Title: One of the Girls 3: The Wedding

Author: Jo. R

Email: Jo@ram32.freeserve.co.uk

Category: Humour. Kinda. Fluff.

Spoilers: None.

Season: Six or seven.

Summary: Sam Carter. Jack O'Neill. Sara O'Neill. A wedding.

Archive: SJD, Random Ramblings, anywhere else let me know.

Disclaimer: Jack, Sam and Sara aren't mine. They belong to TPTB. If I did own them, this would probably be a lot funnier because it'd be on the TV screen instead of on the monitor in front of you - ditto, though I'd like to add my sense of humour is strange. As in very. Again.

Authors Notes/Second Disclaimer: I hereby declare this series is now the property of Ruthie AKA Fairygnomes and she may do whatever it is she wishes with it.

=*=

Excitement filled her as she gazed at her reflection in the full-length mirror. The off-white dress hugged her curves in all the right places, skimming over all the bits and bumps she was pleased to see hidden. She fingered the veil that flowed past her shoulders and smiled at herself, pleased beyond all doubt with what she saw.

"Ahem." The throat being cleared behind her made her jump.

Sara O'Neill, soon to be Sara Davison, turned and beamed at her friend as she entered the room and closed the door behind her, shutting out the noise that filtered in from the hallway. "Sounds busy out there. Is there something I should know about?"

"Oh, this and that. Nothing I can't handle." Sam Carter smiled, her face flushed. She juggled the two glass flutes and bottle of champagne she'd smuggled from the ballroom the reception would take place in. "I thought you might need a little help relaxing before the ceremony."

Grinning at the sight before her, Sara jumped involuntarily when Sam popped the cork. "Are you sure you're not the one who needs relaxing?"

"Why would I need it?" Shrugging one shoulder, Sam concentrated on filling the two glasses almost to the rim. "All I have to do is sit there and watch and try not to smudge my make-up. Piece of cake!"

"I was referring to the fact you'll be sitting next to Jack throughout the ceremony. Are you sure you can handle it?" The sparkle in her eyes matching the smile on her face, Sara took her glass from Sam and the pair clinked glasses. "Romance is in the air, after all!"

Rolling her eyes, Sam sipped her champagne. "Whether you believe it or not, sitting next to Colonel O'Neill is not going to be difficult. At all. I sit next to him at most of our briefings at work."

"I bet you do." Grinning again, Sara carefully sat down, taking special care not to sit on her veil or on anything that could get wrinkled before she made her bridal debut. "We won't go into details why."

Helping herself to the other chair in the room, Sam sat down with almost as much care as the bride, not wanting to crease or wrinkle the pale green silk dress she'd been forced to buy and wear for the special occasion. "Moving on.. Do you want to know what's going on out there or not?"

Setting her glass down, Sara leaned forward as much as she dared, eager for any and all details her friend would share. Her first wedding had been small and quiet so it was important her second and hopefully final wedding was all the things she dreamed it could be. "Go on, tell me. What's going on? It sounds like utter chaos."

"You wouldn't be far wrong." Smiling, Sam regaled her friend with the story of her day so far.

There'd been the moment of panic when one of Sara's bridesmaids - her cousins four year old daughter - spilt juice all over her dress, following by Sam and Doctor Janet Fraiser taking it in turns to calm down the groom's mother who had taken it upon herself to hysterically declare to all the arriving guests that the wedding was ruined.

That was before they'd made it to the swanky hotel the ceremony and reception was being held in.

When they got there, Janet and Sam had been dismayed to find the groom's best man was nursing a black eye and one of the ushers was limping after the two men had decided to fight over who got to walk down the aisle with one of Sara's oldest bridesmaids - the single, pretty one who'd had men flocking to her like flies to honey at the hen night.

That was where Janet was, Sam explained with an exasperated sigh. Doing her best to patch up the two men so they would look presentable on the wedding photographs with the help of the woman Sara's soon-to-be mother-in-law had hired to help out with the wedding party's hair and make-up.

Then there were the other two ushers who refused to let the beautician put make-up on them. They'd eventually relented when Sam had asked the bridesmaid the other two had fought over to drop it into casual conversation that she liked a man who took pride in his appearance.

