Journeys
Life’s Journey 3
By Shiaw Mei Mei
Part One
Jacob rushed through the SGC with Daniel and Teal’c trailing in his wake. He startled O’Neill’s aide as he entered the control room.
“Ah, Walter, isn’t it?”
Walter nodded, “Yes, sir.”
“Get General Hammond on the phone for me right away, on a secure line. I’ll take it in O’Neill’s office.”
“Yes, sir.” Walter headed up to the desk in the briefing room to take care of it.
Daniel and Teal’c followed Jacob in to the office and closed the door. “What are you doing, Jacob?”
“Well, it dawned on me that I might need to do some damage control.”
“So you’re going to call Jack’s CO?” Daniel’s voice was incredulous.
“Don’t worry, Daniel. I just want to let George know I am here. Can’t a guy look up an old buddy when he’s in the solar system?” Jacob nodded at the security camera.
Daniel nodded, realizing the possibility of being recorded.
The phone buzzed and Jacob grabbed it. “Thank you, Walter.” After a pause, “George, it’s Jacob! How are you doing?”
Daniel and Teal’c couldn’t hear the other side of the conversation.
“Yeah, I am here for a few more days. I was wondering if you could get out here.” Again a pause. “Well, I have something I really need to discuss with you and a secure line won’t cut it. It’s of a personal nature.” Jacob put an emphasis on the word personal. “Great, George, oh, and don’t tell anyone at the SGC that you are coming. And I would prefer to meet off base.” Jacob looked at Daniel and Teal’c. “Great, let me know when you get here.”
“Okay, let’s get out of here.”
Daniel and Teal’c contained their questions until they were in the car again. “General Carter, considering that O’Neill and Colonel Carter are undoubtedly breaking regulations, why would you request General Hammond’s presence?”
“Don’t worry, guys. George was on to them years ago. We even had a bet about how long it would take. Although George has technically won, I may try to weasel on this bet. I actively participated in his winning!”
“You mean that General Hammond has known all along how Jack and Sam felt about each other?” Daniel was shaking his head. “This just gets curiouser and curiouser!”
Jack loved the feel of her skin against his. He was still in shock over the turn of events. Last night he knew he had lost her forever, yet tonight she was here in his arms.
Sam snuggled against his shoulder reveling in his warmth. They still had not had their talk yet, but it didn’t matter. One way or another, she was not giving this up.
They were both quiet as darkness enveloped the room, lost in their own thoughts. Until Jack’s stomach rudely interrupted the romantic glow by growling. Sam couldn’t help but laugh. The room had been so quiet that it made the sound extremely loud.
“Well, we haven’t had anything to eat today,” he said sheepishly.
“I could go for some food. Do you have anything here to eat?”
“Probably not anything that wouldn’t give us food poisoning. I’ve been eating on base most of the time. About the only thing here is coffee and beer.”
She laughed as she sat up and peered at him in the darkness. He reached over to the bedside table and turned on the lamp. She shielded her eyes against the light but not her body. Jack was still amazed that she was here. His hand ran lightly over her cheek and down her throat.
“Do you have any idea how beautiful you are?”
Sam blushed, the pink tinge ran from her face down her chest. “Ah, no, but I’ll let you try to convince me.” She laughed at his seriousness.
His stomach interrupted the moment again. “For crying out loud!”
Sam rolled off the bed laughing. “Oh, well, I need to get my car out of O’Malley’s parking lot before they tow it. We can pick up something to eat when we do that.” She headed for the bathroom. “Dibs on the shower first!” she said over her shoulder.
Jack was too busy watching her gloriously naked backside walking away from him to realize what she’d just said.
“Where do you keep your towels?”
He snapped out of his reverie to answer her. “Under the sink.” He got up as he heard the shower start. He was tempted to follow her into the shower but his stomach protested its emptiness again. Instead, he gathered up Sam’s clothes for her and threw his own into the laundry hamper. He decided to go ahead and shave while Sam was in the shower.
Sam let the hot water cascade over her, her mind wandered back to the events of the day. She grew aroused again by just the memory of each of their encounters. She had to stifle a laugh at the interruptions. Her face fell slightly as she thought about Pete. She would have to deal with him eventually but she didn’t want to think about it now.
She heard Jack running water in the sink. She peered out from behind the shower door to see what he was doing. Shaving, with a towel wrapped around his waist. Good thing, her neck was almost raw from his day old beard. Not that she cared at the time, but she’d have to find a turtleneck to cover the obvious beard burn! He looked so delicious standing there. She shook her head as she closed the shower door.
She quickly finished her shower, wrapped her hair in a towel and dried off with another one before wrapping it around her. She stepped out of the shower to see Jack wiping off the steamed up mirror with a towel.
“About time!” he laughed. “I can’t see to shave with all the steam!”
“Well, here let me help you.” Sam wiggled in between him and the vanity and hopped up on the edge. She took the razor from his hand. “Don’t worry, I won’t hurt you.” She smiled at the mock look of fear in his eyes.
