This story takes place in an alternative universe, there are spoilers but I am sure you have seen all the episodes of the series.
I have no BETA at the moment, so there will be a lot of mistakes, but if anyone of you wants to become my beta, you would be doing me and yourself a BIG favour.
I hope you like it.
Life surprises
Chapter 1: The Colonel
Things had been difficult lately. With his new job at the SGC he was less time at home than he was before retiering. But he had to admit that this new job was great. It was magnificent. He had fun in the field, he had great teammates and he was the 2IC of the base. That was a huge step in his carreer. But his wife didn't seem to understand that. She didn't seem to notice the smile that was always on his face now. She didn't seem to notice that he was more sociable, of course he couldn't talk about what he was doing but he was spending more time with Charlie and with her. But Sara didn't see all that. And that's why he was now miserable when time to go to bed came. He loved his wife, at least that was what he told himself, but apparently she didn't loved him anymore. She hadn't touch him in a while and he was going desperate. He needed her heat, her love, he needed to fuck. No. Make love to her. He loved her, he had to repeat that to himself if not he would had left her some time ago. The truth was that his feelings for her weren't the same that he had for her 15 years ago. He didn't love her the way he used to. He loved her because she was the mother of his son. Charlie was his life.
"Time to go to bed kiddo" Jack told his son.
The twelve years old kid looked at him and yawned, "I'm not tired dad"
Jack smiled, every night he was home the same happened, "I know but I am, so perhaps you could do me the favor and go to sleep, I'm an old man Charlie"
The boy looked at him for a moment and then gave him a small smiled and nodded. He gave his dad a goodnight kiss and went to sleep.
Jack went to his bedroom and looked at the bed. Sara was already there, sleeping. He sighed and prepared for bed. Tomorrow was going to be a long, long day. They had a mission, a mission that would take some days. He looked again to Sara. They hadn't made love in a month. Jack knew she was only with him because of Charlie and for what their families would think if they divorce, but he was beginning to believe that would be the best choice. He got into the bed and fall asleep thinking about how beatiful the stars were. Charlie and the stars were his life.
"Here eat this Charlie, breakfast is the more important meal of the day" Jack said giving the brown-haired boy a bowl full of fruit loops and milk.
"How long will your mission take this time dad?"
"Some days" Jack said taking his cup of coffee to his mouth.
"Hi Charlie" Sara said kissing his son's cheek, "Jack" she said nodding her head to him.
Jack smiled, 'not even Teal'c is so cold, and he is from another planet for god's sake!', "Hi Sara"
"You will be here on Saturday night, dad?"
"I guess" Jack said, "why?"
"I have a party" Charlie said, "with girls"
"Girls, huh" Jack said looking at Sara who was smiling, "and tell me champ, is there any girl that you like?"
"Girls are stupid dad, they are looking at the mirrors all the time and they don't want to get near us" Charlie said looking shocked at his dad, why would he think that he like any girl?
"So what's her name?" Jack said grinning.
The little boy blushed, "Melanie" he said softly.
"And why do you need me?" Jack asked again.
"Someone has to help me with the clothes" Charlie said exasperated.
Jack looked at him then at Sara, who shuggred and said, "your mum is better with the dressing"
"But she is a girl"
"Why thank you Charlie"
The boy looked at his mother and went red, "Sorry mom"
"It's okay, I love you too honey"
Jack's cell started ringing, "O'Neill"
Charlie looked at his dad, he didn't know what his old man did at that mountain but he knew it was important. His dad was happier, and that made Charlie happy although sometimes he wished he had stay retire.
"I'm going Matthews, tell Daniel not to loose the head, I'll be arriving in 20. O'Neill out" he said standing up and heading to the door, "I have to go, see you" he said and ran to his trunk.
Daniel stopped his car in front of Jack's house. How the hell was he going to tell Sara that Jack wasn't going to be able to come home for some weeks?
He went to the door and knocked. The door opened some minutes later.
"Hey Daniel" Charlie greeted him, "what are you doing here? Where's dad?"
"Is your mom home?"
"Yeah, come on in" Charlie said looking at his father's friend suspiciously.
"Mom!" he yelled after closing the door.
"What is it Charlie?" Sara said appearing form the kitchen door. At seeing Daniel she knew something was wrong, "Daniel"
"Sara" Daniel said, "we have to talk"
She nodded, "why don't we go to the livingroom?"
"Wherever you want"
After sitting in the couch Daniel looked around, there where a lot of photos of Charlie. And there were some of Jack and Sara. He knew his friend was having problems in his marriage and that it was going to get worse if he told Sara the truth. He also knew that he couldn't tell the truth and he was thankfull for that.
"Coffee?" Sara offered him a cup.
"Thank you Sara" Daniel said taking it.
"So, where is Jack?"
"He is at the base but he won't be coming for a while" Daniel said slowly.
"What happened?"
"He got infected by some kind of virus in the mission and the doctors don't know what is it" he began, "he is in an isolation room, we can't see him and well the doctors are working in finding the cure"
"Is he going to die?" Sara said in a low whisper.
"We don't know, but you know Sara" Daniel began trying to give hope to his friend's wife, "The best of the best work in the base and I'm sure they will find a solution"
"How is it that Jack got ill if you work in a mountain Daniel? And don't bullshit me with the astronomy thing cause I know you aren't an astronomer. I know Jack has a PhD in astronomy but he is a special ops officer Daniel, he is a man of action" Sara said standing up and walking around the room.
Daniel looked at her and smiled saddly, "I can't tell you Sara, I am sorry, really sorry, but you have to undestand that all the doctors are working in Jack's problem" Daniel said.
"Is there anyone else ill?"
"No" Daniel said knowing that his answer would generate more questions but also knowing that he couldn't lie to her about that, "Jack's the only one ill"
"Why? What did he do?"
Daniel looked at her. He couldn't tell her that he had slept with a woman from another world. He couldn't tell her that Jack was still in Argos with Kynthia. "I can't tell you Sara, sorry, but that's classified"
"Like everything in his damn job!" Sara yelled.
"I'm really sorry Sara, but I promise you that he will be allright, the new doctor is working in his problem and she comes highly recommended, they say she is a genious. I don't know her but they told me that she can find the answer to any problem. The other scientist on base say that if you have a problem give it to Samantha Carter and she will find the answer for you" Daniel said, "Doctor Frasier is working with her, I'm sure that between the two of them Jack will be home soon"
Sara looked at the man in front of her and saw that he was not lying, "I'm sorry Daniel" she apologise, "I shouldn't had yelled at you"
"It's okay Sara"
"Thank you for coming, I really apreciate that it was you who told me and no somebody else, at least you talk to me"
"Sara, wahtever you need while Jack's absence don't hesitate to call me. You'll probably found me on base, I have to continue working to help Jack. I'm the only one that will be able to help Doctors Carter and Frasier with this problem" Daniel sighed, "I should be going back to base. Call if you need anything Sara, I will call you the moment I know something new"
"Thank you Daniel" Sara said kissing his cheek and openning the door to him.
After shutting it, Sara sighed, life with Jack O'Neill was always the same. She was tire of it. She had loved the man but she didn't anymore. She cared about him only because he was Charlie's dad. She didn't know what to do about them.
"He is not coming home, is he?" Charlie question interrupted her thoughts.
Sara smiled saddly, "Your dad is ill Charlie, they don't know what he has but until he is okay he won't be coming home"
"Is he going to die?" Charlie said with watery eyes.
"They are trying to heal him, love, I'm sure he will be okay" Sara said hugging her son.