Preview:

Weaveth Steadily

It's been a year and a half since that fateful day on Edora, when a falling sky brought together two people who never should have fallen in love in the first place. They've been there for each other through thick and thin; alien bad guys and even some enemies on home soil. It seems that nothing can prove to be too much for the dynamic duo.

But when their personal lives are just starting to get on track, they are faced with more and more challenges, each one more trying than the last. Allies need their help, friends cause them trouble and, as always, they have a job to do- an unbeatable enemy to defeat. And let's not forget those close to home who want nothing more than to destroy the very thing they fight so hard to preserve.

How can they be expected to juggle it all? What will be sacrificed? What will be salvaged?

For Jack and Sam it's been a struggle to get to the place they're at. Professionally, they dodge bullets. Personally, they walk a tight wire.

Somewhere between hope and destruction they live a double life.

How long can they expect it to last before the house of cards tumbles?

Can love really conquer all, or is the price just too high to pay?

But, for this, would you pay it anyway?

-0-0-0-

The saga continues...To those who have, again, followed me to this story, I cannot express my gratitude enough. Your support is unbelievable, and I thank you. To those who are new, please know that this story will make very little sense to you unless you've read 100 Days of Night and its sequel I Walk the Line.

This chapter is based on the events of Double Jeopardy, Exodus, Enemies and Threshold.

I know I seem to say this all the time, but....... I hope you enjoy this next chapter in our saga! =D This is very much establishing time and place, but I will be going back to my one-shot format later.

Enjoy!

-0-0-0-

SG-1 was quiet as they sat and pretended to watch the film in front of them. They were sitting in Daniel's new living room- Sam's old one- with boxes still scattered around- some hers and some his- and they hadn't said a word since Jack, Sam and Teal'c arrived unexpectedly with a movie, a pizza and a six pack of Guinness. Daniel had seemed relieved for the intrusion- it probably distracted him from what happened on this last mission.

They were all a little distracted. Their counterparts had died one way or another to save them. And, really, what made them any different from the SG-1 that was currently hiding from the world in Daniel's living room? They all hurt, they were still loyal to each other, and they still tried to carry on SG-1's objective, restricted as they were by their power packs. If it weren't for the fact they were mechanical on the inside, no one would know they weren't human. The people of the planet had been fooled well enough.

It was a classic case of survivor's guilt, and they all hated that they felt that way because, really, those machines shouldn't have existed in the first place. And they certainly had no right going on missions, screwing things up for SG-1. But then, weren't they talking about themselves? Wouldn't they do the same thing? Hadn't they?

Jack took another swig of his beer. He'd lost track of the movie around the time Wado started cursing the Jedi for swindling him.

What got him the most was, for all the differences he could find between him and his counterpart, Jack knew of one very important similarity- one which blurred the line between man and machine more than anything. Proof of humanity, if that made sense.

'So... you and her?' he had asked.

'What?'

'You and Sam?'

'Oh... that...'

'Well?'

'Are you?'

The other Jack looked over to the two women, knowing his Sam only by her clothes, and Jack knew the truth. He'd have to ask Daniel if he ever looked that sappy, ever, and if he did, he was going to get someone to hit him.

'Yeah'

'How long?'

'Not long after you left. Before Sam made the power packs. There's only so much you can talk about when you're stuck together before certain other things... come to light... Plus, it's not like we have anyone else' he'd added a little too flippantly.

'She could have had someone else' retorted Jack, calling his own bluff.

The machine had sighed in an all-too-familiar way. 'Yeah. I said that. She said she never wanted anyone else. I thought she was just saying that because we're all we've got'

'Yeah. I know what you mean'

When he gave him a look, Jack elaborated. 'We got stranded on a planet for almost a year. Just us'

'And you realised you'd been feeling... feelings... for a while?'

'Well, it certainly wasn't a feeling I had around Daniel or Teal'c"

'Yeah'

And that had been the conversation. It hadn't seemed so important before, but looking back Jack couldn't deny his counterpart was more human than he'd ever let himself believe, and the thought that he'd, for lack of a better word, died made Jack sick to his stomach. It must have showed, because Sam very subtly moved to settle further into his side. Then again, maybe she'd discovered the same thing he had, and maybe she was feeling what he was feeling.

His arm around her shoulder tightened a little, and he felt her lightly sigh, indicating she had her own thoughts to work through.

He was sure they'd all be a little deep in thought tonight.

