CHAPTER 2: ATLANTIS
Author's Note: Several people, after reading the first chapter, have asked for an explanation of the photo my friend took during the March 2007 con in Vancouver. I am happy to oblige.
It was a photo of Dr. Weir's office. My friend shot it as the con-goers were ushered through the set tour, and they had to promise not to put the photos online. But when she looked back through her pics, she really saw the detail. The photos I describe in this chapter of the story were all on the set, as well as the little brass telescope! Since they were shooting S4 of SGA at the time, we feel TPTB have at least thrown the Sam/Jack Shippers that bone.
One note for my friend nell: I believe this story will satisfy your concerns about the regs, and how Sam & Jack handled them at the end of S8.
We talk about stuff like this all the time at Gateworld's Sam/Jack Ship Family Discussion Thread. Please join us! Lots of nice people there!
Sam sighed as she set her duffel bag on the desk in Dr. Weir's office…her office now, she reminded herself. Despite the eagles that sat on her shoulders, she didn't want to be here. She had been shocked when she learned of Elizabeth's injury. What a blow to the Atlantis expedition, especially so soon after Dr. Beckett's death! But Sam had learned, as the people here were learning, that nothing could prevent this type of loss. Danger was part of the job. Sam knew first-hand the personal toll it took on those affected. And she knew it would make her time here harder.
Sam prayed every night that Elizabeth would recover and return to Atlantis soon. But she also knew she had to make the best of this situation. She didn't want the command, but for now, she was assigned to Atlantis, and that was that. Jack had been so angry when he told her.
// "Dammit, Sam! I argued every way I knew how to keep this from happening. But the I.O.C. insists you're the only person who is an acceptable substitute for Weir."
He paced the kitchen as she sat at the table watching. Jack was almost always fidgeting with something, but he rarely became this agitated.
"What was their reasoning, Jack?"
"The emphasis on developing new technology. Your experience in that area was a big thing…plus your field experience and your record for managing crisis situations."
"But Daniel has all that…and he wants the post."
"Ah, yes! That's what I thought! That's what I told them! But Daniel lacks the other thing they say is essential…military experience. You know there have been issues between Weir and some of the military commanders. The I. O. C. feels you can handle those conflicts better than Daniel could."
Sam sighed. She and Jack were just getting their lives on track. They had put so much time and effort into syncing their schedules, figuring out how to squeeze personal time in between their professional obligations. And now, all that work was for nothing. "What about the President?"
He stopped pacing and turned to face her. "I thought he might be my ace in the hole…convince him Danny could handle the job and keep you at the SGC…but no…he agreed with the I.O.C. I think what turned the tide was LaPierre's story about how you kept everyone from being eaten alive by those bugs at the Gamma Site. "
"I didn't save them," she said. "I just kept them out of harm's way until the Odyssey arrived."
"And boosted the output at the research station so Odyssey could pick up your personal transmitters," he reminded her. "That gave Odyssey a chance to beam you up before they wiped out the bugs."
"Yeah…well…" she shrugged.
"Face it, Sam," Jack said bitterly. "I'm not the only person who realizes you're a national treasure."
She sighed. "Whatever. Either way, it's settled. I'm reassigned to Atlantis until Dr. Weir recovers…or until they decide she won't be able to return to duty and they need to name a permanent replacement."
"The President promised me one thing," he said, bringing his fist down on the table. "That decision will be made within a year…and you will not be a candidate for the posting. If Weir is improving, but isn't quite ready to return, you could get stuck for a few more weeks…but you won't have to take the job permanently, no matter what."
She stretched out a hand to cover his fist. His hand was clenched so tightly that his knuckles had turned white. "Jack, this isn't the first time we've been separated…and it probably won't be the last. But we're married now, so we don't have to hide how we feel."
He sighed, the anger ebbing at her touch. Frustration still filled his face, though. "I know, but it's been hard enough to find some personal time across a continent. What is it going to be like across a galaxy?" Fist unclenched, he grasped her hand with both of his and began caressing her fingers.