“I don’t know, a woman with a sharp object in her hand…” His voice trailed away as her fingers gently caressed his face. The touch of the razor was almost sensuous. He watched as she bit her lip slightly as she concentrated. He wanted to kiss her but didn’t want her to stop what she was doing.
She loved the intimacy of the act of shaving him, tracing the razor over his lean face. She started near his ear, slowly running the razor down to his jaw. She dipped the razor in the sink of water to rinse it and returned to the next section of his face. Carefully, she repeated her actions until only small bits of shaving cream remained. She opened the towel around her, dipped the corner of it into the water and gently washed the shaving cream away. She could see that he was trembling from the close contact. She lightly licked her lips.
The sound of the razor as it scraped his face, the harsh light of the bathroom on her hair, her breath gently caressing his face… All of it had Jack torn between kissing her or just throwing her on the bathroom floor and taking her. Then she opened the towel… He felt the moist edge of the towel stroke his face but his eyes focused on her. His body struggled with desire. Her tongue slipped out of her mouth and delicately ran around her lips.
She leaned closer to him. Her cheek grazed his, testing the effectiveness of her work, as she leaned forward. “There,” she whispered in his ear, “all done.”
He groaned. “Not by a long shot, Carter!” He took her face in both hands and kissed her hard. He felt her hands made short work of the towel at his waist. Her arms pulled him closer to her on the edge of the cabinet, her legs wrapped around him. He consumed her mouth as he felt her hand slip between them. Jack gasped as she stroked him. He could feel her body shift toward the edge of the counter.
Sam felt the shiver run through his body as she grasped him. She had watched as his arousal grew while she shaved him. Her body kept pace with him. All she could think about was having him inside her. She shifted forward and guided him into her.
“Oh…Sam…” His breathed into her mouth. His tongue sought hers more eagerly as he felt her body engulf him. He began moving slowly as she skirmished with his tongue. Her hands roamed up and down his back, her nails scraping against his skin.
“Yes…Jack,” she gasped. “Oh…you feel…so good!”
Her breathless words spurred him to move faster. Her legs tightened around him as she threw her head back, gulping at the air. Her eyes closed as an excited flush spread over her pale skin, from her face down her body. He held her hips and began moving faster, harder. Her breath grew more ragged as she moved closer to the edge of passion. He watched fascinated as she fell over the edge. Watching her climax in the harsh light of the bathroom, hearing her cries of ardor, he felt his own end nearing. His body began to lose control as he moved harder against her until he groaned as his climax filled her.
Sam pulled him close to her as his body trembled with the after effects of their lovemaking. She hungrily kissed his soft mouth as he continued to shake. His lips slowly came to life against hers as he returned to earth from the pinnacle of desire.
“You know, if you are around much, I’m gonna have to get up a lot earlier in the mornings…” he whispered in her ear as he moved to kiss her neck.
She laughed softly as she kissed his neck. “Hmmm…I think I will need another shower now.”
“Hey, I haven’t gotten mine yet! You’re going to use up all the hot water!”
“Well, you know what they say! Conserve water, shower with a friend!”
He laughed as she led him to the shower.
They were quiet as Jack drove to O’Malley’s. They had to remember that in public they couldn’t let their newly confessed feelings show. Sam’s hand rested on the seat between them, Jack’s lay on top of hers. The casual observer would never notice.
But Pete wasn’t a casual observer. He still smarted from O’Neill’s treatment earlier. He waited impatiently for them to come out of the house. He had noticed that there were no lights in most of the house as darkness settled. His mind came up with a thousand good reasons for it and only one bad one. He had watched as they left the house. They both looked happy but nothing in their demeanor would make him think that they had anything between them except friendship. But he remembered the look on O’Neill’s face last night as he drank himself into oblivion. The man was obviously in love with Sam. Seeing her and Pete together was clearly painful to him. Did Sam return his feelings in any way? Or was this a one sided thing?
Sam obviously cared for him. She had said last night that he was her C.O. and her friend. Was that all she thought of him as? She clearly had a lot of respect for him. Pete knew they had worked together for years before O’Neill’s promotion to General. Was there more to it?
Pete followed at a discreet distance. It appeared that they were going to get Sam’s car. He wanted to talk to Sam without her watchdog. O’Neill’s attitude seemed possessive. Suddenly, O’Neill turned sharply down a side street. He may have realized he was being tailed. Pete turned down the nearest street going the opposite direction. He would pick them up at O’Malley’s.
“Hang on,” Jack said quietly.
Sam did as she was told as Jack made a sharp right. “What’s wrong?” She looked behind them.
“I thought someone was following us.” He looked through the rear view mirror at the darkness behind them. The car turned the opposite direction.
“I guess I’m paranoid.” Jack made a left and went around the block to get back on the main road. “I could have sworn that we were being tailed.”
Sam got an uneasy feeling in the pit of her stomach. “Do you think it was Pete?”
“I don’t know,” he sighed. His hand reached for hers and squeezed it gently. “Like I said, maybe I am just being paranoid.”
