"The Truth Between Friends" By Ruth M King

TITLE: The Truth Between Friends

RATING: PG Although there's some bad language later on and some innuendo.

ARCHIVE: Sam and Jack and Heliopolis, anyone else please ask

SPOILERS: Minor ones, from the film onwards.Particularly Children of the Gods, Pretense, Brief Candle, Cold Lazarus, Solitudes.

DISCLAIMERS: Stargate SG1 is the property of MGM, Showtime, Double Secret and Gekko etc. I'm just playing for a while!

NOTES: This is partially told from Daniel's point of view and partially in flashback. Hences the ambiguity of the spoiler warning.

**************************************************************************

There's several things I don't understand about Jack. Firstly, why does he have this big house when there's only him living in it? I got the answer to that question today.

We were having a party at Jack's place. It was Sam's birthday and we weren't going to let her sneak off and try to ignore the fact. Jack had volunteered his house, got the caterers in, bought the beer..... No real surprise there. I mean he's always had a soft spot for her. More than a soft spot....a big mushy hole in his heart is a better description. Excuse me if I sound a little bitter. I have cause.

So it was getting late, I'd had more than my usual quota of beers and I was on a quest for an unoccupied bathroom. Janet was downstairs, General Hammond was upstairs and Teal'c was in the guest bathroom. Sidenote....nice to know he has to go like the rest of us.....makes him more human. Back to the story. I ended up wandering into Jack's bedroom to use the ensuite. I was washing my hands when I noticed that there was something decidedly unmasculine about that bathroom. Either that or Jack's taken to wearing makeup...now how many of us think that's likely?

I stagger back into the main bedroom. I can't help it, I have to take a look around. If there's a new woman in Jack's life I think its only right that his friends do all they can to find out who the hell he's seeing and why he hasn't told us about her.

The facts...ONE, there's makeup in the bathroom.

TWO, there's women's clothes hanging in his closet.

So she's not just some casual acquaintance. This is weird. I mean I know that Jack keeps his private life quiet but this is....weird?

THREE. There's jewellery on the dresser. Some ear studs, a couple of rings. Looks like an engagement and a wedding ring? Curiouser and curiouser I think is the term....I mean is he having an affair? Doesn't seem like his style....but who knows? Sara? Then why isn't she here?

I sit on the bed, trying to assimilate the information. Sam's going to be devastated. I know she has feelings for the Colonel. She never says anything, but we've all recognised the signs. What am I going to tell her? It's obvious that Jack won't bother. Poor Sam.

Someone calls me and I have to go back downstairs. Jack and Sam are standing by the French windows. He's made some joke and she's laughing. For some reason she finds him really funny. She reaches out and touches his shoulder and he gives her a genuine smile....the bastard.

"Hey Danny, Sam's gonna make some coffee, you want?" Jack calls to me.

Coffee is the last thing on my mind, but I nod to him anyway. It'd be suspicious if I didn't drink my favourite beverage. Most people seem to have left. It must be later than I thought, the living room is almost empty. I follow Sam into the kitchen and stand around watching her make the coffee.

"Something on your mind, Daniel?" she asks as she reaches for the milk.

I mumble something. She raises her eyebrows, but doesn't question me further. Loading up Jack's black coffee with three spoonfuls of sugar, she takes it back through to the other room. Still in the quest for evidence I sneak a look in the fridge.

FOUR....there's cottage cheese, salad, chocolate......Girl food. I know I'm getting surreal but so is this whole situation. Yoghurt....Jack doesn't even like yoghurt.

"Daniel?" Sam is standing at the doorway. "Is there something you want?"

"Where's the....cookie jar?" God how stupid.

Sam shakes her head, but she takes a box of cookies down from the shelf and hands them to me. Now I have to eat one. Peanut butter....ick. Sam seems to like them though, she takes two and disappears again.

FIVE...How come Sam knows her way round Jack's kitchen so well?

Sam. Jack. My alcohol riddled brain is starting to clear. Sam and Jack. Doesn't really make sense. For a start it'd be against regulations. I walk back into the living room. They're sitting together on the couch. Almost close enough to touch one another....almost but not quite. Why do they always do that?

It's got to that quiet part of the evening. Only my best friends are still here. Janet's curled up in one chair and Teal'c appears to be guarding the door. I take the other armchair and watch the couple opposite me. So the question is, what the hell is going on between those two? I mean are they...you know...doing it. Half the base seems to think so, but I've never seen any evidence. Then again, perhaps I wouldn't. As Jack always says I do get wrapped up in my rocks sometimes....Damn. Artefacts. I mean artefacts. OK, that's it, I'm obviously drunk and delusional. Forget I thought anything like that. Sam and Jack just isn't going to happen.

Then I notice Jack's hand. It's resting next to Sam's, and every time they look at each other (which is like, all the time) he brushes his hand against hers. I doubt he even realises that he's doing it. I feel myself blushing. How can they get so much intimacy into such a simple gesture? I feel like I'm watching them making love. This is getting embarrassing. Am I going to spend the rest of my life trying to interpret their every gesture? Of course I could just ask them. Yeah, right!

"Something on your mind Daniel?" Jack asks me.

He's noticed that I've been quieter than usual. Everyone's attention is now focused on me. I can feel myself turning red.

"You know me, Jack, four beers is enough to knock me out," I attempt to sound light-hearted.

"Daniel, opening the bottle is enough.......you know where the spare room is," Jack offers.

"Right. In that case I'll see you in the morning."

Of course I could assume that Sam will go home with Janet.....except Janet won't be driving anywhere tonight.

Unable to do anything else I throw myself onto the spare room bed and make an attempt to sleep. Doesn't work. I'm still awake an hour later, when I hear footsteps on the stairs and quiet voices in the hallway.

"Happy birthday," Jack whispers.

"Not my birthday anymore," Sam replies.

"Then you won't want your present."

"Depends what it is."

Then she giggles. Oh Great. Their room is next to mine. If I wanted evidence I think I'm going to get it right now. I jam my head under the pillow. When did this start? I mean surely I would have noticed something. I've said that before, haven't I?

**************************************************************************

"Let me get this straight......You get the Stargate working, you send someone through it.....all without bothering to tell me!" Samantha Carter yelled.

To say she was disappointed would be an understatement.

"Sam, you were on leave....." Catherine began only to be interrupted by Colonel West.

"Captain Carter, we had our reasons for assigning Colonel O'Neill to this mission...."

"Him?"

Carter pointed through the control room window to where a man was kissing the bottom of the ramp and chanting 'there's no place like home, there's no place like home....'.

"Those were my orders, Captain. Do you have any reason for questioning them.....any reason that isn't personal, that is?" West continued.

"No sir," Carter replied, coming to attention.

"Then if you'll excuse me, I have a debriefing to conduct."

Sam couldn't stop herself feeling the frustration. She'd spent the last two years of her life on this project and the moment her back was turned, some geeky archaeologists solved the problem in three seconds. Why hadn't she seen something so simple? Perhaps if she had been here.....But no, she had to choose this week to break off her engagement to psycho boyfriend from hell. To make matters worse the brass had conveniently managed to forget her combat record when they selected the exploration team. They should have called her back.

"So, how did things go with Jonas?" Catherine asked.

"Not well," Sam sighed. "He got mad."

"He didn't hurt you, did he?"

"No.....but....I don't know. I guess I'm glad I don't have to see him again."

"You know what I'm going to say, don't you?"

