The snow lay thickly on
the ground, pristine white, not a track to mar
it's perfection. The sky was a deep velvety blue, the stars glittered
in it like scattered chips of diamond.
On a ridge, at the foothills of
a mountain, a little log cabin stood, golden light spilling from
it's windows.
Inside, a couple lay cuddled up on the couch, oblivious
to the outside world.
Sam sighed contentedly as she snuggled deeper into Jack's enfolding
arms.
They lay on a soft couch in the lounge room, in front of a
roaring fire, watching the flames lick around the wood. Jack let a
soft, gentle smile cross his face as he trailed the tips of his
fingers down Sam's cheek, gently brushing the hair from her blue
eyes. Sam shifted around so that she was facing him, their noses
only millimeters apart. She tilted her head and playfully kissed
the tip of Jack's nose before shutting her eyes and drifting back
to sleep. Jack closed his eyes as well, drifting back, remembering
the last few months.
Jack O'Neill had been doing a lot of hard thinking recently about a
certain blonde Major in his team lately. A lot I of thinking. He knew
that his feelings ran quite a bit deeper than military protocol
allowed, and, after much soul-searching, had finally decided to
broach the subject with the officer concerned.
Their near-constant flirting and teasing on base had always been playful, and many people
suspected that there was something more to it. Gradually, the
playful nature had changed, reaching an intensity that neither of
them had expected. When he finally gathered up the courage to ask her
out for dinner one night, he was surprised to say the least when she
immediately accepted his offer.
The date had gone well, the only
problem coming when they had leant in for a kiss and their beepers had
gone off just as their lips made contact, summoning them to the SGC.
They spent the next two weeks on a different planet, negotiating the
release of Daniel Jackson, who was being held by some natives.
Apparently Daniel's ability for attracting trouble hadn't faded.
In
the first ten minutes of his stay, Daniel had managed to misinterpret
an inscription, accidentally insult the tribal leader (via a
miss-pronounced word), and nearly get himself sacrificed.
When SG-1
finally returned, the General had given SG-1 two weeks vacation.
In
the first week, Sam and Jack had gone on four more dates, all of them
uninterrupted by an emergency at the SGC. Their relationship had
deepened considerably, moving to the point where they now spent one
night in two at the other's house.
When the subject of military protocol had come up, as they both had
known it would, Jack had thought seriously about his position, and
what it would mean to him if he lost it. Finally, he came up with a
solution that he was happy about, but it took some careful planning,
and some more down-time to achieve.
Jack opened his eyes and looked straight into the clear, sapphire blue
ones of the woman he loved.
"Samantha, " he whispered. "I've been
doing some thinking about us, and I've come to a couple of decisions,
well, more like a decision and a plan actually…" Sam smiled softly and
rubbed the tip of her nose against his, saying, "And those would be…?
"
She noticed something about the set of Jack's face and decided that
the thought that she knew where this was headed, and, if it was going
where she thought that it was, she was happy to go.
Jack took a deep
breath before rolling off the couch, landing at her feet on one knee.
Sam's breath caught as he pulled out a small navy blue box from it's
position of concealment under the couch. Jack opened it and handed it
to her, taking her left hand in both of his. Looking her steadily in
the face, he said, "Sam, although we've only officially been together
for a short time, it feels like you have been a part of me from the
time I first laid eyes on you, in the briefing room. I loved you from
then on, but, like a good military officer, I buried those feelings
deep, and tried to ignore that they were ever there, but I couldn't
keep them hidden forever.
Before I knew you, in the times that I thought I was truly happy, I
felt something missing, but I never knew what, and then I met you.
Something went click in my head, like I had finally found the missing
piece. Now that I have found that piece, I don't ever want to let it
go. You are that piece. You fill all the hole left in my soul, you
make me able to smile again, gave me a reason to truly live again.
During the first mission to Abydos, I was suicidal. After Daniel
convinced me not to, I went onto auto pilot, going through the motions
of living, but I wasn't. Now, I have something to look forward to,
to live for.
It would be the greatest honor of my life if you would
take me as your husband. I want to be by your side now, tomorrow, and
for all the other tomorrow's, for ever."
Sam felt like she was
floating on a cloud of pure joy. She couldn't count the number of
times she'd lain awake at night, dreaming of hearing those words,
waiting for him to open up to her.
She remembered to breathe, and
leant forward, grasping his face in her delicate hands. She could
feel his pulse beating under her fingers as she spoke, "Yes, Colonel
Johnathan Charles O'Neill, I'll marry you." She leant closer, their
lips only millimeters apart. "If you'll have me, I'm yours forever."
Jack said only one more word, and it seemed to hang in the air
between them. "Forever." Nothing more needed to be said as they
kissed, passion blossoming slowly as they were swept away on a tide
of pure emotion.
Much later, as she lay in their bed, tracing one of his nipples with
a finger, she said, "Now that I've heard the decision that you came
to, what was the plan?"
Jack turned slightly, his right hand mimicking
her motions. He smiled contentedly as he said, "Well, how about I
'officially' retire again, and ask the General if I can stay on in an
'unofficial' capacity, serving where he thought my services would be
needed most?"
Sam's eyes widened as she considered it. They both
knew what the General had a fair idea about their relationship, and
where the General would consider his services most needed....with SG-1.
Sam smiled as Jack continued. "Which, of course, means that, since
I'll be retired, you'll be the ranking officer in the team..." Sam
smiled even wider as she thought about that, but all thoughts of the
SGC were banished as she shifted her hands lower, continuing her
teasing.
The snow continued to fall silently on the land, as, inside, Sam and
Jack engaged the melding of true soul-mates that only a few lucky
people in this world ever find.
