Title: First Time (1/2) and (2/2)

 

Author: Lisa Yaeger

 

E-mail: lisayaeger@hotmail.com

 

Rating: PG-13, maybe R

 

Category: Mostly romance with some humor, I hope

 

Pairings: Sam/Jack

 

Content Warnings: mild language, a little sexuality

 

Summary: Sam gets command of SG-7, then the fun begins

 

Season/sequel: Takes place in Season 6

 

Spoilers: Up through the present, although I've only seen seasons

3-6 and the first 4 eps of Season 1.

 

Archive: SJD & whoever wants to- I'd be flattered

 

******

 

'Carter's neighborhood is certainly active early on a Saturday morning," Jack thought to himself as he pulled in front of her house.  As his truck rolled to a stop, he figured out why several men were busying themselves with mowing, weeding, and other assorted lawn care duties.  There she was, washing her car in cutoffs and a white tank top, totally oblivious to the stir she was causing among her male neighbors.  She didn't even hear him pull up as she had the hose on full-force rinsing off the soapsuds, and getting herself more than a little wet in the process.   He waited until she had finished rinsing and was about to reach for a towel to start drying off the car when he said, "I think you missed a spot."

 

She turned at the sound of his voice, and smiled as she squinted her eyes to block out the sun behind him, "Colonel!  What are you doing here?"  She couldn't remember the last time he had just 'stopped by.'  If ever.

 

"I would say I was 'in the neighborhood' but..."  He was trying very hard not to look at the tank top that had become mildly transparent since it was damp.   Thank god his sunglasses hid the movement of his eyes as he was losing the battle.  Guess that water was cold, too, huh?  Oh god...

 

"Sir, is something wrong?"  She couldn't read him at all.

 

"Can we go inside?"  He motioned at the neighbors, who although were out of earshot, could certainly see enough of what was going on to make him uncomfortable.

 

"Sure.  I'll make some coffee."  She led him inside her front door and headed toward the kitchen.  "It will only take a minute.  Do you mind if I change first?  I got a little wet out there."

 

'Mind out of the gutter, O'Neill!'  He took off his sunglasses reluctantly, "No hurry."  He was grateful that he wouldn't have to force his eyes to look at her face.  Not that doing that wasn't pleasant in itself, but he saw that all of the time. It was the rest of her that kept his mind wandering for hours.  He walked around her living room, trying to remember the last time he had been in it.  Almost a year ago when that alien had ascended, or was that descended?  Whatever- it had been too long, he decided, and today was the start of a remedy for that.

 

She emerged a few minutes later in khaki shorts and a less revealing, red tank top.  She went back to the kitchen to pour two mugs of coffee as he continued to look at her pictures, "It's funny that my dad always looked about the same, isn't it?  I guess it was because he lost his hair at such an early age.  I really don't remember him looking any differently than he does now."

 

Jack had been studying a picture of Jacob and Sam- she couldn't have been older than eight or nine, but he would have recognized her smile and those eyes anywhere.  The next picture he noticed was of a beautiful woman he had never seen before, although he didn't need a Ph.D. to see the resemblance to her daughter, "She was beautiful."

 

Sam came to stand beside him and handed him a mug, "Yes, she was."  She smiled at his appraisal of her mother and then noticed his look change suddenly as he saw another picture.  Sam was about 25 in this one- her arms were wrapped around her brother's neck and then were both facing the camera, smiling.

 

Jack wondered who that guy in the picture was with her for a minute, but then he saw the same, patented Carter smile he knew and loved, "That must be Mark."

 

"That was about 10 years ago, not too long after he got married."  She sensed he was having difficulty getting to the point of why he had come here this morning, and was about to ask when he interrupted her thoughts.

 

"I don't remember seeing these before."  He knew he was stalling, but...

 

"Mark found them in a box in his attic and sent them to me a few weeks ago.  I framed them just last weekend."  She allowed a lull in the conversation before asking, "I don't suppose you came over to look at my family photos?"  She was smiling as she seated herself on the couch waiting for him to reveal the nature of his visit.

 

"No, I didn't.  Although I'm glad I got to see them."  He really was, and she could tell.

 

She was taken aback by his sincerity and a little scared at the lack of flippancy that usually came with Jack O'Neill.  Prompting him again, "Sir?"

 

"I have some bad news, Carter."  He took a breath and told the story of how SG-7 did not make it back through the gate thanks to an ambush by some less-than-friendly natives.  They both had friends on the team and sat in silence at the end of Jack's account.

