Set after Heroes Part 2
Life is too Short
Sam stared at the grave marker not daring to believe that one of her closest friends was gone, Doctor Janet Fraiser. God how had everything gone so wrong so fast.
It had started out as a routine mission and then they'd been ambushed. Jack had went down and then so had Janet. Two people she loved, one as a best friend and the other…Sam sighed and wrapped her arms around her waist.
"I though I'd find you here." A sudden voice said from behind her. She didn't even bother turning around. She'd recognize that voice anywhere. Jack.
They'd had a memorial service for Janet at the SGC but SG-1 and Cassandra had flown to Arlington, Virginia so that she could be buried here. After all she had done for her country, for all the members of the SG teams, she deserved to be buried here.
Jack walked to her side with his hands stuffed in his pockets. Sam glanced at him briefly.
"They took Cassie to some of the Smithsonian's while we're here." Jack said answering her unspoken question.
Sam nodded her head in approval. There would be no joy in looking at what Washington had to offer but she knew that Daniel and Teal'c would at least try to get Cassie's mind off the painful lose that she had been dealt a few days prior.
"It's not going to be the same without her sir." Sam said.
"No. It's not." He said.
Sam's eyes filled with tears and she bit her lip to keep them at bay.
Jack glanced at her. "C'mere." He said as he wrapped his arm around her shoulder.
Sam didn't even bother trying to keep the tears at bay. She turned into his chest and wrapped her arms around his neck, hanging on for all she was worth.
They'd shared a similar hug a few days before at the SGC. But now, even though they were out in public, they had civilian clothes on, no one knew who they were. So she cried in his arms. Cried till she didn't think she had anything left in her. And he held her firmly with his arms wrapped around her waist.
She cried for all that SG-1 had lost…and what could have been lost. They could have been having two funerals here she realized. She was devastated about what had happened to Janet but if something had happened to Jack…it would have crushed her.
If that staff blast had been a few inches from where it was…if he hadn't been wearing the new inserts into his vest…
Sam wanted to hang onto this man and never let go.
She had broken up with Pete after what Jack had whispered to her. Sure he had thought she was sleeping but she had finally found out what she had always hoped. He loved her, and God help her, she loved him back as well. And though there wasn't anything they could do about it right now, it was enough. For the moment at least.
They stayed wrapped in each other's arms for a long time before Sam finally broke the hug.
"You alright?" Jack said as he wiped away a tear from her face.
"No." She whispered.
"Me neither." He whispered back
"We could have lost you too..."
"You didn't…I'm right here." He told her.
"Yes you are." She said with tears still swimming in her eyes.
"How about we go meet up with the rest of the guys?" Jack asked.
"Alright…but can we stay just a bit longer sir?" Sam asked, turned her eyes back to the grave marker.
Jack sent her a small smile and looked at the grave as well.
*****
They stayed there for a few minutes before they left. Each knowing that while Janet Fraiser's body lay there in that grave…they'd carry her with them forever. They would never forget all that she had done for them through the years, and their memories of her would last them a lifetime.
Life was too short, they realized. And each one of them hoped that maybe someday they'd be able to express what was in their hearts for the other.
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Author's Note- Thanks for reading and if you liked it let me know!
