Disclaimer: Stargate SG-1 and its characters are not my property. No copyright infringement is intended.
Grace called that evening and Sam reluctantly told her that the cancer had spread to her bones.
"Oh, Mom, no."
"I'm trying some other medicine so we'll see if it will help."
"I want to come stay with you and Dad for awhile."
"Honey, you don't need to do that, not yet at least. Jim, Sammie and Jon need you there."
"Jim can take care of the kids. They'll understand and I'll just worry about you and Dad being by yourselves."
"Only if you think it's necessary. We're trying to stay as independent as long as we can."
"I know, Mom, but we don't know what the side effects of this new medicine could do. If you get tired of having me around, just say so."
"Okay, if you really want to."
"I'll come Saturday and plan to stay until you tell me to leave."
Grace arrived Saturday morning and Jack answered the door.
"Come on in" he said as he ran into the bedroom and Grace followed behind.
Sam had just finished vomiting again. Jack went into the bathroom and came back with a wet washcloth and handed it to Sam as she lay back on the bed. She wiped her mouth and handed it back to Jack.
Grace sat down on the edge of the bed.
"I didn't want you to see me like this" Sam said softly as she clutched the blanket and pulled it over her chest.
"I've seen people throw up before. I have a husband and two kids who get sick occasionally, so don't worry about it" she said as she squeezed her hand.
"I think I'd like to rest now."
"Sure, Mom." Grace leaned over and kissed her on the forehead.
Jack closed the bedroom door as he and Grace went into the living room. Grace turned to look at her father.
"She's getting worse, isn't she?" she said with tears in her eyes.
Jack stuck his hands in his pockets and looked down at the floor. "Yes, she is" he whispered.
Grace walked over to Jack and put her arms around his waist and laid her head on his chest as he hugged her.
§§§§§§§§§§§§§§
That night, Grace got out of bed when she thought she heard a noise and went to search the house. She came into the living room to see Sam sitting in her favorite chair with the lamp on, in her bathrobe, afghan over her legs and a box of stationery on her lap, writing something. She looked up to see Grace come into the room.
"Mom, what are you doing out of bed?"
"Couldn't sleep."
"You need to rest."
"I've rested enough. That's all I do any more is rest and sleep. Besides, there is something I want to finish."
Grace sat down beside her on the floor.
"What is it?"
"I want you to promise me something."
"Anything."
"After I go, I want you to give this to your father."
"What do you mean after you go, Mom? You're not going anywhere."
Sam smiled as she put her hand on Grace's cheek and looked into her eyes.
"My sweet baby girl. Do you know how much I have loved being your Mother?"
"Oh, Mom" Grace said as she started to cry and she put her head on the arm of the chair. Sam lifted her hand and softly began to stroke Grace's hair.
"When the nurse put you in my arms for the first time when you were born, I have never felt so protective of anything in my life. You opened your eyes and stared at me for a moment, latched on to my finger with your tiny fist and I instantly fell in love. You were so cute and little and soft and I just wanted to hold you in my arms forever and keep you from harm. Your Dad wore a grin for a week after you were born, he was so proud of you, and I was so afraid he would spoil you rotten. He said you looked so much like Charlie when he was born."
Sam paused for a moment and leaned her head back against the chair and continued to stroke Grace's hair.
"You're like both of us, you know. You have my curiosity about everything and you tend to over extend yourself too much. You have your Dad's sense of right and wrong and his sense of loyalty and honesty. I am forever grateful that I've had the privilege to be your Mother and share my life with you. You have enriched my life in more ways than you can imagine."
Sam lifted her hand and placed it back in her lap and Grace raised her head and looked at Sam. She wiped the tears from her face and whispered "I love you, Mom."
Sam smiled. "I love you too, honey."
Grace changed positions on the floor.
"What is it you want me to give Dad?"
"A few days after my funeral, I want you to give him this letter."
"Your funeral is not going to be for a long time" Grace said as if trying to convince herself.
Sam smiled. "Well, whenever it is, just promise me that you'll give this to him."
"I will, I promise."
Grace watched as she signed the letter, folded it and put it in an envelope and sealed it. She wrote "Jack" on the outside of the envelope and handed it to her.
§§§§§§§§§§§§§§
A few days later, Jake got back from a long mission off-world. He came and sat beside Sam on her bed and talked with her as Grace was busy doing chores.
Jack had gone out to refill one of Sam's prescriptions and he returned when Jake was talking with Sam.
Jack started to enter the bedroom, only to meet Jake on his way out and he closed the door and they went into the living room.
The two men sat down across from each other and Jake stared out the window.
