TITLE: TRUTH AND BELIEF

AUTHOR: BARBS

EMAIL: barbssg1@yahoo.com

RATING: R

SPOILERS: CHIMERA

ARCHIVE: SAMANDJACK, JACKFIC, OTHERS PLEASE ASK.

DISCLAIMER: EVERYTHING THAT MAKES MONEY BELONGS TO MGM, GEKKO AND LOTS OF OTHER FOLK MUCH MORE IMPORTANT THAN ME. ONLY THE LOVE IS MINE, AND THAT IS FREE.

FILE SIZE: 49KB

SEASON: SEVEN

NOTES: WHO DO YOU BELIEVE? FEEDBACK? PLEASE? OH, C'MON, YOU DON'T WANT TO SEE A GROWN WOMAN BEG!

"Daniel, you can't do this to me! You promised! Jennifer is already here and Pete has booked a table at the Alexander!"

If someone could be said to be yelling in a whisper, that's what Samantha Carter was doing. She was furious with Daniel Jackson, but did not want Jenni Boyden to overhear the conversation. Jenni had been Sam's room-mate through college, and the two women had been very close, only drifting apart when Sam had joined the USAF and Jenni had married an up and coming financier, and moved to New York. Her husband, now perched on the top of his chosen career tree, had ditched Jenni for a younger version of herself, and she, angry and hurt, had flown to Colorado Springs to lick her wounds and catch up on all Sam's news. Surprised to find her attractive friend still single, but keen to meet her current `significant other', Jenni had agreed to a double date, as long as the guy Sam lined up for her was guaranteed not to come on to her too strongly. Her battered ego was not yet ready to defend itself again!

Examining the credentials of the single men she knew, Sam had decided that Daniel Jackson was far and away the most suitable. Intelligent, good-looking and personable, yet with an engaging shyness, Sam felt sure that Jenni would be safe in his hands, so to speak, and had made arrangements with Pete for him to travel up from Denver for the weekend. With her rather unpredictable lifestyle, it had not been the easiest thing to organize, and now Daniel was crying off!

"I'm really, really sorry, Sam, and I hate to let you down, but when I agreed, I didn't know that Sarah was going to be in town this weekend. She's still finding things a little difficult, and she needs me." "Daniel, tonight I need you! You promised!"

"But Sarah needs me more. Don't forget, she's spent the last few years as a quasi-goddess; she has a few serious issues to address."

Sam couldn't really argue with that. Even being divorced in favor of a Prom Queen couldn't compare with losing goddess status, no matter how false the goddesshood had originally been!

"Besides," Daniel went on "I'm not the only single guy you know, and from what you've told me about Jenni, I'm sure you won't have any trouble finding a stand-in."

Sam was not yet ready to concede so easily. "Oh yeah? Like who? Graham Simmonds? Teal'c? General Hammond? Or how about that nice little guy who cleans the restrooms? Daniel, Jennifer Boyden is a well-bred, stunningly attractive, intelligent woman of the world. She is well read, well traveled and has a great sense of humor. Who else do I know who could stand up to that?" Sam smiled up at Pete as he brought her a coffee and dropped a kiss on the top of her head.

There was a long pause from the other end of the connection before Daniel said, diffidently, "You could always try Jack!"

Sam stifled the urge to laugh out loud. "Jack? Colonel O'Neill? Daniel, that has got to be the worst joke ever!"

"Actually, no! Just because you don't see that side of him doesn't mean that he doesn't know how to be charming and attentive when he chooses to be. He's reasonably presentable, knows which knife and fork to use and can use words of more than two syllables. I don't think he'd let you down, especially if you told him how important it is to you."

Without wanting to analyze why she didn't like the idea of her CO meeting her glamorous friend, Sam quickly came up with another plausible get-out clause. "With a long weekend of downtime, I'm sure he'll have gone fishing."

"No, he hasn't. His truck is due for a service, so he's doing that instead. I've just spoken to him."

"Daniel, you didn't tell him about this?"

"Of course not, it's got to be your decision, but I still think he'd be happy to help. Sorry, Sam, I've got to run! I'm supposed to be picking Sarah up at the airport and I'm late already. I hope it all goes well. Bye for now!"

Daniel's receiver clicked down and Sam was left staring at her phone as though it and it alone held the answer to her dilemma.

"Problem?" asked Jenni brightly, swinging in from the kitchen.

"Well, yes, I'm afraid so! Daniel, the guy we were meeting tonight, has had to cry off."

