Another Life

*NOTE: Sorry that this chapter is late. I came down with the flu :( Anyways I hope you enjoy it. I'm still deciding on whether or not to add a concluding chapter or to end it here. What do you think? *

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Knock knock

"Come in!" yelled Jack. He was sitting at his desk playing with his yoyo, trying to decide on the best way to tell Sam about his talk with Hammond.

"You wanted to see me sir?"

Jack's heart flip-flopped at the sound of her soft voice. "Ahhhh Carter…"

"Carter we need to talk," he said quietly. Sam looked at him with a concerned look. "I told General Hammond."

"You what!?"

"Carter –"

"Sir you told him about Radesh!?"

"Carter keep your voice down. I had to. There was no way we could have kept it to ourselves for very long. It was just too hard. Especially after the incident in mess hall."

Sam looked up at him sharply. "Is this what that's about? Are you trying to blame this one me?"

Jack was confused. "What?"

Sam ran her fingers through her hair and started pacing. "Are you saying that I'm too emotional? That I'm taking this hard? That you felt obligated to tell Hammond in case I made a fool of myself in front of everyone!?"

Jack moved over to her and put his hands on her shoulders, forcing her to stand still. "Carter!" At the sound of her name, Sam stopped ranting and looked into his hazel eyes. "It's been hard for both of us. God Sam, do you know how hard it is to see you everyday, so fragile and broken, and not be able to hold you, hell to not even be able to say your name or hold your hand?" Tears glistened in her eyes, and she stared down at her feet. "Sorry," he mumbled. "I guess you do." He sighed. "Carter….Sam, I went to General Hammond because I can't keep up the charade anymore." He took a deep breath. "I went to see if he could help."

A small grin pulled at the corners of her mouth. "Was he mad?"

Jack grinned, "Oh you know the General. He was absolutely peachy."

"Pretty mad, huh."

"Yeah at first. But only because we didn't tell him right away. He calmed down a bit after that."

"What did you say?"

"The truth. That on Radesh we had no memory of our lives at the SGC including the regulations. And I told him that I love you. Both on Radesh and before…..and that I wasn't going to lose you."

Sam blushed. "What did General Hammond say to that?"

"He was actually very understanding. He had already guessed about us….before our mission to Radesh. He said that he wouldn't lose either of us as we are both invaluable to the SGC." Jack let his hands slide off her shoulders, down her arms, to hold her hands.

Sam looked up at him with hopeful eyes. "Really?"

Jack smiled. "He said he'd make a couple phone calls, see if he can't pull a few strings. Carter…"

"- I know sir. I shouldn't get my hopes up. But…." She looked up at him with soft smile.

"I know Carter….I know."

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* SGC – 1 week later*

General Hammond walked into Sam's lab to find her and Jack laughing softly. "Ahmm." He cleared his throat.

At the sound, both Sam and Jack looked up in surprise. "Sir!" they said simultaneously.

"We were just……just…." Sam stuttered.

"Just reminiscing sir," finished Jack, looking over at Sam who briefly met his gaze before shifting her focus to the cement floor.

Hammond waved his hand, motioning for them to be at ease. "I thought I'd find you two here. I need to talk to the two of you."

Sam swallowed and looked over at Jack. "You do sir?" said Jack.

"Yes Jack. This," he said holding up a brown folder, "was faxed to me this morning from the Pentagon."

"What is it?" asked Jack.

"A pardon."

Sam's eyes grew wide, and hesitantly she held out her hand. Hammond handed her the folder and slowly, she opened it up, eyes quickly scanning the page. "A pardon from what?" continued Jack.

"Article 134," breathed Sam.

"Ahhhh…." Nodded Jack. "Which means?"

"Which means Jack, that you have a wedding to plan." Said Hammond.

Jack looked at Sam, not believing what he was hearing. She nodded, smiling softly and tears sparkling in her eyes.

Hammond smiled. "I'll leave you two alone," he said, and quickly left the room.

"Sooooo….." said Jack still trying to take in what the General had just told them.

Sam looked up at him and blushed slightly at his awkwardness.

Suddenly standing up, Jack put his hand in his pocket and dug out their old engagement ring. "Whaddya say Carter? Will you marry me…..again?"

Sam grinned one of her genuine Sam Carter smiles. "Yes," she said as he slid the ring onto her finger. It sparkled as brightly as it had the first time she wore it. The two looked at each other, staring into the depths of each others eyes, letting the moment sink in.

Then in one sudden fluid motion, their lips met and months of pent up angst, and heartache melted away. This kiss was one of desperation, powerful and intense. They held each others faces in their hands, pulling each other as close as possible. He could feel the wetness on his cheeks from the tears that silently trickled down her face as they kissed.

Jack pulled away and wiped at her tears with his thumbs. "Hey what's this all about?"

Sam shook her head. "Sir…Jack…..it's just that…..well….before, it was hard enough trying to keep everything back in that room. Then on Radesh…. we finally had a chance to start something, and then……then back on Earth I lost you again. And now…well now this."

"Carter….Sam I'm here for good now. And I will never leave you, ever."

The kiss this time was soft and tender. Jack's hands wrapped around Sam's waist drawing her closer, and Sam's hands moved up to his hair, entangling themselves in his grey locks.

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