"She's not going to get better, is she?"
"No, I don't think so."
Grace sat down beside Jack.
Jake got up and wandered over to the window.
"With all the breakthroughs in medicine, you would think they would find a cure or medicine or something to get rid of this disease" Jake said as he shook his head and stared out into the yard.
"That's how I feel, Jake" Grace said.
"They've been working on a cure for cancer since I can remember" Jack added.
"Jake" Grace said as she set up on the sofa to face her brother "aren't there any races you come in contact with off-world that could Mom? I mean, Grandpa Jacob's cancer was cured when he became a Tok'ra."
"Unfortunately, the Tok'ra race died out several years ago and yes, there are other races that probably could help Mom, but they are not willing to share with us. I've already asked."
"But think of all the times Mom helped some of those other races. It isn't fair."
"Life isn't always fair, honey. You just take the good with the bad" Jack said.
Jake came and sat back down and looked at Jack.
"Dad, has Mom said where she wants to be buried?"
"Yes. We made the decision several years ago when both of you were little. It was your brother Charlie's birthday and Sam and I had taken some flowers to his grave. We decided that day that when both of us died, we would be buried next to Charlie, so we had it written into our Wills. Our attorney has a copy and we have a copy."
"Sounds like a good idea to me" Jake said.
Grace nodded her head in agreement.
After talking awhile longer, Jake told Grace and Jack that he needed to get home. Grace went into the kitchen to start dinner as Jack went to check on Sam.
He opened the door to see her sitting up in bed and he sat down beside her.
"Hi" she said with a grin.
"Hey. Feel like eating something?"
"A little I guess."
Sam got out of bed and Jack helped her to the table. She only ate a little before standing up to go lie back down.
Jack and Grace watched her go as Grace put her elbows on the table and ran her hands over her face.
"I can't bear to see her like this, Dad."
"I know. Me too" he said as he pushed his plate away from him.
After Jack helped Grace clean up in the kitchen, he went back in the bedroom. Sam was sitting in a rocking chair, looking out the window. Jack knelt down beside her.
"You okay?"
"Yes, just very tired."
Grace came into the bedroom.
"Do you need anything, Mom?"
"No, honey, but thanks."
"I think I'll turn in early. I'm a little tired. I'll see you in the morning."
"Grace, come here please."
Grace knelt down beside her. Sam put her hand on Grace's cheek.
"Always remember that I love you" Sam said.
Grace smiled. "And I love you, Mom" she said as she wrapped her arms around Sam and hugged her.
Grace stood up and kissed Jack on the cheek.
"Night, Dad."
"Night."
Grace closed the door and Sam slowly stood up and moved toward the bed and changed into her gown and Jack changed into his pajamas.
They got in bed and Sam put her head on Jack's shoulder.
"Jack."
"Yes, honey?"
"I don't have the strength to fight any more."
Jack closed his eyes. "I know."
Sam raised up and looked at him. "Have I told you how happy you've made me?"
Jack stared into her blue eyes but couldn't speak.
"Thank you, Jack, for loving me and for the privilege of being your wife and letting me share my life with you."
He pulled her to him as tears came to his eyes.
"I love you, Jack."
"I love you too, Sam, so very much."
§§§§§§§§§§§§§§
Jack awoke the next morning and slowly turned over and opened his eyes. And in that moment, he knew she wasn't just sleeping.
"Sam" he whispered.
He stared at the face that had brightened his life for so many years. The face that he woke up to that made his life worth living. He remembered the smile that could make him happy just to be alive and in her presence. He slowly raised his hand and put it on her cheek and felt the softness of her skin. He thought he had memorized every line, every contour, the four freckles across her nose, her sweet lips, every feature of the face he loved so much. But he wanted to take one last, long look. He kept his hand to her cheek as his mind drifted back to when Samantha Carter had come into his life with her blonde hair, blue eyes and terrific figure. This gutsy, intelligent, witty, sweet, kind and beautiful woman that he had had the privilege of sharing the last half of his life with. Had the privilege of knowing her body from head to toe. The wonder of making love to this woman who had given him two terrific children. She would no longer feel the pain of disease that had racked her body and for that he was grateful. He had watched her body deteriorate to the point she knew it would not be long until they would have to say their goodbyes. But he could never tell her goodbye. She would forever be in his mind and his heart. There would never be another love like their love. There would never be another woman like Samantha Carter O'Neill. Jack slowly lifted his hand from her face as he leaned up and kissed her cheek for the last time.
He got dressed and knocked on the guest room door. Grace had just finished dressing and suddenly froze as she saw Jack standing there crying.