Then it was the children again. The ring boy, Tom's six year old nephew, had managed to get all of the grown-ups taking part in the ceremony rushing around in a mad dash when he decided to announce he'd lost the rings. It was only when Sam and Sara's father had been in conversation with each other and the best man that they realised the little boy couldn't have lost the rings because he was yet to be given them - they were still tucked away safely in the best man's pocket.

Sara's father was another cause of amusement. He and the future father-in-law had decided their nerves were getting the better of them and had started toasting the bride and groom early. Fortunately, the groom, Tom Davison, and Colonel O'Neill had found them sitting in the corner of the room the ceremony would take place in and had confiscated all alcoholic substances they'd had in their possession.

"That's where Colonel O'Neill is now," Sam finished, shaking her head as a small smile continued to play on her lips. "He's agreed to keep an eye on them until the ceremony starts."

Wiping her eyes carefully with a tissue, Sara tried to get her giggling under control. "I don't know what to say.. It sounds like a nightmare!"

"And yet you're still smiling." Shaking her head again, Sam took another sip of her champagne, noticing with some amusement that Sara had drained her glass through the tale and was pouring herself another. "You might want to take it easy on the champagne, sweetie. You've got to be able to walk down the aisle in those heels, you know."

"I'll manage.. I'll have my Dad to lean on." Giggling, Sara held her glass away from her, concerned she might spill her champagne on her dress if she held it closer. "Then again, if he's been drinking, too.. I think this is going to be a fun wedding. Definitely fun."

"Uh-huh." Getting to her feet, Sam made her way over to her friend and carefully removed the glass from her hand. "And I think you're drinking just a little too quickly so we'll put this over here, okay?"

"Okay." Sara got to her feet and smoothed down her dress, retaking her position in front of the mirror. Her excitement had doubled but her nerves were starting to make themselves known. "How was Tom? Was he getting nervous?"

Standing behind her friend, smoothing out the hard to reach places of her dress and veil, Sam met Sara's gaze in the mirror and smiled softly. "He was fine, Sara. He's the calmest groom I've ever met. All he wants is for the ceremony to start so you guys can be married."

Releasing her breath in one long go, Sara returned the smile with one of her own, her eyes taking on a distant, dreamy-like quality. "He's lovely, isn't he? I couldn't have chosen a better husband."

"I can honestly say," Sam responded as Sara turned away from the mirror and faced her. "You have very good taste in husbands and there's no doubt in my mind that this guy is the one for you. He makes you happy, right?"

"Happier than I thought I could be after losing Charlie."

Swallowing to rid her throat of the lump that rose unexpectedly, Sam smiled, her eyes stinging, and eased the veil over her friends face, letting it fall gently into place. "Then that's all that matters. Go out there and enjoy it, Sara. You deserve it." Chuckling at herself, she gave herself a mental shrug. "Okay, it's way too early for us to be getting all over-emotional. And it should really be your father in here giving you this pep talk."

"Ha! If Dad's been drinking, his pep talk would consist of 'go get 'em, tiger' and him asking me why women risk crippling themselves by wearing such high shoes!" Her expression softening, Sara took Sam's hands and gave them a light squeeze. "Thank you for being here. And for taking care of everything that went wrong."

"You're more than welcome." Giving in to impulse, Sam leaned in and hugged her friend with caution, not wanting to do anything that would disturb the perfectly positioned, non-wrinkled dress. "Now how about we go and get this show on the road? Want me to tell everyone to get into position?"

"Please." Sara smiled again and watched her leave. Her jaw was beginning to ache but there was nothing she could do about it - the smile just wouldn't go away. Taking a deep breath, she fussed with her veil for the few minutes it took for her father to knock on the door. "I wish you were here, Mom," she whispered to the empty room, fingering the necklace her mother had given her on her eighteenth birthday. "But I know you're watching me from wherever you are."

Exhaling slowly, she opened the door and smiled at her proud father. "Time to go, Princess."

=*=

Thankfully, the ceremony ran smoothly. Sam sat in her chair beside her commanding officer, fidgeting nervously with her fingers as the bride walked up the aisle. She wasn't sure if the bride was supporting her father or vice-versa but was relieved when the father-daughter couple made it to the decorated archway without any embarrassing incidents.

So, she could, see was Sara.

A chuckle ran through the room when the ring boy dropped the ring and the youngest of the bridesmaids called him a 'doofus' rather loudly.

Other than that, everything went okay.