“Or not.” Sam held his fingers tightly.
Jack looked carefully before he pulled out on to the main road again. There was no sign of another car. They continued on to O’Malley’s without further incident. Jack pulled up next to Sam’s car. They sat in the truck for a minute not saying anything.
“You know I want to kiss you,” he whispered not looking at her.
“You know I want you to,” she sighed not looking at him.
“I’ll pick up some food on the way home. You can come back over after you change.”
“Maybe I will just bring a change of clothes. You know, just in case…” Her voice trailed off as she finally looked up at him. The smile on his face was wondrous to see. Jack never smiled anymore. She didn’t realize how much she missed it until now.
“I was hoping you’d stay tonight.” He knew he was grinning like a fool but the smile she returned was glorious.
“I love you,” she whispered.
“I love you, too,” he said quietly.
He watched as she got out of his truck and into her car. He waited until she had pulled out of the parking lot before he headed back toward his house.
Part Two
Pete watched as they sat in the truck talking. He had no idea what they were talking about it but it didn’t look as if there was anything more than a friend dropping another off. They didn’t kiss or hug and O’Neill appeared to be headed back home while Sam took off in the other direction toward her house.
Pete waited a few minutes before he headed in the direction Sam took. He would catch up to her at her house so they could talk. He knew that she cared about him. He just needed to explain his actions. Okay, his lies. He should have told her a long time ago but he was afraid she wouldn’t understand. He was right. She didn’t understand. He didn’t realize that O’Neill might find out and tell her. Pete wanted to hurt that bastard so bad. He had no right to tell Sam about the FBI or the stake out.
Pete was so lost in his thoughts he didn’t realize that he’d practically caught up to Sam. He didn’t know how long he’d been this close to her.
Sam noticed the car behind her. It wasn’t that late so it wouldn’t be unusual to have a car headed in the same direction but after Jack’s feeling of being followed… Sam turned left quickly on a side street. The car behind her slowed but then continued straight. It looked like a dark SUV. It looked like Pete’s.
She picked up her cell phone and dialed Jack’s number.
“General,” she said carefully. Surveillance techniques these days were very sophisticated.
“Carter?” He didn’t know what prompted the formality but he’s play along. He just hoped it wasn’t second thoughts.
“Earlier, when you thought someone was following us to O’Malley’s, did you see what kind of vehicle it was?”
“No, it was too far behind. From the height of the lights, I would say a truck or SUV. Why?”
“I got the same feeling and when I changed direction, well…”
“Carter?”
“I think it was Pete. It looked like his SUV.”
“Do you think he was watching my house to see when you left?”
“That’s all I can think of.”
“Look, Carter, I just picked up dinner. I’m not that far from you. I’ll be there in a few minutes.”
“Sir, you don’t have to do that. I don’t think he’s dangerous. I think he just wants to talk to me without someone around.”
“Don’t care, Carter. I’ll see you in a few minutes.”
“Sir…” Her voice trailed off as the line went dead. “Shit, that’s not what I wanted. I just wanted confirmation on the vehicle.” She slammed the phone shut and tossed it on the seat next to her.
Pete went a different route to Sam’s at break neck speed. He wanted to get there first. He was sure she thought she was being followed but if he was already at her house when she got there…well, she might not think it was him.
He pulled up and cut the engine and lights quickly. He would have to get to her car before she got out. He didn’t want her getting too close to the engine. It was hot; she’d know he just got there.
Sam pulled up to her house to find Pete already there. “Damn,” she said under her breath. “I don’t need this right now!”
He was at her car door opening it for her before she could get her stuff together to get out.
“What are you doing here?”
“We need to talk, Sam. Please let me explain.”
“Pete, there really is nothing to talk about, except you following me.” She pushed past him and walked over to his car. Pete winced as she placed her hand on the hood. “Bad habit… One you need to get serious control over. I don’t appreciate being followed and neither does General O’Neill.”
“Sam, I just wanted to talk to you. I was afraid that you wouldn’t return my calls.”
“So you watched the General’s house all day until I left and then you followed us? That’s supposed to make me want to talk to you.” Sam felt like her privacy had been violated, as if she had been violated.
“I guess I didn’t think about it. I’m sorry, Sam.”
“You guessed we wouldn’t notice, you mean.” Sam pushed past him and headed toward the house. “Go home, Pete. I don’t want to talk, not now, not ever. I don’t need this kind of crap.”
Pete ran to catch up to her. “Sam, please! I love you!”
Sam stopped and turned to look at him. “How can you love me? You don’t even know me! All you know is what you are allowed to see and that’s not much.” Sam clenched her fists. “Pete, please leave and don’t come back. Don’t call me and do not ever try to follow me again.”
Pete flinched at the tone of her voice. He had never heard her tone so menacing. She turned toward the house. She was walking away from him. Pete panicked…he couldn’t lose her! He ran up behind her and grabbed her arm. The next thing he knew he was flat on the ground illuminated by headlights. He tried to roll over but found himself pinned to the ground by Sam.
