A/N: hello all we are almost to the end, two more chapts... I think. This next part is going to be rough so you've been warned. It hasn't been betaed so I'm sorry for that.

Rumors of My Death
pt 38

"He's right here Sam and very disappointed in you." My blood ran cold. I forgot how to breathe as I heard his voice from the top of the stairs. I gripped Janet's arm and came close and whispered sorry.

The light turned on and I heard him run down the stairs I turned to face him knowing I would not be able to talk my way out of this.

He was dressed in his tuxedo and I could see the fury on his face. I closed my eyes and waited to take the brunt of his anger.

"You lying whore!"

He grabbed me and threw me towards the stairs.

I tried to break my fall and landed on my knees the pain stunned me, he was behind me and turned me around to face him.

I looked up at him and cried out, "No! Pete you've got it all wrong please let me explain."

He had his hands fisted to his sides.

"Explain what? That you played me for a fool all over again? That you lied to me and made me believe that you truly loved me? It was all to save your silly ass wasn't it! Tell me! Dammit Sam after everything I've done for you, you treat me like this? I'm going to make you pay for your disobedience."

He raised his arm and I tried to block the blow when I heard Janet scream at him.

"She's telling the truth you idiot! She was here to tell me that she was getting married and that she wanted nothing to do with me or Cassie after today. She wanted me to be a witness so I can tell everyone to back off that Sam is doing this of her own free will and that we shouldn't interfere with your lives any longer. The he she was referring to was General O'Neill, she told me that he had it in his mind that she loved him and that everything she had said the night before were lies, that he had lost all touch with reality and that she was afraid he might come and take her away from you!"

He stopped and looked spun around to face Janet.

He walked over to her and turned to me.

"She's lying."

I nodded my head no. "It's the truth I came down here to plead with her not to interfere with our lives any longer I could tell she didn't believe me and I had to make her see that I was telling the truth."

I pleaded with him, the lies were flowing freely and I he came back towards me. This is what I wanted for him to stay away from Janet I needed to keep them safe.

He stooped down and raised my chin. "They will be taken care of remember they will be in a place that they can never interfere, and as soon as we are wed I'll deal with your General and your other teammates. We don't have to worry about them interfering if they aren't here. This is beyond your comprehension Sam let me do the planning you just do as I ask and don't question. The preacher should be here and we can get on with our lives. You haven't changed your mind now have you sweetheart?"

"No," I whispered. "I didn't change my mind. It's just…. Pete let them see for them selves how much I love you that I want to marry you and be your wife. They doubt I will go through with it but they just don't understand our love."

He stared at me. I took his hand. "It would mean a lot to me if they are there to witness this. Then we can follow through with our plan."

"What plan Sam?" Janet asked. I looked over to Janet. I pleaded with her with my eyes and hoped she would forgive me for what I was about to say. I pointed my finger at her gathered all my fury over what Pete had done to us and used this to make my words convincing.

"You lied to me. You made me believe that Pete was dead, He's right things would have been better if you would have stayed dead. Once you died everything changed. I had to be saddled with the responsibility of raising your adopted daughter. I had to put Pete's needs aside to make sure she was taken care of and it wasn't fair to him. She never liked him and had me try and chose her over him but I never did. I wasn't going to lose my soul mate because of her. My so called team didn't help at all it was all left to me and honestly if I was to do all over again I wouldn't. She's been a handful and always getting in the way of me pleasing Pete. I would have been married months ago if I didn't have this burden to deal with. You were better off dead and by the end of this day…"

She gasped as did Cassie.

I could see the tears flowing down Janet's face and it killed me inside. I turned away and came to Pete.

"I should have listened to you. I'm sorry I put her needs in front of yours. Please forgive me and I will make it up to you I promise."

He was speechless. He took my hand and kissed it.

"So you weren't trying to escape Sam? Trying to help your friends get away?" I shook my head. "That's good because if you had you would have regretted that action, you see the doors are booby trapped if you were to open it an explosion would have gone off and well lets just say you wouldn't have to worry about how bruised your face looked."

My eyes widen as he told me this I swallowed, "You told me not to open the door, and I wouldn't disobey you."

He smiled and caressed my face before he slapped it.

"That's for coming down here without permission. Get up and go upstairs."

I was going to ask what he was going to do when he turned and pulled out tie ups from his pocket and headed towards Janet.