"Oh, great! Not only can't I keep my husband, but now guys I've never even met don't want to know me!"

"It's not like that, Jen. He's been stuck with a, sort of, family emergency. He's really sorry he'll miss you."

"Sure! So where does that leave tonight? I sure as hell don't want to play gooseberry between you and the adorable Pete – he's already told me that you don't get much time together."

Ignoring Pete's scowl from behind Jenni's back, Sam hugged her friend as she reassured her." He won't mind a bit. He'll just have to do twice as much dancing!"

As Jenni left to visit the local hair salon, Pete took Sam in his arms a little possessively. "Isn't there anyone at all you could ask, just to make up the numbers? We haven't spent an evening together in weeks."

"I couldn't foist just anyone on poor Jenni – she's already been through more than enough with Thomas." Very reluctantly, Sam added, "Daniel did suggest I ask Colonel O'Neill!"

Pete's eyes narrowed, and his arms around Sam's waist tightened a little more. "Sounds like a good idea to me. Seems like the old boy could do with a little female company of his own!"

Sam drew back, not liking the tone of Pete's voice or the look in his eyes. "Would you behave yourself if he came? It wouldn't be much fun for me if I had to referee all evening!"

"So tell him that! I'm not the one carrying around unresolved emotional baggage, Sam. I know where I stand, or lie, with you!" As if to prove his point, Pete bit down hard on her collarbone, hard enough to mark her, and Sam swatted him away angrily.

"The Colonel is my CO, Pete, no more, no less. I like, admire and respect him, but that's as far as it goes, and I know it's the same for him. There's no need for you to brand me!"

Pete looked at her sceptically. "OK, you ask him, and I'll play nice. Wouldn't want to jeopardise your promotion prospects, after all."

Wondering how such a seemingly sweet and caring guy could sometimes be such a bastard, Sam turned away and hit the speed dial on her phone for O'Neill's number, but before it could connect, she clicked it off again. Some things were best done in person, and after Pete's little outburst, she needed some fresh air!

Parking her car across the end of Jack's driveway, Sam could see a pair of familiar legs in very worn jeans sticking out from under the big truck. She kicked the end of the slider-board gently, knowing he would have heard her pull up.

"Hey, sir! Having fun under there?"

"Hey, Carter! No, in truth, not really! The spacing for these bolts is real tight, and I'm slowly grating my knuckles to the bone."

"Want me to have a go, sir? My hands are a little smaller than yours." Immediately the slider-board was propelled backwards from under the truck, and a grease-smothered O'Neill grinned disarmingly up at her. "Thought you'd never ask, Carter! Knock yourself out!" Levering himself upright, he dropped the bolts into her hand and they traded places. "The wrench is still under there." Jack added, sucking at his bloodstained hand.

"Yep, got it!" After only a moment, Sam slid back out. "Job done! I think you ought to wash that, sir, you know Dr. Fraiser doesn't approve of too much grease in our diet!"

"Ha! Very droll, Major, very droll! Wanna beer?" Jack waved vaguely towards his back door.

"Sure, why not – after we fix that hand!"

Three Band-Aids and two beers later, Jack asked "Is there actually something you came for, Carter, or did you just happen over to see if I needed a hand with my nuts?"

Ignoring the dreadful double-entendre, Sam said, "I need a favour, sir, a big one. I don't want you to feel under any obligation, but you're the only person who can help me."

"Oh? No pressure then? Do tell."

"I have an old college friend staying for the weekend. She's getting over a really bad divorce, and needed a change of scenery for a few days. We've made a reservation for tonight's dinner-dance at the Alexander, and Daniel was going to make the fourth, but now Sarah Gardner's in town, and Daniel needs to see her, so Jenni really needs an escort, otherwise she's going to feel like a gooseberry, and I didn't ask you first because I know how you hate these things, but it would mean so much…."

"Whoa, Carter, whoa! If you don't take a breath soon you're going to asphyxiate! Of course I'll come, I'd be glad to help out. I take it the aforementioned `we' includes Pete Whatsisname?"

"Shanahan, yes sir!"

"Yeah, that's the guy! Can you promise he won't stab me in the back if I look at you?"

"Erm, in all honesty, no, sir, but I hoped you could take care of yourself in that respect."

"Fair enough! What time should I be ready?"

"We've booked a cab, so we could pick you up at, say, 20.00? Oh, and sir, it's a formal dinner! Pete has hired a tux."

"So no Wild jersey, then! Don't worry, Carter, I won't embarrass you."

