Author Notes: This is a bold undertaking, as I'm basically rewriting everything between Sam & Jack from Grace forward to present. So far light and fluff, but be prepared for some angst in subsequent Parts.

The Ship Sets Sail

Part 1/?
Rated: PG-13 for mild language
Category: Point of View, Missing Scene/Episode Tag, Related Episode: Grace
Featured Characters: Jack O'Neill, Samantha Carter Pairings: Jack/Sam
Summary: Jack takes Sam home after "Grace" Disclaimer: Not mine. Never will be. I just like to play with them. MGM and co. owns them. Not done for profit, only an attempt to exorcise an obsession. Author's Note: What if Chimera had taken a bold turn in our shippy favor, Pete had never entered the picture, instead, Sam and Jack actually began exploring the possiblities between them? That is the premise for my daring undertaking, for which I present to you now the first chapter. This begins shortly before Chimera, though, and immediately following the events in Grace.

Chapter 1

Sam awoke to the unfamiliar sensation of being held in someone's arms. Snuggling, even. She slowly opened her eyes, afraid the headache from hell had come back seeking vengeance, just enough to let in the tiniest bit of dawn's early light. The pain seemed to contently settle in a dull thud. She opened her eyes a bit more and ever so slowly turned her head to see the face of the person spooned behind her. Just as she suspected, she found Col Jack O'Neill, looking more peaceful than she had ever seen him.

She wasn't sure exactly how or when it happened. It certainly wasn't when she woke up in the infirmary and accidentally called out "Jack". That startled " 'Scuse me?" snapped her out of that moment real quick. Maybe it was during the quiet ride home from the base. She was quite surprised when he insisted on giving her a lift home. They didn't say a word the entire time. Or maybe it was after he helped her get in and settled, even running out for a few groceries. Yeah, it was right about then. Right after he put the food away. He brought her a glass of water and her next round of pain meds the keadache from hell. She dutifully swallowed the pills, then invited him to join her on the couch.

For a long moment, all she could do was look at him. There were at least a million and one ways to say what was on the tip of her tongue, but nothing felt right. At last, she spoke, very softly. "You know, it's been a couple of years since we've come within ten feet of... this," she waved her hand between them nervously.

"That really was some bonk on the head ya got there, wasn't it?"

"You have no idea." Sam still had yet to actually talk to anyone about her hallucinations whilst adrift in the nebula. She knew she'd have to sooner or later, but right now, she was still hoping for later.

"It really felt like I had been out there for months. I kept drifting in and out of consciousness."

"You handled yourself damned well out there, Major. Saved your ass, your crew, your ship, and your enemy!"

"I had a lot of time to think, though. Well, sort of. Couldn't really think too clearly. I still wonder how I managed to pull that one off."

"Well, I haven't quite read the entire mission report yet, but from what I gather, you had another BrilliantCarter leap of logic and came up with a way out. Just another day in paradise, right?"

She started to nod in agreement, but as shearing pain caught her right between the eyes, all she managed was a sharp wince and a barely muffled groan.

"I think that's enough conversation for one afternoon, Major. Time for some rest. On your feet, soldier," he said lightly. Which only elicited another groan from Sam. Jack sighed. He padded down the hallway, retrieved a pillow and blanket from her room, and returned to find Sam snoring softly on the couch. With one arm still clutching the pillow, he did his best to cover her with the blanket while contemplating the best way to ease the pillow under her head.

"Sir?" Sam called out in a panicked voice.

"Right here. Gotcha a pillow. Can you..?" Sam lifted her head about a centimeter off the couch. Jack slipped his hand under just as she dropped back down and gently lifted her enough to slide the pillow in. He laid her head back down, but left his hand beneath her, unable for a moment to relinquish the soft warmth of her flesh.

"Don't leave..." she mumbled as she nestled into his hand. As if there were the slightest chance anything in the universe would make him move from that spot. Jack stretched out his long legs, leaned back against the couch, and closed his eyes in contemplation.

Dammit, you weren't supposed to stay! he told himself. Just get her home, safe and sound, and leave her to R&R on her own. It's time to go, O'Neill, before you end up doing something stupid. He looked over at his hand beneath her cheek. Something stupider.