He looked so sad. She desperately wanted to make him smile. "You're not worried that I'll run off with McKay, are you?"
He chuckled. "If you do, it'll be the result of an alien influence."
"You got that straight!" she laughed.
"I forgot one thing," he said, looking up into her eyes, smiling slightly. "You get one week off for every six that you're there. So the only trick will be making sure I'm free when you come home."
"I assume that's one week---if there isn't a crisis underway."
"Yeah," he grimaced. "But who's to say you might not need some assistance from your former commanding officer?"
"You're too valuable to risk," she said solemnly. "You don't need to be in Atlantis if there's a crisis underway. The last time you were there was just too close for comfort. You and I both know you were lucky to get out of there alive. "
"Oh…like I don't feel the same way about you!" he snapped in retort. He stared at their hands and took a deep breath before looking up to face her again. "Some sort of official business will bring me there. I haven't gone six weeks without seeing you in the whole 11 years I've known you. I don't want to start now!"
"Life was simpler when we were both doing field work," she said softly.
"Yeah, in many ways it was," he agreed. "But my down time wasn't nearly as much fun as it Is now." A slight twinkle lit his eyes as he spoke.
"Speaking of which…" She got up, walked to the side of the table where he was sitting and put her arms around his neck. Moving her hands lovingly down his chest, she leaned in close to his ear and whispered, "I know a certain General who hasn't made love to his wife in almost 12 hours."
He sat still for a moment, savoring the feel of her warm breath and the instincts her caresses stirred inside him. Then he stood, took her in his arms and kissed her. "You don't have to remind me twice," he whispered. His large, strong hands held her possessively. He moved them down her back and pulled her pelvis as close to his as possible.
"So I noticed," she murmured, grinning. And they spent the rest of the afternoon in each other's arms. //
She unzipped her bag to remove the photos she had brought back from leave. When she first arrived in Atlantis, she thought it would be easier not to bring personal reminders of home with her. She also thought that the fewer things she brought in, the more it would remind everyone that this was, after all, just a temporary assignment. But by the end of the first six weeks, she had changed her mind. In this place so far away from all those she loved, she craved some connection with them.
She had been more than ready for the time off. Luckily, no ugly crisis had reared its head. And while she was home on Earth, she had gathered a few precious memories to take back with her. She started pulling bubble wrap from the photos so she could find new homes for them.
One photo showed her father in his Air Force uniform. Smiling, she placed it on the credenza behind her desk. Next was a photo of Daniel in a tux, an enlargement from the wedding photos. A photo of Teal'c was unwrapped next, followed by one of Cassie. Finally, she pulled out a photo showing her fishing with Jack. It had been taken on that first trip to the cabin more than two years ago. She couldn't remember whether Daniel or Teal'c had taken the picture, but one of them had slipped around to the woods on the other side of the pond to snap the candid shot.
She smiled as she looked at the photo. It was her favorite of the two of them, showing them smiling at each other from lawn chairs pushed together on the dock. Each had a line in the water. But the real reason she loved the picture was because of what it symbolized.
That weekend had been the beginning of their new life together, and she considered it an even more important occasion than their wedding. Jack had suggested the trip to give her a change of scenery after her father's death. Knowing he was moving to Homeworld Security, he had invited Daniel and Teal'c too. He knew it would be their last chance to spend some quality time together for awhile. However, although he denied it, she also suspected he invited the boys so she would feel more comfortable coming along. She chuckled softly. He might have been nervous, but since they had figured out how to be together without violating the regs, she would have gone with him alone.
Before the trip, they had acknowledged their feelings for each other and their intention to be together, no matter what it took. They had even shared some hugs and a few passionate kisses, but they hadn't yet slept together. However, with Jack's reassignment to Washington and hers to Area 51 just days away, they had placed more layers of command between his job and hers. So, they finally gave in to their feelings and consummated their relationship at the cabin
Being with Jack had been everything she always dreamed it would be. Her fantasies hadn't shortchanged her.