"That's not how I meant it, sir. I didn't want you to be embarrassed."

"Not a problem, Major. Just one more thing --- if this is really a social evening, you know, where we're supposed to have fun and all, d'ya think you could call me Jack? It's only one syllable, not very difficult for a woman who can say things like `theoretical astrophysicist'. Perhaps you could practice in front of a mirror this afternoon? After all, if a bozo like Pete Whatsisname can do it…"

"OK, sir, point taken! We'll see you at 20.00, then."

At exactly that time, the cab pulled up outside the O'Neill residence, and the cabbie honked his horn. Absolutely immaculate in his dress blues and medal ribbons, Jack carefully locked his door and sauntered down the drive, putting on a pair of designer shades as he got in the cab.

Sam turned to Jenni, to introduce her to Jack, and felt a stab of a very unfamiliar and as yet unidentified emotion as she saw the look of open admiration on her friends face. "Jenni, this is Colonel Jack O'Neill, my CO! Er, Jack, this is Jenni Boyden, my roomie from college."

Jack took the shades off again and gave Jenni the full benefit of his warm, brown-eyed gaze. "Nice to meet you, Jenni. Thank you for volunteering to keep me company this evening, while these two lovebirds spoon!"

Jenni took Jack's hand, and seemed, at least to Sam's mind, to be reluctant to let it go. "The pleasure's all mine, Jack, I'm sure we're going to have a great evening."

At the cabaret-bar, Jack was quick to take Jenni's wrap, and held her chair gallantly as she sat down. As he and Pete went to the cloakroom and then to the bar, Jenni leant across the table, eyes shining, and whispered, "You might have warned me that he was such a hunk!"

"I didn't realize he was!" Sam replied, a little frostily.

"Samantha Carter, you have got to be joking! That build, so tall and strong, that gorgeous, gorgeous hair, and, oh my God, those eyes! A girl could wallow forever in those eyes! And those beautiful hands, he has the most elegant hands. You can't tell me you've never thought what those hands could do to you!"

"Jen! He's my CO! And just remember you're off men at the moment! Remember Thomas? Remember telling me you were never going to get involved with another man as long as you lived? Well, Jack O'Neill is a man!"

"Oh yeah, he certainly is, not much doubt about that! With any luck at all, I might find out how much of a man before tonight is over!"

"You are most certainly NOT going to make out with my CO in my guest room! I'd never be able to look him in the face again."

"Don't be such a spoilsport, Sam! Anyway, I'm sure that nice little house of his must have bedrooms too!"

Again, that pinch of undefined emotion nipped at Sam's heart, and she was pleased when Pete, returning with their drinks, asked Jenni to dance. Jenni was an inch taller than Sam, and in her heels made Pete look very short. Sam had never really noticed his lack of height, but dancing with Jenni he looked slightly ridiculous. Jenni was curvier than Sam, and as dark as Sam was fair. The jade green silk sheath she wore matched the color of her eyes perfectly, and her glossy, ravens- wing hair and flawless make-up made Sam feel a little dowdy. Why then did she not feel jealous, watching Jenni dancing with `her' Pete? She tried to pretend to herself that it was because she felt so confident of his love for her, and pushed to the very back shelf of her thought processes the idea that she just didn't care enough to fret over who he danced with!

She glanced at Jack, and followed his gaze to where Jenni was smiling at him over Pete's shoulder. Jack's return smile was warm, sexy and inviting, and as that new emotion poked Sam firmly in the ribs for the third time, she was forced to acknowledge it as straightforward, green-eyed jealousy! Though Pete dancing with Jenni bothered her not a bit, she hated the idea of Jack finding her bosom buddy attractive, and vice –versa. Buttoning her emotions down tight, she asked, "Would you like to dance, sir? Sorry, Jack?"

"Only if your feet are possessed of a death wish, Sam. Believe me, I'm much safer sitting down!"

As the music ended and Jenni returned to their table on Pete's arm, Jack stood politely and again held her chair. Easy conversation went back and forth across the table, with Jack amazing Sam with his knowledge of the New York Metropolitan Opera, where Jenni had a box, and Jenni proving very clued-up about ski-ing in the Rockies, which Sam knew to be a passion of Jack's. They hardly noticed Sam and Pete getting up, and as Pete led her onto the dance floor Sam heard Jenni mention fishing, and Jack's face lit up all over again.

