A/N: This is a story I have been thinking about for a while (and by "for a while" I mean it just popped into my head a few days ago, while I was doing the dishes.) I am a Jack/Sam Shipper… but the muse wouldn't let this rest, so I had to write it.
This story takes place beyond S8, so spoilers from there up.
A special "Thank You" to my beta Slidell!
Please feel free to leave comments and reviews, even if they are "You totally suck!" Enjoy!
The ringing phone is what woke him. He glanced at the clock on his bedside table, and suddenly he was filled with trepidation. There were only two reasons why people called this late at night… and he didn't know anyone who was expecting a baby.
"Hello?" Daniel said into the receiver, waiting for the voice on the other end.
"Never mind, this was a bad idea." The voice of one very drunk Jack O'Neill muttered. "I can't drag you into this. You're hers too."
"Jack." Daniel started. He was fully awake now and sat up in his bed. "It's ok. I was awake."
Silence passed between the two friends. Daniel could hear Jack's labored breathing on the other end of the phone.
Almost at a whisper, Jack spoke, "I blew it."
"Blew what Jack?"
There was more silence coming through the phone.
"This… thing… with Carter." Jack sighed hard. "I blew it."
"I'm sure it's not…"
He cut Daniel off. "She's going to Atlantis." He half laughed. "I pushed her so far away that she has to leave this galaxy." There was another long pause before he spoke again. "I said some…things to her…" His voice trailed off.
"Everything's going to be alright."
There was more silence pouring from the phone.
"Jack, are you still there?"
"Yeah."
"What happened?" Daniel asked.
There was another long pause. Daniel heard Jack swallow hard. "Are you sure it's over?"
"Yea Danny-boy, I am. I was such an ass."
"Well, no offence Jack, but you have been an ass plenty of times before."
"But nothing like this." He said. "Nothing… like… this."
Silence once again shared the air between them.
"Jack," Daniel started with hesitation, "What did you do?"
TBC