It's been ages since my last story. I know. Is anyone here still missing Sam and Jack stories? I am. And I've been stuck with this idea – one sentence actually – and now I think I finally figured out how to use it.

Set into Threads. Sorta. You'll see.

Sam Carter always thought she was a tough cookie, hard to break and after losing her mother she believed there was nothing worse that life could throw her away she wouldn't survive. She was mistaken of course. She experienced couple of things that were definitely worse.

But she always had her father. Well in a way. Then she almost lost him to cancer and then again she sort of lost him to the Tok'Ra. But it turned out well and the past years brought them very close and she even watched him repair his relationship with Mark. Which was close to a miracle.

And now she had to accept that she would lose him soon. Too soon. Her brain still couldn't understand and couldn't take it in. She knew it was a possibility, they both had dangerous jobs and her dad being Tok'Ra made it all worse. But that risk seemed acceptable. Somehow. Like they could always beat the odds.

But this? No. Just no.

Life was a bitch sometimes. She was watching him and knew she would never tell him all she wanted to. And even if she could she wouldn't know where to start. Her mind was so overwhelmed she could barely think straight. Nothing made sense anymore.

"Sam?" Jacob asked and she blinked, realizing she must have zoned out for a moment.

"Sorry."

"Lot on your mind?" He asked gently knowing very well that it was underestimation.

"Yeah you could say that." She replied with a smile.

"Sammy…" He said her name in a way she remembered from her childhood and couldn't help a tear sliding down her cheek.

"Have you talked to Mark?"

"Yes." Her father replied. "I told him the official version with cancer coming back."

"I am so sorry you couldn't visit him today as you planned."

"Me too. Sam, I've been thinking and do you think we could set up a video call?"

"Sure. I'll see what I can do about that."

She kissed her dad and walked away. She needed authorization for that so she had to face General O'Neill.

As soon as she walked out of the infirmary she couldn't help it anymore. Silent tears were marking her face while something inside was exploding with pain. This was so wrong.

Just before entering the office she stopped, took a deep breath and waited for a minute to regain her composure. The last time she came here to talk to her CO she met Kerry Johnson. The woman that was apparently dating her CO. Which was none of her business and yet it wouldn't leave her alone. Of course she didn't think he would be alone for the rest of his life – especially when she started dating Pete and even more after the engagement. And yet there apparently was a tiny part of her that got really surprised by the fact. And it hurt. Not that he was dating her, from what Sam knew she was a nice woman but the fact that he didn't tell her about it. He kept it a secret.

Did they truly drifted apart that much?

Knowing how far Pete went to make her happy, all about the wedding and now the house, she felt very guilty about feeling what she had been just feeling regarding Kerry. How messed up things could get? Or was this how things would be?

Somehow the last couple of days had shaken her world and she lost her equilibrium. Nothing made sense anymore. And she actually didn't have anyone to talk about it as Daniel was – well gone. And Janet was dead. And it was not like she had other friends to talk to about these things. And sure, she should be able to talk to her future husband but ever since seeing the house she had this sick feeling in the pit of her stomach about the wedding and it was like her gut was screaming at her to finally open her eyes.

"Are you going to stand there or will you come inside?"

"What?" Sam suddenly realized that she had totally stopped moving and the General noticed her standing there at his door.

"Sorry, Sir." She apologized and came inside.

"How's dad?" He asked softly, his tone showing the deep affection he felt towards the man. It took all her willpower to keep it together.

"He asked for a favor."

"Name it."

"He was supposed to come to visit Mark today but collapsed and was brought here. I'd like to set up a video call if that's okay."

Jack regarded her for a moment and saw how shaken she was. He stood up and walked over to the other side of his table so they were standing face to face.

"Do you want me to get your brother here?" He asked after a moment.

Sam was shocked, this possibility didn't even occur to her. She wasn't sure about the answer.

"I honestly don't know, Sir."