"Yeah. Sometimes I don't know what I'd do without you, Catherine."

Sam gave the older woman a hug.

"Excuse me? Hope I'm not interrupting anything."

The two women turned to see Colonel O'Neill standing behind them. He looked vaguely embarrassed and Sam felt her anger rising again. This guy was nothing but a jarhead who had stolen her command. She looked him up and down. A good looking man, in his early forties she guessed. He grinned at her. Sam had to fight the urge to smile back at him.

"Catherine, could I have a word?" he asked.

"I'll see you later," Sam muttered.

"This is still a fantastic opportunity," Catherine reminded her.

Carter just shrugged and pushed past O'Neill. He watched her leave the room.

"What's up with her?" he asked.

"You took her command."

"Oh....look Catherine, Daniel asked me to give you this. He said it brought him luck."

Catherine took the amulet and held it up to the light, "What happened to him?"

"He's not coming back."

"Is he.....?"

"Could I use a phone? There's someone I really need to talk to."

"There's one in the general's office."

"Thanks."

O'Neill hurried away from her, glad to avoid questions regarding Dr. Jackson. He still had to concoct a realistic sounding report. If he told his superiors that Daniel Jackson was alive and living happily with the natives of the desert planet, they would probably send another team through...or even worse a bomb. He wasn't going to let that happen. The people of Abydos had spent too many years under the oppressive rule of Ra. They deserved the chance to rebuild their world, without outside interference. If O'Neill had to lie to his superior officers...so be it. All he had to do was make sure that he, Kawalski and Ferretti got their stories straight.

This was not his first concern, however. The general's office was empty, so Jack took the liberty of sitting at the desk to use the phone. He dialled his home number.

"Hello, Sara?" he spoke as soon as the female voice answered. It took a few seconds to register that it wasn't his wife.

"No, it's Maggie."

"Is Sara there? Is she OK?"

"She doesn't want to see you, Jack."

"Dammit Maggie, I need to speak to her."

"It's a little late for that. She's coming round to my place for a few days."

"Put her on the phone!"

"Sorry, Jack....."

He could hear his wife's voice in the background, but was unable to make out the words. She sounded hysterical.

"Sara? Maggie? What the hell's goin' on?" Jack demanded.

"She wants you out by the time she gets back. Goodbye."

Jack sat back in shock. He couldn't believe this was happening. So their relationship hadn't been good since Charlie died, but she had never mentioned leaving him. He couldn't stay here, he had to get home. Sara wouldn't just walk out of his life. Not after all this time.

"Colonel O'Neill...."

He recognised the blonde woman who had been talking to Catherine.

"Captain?"

"Samantha Carter, sir. I wanted to speak to you regarding your experience with the Stargate."

"This isn't a good time."

"After the briefing, I understand, sir, but if you could....."

"Not now!"

He walked past her, intent on getting off base as quickly as he could. Stopping Sara leaving was his main priority, not some damn scientist.

"Sir? Where are you going?" she shouted after him.

"Out! Tell the general that I'll be back in a couple of days."

"You can't do that? What about the briefing? What about quarantine?"

"Screw 'em."

"Sir!"

**************************************************************************

I creep downstairs early. Jack's always the first up, and I want to talk to him. Alone if I can. I've spent a sleepless night worrying about this. How far has their relationship gone? Apart from the obvious.

No one's up yet. I walk through the empty living room, stepping over the odd empty beer can and Teal'c. So the big guy can sleep as well....wonders will never cease. Janet must have gone home with the dawn. I know she doesn't like to stay away from Cassie for too long. So what am I going to do now? Poke about some more, of course. Maybe there's some photographic evidence.

You know I always assumed that Sam had her own place, but now I come to think about it, no one I know has ever been there. She never talks about it either....apart from that one time when we were in the Land of Light. Maybe that was before she and Jack got together. Everytime we've stayed here I just assumed that she took the spare room. I realise now that I've spent many very uncomfortable nights on the couch when I needn't have bothered.

Jack doesn't seem to have many personal belongings. Maybe Sara kept them all....or maybe he just doesn't feel the need. Whatever, I would have expected a few photographs, but there's nothing in the living room. I guess there are some things he doesn't want to be reminded of, Charlie being one of them. I wander through to the room that serves him as an office. To my surprise there's several shelves of books. Didn't think Jack was the reading type. I glance at the shelves and grin to myself. Quantum physics. This must be Sam's stuff. Didn't know that she had actually written a book, though. I pick it up from the shelf and glance through it. Math....lots of math. OK.....so I'd guess that this wasn't on the best seller list, but the dedication makes me smile,

For Jack......Love Sam.

Nothing else, just simple words. It's not like Jack would ever read this book but the sentiment is strong. Then I look at the publishing date. 1997....while I was still on Abydos.....before Sam ever stepped through the Stargate. I've heard reports of their first meeting.....but I guess it couldn't have been. If they were already involved how could Hammond have let them on the same team.....unless they just didn't tell anyone....ever.

If the date is correct they must have had a really weird relationship. I mean thinking back, Sam knew nothing about Sara or Charlie.....and then there was the Kynthia incident.....not to mention the fact that I found her with that Narim guy. Jack really has some explaining to do.

There's a photo album, tucked onto one of the lower shelves. I pick it up. It's not full, only a few of the pages have photos on them....but they're all of Jack and Sam. I wish I had a photo of Shar'e. Just one would do. I have my memories, but I know that, eventually, they will start to fade. I try not to think about it too much. At least Skaara's OK. The Tokr'a have let him go back to Abydos. He'll be happier there and Jack's promised to go visit. I won't go back....not for a while....too many memories. In fact looking at a pyramid makes me think of her. I guess I'll have to steer clear of Egyptology for a while.

I turn my attention back to the album. The pictures don't seem to be in any kind of order, but there's one that catches my eye. Must be the white dress Sam's wearing, and the flowers. Jack actually has a suit on. I can't tell where they are. The background doesn't give anything away, but there's a ring on her finger. I think it kinda suggests.....

"Daniel, what are you doing?"

**************************************************************************

They wouldn't let him leave. The mountain had been closed down for quarantine purposes and, short of shooting his way out, there was nothing he could do about it. He was forced to endure the time as best he could. Sara was never far from his thoughts. She was like a physical addiction. He tried calling her, but there was no answer from the house. Her friends refused to tell him where she was......All he wanted to do was say how much he loved her. After Charlie...... he just couldn't afford to lose Sara as well.

He spent most of his off duty hours trying to avoid Captain Carter. The woman was persistently trying to wring every possible scrap of information out of him. Conversations with her left his head spinning. She was just too damn smart for her own good. Wherever he went she seemed to find him and the more he avoided her, the more tenacious she became. At any other time he probably would have enjoyed talking her. After all she was a very attractive woman and marriage hadn't made him blind. There was just something about her that reminded him a little too much of Sara. Everything he said or did eventually came back to her. The trip to Abydos had finally brought him to his senses and now.....

It was three days before he finally made his escape. When he got home, he found the house empty and all of his belonging neatly packed into cardboard boxes. There was nothing else. No notes. Nothing. She was so angry that she hadn't even taken the time to write him a Dear John letter. The message was clear. She wanted him out of her life and she wouldn't be back here until he was. He stayed there until dark, hoping that she'd come back. When the day was finally ended, he found himself in Charlie's room, sitting on the bed. With practised ease, he slid his hand under the mattress. The gun was still there. He pulled it out and turned the weapon over in his hands. They had come for him because of this. The reason he had taken command of the Stargate mission was simple. His state of mind had bordered on the suicidal....maybe it still did. Here, now, in this empty house, he wondered how long it would be before anyone came looking for him. Anyone apart from Carter, when he didn't turn up for their meeting on Monday. She'd finally give up pursuing him and gone through official channels.