There had been no awkwardness, no unrealistic expectations and no disappointment. Instead, their first night sharing a bed was marked by newly declared love, intense passion and the years of trust they had built between them.
She had always hoped he would be that loving. He had always suspected she would be that passionate. And what they found in each other ignited an incredible experience for both of them.
She remembered how spent they were when it was over. She could still feel how closely he held her. And she would never forget that they had both cried. That had taken them by surprise. But all those years of yearning to be together, of denying their feelings, of wanting each other so desperately, had intensified their emotional release, as well as their physical one.
Although their emotions were now on a more even keel, the physical release remained strong. They just seemed to fit, and both instinctively knew they were soulmates.
They had married within three months of that trip, and despite the long separations their work forced on them, she felt extremely lucky. She knew he did too, although he didn't discuss his emotions often. But he showed her in so many other ways: a look, an unexpected phone call, his tenderness in bed. It was clear that she belonged to Jack O'Neill, and it was clear that he belonged to her.
She felt tears forming as she thought about how far away he was. Mentally kicking herself, she wiped her free hand over her eyes before adding the fishing picture to the others. Stepping back, she gazed at the display and smiled, satisfied. This little bit of home, these photos of the people she loved, would help her to sustain her sanity until this assignment was over. She also had a wedding picture in her bag, but she planned to place it in her quarters. Although their relationship was public, she and Jack had agreed not to flaunt it.
She picked up the duffel bag and turned out the lights in the office. Closing the door, she began walking toward her quarters. It was late. The city was quiet. She passed a couple of people along the way, nodding and smiling to them. But no one asked her a question, and no one stopped her to get her opinion on an issue. Atlantis was on down time and there were no immediate threats on the horizon. For now, her time was hers.
Arriving at her quarters, she stepped inside and turned on a light. Placing the duffel on the bed, she unzipped it once more to retrieve the wedding photo. She set it on the table on "her" side of the bed. Just looking at it made her feel closer to him.
She began to gather up the bubble wrap she had used to protect the photos. As she rolled it into a neat cylinder, she noticed another piece peeking out of the corner of her bag. Puzzled, she reached out to find an additional small bundle. She had only undone one layer of the wrapping when she gasped, realizing what it was. Hurriedly, she removed the rest of the plastic, uncovering the small brass telescope Jack's grandfather had given him.
This time, she couldn't fight back the tears that sprang to her eyes as she held it. Jack had sent her back to Atlantis with one of his most prized possessions…something that was almost a piece of him.
As she wiped her eyes, she noticed an envelope that had fallen from the wrappings. She stooped to pick it up. Then, placing the telescope on the bed, she sat down to examine the envelope more closely. In Jack's handwriting, it said, "Sam," on the outside. She turned it over, slid her fingernail under the flap and tore it open.
The note inside read,
Dear Sam,
As you've probably figured by now, I stashed this in your bag before we left the cabin. I knew you wouldn't take it unless I hid it in your gear. But here's the thing. After our talk, I realized you and that telescope have something in common. When I was younger, it inspired me to get my wings, become an officer and make my grandfather proud. But I want different things in life now, and I have a different inspiration…my beautiful, brilliant wife…the national treasure. Knowing you have this telescope with you in Atlantis makes me feel good…so no arguing! I'm sure my grandfather would approve.
I miss you…and I love you.
Jack
The tears were rolling down her cheeks as Sam slipped the note back into the envelope. She grabbed a tissue from the bedside table and held it to her eyes. She sat there for several minutes, drying the tears and thinking about how lucky she was to be Sam Carter O'Neill. Despite the hard times, despite the battles, despite the challenges and the enemies and the losses, she was blessed with good friends, important work…and the love of a truly incredible man. Tomorrow, she would take the little brass telescope to her new office and place it on a shelf where she could see it from her desk. And when she had a tough decision to make, or when the distance between her and her loved ones got to be too much, she would look at it…and center herself so she could steer through whatever challenges lay ahead.