Janet caught me looking and motioned me to go. I looked over to Cassie and she tried to be brave but turned her head away. She had her hands behind her back to pretend she was still handcuffed.

"Are you having trouble obeying me Sam? Do you need another lesson?" I had not moved and gasped as he grabbed my arms and pushed me to the stairs.

"I'll be there in a minute I need to retie Ms. Fraiser."

I nodded and slowly made my way upstairs.

Our escape had failed. I should have knocked him out and then got us to safety. How long had we been missing? By now Daniel should have tried to call Janet would he figure out we were in trouble? Would the police find the body in the truck wasn't Pete's? Would anyone get here in time to save us from this nightmare?

There was no escape.

I think what would have happened to us if we had escaped and tried to go through the doors.

I shudder thinking how close we came. But wondered if that would have been better then having the maniac do the job himself.

I shook my head I had to get a grip I had to form some kind of plan. Maybe the preacher would be able to help? Pete would have to disable the explosives when he came, that would be my opening that would be the last chance I would have to save Janet and Cassie.

I turned towards the window and it could see the light peeking out through the curtains. We still had daylight so that was good.

I looked towards the basement door as I heard a scream I was about to run downstairs to stop him from hurting them when he came out the door.

"Sam?"

Pete was there with Janet.

I was surprised, "Pete? I heard the scream I was going to see if you needed my help."

He pushed Janet in front of him she stumbled and I grabbed her before she fell.

"We'll have her as a witness to our wedding like you wanted. Then will get rid of her and her brat. Then we'll start on our family."

I looked at Janet and she had another welt on her face. I wanted to go downstairs to see if Cassie was alright but knew I couldn't. I swallowed the lump in my throat and smiled, "thank you, for doing this. I just want her to experience what we have. Something she could never have or understand. She's never found love like I did and I've come to realize that she's just jealous. They all are. I can't wait to become your wife Pete. Then all my dreams would have come true."

As I was speaking I was checking to see if Janet had any other injuries she motioned with her eyes to her side under her shirt.

The knife, she had hid it and we now had a weapon.

"Sam," he came over to me and pulled me towards him and kissed me.

I held back the bile that crept up my throat. I went along with the kiss and fought the tears that wanted to fall.

He pulled back and tucked my head under his chin. He continued to rub my back.

"You see I can be a nice guy Sam if you just let me show you. Babe you've made all my dreams come true and now that will be married will never be apart. You're right she will never understand the depth of our love and what we would do to keep it alive. They will never understand the lengths we will go to never be apart from one another. We are destined to be together now and in the afterlife."

I nodded and pulled away.

"I should go freshen up. I look a mess."

I ran my hand through my hair and tried to smile. I was feeling dizzy but didn't want him to know.

"Okay, I'm going to disarm the front door, your veil is in the closet get it and come right back. It shouldn't take you more then 5 minutes Sam don't keep me waiting. You know how impatient I can be."

I walked by Janet and she waited for me to say something.

"Pete what about her, shouldn't she change out of that shirt it has blood on it and we don't want the preacher asking too many questions."

He turned and walked over to us.

"He won't be a problem after the ceremony. But if it will make you feel better bring her something of yours for her to wear some of yours stuff is in the closet and drawers."

I tried to not to react to the fact that he was going to kill the preacher. He said it with no hesitation no thought. He was living in his own world and he had to be stopped.

Janet's eyes widen. I shook my head but it was too late.

"What do you mean by taken care of? You're going to kill him? He's innocent in all of this madness."

Pete shook his head and let out a short laugh.

"You never learn do you? You can't keep that big mouth of yours shut can you? That's your problem you voice your opinion when it's not even asked for. You just don't know when to shut up do you? You should learn from Sam she knows here place, it took her a while but I broke her and now she's the perfect woman. She does as I ask, gives me what I want and never questions my motives and actions. You on the other hand are one of those nagging bitches that don't know when to stop."

He was standing in front of her staring down at her with his hands by his side. I saw him curl his hand into a fist and stepped in front of him and nudged her away.

"Pete, please were about to get married, I don't want you to get upset. This is supposed to be the happiest day of my life."

He turned to me and grabbed my arm, "What are you saying that you're not happy? I've done all of this for you and your not happy? Why do I even try with you? Jesus I can't believe you said that to me. I've only wanted you to be happy and now you're saying your not? Maybe you need to be shown what the opposite of happy is."

Before I could answer he grabbed me and threw me across the room. I hit the wall and the wind was knocked out of me.

