819 820 Moebius l & ll

"The distinction between past, present and future is only a stubbornly persistent illusion" Albert Einstein

"If I could start again

A million miles away...

I would find a way."

Hurt by Trent Resner

Forced to their knees the prisoners, two humans and one Jaffa, were charged with blasphemy and disrespect for the gods. For that there was only one sentence - public execution.

The last sound they heard was "I die free" ringing in their ears. The last sensation was their hands clasped. Across time and space she would always love him and he her. Always.

Daniel was amazed at the "other" SG-1 that arrived in the time ship. What time stream they had come from he couldn't begin to guess. Why they had come was because the death of his friends caused a major alteration that was not good. What they needed to do - that Daniel knew - at least he thought he knew. He still mourned his friends. And as different as they were from his friends they were basically the same.

So they managed to drive away Ra and have him leave the Stargate on Earth. They buried it with two dead Jaffa underneath. Daniel himself engraved the cover stone that sealed the Stargate.

Carter, afraid they'd affect the timeline if they stayed, convinced them that they needed either to live secluded by themselves until death or take the timeship and leave. Where to, was the question of the day. Where could they go where they would not affect the future? Not certain if they could return to their own time, if it still existed, they followed Daniel's suggestion. He had had a lot of time to think about all of this. And after all he was from the time they were hoping to restore.

Teal'c knew he could not remain and asked to be sent to a Goa'uld world - Chulak, where, with his golden tattoo of Apophis, he would blend in. He thought the best time would be around the time of Bra'tac's father. He could begin to influence him of the evilness of the Goa'uld and the pursuit of freedom for all Jaffa.

It was Daniel's idea to bring the time ship to Harry Maybourne's planet. Well it would be his one day. They would arrive at a time after Ares had abandoned it. Daniel would with Sam and Jack's help carve the monuments and engrave them in Ancient script and in Goa'uld, with the prophecies. After all Daniel knew the future.

There they could live out their lives in freedom. They settled in a village many miles from the capitol. Jack built a snug cottage for Sam and himself located by a small stream feeding a small pond. Their children and grandchildren flourished as did Daniel's.

General Jack O'Neill was trying to wrap his head around this latest development. "So you're saying we don't have to go because we already went."

Sam answered brightly and patiently, and not for the first time "Yes."

"But we didn't go." He was beginning to think he had a grasp on it.

"Yes. That's because we don't have to."

"Because we already went?" O'Neill slapped both hands on his face.

Sam gingerly pried his hands off his face.

"Okay. Now this "time ship"" O'Neill couldn't believe he was using these terms "it's back...then?" He waved his index finger to illustrate his point.

"No. It's in the sub basement."

"We brought it back?" Jack asked.

"No. We got it from 'King Arkon'." Sam said. "Don't you remember?"

"Pfft! Maybourne! I was trying to keep that little weasel from a life in prison and now he's 'King Arkon'." And under his breath he muttered "with four wives."

Then he asked "So we brought it back to Maybourne's planet? You'd think I'd remember that."

"I suppose...but not quite." Carter didn't sound certain.

"You suppose?" Jack was hoping at least Sam was certain about this convoluted mess. "So it wasn't 'now' us? But then 'us' that brought it to Harry's world so 'now' us could find it and use it but we don't need to because we did that already?"

"Hmmm" was all Carter said with her bottom lip between her teeth.

"I have a headache." O'Neil groaned while massaging his temples.

Jack had high hopes for this week at his cabin, especially for him and Carter. He tried to be so careful not to put any pressure on her. He hoped she didn't see it as disinterest. He was interested, very, very interested.

He wanted her to be comfortable and relaxed and to enjoy herself after a year, or years of constantly living on the brink of disaster.

Jack drove to Carter's house to pick her up for the drive to the cabin. He found two bags on the porch and loaded them into the bed of the truck. Then he climbed the steps, knocked on the door and went in. He found Sam in the kitchen filling two thermos mugs with fresh hot coffee. There was a cooler filled with perishables and a carton with dry goods.

