Disclaimer: Stargate SG-1 and its characters are not my property. No copyright infringement is intended.
Sam came out of the cabin to see Jack sitting in his usual chair on the dock, legs crossed at the ankles, wearing his baseball cap, fishing rod in hand. She took a step off the porch, using her cane to lean on as she heard the door open behind her.
"Mom, what are you doing out of bed?" Grace asked as she hurriedly came to stand beside her.
"If I have to stay in that bed and cooped up in the cabin for one more minute, I'm going to scream."
"But the doctor says you need to rest and take it easy."
"I can rest on the dock beside your father. Now help me down there."
Grace knew not to argue when her mother's mind was made up. Sam slipped her arm through Grace's as they slowly walked down to the dock.
The family had planned this vacation months ago, and Sam was determined that nothing was going to spoil it. She had been released from the hospital in Colorado Springs just a week ago after having a mastectomy. The family had tried to tell her that she needed to stay home and rest but she wouldn't hear of it. So she and Jack had ridden to the cabin with Grace and her husband, Jim, and their 9 year old twins, Samantha (nicknamed Sammie) and Jon.
Jack sat staring into the calm water, hardly aware of the fishing rod in his hand. His mind was on Sam. After all these years of marriage, she still took his breath away. Her hair was now as white as new fallen snow and although she now had lines in her face, she grew more beautiful to him with each passing day and her smile could still light up a room.
Just two years ago, she had had to have hip replacement surgery and now lived with the pain of arthritis in the other hip, and was now recuperating from the surgery to have her breast removed. He knew Sam was a strong woman but was wondering how much more she could take. He took a deep breath as tears came to his eyes when he thought about the possibility of outliving her, even though she was several years younger than him. He was in relatively good health for a man in his 80's but knew that if Sam should die before him, he didn't know how he would cope without her. After so many years of repressed feelings, they had finally admitted their love for each other. During the small window of time that Sam was not in his chain of command, they had married, just before he had taken the job as Director of Homeworld Security. Sam stayed on at the SGC and found out she was pregnant just two months after they had wed. A few weeks before Grace was born, he had retired and moved back to the Springs to be with his family. Sam continued to work part-time in her lab after giving birth to Grace, but resigned nine months later when they found out she was pregnant with Jake. She realized her family was more important and had been surprised how much she enjoyed just being a wife and mother, and he loved having her around all the time.
The Stargate had become public knowledge just before he had resigned and SG-1 had become famous, although the attention had died away, much to his relief. Teams still traveled to different planets and had made several allies, but there were still bad guys out there to fight.
General Hammond had lived a long life and had died peacefully in his sleep at the age of 90.
Teal'c and Ishta had married but he and Sam rarely saw their close friend. Old age was finally catching up with Teal'c as well.
Daniel had taught at Harvard University for years but had resigned when he had suffered a serious heart attack. Only recently he had informed them that he was in the beginning stages of Alzheimer's. He now lived in the Springs in an assisted living community. He had never remarried, feeling that Sha're had been the love of his life.
Jack heard the two women talking behind him so he sat up straighter in his chair and gripped the fishing rod. Sam sat down in the chair beside him.
"Hi, baby" Jack said as he smiled at Sam.
"Hi, handsome" Sam said as she winked at him and smiled.
Grace grinned at their terms of affection.
Jack laid the fishing rod down on the dock and moved his chair closer to Sam's. He took her hand in his and softly kissed it and they looked into each other's eyes.
Grace could see the emotions pass between them and knew it was time to leave them alone, so she left to walk back to the cabin. About half way back, she turned around to look at them. They were still staring into each other's eyes, talking quietly, as they held hands.
Grace stepped up on the porch, turned around and watched. Jack raised his arm and put it around Sam and she laid her head on his shoulder.
"What are you looking at?" Jim asked as he came out of the cabin and put his arms around her waist.
Grace rested her arms on her husband's as she leaned against him. "My parents. After all these years they are still so much in love with each other."
"Yeah, it has always been quite evident" Jim said as he hugged his wife tighter.
Just then, the twins came around the corner of the cabin.
"Mom, when's lunch?" Jon asked. "We're starved."
