Jacob Carter lay in the infirmary bed. His eyes shut tight. Silent tears running down his cheeks as he mourned the loss of Selmak. Her patient wisdom and sarcastic commentary now gone from his internal thoughts. Jacob was grateful that Selmak stayed with him as long as she did, despite her wanting to go for weeks, months even, in order to save him, she let him persuade her to stay with him. At the same time Jacob was angry she had listened to him. Angry and grieving because he had lost time with his children Sam and Mark and his grandchildren Kelly and Benjamin. Angry that he would never have the chance to meet Sam's children.
Sam's children. Her children with Pete. Jacob laughed. He'd only met Pete once. And the guy seemed nice. He really did. But Sam was not going to go through with that wedding. Jacob knew that the moment the guy had made that stupid comment about Selmak. She could never marry such an idiot. And besides that she wasn't in love with him. Oh she might love him. But she wasn't in love with him. Jacob was certain of that. No his little girl had to fall in love with her CO. Jacob laughed again.
"Wanna share the joke?" Jack O'Neill asked. He pulled up a stool and sat next to the bed.
Jacob looked at the man who had stolen his daughter's heart with a smile. A smile that widened as he remembered Selmak's keen observation that he was as in love with Sam as she was him, and that he had effectively been, as she put it, wrapped around her smallest digit.
"What can I do for you Jack?" Jacob asked.
"Well I'd love it if you would live." Jack replied. "But I'm assuming you mean apart from that."
Jacob nodded, wide smile firmly in place as he waited for Jack to speak again.
"Nope, got nothin'" Jack said looking at Jacob. "You need anything" He said more seriously.
"Yeah." Jacob said confidently. "I need you to tell my daughter that you're in love with her."
Jack coughed. His face turned white and his eyes shot to the empty doorway before moving back to settle on Jacob. "What?" He spluttered.
"Cut it out Jack, I've known for years." Jacob said. "And I want you to tell her before she marries that dumb ass she's settled for because she thinks she can't have you."
"Samantha loves Pete." Jack said quietly.
"Bull." Jacob snapped.
"She's marrying him!" Jack shot back.
"She's settling." Jacob all but yelled. Jack looked at Jacob. His hands slack in his lap and a frown on his face. His eyes pleading with Jacob. "Jack, as much as I've tried to ignore it Sam is in love with you. She's with dumb ass because she thinks you don't want her. Now are you in love with her or what?"
"Of course I'm in love with her!" Jack snapped "I am in love with Samantha. But She… Samantha loves Pete, she's marrying him. She's hap-" Jack stopped, his breathing hard. His eyes down cast. He looked back at Jacob, his frown still in place. "She's happy."
"Jack." Jacob interrupted. "I'm telling you Sam loves you." Jack shook his head slightly. Jacob sighed "Look, Jack, just promise me one thing. Tell her how you feel."
"How can I do that to her?" Jack replied "She's happy with him. She deserves to be happy."
"Consider it my last request Jack. Promise me. Tell Sam you're in love with her." Jacob pleaded.
Jack looked at his hands. He thought quietly as Jacob sat waiting for his answer. Could Jacob be right? Was Sam in love with him? He had always believed she loved him. Just as an older brother or an odd uncle. But if she was in love with him. It would explain what she was doing on his deck earlier. Jack closed his eyes. Red flushing over his cheeks as he remembered Kerry walking out of his house. The look on Sam's face. Jack looked up at Jacob, sat looking at him, waiting. He nodded. Jack was going to tell Sam he was in love with her. He just hoped it was the right thing to do.
"Now, what's the cover story for my death again?" Jacob asked.
"Mission gone bad?" Jack shrugged.
Jacob frowned and shook his head "Mark won't buy that. Tell him the cancer came back. It's more believable than a 68 year old in the field" Jack nodded.
Sam sat in the car out the front of Jacks house. She didn't know how she had gotten here, but after her meeting with Pete, when she gave that ring back she got in the car and drove to Jack's house without much thought. And now she couldn't bring herself to leave. Tears began rolling down her cheeks as she thought over all that had happened that day. Her dad's death, Kerry Johnson walking out of Jack's backdoor, using the word 'us' referring to herself and Jack, Pete's face.
A knock on the window brought her out of her thoughts and she looked out to see Jack looking in at her.
When he saw her red nose, the tear stains on her cheeks he sighed. Jack pulled open the door and pulled Sam out of the car into his arms. Sam clutched at his shoulders as she sobbed. Jack buried a hand in her hair and just held her, waiting, never saying a single word.
Soon, Sam's shaking shoulders settled. Her breathing evened out and she grew limp. Jack angled her away a little and looked down to discover she had fallen asleep. Smiling, Jack scooped Sam into his arms and carried her into the house. He tucked her into bed in the spare bedroom where he left her to sleep.