Looks like "who grabs whose hand" may wind up joining "sorry/s'alright" in the Unsolved Mysteries file. For the record, my vote is with Ennis grabbing Jack's hand, partly because that seems more romantic to me and partly because that's just what it looks like to me. As for Sheyne's view from her post a month ago that it's not Jack's hand he's grabbing, well, I haven't seen anything to indicate that but, believe me, I will keep a sharp eye out next time I watch.
Regarding the deepened intimacy, starboardlight recenly started a whole nother thread, still active I think, discussing this same subject. And the clear slick question? Well, I'm no expert, so maybe JAD or someone else can fill me in, but couldn't the time from when they both jolted up in the tent and Ennis realized Jack's intentions and responded to them, couldn't that have been enough time for that, uh, process to work?