-0-0-0-

Jack and Sam had taken the guest room and Teal'c the couch, and for at least an hour they had laid there, unspeaking, both aware the other was wide awake.

Jack turned over so he was on his side, facing her. She turned her head to look at him.

"They were together", she said.

"Yeah. Longer than us, apparently"

Sam only nodded, and a single tear fell silently from her eye.

"They risked everything for our cause. They're cause... our cause"

"And they knew the risks", said Jack gently, having come to the conclusion himself since they'd been lying there.

"Yeah", she sighed, admitting he was right. "I just know, had it been me, I would have done the same as them. I know that. Because once..."

"They were us"

"Yeah"

Jack put him arm lightly around her and she immediately responded, tucking unto the crook of his shoulder, her head resting again his chest. At least, she thought, I'm not the only one confused about how we should be feeling about this.

She let her mind wander over the slight distinctions between them and the machines, remembering the smallest differences that let her know which Jack she'd been speaking to. She had known, just by watching the ways the other Sam had interacted with the other Jack, that there was something between them. Perhaps it wasn't as official as her and 'human Jack'- there could be no promise of vows or cake or a marriage license- but it had been there, and it had been as real as her own relationship, and didn't that mean something?

"It's always us", she said softly after a moment.

"Hmm?"

"Us. It's always us. The alternate realities we've seen- it's been us. This... it was us. I'm never with... anyone else, you're never with someone else... it's always us. The reality Daniel went to, the other Sam who came through, the robot us..."

"That a bad thing?"

"I think it's a very telling thing"

"What, like, no matter what crazy reality we're in I'll still love you?"

Sam huffed in amusement at his tone, but didn't miss the real question. "Something like that"

"Well... whatever reality we're in... I love you"

"I know"

She pulled herself up a little to look at him, and kissed him lightly, allowing herself just a moment to grieve the loss of an ally that never should have been.

"I just hope I never have to say good-bye like that"

"I can't promise anything"

"I know. Neither can I"

"Nothing is certain when we step through that gate"

"It's not. But... every time we come back it gives me a little more confidence"

"A good track record"

"For all the trouble we get into, we'll get through it, won't we?"

"I can't promise we'll get through it all, Sam. But I swear to God I'll try"

"Me too"

"Always"

She smiled hesitantly, as though afraid to be too happy after the mission they'd just had.

"I love you too, you know?"

"I know"

"Good. Just so long as you know that"

Jack kissed her again, and they settled back into the covers, a little more distance between them than before, their feet still lightly touching. Sam couldn't imagine having everything taken from her the way their machine counterparts had lost everything. To be forced to stay behind- she knew exactly why they resumed their missions. Her only consolation was that, for a short time, the other Jack and Sam had been together- had experienced a little of what she had. She knew that if Edora had been a permanent solution, he may have been her only sanity. And even then, it would have been a stretch.

No, she couldn't blame them for wanting to get back in the game.

-0-0-0-

"Hey", greeted Daniel, rubbing his eyes.

"Good afternoon Daniel", greeted Jack with fake joviality.

Daniel looked at the clock and found it was only ten, and rolled his eyes at Jack. "Just because some of us have a ridiculous body clock"

"Eight o'clock is not ridiculous. Six-" he added, giving Sam a look "- is ridiculous"

"I'm disciplined"

"Insane, maybe"

"I need coffee", announced Daniel, effectively stopping the banter before it had begun.

"Already on", said Sam, pointing to the bench and the waiting pot of steaming coffee.

"Oh, legend"

Jack snorted, and muttered something about him spending too much time around Cassie.

"So, what's on the agenda today?" asked Jack.

"We are booking a celebrant", said Sam pointedly.

"What, now?"

"Yes, now. Before we discover they are all booked out on the one day we want one. It's almost Christmas... we wait any longer and it'll be the New Year"

"Alright, alright, wedding stuff it is"

"You guys pick a date?"

"March 25th", said Sam instantly.

"Really?" asked Jack.

"You didn't know?" asked Daniel.

"We hadn't said"

"Is that alright?" asked Sam, wondering if maybe there was a reason why March wouldn't work.

"March sounds good"

"Okay. March it is"

-0-0-0-

And then they were called to work and none of their plans were made.

The Tok'ra needed their help, and Apophis caused more trouble that he was worth. Jack and Jacob had some verbal sparring, all in good humour, and SG-1 mourned over the loss of Teal'c. Daniel had tried to make Jack feel better, because that's what Daniel did, and Jack had once again felt as though he'd failed a friend, because despite Daniel's reminder that they were not the only trained soldiers out there, Jack still felt that every action and reaction of his team reflected how well he did his job, and a death certainly put a black mark on that record.