Sniffing a little as the rings were exchanged, Sam risked a glance at Jack O'Neill, blushing a deep scarlet when she found out he was looking at her instead of at the newly weds. She shifted in her seat, feeling awkward at the lack of discomfort she felt knowing where his attention was focused. When his hand brushed hers - by accident, she was sure - she had to ask herself why she didn't feel uncomfortable at the action.

She joined in the applause when the happy couple made their way back down the aisle, catching Sara's eye and rolling her eyes at the wink her friend threw in her direction.

As the guests slowly began to leave in favour for the ballroom and reception, Sam managed to spot Janet Fraiser leaving, accompanied by the usher she'd helped patch up earlier on.

"Looks like Doc's found herself a date," Jack murmured, leaning down to be heard above the evenly pitched din of chattering guests.

Sam jumped at the sound of his voice so close to her ear, willing her cheeks not to change colour as she glanced over at him. "All part of the plan, Sir," she murmured with a small smile. "Janet's sick of going to weddings without a date so she decided to find one when we got here."

"Guess it's just the two of us then." His hand lingered on the small of her back as he subconsciously led her away from their seats towards the double doors. "Unless you've got plans to desert me as well."

"Not at the moment," she murmured. "Though I'm making no promises.."

=*=

She might not have promised to stay with him but she did, much to his relief. He'd expected to feel strange about being at his ex-wife's wedding, to be a little uncomfortable and even a little sad to see her move on with her life.

He wasn't either of those things.

More than one person had flattered his ego by commenting - out of Sam's earshot - that they were pleased to see he was moving on with his life, too. A few of them implied that they expected to be invited to his wedding, when the date was set. Jack, being Jack, made no attempt at correcting them. Usually, he didn't catch their meaning until they'd winked knowingly at Sam and wandered off to talk to someone else.

It did him good to see Sara happy, too. For a long time he'd felt guilty about ruining her life, had hoped that she would find the peace that he himself had.

Finally, it seemed that she had, and he couldn't be more pleased for her. Tom was a good guy, he treated her well and obviously adored her. She deserved nothing less than a husband who could be the man she wanted. Tom, obviously, was that man.

The newly weds had lingered slightly longer at the table he was sitting at with Sam, both of them beaming and gazing into each others eyes. Carter helped him cope by rolling her eyes behind their backs - and to Sara's face when the bride noticed her friend's reaction.

"Just you wait," Sara warned with a grin, wrapping an arm around her friend's shoulders. "One day, you'll be like this and I'll be the one rolling my eyes behind your back."

"Maybe so but I wouldn't hold your breath." Sam smiled and leaned in compliantly as a photographer appeared out of nowhere to take a picture of their table. Her smile widened when Sara reached for an untouched glass of champagne the moment the photographer had gone. "I see being a married woman isn't going to change your drinking habits.."

Winking, Sara took a sip from the glass and smiled behind it. "It's my wedding, my party. I'm allowed to consume as much as this as I like."

"I'll drink to that!" Janet Fraiser declared as she put in her first appearance since leaving the other room with the usher. "Men are idiots. No offence," she added with a small smile to the groom and Colonel.

"I'll drink to that!" Finishing one glass, Sara reached for another as Sam watched on in amusement, shaking her head.

Concerned, Janet's hand paused with the glass partway to her mouth. She glanced curiously between husband and wife, one curved eyebrow rising slightly. "No trouble in paradise, I hope?"

"Nope, she's just running out of things to drink to," Sam answered quickly with a sly grin before Sara could respond for herself. She chuckled at the mock-glare Sara shot her, the chuckle turning into a laugh when the bride giggling ruined the act.

"Since I'm obviously unappreciated here, I think we should move on and find some people who'll be nice to us." Sara took her new husbands arm, the champagne glass still gripped in her other hand. She winked over her shoulder, running the effect of her departure and called out a warning to her friends. "Be warned, I'll have my eye on you two when I throw the bouquet!"

The look of horror the two Air Force Major-Doctor's shared was enough to make Jack pleased that he'd attended. The Goa'uld and various other alien threats hadn't managed to strike as much fear into them as Sara's statement apparently had.

"Excuse me, Ma'am," a young man in a smart black suit appeared at Sam's elbow, hovering behind her chair. He darted nervous glances over his shoulder to a group of men who were obviously his friends and turned back to her with an uneasy smile on his face. "I was just, uh, wondering if, ah, you'd-like-to-dance-with-me."