"You know what, let's go and talk to Jake about it. His call."

Sam nodded and together they walked to the elevator. Neither said a word. Both felt weird. Inside the elevator Sam finally lost her nerve.

"Are you happy, Sir?"

"Happy? What do you mean?" It surely sounded weird. His friend, man he respected was dying, how could he be happy?

"With Kerry. Are you happy?" She asked again and it surprised her how hurt her CO actually looked by that question. And he was lost at words about the answer. Was he?

In the morning he would have said yes. But then she came to his backyard and found out the truth and ever since he couldn't stop thinking about the whole situation and how screwed up it all was.

When Sam left he actually burnt the meat. Kerry didn't say a word. She was smart enough to notice the change in the air between them.

"What did she want?" She asked Jack.

"I'm actually not sure." He replied. But it was a lie. He knew. Damn he knew.

"Jack."

"Yeah?"

"Are you all right?"

"Sure."

"Jack." She tried again and he noticed the all-knowing look on her face. With her he didn't have to keep his walls up so high so sometimes it was easy for her to read him. She was CIA after all.

"Look, I know we agreed not to ask about the past and all that stuff but it feels like this is important." She said after a minute.

"You read the reports."

"And?"

"Take a wild guess." He said, sitting down on his porch, holding a bottle of beer in his hand.

"You and her." Kerry replied, sitting down next to him. "So there was something on all those rumors. How long?"

"Feels like a lifetime." He told her and she didn't fail to notice the amount of feelings in his voice. The sad smile on his face and the ghost of something very deep in his eyes.

"You still care about her."

"Of course I do. She's…" O'Neill started to say but she jumped in.

"Don't say she's valuable member of your team or staff or something like that, please."

"I wasn't going to."

"Okay… So, you care about her. After everything you went through, redacted version or not, it's understandable."

"Are you mad?"

"No, of course not. So… What happened?" She asked softly and noticed how deeply sad Jack looked at that moment. Picking on the label of his beer he sighed.

"I've been telling her to get a life outside the mountain for so long that one day she actually did." Jack admitted and Kerry was silent for a moment. He looked at her, waiting for her to say something.

"So when you agreed to go out with me…."

"No, nothing like that. You're not a rebound or something. I like you. I really do." He told her and reached for her hand.

"But right now you need to go." She said and he nodded.

"I'm sorry."

"It's okay. Go and find out what's going on." Kerry kissed his cheek and walked away.

When Jack arrived to the SGC he immediately asked about Jacob. Finding out he was at the infirmary he made his way there to find him with tearful Sam by his side. He didn't want to embarrass her so he waited till she walked away which was in a minute. Knocking on the frame of the door he walked inside the room.

"Jack, hey."

"Sooo, do I have to ask?"

"I'm dying, Jack."

"Come again?"

"I'm dying. And before you start, Selmak is in a coma. We both knew it was coming and we agreed we would both go. We had work to do…"

"But you didn't think it would happen so soon." Jack said, sitting down next to Jacob's bed.

"No."

"I'm sorry."

"I'm not dead yet." Jacob said with a small smile and Jack chuckled at that.

"I just hoped I would walk Sam down the aisle."

"Sure, the wedding…" Jack said and it didn't come unnoticed by Jacob that he didn't seem thrilled.

"I take it you're not really looking forward to it?"

"Not my place to say anything. Her choice."

"Hmm… as long as she's happy, huh?" Jake replied. Jack looked at him and both were silent for a moment.

"Look, Jack, I don't have much time so I'm just going to say it, okay?" He asked – just as a figure of speech as he didn't wait for the other man to say something about it.

"Do you love my daughter?" Jacob asked and under any other circumstances he would have laughed at Jack's totally shocked expression.

"Jake…"

"Do you? I know you have, in the past. I just don't know if you still do."

"Why would it matter anyway? She's engaged." He replied smartly.

"It's not too late to fix whatever is wrong between you two."