"Just as soon as one of you volunteers to help me get everything together" Grace answered.
"We'll both help" Sammie said as she grabbed her brother's hand and pulled him into the cabin and Grace and Jim followed.
Down at the dock, Jack laid his head on top of Sam's and gently rubbed his hand up and down her arm.
"How ya doin'?"
"A little sore and a little tired but I'm okay."
"Sure you don't need to be in bed?"
"I'm sure. Being cooped up in the cabin was driving me crazy. I'd much rather be sitting here with you."
Jack smiled. "I like nothing better than having you here beside me."
They were silent for a few minutes, as they watched the sun sparkle on the tranquil lake.
"Are you dreading having the chemo treatments?" Jack hesitantly asked.
"I'm not looking forward to them but I'll follow my doctor's orders and have them in case they missed any of the cancer."
"I think it's a good idea. You know, we really haven't had a chance to talk since your surgery, with all the family and friends around."
Sam raised her head from his shoulder and looked at him.
"Is there something you want to talk about?"
"I was just uh . . . wondering . . ."
"What, Jack?"
"How do you feel about losing your breast?"
"If it saved my life and got rid of the cancer, then I'll deal with it. In another way, it upsets me. When a woman loses a breast, it's like losing part of her femininity."
"I don't think you're any less feminine" he said, trying to make her feel better. "You're the most feminine, attractive woman I've ever known and it doesn't bother me, honey."
She smiled and placed her hand on his cheek and softly patted it as she looked at him. He was still as handsome to her now as the day they had met. His hair was white now instead of the silver that she had always loved. He had more wrinkles in his face but he still had that beautiful smile that made her heart flutter whenever he looked at her in that special way that let her know how much he loved her. His deep brown eyes were still full of intelligence and mischief. She thanked God for each day they had had together and knew that every hour they still had together was precious to them both. She once again laid her head on Jack's shoulder as they sat in silence.
In the cabin, the kids placed napkins, plates and silverware on the table as Grace and Jim prepared the food. Soon it was time to eat.
"Sammie, would you go get your grandparents please?" Grace asked.
"Sure, Mom" she said as she ran out the door and down to the dock and came to stand in front of her grandparents. Sammie smiled when she saw them. Sam had her head on Jack's shoulder and he had laid his head on tops of hers. Both had their eyes closed and they were holding hands. She wished she had a camera to take their picture.
"Grandma, Grandpa" Sammie said as she gently placed a hand on each of their shoulders.
Jack opened his eyes and lifted his head from Sam's.
Sam opened her eyes and smiled at her granddaughter.
"Mom said to come get you. Lunch is ready."
Jack stood and held out his hands to help Sam stand up and he put his arm around her waist as they slowly walked to the cabin. Once inside they all sat down to eat at the large table.
"When are Jake and Melanie supposed to arrive?" Jim asked.
"Should be here any time" Jack answered.
Melanie had called to let them know they were on their way. Jack and Sam were supposed to have ridden to the cabin with them since they lived in Colorado Springs, but Jake had been delayed off-world in treaty negotiations with another race, and he wasn't sure when he would make it back to Earth, so they had gone on ahead to Minnesota with Jim and Grace.
Jake was in the Air Force stationed at Cheyenne Mountain at the rank of Lieutenant Colonel. He led one of the SG teams and had met Melanie there. She was three years older than Jake and worked as a nurse in the infirmary. Melanie's first husband had been on an SG team and had been killed off-world when she was pregnant with their first child, Kristine. Jake had adopted Kristine when they had married and she was now 10 years old. Jake and Melanie had a son, 8 year old Patrick.
Jack and Jake had renovated the cabin several years ago. With a growing family, they needed two more bedrooms, in addition to the original two. One had a queen size bed and the other had bunk beds for the grandchildren. Whenever all the family got together, all the bedrooms were used and someone usually ended up sleeping on the pullout sofa in the living room.
They had just set down to eat, when Jon happened to see someone come up on the porch.
"They're here!" he said as he ran to the front door to let them in.
They came into the kitchen and there were lots of hugs and handshakes.
Jake gently hugged Sam. "How are you, Mom?"
"I'm okay. Little sore but being with all of you makes me feel better" she said with a grin.