He slipped the gun back into it's hiding place. This wasn't the answer.....although he wasn't certain what was. He was starting to wish that he'd stayed on Abydos with Daniel. Anything was better than this. It was time to go, he realised. After writing a short note he packed the boxes into his car and drove to the nearest motel. If Sara wanted to talk, she'd know where to find him. If she didn't....well there were a few bars in that area of town and a couple of drinks were exactly what he needed right now.

It was still early and the bar was almost empty. Jack wasn't particularly interested in the other clientele, but there was a TV in one corner that was showing a hockey game, so he made his was to that end of the bar. He really didn't notice the blonde woman, until he'd sat down next to her. Then when he looked at her....

"For cryin' out loud, Carter....have you got camera's on me or something."

She looked up and gave him a watery smile, "Nice to see you too, Colonel."

He expected more from, but she just turned back to her drink. As he looked at her, he realised that she didn't seem particularly happy. In fact what was she doing here anyway? He'd never pegged Carter as the bar hopping kind.

"Can I buy you a drink?" he asked.

"Sure, why not," she replied, although she didn't seem particularly bothered. "Look, colonel, I'm not going to be very good company......"

"I don't know....you're not sayin' much. Makes a nice change."

"That's not funny."

"It wasn't meant to be."

Anyone else probably would have thrown their drink in his face, but Carter just shrugged. Jack felt a twinge of concern. His own problems aside, something was obviously bothering her. The fact gnawed at him for almost an hour. He really didn't want to get himself involved with anyone else's problems. Particularly, if he was frank with himself, another woman. But Carter was different. He actually liked her....odd though it seemed.

"Are you OK?" he ventured.

By this time they were both a little drunk. Sam had been matching him beer for beer and they'd now moved onto scotch.

"Oh sure," she replied. "If you can breaking up with your fiancee, getting passed over for your first command and having to fight off the guys from NID, having a good time."

"Didn't know you were engaged."

"Biggest mistake I ever made. He wasn't happy when I gave the ring back, either. Now he keeps hassling me over the phone....which is probably why you have the pleasure of my company. So what's your story?"

Jack hesitated.

"Just glad to be back on terra firma, I guess."

"So what was it like?"

"You don't give up, do you?"

"No."

"Have another drink."

"Men are crap...did you know that? The first guy who doesn't dump me for some blonde with an IQ in the minus figures and he turns out to be a psycho."

For some reason he found himself laughing as she flicked a strand of decidedly fair hair off her own forehead. It would be easy for someone to make that assumption about Carter....... on first sight. Speaking to her left no doubts about her intelligence. Jack wished that he understood half of what she said.

"So what happens when we go through the gate?" Jack asked, suddenly feeling the need to know.

She looked surprised, but started to draw a picture on the bar top, using spilled beer.

"Imagine the galaxy is an apple, we burrow our waythrough the apple instead of going around the outside. Now, of course the diameter of the apple is just a two dimensional representation of space-time an dthe hole isn't a hole per se but rather an interdimensional conduit........Are you all right?"

"Yeah...yeah...I'll be OK."

Sam giggled at the obvious confusion on his face.

"Hey, no giggling," he told her.

**************************************************************************

I jump at the sound of Jack's voice, closing the album and attempting to hide it behind my back. Great, now I look like some kind of guilty child. I don't fool Jack for a moment, he reaches out and takes the book from me. His features soften as he flips through it. Then he holds it to himself, almost protectively. His belligerent attitude is easy to explain. He gets this way every time he thinks that someone is threatening Sam....although why he believes I would do that is a mystery. Jack has alot of insecurities.

"Nice pictures," I comment. "So when were you going to get round to telling us?"

"Telling you what?" he replies.

Jack shuffles his feet and attempts to look innocent.

"You told me that it's against regulations," I press.

"What is?" Sam asks, brightly. She catches sight of the book in Jack's hands and immediately understands. I never thought that she'd keep anything from me. I mean we're almost like brother and sister.

"Oh, that," she says.

If anything, she looks relieved. Her hand slips into Jack's and he bends his head to receive her kiss. They're planning to embarrass me into submission. One thing...if they're not in love, it's a great act. Now they're doing that 'we don't care that there's anyone else in the room, we're just going to stare at each other' thing. Always thought it was unresolved sexual tension. Now I know different.

"How about I go get some coffee? Breakfast, anyone?" I mumble. It's time to get out of here. I doubt they'll notice for a good couple of minutes.

I grin as I leave them to it. Sam and Jack together....Cool!

**************************************************************************

There was something licking his face. Jack opened his eyes and looked into a ginger furry countenance. The cat was purring and attempting to sit on his head.

"Shroedinger, stop that!" A female voice muttered. A pair of hands appeared, grabbed the cat and dumped it on the floor. It promptly leapt back onto the bed and resumed its assault on Jack's face. The woman beside him giggled, weakly.

"I'm sorry, " she smiled, "Shroedinger isn't very polite."

Jack closed his eyes. Why the hell was he here? He remembered talking to Carter in the bar.....offering to walk her home and then....Hell.

"We did, didn't we?" he asked, just in case there was some chance that his memory was faulty.

He felt the mattress shift as Carter rolled his way. She propped herself up on one elbow and looked at him,

"Yes," she admitted, quietly. "We did."

Her eyes flicked away from his, clearly showing her unease. At least she wasn't trying to turn this into anything more than it had been. He hoped. Three days separated from his wife and he'd already slept with another woman....had to be some kind of record. The memories were starting to come back in flashes. There had been a lot of giggling, some embarrassment.

It had been a long time since he had slept with someone other than Sara......a long, long time. Then again, it had been six months since he'd made love to his wife. Since Charlie.....they'd been sleeping in separate rooms when he'd left for Abydos.

"I'd better go," he told her.

"Sure,"

He leaned over the side of the bed, dislodging Schroedinger again. The cat swore at him.

"Where are my pants?" he asked.

"I'll go find them," she replied.

Carter crawled out of bed, swaying slightly as she stood. She ran her fingers through her hair as she attempted to massage the hangover away. Jack hated himself for watching as she covered her body with a robe and left the bedroom.

A few seconds later she tossed the pants back through the door. She was giving him the opportunity to leave with his dignity intact. He was grateful. This had been a really big mistake. Not that Carter wasn't good-looking. If he hadn't found her attractive, then he wouldn't have got himself in this situation...at least that was what he believed about himself. And he did sort of know her. Even if he had, for all intents and purposes...picked her up in a bar. Perhaps they had both needed this. Carter, to get over her fiancee and him to....who was he kidding? His marriage had problems, so what was the first thing he had done? Got drunk and screwed the first woman that had let him. The fact that he worked with Carter only made the situation worse. It wasn't like he could just say 'I'll call you,' and disappear.

Now dressed, he decided that it was time to make a snappy exit. Carter followed him to the door. Jack gave her a kiss on the cheek as he left. He wasn't sure quite why, but she accepted it with a smile. They were going to be OK, he realised as he drove himself back to his motel....and this would never happen again.