"Don't go there, Jake. Please."

Jacob regarded him and had his answer just from the way Jack looked back at him. It was written all over his face. He loved her.

"You know it took me a long time to be okay with it but why do you think I let you call me dad?" Jacob asked and nothing else was said as nurse came to check on him and Jack needed to take a breath outside the room.

And now he was standing in the elevator with Carter and didn't know what to reply.

"I'm sorry I didn't tell you." He said in the end not sure why.

"You're my CO and your personal life is none of my business."

"Come on, Carter. We're way past that." He said and she looked at him with the 'really?' written all over her face.

"I don't know why I didn't tell you."

"It's okay. I just hope you're happy. You deserve it." Sam said and right then the elevator stopped and they both walked out. Jack felt like he should talk to her more but he had no words. So in silence they walked to the infirmary to talk to Jacob.

They agreed on a video call as Jacob didn't want to put another strain on the relationship with his son. And telling him about Stargate would shake him and there would be a million questions and no time to answer them. But he was very grateful to Jack for even suggesting it.

"I already put things to motion."

"What do you mean?"

"Mark will be given security clearance. So should you ever think it's time, we can brief him in." And with that Jack nodded at the two and left them alone.

Sam didn't know what to say. When she looked back at her father she noticed he was deep in thought.

"Dad?"

"Sorry kiddo…" He smiled at her and she reached for his hand.

"Number of the Tok'Ra have responded. They want to pay their respects."

"They can come." He agreed and Sam nodded. She would let them know of course.

"I can't believe there's nothing they can do. They can remove a Goa'uld. In the last few years you've almost perfected the process of saving the host."

"That process instantly kills the symbiote before it releases toxins. It's too late for that. Sam, I'm sorry. I hate to do this to you but I should have been dead six years ago. Since then, I've been all over the galaxy. I've done things most men never dream of." He spoke gently to her, trying to offer some sort of a comfort.

"I've heard that before." She noted.

"I just want to know you're gonna be happy."

"I am."

"Don't let the rules stand in your way." He tried again.

"What are you talking about?" She asked and got a little worried with the look her father gave her. What was that about?

"You joined the Air Force because of me." He tried to start from the beginning. She smiled at him.

"I love my job." He could only nod at that, he knew how much she loved this. He put his hand on her cheek so gently it almost made her cry again.

"You can still have everything you want."

"I do, dad." She told him but he didn't really believe her. He looked at her fondly and tears almost slipped from his own eyes when she held one of his hands in hers.

"Really." She added and sat down next to him on the bed.

"Sammy…"

"I wish we had more time, dad." She whispered softly.

"I wish I could walk you down the aisle." He added and she sniffed at that. "I just thought there would be a different man standing by the altar waiting for you."

She flinched at that and looked at him with question in her eyes.

"What are you talking about?"

"I'm not blind kiddo…"

"Dad." She warned him softly.

"You're settling with that cop. And I really hope he can make you happy. But we both know where your heart is." He said and had to hold her hand with a little force – not that he was capable of more – to prevent her from standing up.

"Sam…" And to his surprise she didn't try to run away.

"You know you have the same look your mother had when she was looking at me. I knew from that one look how much she loved me despite everything that wasn't ideal."

"I do?" She asked surprised as they barely talked about her mother –ever.

"Yes. But not when you're with Pete." Her father said and she didn't know what to say.

To her own surprise Sam nodded and didn't even attempt to wipe the tears from her face. She leaned closer to hug her father in a way that was possible given his half-sitting position on the bed.

"I was so sure about it all." She said as she pulled away, his hand still on her cheek.

"And you're not anymore?" He asked and she shook her head in the no-no manner. Jake sighed – so there was still hope.

"I don't know what to do, dad. I know it's the right thing to do. He's nice and caring and he loves me."

"But…" Jacob prompted and watched his daughter take a deep breath.

