AN: I lamentably forgot to give thanks and worshipness to one particular person for a couple of chapters ago. And that is SG-Fan. While reading Christmas in the Infirmary I came across a review thingy exchange from around December '05 which resulted in my "inspired" (as a liketoread so nicely put it) Gou'alding Pete idea for which I am eternally grateful that she initiated the thought process, and for keeping her promise to not take my idea… she's far too noble for that. Anyway I'm not even sure if she's reading this story, but if you are reading this SG-Fan, merci. If you are unfamiliar with that term it also means, gracias, wir danken dir, tak, malo, arigato goziimasu, which all very loosely translated means:

Thankyou.

This was my review: "Oh sure, sure i like him, yeah i really do, but killing people is bad, unless they're gou'ald of course. Hey that's a great idea! It's mine i got it first, you cant steal it, cos you have all the great ideas!
Yeah... to much study makes Renee a crazy girl!"Chapter Twenty-Four

'Jack.' O'Neill tapped on the surface of the puddle-jumper, waiting for his future self to let him in. Jack did so after several moments and O'Neill went through, making sure that none of the branches or forest debris came through with him.

'Hey, how's Shanahan?' Jack asked, laying down his book.

O'Neill took a seat. 'Are you really that concerned?'

'Even though I don't overly like the guy, I would feel incredibly guilty if he didn't get better – because of course in my timeline this never happened. It would be my fault if he died… and of course the snake. So…?'

'He woke up yesterday; he's getting ready to go back to Denver in a couple of hours.'

'To Denver? He's not sticking around here to stay with Sam?' He asked anxiously.

'Nope. She made the decision on her own. He doesn't remember anything of what happened since he got to Colorado Springs. Doesn't remember Sam, or you, or Osiris. So she gave him a cover story, and sent him on his way. Well… he hasn't left yet. Some air force officers are taking him back to his motel in about an hour. General Hammond's ordered Carter on downtime for a week, but she'll probably try and get out of it as she always does.'

'I should go to her… she made that decision for a reason. I need to tell her.' Jack muttered more to himself.

'What makes you think you're the one who should go?' O'Neill said almost defensively. 'Look, Jack. You're the one who, and I quote "screwed up" in the first place. You came back to tell me to make a move, didn't you? Shouldn't I be the one to have that chance?'

Even with all his planning, Jack didn't anticipate this decision, but he'd always assumed he'd be the one to be able to finally tell Sam that he loved her. He was the one that had to suffer the most; knowing Sam's relationship was progressing, going to the wedding, seeing them raise a family. He felt like he'd gone through so much. And though he was glad Sam had made the decision herself to end things with Shanahan (with a little bit of influence that she hadn't had before), there was still an unspoken thing between her and her Jack that needed to be brought into the open.

In earlier years (his earlier years) he'd imagined what it would be like, to be free of the regulations that had been holding them back for so long, and declare his feelings in a sentimental but non-cliché way. But his present self was partially right.

His reason in coming to the past was to change it. To alter events in particular ways that allowed both Sam and he to make different choices, that would eventually lead to their getting together.

He had wanted to do it subtly first, which was why he went with Plan A, and why Plan A also "failed." Minimal contact had seemed to be the best bet, but it wasn't enough.

He thought a direct approach with O'Neill would be enough, but Sam and Pete were also involved.

What he had wanted to do initially in "Plan B" was give Sam a little food for thought. Question her relationship with Pete and her relationship with O'Neill; what she really wanted out of life. Something that she may not have fully thought about in his timeline. Plan A had initiated that direction of thought, but it was his interaction with this time period that had actually been of more importance in that regard.

It seemed he had done that, and very well. Sam had thought and questioned, and gave Pete the flick, so to speak. He had done what he had come here to do. And he had always planned on telling her about his "interference" in some time or place, but he had also meant to tell her his feelings himself.

But was it really for him to do that? He'd made the first steps, he had gone to the party, and had been able to dance with her and convey some of his emotions. And he couldn't really expect O'Neill to sit placidly while he took the reins and it was not even his timeline.

It would make the timeline a whole lot more fluid if it was the present Jack O'Neill that took a part in this life-altering meeting.

He was right. He had screwed up in the first place. He had made things all the more harder for both him and Sam, and now it was his place to accept the consequences of his action, or rather his in-action, and be grateful that he could return back to his time and not have things so screwed up anymore (he hoped).

'You're right, O'Neill. You should go to her. But I should mention first, that this is still not the time to act on your feelings. You still have Anubis' super-soldiers to worry about, and things are going to change for the both of you. I can't say that this is going to be exactly the same for you, but in about a year and a half, things won't be so difficult, and perhaps then the time will be right… just let her know.' A pained expression appeared on his face; Jack knew that there was a whole lot more at risk than just that, but he had to know that Sam could wait. That there would be a time for them, and that time would be coming soon.

'Radio me when you come back. I'll wait for you.'

'Hopefully Sam will wait as well.' O'Neill stated, and then left to get ready.

O'Neill walked back to the base, knowing that his short absence again, would be noted, but most likely would not end up signifying anything to anyone else.

Jack was correct in thinking of himself, that O'Neill was not one to sit back and let others take control of his life. O'Neill's thoughts when Jack had first made himself known to him were quite varied. But even having yourself tell you what to do, O'Neill's first instinct was to be defiant.

However, this was an awkward situation, and it helped knowing that they were very much the same person with regards to their feelings about Sam. Different experiences had made them unique, but the one thing they had in common was her. O'Neill had come to an understanding of that and also Jack's desperation in coming here in the first place.

O'Neill had never had the experience of time travel…yet. But during one of Carter's spiels about Quantum theory, somewhere in their seven+ years of working together, she had gone on a tangent about time travel as a theory and how one small action could change a lot of things. He sincerely hoped Jack knew what he was doing.

Jack's action in coming to this time period had already set into motion various events, and he knew it.

Pete's "gou'alding" and what Jack had explained of the events at the party proved that. Sam's decision was also strong evidence that things in the future would also be different from what it was for Jack. Was what he had done enough, or was a direct and candid discussion the thing that was finally needed?

He was sure if Jack hadn't come, he would have stuck with the "indifferent" routine, and ended up in the same situation as Jack. Seeing Sam's wedding to Pete for himself. That didn't sound like fun at all.

But he wasn't prepared to give Sam his heart so openly and so free of restrictions at the drop of a hat like this. The thought of telling her, after all these years made his palms go sweaty, just like it had been in high school.

O'Neill wiped his hands on his BDU's and flashed his ID card to the security guards as he went down to his office to collect his things. It was going home time for him and admittedly he hadn't been there since the day of the stake out.

On further thought he grabbed a spare piece of paper and scrawled a quick note on it, mentally reminding himself to drop it off in Sam's mailbox on his way home. He knew she wouldn't be leaving for another couple of hours; until Pete left.

Now all he had to do was figure out a way to tell her… that didn't sound hard at all. No.

AN: Tomorrow it will be three years since i put Sam's Wedding up. Despicable I know. I'm pushing to be able to have it finished by then (or the 27th in USA time). Seriously 2/3 chapters to go, but I also have an a'ment due on Monday, so I'll try. It's exciting that i'm nearly finished though. Next chapter will come tonight most probably. I kept on changing my mind and wrote out two different versions so I could see which one would be better... took a while but i decided eventually.