And all the while, Jack couldn't help but think of how disappointed Sam would be if they couldn't get back to Earth by March.

"Carter..."

Because whenever they were at work he did his best to call her Carter and not Sam.

"... how do you know where to go in a place like this?"

"I studied the Tok'ra specs of this ship while we were on Vorash"

"You know how to have a good time don't you?" he'd asked mockingly, because despite his best efforts, she still insisted on bringing stuff like that home for her nightly reading, and he truly didn't understand it... any of it.

"Having a good time now, Sir", she'd said playfully, her gun hoisted a little higher against her shoulder.

And, because he knew she secretly loved it when he lightened up around her at work, and she really did do an awesome job blowing up that sun, "You go girl"

She'd smiled before turning the corner, and he made a vow to himself that he was getting them all home. This, of course, was not so easy when the Carter's were being so damn negative- particularly the elder- and that same said elder was mocking Jack somehow, just in the way he insisted on being in charge and calling the shots. Jack felt part of the family, but come on; a little optimism never went astray.

In the end they had narrowly escaped, and what Jacob had said rang loud- 'Getting his mind back might not be as easy'

And it wasn't. Their friend almost died coming back to them- if you didn't count the fact he did actually flat-line. They had all felt it. SG-1 almost lost one of their own, and they were family, and there was only so much a family could take. It was worse than watching him die- to see Teal'c suffer over something that was neither his fault nor his choice. Even Janet, for all her impartiality as a doctor, was conflicted and untrusting of Bra'tac's methods. Sam had shown Bra'tac the most faith, certain that the man knew their friend at least as well as they did, and had taken it upon herself to explain their reasoning while trying to understand his. Ever the scientist. She'd come to Jack after, and told him of Bra'tac's words- 'life for the sake of life means nothing', he'd said.

Later, when Teal'c had been sedated for some rest and SG-1 had been told to go home, she sought Jack out, and in the relative privacy of his office, she had cried.

SG-1 had been given a week off- a week to recover and to celebrate both the defeat of Apophis and the return of their friend to them. More than that, the revival of a brother once lost.

Wasn't there a song about that or something? A cliché or two that could be used?

-0-0-0-

"Been one hell of a month", said Jack, as they were lying in his bed- their bed, the third night of their leave, after two days relaxing as a team.

"You could say that"

"You know what I just realised?"

"What?"

"We missed Christmas... and New Year"

Sam chuckled next to him. "I'll get you a present anyway... a belated Christmas present"

Jack noted the glow of her bracelet in the dim moonlight as her hand rested out of the covers on her stomach. It always made his chest constrict a little, seeing that bracelet, more than the engagement ring on her finger ever did. It was corny and over the top and a little too analytical for his tastes, but he saw it as being symbolic- each little loop holding another in place, every little imperfection being over-ruled by the overall beauty of the whole object. He was glad Karl had called him into the blacksmiths that day, when Jack had nothing better to do but wander around.

"Sweet..."

They both turned onto their backs and stared at the ceiling, letting their thoughts gather.

"You gonna call a guy tomorrow?"

"Yeah"

Jack nodded once, and they both went back to staring at the roof, deep in thought.

"Jack?"

"Yeah?"

"How would you feel about... having a priest?"

He didn't immediately answer, but there was one question that came to mind.

"I'm not fussed... but may I ask... why?"

Sam sighed next to him, and he prepared himself for a long, scrambled conversation.

"I know... it's... it's not..."

"Sam... spit it out"

"It's silly"

"Sam", he said, calling her bluff.

"It was something Teal'c said"

"Hmm?"

"He said... he asked if I believed in a God"

Jack took that information and processed. He knew enough to know she was Roman Catholic, but then anyone would know that if they'd seen her dog-tags. She also seemed to know the Bible well enough to hold a sort of reverence for it- to hold a grudge when her former fiancé took it upon himself to be God and her commanding officer misquoted his commandments. But then, he'd never seen her in a church- had never figured her to be all that religious, what with her being a stickler for the Big Band theory and all.

"And what did you say?" asked Jack.

"I didn't answer"

"But...?"

"But... I don't know"

He stayed silent.

"I do"

"What?" he asked, confused.

"I do believe in a God. I know that sounds crazy..."

"Not really", he said quietly, thinking of the countless prayers he'd recited in that waiting room while the doctors failed to save his son.

