Strings
Threads are made into strings, for every fibre there is a story.
A military funeral, that's what it was. She had been to several in her life, but none as significant and as freeing as Jacob Carter's. Her brother showed up with his wife, and two children. A sea of blue and black filed the compound of the aircraft hanger. It was decided that Jacob deserved more than a gate room funeral.
In fact, he deserved two.
They had transported his body through the gate to the Tok'ra and select members of the SGC (including General Hammond) followed and laid Jacob Carter and Selmak to rest.
She didn't flinch when he took her hand in his own, she accepted the strength and warmth that was given to her. She didn't blink twice when she felt his hand touch the small of her back leading her through the gate.
She said nothing when he drove her home, walked with her into her house and when she turned around and buried her face into his neck and his arms circled her body, she let out a few hiccuped breaths as her tears left her eyes.
He didn't say anything, just held her in the hallway. She pulled away and gave him a soft smile, as she wiped the remaining tears from her cheeks.
"Can I get you a drink?" She asked as the two moves towards her kitchen. She wasn't really sure what she had, but for some reason she knew he'd take whatever she had.
"Yeah. I'll take whatever you got," he replied. She felt him in her space, it wasn't awkward, it wasn't unwanted. It felt right, exactly what she needed and wanted.
They sat in silence on her couch. Water on the coffee table, she didn't need to hear anything, just be with him.
"I broke off the engagement," she finally said as the golden hues of the sunset filled the living room. "Ended it with Pete."
"I put in for a transfer," he replied, equally as soft. "Retiring from the SGC."
"Okay," Sam nodded, she felt the breath she was holding release as her body moved to lean into his side. His arm went around her shoulders, as her head settled under his chin, and her arms rested over his torso.
"Okay," he repeated back.
They didn't move, didn't say anything, just remained in each other's arms. As the sun set and the room filled with moonlight, Sam knew that after all this time it was going to be okay.
She felt at peace.
By the time the sun re-entered the room Sam took a deep breath and opened her eyes. She didn't know when or how but they had moved to lay on the couch. He snored.
She knew he snored. They'd slept beside each other off-world more times than she could count.
But this was a different kind of snore. Her head was on his lap, he was angled, his feet and legs on the coffee table, one arm held her to him, the other by her head. Her body felt kinked but she didn't want to move.
She felt him twitch awake and groan. His arm that was near her head moved away and his other arm that draped over her torso moved away.
"Mornin'," he mumbled as Sam moved to sit up. They were still in their dress blues, which now were the most wrinkled they ever were.
"Good morning," Sam smiled as she sat up and looked at him.
"Next time I spend the night, can we not be on the couch?" He smiled, almost jokingly.
"I was thinking the same thing," she smiled with a soft laugh, before leaning over and placing a kiss on his cheek.
And then there was fishing. His last final day officially on the base before the transition started, and her chest was all a flutter.
He had given the go ahead for Daniel to go to Atlantis, and her transfer. If they weren't connected to the SGC, he not in anyway her superior in line of work then there was no breaking rules. They could be together. It needed to be kept quiet, only those who really mattered needed to know.
Daniel and Teal'c had jokingly handed each other bills when they revealed that they were seeing each other at the cabin. She revelled in holding his hand, and feeling his soft touch as they cooked, or walked around the house.
He had sold his house, and she had moved Cassie out west, UCLA Berkeley for school. Then went back to the SGC, it felt like home. As much as she loved working in Area 51 it wasn't the same.
Shutting the door to her house she felt his presence almost immediately. If no one knew he had partially moved in, they wouldn't have noticed the change in her house. She noticed.
Always a case of Heineken in her fridge, his shaving cream and razor on the bathroom counter. A clean and pressed dress uniform hung beside hers in the closet. A polished pair of dress shoes laid comfortably amongst her dress heals. A few small trinkets added to the house, his chessboard sitting beside a chair. Her favourite addition was the only photo of the two together, Teal'c had taken it at the cabin. He was at the BBQ, and she was standing beside him, closer than she would if they were friends. He has said something and she smiled and laughed as Teal'c captured the moment.
Teal'c has presented her with the photo in a frame and it had found its home in the middle of the bookshelf, beside the leafy plant she had managed to keep alive for the past few years.
"Samantha," he greeted as she moved to sit down at the chess board, leaning in and placing a kiss on his lips.
"Jack," she smiled sitting down. "I thought you were back in DC."
"Missed you," he shrugged, she had been off world and finally made her way back to the house.
"I missed you too," she replied. Never once with Pete, or any of her previous boyfriends had she felt so incredibly loved, wanted, comfortable. Nothing felt perfect until this.
It wasn't as if they hadn't seen each other. She'd go to Washington as often as she could. And he would make his way to Colorado when he could get away.
No one knew about them. She needed it to be quiet. She knew this was what she needed to be happy, her unattainable was attained, but she didn't want it to disappear.
They ordered in Chinese food, talked about work, watched a movie, played some chess and made love. He slept on his stomach, and was almost impossible to wake in the morning. But he'd make her coffee and bring it and toast to bed and they'd talk about whatever they felt like. Sometimes she's talk about her research, others about his work, or what was going on with the IOA. They had put a tv in the bedroom, and sometimes they'd watch the Simpsons or Law and Order Special Victims Unit (her guilty pleasure).
They'd go back to work as if their life together wasn't existent. She'd battle the Ori and he'd advocate for everyone and Atlantis.