He swung by his....Sara's place the following afternoon. Her car was back in the driveway. Obviously his leaving had persuaded her that it was safe to come back. He drove around the block a couple of times trying to decide what his best course of action was. Should he leave her for a couple more days? In the end, he knew that he had no choice. He had to see her and try to say the things he had been unable to over the phone.

Walking up to his own front door was probably the most difficult thing he had ever done. He wasn't entirely surprised when Maggie answered it. She was a large darkhaired woman, somewhere near his wife's age. Jack didn't like her very much. He never had done, but she was Sara's best friend, so most of the time he forced himself to put up with her.

"It's the bastard that calls himself your husband," Maggie called over her shoulder, "What shall I tell him?"

"He can go castrate himself!" Sara's voice replied.

She was blocking the doorway. Jack wasn't in the habit of hitting women, but he was considering making Maggie the exception.

"Sara? We have to talk!" he shouted back.

He held his breath as Sara appeared. She'd been crying. Her eyes were red and puffy. She'd been crying alot.

"Talk?" she whispered.

Then she laughed. It wasn't a happy sound.

"Sara?" he began again.

"Who is she?"

"What?"

"The blonde bimbo."

"She's not a....."

Then he stopped himself. How the hell did Sara know? Unless....dammit, Carter's apartment was in the same area of town as Maggie's place. It was possible that someone had seen them.

"You were all over each other," Maggie interrupted.

Jack flashed her a look of pure hatred, "Do you mind, this has absolutely nothing to do with you."

"Did you sleep with her?" Sara demanded.

"For cryin' out loud...."

"Did you? And don't even try to lie to me."

"Yes, yes I did....."

"Bastard!"

"But it didn't mean anything."

"Sex always means something, Jack. We haven't slept together in six months, do you know how hearing this makes me feel? So who is she? Or didn't you bother to find out her name? Was she younger than me? More attractive? "

"No, dammit. I was drunk, she was drunk. If you hadn't told me to leave, it never would have happened."

"Don't blame me for your guilty conscience!"

"Sara, is this really worth throwing away our marriage for?"

"You're doing that by yourself, Jack. Just like it was your gun that killed Charlie!"

Jack felt like she'd stabbed him in the stomach.....a low, painful blow designed to kill him slowly. He walked away from her. No words. He just left. She shouted after him, but he couldn't hear what she said. The only sound was the explosion of the gun, and his child's final cry.

When he finally came to his senses, he was back in his motel room, an empty bottle if whiskey by the bed. His breathing was ragged, his hands were shaking, the first movement he made was a run to the bathroom to throw up. Weakly, he collapsed back onto the bed. He took a few minutes to compose himself before he picked up the phone.

"Hi, Sam.....it's Jack O'Neill. Listen are doin' anything later? "

**************************************************************************

We're sitting in the sun on P9G598, Jack and myself that is. Sam is a little further down the valley collecting soil and water samples. Teal'c is supposed to be helping her....he's holding her tray of test-tubes while she scampers around. That is the only word for what she's doing. And everyone says that I get excited about my rocks! Artefacts! Whatever! Jack is watching her with a smile on his face. I think he finds it easier now that myself and Teal'c know about their relationship. Not that it was ever particularly a secret, they just didn't tell anyone. They also have a strict rule regarding fraternisation while off world or on the base.....but its obvious to anyone who cares to look that they're in love. Makes me a little sad. I mean, when Shar'e left, knowing that Jack and Sam didn't have anyone made the whole thing easier to bare. Misery does love company after all.

Apparently General Hammond knows. I wondered about this, surely he would have been forced to court martial them....or at least have them working on different teams, but then I realise. He couldn't do that. Not without changing the past. You see, when he met us in 1969 Sam and Jack were both on SG1. He had no choice but to assign them to the same team. Temporal physics can be handy sometimes.

"So what happened about Kynthia?" I suddenly ask Jack. This has been really bothering me.

"Remember that night I turned up at your place at 2AM?"

"Yes."

"Sam threw me out. Can't say I didn't deserve it. She didn't let me back until after the Antarctica thing."

"Oh, so that's why Sam....."

"Sam, what?"

"Never mind."

He doesn't need to know about Narim. No one needs to know about Narim. Sam admitted to me that she'd managed to defuse any residual feelings that he might have had for her. I don't know what she told him. Something about Jolinar...which was true....and about having feelings for someone else.....even if it wasn't in the way he thought. In other words, she wasn't officially with Jack the first time they met, but she is now, and always will be.

This is a really cool planet. Nice climate, no unfriendly natives....a group of protohominids have set up a rudimentary encampment at the far end of the valley, but they don't seem interested in us. We haven't been attacked in the three hours that we've been here. Makes a nice change. That and the fact that it isn't raining. I lie back on the grass. There's nothing much for me to do. Jack won't let me go play with the almost humans. Although he's not paying much attention to me, maybe if I just.....

"Danny, no!" he warns, without even looking.

Ah well. I guess I can sleep a bit. Unfortuneately, I don't find watching Sam endlessly fascinating. If I did, Jack would probably kill me. I'm surprised that Martouf is still alive! Then again, Jack knows that he doesn't really have anything to worry about. He just acts cranky most of the time. His ring is on Sam's finger and has been for almost two years. Besides Martouf saved our butts.....So he and Jack respect each other. Sometimes that's the only way to get through to him.

**************************************************************************

Sam absently stroked her cat as she stared out at the rain. It had been two months since her reassignment to the Penatagon. He should have called. She glared at the phone.

He should have called.

There was so much about Jack O'Neill that she didn't know. Maybe she'd just been a temporary amusement. Perhaps he'd found someone else. Sam knew that she was being irrational it was just.....she really liked him. He was funny, good looking, intelligent......in his own way. She knew, irrational as it may seem, that she was partway to falling in love with him. This was stupid, she told herself. Their relationship was based on little more than sex....even so...She missed him. Especially on this rainy, depressing afternoon. Shroedinger stretched and leapt from her lap. Great, even the cat had somewhere better to be.

"Sam? Are you ready yet?"

She felt herself wince at the sound of her friend's voice. It was Friday night, they were supposed to be going on a girl's night out, but Sam just wasn't in the mood....and she was running out of excuses.

"Be there in a minute, Janet," she shouted back, making no effort to move.

He should have called.

"Samantha Carter, get your ass in here!" Janet continued. "You are not staying in tonight!"

Sighing to herself, Sam hauled herself into the living room.

Janet was standing there, her arms crossed. She took one look at Sam, who was still in her robe and said, "Sam this isn't healthy. He isn't going to phone."

"I know, I just....he's nice," Sam replied.

"He's a bastard. How many times did he stay the night?"

"Well....almost....."

"None. Forget about him. We are going to go out and enjoy ourselves. Now get dressed....and that's doctor's orders."

"Yeah, yeah OK. You're right....give me ten minutes."

The phone rang. Sam rushed to answer it.

"Hello...Jack?"

She could see Janet making faces at her, but she didn't care.

"Yes, I'm fine, how are you? Am I free this weekend? Sure....when are you flying in?"

The doorbell rang, and Sam motioned Janet to answer it. She glanced up momentarily before giving a strangled squeal. Jack was standing there, his cellphone in one hand, a bunch of flowers in the other. She dropped the phone and ran into his arms. Jack picked her up and swung her around.

"Missed me?" he asked with a grin on his face.

She couldn't do anything but nod. He moved to kiss her, just as Janet cleared her throat noisely.

