Heat Chapter 54 Epilogue "Cabin Fever"

Beginning of The Cabin Chronicles Sequel

They rode in silence as rugged mountains faded in the rear-view mirror and new, flatter terrain unfolded. From time to time, his right hand would leave the steering wheel and cover her hand on the seat. She would glance over at him and smile; his grin would widen. It was such a silly, quirky grin.

"Aren't we a pair? Ya think we could do better than this, eh?"

"Jack, it's okay. We have two weeks ahead of us at your cabin. I don't mind the silence at all. We've been on overload for so long that it's just great to gaze out the window and watch the scenery."

"With nothing shooting back at us I might add. That whole Anubis and Replicator gig is something I'd rather not remember. Maybe a desk job isn't so bad after all."

Sam chuckled softly. "Do you want some music on?"

"Nah, I'm okay with letting my mind roll too. We should get there just as the sun is going down over the pond."

"Sounds lovely."

"Even lovelier getting to watch it with you, alone."

"Sure you won't miss Daniel and Teal'c?"

Jack's hand found Sam's ear lobe and he pulled it gently. "This trip is all about me and you. Period. Don't want any company spoiling what I have in mind. I loved our time on Aquila and the baby but Karnak's always looking to have a party and it's just a bit too much at times. I swear, once he gets that environmental outpost rebuilt and running again, he just might turn it into a Disney theme park!"

Sam started laughing. "I thought you were an extrovert like him. You certainly didn't seem shy onstage at Kaya's reception, Mr. Yo-Yo Man."

"I just wanted to humor the crowd, show them how to play. Can't believe they turn their kids into little scholars while they're still in diapers. Kids need to have fun, get dirty, scrape knees, dress a doll or ride a bike. Walter's already made his first toy drop-off."

"You're kidding. We've only been back on Earth a week."

"Did you forget the real reason that Walter took the assignment?" Jack turned and winked at Sam.

"Oh. How did that go? Did he say if he saw Eva?"

"She helped him unload the toys. It seems that Karnak's appointed her as assistant ambassador of goodwill. She and Walter are actually going to visit families, introducing assorted games and playthings to the parents along with operating instructions if needed. Once a month, it'll be Christmas on Aquila, thanks to Tau'ri ingenuity."

"Tell Walter to take some mistletoe on his second delivery and demonstrate the custom to Eva."

"Well aren't you the little matchmaker …"

Sam continued to chuckle. "Hey, why not? I think they're good for each other. It's nice to see two lonely people getting together."

"Do you think folks are saying that about us?"

"Hmm, I think folks have been saying more than that about us for quite some time, at least at the SGC. I never thought we gave them a reason to, but you know how rumors fly."

"Yes, 'the Colonel and the General'. Are they or aren't they?"

"Well?" Sam pushed forward.

"Well what?"

"What are we now that our chain of command and the fraternization rules have changed?"

"We're two … close friends … who are about to become … closer." Jack noticed that his gas tank was almost on empty.

Sam became quiet, too quiet. Something was wrong.

Jack broke the awkward silence. "What?"

"I thought we were more than that", came the soft reply.

Jack looked at her now serious face and drove his pickup to the side of the road.

"C'mere."

He pulled her to himself and cradled her face in his hands as his lips sought to assure her that they were, indeed, much more than friends. She returned the kiss with just as much ardor.

"There, that's better. I don't have a name for us 'cause it's all so new. 'Friends' seemed okay but …"

Sam interrupted him as she rested her head on his shoulder. "Friends don't kiss like that."

Jack licked his lips and kissed the top of her head. "Good point. But we're not lovers either."

"Not yet."

Jack's heart started to race as the engine continued to idle. Sam's bold words caught him by surprise. He cleared his throat and she raised her head to stare at him with those teasing blue eyes, those eyes that made him go weak in the knees.

"Stop that! You're making me forget all about my driving."

Sam planted one more kiss, full on his mouth, and then retreated. Jack reached over and unbuckled her seat belt.

"Jack?"

He switched the ignition off, got out of the truck, strode to her side, opened the door and pulled her out. Before she could tease him further, he had his strong arms around her and kissed her again, passionately. They were both breathless as she pushed him back and nodded her head.

"We are definitely more than 'close friends'."

By now, Jack was nibbling her neck and sending sweet vibrations up and down her body. He knew in the back of his mind that this was not what he wanted to happen, at least, not here - not in the middle of nowhere next to a country highway. He was getting hot and all too bothered, but he wanted everything to be special and perfect. At the cabin. And so he pulled back.

"Yeah sure ya betcha." One final hug and he motioned for Sam to get back into the truck.

She complied, knowing in her heart that she wanted to reach the cabin too. They had waited this long; surely they could wait a little longer.

The ice cream was dripping down his chin. Sam reached over and playfully wiped the overflow with her napkin. They had stopped at a ramshackle gas station-combination-country store. While Jack pumped, Sam went in to browse and came out carrying two large vanilla cones. After their amorous interlude, they both decided to keep their mouths busy. Ice cream seemed like the perfect solution. The afternoon had turned warmer than expected, not much of a breeze. Sam had rolled up the sleeves of her pink blouse, and stood contentedly licking her cone. Her sunglasses and wind-blown hair added to her appeal. Jack was waiting for the tank to fill up and enjoying the view, eager to get to the cabin. "God, she was sexy!"

"Are you smirking?"

"Nope, just enjoying my ice cream."

"Jack? You have an impish grin on your face, besides your vanilla ice cream." Once again, Sam reached up to dab his chin.

Jack unexpectedly grabbed her hand while he stole a lick of her ice cream. She slapped him on the arm and stood back laughing.