 

Sam spoke first, "I'm sorry, Sir.  And I appreciate you telling me in person.  It just doesn't get any easier, does it?" 

 

"No, it doesn't.  I guess that's part of what makes us human.  When it doesn't hurt anymore to lose life like that, then we're no better than they are."

 

He didn't have to tell her who 'they' were.  They were the enemy, the reason they were in this war to begin with.  Always practical, "It's really a shame that their upcoming missions won't happen now.  If I remember the schedule, they had some pretty exciting things coming up." 

 

"That's the other part of why I came, Sam."  He took a breath and steadied himself for the next thing he had to say.

 

If she noticed that he had switched to using her first name, she didn't give anything away.  She waited for him to speak again.

 

"Hammond doesn't want to waste anytime in getting together a new unit.  You're right, the missions they had scheduled may give us some important technology, and he wants to move forward as soon as possible."  He realized she wasn't going to interrupt him, so he continued, "He wants you to take command of SG-7."  There.  That was it.

 

"Wow.  Me?"  She was amazed and absently got up from the couch to refill their coffee mugs.

 

He followed her into the kitchen this time, "Yeah, you."  He could smile now a little.  The weight of giving her both the good and the bad news was gone, and he could enjoy her reaction to being given her first command.

 

"I don't know what to say. "  She really didn't know how to respond.  She thought for a few minutes and said quietly, "Thank you."

 

"For what?"  He looked at her with the puzzled look that usually came out when she started to explain something scientific to him.

 

"I assume General Hammond wouldn't have done this without your recommendation?  You don't know how much that means to me, to know that you think I'm ready."  She was looking at him with a look he could only interpret as adoration.

 

"You are ready, and have been for awhile.  I think you would have gotten your own team sooner if I hadn't wanted to keep you with SG-1.  Things are certainly going to change.  It's not going to be the same without you."  He meant that.  He wasn't sure who Hammond lined up to replace her, but it would never be the same again.  First Daniel, now her.  But this was at least for the right reason.

 

"Then I'm glad you kept me with SG-1 for as long as you could.  I don't think I could have learned as much from anyone but you, Sir."

 

He was silent for a minute, then told her the rest of what Hammond wanted him to convey, "You will meet your new team at 0800 Monday morning and be briefed on your first mission."  He was so proud of her, and grateful that Hammond had let him personally deliver the news.  He wanted to remember this moment for a long time.

 

"At least I have the weekend to take it all in."

 

"Can I offer my first piece of advice?"  He was smiling with a devilish grin barely concealed.

 

"Okay..."  He was making her a little nervous, but she wasn't sure why.

 

"Don't think about it too much.  I know that's hard for you, but you already know what you're doing.  Don't overanalyze the situation.  Just enjoy this for a minute."

 

"You're right on both counts- I shouldn't think too much about it, and I do tend to think too much."

 

"I'll be right back."  He sprinted out the door to his truck as she looked on in confusion- where was he going?  He jogged back in with a map in hand and joined her on the couch as he opened it.

 

She read the title out loud, "Hiking Trails in Colorado Springs."

 

"It's supposed to be 80 degrees with clear skies all day.  Can't think of anything better to do here than enjoy nature, can you?"  Well, actually, he could, but this was a start.

 

"You're sure you wouldn't mind the company, Sir?"  It did sound like a nice way to pass the day.  She could lose herself in her thoughts for awhile, but she knew he wouldn't let her obsess about her first mission the whole time.

 

"On one condition."

 

"What's that?"

 

"We're off duty, off base, out of uniform, and you're not even under my command anymore, so lose the 'Sir,' Sam." 

 

She returned the smile he was still wearing, "It's a deal, Jack, but I have a condition, too."

 

How was it possible that she could make him so nervous just by sitting so close?  His mouth felt dry, "What?"

 

"You have to feed me first.  I haven't eaten yet, and I don't think you want to eat my cooking for breakfast."

 

 

After eating at a nearby diner, they started on a 5-mile hike.  Venturing out onto the path that was lined with trees- only the sounds of nature surrounding them, until she just had to ask, "So, these tress don't bother you?"

 

"Nah, these are Colorado trees.  Much different from... other trees."

 

She shook her head with a grin plastered on her face and continued following him up the slight incline.  They didn't talk again until half-way into the third mile when Jack had to sit down, a pained expression on his face, and she asked "Is it your knee?"

 

"Just showing my age." His hands were busy rubbing the sore muscles surrounding his kneecap.

