Epilogue: Part Two

A/N: I'm so glad you all remembered that no one could murder me before I posted part two…and now that I have posted it…please don't murder me!

Enjoy!

Sam leaned back on her elbows as the spring breeze blew sweet-smelling air across the little park, ruffling her hair and the light cardigan she had thrown on back at the mountain. She was glad for the sudden whim; it would probably be a little chilly the closer it got to dusk. Sam briefly wished she'd paid more attention to Dr. Lee's last lecture on botany…she'd really like to know what flower had made the air smell so good.

Maybe she could grab some for her house next time she went to Home Depot.

"Hey." The reason for their little outdoors trip plopped himself down onto the grass next to her. He had gone off a little while ago to "explore." Sam had declined his offer to join him, deciding that that little sun-soaked square of grass on the little hill looked very lonely and that she would very much like to keep it company.

So she'd sat and waited for him to burn off his excess energy. He wasn't like herself and Daniel—being cooped up on base didn't sit naturally with him. Truth be told, she was surprised he'd held out as long as he had.

"Hi." Sam grinned up at him, the warm sun and scented breeze having done wonders to ease the tension that had settled squarely upon her shoulders all those weeks ago. She wondered if he had known that would happen.

"How's the grass treating you?" He copied her position, stretching his long legs out in front of him and leaning back on his forearms.

"Like an old friend." Sam grinned when he looked at her in mock disbelief.

"You mean, you've met before?" He raised his eyebrows, aghast.

"I leave the mountain occasionally, sir." Sam fought to keep her eyes from rolling, but it was a battle that she ultimately lost.

"Color me shocked." He flashed a quick grin at her before letting his arms collapse and flopping back to lie down on the sun-streaked hill.

"Color me amused." She shot back and, after a moment of contemplation, mimicked him. Almost. Instead of lying completely down, she rolled onto her side and tucked a folded arm underneath her head so that she could study him.

It had been such a tough few weeks…coupled with the last six years and Sam was half-surprised that either one of them was even still functional. Everything they'd been through…everything they'd done…everything they hadn't done. These last two weeks alone would be enough for most people to have stopped talking to each other.

Yet here they were. Alone in a park in Colorado Springs, minutes from sunset and the perfumed air doing funny things in Sam's chest. She hadn't even known this park existed, let alone that this would be the place her recently rehabilitated colonel would choose to go. She had figured he'd want to go home or out to lunch.

But, when she really thought about it, she wasn't even remotely surprised. Colonel Jack O'Neill was nearly synonymous with the outdoors. Sam Carter was synonymous with workaholic. Just another reason why they clearly—

"Something on your mind, Carter?" His voice interrupted her thoughts for the twelfth time that day.

"No, sir." Sam smiled, but the gesture fell flat as he turned his head to meet her eyes.

"Carter?" Concern laced his tone and Sam sighed, the smile growing sincere.

"I'm just really glad you're okay."

Searching her eyes, Jack smiled softly, and let the silence between them grow. He hadn't told her that it was his feelings for her—his total inability to even consider leaving her behind—that had pushed Kanan to go back into Ba'al's fortress for the woman he loved. But, looking at her now…watching her watch him…Jack knew that he didn't have to tell her; she had long since figured it out.

And she had long since decided to blame herself, no doubt.

"In no way was any of that your fault." Jack's fingers itched to reach for hers, but he didn't let himself. Not yet.

Sam exhaled sharply, the turn in the conversation inevitable, but still unexpected. "Actually, sir, I have to disagree. None of this would have even happened if I hadn't pushed you right into the Tok'ra's hands."

"Right, right." He agreed airily. "But then, of course, I'd also be dead."

Sam didn't answer.

"Carter, you can't blame yourself every time something doesn't go as planned."

"Can't I?"

"No." He repeated firmly. "You can't."

"Another order, sir?"

Jack's expression softened and he rolled over to face her, propping his head on his hand. "I think we both know it wouldn't make a difference."

Sam dropped her gaze from his face and focused instead on her fingers, which were busy pulling up little tufts of grass. "I couldn't do it." She finally murmured, eyes resolutely on the grass-pulling.

Jack squeezed his eyes shut briefly then looked back at her taut expression. He didn't know what to say…never really knew what to say, if he were honest.

"You trusted me and I couldn't do it." Sam struggled to lift her eyes to meet his and found she still couldn't. "I'm sorry, sir."

"Carter…" He waited for her to look up, but when she didn't he reached out and, curling two fingers under her chin, lifted her face to his. "You made the right call."

"I almost got you killed."

"No. You got me cured. And then you got me home."

"Colonel-," Sam's frustration burst from her before she could stop it. Struggling to control her anguish, she sat up, and faced forward—away from him. "I think it should be Daniel. Or even General Hammond. Really, anyone else."

