Title: Meeting Charlie - The Prequel

Author: Lisa Yaeger

E-mail: lisayaeger@hotmail.com

Rating: G

Category: General

Pairings: Sam/Jack

Content Warnings: None

Summary: Sam meets Charlie for the first time.

Season/sequel: This happens in season 3 during the time Jack was on Edora.

Spoilers: Up to and including 100 Days

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

Disclaimer: All publicly recognizable characters and places are the property of MGM, World Gekko Corp and Double Secret productions. This piece of fan fiction was created for entertainment not monetary purposes and no infringement on copyrights or trademarks was intended. Previously unrecognized characters and places, and this story, are copyrighted to the author. Any similarity to real persons, living or dead, is coincidental and not intended by the author.

Authors? Notes: Thanks to Allison West for the great idea of writing a prequel!

Status: Complete.

Feedback: Welcomed!

Date: 15-12-2002

*****

This was weird. Not just a little, but a lot. She managed to make herself smile a little at the thought that he might say "way weird." If he knew where she was and what she was doing, that is. Which he didn't. He couldn't. Because he wasn't here. Which was why she was. And that's where the weird part came in.

She tried coming yesterday, but hadn't gotten any farther than the main office to find out where she was supposed to go. The map of the place made the stargate system chart look easy to read by comparison. After deciphering the layout of the grounds, she had ended up driving right back out onto the main road, nearly in tears. A decent meal and a good night's sleep later, she resolved herself to returning to the cemetery the next morning. Which was where she was now. Very weird.

The last time she had been to a cemetery was when she and Mark had gone to visit their mother's grave at the 15th anniversary of her death. Had that only been a few years ago? It seemed like much longer. Her feet stopped just shy of her eyes being able to focus on the letters etched into the gravestone. She already knew the name and the dates imprinted on it. She sat on the concrete bench just opposite, trying not to focus on the words in front of her. Still denying to some part of her that she was actually here. That this was actually happening.

She wasn't sure if a minute or an hour had passed, but the sun was rising and the heat felt good on her skin. Mornings in Colorado were still quite chilly this time of year, and she knew it was now or never, so she finally spoke, "Hi, Charlie." She half-expected an answer, which was ridiculous, but finally registering that one would not be forthcoming, she continued, "We've never met, but I work with your dad. My name is Sam."

The self-imposed awkwardness continued as she sat straight up, hands folded in her lap and tried to find the words to say aloud what her heart couldn't yet admit, "I'm here to give you some bad news." Now that was an understatement. Although, if she had been the kind of person to believe in those kinds of things, she might have considered that Jack was already with Charlie, in another place, watching her together. But she wasn't really that kind of person, and those weren't the kind of thoughts running through her mind. "I'm sure you've noticed that your dad hasn't been to see you lately, and I just wanted to come and explain why." That she couldn't really explain it to herself was beside the point; she had to do this for him. And for herself.

"Your dad was on a mission. There was an accident. We think... well, we hope that he's just fine. But he can't make it home yet, and we're working really hard to bring him back, but it could be about a year. I know that must seem like an awfully long time, and I can't tell you how sorry I am."

Silently kicking herself for getting choked up, she decided to continue in what she hoped was a calmer voice, "I know your dad used to come and visit you when he could, and I just didn't want you to wonder where he was. And I wanted you to know that I- his friends, I mean- haven't stopped trying to bring him home. It's just going to take awhile. I'm really sorry that I can't think of anything that will be faster; I'm sure you miss him a lot. And I know he misses you."

Leaning back into the cold bench, she relished the feel of the sun on her face and relaxed a bit. It had felt good to say the words aloud- that he was going to make it home. It was just taking longer than she wanted it to. Than anyone wanted it to. She wished- and not for the first time in the past few years- that she had actually met this little boy whose death had left a void in the soul of the man she worked day in and out with. Well, had worked day in and out with. She missed that. Just working with him. Just seeing him. Just thinking about seeing him. Now all she could do was think about the day when she *might* see him and work with him again. And that had to keep her going. That and the fact that he wanted to come home to see them. His team. His friends. Her. That was enough to fuel the late night hours. The early mornings. The lack of sleep. Him coming home. It was enough. It had to be.

Smiling at the renewed hope that had settled on her heart since arriving, she rose from the bench, ready to get back to work. She wondered if Jack felt the same kind of peacefulness when he came here. She hoped so.

"Goodbye, Charlie. It was nice meeting you."

*****

I've been on vacation for a week, so it's going to take me awhile to get through all of the posts I've missed. Would still love feedback though: lisayaeger@hotmail.com