Not wanting to leave them alone for too long, Sam asked to sit the next dance out, but was surprised to find their table empty. Catching her puzzled look, Pete nodded towards the dance floor, where Jenni, head resting on his shoulder, was following Jack's every expert move. Their height and coloring complemented each other perfectly, and despite herself Sam had to admit they made a striking couple. She felt the color rise to her cheeks, and thought for one awful moment that she was going to cry. Only Pete's rather smug smile kept her focused.

Jenni and Jack stayed on the dance floor until their meal was served, and the foursome ate in relative silence, conversation only restarting as coffee was served and the two women headed for the powder room. Pete took the initiative straight away. "She's quite a girl!"

Jack watched as the door closed behind the two women. "She certainly is!"

"Your type, do you think?"

"Oh, absolutely! After all, we've got a lot in common. I think it's a real pity we didn't meet earlier, things could have been so different!"

Pete looked a little bemused, but pressed on. "That dress really brings out the color of her eyes, and she's a great dancer."

Jack's smile was now very gentle. "Yeah, she sure is… all that and more!"

Pete leant back in his chair, satisfied that he had convinced Jack of all Jenni's good points, and could now offload them both for the rest of the evening. Across the table, Jack carried on smiling at how fabulous Sam looked in blue, and how much of an asshole Pete was!

In the ladies room, a similar conversation was in progress as make-up was repaired and hair tidied.

"You're a very lucky girl, Sam!"

"Yes, I suppose I am, Thanks!"

"He's absolutely crazy about you, you know! You can tell just by the way he look at you!"

Sam smiled. "Yeah, it's a pity there's so many difficulties, his job, my job, that sort of thing."

"I guess if a guy that attractive was so in love with me, I'd find a way to make it happen. Opportunities like him don't knock twice!"

Sam was beginning to find Jenni's persistence a little irksome; after all Pete wasn't really THAT special. "Let's get back – the guys will be missing us."

"Not me, honey. It's nice of him to be so attentive, but it's obvious his heart's elsewhere."

As the MC announced the last dance, a perverse demon whispered in Sam's ear.

"Come on, Jack, you haven't danced with me once – let's have this last one!"

Before Pete could protest she had pulled her CO onto the dance floor and tucked herself into his arms. The music was low and slow, and they hardly needed to move their feet, just swayed gently to the dreamy rhythm. Jack's right arm was clinched around Sam's waist, and his other hand held hers tight against his chest. With her free hand resting on his shoulder and her brow against his cheek, Sam had never felt so comfortable.

"Jenni thinks you're pretty special, you know."

"Yeah? She's got good taste! Pete speaks highly of you, too!"

"I know! I suppose we're pretty lucky then!"

"Mmm!" Jack brushed his lips very, very tentatively across Sam's cheek, and she shivered ever so slightly in response. "You know that song, `If you can't be with the one you love, love the one you're with'?"

"Yes, what about it?"

Jack moved his head back just an inch or two so that he could look into Sam's eyes. "It really doesn't work for me!"

Sam shook her head and smiled a little ruefully. "If I'm honest, me neither."

Looking across the crowded floor, Jack realised he could not see their table. "Does Pete have a key to your house?"

"Sure, why?"

"Is your cell phone in your purse?"

"Yes, but where is this leading, Jack?"

Spinning her round quickly, Jack drew her out through the French doors and onto the veranda, and from there hurried her out to the car park where his strident whistle brought a cab at the double. Jack gave the driver his address and then passed Sam his cell phone.

"Call your phone, and ask Jenni to take your things home. Whatsisname can let her in."

"Jack, I can't, what do I say? How do I explain?"

"Tell them you've eloped, been kidnapped, anything! Hell, tell them you've been taken hostage by an Asgard command vessel if you like. They're not going to believe it, whatever you tell them, so it really doesn't matter."

"So what would they believe?" she asked, gradually becoming caught up in the spirit of his enthusiasm.

"That I've dragged you away kicking and screaming to have my wicked way with you. That my iron self-control has finally snapped, and that I'm carrying you off to my sordid lair to ravish you senseless. Fortunately my sordid lair is ex-directory so they won't be able to find us!"

Sam laughed out loud. "I could tell them that I'd finally come to my senses and committed myself to you body and soul, forever and ever, and hang the consequences!"

"Yeah, I suppose, but why should they believe that over my version?"

"Because, Jack, Colonel, sir, with the very utmost respect, my version is the truth!"

Reaching to pull her into his arms once more, Jack kissed her long and hard, pinning her to the seat with his body and grinning delightedly before breathing gently in her ear, "I've got news for you, Major, so's mine!"

fin