Jack sighed and sat up, taking his time. Scooting closer, he wrapped his arms around his bent knees, and pressed his shoulder to hers. "If nothing else, you proved that I made the right decision the first time." He felt more than saw her disbelieving head-shake. "It's you, Carter. Still you." She scoffed quietly and he suddenly had the desperate need to make her understand. "Always you."

She stiffened next to him, suspicious blue eyes finding mildly surprised brown ones. Finally, she spoke, hating herself for what she knew she had to say. "We should be heading back, colonel." She paused for a minute before she started to get up, waiting to see if he would say anything else.

When he remained silent, she swallowed her sigh, and shifted so that she could stand. A rough throat-clear next to her made her hesitate. "We're here…might as well watch the sun set."

Sam turned to look at him, trying and failing not to notice the way the golden light made his eyes glow warmly and softened the lines in his face. "We shouldn't."

"There's a lot we shouldn't do, Sam." The corner of his mouth tugged up into a gentle smirk. "This shouldn't fall in that category."

"But it does." Damn her and her stupid sense of duty.

"What if it didn't?" Jack had been carrying this one thing, this one ace in the hole, for nearly two weeks now…waiting for the right time. Or, at least, waiting until he had the courage to show his cards. Before she could respond and knowing that as long as he was talking she was a captive audience, he pressed on. "Two years ago, I had a conversation with Hammond, and—long story short—I had to make a promise."

Sam watched him struggle to find the words he wanted. She frowned, suddenly nervous about what was going to come out of his mouth.

"I had to promise that I wouldn't do anything to jeopardize your future in the chain of command." Jack winced, knowing that once his piece was said there was no going back. "I've kept that promise for as long I can."

Sam's heart plummeted into her stomach. What the hell did that mean? But, still, she remained silent.

"I had another conversation with Hammond two weeks ago, when I got back. I told him that he could keep your future as secure as he wanted, but that mine was up in the air." Jack desperately wished she would put him out of his misery, but he realized that she was missing several very important pieces to the puzzle. So, ignoring his nerves and probably better judgment, he continued. "What I'm trying to say here is that…after two very strange conversations…and six very long years…I care much less about the integrity of the chain than I do you."

Finally catching on to what he was saying, Sam glanced surreptitiously around, half expecting the NID to be lurking somewhere in the trees. "Sir, please don't say anything that-,"

"That what? That compromises me? Got news for you, Carter, I'm well and truly compromised already."

Sam flinched and, pivoting on her knees, moved to kneel in front of him. "Leftover effects from the sarcophagus. Or from the symbiote. Sir, please-,"

Jack laughed, actually laughed at the desperate look on her face. "Carter, stop. It's already done."

"Done?" Fear squeaked into her voice "What do you mean done?"

"I mean," Grasping her gently by the shoulders, he leaned forward. "I don't need an excuse to do this." Then, leaning all the way forward, he sent them both rolling down the little hill, strong arms keeping her from rolling away from him.

A surprised yelp issued from her lips, but the tumble was over before she could think to try and stop him. Rolling once more, Jack effectively pinned her underneath him, the weight of his torso mostly on the arms he had placed on either side of her head. "I," He paused dramatically, smiling down at the frozen shock on her face. "am so tired of excuses."

"M-me too." Sam managed to squeeze out, heart beating so hard she was sure he could hear it. She couldn't even bring herself to be mad that the man had literally just pushed her down a hill.

"I am so glad to hear it." He grinned cheekily then swooped down to claim her mouth with his.

Sam gasped against his lips and Jack took the opportunity to deepen the kiss, moving one hand to cup the back of her neck, tilting her head up ever so slightly. All too soon the kiss was over and Sam blinked dazedly up at him, the last light from the dying sun threading its way through his silver hair. She really wanted to be that sunlight.

But first—"I don't understand."

"All in good time, Sam." Rolling off of her, he flopped next to her and threaded his fingers through hers, thoroughly enjoying the contrast between the cool grass and her warm hand.

"Just tell me that we're okay to do this. I mean, really okay." Sam felt her heart rebel in her chest; she wanted to wait to hear his answer before the jumping for joy bit started, but it seemed her body had other ideas.

"We are." Jack smiled up at the darkening sky and brushed his thumb across the back of her hand, smiling wider when she shivered against him.

Sam nodded, even though she knew he couldn't see her. It didn't matter. Everything that had happened before this moment had been what eventually led them here and, try as she might, at this exact second Sam couldn't bring herself to regret any of it.

Looking up at the stars, she rolled her head so that it rested on his shoulder, warmth seeping into her cheek. As night swallowed up the last vestiges of the day, Sam couldn't help but think how fitting this all was and she wondered if he had done it on purpose.

A promise begun by a sunrise and kept until the sunset.

END

A/N: Thank you everyone for sticking with me through this wild ride! I hope you liked it!