“Uh, Carter, you have a problem here?” O’Neill’s voice drifted over Pete’s prone body.
“Nothing I can’t handle, sir.” She moved off Pete. “General, I told you that you didn’t need to come over here.”
“And miss this! Never!” Jack leaned over Pete. “Hey, Shanahan, I told you she could kick your ass.”
Pete pushed up off the ground. He had never wanted to hurt anyone as bad as he wanted to hurt O’Neill at this moment. “She caught me off guard,” he said flatly.
“Off guard, on guard, doesn’t matter. She’ll still kick your ass. I would suggest you leave before she does just that.”
Sam was still mad at Pete for grabbing her arm. She hadn’t expected it and had reacted instinctively. “Pete, please leave. I didn’t mean to do that. I just wasn’t expecting you to grab my arm. It was…habit. Now go.”
Pete brushed himself off and glared at O’Neill. He turned to Sam. “This isn’t over, Sam. I want to talk to you without your watchdog here and I will be back.”
“Hey, Shanahan, I wouldn’t threaten her. If she doesn’t take care of you, I would be happy to do it myself. Not to mention that she has some rather unusual friends that would be more than accommodating.” Jack was enjoying taunting the younger man. He knew he should just shut up and enjoy, but he couldn’t help it.
“General, please, you are not helping things.” Sam’s voice was angry.
“Sorry, Carter. I…” He decided that shutting up was good.
Pete walked swiftly to his truck. He left skid marks on the pavement as he left.
“Sir, that was unnecessary.”
“Sorry, Sam.”
He looked like a chastised little boy. Sam couldn’t stay mad at him. “Come on, let’s go in before the whole neighborhood is talking. What did you get for dinner? I hope it’s enough for two. I’m starved.”
Jack laughed as he pulled a large bag from a local Chinese food restaurant out of his truck. “More than enough! I usually buy enough for several days so I don’t have to worry about food. Lead on, Carter.”
Jack set the food down as soon as the front door closed. He pulled Sam close to him and kissed her gently. “That was that goodbye kiss I couldn’t get earlier!” Then he kissed her harder. “And that is hello.”
Sam knew she shouldn’t encourage him. She was supposed to be mad at him now for being such an ass outside, but she couldn’t help it. Her lips melted into his. “You are incorrigible,” she whispered when they came up for air.
“Hey, no fair using big words! I don’t have my dictionary handy!”
Sam pushed away from him. “Oh, give it up! Only Daniel actually believes your dense act anyway.” She laughed as she picked up the bag of food.
“Who said it was an act?”
“I did.” She laughed as he followed her into the kitchen. “You should have gone home you know. It’s not a good idea to be here with Pete still wanting to talk to me. He has good reason to dislike you. He could cause trouble.” She pulled plates from the cabinets as he continued behind her.
“I know and I won’t stay. But I didn’t want you to be alone knowing that SOB was following you. You don’t know if he could be dangerous or not!”
Sam turned around to face Jack with plates in her hands. “See, Jack, that’s the thing. I do know him. And I know that he cares enough for me to ask me to marry him. Which I just told him no last night and completely broke things off with him. I owe it to him to at least talk to him. I lost my temper because he was following me again. If he hadn’t done that, I would have talked to him tonight. And, I will talk to him soon. He deserves that much.”
Jack at least had the decency to look a little guilty at his treatment of Shanahan. He didn’t like the man, definitely didn’t trust him, but Sam had a point. And he could sympathize with his feelings for Sam. She was a woman that was easy to fall in love with. “I’m sorry, Sam. I guess, well, after the whole Osirus incident, I just didn’t trust him. Then when I found out about him following you, well, I guess I have a little unresolved anger against the guy.”
Sam smiled at him. “I will forgive you, but no more taunting him should the opportunity arise!”
“Deal,” he whispered as he leaned over to kiss her. His stomach once more intruded with a loud growl.
“Take these to the table,” she laughed as she shoved the plates and forks at him. “What do you want to drink? I have water, beer and diet soda.”
“You need to ask with a selection like that?”
She grabbed a beer and a bottle of water and met him in the dining area. “I should know better.” She handed him the beer.
They had just sat down when the doorbell rang. They looked at each other startled. Neither of them thought that Pete would be back so soon. Jack started to stand up.
“Sit, I’ll get it,” Sam said as she stood. It was almost nine o’clock; she didn’t know who else would show up at this time of night. She opened the door to find her father, Daniel and Teal’c standing on the porch. “Come in. Figures you guys would show up when there was food to be had!”
“Food?” Daniel hadn’t eaten since lunch. “Food sounds good!”
“Jack, get some more plates would you? Guess you won’t have leftovers to live off of for days.”
“Hi, Jack!” Jacob’s voice was calmer than it had been this afternoon. “What are you doing here?”
“Just thought I’d share my dinner. Just didn’t expect to share it with so many!” Jack walked back around the counter to the table with extra plates and forks.