 

Taking the opportunity to rest and drink some water, she watched him massage his knee.  It wasn't often that she got to really just look at him.  She knew he looked at her when he was 'visiting' her in her lab or sometimes when he was sitting across from her at the briefing table, she would catch him.  But, she was usually the one explaining things or studying things and didn't have time to really look at him.  She noticed how much grayer he had gotten since their first mission together.  He wasn't old by any stretch of the imagination, although he would probably be the first to call himself that, but he had a few wrinkles that wouldn't go away and sometimes, like now, he was a little slower than he had been 5 years ago.  But still sexy. Damn sexy.  More so now than before.  Damn.

 

He caught her staring at him and was taken by surprise.  What the hell was that look she was giving him?  He could feel himself getting embarrassed, which was much worse than any pain in his knee, so as he started to stand, "Shall we?"

 

Startled out of her daydream, she followed his lead and off they went on the trail again.  Their pace was a little slower, but she rather liked the opportunity to take in all of the sights and sounds around her.  They weren't in any hurry, and she decided to start a conversation. After all, where could he run to?  "So, I guess you'll have to find another scientist to replace me, huh?"

 

"Hammond's already working on it."  He could only imagine who he's end up with this time.  Although considering how she had worked out... "He's given SG-1 a week off until he finds someone."

 

A week's leave?  Then why the hell hadn't he left and gone fishing?  She stopped in her tracks as the words he spoke earlier in the day came back to her: 'Things are certainly going to change.'  Had he meant more than their new teams?

 

He heard her stop and turned around to find her staring up at him again- "Sam?"

 

She recovered quickly; she wanted a chance to feel him out more before rushing to conclusions.  She started to catch up to him, "Sorry- I guess it all just kind of hit me, that's all."  Well, it wasn't a lie, but it wasn't the whole truth either.

 

"I meant what I said earlier.  Don't let it overwhelm you before you even get there.  You'll do great."  His voice was full of pride, and why shouldn't it be? If he had played even a small part in getting her where she wanted to be, then this whole damn war, all of the suffering and pain- his suffering and pain- had been worth it somehow.  She was worth it.  She was worth anything.  Even a hike with his bad knee.

 

A couple of hours later they made their way back to the truck.  She still wasn't sure why he had decided to spend his leave in Colorado Springs, or why he spent the first day of it with her, but she wanted to find out.  The trick would be to do it so that he didn't know she was doing it.  Or else he would clam up like always.  The drive home was going much too quickly for her to figure out a plan, so, straight to the point, "If Hammond gave you a week of leave, why didn't you actually, leave?"

 

A small grin crept onto his face, "What?  And miss you pushing your team through the gate for the first time? I wouldn't dream of it."  He pulled up in front of her house and noticed how all of the yard work must have gotten finished very early this morning as her street was completely empty on this sunny afternoon.  His thoughts returned to her white tank top and how it clung-

 

"Well, here we are.  Thanks for keeping my mind occupied today.  And for bringing me the news."  Her eyes were sad again as she remembered how it came to be that she was now in command of SG-7.

 

"Hey- you can't think of it like that."  He knew she was feeling guilty at how things had turned out. "You can remember, but don't let it get to you."

 

She nodded and knew he was right, but how in the hell was she supposed to not think about what was going to happen Monday morning?!?!  Her mind was racing in a million directions, "I'm not sure how to stop thinking about it all." 

 

His mood was turning lighter again, and he had an idea, "We can't have that, now can we?"  'Just do it, Jack'  "You know, I never have seen Star Wars." Because that damn alien was making a stargate in your basement.

 

"It's part of a trilogy actually."  She could play along with this, and maybe do him one better, "'Star Wars,' 'The Empire Strikes Back,' and 'Return of the Jedi.'"

 

"Which is the one where that princess is in a gold bikini?"

 

"You have a one track mind!" She got out of the truck in feigned exasperation.  Well, maybe she was a little exasperated.

 

"All right, all right- I'm sorry.  But you wouldn't deny me the opportunity to watch one of the classics of American cinema, would you?"  He gave her that puppy dog look she couldn't resist.

 

"No. I suppose not."  Was this a date?  With her CO?  No, her ex-CO.  Oh my god, it was.  "You bring the movies, and I'll order the pizza."  Holding breath...

 

"2000?"  Holding breath...

 

Exhale.  "And don't forget the popcorn.  And Junior Mints, and Milk Duds, and Snow Caps, and Goobers, and Twizzlers."