His words tumbled out in a rush.

Jack raised an eyebrow and waited for his Second to respond. If he wasn't intrigued at her answer, he would've laughed at the jittery bag of nerves asking her to dance.

"I'd love to," she replied after exchanging a look with Janet, rewarding the stranger with a bright smile. Taking his offered hand, Sam got to her feet and left for the dance floor with him.

"If she wasn't holding him up, he'd melt into a puddle," Jack muttered, unaware he'd spoken the words aloud until the doctor sitting with him snickered. His cheeks were almost immediately flooded with colour. "Oops."

Shaking her head in amusement, Janet watched him as he watched Sam and her admirer dance in time to the music.

After four songs and three dance partners, Janet was beginning to tire of the Colonel's running commentary constantly putting down the men who queued up to dance with the blond Major.

"If you're so sure you can do better, why don't you cut in?" She suggested sweetly, getting to her feet before he realised she'd said anything. Reaching for his arm, she dragged him up onto his feet and had him halfway towards the dance floor before he realised he'd moved from his seat. Ignoring the way he dug his heels in, Janet tugged him over to Sam and her partner, smiling sweetly as she tapped Sam on the shoulder. "May we cut in?"

Before either Sam or Jack knew it, Janet had disappeared with Sam's partner after giving Sara a triumphant look.

Feeling awkward, Sam and Jack stood motionless for several seconds until Sara and Tom breezed by. "One dance won't kill you!" Sara said just loud enough for the still unmoving couple to hear.

Blushing, Sam took a step forward just as Jack did, moving her hands automatically into the right places. 'Set up,' she thought as the music began to slow down. 'This is such a set up.'

For the first minute, neither of them spoke. In fact, Sam wasn't even sure she was breathing.

"So.. "

"So.."

They spoke at the same time, broke off at the same time and chuckled depreciatingly at the same time.

"You go ahead, I wasn't really gonna say much.." Jack grinned down at her, his eyes warm.

Sam smiled and lowered her gaze. "Me neither, I was just trying to start a conversation.."

"Oh." He nodded slightly and unconsciously drew her a little closer. "It was a nice ceremony, huh?"

Relieved he'd found a topic they could discuss, Sam smiled again. "It was perfect. They got everything they deserved."

"Yeah, they're lucky." Jack glanced at the happy couple in question, grinning in spite of himself when Sara and Tom shared what had to be their countless kiss of the evening. "Sometimes I wonder.." He broke off with a sigh, his jaw tightening as well as his arms.

"Wonder what?" She could only hope he couldn't hear the beating of her heart as clearly as she could. Did he wonder about what could've been between him and Sara? Did he still have feelings for his ex that he'd kept hidden?

"I wonder.." He sighed again and moved closer, his voice close to her ear. "I wonder if we'll ever get to have what they have."

The lump in her throat made it hard for her to speak. Sam nodded wordlessly and let her cheek rest against his shoulder. After several long moments, she managed to get her words to leave her mouth. "I envy them. For being able to have it all."

"I know." Jack's hand traced slow circles on her back through her dress, the gentle gesture meant to soothe and comfort. "Someday, Carter, you'll find a nice guy, settle down, have the 2.4 kids and get the white picket fence."

"I've already found the guy," she murmured softly. "I'm just waiting for someday."

His warm breath stirred her hair. His hand stilled, pressing a little more insistently against her back, the warmth seeping through the thin material of her dress and scorching her skin. "It'll come, Sam. It'll come soon."

The music ended and all around them couples split up and retook their seats. Pulling apart, they smiled shyly at one another, the look in their eyes reaffirming the silent vow that had been made.

Sam reached out and touched his arm before he could walk away back towards their table. He glanced at her curiously, his eyes widening in shock as she moved closer. She rose up on her toes a little and placed a soft kiss against his cheek.

Moving away, her cheeks had adopted a pink glow. "Thank you for the dance, Jack."

Staring after her in shock, Jack unconsciously lifted a hand to touch the place her lips had touched. A wide grin spread slowly across his face as he started following her back to their table.

Someday couldn't come soon enough.

=*=

You'll all be very relieved to know that yes, this is the end and I'll try and get writing something that makes a little more sense soon! In the meantime.. mailto:Jo@ram32.freeserve.co.uk - even if it's just to let me know how strange this was!