A/N: This DaSN submission is a pre-sequel to events from the Not a Hero series.
Word count: 872
Namaste,
~Sandy
Dark and Stormy Night Challenge
Sam and Rodney
It was a dark and stormy night and Rodney was pissed. Sam was too but she didn't show it in the same way.
Rodney paced from one side of the room to the other with Kaleb, Ronon, his teammate Lieutenant Reed, Sam's brother, Mark and Radek watching as if it were a slow motion tennis match.
In the next room, Sam twisted her fingers together and bit her lower lip with Jeannie, Jennifer, Carolyn, Sam's sister-in-law Judith and Teyla looking on.
Mark and Judith's kids, Casey and Dylan, were playing with Madison in her room. Having been warned about staying clean and neat, they too were subdued.
In separate rooms so they wouldn't see each other before the wedding, both Rodney and Sam stared out at Jeannie's back yard where the wedding was to have taken place. The rain had started midafternoon. It was now after dark and it hadn't stopped yet. Not even for a few minutes.
Finally, Jeannie could take no more. "Ladies, come with me. Not you, Sam."
"Wh-but…"
"No buts. Stay."
Jeannie went next door not bothering to knock. "Guys, come with me."
"What's going on? Where are you taking them?" Rodney demanded.
"That's none of your business, big brother. Just stay put until you're called. And I mean it. Step even one toe out and you'll regret it."
"Fine. But whatever it is had better not take long because I'm already pissed off. Sam and I should have been married by now."
One hand on the doorknob, Jeannie looked her brother in the eye, her expression softening. "And you will be, Mer. Soon. I promise."
~~O~~
The door closed behind his sister and Rodney went back to pacing. Somehow it had been easier to handle the situation with his friends around him. Now that they were gone, his emotions threatened to overwhelm him. Coffee would have helped, but he'd been forbidden, by Jeannie again, to have even a little in case he spilled it on his suit.
Tiring of ping-ponging, he carefully lay down on the bed, the one he and Sam would share on their wedding night before leaving on their honeymoon in the morning. He imagined her beside him now, cuddled against his side, drawing warmth and love from him and returning it in equal measure.
~~O~~
Sam got to her feet when music reached her through the closed door. Her friends and family could be heard talking in the living room with Jeannie's being the loudest as she issued orders with the authority of a general. She heard a knock on the door to the room where Rodney was, urgent voices then nothing but the music.
A few minutes later, her brother Mark came to the door. "Ready?"
"For what?"
"To get married." Behind him, the opening notes of the wedding march began. Sam smoothed the material of her simple floor length satin wedding gown, checked her short veil and nodded. He handed her the bouquet and she tucked her hand into the crook of his elbow letting him lead her to the end of the hall and down the stairs.
~~O~~
In the living room, the wedding arch Kaleb had made for them was in front of the fireplace, ivy and lights climbing up the sides and over the curve of the top. The wedding officiator, a bible held in both hands, awaited the other half of the happy couple. To the left stood Sam's attendants, Jennifer and Carolyn.
Sam was completely aware that their friends and family were gathered around to hear them say the vows that would officially join them as husband and wife, but she only had eyes for Rodney. He stood to the right, Ronon and Radek at his side, looking handsome and nervous. When he tried to tug at his collar, Ronon pulled his hand away with a small growl of warning almost making her laugh. She resisted knowing that, if she started, she wouldn't be able to stop and she wanted the beginning of their life together to go smoothly even if nothing else had.
When she and Mark reached the arch, he kissed her on the cheek and waited while Rodney moved to her side, taking her hand.
"Who gives this woman to be married to this man?" The officiator asked.
Mark grinned. "She gives herself freely with the love and blessing of her family and friends."
Jeannie stood awaiting her turn to speak.
"And who gives this man to be married to this woman?"
"He gives himself freely with the love and blessing of his family and friends." Jeannie's voice wavered just a little as she said the words.
"Please be seated." He waited while they complied. "Welcome one and all. We are gathered here today, uh, tonight to celebrate the joining of Rodney and Samantha in the bonds of matrimony. Two people who love do not do so in isolation. Their love is a source of strength with which they may nourish not only each other, but the universe around them…"
Kaleb holding her hand, Jeannie allowed a few tears of happiness for her brother and Sam to escape because their big day was finally here and it was no longer just a dark and stormy night.
End