 

Breathing again, he started pulling away as she mentioned every possible candy that would be at the counter, "Yeah, yeah. I got it."  He was almost out of the drive when-

 

"AND RAISINETS!"  She walked into her house and leaned back on the door.  What the hell happened today?  She was washing her car one minute, and then, all of a sudden, she had everything she wanted.  Well, almost everything.  Maybe that would come later tonight.  She hopped in the shower and wondered how she was going to keep calm for 3 hours.

 

At 7:50, Jack rang her doorbell balancing 3 movies, a bag of candy, a box of popcorn and a case of beer.  He was mildly surprised he wasn't nervous, but then why would he be?  A trained soldier, a 40ish aged man, who had been married, for cryin' out-

 

She was wearing the pink pajamas with red hearts she had put on after showering.  She opened the door with the phone cradled in her shoulder, "Uh huh."  She was talking to someone obviously not totally interested in what they were saying, and motioned for Jack to come in.  She had just been trying to decide what to wear when the phone rang.

 

Thank god she was on the phone when she came to the door.  The sight of her in boxers and a low-cut shirt with hearts no less and in pink was enough to render him speechless.  He had a few minutes to collect himself and put the beer in the frig.

 

"Mark, that's great.  I'm really happy for you guys.  It's been so long since you've had a vacation.  Look, I have to go, so I'll call you next weekend, OK?"

 

So she was talking to her brother.  The one Carter he hadn't met.  Yet.

 

"Love you, too.  Bye."  She hung up the phone, "Sorry about that.  I lost track of time when he called.  He was in such a talkative mood, telling me about their upcoming trip."  She was rambling a little as she headed to her bedroom, "I'm going to change.  If the pizza guy comes, there's money on the table."

 

With nothing to do but wait for the pizza guy and the beer to chill, he decided to get the movie started.  He turned the TV on and was trying to find the eject button on the VCR when he accidentally hit 'play.'  The very familiar voice of one Homer Simpson crying out "doh!" permeated the living room just as Sam emerged in jeans and an emerald green sweater.  He raised an eyebrow and just stared at her, "*The Simpsons*?  You watch The Simpsons?"  He was stunned, but did manage to notice that her eyes looked even bluer and brighter than before.

 

Her cheeks flushed as she stammered a response, "Well... I was taping a documentary, and The Simpsons happened to be on after... and the timer didn't work.."  The doorbell.  She had never been happier to see a pizza delivery guy in her life.

 

Several bottles of beer and a pizza and a half later, he glanced over at her and saw her eyelids drooping.  As much as he hated to admit it, he kind of liked this Star Wars stuff, and the thought of going home already was more than a little disappointing.  OK, it didn't really have anything to do with Star Wars.  He could just watch her sleep and finish this movie and then he would have an excuse to come back tomorrow...  Where was that gold bikini scene anyway?

 

As if sensing his thoughts, her eyes opened and she yawned, "Sorry.  I guess I'm worn out."  She smiled softly and stretched her legs over to his lap on the other end of the sofa.

 

That little contact sent shivers up and down his spine, and he couldn't help but reach out and touch her socked feet where they hit his leg, "We can stop it here if you want.  But I have to warn you that the movies are 5-night rentals, so you're not going to get rid of me that easily."

 

Getting rid of him was the last thing on her mind as she felt her legs tingle from his touch, "No, no. I'm fine. We can finish."  No sooner were the words out of her mouth than her head started to fall to one side as her lids fell again.

 

He hit 'stop' on the remote and reluctantly lifted his hand from her feet.  He crossed to the other end of the sofa and knelt down in front of her, "Sam."

 

Her eyes peeled open just enough to see his eyes staring right into her.  She could barely breathe- he was so close.  She could actually feel his breath.  She was awake, right?  "Did I fall asleep again?"

 

"Yeah."  He wanted so much to reach out and touch her face, but it wasn't even 24 hours since he hadn't been her CO.  It was too soon, wasn't it?  "I'm going to go so you can get a good night's rest.  I'll see you tomorrow."  He started to stand up.

 

"You will?"  Definitely awake.  In her dreams he stayed all night.

 

"I told you- I'm waiting for the bikini scene."  He was standing at the door, turning the knob...

 

"Jack, wait."  She sat up and walked over to him in a half-awake state.  Standing directly in front of him, she raised onto her tiptoes and kissed him.  Very lightly, on the lips- it could have been a kiss she gave her dad or her brother or Teal'c, but he wasn't any of them. Had she not been a little drowsy, and how many beers had she drunk, she probably wouldn't have done it at all, but there it was.  She lowered herself back down as she opened her eyes, now fully aware of her actions.  "Goodnight."

