I came up with this story when I was listening to Katy Perry's Not Like the Movies. I thought that this was exactly like Sam's relationships with Pete and Jack. To make it fit during the time period of the show, just pretend that Katy Perry sang it two years earlier than she really did. Oh and it's kind AU cause I changed when Sam broke up with Pete… But everything else is the same. So enjoy! :D
"Sam! I'm gonna be late!"
Samantha Carter rolled her eyes and finished putting on her mascara. Trust a teenager/almost adult to be overly dramatic. "I'm coming Cass! Just a couple more seconds! Why don't you go start the car?"
She heard the door open and shut very loudly and she chuckled. It was Cassie's high school graduation today and she had to go in early for seating arrangements and rehearsals. Sam was just going to drop her off so they wouldn't be driving two cars. The boys, Jack, Daniel and Teal'c would show up in their own car and they'd all meet at Sam's house after the ceremony.
Same twisted the cap back on the bottle, grabbed her purse and headed out to the car. She'd have to change into her skirt later. For now, her blue sweater and jeans would have to suffice. As she walked down the driveway she found that Cassie already had the speakers up blasting out Katy Perry songs. Sam shook her head. Teenagers!
The whole ride over, they listened to the songs, Cassandra singing along or babbling about how "awesome" graduation was going to be and what she was going to do after, take pictures, say goodbye to her friends. Sam was content to just listen. After all, this was Cassie's day! She looked over and smiled at the younger girl, marveling at how much she had grown up to be like Janet. The way she said things or smiled, or gestured with her hands. She really had been Janet Frasier's daughter. It was bittersweet seeing her like this. Sam thought about how little time she had left with her. She was starting college in Nevada in the Fall. After that, Sam wondered if she'd have time to come see her adopted family again.
"Sam? Earth to Sam!"
Sam turned to Cassie, surprised.
"We missed the turn back there."
"Oh sorry!"
Cassie rolled her eyes, much like Sam had done earlier. Sam grinned, now that was one thing that Cassie had not learned from her mother.
"Don't tell me you're going all reminiscing about old times on me are you?"
"Har har. I was just thinking about you going to Nevada. You sure you want to go that far away?"
"Sam. It's not like it's another planet."
Both of them cracked up at that. "I know, I know." Sam replied. "I just worry I guess. Plus we won't get to play chess every Saturday."
"I'll come back for the holidays. We'll play chess nonstop for a whole day! I promise."
Sam smiled at her enthusiasm. "Okay, but you're the one who promised, so no complaining when I whoop your tooshie."
Sam stopped the car at the curb and Cassie jumped out. "Yeah sure you betcha!" She replied with a grin as she turned to go.
Sam smiled at her retreating figure. How on earth was she going to keep that girl out of trouble. She was already starting to talk like Ja- the colonel.
Sam pulled away from the events center and headed back onto the freeway. Hearing that phrase reminded her of the man who had gotten it started. It had been a month since her dad passed away, the memory still stung a little. But the memory of Jack being there for her was just as strong as well. He had always been there for her, and said that he always would be. So where did that leave 'them'.
The stereo was still running Katy Perry and all of a sudden the words seemed to hit her like a slap in the face.
He put it on me, I put it on,
Like there was nothing wrong.
It didn't fit,
It wasn't right.
Wasn't just the size.
They say you know,
When you know.
I don't know.
She remembered Pete slipping the ring onto her finger. It hadn't quite fit, but she just smiled and kissed him. That day she had taken it on and off, unconsciously playing with it. It didn't seem to belong there so she put it on her dog tags. Besides, she justified, it would just fall off and get lost anyways. Sam wondered now if it was just another excuse to keep it from reminding her.
I didn't feel
The fairytale feeling, no.
Am I a stupid girl
For even dreaming that I could.
Fairytales and Sam Carter did not mix. But then why did she feel so disappointed when Pete had proposed. The fact that he proposed over hot dogs was bad enough but then the house and everything. It just hadn't felt like she had imagined it would feel. Was she dorky for wanting the moonlit proposal or the planning on getting a house together like normal couples?
If it's not like the movies,
That's how it should be, yeah.
When he's the one,
I'll come undone,
And my world will stop spinning
And that's just the beginning, yeah.
She hadn't come undone when she met him. She hadn't fallen head over heels at first sight. She didn't even think she would fall that hard with him at all. It just wasn't like what had happened when she fell for- Sam caught herself. She shouldn't keep comparing Pete to Jack. Pete had given his heart to her. He was hers. Jack never could be.
Snow white said when I was young,
"One day my prince will come."
So I wait for that date.