He gently and ever-so-slowly pulled his hand out from under her head. She didn't stir this time. Jack picked himself up off the floor, and started for the door. Then he heard the strangest thing, apparently coming from Sam's guest room...

Twinkle, twinkle, little star...

Jack did an about face and looked down the hallway. Then over to Sam, who was still snoring softly. Then he heard it again, the voice of a young girl, singing...

Then the traveler in the dark
Thanks you for your tiny spark.
How could he see where to go
If you did not twinkle so...

Jack walked slowly toward the room, but when he got to the door, the voice stopped. He nudged to door fully open, only to see an empty room. Shaking his head, Jack turned to leave, when he caught a glimpse of movement at the end of the hall, heading towards the living room, and Sam. Jack nearly ran down the hall, skidding to a halt the moment he reached the room. Sitting on the floor about three feet in front of the couch was a young girl, one with long, curly, light brown hair, soft blue eyes, and the sweetest, most innocent smile he'd ever seen.

"She's going to be okay, isn't she," the child said. It was a statement, not a question. Jack nodded. "And you. She worried about you. She holds her pain and fear deep inside. She faced them out there. She has learned much about herself. But she remains unsure about you."

Jack had no clue what to say. This was just too surreal. Sam, unsure about him? Why?

And although he didn't speak the words aloud, the girl answered him, "Have you told her? Have you yet spoken the words she needs to hear?" She rose from the floor and walked to Jack. She took his hand and walked with him back to Sam. "Just tell her," she said as she released his hand. Jack stared at Sam for a long moment. When he turned his head to find her, the girl was gone.

Just tell her. The words echoed in his head like a mantra. Jack heaved a weary sigh a dropped back down to the floor beside Sam. For a long time, he watched her sleep. An hour passed. Then another. And another. Then Sam began to stir.

"Jack..."

"Still here."

Sam opened her eyes to find his dark gaze intensely focused on her from just inches away. "Thought you'd left," she said softly.

"Probably should have." Jack winced. That wasn't what he'd meant to say.

"Why didn't you?" Jack didn't have an answer for her. A little girl showed up and told me I should stay, that I should tell you... Yeah, that'd go over well.

Finally, he spoke. "How's the headache? Need more med-"

"Please, Jack. I need to know."

Jack sighed. "I was worried about you."

"Oh."

"Just wanted to make sure you were gonna be okay... on your own, ya know?"

"Yeah." Sam studied his face for a long time, trying to decipher just what she was seeing in his eyes. Concern, yes, but for his second-in-command, his friend, his... ? The uncertainty shown in her eyes, and Jack reached over to touch her face, a light caress of the temple, so soft she could have just imagined it, had she not seen it with her own eyes. Definitely not the touch of a CO, too intimate for a casual friend, sooo...

"Oh!" she said, eyes wide in surprise.

"Oh? Like you haven't known for the last couple of years, at least."

"Well, we never talk about it... you know? Leave it in the room, all that..."

"Hey, that was your suggestion, remember?"

"Well, yes, but-"

"But?"

"But... nothing, not a hint, not a peep, in two years! What the hell am I supposed to think?"

Jack reached down a clasped her hand firmly. "You should know by now, I will always be here for you. No matter what." Sam gasped audibly at the familiar words. "Did I say something wrong?"

"No! No, it's not that, it's just..." How could she explain that they'd had a hallucinatory conversation in which he'd said exactly the same words? Out loud, she continued, "I guess I just... I was afraid you'd... moved on. Or that I'd just blown it all out of proportion, that it was all just... in my head."

Jack shook his head with a smile. "Whatever it is, it's definitely not just in your head."

"Oh."

"Back to that again already?"

"Blame it on the meds, sir. I'm a little slow on the upbeat."

"So I might actually have a chance at keeping up with you. That ought to be a nice change."

Sam started to laugh, but it quickly turned to a wince of pain. "Damn! Do me a favor, Sir, don't make me laugh again."

"I will be as unfunny as humanly possible. Scouts honor," he pledged.

Sam slowly rose to a sitting position, and found the change of altitude was actually agreeable to her head.

"Hungry? I picked up some food," Jack announced.

"Food," she said, thought about it for a moment. "Yeah, that sounds good."

"Coming right up!"

888
To Be Continued

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