"But my gut is telling me not to do it. And I thought I could… but he… and we…" She couldn't really form a coherent sentence and it frustrated her. How did it even happen that she was talking to her father about this?

"Sam… look at me." And she did.

"Do you love Jack?" He asked.

"Yes." She replied. "Don't be mad, dad."

"Why would I be?"

"Because. Because he's USAF. He's my CO. Because…" And she knew she had more reasons to add but her father stopped her.

"Sam. Shh…" And she smiled through her tearful eyes.

"You're not surprised." She realized.

"I've known for a long time. And for what it's worth you have my blessing on this. I know it's not much but… Look, I know you didn't cross the lines and break the rules. I know you put the Air Force and Earth first. But maybe it's time to change that."

"Daddy…" She half sobbed and hugged him again.

The nurse that was waiting by the door retreated. Checking on their patient could wait. This was more important. Her own father died of acute leukemia couple of years ago and she didn't have this chance to say goodbye and ask him if he would approve of her boyfriend – now husband. So she could understand they needed this time together.

"Dad…"

"Yeah?"

"What if I told you that we weren't that innocent when it comes to breaking the rules…"

"What do you mean?" Jacob asked, unsure where this was heading.

"You said you knew we didn't cross the lines. What if we did? Would that change your view on this? Your opinion on me, on him, on us?" She couldn't believe she was actually asking her father this but this was her last chance and she needed to make the most of it.

"You had an affair with your CO?" He asked unsure if he was reading this right.

"I wouldn't say an affair."

"So what was it?"

"At first it was nothing. A hug or a coffee or a walk or whole night of watching TV and not saying anything…"

"Sounds like a friendship to me."

"The Air Force would see it differently. But most of the times the whole team was there so it was a friendship. But it became more. Sort of. Sometimes." She knew she wasn't making much sense so she took a breath.

"After a tough mission, serious injury, being face to face with death I just needed to know I was alive and safe and he…" And she couldn't continue. It was too much and she was overwhelmed.

Jacob needed a moment to think about it. He certainly didn't see this coming. But in a way it all made sense.

"Was that mutual?"

"What?"

"The need to feel safe and alive. Was that mutual?"

"Yes. Yes, it was. We tried really hard not to get too close but it just happened. And we tried to fight it."

"Aaah, all those times when you added sir after almost every sentence?"

"So you noticed…"

"Well I didn't but now when you're talking about it…" He shrugged.

"We both knew we had our duties."

"And yet you couldn't control your feelings so you tried to control your actions." He said softly, finally understanding it all a little bit more. "So what happened, kiddo? Why Pete?"

"Remember the time when I was on Prometheus?" She asked and her father nodded. "I had hallucinations. Important people from my life appearing and helping me get through it."

"You hit your head pretty hard." Jacob said and Sam replied a soft 'yes'.

"Something changed for you then."

"Yes. And as everyone has been telling me to get a life I agreed to go out with Mark's friend when he suggested it."

Sam confessed and Jacob had a pretty good idea about the rest. Instead of doing something Jack retreated and tadaa here they were. He knew his daughter well so he made her look into his eyes.

"It doesn't."

"What?"

"It doesn't change my opinion. I understand."

"Really?"

"Yeah. Well knowing it sooner I might have talked Selmak into breaking his bone or two…" He turned it into a joke and Sam laughed with him. She would miss him so terribly.

One of Sam's lab technicians came knocking on the door.

"Yes Natalie?"

"I have the laptop ready if you'd like..."

"Thank you." Jacob said and she handed them the laptop with secure connection so he could talk to Mark. He was so proud of both his children that it made his heart swell. He sent a silent 'thank you' to Selmak knowing very well that without him it wouldn't have happened.

So – more – yes or no?;)

And I always thought this was 6 years after Jacob meeting Selmak and not 4 like was said in the episode.

The "what if we weren't that honorable" wouldn't leave me alone!