"I just... I guess I've always thought there must be something else after this. Heaven, evolution, I don't know, but something. My mother was Catholic... went to church every now and then. Even with my interest in science, she always tried to give me something... Dad too, I guess. 'You can still have faith, Sammie', she'd say. 'If not religion, then faith'. And I did- I always had faith in numbers. Numbers... they work. You put two and two together and every time you get four. It's safe. But..."

"Now you're not so sure", said Jack, kind of knowing what she was getting at. If a loyal man could turn on his living, breathing God, then was any kind of faith safe or sacred? What made their blind faith in a Western deity any different from the millions of Jaffa out there who worshiped parasites that could use technology? And were they wrong for still believing in anything, given their day-job, or was theirs somehow different, perhaps because it wasn't so tangible?

"Yeah. I guess I'm not sure anymore. Bra'tac, he had such faith that his way would work. Us- we had such faith that Teal'c would come back to us. Even Janet- she had such faith that just one more shock would start his heart. Everyone has to believe in something. No matter what it is... and maybe that's why I was so scared for Teal'c- it's like we were asking him to give up the one thing that he had absolute faith in. I had to keep reminding myself that he'd done it before, that he'd lost his faith before and found a new belief"

"There are just some things you shouldn't believe in, Sam. Some faith is not good"

"Yeah. I know. I know that now. But, then, where's the line? Even here, we have people fighting over God- because of God- in the name of God. Is it right to still believe when we fight it every day?"

"I think a little faith in something that inspires you to go on- gives you hope for something better... I think everyone could do with a little faith in that"

Sam smiled, and wasn't that surprised to find a deep answer from him.

"So... what's the real reason you'd like a priest?" he asked gently, without accusation.

"I'd like to think that there's someone out there watching, who has our backs, and if they are, I'd like them to watch out for us. If they've been the one to give us our uncanny good luck, I'd like them at our wedding"

"Okay"

"Plus..."

"What?"

"I know my Mom would have been proud to see me in a Catholic church. Well, I don't want the church, but..."

"It's important to you, your faith, even if you don't show it. I understand"

"You don't mind?"

"Sam, I've stepped foot in a church a half a dozen times in my life... one of those times was to get married"

It was a fact duly noted and accepted. He'd been married, had a son, and divorced. She'd been engaged to a psychopath and had a couple of short-lived flings with aliens. Sam didn't react to the suggestion that perhaps part of the reason he didn't mind her doing most of the planning was because he'd done this before.

"If you want a priest, we'll have a priest. It obviously means a lot to you?"

"Yeah"

"Then, consider it done"

"Thank you"

He kissed the top of her head. "Anything", he said, refusing to add 'for you' to the sentiment for fear of being too cliché. Sam grinned anyway, hearing it anyway.

"I'm really glad Teal'c is okay", she said after a few moments of silence.

"Yeah", he sighed deeply. "So am I"

"He's..."

"Family"

"Exactly"

"They both are"

"Yeah. They are. I've got a better relationship with SG-1 than I ever did with Mark"

She tried not to sound bitter, but Jack could tell that her entire family situation bothered her sometimes, particularly when they came close to losing a team member and the boundaries between colleague and friend were blurred.

"I was spooky seeing Teal'c that way", said Jack, revealing in that simple statement just how much he cared for his friend and had been afraid for him.

"We've never seen him that way"

"Nope"

"The first time we really met him was after he left everything to help us"

"Yep"

"I never want to see that again", she said lowly.

"I know exactly what you mean", he answered, and his words held more weight than either of them were used to.

In a vague gesture of comfort- and perhaps seeking her own comfort- Sam turned onto her side and rested her cheek against his shoulder. His other arm came up and his hand ran down her cheek, acknowledging what she was offering, before settling back at his side.

"Love you", she muttered softly into his shoulder. She always seemed to make a point of saying that before falling asleep, even if he had pissed her off to no end that day. Almost like a final sentiment- her own personal brand of 'if I should die before I wake, I pray the last thing you heard were these words', or something to that effect.

"Love you", he echoed, because, if he should die and all that, he'd like it to be the last thing he ever said- the last thing she was sure of. He wondered what the last words she'd said to her mother were. If she remembered them. If she regretted them. Perhaps there was something in her gesture other than remnants of a childhood prayer.

They drifted off, mostly on their own sides of the bed, except for the lightest touch of her cheek resting against his shoulder, the material of his tee-shirt the only boundary, the warmth of their bodies reverberating in that small space.