Grace knew what was wrong without having to ask.
She wrapped her arms around Jack as they cried together.
Grace took Jack by the hand and led him into the living room and to the sofa. "Sit down please, Dad. I'll call Jake."
Jack did as she asked and Grace picked up the phone.
§§§§§§§§§§§§§§
There were no vacant seats in the large church as the family entered for the service to begin.
Dignitaries from all over the world, and other planets, had come to pay their respects to this incredible woman who had accomplished so much in her life.
The vice president of the United States was sitting close to the front. The president had asked him to attend and pay his respects to the family.
The commander at the SGC had gotten in touch with Teal'c to tell him the news. He had arrived in time for the service and he and Daniel now sat together on the front row, across from the family.
A minister spoke for a few minutes, then Daniel stood from his pew and came to stand behind the podium.
"What can I say about this remarkable woman who has touched so many lives. I first met Sam many years ago on a far away planet and got to know her here on Earth. Jack, Sam, Teal'c and I made up the team called SG-1 when we worked together at Cheyenne Mountain on the Stargate program, long before it became known to the public. The four of us became a family. None of us could have imagined what wonders we would see when we traveled to distant worlds. Sam had such enthusiasm in everything she did. She was the consummate professional soldier. Always doing her duty, not only for her country, but for her planet. We came across some pretty evil beings in our adventures across the galaxy, but Sam wasn't afraid of anyone. She saved not only the lives of her teammates but countless races all over the universe. She would go out of her way to help someone. Her face would light up whenever she made a new discovery or learned how to repair or operate some alien technology. She loved to learn new things. That was the scientist side of Sam."
Daniel paused for a moment.
"Sam was like a sister to me" he said as tears came to his eyes. "We knew each other so well. She and I had this habit, which used to drive Jack crazy, of working too late or too much. He would often find us in her lab, or my lab, early in the morning at the SGC, working or talking about some discovery one of us had made, knowing we had been up all night and had not had any sleep. Then he would order both of us to get some rest. I can't remember how many times that happened."
"When Jack and Sam started working together, they liked and respected each other. Over the years, Teal'c and I watched as Jack and Sam not only became friends, they fell in love. I can remember arguing with Jack or Sam, that they always put duty before their own happiness. Teal'c and I knew they belonged together. Finally, after eight years, they were married. I had the honor of being Jack's best man at their wedding. Teal'c and I had never seen Jack and Sam so happy as they were on their wedding day, even though it was a small and simple ceremony. I remember that for the longest time after they were married," Daniel said with a grin "Sam still caught herself calling Jack 'sir' instead of Jack. Jack got a big kick out of that."
Everyone in the church laughed. Jack smiled and looked down at the floor as Grace squeezed his hand.
"About a year ago, she told me that the best decision she ever made in her life was when she accepted Jack's proposal. Theirs was a love that most people only dream of."
"Not too long after they were married, their daughter, Grace, was born and then their son, Jake. I think the role that Sam would be most proud of was her role of wife, mother and grandmother. She became a mother later in life than most women and resigned from the military to devote her time to her family. Her eyes always lit up when she talked about her children and so many times I witnessed just what a great mother she really was. She and Jack took an active interest in their children's lives and Grace and Jake turned out to be two exceptional adults. Sam loved spending time with her grandchildren and getting to know each of them."
Daniel stopped as if to think of what he wanted to say next.
"Sam lived her life to the fullest but in the last few weeks of her life, her health had deteriorated and she knew that she would not be getting better. She called me one night just a few days before she died and told me how much she had loved having me in her life and that I was like a brother to her. She had great influence on so many people, including me. I am a better person for having had her as a very dear friend. Although we will miss her, I am glad that she is no longer in pain."
Daniel looked at the coffin.
"You will be forever in our hearts, Sam. May you rest in peace."
Daniel stepped down from the podium as a soloist stood to sing and soon the service was over.
The morning had started off with rain, but as they came out of the church, the sun was shining brightly.
Jake stood on one side of Jack and Grace on the other as she held his hand. They watched as the coffin was loaded into the hearse. Just behind them stood Jim and Melanie and the four grandchildren with Daniel and Teal'c standing close behind.
Jack, Grace and Jake got into the limousine for the short ride to the cemetery. Grace held Jack's hand as they rode in silence.
They soon arrived at the cemetery and the coffin was slowly set on top of the bier as the family and friends surrounded the gravesite. Sam had requested in her Will to have a short service at the gravesite and did not want military honors. She also requested that instead of an American flag to cover her coffin, she asked for her favorite flowers, pink roses.
The minister spoke for a few minutes and soon the short service was over.