Janet called out to me and let Pete have it.

"You bastard! You think you're so tough? You're nothing but a little man that wants to be in control well not with me. You'll never control me and that's why you hate me. You tried to fool them but I saw right through you from the beginning. You can't change your ways, you can try to hide them but eventually they come out. Leave her alone and untie me and I'll show you how tough you really are."

What was Janet doing? Was she out of her mind? She was incensing the maniac. She was saying things to push his buttons. If he found the knife on her he would use it on her. He turned and was about to charge her when I grabbed his arm.

"No! I won't let you hurt her."

He stopped and turned towards me. He pulled away and started to inch closer towards me. For ever step I took one back.

"What did you say? You won't let me hurt her? Who the hell are you to tell me what to do? What makes you think that you can stop me? Ah Sam I thought we had and understanding. It seems you still can't obey me can you? Well I guess I'm just going to have to start from scratch."

I was ready for him when he tried to throw a punch. I deflected it but wasn't as quick enough for the second blow. It landed in my mid section. The pain made me double over and I waited for the final blow before.

I heard Janet scream and was stunned when Pete tumbled on top of me.

I couldn't breathe and he wasn't moving.

I grabbed around him and felt something sticky.

I looked over his shoulder to see that Janet had stabbed him in the back, rushed him and knocked him over.

"Sam are you okay?"

Before I could answer, he pushed off me and spun around to face Janet.

She stepped back but he grabbed her and pulled her down to the floor. He reached for the knife that was still in his back.

Janet's arms were still tied and she kicked to get him off of her.

"I am going to take pleasure in using this knife to slice your neck and finally getting rid of you then I'm going to go downstairs and do the same to that troublesome bitch!"

He was on top of her. I had to do something. I looked and found my solution.

I crawled towards the side table with a lamp on it. I got up and with all my strength smashed it on top of his head.

He fell on top of Janet. She was struggling to get him off.

I pushed him off of her, she had her eyes closed. There was some blood and I thought I was too late. She opened her eyes and let out a small moan.

"Janet? Oh my God Janet! Say something please!"

"Is he…"

I didn't know and shrugged my shoulders. "Come on I don't want to stick around to find out. Where are you hurt?"

She sat up and looked at the blood. "It's not mine I'm not wounded."

I let out a sigh of relief.

"Go get Cassie and I'll see about getting the doors disarmed. Hurry Janet he won't be out long."

She scrambled to get up she knew time was of the essence and went to get Cassie out of the basement. I went to the front door to try and disarm it.

I could see it was being controlled by remote. I went back to Pete and searched his pockets. There was nothing in the first but in the other he had the remote and a gun. I turned off the booby traps then smashed the controls so he couldn't use them again.

I held the gun at him. I had the solution to my problems in my hands.

He had not moved and the wound was still bleeding.

I continued to hold the gun on him and wondered what would happen if I just pulled the trigger. He would be dead and would never harm us again.

But could I do it? Could I kill him with out remorse?

I thought of all the pain he made me endure, the pain he caused Cassie the bruises on Janet's face. The rage in me was making my hands shake.

Just one pull of the trigger in his head and this nightmare would be over.

"Sam?"

"He had a gun; he was going to use it to kill you and Cassie after we got married. This is the same gun he gave me to kill you Janet."

Janet came next to me. "Are the doors disarmed?"

I nodded but never lost sight of Pete.

"Sam come let's go before he wakes up."

"I can make it that he never gets up again Janet. I can punish him everything he has done to all of our family. Janet he kidnapped us, he hurt you and Cassie, he almost broke me…."

"But would it truly make you feel better? I know you better then this Sam; deep down you had to have cared for him one time or another. You wouldn't be able to live with yourself if you did it. Please Sam give me the gun and let's go."

I turned to Janet, to explain why he had to die but stopped when I saw the tears in her eyes. She held Cassie who was also crying and was bleeding from her lip.

"What did he do to Cassie?"

Janet was shaking as she held Cassie close to her. "He hit her. When she tried to come up behind him to help me he hit her. I wanted to kill him for doing that but I was tied up. He hurt my baby and…"

I cried, "I'm so sorry to have dragged both of you into this. But I swear I'll make it right."

Janet grabbed my hand, "No let the authorities do there job Sam lets get out of her now before he wakes up. Please give me the gun and will go."

I lowered the gun. "I won't do anything I promise, there might be other booby traps but I don't think so come on lets get going."