"I take it this is.....?" she began.

"Janet, this is Jack O'Neill."

Sam felt herself blush as she made the introduction. Jack was still holding her and seemed unwilling to let go. Janet didn't seem that impressed. She motioned for Sam to join her in the kitchen.

"Cute, isn't he?" Sam grinned.

"Be careful," Janet replied.

"I knew he'd call."

"Sam, I've heard his name somewhere before. I don't know where. It was something to do with a psychiatric investigation."

"What do you mean?"

"I don't know, just don't get yourself too involved with this guy. He may turn out to be another Jonas."

"I'm a big girl, Janet. I can look after myself."

"Don't say I didn't warn you. Guess I'd better make myself scarce."

"Janet, you don't have to....."

"I think I do. I'll stay with Mary."

"Thanks."

The two women hugged, before Janet made her excuses and left. Sam settled herself back into Jack's arms. She didn't really care why he was here, she was just happy to see him. Janet was worrying about nothing.

"So?" she began.

"So?" he repeated.

"Now you're here, got any plans?"

"Just one."

He pulled her close, pressing his lips against hers. Sam squirmed a little as his hands found the belt of her robe. One track mind, that was Jack O'Neill. She surrendered herself to his caress, not caring about his reasons for being here. He slipped the robe from her shoulders.

"God, Sam, you're so beautiful," he breathed.

When a man talked to you that way, how could you help but love him?

"Stay tonight?" she asked him.

Jack nodded and Sam led him towards the bedroom.

She was more lovely each time he looked at her. Sam gave a little sigh and cuddled closer to him. He and Sara had never slept like this, they had been like two bookends. Jack found himself enjoying the way that Sam lay in his arms. So trusting, she truly deserved more than this rebound relationship.....yet he didn't feel that he could let her go.

"Hey Sam," he whispered.

"What?" she looked at him sleepily.

"Nothin'."

Sam smiled happily at him and kissed the spot directly over his heart. As he drifted off to sleep, Jack imagined that he felt a small part of it healing. Somewhere, in the depths of his dreams he heard her voice whisper, "I love you."

The murmer drove all thoughts of sleep from his mind. He lay in the darkness, desperatly wanting to flee from her side, wanting to forget about his promise to stay the night. She couldn't love him. It was impossible. How long had they known each other? Six months? Sam was so trusting. She gave her love so easily, with no fear of getting hurt. How could she do that? He knew her history, he knew about Jonas. Yet she was still willing to risk everything for a tired, old soldier.

Jack woke at dawn. For a long time, he just sat on the edge of the bed and watched her sleep. The urge to run away was fading. Forcing himself to spend the night by her side had helped. He chuckled to himself as she finally woke. Her hand reached out to the other side of the bed, and she frowned for a second. As she sat up, she saw him, and the most glorious smile broke over her face. He bent close and kissed her.

"I'd thought you'd gone," she admitted.

"Nah. You don't get rid of me that easily," he grinned.

"You want some breakfast?"

"Stay there, I'll get it. How do you have your coffee?"

"Black, no sugar."

"Be back in a second."

He pulled on his pants and padded out into the kitchen, where he preceeded to hunt through the cupboards for coffee and cereal. No sooner had the kettle boiled, than he realised that he wasn't alone. Janet was standing in the doorway.

"Hi," Jack began. "Janet, right?"

"Yes."

She sat at the table and watched him for a few seconds. Jack knew that he was under scrutiny.

"Want some coffee?" he asked.

"No."

The conversation was really not flowing, Jack realised. Janet obviously didn't think much of him. She was probably right.

"I remembered where I heard your name,"she said, suddenly.

"We've never met."

"No, but I've seen your psych. evaluation. They said you were suicidal. Your son killed himself."

Jack visibly winced. The pain he still felt was almost physical. A twisting ache in his gut. He felt like running back into the bedroom and into Sam's arms.

"You're married, aren't you?" Janet continued.

"I'm not...not anymore."

"Sam doesn't need this. If you hurt her......."

"I'm not going to hurt her," Jack assured.

He wasn't, he would never........ She was too important to him.

**************************************************************************

They came out of nowhere. Jack gave a shout and started towards Sam, but they over ran us in seconds. There were just to many of them and we couldn't fight our way free. I saw Teal'c go down, Sam, Jack and then they took me. So much for the ideal planet. So much for primitive natives. They may not have guns, they may not have TV and computers, but they don't need them. None of us can break these bonds.....it's almost like they're organic.

The natives tied us up, then ran us several miles from the gate. We're sitting in a forest now, each of us leashed to a different tree. I don't know why they did this to us or what kind of threat we posed. Sam is sitting with her back to a trunk, Jack is pulling at the 'rope' that binds his ankle. We still don't know what happened to Teal'c. I hope he's OK. I hope he's not....Me.....I can't seem to sit still. Is it my imagination, or is it starting to rain? We have no food, no way of escape, we don't know where the Stargate is and now it has to rain! Please!

As darkness falls, they bring us food. I try to talk to them, but they just look at me. They're very close to early man. Very close. But there's something about them that speaks of some kind of advanced intelligence. Maybe not in the way we would normally ascribe that attribute, but there is a glimmering. Perhaps it's some kind of herd mind? The food they bring is nothing more than a few fruits and a bowl of water. With certain professional curiosity I examine the artefacts. They're crudely made, barely serviceable. The water bowl has a slow leak.

We're in for an uncomfortable night. I hate sleeping chained up. I glance over towards Sam and Jack. They're sitting against they're respective trees. As the night continues they creep closer together. I know they have these rules, but it can't apply all the time. Besides, they don't think I'm watching them. Their leashes are short, and all they can manage to do is hold hands. I wonder how many other nights they've done that. I mean waited until we're asleep before joining hands, legs brushing against one another....fingers touching hair.

**************************************************************************

"Jack?....Jack it's Sam. Where the hell have you been? I've been trying to get hold of you for hours. Listen I have some really good news."

Jack grinned to himself, caught up in her enthusiasm. Her phonecall had managed to catch him during the few minutes that he'd been able to get home to pick up his dress uniform.

"So, what is it?" he asked.

"I'm coming back to Colorado. It's something to do with the Stargate. They're going back to Abydos and I may actually get to go through this time."

"The Stargate, hang on a second, Sam. We may have a problem here."

"What?"

"I've been recalled to active duty and......"

"....you're in command of the mission. Jack, don't do this to me. You can't leave me behind this time."

"Sam....the regulations....."

"Screw the regulations! I need this mission. We don't have to tell anyone. Please, Jack?"

If he closed her eyes he could see her, and the expression on her face. She'd be pouting her lower lip and looking up at him with those big blue eyes. Then she'd take his hand and start drawing patterns on the palm, before reaching her other hand under his shirt and....Damn, he just couldn't say no to her.

"OK, OK," he gave in, before his imagination ran away with him and he had to go and take a cold shower. She gave an excited yelp. If they had been in the same room she would have hugged him hard enough to break a couple of ribs.

"I'll see you in a couple of hours. Love you," she finished the call.

This was insane. He wasn't even sure that he wanted Sam under his command for any reason. It had been years since she had been in the field and he didn't even know what her combat experience had been. There wasn't going to be time to examine her record. The only way through this was to play it cool. Hopefully, no one would notice his trepidation.....especially Sam.

There was only one empty seat in the briefing room. She wasn't here yet. Maybe her plane had been delayed....or maybe she had decided not to come.....