Jack stood staring at the coffin and Jake and Grace patiently waited.
Jack felt someone touch his shoulder and turned around to find Teal'c standing behind him. He looked into Jack's eyes and the two men embraced. Teal'c stepped back.
"We have lost a great warrior."
"Yes, we have" Jack said softly.
"I have also lost a dear friend" he added.
"She would be so honored that you came today, Teal'c."
"I could not miss being here to pay my respects."
Teal'c stepped closer to the coffin, closed his hand into a fist and put his arm across his chest and bowed. He stayed that way for a few seconds, then stood up straight, dropped his arm by his side, turned and went to stand beside Daniel.
Jack slowly walked over to the coffin and took one of the pink roses. He took a few steps and slowly bent over and placed the flower on top of Charlie's grave. Jake and Grace watched as he placed his hand on the top of the headstone and held it there for a moment, then turned around to face them.
"Could I have a moment please?"
"Sure, Dad" Jake said as he and Grace went to join the family as they stood talking quietly several feet away.
Jack faced the coffin once again.
"You were my life, Samantha. No words can express what is in my heart at this moment. I miss you and I will always love you."
§§§§§§§§§§§§§§
Family and friends returned to Jack's house.
As soon as Jake and Grace came through the door, they were greeted with a big hug from Teal'c.
"I'm so glad you came, Teal'c" Jake said. "I know how much it means to Dad to have you here."
"Mom would have loved that you came all this way to attend her funeral" Grace said as tears came to her eyes and Teal'c put his arm around her.
"She was a wonderful woman and a very close friend. I could not miss this opportunity to do this one last thing for her" Teal'c said as he put his other arm around Jake.
Jake and Grace watched as friends from the SGC would come up to Jack and shake his hand or embrace him. Some of these were people that he and Sam had worked with for years who were now retired.
Grace looked around and wondered where the children were. She went to the door and looked out to see Patrick and Jon sitting together at the end of the deck, both eating and talking quietly.
She went to look for the girls and found them sitting on the bed in the guest room, crying. Grace put her hand on Sammie's shoulder and she moved over so Grace could sit between them. She wrapped her arms around them as they leaned against her.
"You want to talk about her?"
"I'm glad Grandma isn't sick any more, Aunt Grace, but I miss her" Kristine said as she started to cry again.
"Me too" Sammie said as she wiped her eyes.
"I know" Grace said as she had to fight back the tears. "But it's okay to miss her. You know, she really loved both of you very much and was so proud to have such sweet granddaughters."
"What about Grandpa?" Sammie said as she looked into Grace's eyes. "He's going to be so lonely without her."
"Yes, he will be, honey. But Dad knows that your Grandma would want him to go on with his life. And it was a comfort to her to know that he has a family who loves him and will take good care of him."
"Why doesn't he come home with us, Mom? He could live with us and we could take care of him."
"I'll talk to him, honey, but I think he will want to stay here. This is their home and has been for a long time. I don't think he will want to leave, and besides, he will want to visit your Grandma's grave sometimes."
Grace stood up.
"Come on, you both need to eat."
They went into the kitchen to see Jack sitting at the table talking with Teal'c.
"So T, how's Ishta?"
"Ishta remains the same" Teal'c said with a solemn look on his face.
"And you wouldn't have it any other way" Jack said with a grin.
Teal'c smiled. "Indeed."
Sammie and Kristine got themselves something to eat. Kristine sat down by Jack on his left side and Sammie on his right. He wrapped his arms around their shoulders and gave them a hug.
Daniel and Teal'c stayed until there was just the family left, and soon Teal'c told Jack that he needed to leave. The two friends embraced.
"Be well, my friend" Teal'c said.
"Don't be a stranger and next time bring Ishta with you" Jack said with a grin.
"I shall."
Daniel hugged Jack, then drove Teal'c back to the Mountain.
The family sat around the kitchen table talking. Jack said he was tired and wanted to go to bed, so Jake, Melanie and their kids left for the short drive home. Grace, Jim, Sammie and Jon would be staying with Jack for a few days.
Jack went into the bedroom and closed the door. He got into his pajamas and turned off the light. He lay on his back for a few minutes, then switched the lamp back on and opened a drawer of the nightstand and pulled out a picture of him and Sam on their wedding day. He gently ran his fingers over the picture, thinking how beautiful and happy Sam looked. Then he began to sob.
Grace and Jim came down the hall to go to bed and stopped when they heard Jack crying. Grace started to go into his bedroom, but Jim put his hand on her arm to stop her.
"No, honey, let him grieve. He needs this."
Final chapter coming up.