They say it's hard to meet your match,
Find my better half.
So we make perfect shapes
But the thoughts of Jack persisted. She had waited every day for the past eight years since seeing him in the briefing room the very first time. She had waited through him getting over Sara and all the stuff about Laira and whoever else he'd taken a fancy to. She had waited long enough hadn't she? But then again he had waited through Martouf and Lantesh, even comforted her when she had felt Jollinar's pain at his death. He had waited too. Now they had both moved on.
If stars don't align,
If it doesn't stop time,
If you can't see the sign,
Wait for it.
Sam's eyes filled with tears. Stars had aligned, quite literally. Time did stop when she looked in his eyes. These were the signs that meant you were in love weren't they? She'd waited for Jack all those years because of those signs!
One hundred percent,
Worth every penny spent.
He'll be the one that,
Finishes your sentences.
She gasped on the last phrase. How many times had he finished her sentences? More than she could count. He always knew when there was something bugging her, most of the time he knew exactly what it was too. He'd say it so she never had to. With Pete, he was just clueless. On cloud nine. He never understood her thinking process or what she was trying to say. He also never really knew how to respond.
If it's not like the movies,
That's how it should be.
When he's the one,
He'll come undone,
And my world will stop spinning,
And that's just the beginning.
Whenever Jack walked into her lab it was like breath of fresh air. Whenever Pete was around she always felt guilty for some reason. When she was with Jack she felt like she was someone really special, in his words, a "treasure." He would walk a little behind her, hold the door open for her and heck even let her go through the gate first. Pete loved her and cared about her, but he never got the door for her, he never let her go first, he drove the car, he never let her offer to pay for meals or tickets or even for the wedding cake. Sure not having to pay out was great but her cake? That was under the bride's side of things to take care of wasn't it? Jack had always let her offer, though he may not have let her pay, he never made her feel bad for offering to help.
'Cause I know you're out there,
And your, your love came for me.
It's a crazy idea that you were made,
Perfectly for me you'll see.
Sam pulled over to the side of the road, the tears of frustration and hopelessness running down her face. She slammed her fist against the steering wheel. Why did it have to be so hard?! She knew that she didn't love Pete the way she should. She knew that she still loved Jack and that he still loved her. His love is what led him to come and comfort her in the observation room while her dad was dying. His love was what made him say that he would always be there for her. His love is what made him perfect for her.
Just like the movies.
That's how it will be.
Cinematic and dramatic with the perfect ending.
Where was her perfect ending?! Where was the knight in shining armor carrying her away on his horse into the sunset? Where was her happiness, the thing that she had told her father she had with Pete? Why couldn't she have her love like in the movies? Why was she wasting her time on someone she knew she didn't have that kind of love for? Why didn't she just go in there, retire and get the whole thing over with?
Don't let rules stand in your way. You joined the Air Force because of me. You can still have everything you want Sam.
Sam sat straight up. Why didn't she? Cassie was leaving for Nevada. Why couldn't she go too? Area 51 had tried to get her to come out for years. What if she transferred? Then she wouldn't be in his chain of command. She'd be able to pursue a relationship, albeit a long distance one.
She shook her head. But what about Pete? Could she just leave him like that? Was that fair?
It's not like the movies,
But that's how it will be.
When he's the one,
You'll come undone,
And your world will stop spinning,
And it's just the beginning.
She didn't love Pete. Not that way. It wasn't fair to him to be in a relationship where the other person didn't give them their whole heart. That was just cruel. Sam saw that now. Her heart still belonged to Jack and always would.
She brushed the tears away started the car again. She needed to call it off. She needed to get this over with before everyone came around.
She picked up her cell phone and smiled sadly as she realized that Pete was second in her speed dial. Jack was number 1. She called Pete.
"Hey Sam! I was just gonna call you! Do you want me to pick you up for the graduation thing or are we taking separate cars? Oh and about the flowers, Max says he can't get them done till Friday so we're gonna have to-"
"Pete?" She said, her voice still clogged from sobbing.
Pete instantly picked up on it. "Have you been crying? What is it? Did Cassie get hurt?"
Sam sighed. "No Pete, I just- I need to talk with you. In person."
"Oh, is that all? I'm over at the new house. Thought I'd make sure everything was perfect."
"Ok. I'll see you in ten."
"That's minutes right?"
Sam tried not to laugh. "Yes Pete. Ten minutes."
"Ok. Love you."
Sam struggled with an answer. "Uh huh. Bye."
She let the phone snap shut. If she couldn't tell him she loved him, she was doing the right thing. It hadn't been like the movies, and it should have been.
So you guys know the drill! If you liked it leave a note!