast and his hand slid up her thigh.

Jack groaned when he felt how wet she already was, his own arousal nearly overwhelming him. His fingers slipped through her folds, reacquainting himself with her sensitive flesh. "Okay?" He murmured, unsure if she was still sore from their previous escapades since he could remember how rough he'd been with her.

"Yesss," Sam hissed as his finger circled her opening. Although she was a bit apprehensive as to how it would be with him inside of her, his caresses felt amazing.

Following her lead, he brushed his cock through her folds and nuzzled his way up her neck. His tongue darted out when he reached her ear, teasingly dipping in and out before he kissed his way to her mouth. "Sam," he whispered, waiting for her to open her eyes and look at him. "I love you, Samantha Carter."

She swallowed hard against the swell of emotions his declaration evoked, his brown eyes dark and intense. Willing her to believe. "I know." She kissed him again and reached down between their bodies. "I love you too, Jack."

He smiled at her, leaning to the side as her hand moved lower and lower. Jack's eyes fluttered close when her fingers wrapped around his erection and he fought to keep himself from thrusting in her hand. He still couldn't believe this was happening, that he was really here with Carter – Samantha – without the influence of an alien virus. And she loved him! "You're so beautiful," he gasped in awe as his eyes roamed over her body. Pressing another kiss on her lips, he slipped his hand back and opened her further.

Sam easily guided him to her opening, her back arching when she felt him enter her. "Oh God."

Thrusting deeper inside her, Jack groaned as her inner muscles fluttered to accommodate him. His free hand brushed a few blonde strands out of her face, before his fingers tangled in the golden locks. Catching her mouth with his own, he swallowed her low moan as he thrust again. "So good," he murmured against her lips.

"More," she urged him, locking her ankles behind his back. His head dropped to her shoulder and she tipped her head back to give him more room. Sam was lost in the throes of passion as she rocked with him, the only thing she was aware of was their harsh breathing, his mumbled sweet nothings against her neck and how perfect he felt thrusting in and out of her.

He was losing himself inside of her and he briefly wondered why they had waited so long before making love properly. But all thoughts left his mind when she clenched around him. He knew she was close, by the way her body responded and the soft little mews that escaped her lips. Blindly using his fingers, Jack stroked her little bundle of nerves as he pulled out of her nearly completely before thrusting back in. "Sam," he gasped.

Arching her back, she ground against him and pushed her breasts against his broad chest. Her sensitive nipples were on fire as he moved over her and Sam felt liked she was about to explode when he pushed down on her clit. Suddenly, her orgasm ripped through her body. "Jaaaack!"

Jack growled as she came, her inner muscles pulling on him. He picked up his pace, thrusting harder as he drove for his own release. Latching onto her neck with his teeth, he muffled the scream from his climax as his hips jerked and he spilled himself inside of her. "Wow," he mumbled after a few seconds.

Sam giggled softly, her arms and legs still cradling his body. "Yeah," she agreed, still a bit breathless.

Reluctantly, he slipped out of her and rolled on his back. He smirked and pressed a kiss on her temple when she immediately curled into his side. Jack was enjoying their post-orgasmic haze until he remembered what had led up to this. She was still leaving! "When is your transfer?"

"Not sure," she frowned and cuddled closer. "General Hammond said it would probably be a couple of weeks," Sam reluctantly elaborated. Reaching down, she pulled the covers over them and closed her eyes. Her cheek was resting on his chest and her leg thrown over his leg, as she hoped he'd let the subject rest so she could enjoy this moment.

Jack nodded, looking down at her but only seeing the top of her blonde head. "Your own command of an entire department," he said slowly, when he suddenly recalled something. "Crap!"

Sam's head snapped up. "What?"

"Stargate Research and Development," he mused aloud.

"Yes…" she confirmed with a puzzled frown.

Jack placed both his hands over his face as he realized what that meant. "Hammond's going to retire once his year is up."

Completely confused now, Sam looked at him. "So?"

"He wants me to take over Homeworld Security," he replied, even though he shouldn't considering it was classified and months away.

"That's great," she retorted, although she couldn't muster up much enthusiasm. "I mean, it will be long distance, but we can still make it work… right?"

Jack shook his head adamantly. "No-"

"What?" She gasped in shock.

"Carter," he sighed deeply, nearly dislodging her from his chest. "Stargate R&D reports directly to HWS. We'll be back in the same chain of command with me as your CO." Jack held his breath as he waited for her response. He'd tried to break it to her as gently as possible, but he wasn't sure what to think himself.

Sam stayed quiet for a few minutes, her mind going light-years a minute. Leaning up on his chest, she looked him in the eye. "Marry me."

"What?" Jack blurted out as he sat up straight, causing her to roll off him.

"Marry me," she repeated calmly, even though she was terrified on the inside. What if he said no? "Jack," she sat up and grabbed his hand. "I love you and I have for a long time now… we have a couple of months until we're back in the same chain of command, until General Hammond retires. I couldn't go back after a bout of alien influence, remember?" She chuckled nervously. "I don't think I can give us up when you get promoted."

Still slightly shocked, he realized she was being serious. And the scary thing was that it made perfect sense. Once they were married they could be in the same chain of command. His heart was still pounding but he slowly nodded, unable to say something.

"Is… is that a… a yes?" Sam questioned softly, her voice trembling with insecurity.

Jack pulled on her arm and quickly wrapped his arms around, enveloping her in his embrace. Pressing a kiss against her temple, he smirked. He was going to marry Samantha Carter! "Yes!"

A smile broke on her face and she kissed him passionately. "I can't believe it," she said, giddy with joy as she pulled him down on the bed again.

"Unless," he mumbled as she curled up in his side.

"What?" Sam asked wide-eyed.

Looking at her alarmed expression, Jack shrugged. "Unless you need to think it over… for two weeks or so," he teased her.

"Jaaaack," she cried indignantly, punching his shoulder.

The End…

A/N: The story has come to an end! I hope you all enjoyed reading it as much as I enjoyed writing it. Thanks everyone for reading and reviewing! As always, I would love to hear your thoughts on my fic. I'll be back in a couple of weeks (I think) with a new fic!