"So glad you could make it" Sam said as she hugged Melanie.
"Me too. The kids have really been looking forward to spending time with their cousins."
"Grandma" Patrick said as he hugged Sam and she returned the hug.
"Grandpa, it's so good to see you" Kristine said as she hugged Jack and he wrapped his arms around her in a big bear hug.
"Hi, Grandpa" Patrick asked.
"Hi, Patrick" Jack said with a smile as he hugged him tightly.
Jack put one arm around Patrick and the other around Jon. "My two favorite grandsons" he said with a grin.
"Grandpa, we're your only grandsons" Patrick said.
"Oh yeah, that's right. Well, you know, the mind isn't what it used to be" Jack said as he winked at Sam.
"Oh Grandpa, you have a better memory than anyone in this room" Sammie said.
"That's right" Kristine added. "I want to hear more stories of when you and Grandma worked together."
"Yeah, especially how you two fell in love" Sammie said with a grin.
"Oh, please. None of that sappy stuff" Jon said.
Jack and Sam looked at each other and grinned.
"I'll be glad to tell you all the sappy stuff, Sammie" Sam said as she put her arm around her granddaughter.
"I want to hear too" Kristine added.
Jon rolled his eyes and let out a sigh. "We all know that Grandma and Grandpa loved each other for many years but couldn't do anything about it, and Grandma got engaged to some guy named Pete but eventually broke up with him and not long after that she and Grandpa got married. End of story" Jon said as everyone laughed.
"Well, there is a little bit more to it than that" Sam said with a chuckle.
"I loved her from the moment I met her but I couldn't let her know" Jack said as he stared at Sam.
"Yeah, and Mom challenged you to an arm wrestle" Grace said.
"Yes I did, but he never took me up on it" Sam said with a wink at Jack.
"Maybe he knew you could beat him" Sammie said as she turned to look at her grandfather.
"You're probably right" Jack said. "She's stronger than she looks."
"Before this goes any further, everyone sit down and eat" Grace said as she started to put more food on the table.
§§§§§§§§§§§§§§
The men were outside inspecting Jake's new vehicle and all the women were sitting in the living room.
"Did you love Grandpa from the first day you met him?" Sammie asked Sam.
"Well, the attraction was there. He was so handsome in his uniform and yes, he made my heart skip several beats. But I slowly fell in love with him as we worked together. He was brave, smart, funny and thoughtful; we respected each other. But it wasn't until four years later when we finally admitted that we cared for each other and even then, we couldn't do anything about it."
"That must have been hard to deal with" Melanie said. "To work with each other day in and day out without showing each other how you felt."
"Yes, it was" Sam said as she looked down at her hands.
"Why did you get engaged to this Pete guy, Grandma?" Kristine asked.
"I wanted someone to share my life with and I didn't think I would ever get the chance with your Grandpa. So, I tried to move on without him."
"But it didn't work" Kristine stated.
"No."
"So what did you do?" Sammie asked.
"Just a few hours before your Great Grandpa Jake died, he told me I could still have everything I wanted. He knew that I loved Jack and knew I wasn't being honest with myself. After I thought about it, I knew I had to admit I was lying to myself and I couldn't live a lie with Pete so I broke the engagement."
"How did he take it?" Melanie asked.
"The break-up hurt him but he let me go" Sam said softly.
"Dad was seeing someone else too, wasn't he?" Grace said.
Sam sighed deeply. "Yes, he was."
"What was her name?" Kristine asked.
"Her name was Kerry. But she was smart enough to realize that it couldn't work out between her and Jack because of his feelings for me and she encouraged him to do something about us."
"And he did." Kristine said.
"Yes, eventually. Our wedding day was one of the three happiest days of my life" Sam said with a smile.
"It was the happiest day of my life" Jack said as all the women looked up to see Jack standing in the doorway.
"I hope I find someone some day that loves me as much as you two love each other" Sammie said.
"I hope you do too, honey" Sam said as she and Jack looked at each other. "It's the greatest feeling in the world to know that the person you love, loves you in return."
"What were the other two happiest days?" Kristine asked.
"The day Grace was born" Sam said as she reached for Grace's hand and gently squeezed it as the two women smiled at each other. "The third happiest was when Jake was born."