 

He held her gaze and lifted his hand to brush her cheek.  She looked so pure and innocent.  He resisted, barely, the urge to look just above her head for a halo or something.  "Goodnight.  Lock the door."

 

She closed it gently behind him and did just that.  She leaned against the door for the second time that day.  "Wow."  She couldn't stay awake before and now she couldn't imagine going to sleep.  The brief touches they shared had sparked feelings- longings- she hadn't expected.  Hoped for, yes; dreamed of, absolutely.  But the reality was so much more- well, real- than she had anticipated.  She heard his truck pulling away and decided to at least try to sleep.

 

He couldn't remember actually driving home, getting undressed or going to bed.  But there he was, lying against cold sheets and shivering slightly.  The rational part of his brain tried to convince him it was because he had opened a window and a cold breeze was blowing through.  The part that knew better told him he had been trembling ever since her lips touched his.  Not as long or as deep as he wanted- hell, needed- but at least she had initiated the contact without being 'influenced.'  That was a first he chuckled to himself as he drifted off.

 

The ringing of her phone made Sam sit upright.  Reflexively, she looked at the clock- 8:27?  She hadn't slept that late in years.  Awareness that this was the third ring and the fourth would send the call to the answering machine, she lunged across the bed and picked up the receiver before it rang again, "Hello?"

 

"Were you sleeping?"

 

Janet.  Her heart sank just a little that it wasn't him.  "Yeah."

 

"Are you OK?"

 

"Yeah."  She flopped down on the bed.

 

"I heard about SG-7."  Pause.  "And you."

 

"Yeah."

 

"Congratulations!"

 

"Thanks."

 

"At least you are capable of saying more than 'yeah.'"

 

"Sorry.  I'm a little shocked, I guess."  That and she had spent half the night fantasizing about her CO- again.  Ex-CO.  That was new.  A smile spread across her face as the realization hit her for the first time that day.

 

"How about a girls' night out to celebrate?"

 

"I think I have plans, actually, but thanks."  She sounded like a junior high school girl with a crush to her own ears.

 

"Really?  Anyone I know?"  That didn't take long.

 

"Janet!"  She couldn't stop smiling.  Her cheeks actually hurt.  This was so ridiculous. So absurd.  So absolutely- wonderful.

 

"Well, if your plans change..."  Only a mothership descending into earth's orbit would be able to stop them now, she guessed.

 

"You'll be the first one I call."  She hung up and just stared at the ceiling with a perma-grin fixed on her face.  The phone rang again and pulled her from her daydreams, "I said I'd call you, Janet!"

 

Silence.

 

"Janet?"

 

"Try again."

 

"Oh. Hi."  Could her heart beat any faster?

 

"Hi.  You've already talked to Janet this morning?"  He hadn't pegged her as a big phone conversationalist.

 

"She called me to go out tonight to celebrate the news."

 

"The word's out, huh?"

 

"I'm surprised it took this long." It wasn't the first time she had been the focus of gossip on base, but this was the best reason so far.

 

"So, are you?  Going out, I mean?"  He hoped he sounded more confident than he felt that she remembered their 'plans.'

 

"I was hoping I already had plans."  The perma-grin was back in place.

 

"Oh?  With whom?"  Time to have a little fun...

 

"This guy."  Two can play.

 

"Anyone I know?"  It had better be!

 

"You might have met him once or twice."  A giggle escaped.

 

"Nice guy?"  Well, he could be when it counted.

 

"Most of the time."  It was true.

 

"So, you like him?"  Please say 'yes.'

 

"Maybe."  Hell, yes!

 

"What do you like about him?"  What's not to like, right?

 

"Well, he has a unique sense of humor."  To say the least.

 

"He makes you laugh, is that it?"  Sweet!

 

"That's part of it."  That and a few other things...

 

"What else?"

 

"He's really hot."  She did NOT just say that out loud!

 

He was beet red.  Jack O'Neill was blushing.  Big time.  "Wow."

 

"A lot of women on base have asked if he's seeing anyone."

 

"Really??"  He honestly didn't believe it.  "What do you tell them?"

 

"What should I tell them?"  Time to turn the tables.

 

"If it's the guy I'm thinking of, I'm pretty sure he only has eyes for you."

 

"Really?"  Good to know.

 

"In fact, I bet he would like to spend the day with you.  If you're free."

 

"Well, I was kind of hoping to watch the rest of this movie, and then maybe another..."