"I'm assigning Sam Carter to this mission," Hammond announced.

No such luck!

"I prefer to chose my own team," O'Neill protested....might as well start the act right now.

"Not on this mission, sorry. Carter's our expert on the Stargate."

"Where's he transferring from?"

Oh, nice touch O'Neill, he told himself, make like you don't know she's a woman....

"She is transferring from the Pentagon," Sam's voice came from the doorway.

Jack stood to take her hand, but she ignored the gesture and snapped off a salute.

"You must be Colonel O'Neill, Captain Samantha Carter reporting for duty, sir!"

A little over enthusiatic, but passable. Jack snuck a look at everybody else. They seemed to be watching this exchange with interest.

"But of course, you go by Sam," Kawalsky interrupted.

Sam took a moment to seat herself before replying, "You don't have to worry, Major, I played with dolls when I was a kid......"

Jack let the exchange continue. He knew about the Matt Mason doll. She still kept it in her bedroom. Although she'd never mentioned that she had flown F16s during the Gulf War....cool. Then Sam went into physicist mode.....

"That's from the compression your molecules undergo during the millisecond required for reconstitution," she said.

"Ah, here we go, another scientist. General, please...." Jack decided that it was time to add another twist.

"Theoretical astrophysicist," Sam corrected.

"Which means?"

"She's way smarter than you are, Colonel," Hammond interrupted.

Ouch, that hurt. He was well aware how smart Sam was. She did math in her sleep.

"I was studying Gate Technology for two years before Daniel Jackson made it work and before you both went through. I should have gone through then. Sir, you and the rest of your men might as well accept the fact that I am going through this time."

"With all due respect, doctor....."

Jack was proud of that one too. Sam went nuts when people ignored her rank. He chuckled to himself. This was her idea. She'd have to roll with the punches.

"......or are we going to have to arm wrestle?" she finished.

Oh yeah, that'd be fun. Jack didn't quite manage to keep the grin off his face as he seriously considered her proposition. Later, dammit, when they were off base. The rest of the briefing passed smoothly. Although Sam nearly gave the game away as she laughed at one of his jokes when nobody else did.

"Thankyou," she whispered as they left the room.

"We are going to get into so much trouble," he hissed back.

Sam just grinned. She looked so happy that Jack no longer had any doubts. They were momentarily alone in the corridor, so Jack took the opportunity to bend a little bit closer to her,

"Now you're here, where are you staying?" he asked.

"I hadn't thought that far ahead," she admitted.

"There's always my place."

"Are you serious?"

"Sure.....never more so."

If possible, her grin actually got wider. Jack wished that he could give her a hug, but Hammond was approaching so he had to step away from her.

"I'll see you in the gate room, Captain," he told her, formally.

**************************************************************************

They've taken Sam away. Jack went nuts. None of us want to see Sam get hurt, or lose her, but I really thought that he was going to damage himself or me. It's at times like this, I realise exactly how dangerous he can be. It's almost as if he's mentally reliant on her. I guess, with all he's been through, that would be understandable. He tried to get them to take him instead. Our captors didn't really seem to understand. They just looked at him. That's all they seem to do, we've had no verbal communication at all. When Jack grasped one of them by the arm, it sent him flying into the trunk of a tree. Sam went quietly, anything to stop Jack being hurt. She protects him as much as he does her.

"So why'd you keep it so quiet?" I ask, when he's calmed down a little. Probably not the best subject to choose, but I have to keep him talking....and not violently assaulting trees. He looks at me as if I've gone nuts.....but he sits down and starts to speak.

"Scared," he admits. "Like now. I lost Sara, Charlie....I can't lose Sam as well."

The admission must have cost him alot, but I push him further.

"Even so.....I thought you trusted me more than that."

"I do, Daniel. I wish I had a good answer for you, but I don't. When I'm with her...It's like I'm dreaming, and telling people would force me to wake up and face reality."

"I don't understand."

"That we shouldn't be involved.....that anyone on the base could report us and get us court martialled."

"But, if you're married then surely...."

"They'd split us up....and I don't like the thought of her on another team."

**************************************************************************

Sam lay alone in the bed, her face toward the wall, her hand grasping the metal bedframe as if it were her last link to reality. She couldn't stop asking herself where it had all gone wrong? How could he do that to her? How could she have been so stupid? All this time and she thought she knew the man....the last few weeks had consisted of one unpleasant revelation after another.

He would be back soon. Janet had pronounced him healthy and allowed him to return home. His house, the one she now lived in. She rolled over to stare at the ceiling. It was almost midnight. Why the hell wasn't he here yet? Perhaps some other woman had 'drugged' him on the way back. She still couldn't believe that it had happened...couldn't accept that he'd had the audacity to ask her for help. She should have let him die of old age. Or she could have just left him there with....whatever her name was. Stolen his transmitter so he couldn't open the iris. Buried the Stargate.

Bastard!

A key turned in the front door. Sam immediately got out of bed and stood to face the door. She could hear his footsteps on the stairs, and found herself dreading their approach. Crying in front of him was not an option, although hurling breakable objects was.

He opened the door quietly and slipped into the bedroom. Some sixth sense told her exactly whereabouts in the room he was, so when she chucked the bedside lamp at him, she did so with almost deadly accuracy. Jack had to throw himself to the floor in order to avoid it. He picked himself up, brushing the fragments of broken glass from his hair.

"Get out!" Sam yelled a him.

"Sam....wait a second...!" He began.

"I said...get out!"

She was fumbling around for something else to hurl at him. Jack lunged across the room and grabbed her hands. He wanted her to calm down long enough for them to talk. Sam had other ideas. Jack found himself flat on his back, with her knee on his chest. Oh yeah, he'd forgotten, level 3 advanced hand to hand.....

"Dammit, Sam, let me go! We need to talk,"

He managed to wriggle out from under her. A position that, under different circumstances, he wouldn't have minded.

"I want you out of here," she sobbed.

There were tears running down her face. Jack had never seen her cry before....and it was all his fault. Kynthia and that damn cake. He admitted that he'd cast an admiring glance in the direction of the native woman, but the last he'd known looking wasn't against the law. Then he'd eaten that cake and.... He couldn't even remember much of what happened after that.

He'd promised never to hurt her....and she was standing before him, in more pain than any human being had a right to. Sam was so strong, there to catch him each time he fell. During the whole of the Argos mission, she had never even hinted at her own emotional turmoil. She had been the perfect soldier, even keeping up the act while he recovered from the affects of the nanites.

"Leave!" she repeated.

"I can't do that," he told her.

"Yes, you can....please."

She crumpled onto the bed, her body shaking as she tried to deal with the emotional impact of what he had done. There was something childlike about her that touched him deeply. He had never wanted to be the one responsible for breaking her heart. Jack sat down beside her and cradled her head against his chest. She didn't flinch away from the contact, but her eyes were screwed shut, as if she was clinging onto a fading dream.

"I'll go," he told her, "If that's what you really want?"

"Yes."

"But I'm coming back."

He dropped a kiss onto her hair, and gently, released her. Then he walked out of the door, leaving her sitting alone on the bed. He pretended that the sound of her sobs didn't haunt him as he drove away from their home.

Sam was dressed in her robe, eating breakfast when he went back the following morning. He poured himself some coffee and joined her at the table.

"Where did you go?" she asked, as she flipped through the morning paper.

"Daniel's. You can call him and check if you like...."

"Why did you come back?"