“I have water, beer and diet soda. Who wants what?” Sam headed in the direction of the refrigerator.
After filling their drink orders, Sam sat down to enjoy the first food she’d had today. She looked around the table at her father, her friends and her lover. She glanced back down at her plate quickly. She didn’t want anyone to see the tears that welled up in her eyes. Her father had been instrumental in bringing her and Jack together after a very long time. He evidently understood better than she did what happiness meant.
She thought about the hallucination of her dad talking to her on the Prometheus. She realized that it was herself talking then but she knew that her dad really did only want her to be happy. She just didn’t realize how much until he pulled this little shenanigan of his. And Daniel and Teal’c were right there with him all the way. Good friends as always.
And Jack. She had no idea how they were going to work this out but she would find a way. There was no way she was giving up this time. She had managed to convince herself that her hallucinations meant that, subconsciously, she needed to move on, get the life that Jack had ordered her to get years ago. Now, she knew that it meant that she needed do what it took to be happy. And this time she was going to do just that. She was going to be happy.
Part Three
After good friends, good food and a good time had by all, Daniel and Teal’c left. Everyone, except, of course Jacob, had a 0700 briefing in the morning and it was already late. No one had said anything about Pete or Jack and Sam’s obvious change of demeanor toward each other. They just seemed to accept it without question. Jacob was going to go back to base with the guys but Sam convinced him to stay with her. She knew that Jack wouldn’t be able to stay. They needed to err on the side of caution until they were sure that Pete wouldn’t cause them any trouble. Jacob retired quickly to the guest room, giving Jack and Sam some privacy to say good night.
Jack slipped an arm around Sam as she walked him to the door.
“I’ll see you in the morning,” he whispered as he turned to face her at the door. He kissed her forehead as he pulled her close to him.
She turned her face up to him and smiled sadly. “I was hoping for a different conclusion to this evening.” She kissed his lips lightly. She buried her face in his chest and sighed.
“I know. Me too,” he said softly. “I really wanted to go to sleep with you close to me. But we will soon… we just need to be cautious for now.”
“I love you,” her muffled voice drifted up from his chest.
“And I love you. I have for a very long time and I never thought the day would come when I could tell you.”
“I wish…I wish I’d had the courage to tell you sooner.”
Jack pulled away from her slightly. She wouldn’t look up at him. He cupped her chin with his hand and pulled her face up gently. “Courage, Sam? That’s a curious choice of words.”
“Well, it’s the truth. I guess I…” She tried to look down again. Her face tugged at his hand.
He released her face and let her sink back into his chest. “Guess what?”
She sighed heavily before continuing. “I guess I was afraid your feelings had changed. I was the one that suggested we not talk about the revelations of the Zatarc testing. And then, after a while, well, you started to grow more distant. I thought your feelings had changed.”
“My feelings never changed, Sam.” He held her tight against him. “I just needed to put some distance between us for my own sanity. I couldn’t work with you every day, see you go into harm’s way…” It was his turn to sigh. “I needed the distance to function. So many times, I watched good people die or go through the gate and never return. I had to push you to arms length or lose my mind every time we stepped through the gate.”
Her voice was small as she asked, “What’s changed, Jack? I will still be going through the gate, there is still the possibility…” Her voice trailed off as his arms tightened on her, hard. She could hear his heart beat.
“I know. But it’s different if I know that when you come back through the gate, you’re coming back to me.”
Sam couldn’t stop the tears that had been building. She tried to swallow the sob that threatened to escape from her throat. Her arms clenched around him tight.
He could feel the slight shaking that accompanied the quiet sob. “Sam, shush, it’s okay. Everything will work out.” He realized that he was going nowhere right then so he led her to the couch. He pulled her down on to it with him. She snuggled into his chest as she fought to keep from crying. Again! She had cried so much today. She thought she was past it. His words…
She lifted her face up to his as one hand reached around his neck to pull his lips to hers. Her mouth met his as her tongue demanded entrance. Her emotions ran wild as he let her take the lead. Her mouth anxiously devoured his…her tongue sought his wildly as she pulled her body around to straddle his lap. The feel of him against her, below her, heightened her senses.
He could feel her desire in the frenzied way she kissed him, the way her hands grasped his back and shoulders, the way they ran through his hair. He kissed her hard as he relished the feel of her on him. He knew he needed to get this under control. He couldn’t stay here and if this continued, he knew he wouldn’t be going anywhere. He reached for her wrists and pulled her back. Her neck strained forward as she attempted to keep contact with his mouth.
“Sam, Sam, calm down. We can’t… Your father…” he whispered as he tried to control her. She continued to fight to regain his lips. “Sam!” This time his voice got through to her.
“Jack, don’t leave. Just stay with me.”
“Sam, your dad is down the hall from your bedroom. We can’t just…” Her eyes…she really shouldn’t be allowed to have eyes that beautiful. There should be a law against it.
“That’s the beauty of it, Jack. No one would believe anything was going on. Not with my dad here. Please, don’t leave me alone tonight. We can just say that you’d had a little too much to drink to drive safely so you slept on the couch.”