 

"Sounds great. I'll be right over."

 

Dial tone.  He didn't live 10 minutes away.  She was in her pink PJ's with the hearts on them. Hadn't showered or brushed her teeth.  Oh my god!  He's coming over now?!?!  Who has a date at 9 a.m. on a Sunday morning to watch movies?  Didn't normal people go to church or eat brunch or something?  Since when was she normal?  First thing's first, she decided.  A quick shower, brush teeth and change.  He had seen her hundreds of times without make-up and with wet hair.  Today was just another day.  Yeah, right. She literally ran to the bathroom hoping to break some kind of world record in shaving her legs.  She had managed to get one leg done when she heard the bell.  Cursing his driving speed, she toweled off for a second before deciding she would have to put her pajamas back on and answer the door that way- again.

 

She tried to slow her breathing as she tried to walk calmly to the door and opened it, "Hey."

 

"Hey.  Did I get you out of the shower?"  Obviously.  'Try not to stare at where her clothes are clinging to her wet skin.  Try not to stare at where-'

 

"Yeah.  Come on in.  I'll be done in a minute."  How had he gotten bagels and coffee and made it here in 10 minutes when all she had time for was washing her hair and shaving one leg.  Life was so unfair for women sometimes.

 

"Did Janet wake you up this morning?"  He was going through her kitchen drawers looking for a knife to spread the cream cheese.

 

"Uh huh.  I guess I was more tired than I thought last night."  Right.  That was reasonable.  It had nothing to do with the ten different ways she kept imagining him making love to her.

 

"You don't fool me."

 

"I don't?"  She froze.  How could he know what she was dreaming about? 

 

"Nope.  You were thinking about tomorrow, weren't you?"

 

Relief- she finished getting dressed and came out of her bedroom, "You caught me.  Thanks for bringing food.  Still afraid of my cooking, huh?"

 

"Pretty much."  He made his way back over to the sofa and saw the remote was where he left it last night.  Last night before she kissed him.  A smile started to form, and another body part thought about moving, too.  He hoped the bikini scene was a few minutes into the tape.

 

She came and sat next to him, "You know, I'm actually a pretty good baker- bread, muffins, cakes..."

 

"I'll take your word for that."  He smiled as he started the movie, but he wasn't really interested in what was playing on the screen in front of them.  He just wanted to look at her, in a way that he hadn't been allowed to before.  In a way that told her he needed her with every fiber of his being.  Not just physically, although that was true enough and had been since the first time he saw her, but emotionally, too. And that was a lot harder to admit.

 

She caught him staring at her, "What, do I have cream cheese on my face?"  She started trying to find the non-existent smear on her cheeks.

 

He shook his head, still smiling, "No. I just love looking at you, that's all."

 

No comeback for that. 

 

Now or never.  And although he was nearly terrified enough to decide on 'never' he had wanted to touch her for far too long, so 'now' it was.  He leaned over and kissed her.  Not like she had kissed him the night before, but with hungry lips that were demanding an answer.

 

And she gave him one.  A faint whimper at first as she opened her lips to allow his tongue inside, but then a moan as his hands went under her shirt.  Skin on skin.  She actually felt dizzy and broke contact to catch her breath.

 

"God, Sam.  I'm sorry.  That was too fast.  We can slow down if you-"

 

Her lips were back on his before he could finish that thought.  Her arms drawing him on top of her as she laid back on the couch.

 

"Are you sure?"  Breathless, wanting more- so much more- but he had to know now.

 

"Unless you'd rather watch the movie."  She was grinning.

 

"What movie?"

 

Minutes turned to hours.  She couldn't recall exactly when they had left the couch and headed for the bedroom.  But it was early in the afternoon when she woke next to him.

 

He was still staring.  The sheet covering her body didn't leave much to the imagination, which he didn't need anymore anyway, "Good afternoon."

 

"You could say that."  She turned toward him so she could do a little looking of her own.

 

"So..."

 

"So..."  She giggled at the absurdity of it all.  They had known each other for years, had seen each other through hell and back, had just had the most amazing sex of her life, and now they were speechless.

 

"Thank you."  He was quiet and still.

 

"For what?" 

 

"For letting me love you."

 

"It was my pleasure.  Many times over." 

 

"No, not for letting me make love to you, but just for loving you."

 

It was the sweetest thing anyone had ever said to her.  And that he said it, well, it just meant everything.  "I love you, too, you know?"

 

"You do?"  He was almost afraid to look at her now.

 

She nodded and moved closer to him to show him just how much all over again.