"Because I love you."

Her head snapped up. She hadn't expected to hear those words from him, he very rarely said them

"You have a funny way of showing it," she added.

"I know. Sam you have to believe me, I didn't know what was happening."

"What about Sara?"

"I thought this was about Kynthia?"

Sam slammed her coffee mug down, spilling most of the contents. Her mask of calm was shattered, and Jack could see tears standing out in her eyes again.

"How can we have a relationship when there's so much I don't know about you?" she demanded. "Why didn't you tell me you used to be married? Did you just forget?"

"No, I...."

"And Charlie? God, Jack.....didn't I have the right to know about your son. You don't even have a picture of him......"

"Stop it!"

He hadn't meant to yell at her, but Charlie was his weak spot. She was right, he had no pictures. Sara had kept them all and he had pretended that he hadn't cared. Sam had deserved to know about Sara and about Charlie. He should have told her right at the beginning, but as time went on it just became more and more difficult. Sam had taken that particular revelation well. She hadn't had much choice. Apparently, the locker room door had been open. He'd heard that she'd spoken to Daniel. Quite what excuse she'd found he wasn't sure. Something about wondering where he went at the end of the day.....as if she didn't know. She'd even told him that his double had gone to Sara. That gesture had been pretty amazing. How many other women would direct their lover back to an ex wife?

"I don't want to give this up, Jack, but I don't see how we can continue," she whispered.

**************************************************************************

She's been gone for several hours. Jack spent most of the time trying to free himself, but the bonds stayed firm.

He grabs her as they bring her back, and he won't let her go. After a conference they decide to tie her to his tree, rather than force the issue. Sam seems pretty shaken up. She doesn't speak for a while and when she tries, she bolts as far into the surrounding bushes as she can to be noisily and violently sick. Jack goes after her. True love is holding her hair out of the way while she throws up. I can hear his voice, whispering to her.

"It's OK, baby, I'm here," over and over.

"Oh, God Jack, the children....."

"Hush, sweetie....."

Is it my imagination or is she crying? If she is, Jack's the only one to see her do it. What did they do to her? As she comes back I see faint signs of bruising around her eyes and mouth. She's moving stiffly as if she's hurting. Jack is hovering close to her. He gives her some water, which she swirls around her mouth and spits out again, before she takes a long drink.

"Are you OK?" I ask. "What happened?"

Jack glares at me, but Sam places a hand on his leg, stopping him from saying anything.

"These......things....," she begins. I notice that she doesn't use the word humanoid anymore. "They're carnivores......and they eat their own."

"What?"

"I saw them. A child was born.....I don't know what was wrong with it but the parents...."

She starts to gag again, but there's nothing left in her stomach. Jack rubs her back. His arm stays about her shoulders when she eventually straightens. There's horror in her eyes, I turn and see a group of our captors standing behind me, as if they're politely waiting for us to finish our conversation.

They take me next. Oh God......they take me.

**************************************************************************

They were eating dinner together.....the first meal they'd shared in weeks. Jack had deliberately made reservations at the most expensive restaurant he knew. The food was good, the wine was expensive and Sam...she looked amazing. The dress she wore was of a shade of blue that exactly matched her eyes. It clung to the soft curves of her body, arousing memories of their former intimacy. Jack couldn't stop himself smiling at her. Or perhaps grinning inanely was a better description.

"What's so funny?" she asked.

"You. Me...everything," he answered. "I guess I've never been so glad of a broken leg, cracked ribs and internal bleeding."

"Is that the reason you think I'm here?"

"I hope not."

Sam bit her lip and took another sip of her wine. She really wanted to believe him. The last couple of months had been hell, even if she hadn't wanted to admit the fact. Jack had become such a large part of her life that his absence had been like losing a limb. Her brief flirtation with Narim had been an attempt to alleviate her personal pain. She'd found his attentions very flattering and there was no question about the emotions he had felt. Despite that, her thoughts had never strayed very far from her Colonel. He was certainly going all out to impress her tonight......she'd almost passed out when he'd arrived to pick her up wearing a shirt and tie.

"At the end......You called me Sara," she said.

A fleeting expression of pain creased his features. No more secrets, she told herself. She had to know how much he still felt for his ex-wife.

"I was dreamin'. For some reason I thought I was in Iraq. I knew there was someone with me and assumed it was her."

"Do you still love her?"

"Sam...."

"This is important. Are you still in love with her?"

"I....I think about her....and Charlie....They were such a large part of my life. Yeah, I guess in a way I do love her.....but I can't go back. Meeting you put a stop to that."

His fingers started fiddling with his dessert fork,

"I love you, Sam," he said eventually, finally finding the courage to look at her. "Sara wouldn't give me another chance, you did."

He reached across the table, taking her hand. To his relief she didn't pull away. He raised her hand to his lips and kissed the palm. Sam leaned into the caress. She had missed this more than she cared to admit.

"What do ya say we skip dessert?" he asked. "I have something I need to show you."

Confused, Sam let him lead her out of the restaurant. He drove a little way out of town and stopped the car by the roadside. She followed him as he climbed over a fence. Where the hell was he taking her? Didn't he realise that she had heels on? He took her hand as they walked over a field and into a small group of trees. Sam wasn't immune to the romance of their situation. It was a beautiful night, clear and warm. The moon was bright, giving them enough light to pick their way through the trees. There was a circular clearing in the middle of the wooded area. Jack lay his jacket on the ground and invited her to sit down. He stretched out on the grass beside her, his hand still locked in hers, his head tilted back to watch the stars.

"This was one of Charlie's favourite places," he explained. "We used to camp out here. Just enough room to pitch a tent and throw a baseball. See that tree....?"

"Yes," Sam replied.

"I cut marks in it....you can see how tall he grew. Charlie loved that tree. He nearly fell out when he tried to cut his name on one of the top branches."

Jack was smiling at the memory. This was why he didn't have pictures. He didn't need them. When he wanted to connect to his son he would just come out here.

"I wish you could have known him," he added after a moment. "You'd have liked him. He was smart, not like me."

"Jack, why didn't you and Sara have more children?"

It was a question that had bothered her. If they'd had more than one child it might have given them more reason to stay together....made Charlie's death a little easier to deal with.

"Because Charlie was a mistake," he answered. "Sara never wanted children, and after Charlie was born....she made certain that we wouldn't have another accident. The greatest gift she ever gave me....and it was something she never really wanted."

He spoke quietly, but Sam could sense the deep sadness in his voice. She squeezed his hand. Jack slowly leant towards her. The kiss was very tentative. Neither of them wanted to push too far, too soon. They smiled nervously at each other as they broke apart. Jack ran a finger down the side of her face, "Thankyou," he breathed.

**************************************************************************

It's raining again. The ground is fast turning to mud. I can feel it seeping into my boots as they march me out of the forest. We walk onto a wide rolling plain. There are literally thousands of these humanoids milling about. They don't seem to be organised in any way. I can see crude shelters, built out of wood

There are mountains on the horizon, their colour dimmed by the distance. I wonder, again, where we are in relation to the Stargate. It's our only way out of here. Me, Sam, Jack, Teal'c....if he's still alive. We need to get home. Sam and Jack need to get home. They need to be happy together. In every other reality we've visited one or both of them have died. In this one, they should have the chance to be together for a long, long time.