"General O'Neill, what's gotten into you?"

"You're irresistible, you know. I'm just wanting more than ice cream."

"Ice cream should cool you down … for now."

The next few hours were spent in light-hearted teasing and affectionate banter as the couple traveled toward their final destination. They wrangled over radio stations and favorite kinds of music. Sam preferred the classics; Jack, country. They compromised on classic rock.

Sam leaned on Jack's shoulder and took a brief nap. The crunch of the gravel and slowing of the truck woke her just as they arrived at the cabin. She yawned languidly and stretched as Jack kissed her cheek.

"Come on, sleepyhead. We made it for the sunset."

Sam rounded the back of the pickup and Jack took her hand, pulling her along toward the edge of the pond. The sun's waning rays were still peeking through a grove of trees at the far end of the water.

Jack put his arm around Sam and they silently watched as the orange and gold sky turned into deep purples and blues. Somewhere, a loon sang a lonely note. Nearby, the buzz of insects and chirping of crickets added to the croaking of frogs. Jack tightened his grip on Sam.

"Quite a symphony, eh?"

"Even better than your classic rock."

The air was turning cooler and Jack felt Sam shiver. Night had fallen quickly and it was harder to see her face.

"You okay?"

"Yeah, just feeling a bit cold."

Sam felt a warm breath on her neck, followed by a gentle nip on her ear lobe. She started to sigh and turn her face toward Jack as his lips found hers. There was no hesitation for either of them. They kissed firmly, Jack holding her face in his hands. She embraced him, her hands wrapping themselves around his broad shoulders and clinging to his neck. She could feel the heat rising within her.

Suddenly, Jack lifted her in his arms still bestowing short kisses on her lips. She laughed as they both came up for breath.

"What are you doing?! It's dark. Put me down before you drop me."

Jack walked to the front steps of the cabin, quite sure of himself. "I've been wanting to do this for a long, long time."

The emerging moon cast enough light to provide an outline of the porch but Jack stumbled on the top step and he had to regain his balance while Sam grasped his neck tightly.

"Jack! See? You almost dropped me!"

Jack answered her startled reprimand with another fervent kiss as they leaned against the doorframe. He continued to hold her in his arms as he asked Sam to reach into his trouser pocket for the key. Sam gingerly reached into his pocket and found more than the key. She was glad that the darkness covered her blush.

Jack knew that he had set her up. "Whatsa matter? It's just my sidearm."

Sam promptly pulled the key out of his pocket and giggled. "I never knew you could be so, so …"

"Naughty? Horny? Happy?" Jack snuggled her neck as he unlocked the door and carried her over the threshold. All at once, his demeanor turned serious.

"Sam, this is where you belong – where we belong."

Still in his arms, Sam laid her head against his chest, unbelievably excited and nervous at the same time. She had dissolved suns but now felt quite powerless in this man's arms.

Standing in front of a living-room window, Jack's face was bathed in moonlight. He did not bother to reach for a light switch. Instead, he whispered, "I want you, now." Sam felt the trembling in his arms and saw the hunger in his face. Her own anxiety faded as she looked into his penetrating eyes. He was right. This is where she, where they belonged.

Sam simply shook her head as tears filled her eyes. "I'm ready." Jack walked in the darkness to his bedroom and laid her gently on his bed. He showered her hair and face with kisses, finally lifting himself from the bed and turning on a nightstand lamp. The soft amber light illuminated her bright eyes and flushed cheeks.

He leaned over her, in awe. "God, you're beautiful."

Sam reached up and put her hands, once again, around his neck, drawing him to herself. She opened her mouth and allowed him to taste her more fully. Their tongues touched and teased while Jack began to unbutton her blouse with shaking hands.

For a short time, the urgency of their desire was tempered by the wonder of discovery. It was as if they were truly seeing each other for the very first time. As Jack undressed and caressed Sam, he traced and kissed the scars of past battles which had left their mark. His eyes burned into hers, more brilliant and seductive than any of the stars she had encountered on their missions. Her soft moans of pleasure only served to invite him further. She was everything he had ever imagined, ever wanted.

Sam's rapid breathing now matched Jack's. Her hands wandered over Jack's body, kneading his back as waves of passion crashed over them. Words were useless. After years of denial, they let their bodies speak … satisfying hidden hungers, filling empty spaces.

Finally … released, redeemed, they lay silently in each other's arms. The night lamp continued to cast its warm glow as Jack was the first to whisper, "My God, why did we wait this long?"

Sam quietly responded, "Because we're officers, duty first … because the universe needs us."

Her head was lying on Jack's outstretched arm and he turned on his side to continue their conversation. His eyes still held an intensity that thrilled her, welcomed her, into his very private world.

"I'm tired of playing galaxy policeman. I'd rather play with you."

The old Jack was back. And that was okay. Sam knew that he had to inject some humor after such an intimate encounter. In fact, she was feeling quite overwhelmed herself. Jack was a surprisingly skillful lover, but he was still Jack.

"You are so bad." Sam affectionately stroked Jack's cheek and couldn't help but laugh.

"What? Just bein' honest. I never knew what I was missing until now, although I tried damned hard to imagine it."

Sam poked her former CO in the ribs as he playfully retaliated with a tickle. Soon, the laughter and total lack of constraint led to another aroused state of passion. This time Jack let Sam take command and she artfully delivered, her flushed face hovering over his quite content countenance.

The couple's body heat and passion compensated for the chill and dampness of the cabin well into the wee hours of the morning. At last, exhausted, they settled in under the quilt and fell asleep in each other's arms.