Jack groaned when he realized that she was actually talking him into this. “Sam, but your dad is here!”
Sam sighed with exasperation. “And does that mean if we ever get married, I won’t be getting any when my dad visits! Besides, he’s the one that set us up! He was trying to get us together. What should he expect after this afternoon?” She realized that Jack’s grip on her wrists had eased. She took advantage of his momentary distraction to kiss him again.
Somewhere in the back of his mind, he realized that she had mentioned marriage, in relationship to them. That thought alone was enough to distract him. Then he found her lips attached to his again, he found his common sense had taken leave of the scene. He couldn’t say no to her.
Sam sensed his surrender. She stood up and held out her hand to him. He took it, albeit reluctantly.
“Sam, I think we’ve both lost our minds,” he whispered as she led him down the hall to her bedroom. “Please tell me your bedroom door locks!”
Jack laid listening to Sam’s steady breathing. Their lovemaking had been frantic and brief. He felt like he was 16 and making out in the living room with his parents in the bedroom. Trying to stay quiet proved to be interesting. Sam tended to make a lot of noise during sex. He found the whole situation hysterical in retrospect. He still had to fight the urge to giggle. ‘Humph, giggle!’ She had done plenty of that tonight. His attempts to keep her quiet had resulted in more giggling. They were going to have to cover that rule against giggling again.
He felt sleep tug at him in spite of his amusement. He wanted to stay awake to enjoy the feel of her sleeping against him. Her back was neatly snuggled up against his front. They fit extremely well together this way. One arm draped over her waist, the other under her neck, he drifted off to sleep.
Jacob was relieved to find that the noise down the hall had quieted down. He was annoyed with Jack for staying. He couldn’t believe that he would take a risk like that with Sam’s career. His truck parked in front of her house all night. When Sam was out of the room, Jack had told him and the guys about the little encounter with Pete. Jacob was worried that Pete might do something drastic.
‘Do you think that you could stop thinking and go to sleep?’ Selmac’s internal voice intruded on his thoughts.
‘I can’t sleep.’
‘You are not trying. You are too busy worrying about Samantha and General O’Neill.’
‘Well, why shouldn’t I? The risk they are taking with him staying here!’
‘What risk, Jacob? Who would ever suspect anything happening with her father in the same house?’
Jacob had to laugh aloud at that thought. ‘Okay, so if someone thought of that, then I should be mad at my daughter and not Jack. That sounds like her doing.’
‘The female mind does seem to work more efficiently than that of the male.’
‘Don’t start that, old woman!’ Jacob laughed as he got comfortable. She was a pain sometimes but the old woman had a point. No one would believe that Jack stayed with Sam with her father in the house. At that point, Jacob was able to relax enough for sleep. His last thought was that George couldn’t get here fast enough. They had to do something about this.
Jacob was up to something. Jack just couldn’t put his finger on what. Daniel’s voice intruded on his thoughts. ‘Briefing, Jack, pay attention to the briefing,’ he told himself. He wasn’t allowed to zone out on briefings now that he was a General. ‘Not fair,’ he grumbled silently.
“There are signs of a civilization on this planet. Although it appears to be rather primitive, there is evidence of some mining but mostly it seems agrarian. There is no evidence of
“And we should visit this planet because…” Jack’s voice trailed off as he awaited Daniel’s answer.
“We aren’t sure what they are mining. There’s no way to tell from MALP telemetry. It’s too far from the gate.” Sam supplied the information for Daniel.
“Anything we should be worried about?”
Daniel continued. “Not really. Some of the writing and drawings on the gate’s pedestal is reminiscent of Aztec civilization. The Aztec’s could be a little bloodthirsty. They believed in human sacrifices to the gods but if there is no evidence of Goa’uld, they probably have stopped the old religious ways.”
“Or not.” Jack wasn’t sure if some vague mining was worth his team meeting up with people that would try to sacrifice them.
“Okay, how far is the village from the gate?”
Sam spoke up again. “According to the information we were able to get from the probe, it’s about an eight hour walk from the gate.”
Jack nodded. “That would put you out of range of the MALP for check-ins.” He thought about it for a moment before shouting, “Walter!” And Walter appeared as if he were waiting outside the door.
“Yes, sir.”
“Who’s available to back up SG1?”
“SG12 is just coming off a two day stand down and aren’t scheduled for another mission yet.”
“Okay, get ‘em in here.” Jack said as Walter nodded and left. “I’m sending SG12 to hold the gate and maintain contact with you in case our friends on the planet have reverted to their previously bloodthirsty ways.”
Jack noticed that Sam relaxed slightly as he spoke. Does she still doubt herself? Or does she think I am doubting her? “Okay, gang. You have a go for 1300 hours.” Jack stood indicating that the meeting was over.
Jack watched as they filed out of the briefing room. His thoughts returned to Jacob. He was up to something. Jack had been extremely uncomfortable when he emerged from Sam’s room this morning only to run into Jacob. Jacob acted as if it wasn’t unusual for his daughter’s commanding officer to be in her bedroom at 0500.