§§§§§§§§§§§§§§
Jim, Melanie and the kids were taking a walk in the woods.
Sam and Grace sat in the swing on the porch.
"Do you still miss Uncle Mark, Mom?"
"Certainly, honey. He was the only family I had left except for some distant cousins."
Several years ago, Mark, his wife and two children had died from carbon monoxide poisoning inside their house. They simply went to sleep one night and didn't wake up.
The mother and daughter sat lost in thought for a few minutes.
"Can I get you anything?"
"No thanks. I'm fine."
Sam looked out at the trees and breathed in the clean, fresh air. She turned to look at Grace who was biting her lower lip.
"Something's on your mind."
"Why do you say that?"
"Because you always bite your lip when you're thinking."
"I'm just curious."
"About what?"
"How did you know the lump was there in your breast?"
Sam looked down as she slowly rotated her wedding band and she started to grin.
"Your Dad found it."
Grace's eyes grew big and she stared at Sam.
"Oh, Grace, don't look so shocked. Just because your Dad and I are getting old, doesn't mean we've stopped making love."
Grace blushed and smiled.
"Maybe not as often as we used to when we were younger but we still enjoy showing our love for each other. There's nothing wrong with that."
"I know there isn't, Mom."
"You just don't think about old people having sex?" Sam said with a chuckle.
Grace started to laugh out loud just as Jack came walking out the door of the cabin.
"What's so funny?"
The two women looked at each other and laughed that much harder as Jack shrugged and walked down to the dock.
After he was gone and they regained their composure, Sam turned to Grace. "Promise me, if you ever find anything remotely suspicious, please have a doctor check you right away."
"I will, I promise" Grace said as she squeezed her hand.
§§§§§§§§§§§§§§
As Sam and Grace sat talking on the porch, Jack sat down by Jake on the dock and stretched out his long legs.
Jake stared at the lake. "I always love coming here, Dad. It's so relaxing and good to get away from the job and spend time with the family."
"I agree, son."
Jake turned to look at Jack.
"How's Mom . . . really?"
"I think she's okay. She starts chemo next week. We're not looking forward to it but it's necessary to be sure all the cancer is gone. She has a good attitude and that helps a great deal."
"Yes, it does. So, how are you holding up?"
Jack looked down at his hands and took a deep breath. "It scared me, Jake. I know the doctors are doing everything they can but this is your Mom we're talking about. I don't know what I'd do if she . . ." Jack said as he swallowed the lump in his throat.
"She would want you to go on with your life, Dad."
"She is my life. I don't know that I could go on without her."
The two men sat quietly for a few moments and Jack wanted to change the subject.
"So, how's the SGC?"
"Fine" Jake said as he stared down at one of the planks on the dock.
"You sure?" Jack asked as he saw the serious expression on Jake's face.
"Dad, I wanted to talk with you and Mom while we're here."
"About what?" Sam asked.
The two men turned around to see Sam and Grace standing behind them.
"Will this be a private conversation?" Grace asked.
"No, I want you and Jim to know about this too."
Jake stood up to give Sam his chair. Grace sat down on the dock next to Sam. Jake sat down on the dock, bent his knees and wrapped his arms around his knees, facing Grace.
"About what?" Sam asked again.
"I'm thinking about leaving the SGC and becoming a commercial pilot."
"Why?" Jack asked as he set up straighter in his chair. "I thought you loved working at the SGC."
"I still do in a way, Dad. But you and Mom know better than anyone how dangerous going through the Gate can be. I guess I'm beginning to realize that I want to be sure I live to see my children grow up. We're running into some really evil bad guys out there now that are just as dangerous, if not more so, than when you both went through the Gate."
"What does Melanie say?" Grace asked.
"She's all for it. She doesn't want to lose me the same way she lost her first husband. She told me recently how scared she gets sometimes when someone is wounded or killed and she doesn't want to be a widow again with two kids to rear by herself."
"Son, if that's what you want to do we'll support you one hundred percent" Jack said.
"That's right. I don't want my grandchildren to grow up without their father" Sam added.
"I'll be happy for you too, Jake" Grace agreed with a grin.
