AN: It has been too long since my last update. For that I apologize. With college and work, I barely have time to think, let alone write anything decent. This chapter is extremely short and needs revision, but I knew I had to post something.
Disclaimer: If I owned Stargate SG-1 and all things affiliated, the Ori wouldn't exist. But I don't, and they do.
The morning after her birthday, Sam awoke in a cold sweat. She hadn't had a nightmare since the night Jack kissed her. This one was pale by comparison. More of a bad dream. She could only remember being alone in a field of roses that stretched for miles in every direction. She called for her father, for Mark, for Jack, for anybody. But no one answered.
Sitting in bed, she felt a strong need to be held. At least to not alone. She rose from bed and crept to Jack's room. His door was open, as it always was. She stood silently in the threshold, debating. She turned to leave and Jack said, "What's the matter?"
She stilled, half turned, and didn't know what to say. "Bad dream."
Jack sat, the sheet spilling down and revealing his chest. Sam had found early that he tended to sleep in only boxers, but she wasn't going to complain. Staring at him, the moonlight spilling on his naked skin, his hair disheveled and his eyes bright, Sam couldn't help but cry.
He stood immediately and wrapped her in his arms. She froze for a moment, then melted in his embrace. She wrapped her arms around his waist, her hands hesitating on the bare skin of his back.
"Tell me about it," he whispered.
She buried her face in his chest and replied, "I was alone for so long before you. I can't stand to be that alone again."
She hated admitting to weakness, but she knew that he would never judge her.
Jack ran his hands through her hair and sighed, kissing the top of her head. He walked backwards to the bed and sat, bringing her with him. He cradled her in his lap and said, "I know just what you mean. When I was your age, I was working day in and out to support my mom. I didn't have time for friends. Not that I've ever had many. Joining the military gave me a huge family, but it didn't make me any less lonely."
Sam raised her face to his, a tiny smile playing on her lips. "When you were my age?"
Jack's eyes were serious when he whispered, "You forget I'm ten years older than you. That's a long time."
She frowned. "Not that long. Not long enough to make us very different from each other. We're so much alike. I always felt like I was half a person. Until recently."
"Soul mates?" Jack said with a frown. He didn't know what to say. He didn't want to take advantage of Sam. Leading her on, making her believe they had true love, would be doing just that.
Sam saw the hesitation in his eyes. "Maybe you're not my other half. But I'm better with you. Healed. Happy. Isn't that something?"
"Yeah," he said. He hugged her tight and stared at her mother's painting. He didn't think she loved him like he loved her. He would give anything to be with only her forever. But he didn't want to take away her future. She deserved better than him. He sighed. "It's something."