Jacob made small talk as if nothing was going on. Sam showed up in the kitchen within a few minutes and, again, Jacob just greeted his daughter as if nothing were going on. Even Sam looked a little uncomfortable. Jacob excused himself when Jack said he was leaving and went back into the guest room, again, leaving Sam and Jack privacy to say goodbye.
Jack shook his head in confusion as he sat down at his desk. This whole thing was too weird. He had to get some of the work off his desk now. He wanted to talk to Sam before they left and he needed to get this paperwork done before Walter came looking for it.
Walter turned out to be a regular drill sergeant. Of course, anyone in the military knew that the non-coms were the backbone of the military and General or not, it was best to do as ‘suggested’. Walter always ‘suggested’ things. He couldn’t order a General to do anything, but a ‘suggestion’ from a non-com is more than an order, it’s a commandment. So Jack tried to get the paperwork under control like a good little General.
Sam was in her lab trying to decide what instruments to take with her but her attention kept drifting over to her father’s behavior. She really expected some sort of reaction this morning when he woke to find Jack still there but he had done nothing. He acted as if it were normal for Jack to be there. He asked Sam for a ride to base and if he could borrow her car. He said that he wanted to pick up a couple of things before he had to go back to the Tok’ra. Unfortunately, this mission would cause Sam to miss a few days with her dad. Hopefully, he would still be here when they got back. She told him to feel free to hang on to the car and to stay at her house until she got back. He left to run his errands shortly before the briefing started.
She sighed as she got her head back into work. SG12’s commander should be here soon for a pre-mission briefing so she needed to get it together.
Part Four
George phoned Jacob early. He made it in late last night. Jacob pulled up to George’s house eagerly. He wanted to try to get this thing settled before Sam got back. He and George had talked several times about Jack and Sam over the years. Jacob had been convinced that nothing would happen between the two of them until one or the other left the service. George didn’t think they would last that long. Their bet had been the source of amusement over the years, confusing people that didn’t understand what they were talking about. Now the amusement was gone, they had a situation to deal with.
“Jacob, old friend, come on in!” George was dressed in civvies with a cup of coffee in his hand. “You want some?”
“No, thanks, coffee doesn’t agree with Selmac. I had to give it up. I’ll take some juice or something if you’ve got it.”
“I stopped at the store on the way in last night so you are in luck. Orange juice okay?”
“Sure, thanks.”
George sat down at the kitchen table across from Jacob. “So what’s the big mystery?”
“Jack and Sam.”
George looked rather surprised. “I thought Sam was dating that cop from
“Well, she was. But she wasn’t happy about it so I took some steps to intervene.” Jacob quickly ran down the events of the last few days.
George swore softly under his breath as he got up to refill his coffee. “This would have been a lot easier to deal with before they got promoted. Now it’s going to be a little more difficult.”
“Well, you are going to lose one or the other of them if we don’t do something to make this work. I didn’t want to fill you in on this on the phone because we can’t risk someone making an issue out of it before we have a solution.”
“Maybe I should talk to them, find out what their intentions are.”
“I don’t know if that would be a good idea. I didn’t tell them about you being here. I didn’t want them to do anything rash before we had a chance to talk. But I know their intentions are serious. Sam’s going off world today for a few days. That will give us some time to think of something.”
George nodded. “I think I will get back to
Jacob nodded and laughed. “I was planning on that. I had the perfect opportunity this morning when I caught him sneaking out of Sam’s bedroom at 0500. I decided to put it off until after I talked to you. I think it made him more nervous that I was obviously ignoring it!”
George banged his head on the table. “He stayed there with you there? He’s got it bad then. I can’t believe he would risk your wrath like that!”
“I believe that my daughter talked him into it. I think she could talk him into anything at this point!”
“Okay, well, that tells me a lot right there. I will get back here as soon as I can. This is something that I really don’t want to discuss on the phone. I will either give you thumbs up or down to let you know how it went but I will get back here before I can tell you what’s up.”
“Good! Thanks, George. I just want my little girl happy. Strangely enough, she thinks that she will be happy with Jack.”
“They deserve to be happy. We’ll figure something out.”
Jacob hurried back to base feeling better after his talk with George. He would work something out. The President didn’t want to lose Jack or Sam so they would find a way. He wanted to see Sam before she left on her mission. He found her in her lab.
“Hey, Sammie.”
“Dad! You disappeared earlier. I wasn’t sure you’d be back before I left.”
“Had some errands to run but I planned on being back before then.”
Sam looked down and bit her lip. “I wanted to apologize about, uh, this morning. I, uh…”
Jacob laughed at her obvious embarrassment. “No need, Sam. I understand. I’m afraid I have to confess that I set up that dinner from hell to make you come to your senses.”
“I kinda figured that one out.” Sam smiled wryly. “Thanks.”
“You’re welcome.” He walked over to hug his daughter. “Sammie, I have always wanted you to be happy. If this makes you happy, then I’m happy.”