Janet nodded and I went to the door opened it to let us out of this house of horrors.

I was about to grab for the door when Janet screamed no.

I turned and found myself face to face with Pete.

"You lied to me."

I gasped and stepped back from him. Pete turned and tried to grab the remote from his pocket.

I laughed, "Looking for the remote? Look by your feet you might be able to recognize it or what's left of it." He staggered but still came at me. I held up his gun. "Looking for this well you came very close to joining the dead but you will face justice for everything you've done."

"Sam come on let's go!"

"Janet run go through the back now!"

He turned to them, "There's no where to run to I'll find you! Go out that door and face my wrath!"

He was blocking my way.

"Janet get the hell out of here take Cassie and run please!"

He was glaring at me I could see the rage taking over. He wasn't even focused on them any longer as he circled me, "you said you loved me that I was the only man for you."

I had too keep the focus on me. "All lies, everything I said today were all lies, you're sick Pete and you need help. I'm still not going to marry you. I'd rather die then do that."

He swung at me and I dropped to the floor avoiding him from hurting me.

He looked at me in shock. "You want to play then so be it Sam, I'll kill you and then I'll finish them off. You should have loved me! Why couldn't you just love me! Everything you told that bastard O'Neill was true then. I knew you'd screwed him, I bet you were still screwing him when we were together it's the only way women like you gets ahead. I'm going to make you pay for betraying me and our love. I'm going to punish you for being such a whore. "

Janet was coming up behind him I had to do something. He would kill her if I didn't interfere.

"If loving Jack O'Neill makes me a whore then I am. I would have never been with you if I could have Jack! He is nothing like you. You don't even come close to being the man that he is. I was stupid thinking I could replace him with you and what a mistake that was. No one could ever replace him no one can ever come close. You will never understand the love he has for me. He loves me for who I was and what I've become. He never wanted me to give up my dreams or my career. He encouraged me to be the best and he let me go. He never told me not to find a life outside of the mountain. He encouraged it. He loved me that much that he let me go to try and find my happiness. He is a true man. He cherishes those he is close to he does not make demands on ones love and he would never raise a hand at me in anger. I can't even say your name and his in the same sentence. Your not worthy of that honor. You are a sorry excuse for a man. Your ideal of love is twisted. His is pure; I would rather have one day of his love then a life time of yours."

He screamed and lunged at me. We struggled for the gun he was too strong but I would not give up.

"I am going to take pleasure in killing your precious General I'll torture him then I'll kill him. Too bad you won't be there to see him take his last breath."

I saw Janet coming to help.

"No! Please go! Get her to safety! Bring Jack! Janet leave now!"

She was torn and this was all the distraction Pete needed. He grabbed the gun and I head butted him.

His hands were on top of mine even after the head butt. He was cursing as the gun went off.

My eyes widen

I gasped, "Pete?"

He looked down between us as the crimson started to spread on my wedding gown.

I was having trouble breathing. I grabbed onto him. He rolled off me and I reached out to were the blood was oozing out.

He cradles my head on his lap.

"Oh my god Sam! No! I'm sorry please! Oh why do you make me do these things? You should have just done as I said. Now look at this mess. You've ruined your dress, our wedding, everything."

The pain was sharp and I was having trouble breathing.

'Sam!"

I looked over to Janet, "Run go," I whispered.

Pete looked over to her. "This is your entire fault you should have stayed dead and now you will be!" He reached for the gun aimed and was about to shoot when I spotted the knife and with my last remaining strength plunged it into Pete.

Janet and Cassie screamed.

I had stabbed his arm. I could feel myself slowly growing cold. This was not a good sign.

I turned to see he still had the gun and shot at them as they ran out the door.

I whispered, "Pete no please."

He turned and said he would be back that they would not get away from him and left.

I prayed they would make it. Janet deserved the happiness Daniel would give her Cassie was given her mother. My only regret was Jack.

I had been given a glimpse of happiness and now as I started to lose my battle with life I knew I would regret leaving him behind to deal with this. I prayed he would have the strength to survive this. I hear my name It sounded like him but I knew it couldn't be he was far away my mind was playing tricks with me. I was sadden that I would not get to see him one last time. But it was true what I said to Pete that I would have rather have had Jacks love for one day then a lifetime with anyone else.

The darkness is near as I hear the door crash open. I close my eyes knowing it is Pete coming back to finish the job.

I could do no more I've made my peace and wait for my end.