Jack eyed the food and wondered if she thought they'd starve in the north woods.

"I'm ready." Sam said with a broad smile.

"Sam, I had a long talk with Hammond."

Her face fell.

"No, no, everythings good. Your transfer is finalized as of" he looked at his watch and said "Yesterday."

She looked somewhat relieved "But?"

"Well, he's talking about retiring and…"

"You?"

"Yeah." The word was drawn out and not said with any joy.

"Well that's wonderful - a promotion." She sounded tentative.

"Ya think?" He didn't sound overjoyed at the prospect.

"When."

"He's giving me six months."

"And I'll be under your command again."

He took a ragged breath and said "Yeah." Sounding somewhat defeated he let the implications of the news sink in. "Doesn't have to be a problem for us."

They did have six months to think of something, something permanent he hoped. He picked up the box and cooler and left the house to place them in the truck and covered the bed of the truck with a tarp.

He left her in the kitchen staring at the future.

She thought about it for a moment, grabbed the two coffees, looked around to see if she forgot anything and followed him out. Sam climbed into the truck and handed him one of the coffees.

He asked "Ready?"

She smiled at him and said "Yes Jack, I think I am."

Driving to the cabin was a long trip and Jack's mind wandered as Sam dozed. He remembered when Payen had enlisted him to help refurbish one of the smaller homes damaged in the fire rain. It kind of reminded him of his cabin in Minnesota. He said it was for a young couple and the young man, Dallen, who was working with them blushed.

Payen went on "If the young do not mate and have children, our people will die out."

Payen cast an eye on Jack and asked him how Laira was. And all the while Jack had been thinking how he and Carter could have lived together here if she had stayed. And he sent a prayer to anyone who would listen to him that Carter made it back to the SGC in one piece.

He never mentioned the rest of the villagers coming back through the Stargate. Everyone at that point had given up hope of ever seeing their relatives and neighbors again. Jack still had a shred of hope lurking in the dark depths of his soul. That was before Laira was foisted upon him - well

that was his excuse.

Sam took a turn driving. She enjoyed the power of this beast of a truck but not the mileage. Her thoughts turned to the recent events of her life and the man snoozing beside her.

She had been rushing headlong into disaster. She realized he knew when she had met someone special. They both obviously felt awkward.

When she showed him the ring hoping he would tell her not to marry the cop. But he said people usually wore those on their fingers. She took it as him assenting to the engagement. She was confused - was that what he really wanted?

Then she found out he was seeing someone. It hurt and she felt like a fool standing there. It was so embarrassing and everything seemed so hopeless.

Then her father died. Sam realized she was speeding and slowed enough to just keep up with traffic. It took her father's dying words to knock some sense into them - to see what was directly in front of them - they had loved one another for years. And the realization that life was short. And if they were smart they could create an opportunity.

Jack put the radio on and Sheryl Crow was singing "Strong Enough". When he was young on his way out of boot and on his way to Viet Nam he thought he was invincible - strong enough. He smiled to think of that naive cocky boy about to get his ass kicked. Experience taught him he was just human.

He kept himself physically strong, in shape, battle ready for his chosen profession. He saw himself as a warrior.

He tried to be mentally strong. That had been more of a struggle at times. Experience was a bitch.

Most physical pain he overcame with physio and time.

He married Sara, sure he was strong enough to make a go of it with the woman he loved.

The pain of abandonment and imprisonment and torture took a toll. The loss of his boy and the dissolution of his marriage nearly eviscerated him. But again time and work and friends helped put him back together.

One particular woman was the salve to his battered soul. Oh, he tried others but nothing had the depth or the duration of his love for the woman sitting beside him. And now they had the chance to see if they could not only love one another from afar but if they could live together.

The moon has set, and the Pleiades; it is midnight, and time is passing; and I lie alone.

Sappho

They had decided to drive straight through. This was because stopping at a motel they'd have to answer the question of one room or two. It was too soon for that.