"Then I guess it's pretty much settled" Jake said with a sigh.
"Have you told the kids?" Sam asked.
"No. I don't want to until I know something definite. Kristine sometimes has bad dreams when I'm off-world and it scares her when my team stays gone longer than we're supposed to. She's afraid I might not come back alive. I think it'll make her happy to know that I'd be here permanently on Earth. As for Patrick, he has already told us that he wants to go to the Academy and be a pilot like me and his grandfather and then he wants to work on the Stargate program. I know he's very young and could change his mind, but if that's what he really wants to do with his life, then Melanie and I are not going to try to stop him. It's his choice."
Grace and Jake sat talking with their parents on the dock for awhile longer until Sam told them she wanted to go lie down.
"You okay, Mom?" Jake asked.
"Just a little tired."
Grace helped Sam stand up. "I'll walk back with you." She turned to Jack.
"Are you grilling streaks tonight, Dad?"
"You betcha."
"I think the kids will probably want hot dogs and hamburgers so we'll have those also" Grace said as Sam took hold of her arm.
They went inside the cabin and went to Sam and Jack's bedroom and the two women sat down on the side of the bed.
"I'm glad Jake will be leaving the SGC. I worry about him" Grace said.
"I just want him to be happy and if leaving the SGC is what he wants, then it's fine with me" Sam said as she stretched out on the bed and spread a blanket over her legs.
Grace stood, leaned over and kissed Sam on the cheek and looked into her eyes.
"I love you, Mom."
"I love you too."
§§§§§§§§§§§§§§
That evening after everyone had eaten and the dishes were done, they all gathered in the living room to chat. Soon, Jim and Jake got a chess game going, Jack watched a hockey game on TV, the kids sat on the floor and played computer games and Melanie, Grace and Sam went back into the kitchen and sat down at the table. Grace made a pot of coffee and the women talked.
"Well, I think I'm going to bed" Sam announced as she slowly stood from her chair and reached for her cane. She suddenly froze and put her hand on her back.
"Are you okay?" Grace asked.
"Just a little pain in my back."
"Sam, maybe I should check your bandage" Melanie offered.
"Yes, I do need to change it" Sam said as she started to move through the living room.
"Good night everyone" Sam said with a smile and a wave.
They all turned to look at Sam and said their good nights as Melanie followed.
Sammie stood up from the floor and wrapped her arms around Sam.
"I love you, Grandma."
"I love you too, honey" Sam said as she hugged her back.
Grace sat down beside Jack on the sofa and took a handful of popcorn from the bowl he had in his hands.
"I'll be in as soon as the game is over, Sam" Jack said.
Sam and Melanie went into the bedroom and Melanie closed the door. Sam went into the bathroom and changed into her bathrobe then sat down on the side of the bed.
"I guess you've seen women before who have had mastectomies."
"Yes, when I was in nurse's training. If you feel uncomfortable doing this, we don't have to" Melanie said, trying to make her feel at ease.
"No, it's okay" Sam said as she slowly lowered her robe. Melanie checked the incision. She could see that the area was still tender, as she took off the old bandage and put on a new one.
"Looks like you're healing really well, Sam. The area is still pink but the scar is healing like it should" she said as she pulled the robe back up.
"Thanks for doing this for me" Sam said as she pulled the robe tighter around her chest.
"You're welcome. Is there anything you didn't discuss with your doctor that you would like to talk about?
Tears came to Sam's eyes and Melanie put her arm around her.
"No, but . . ."
"What is it?" Melanie gently asked.
"Well, you know how Jack doesn't talk about his feelings very much but he looked so scared after I woke up from the surgery and I could tell, just by looking at him, that he hadn't slept much. I think this scared him as much, if not more, than it did me. I just wonder sometimes . . . I mean . . . we've become so dependent on each other after all these years and I think he thinks that since he is older than me that he will die before I do. But he's in better health than I am and I just wonder how he would cope if I should die before he does. I don't want him to feel lonely and depressed should I go first" Sam said as tears started to run down her cheeks.
Melanie stood and grabbed several tissues and handed them to Sam and she sat back down and put her arm around her.