She sighed. She kept her voice low as she continued. “He does, but it is going to be complicated. He doesn’t want me to quit, I don’t want him to quit but we can’t just go on as if nothing’s changed. Neither of us wants to risk court-martial either. It would be better for one of us to resign.”
“Well, don’t do anything rash. I am working on something. Hopefully, by the time you get back we will have some other options.”
“Dad… What are you up to?” Her look was filled with suspicion.
“Nothing bad, baby, nothing bad!” He laughed as he kissed her forehead. “Don’t worry about it!”
Jack’s voice startled them both. “Am I interrupting something?”
“Nope, just saying goodbye to my daughter. I’ll see you in a few days, Sammie.”
Jacob smiled to Jack as he left the room.
Jack shook his head as he watched him leave the room. For some mysterious reason, he closed the door behind him as he left. “Sam, why is it I get the feeling he’s up to something?”
“Probably because he is and you haven’t lost your instincts by flying a desk.” She laughed as belatedly added, “sir.”
Jack glared at her. “Flying a desk, huh. You are awfully close to insubordination, Colonel.”
“Me? Insubordinate? Never!”
“So what is your old man up to?”
“Well, something good I hope but he wasn’t real forthcoming with information. He likes being secretive, sir.”
“I’ve noticed that a time or two.” Ever cautious of security cameras, Jack moved out of range of the one in Sam’s lab. “What is this?” There was nothing there to look at but he said it as he motioned her over to him.
“What’s what, sir?” She walked over to where he was and slipped her arms around him. “Oh, that. Just something I am working on.” She smiled up at him.
He kissed her lightly. “Well, it looks interesting.”
She returned his kiss. “Yes, it looks very promising.”
“Well, I just wanted to stop by and tell you that SG12 is waiting in the briefing room.” He hugged her tightly and kissed her again.
“Okay, I’ll be there in a minute.”
They released each other and walked back into the main part of her lab. “See you in a few, Colonel.” And with that Jack left.
Sam followed shortly to deal with the briefing.
Jack stood in the control room and watched as the seventh chevron locked into place. The gate opened with a flash of light. “You have a go, SG1 and 12.” His voiced announced through the speakers. “Watch your six…” he said more to himself than anyone else. Sam led the two teams up the ramp and through the event horizon. The shimmering pool disappeared shortly afterwards.
Jack sighed and wandered back to his office. ‘Get used to it. She’ll be back.’ His thoughts drifted back to what he’s said to her last night. She would still be out there in harm’s way but she would be coming home to him. He went back to reviewing the never-ending files that seemed to pile up on his desk when he wasn’t looking.
Jacob was in Sam’s lab using her computer to catch up on earth news through the internet when Walter found him. “Sir, you have a call from General Hammond.” He picked up the phone, dialed a code and offered it to Jacob.
Jacob jumped up quickly and accepted the phone.
“Thank you, Walter.” He waited to speak until Walter had left the room. “George, what’s up?”
“Thumbs up, Jacob. I am on my way back now. I’ll be there this afternoon. Arrange to have Jack off base this evening so I can talk to him. You can meet me at my house if you want.”
“I am staying at Sam’s while she’s on a mission. Why don’t we meet there?”
“That will work. I’ll call when I land.”
“Great! Thanks, George, for everything.”
“No thanks needed, Jacob. You know I love Sam too and want her happy.”
Jack was actually getting some work done. He managed to get through the majority of the reports on his desk, much to Walter’s surprise. He was concentrating on one from SG6 about some mineral deposits when someone cleared their throat. He looked up to see Jacob standing in the door to his office.
“Jacob, come in. Have a seat! You just saved me from another boring report.”
Jacob laughed as he sat down. “Guess they forgot to tell you about all the boring parts of being a General.”
“Yeah, they didn’t mention it. Teased me with the pay, the parking spot and the rank, but no one mentioned the paperwork.” Jack grimaced as he closed the folder and set it aside. “So what brings you here?”
“I wanted to invite you to dinner. I am staying at Sam’s until she gets back. I thought it would be a chance for us to talk, catch up on things.”
Jack wasn’t looking forward to the talk but he knew that it would probably be better to do it without Sam around. “Okay, sounds…good.” He said hesitantly. Probably going to lecture him about last night. That’s okay, he shouldn’t have stayed and he knew it so if Jacob wanted to harangue him about it, he deserved it. “What time?”
“Around 1900. I haven’t cooked in a while but maybe I can manage the grill.”
“Great!” Jack tried to sound enthusiastic but it wasn’t working very well.
“See you later then. I’ll let you get back to the paperwork.”
Sam halted their march to let them rest and grab some rations. They had been walking for nearly five hours. Their progress was hampered by the fact that the path was extremely overgrown. She took that as further proof that there was no Goa’uld presence here. So, while it slowed them down, it appeared to be a good sign.
Daniel and Teal’c had said nothing about yesterday or last night. It was almost unnerving.&nbs