When, after dinner on the road, they finally arrived late and exhausted from the ride, Jack showed a groggy Sam to the bathroom and a bed and wished her a good night. He took the master. Even that caused him consternation, wondering if he should have given her the larger room.

He lay alone in the queen sized bed, tired yet unable to sleep. So after an hour or two of tossing and turning he got up, pulled on jeans and walked out to the dock. A full moon was just setting, allowing the stars to show their true brilliance. The Milky Way in all it's glory was arrayed across the sky. Near the bright Aldebaran, the star clusters of the Pleiades and the Hyades were clearly visible. He heard the squeak of the screen door and heard her footsteps.

She stood close to him, grateful for his warmth on this clear cool night.

"It's magical" she said looking at the night sky and again at it reflected in the still pond.

His reticence at first was more a sign of nervousness than lack of desire

She leaned even closer. He was aware of her warmth, her body - so close, so close. He turned his head to study her face looking for acceptance and saw desire. Turning his face closer he nuzzled her cheek, so soft, so tempting. He left the slightest kiss there. She reached her hand to touch his jaw encouraging him. He left the next kiss on the edge of her mouth. She felt a chilly spread throughout her body.

"Cold?" he asked.

She murmured "No" as she placed a kiss on the side of his mouth. He turned his body toward her, sliding a hand around her waist. Her fingers eager to touch him, curious finger, seeking to explore and desirous to give pleasure, drawing the beloved closer.

His lips found hers, the pressure soft and gentle, exploring, enjoying, encouraging. Sam had feared she had waited too long, denying this possibility between them for far too long. Finally she permitted herself to feel and to respond. At first they traded kisses sweet and innocent, then they got serious. The brilliant sky, the myriad of stars were a mere backdrop to their gentle embraces and the tidal forces of desire. Nuzzling her neck he inhaled trying to get his fill of her. She had sought his warmth and was overwhelmed with love.

He started to lift her up but she stopped him. He was afraid he had overstepped but she took his hand and led him to the cabin door. They stopped there to kiss some more.

She pulled a milimeter away from his lips and said "I didn't want you to hurt your back, I have plans."

He laughed at his cheeky Carter. They went inside and she asked him to lock the door.

"We're in the middle of nowhere." He said.

She tilted her head and gave him a knowing look. He did have a track record for strange and unwanted guests. He threw the bolt.

She led him through the house to his bedroom. He tugged on her hand and stopped her.

"Sam"

"Yes"

"I love you."

"I know. I love you, too" she said and kissed him.

Not so very early in the morning after an amazing trifecta he gave his bedmate a kiss, got up and searched for something to put on so he could put on a pot of coffee and rustle up some breakfast. They had had a busy night and he was starving. Pointing to the ensuite he said by way of apology "It's the size of a shoebox. And by the way Ba'al and Thor fixed my back."

"I'll be sure to write them a thank you note." She said with a huge grin. And poking her head out of the bathroom door she said "I have bigger shoe boxes."

Sitting on the couch after dinner enjoying the warmth of the fire Jack thought of the others who had enjoyed this very same thing. He remembered when he was a teenager his grandfather, looking with love at Jack's grandmother, gathered her in his arms. They were both well into their 70's. The look astonished him at the time and the remembrance gave him hope - the old man loved the old woman, a love beyond appearance, beyond time. He was fearful of what the ravages of time and war had done to his body and his mind. He was feeling every bit his age. He wondered what went through Carter's mind when she looked at him.

He had been so alone, even with Kerry beside him. Finally he was feeling at peace, no longer alone, Sam nestled in his arms, her back to his chest, his arms around her.

"I'm so comfortable, am I squashing you?"

"Never felt better" Jack responded.

Later that night he lay in bed with Sam snuggled up close, he couldn't help but wonder about the other 'them' - that sounded stupid. The other version of themselves - that didn't sound any better. He had heard about 'others' from Daniel and had even kissed another 'Sam'. It wasn't the same as his Sam. So he'd let it go. Whatever had happened to 'them' didn't matter, as Teal'c would point out. He had now. And now was pretty damn good.