January 1, 2002 – Washington, DC
He proposed! Last night at midnight!
Such a cliché.
Whoosh!
She yanked that thought away a quickly as it came. Her brain was getting whiplash from forcing away thoughts of him.
Why am I not giddy with excitement? I guess that's just in movies. This is the real world. Still, why am I so terrified then?
Because you will lose him forever.
Whoosh!
I told him I need some time, but why? This is what I want. And, maybe this will bring the excitement back.
You never lacked excitement with…
Whoosh!
So, yes it is.
She put Joe's ring on her finger.
I'll surprise him when he gets home. I really will have to invite the Colonel to the wedding. Maybe I should take that trip to the cabin. I'll find out if our friendship can ever be fixed.
January 14, 2002 – Bear Creek, MN
As the new team gathered on the couch and chairs in the living room of the cabin, Jack handed each of them a thick folder. They opened them up and started reading.
Jack has been run ragged the past month getting ready for this mission. He bought three months' worth of MREs in cash from a survival supply company. He managed to track down BDUs in green, tan, and black, all of which they will probably need. Since the government banned the sale and possession of firearms as part of the Aschen treaty, finding ammo for his guns was tough, but he knew people.
Now, all that was left was to go over the details and give Vala and Hailey some hand-to-hand training. He figured they should be on the road by the first of the month.
"Alright, kids, let's get started. The tel'tak is going to be our base of operations. We are going to visit each of the eight Confederation planets that were not visited by SG diplomatic teams. These planets were not known to us at the time of those missions, so we can safely assume the Aschen preferred that we didn't visit them. The eight planets are all relatively close together, so the order we visit them isn't restrained by distance. I chose the order based on the reports provided by the Aschen, hoping I could read between the lines and find something helpful.
On the first planet, Vala will stay with the ship and pick us up when we are ready to leave. I would prefer this for every planet, since it gives us some back up, but that could change.
This is not a U.S. Air Force mission. Rules of engagement are nothing like regular war, or really, most special ops. If someone recognizes us, kill them. If we are captured, anyone that is aware of our presence is to be terminated. The most important aspect of this mission, even more so than finding anything useful, is that no word of it can get back to the Aschen. Any questions so far?"
They asked questions, discussed more specific details, and slipped in some banter. Over the next couple of weeks, they taught Vala and Hailey how to kill someone silently, worked on their basic hand-to-hand skills, made final plans, loaded the ship, and hid all evidence of their meeting at the cabin.
A few days before they left, Harry Maybourne finally checked in. He didn't have much, except that government was now monitoring all internet traffic, and that many medical statistics, patents, and studies were now heavily classified. Jack informed everyone to keep an eye out.
January 31, 2002 – Bear Creek, MN
The team was all seated around living room drinking beers and chatting, trying to enjoy one last day on Earth for a while.
"You know, Tommy, I bet this is the first time since you got that Masters in Anthropology that somebody is actually going to ask you to use it."
"Funny. This coming from mister double major, a Masters in Astronomy and one in …"
"Wilkins!"
"Come on, Jack, don't tell me you're one of those educated types. I thought you were just a grunt."
"How do you think I made Colonel, Louis?"
"I thought you were born a Colonel. I didn't think there was any way in hell they would promote you there."
"Go to hell. I'll die a Colonel, but I wasn't born one."
All of a sudden, there was a knock on the door.
Who the hell could be here?
...
Sam pulled into the driveway of the cabin she used to dream about. Her palms were sweaty, and she was a bit sick to her stomach.
Why is this so hard? He's just my old CO.
Why do you think, idiot?
Whoosh!
I love Joe. Joe loves me, and he is giving me the life that will make me happy.
Then why aren't you happy now?
Whoosh!
He doesn't love you like Jack does.
Whoosh!
Would Joe choose to die with you when he could save himself?
Whoosh!
"Stop!" she yelled at herself. She took a deep breath, rebuilt her walls, and focused on the crunching of the gravel beneath her feet as she strode to the door of the cabin, and knocked.
...
"Major?"
Jack was gobsmacked. She was the last person on the planet, or any other for that matter, that he expected to see at his door.
"To what do I owe the honor?" He tried to school his tone to nonchalance.
"Hi, sir, can I come in?"
Sir.
Now, the numbness and devastation all came flooding back.
Once again, she met his hollow eyes and her astonishment was clear.
"I have company Carter, so we have to make it quick. What did you need?"
"I wanted to give you this. Will you come? It would mean a lot."
Jack opened the wedding invitation. His stomach churned, and he fought to keep it from emptying itself. She was watching him carefully, so he tried his hardest to hide his predicament.
"Sorry, Carter, but I'm not going to be around. I'll be away on business." He didn't even need to lie, he really won't be here, but there was no way in hell he would be going to the wedding anyway.
Her eyes started tearing up, though she didn't let any fall.
"Please, Jack. We used to be friends. I hoped we always would be."
Jack? Crocodile tears? Ok, enough is enough. I have to get her out of here. Now, be that hateful bastard you know you really are.
"Yes, well, whatever the case may be, I'm not lying to you, Carter. I won't be available."
"You saw the date, right? We picked it because everyone would already be in town for the one year anniversary of the treaty. You would miss that?"
"Fitting. And I would especially miss that. Now, is that all?"
"What kind of business?"
I'm not being enough of a prick, huh?
"That's classified, Major. Now, I need to get back to my guests."
"I have the highest security clearance, sir. "
Ok, I guess not.
"Oh, of that I have no doubt, Major Carter. It's classified none of your business. Now, if...that's...all…" he growled before being interrupted.
"Hey, handsome, are you coming back to the party?" Vala interrupted in a suggestive tone while she wrapped an arm around Jack's waist.
"Oh, for cryin' out loud," Jack muttered.
"I don't know, Jack, you are kind of handsome, for an old, gray, pain in the ass," Wilkins added from the other room.
"Tommy, you're almost as gray as I am, and almost as old."
Jack turned back to the doorway and saw Vala still had her arm around his waist and was glaring at Carter.
Is she protecting me? She's a much better person than she thinks she is. A lot better than I am.
"It's ok, Vala. I'll show her out."
Jack led Sam a few feet back to the door and opened it.
"Sorry, Carter. Look, I really won't be around, but I do wish you the best. Never anything less than that," he offered honestly.
"Well, take the invitation anyway, and if you get the chance, I would like it if you came."
"I'll see what I can do. Good night, Carter."
...
After Jack closed the door, Sam peered in the window and saw Jack throw the invitation in the trash. Tears fell from her eyes as she walked to her car.
Why am I so upset about this? Why all of the pain on his face? Who was that woman?
She felt like she was suffocating, so she shook her head to snap out of it.
It doesn't matter. This was my choice, and I made the right one. I know I did.