They don't hurt me at first. I'm take to the middle of, what I would loosely call, their settlement. I'm stood before their leaders. For a while they do nothing but watch me. It's very creepy. One of them smiles at me. The teeth...definitely those of a carnivore. While I'm standing there, a group escorts someone else into the circle. It stands beside me and I sneak a glance. It's old. The hair on it's body is greying and it's teeth are rotting. I realise that it's using all of his strength to stand. The leaders talk amongst themselves for a short time. If you can call their grunts a language. Not even my linguistic skills can make any sense of it. When they finish the old one nods once. He looks strangely serene.....accepting his fate.

His fate...they eat him. I'm pushed out of the way as they fight to taste his flesh. At least Sam waited until she got back to us before she threw up. I don't have that advantage. I'm not strong enough to stop myself. Eventually I manage to straighten. They've finished their meal. They're watching me. There's nowhere for me to run. For every beat of my heart, they take a step closer.

Hands run across my body. I want to squirm away from them, but I'm scared. I saw Sam's bruises. I can't take pain in the way she can. She has Jack to soothe and heal her, I have....no one.

Not true, dammit.

I have my friends.

I fight a little. They break my arm. My screams seem to please them and they lead me back. Is this all they want? I can't help thinking that they are testing us in some way. Me, Sam, Jack. He won't take this. I think they'll have to kill him. The thought sickens me. What will Sam do?

They must think that I don't need too many guards. When Teal'c suddenly appears from the undergrowth, there aren't enough of them to stop him. Besides... he managed to keep a hold of his zat gun.

**************************************************************************

She wore a simple white, shift dress, that reached to her ankles and she carried a bouquet of white lilies. Jack felt his breath catch in his throat when he saw her. There was no other words to describe her. She was beautiful. He took her by the hand and led her through the garden, towards the priest who was waiting to marry them.

It was a quiet ceremony. They didn't feel the need for anything elaborate. Just themselves and two witnesses. Janet had stood by Sam's side, General Hammond had volunteered to be Jack's best man. That had been an interview that Jack had dreaded. Sure, the relationship could have been kept a secret, but eventually Hammond would have found out. The General wasn't stupid after all.

He and Sam had been through so much over the past months that Jack had felt the need to formalise their relationship. Sam had said yes without a second thought. Her acceptance had almost made him pass out. After everything he'd put her through...... And here they were. Getting married. He slipped the plain gold band onto her finger, speaking words of forever. It just felt so....so right. Sam blushed prettily, as he bent close to kiss her. It was the first time that he had done so in front of Hammond. She needn't have worried, the General was grinning like a proud father.

Sam caressed the ring that now adorned her left hand. Jack caught the action and smiled to himself. They had done the right thing. He was more sure of that, than he had been of anything in his life. This beautiful woman was his, he thought. Forever.

They said their goodbyes to Janet and General Hammond, and drove home. A quiet end to a quiet day. Neither of them wanted anything else.

"So where shall we take the honeymoon?" Sam asked, as Jack popped the champagne cork.

"Maui," Jack replied filling two glasses.

"Why?"

"Nice beaches.......and you can wear that tiny bikini you think you've got hidden in the closet."

He gave her a look that was just shy of a leer. Sam felt herself blush,

"You're nothing but a dirty old man, Jack O'Neill."

"Damn straight!"

"Wear your black speedo in Maui and we'll call it a deal."

"How about we wear nothin' at all?"

The conversation halted at that point.

"I wish Danny and Teal'c coulda been here," Jack sighed.

"If you could have waited until they got back.....," she teased.

"Nope."

He had been absolutely firm on that point, wanting to get married before his sick leave was over. Sam hadn't been that bothered by the lack of ceremony. It wasn't as if she was on speaking terms with any of her close family. She knew that all she and Jack really needed was each other.

"So when do we tell them?" she asked.

"I don't know. I wanna kinda get used to the idea myself first....Mrs. O'Neill."

"Hey, it's still Carter....remember?"

"Not to me, it isn't."

She snuggled closer to him, liking the possessive tone of his voice. They had to get alot of things right before anyone else knew. This relationship was still forbidden and, although they had Hammond's blessing, there would be others on the base who wouldn't be as forgiving. She was certain that Daniel knew that she and Jack were together. After all, he was a smart boy, he should have worked it out by now.

"I love you," Jack whispered to her.

Sam smiled at her husband, knowing that she would never get tired of hearing those words.

"I love you too, sir," she grinned back.

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They get to the clearing before we do. Jack and Sam are both on their feet, back to back.....ready to die together. This is the way they would want to go....If Teal'c and I weren't here to save their butts. Well, Teal'c, if I'm honest. Not much I can do with a broken arm. Have I mentioned how much it hurts?

They fight together. It's an amazing sight...almost as if they can read each others thoughts. They don't even have to look at each other. Before I knew about them I would have said that it was a result of their military training. Now ? I'm projecting stuff into every move they make. Am I sad? Probably. Do I care? No!

Teal'c only waits a few seconds before he charges in to help them Then we run. We run. Together. Sam helps me when I have trouble balancing. Teal'c leads and Jack guards our six. We're a team. It doesn't matter that two of us happen to have a relationship. It never mattered before and it doesn't now. I know that we would all die for each other. Kinda reassuring when your back's to the wall. Hammond did the right thing when he refused to split them up. How else could we be SG1? If we die, we die together. If we live....then we'll go out and have some fun.

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I wish we could forget. I wish we could go back, but none of us can do that. We shouldn't have to see the things we see.

As I look at my friends, I think of the last time we were together in this house, it had been a happy time. Our positions are almost the same. Me and Janet in the armchairs, Teal'c by the door, Sam and Jack.......Curled up together on the couch. Her head is in his lap and he's stroking her hair. I know that I'm witnessing something very special and I'm proud that they have finally included me in their circle of love. Although I still don't know why they chose to keep their relationship so quiet. I think it was more than fear of court martial. They were both scared of forever and what that entails. I could have told them. The fear means nothing, when you're with the one you truly love....after all....I should know.

Apparently, Sam 'fessed up to Jacob after he became blended with Selmac.....hence the fact that Jack calls him Dad! I guess she had to for more than one reason. Selmac had been making some suggestions regarding Martouf.

I wonder where their relationship will eventually end up. Somehow I see Jack with kids, lotsa kids. I don't know how Sam feels about that. It must be something they've talked about. I mean she's great with Cassie, but the good thing about other people's children is that you can always give them back. Besides, I want to be Uncle Danny.

It isn't late, but we excuse ourselves. No sleeping in the spare room for me tonight. Janet is going to drive me and Teal'c home. We're not wanted there tonight. Outside, we pause and look back at the house. There's only one light on. For a brief moment we see their silhouettes in the window. He kisses the palm of her hand, moving to her forehead, then the nape of her neck. We shouldn't watch this, but we do.

She lifts her arms and he removes her sweater. Sam unbuttons his shirt and pushes the material from his shoulders. They touch each other, the familiar caress of lovers and friends. I see Sam's head fall back as he kisses her breasts. I can imagine the sound she makes......the sound Share used to make.

Janet touches my sleeve. It is time to go. I cast a look back. Jack kisses Sam once, before he picks her up in his arms and they move out of view.

Beside me, Janet sighs. I turn to look at her. There's a strange expression on her face.

"Janet?" I question.

"Nothing...I guess I'm a little jealous."

"I know what you mean."

We don't say anything else....just drive away into the night. Jack and Sam? I think we have a pretty good idea about what they're doing.

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The End

Hope you enjoyed it :):)