CHIMERA

Prioritizing . . .

"Tactics is knowing what to do when there is something to do; strategy is knowing what to do where there is nothing to do."

- Savielly Tartakower

Jack watched how she gracefully walked across the board and captured his Queen. Something broke in his heart. A sharp breath caught in his throat.

Checkmate.

Sam's face bore an expression he'd hardly witnessed. The same one he had seared to memory when she'd worn that blue dress seven years ago. She was very cheerful, happy, and the last time he'd checked. It wasn't his doing. She wasn't humming because of him, but because she'd met another man.

He swallowed, looked to his feet and winced sadly. This day would come. He knew it would, but he didn't have to be fond of it. He peered up at her and sauntered over to where she stood on the black corner. He halted on the empty white block, locked eyes with her stunning blue ones. He reached a hand for her cheek and let it hover inches away. She scowled, questioning the attempt with her eyes.

"Why Sam?"

"I can't wait any longer, Jack."

The truth stung, badly. His hovering hand reacted as if a recoiling viper and fell down to his side.

"True." His chin drooped. "The battle's lasted longer than expected. I can't force you to wait, and you deserve to be loved. All I want is for you to be happy." He raised his chin to look at her. A beat followed while he searched her countenance. "Are you happy?"

Tears glistened in her eyes as she nodded. "Yes."

He nodded reluctantly. "Good. That's-" He cleared his throat, looking anywhere but at her. "I hope he treats you well. You deserve nothing but the best, Sam."

"Carter." She corrected.

Jack flinched.

"I am no longer your Sam."

His gaze snapped up, scowled at the sudden change in her tone. "You never were my Sam. Why do you think I've kept my distance?"

"No, you haven't. Instead, you drew closer; confused me. Gave me false hope."

"I did no such thing." He refuted annoyed. "I did what any man would. I was considerate."

"If you were, then you should've respected the barriers we had established, Colonel."

"Okay, this is crazy." He drew attention to the chessboard. "This, all of this. It's just my imagination going wild."

"No, this is your way of controlling the circumstances. But if you look closely, you'll see how far along you really are. You have no hopes of winning a game you are allegedly a master of – both in reality and in your mind."

Backing away, he chuckled mockingly. "So what if I allowed you to dictate my moves? So what if I allowed you to take the lead?" He stalked for the equator of the chessboard and hissed in bitterness. "Do you see this, Carter? I have more than enough pieces on the board to win you."

The last three words repeated in his thoughts, recognizing the double meaning almost immediately. Sam snorted, her lips curling into her famous sassy smile.

Ignoring her, he gestured to the block beside his King's position. "Castle defends Black King and forces opponent's Queen back to White's King."

With an amused smile, Sam walked by him, returning to where she was safe and sound; out of his reach.

"It merely directs me away from you." She clarified smugly.

"It's how it's meant to be!" He called out. "It's how it's supposed to be." He gestured between them. "This! It will never happen. Now watch how my remaining knight captures your bishop."

"You can't react in reality, but you'll do so here?" She swiped her hand over the pieces. "On an imaginative chessboard where you alone can dictate the pieces to your heart's content? This is how you deal with heartache, Jack?"

"It's Colonel to you!" He thundered back at her, irked with the mocking in her voice.

"Then watch as my remaining bishop captures your pawn." On her side of the board, the mentioned pieces blended with one another. "Oops! There goes your opportunity at another Queen."

He captured one of her pawns. "And there goes your opportunity."

"I still have four left to claim another Queen." Sam chided.

"One is more than enough, thank you!" He snapped back.

Laughter resonated over the playing field. "Says the one who holds none."

The reply had a fierce bite. It tore through his soul, because it was the truth, both here and in reality. Driven to strike back, he rushed for his rightful position on the board, faced her and motioned profusely.

"I'm coming for ya, Carter. I'm so coming for you!"

"Dream bigger, Colonel." Her lips curved into a wicked sneer. "You've always destined yourself to lose. You have no choice. If you win, you would've won me."

Jack's hand slowly returned to his side. What was he doing? He'd chosen to prolong the distance between them. Now he chased her? For what reason? Jealousy. The realization she belonged to someone else. He no longer made her happy. Instead, another man made her smile and laugh, held her and comforted her. Something he longed to do, but never could.

She taunted. "Oh my, understanding has struck for the umpteenth time, Sir?"

"You're right." He grabbed at his head with both hands, but a light bulb moment exploded in his mind. "No! No, wait." His hands extended to the void above. He laughed in relief. "No, this match was never to lose you, Carter."

Sam shook her head, savoring his words comically, and raised an eyebrow. "Oh, really?"

His hands lowered to his hips. A wince furrowed his brow. "I was never meant to be beaten."

"Sounds better, Colonel."

Jack noticed she tried to distract him and hummed in annoyance. "Hm. The goal was to win, not lose."

Sam's courageous demeanor changed. "What are you doing?"

She sounded worried while her pleased expression turned into a grave one. He pointed it out with a swift hand gesture.

"Ha, I'm prioritizing, Carter. I'm setting this straight. You should be losing. I should gain ground. If I do, it means my strategy is working."

The frown lines on her countenance deepened. "What?"

Amused, he explained. "It's about keeping myself in check. Not surrendering to my feelings for you."

"That's it?"

"Yes, I have to keep going in the opposite direction, Carter. You should carry on with yours. It's inevitable – it's how it's meant to be."

"You've decided then?" She stated knowingly and dejected.

He gave her a rueful smile. "Yeah, yeah I have. I'm sorry Carter, but this is for the best." He directed her gaze towards the lab as it interchanged with their chessboard scene. "Have a look."

Jack pursed his lips, watched as she closed the equipment case, then asked. "How's Pete?"

The Major gazed at him in disbelief, not knowing how to reply. Moments later, she perked up and offered a smile. "You know how it is."

He stared at her, waiting for her to finish the thought.

"Usually you don't let it bother you, because you know they wouldn't cope with the truth anyway."

Carter looked down at the case laying on the table.

He agreed with a slight nod. "Usually."

She returned her gaze to him, locked eyes with his dark ones, quirked an eyebrow. "I think he could have."

You dropped the anchor Jack, with the line in tow; you let her slip through your fingers. You drowned her affection for you.