There was a knock on the door. Melanie got up to see who it was and she opened the door just wide enough to let Grace enter and she saw Sam crying.
"Mom, what's wrong?" Grace asked as she knelt in from of her.
Sam looked down at the tissues in her hands and continued to cry. Melanie sat down and told Grace what Sam had told her.
"Oh, Mom. We all know how much it would upset Dad, but we would do everything we could to make sure he knows how much we all love him and he would be very well cared for" Grace said as tears came to her eyes.
Sam brushed the tears from her eyes and tried to smile.
"Thanks, honey" Sam said as she opened her arms and Grace raised up on her knees and wrapped her arms around Sam and held on to her tightly.
Just at that moment, Jack opened the door to see Sam crying, Grace on her knees hugging her Mother and Melanie looking sad.
"What's goin' on?"
Melanie stood, Grace let go of Sam and stood up. Melanie and Grace came to the door. Grace stopped and wrapped her arms around Jack and kissed him on the cheek without saying anything and she closed the door behind her.
Jack walked over to Sam and slowly sat down beside her. He reached out and put his arm around her shoulder and she leaned into him.
"Want to tell me why you're crying?"
Sam sat there for a few seconds then looked at him.
"Would you promise me something?"
"Anything" Jack said as he looked into the blue eyes that he loved so much.
"If I should die before you . . ."
"Sam, I don't want to talk about anybody dying" he said as his arm fell from her shoulder and he stared at the floor.
"We need to talk about it, Jack. It's going to happen to one of us sooner or later."
Jack shook his head and he turned to look at her. "When one of us dies first, it's going to be me" he said as tears came to his eyes and he looked away. "Just the thought of living without you . . . I won't even let myself think about that" he said as he tried to fight back the tears.
Sam slipped her hand into his. "Jack, let's be realistic. There is the possibility that I could die before you and if that happens I want you to promise me that you'll go on with your life. I know it won't be easy but you have Jake and Melanie and Jim and Grace and four beautiful grandchildren that need you and love you dearly."
Jack clasped her hand tighter. "I can only promise that I'll try because you asked me to" he whispered as his lip trembled and a tear slipped down his cheek and he reached up to wipe it away.
"That's good enough for me" Sam said as she pulled him to her and wrapped her arms around his waist and he hugged her to him. They sat like that for several minutes until Sam pulled back from him.
"Let's go to bed" she said.
Jack changed into his pajamas and Sam into her gown. They got into bed and Jack turned off the lamp. He lay on his back and Sam turned on her side and laid her head on his chest. Jack wrapped his arms around her.
"Do you have any idea how very much I love you, Mrs. O'Neill?" he asked as he stared into the darkness.
"As much as I love you" Sam said as they both drifted off to sleep.
§§§§§§§§§§§§§§
The time passed quickly and soon the family vacation was over.
Sam was scheduled to start chemotherapy the following Wednesday, so Saturday morning after the house was straightened up, everyone started packing to return to Colorado.
Jack and Sam took one more walk down to the dock before leaving.
Sam was thinking that this might be the last time she would be at the cabin, if they found more cancer and the chemotherapy did not go well. She wasn't about to voice her thoughts to Jack though.
"It really is a little piece of heaven" Sam said as they looked out over the water, the trees and the clear blue sky.
"Yes, it is" Jack agreed as they stood with their arms around each other's waist. "Lots of great memories in this place."
Up on the porch, Jake and Grace were watching. Grace suddenly looked down at the ground, bit her lip and tried to choke back the tears.
Jake came over to her and put his arm around her.
"Hey, what's wrong?"
Grace told her brother about what had happened in Jack and Sam's bedroom a few nights ago.
Jake didn't say anything for a few moments.
"We'll be there for Dad if Mom should die before him and vice versa."
"I know" Grace said as she hugged her brother.
Jack and Sam came walking back up the yard and Grace turned to go inside, she didn't want them to see her crying. She went into the bathroom and splashed some water on her face and composed herself.
Jack closed the door to the cabin and locked it, then got into the car beside Sam for the long drive back to Colorado. As soon as their seatbelts were fastened, Jack interlaced his fingers with Sam's, gave her a kiss on the cheek and she laid her head against his shoulder.
TBC