But today she was going to lay in bed, she was going to read her book, as he sat in bed, with the Simpsons on, and working on a crossword. He had brought her coffee and stirred in some cinnamon, and she was in one of his airforce t-shirts.
"I have to go back to DC today," he said placing his mug on the end table.
"Okay," she was used to his visits in town being quicker than hers to DC.
"You know if I could stay longer," he started waving his hand slightly.
"I know," Sam closed her book, placed it beside her and moved to cuddle into his side. She felt his arm go around her as she slipped an arm around his torso. "I get it."
"I know."
And their stolen weekends went on for a year. A year of getting a chance to sneak away to see each other, her showing up in DC with an overnight bag and it never leaving. They never left his apartment, too easy to be seen. He'd show up randomly in her house, sometimes leaving her a cryptic message that he was there.
"Heading home?" Daniel asked as the two stepped into the empty elevator.
"Yeah," she nodded. "Jack's home so," she trailed off.
"I figured," Daniel chuckled slightly. "You you two wanna grab supper?"
"We'd love to, he'll love to be able to see you and Teal'c." It was true, when the four were able to get together it always felt like they had never been separated.
They knew the Ori were coming. Vala had told them so, but the plan needed to be worked out. It's why Jack was in town.
She called him once they got up to the surface. Daniel paged Teal'c, and she fiddled with her keys as she talked.
They had met at Famous Dave's, one of their favourite BBQ places. Jack would have still beat the three there, and had ordered beer for the table.
"So tell me," he held his beer to his lips.
"I don't remember anything," Daniel shrugged. "She had complete control of my body."
"Creepy," Jack mumbled. The four ate and said nothing when they saw Jack's arm drape over the back of Sam's chair, or when her hand moved to rest on his thigh.
"You guys want to come back to our place?" Sam asked, as Jack finished signing the dinner bill.
"Oh," Daniel stumbled. "No, I think uh, I think I'm gonna head back to base. I want to do some reading..."
"Daniel, there isn't a ton we can do until morning," Sam tried to comfort her friend.
"I know, but something you said that Vala said," he explained absently.
"We'll debrief at 0900," Jack said as the four stood, and his fingers interlaced with Sam's. "You guys good to go head back to the base, or do you need a ride?"
"We're good," Daniel waved his friend off. "You two go home, Teal'c and I will drive back to the base."
Whatever was going to happen, it was going to happen fast, and Sam knew that tonight and whatever time she had with Jack may well be the last for a while. It was getting increasingly harder to escape for weekends. There was a part of her that regretted rejoining SG-1, she liked being able to leave on Friday nights and spent until Sunday night with Jack. She missed being able to drop everything when Cassie needed her. Her job gave her purpose, she was smart, quick, and driven.
And so the battle was being waged. She had kissed him goodbye as they stood in her, or was it their house? She knew she wasn't going home tonight, and knew he would be leaving, and didn't know when she'd be back.
"Come on, I'll drive you in," he offered pushing her out of the door.
She was right, she never came home that night. Or the next. She didn't have time to think about when she was going to see him again, there was more important things to focus on.
Even when they got back to Earth she didn't go home. She couldn't yet, there was too much to do, and one of them was Vala.
"Hey," she knocked on the doorframe of Vala's open door.
"Colonel Carter," Vala smiled softly in welcome. She was sitting on the edge of the bed, and looked as if she was broken, empty, and lost.
"Mind if I join you?" She asked moving into the room. Not waiting for a response she moved to sit beside the woman. "I uh," she didn't really know what to say. "I just wanted to come and say, that if you need anything, to talk, or" she paused and waved her hand in the air slightly. "I'm here."
"Thank you."
Sam reached out and touched the woman's hand. She couldn't imagine how Vala was feeling, but what she did know is that she needed to be there. Jack could wait.
"I mean it Vala," she reiterated. "Anything I can do." Vala looked at Sam and smiled, her eyes softening, and her shoulders dropping slightly.
"Thank you, truly." Sam sat next to Vala for a while longer, she didn't really know what to say other than listen.
By the time she did get a chance to call Jack, she left a message and crawled into her bed in the base. As much as she would loved to fall asleep beside him, listening to his snores. She knew he would call when he could.
Phone calls on base were all monitored. And her cellphone was never too reliable this far below ground. She has gotten used to leaving bare bone messages, even after a year it wasn't known they were together, and she liked it that way. No one gave her looks, no one asked questions.
"Really, you were in Malibu?" Sam asked as the two stood in her bathroom brushing their teeth. They hadn't seen each other in a few months, and she was really surprised when he walked onto the base earlier that day.
"Recruiting," Jack replied before he spit out the remainder toothpaste from his mouth. "As you said, I'm a very important Air Force General with enormous responsibilities," tossing her off remark back at her. Sam opened her mouth to reply instead she smacked him playfully with the towel.
They hadn't had a lot of time together recently. Her plans to travel to Washington always got cancelled, or she was stuck off world as he had time in Colorado. But she had a full 2 days off, and he wasn't due back in Washington for another 3. Which meant she was going to enjoy every single moment she could.
"So Vala," he asked as the two moved towards the bedroom shutting lights off.
"She's really not bad at all," Sam replied with a soft smile. "She really means well, and I think she's really starting to settle in."
"Daniel seems," he started as Sam laughed.
"Oh you don't even know," she started. "Honestly you ask me," pulling down the covers to the bed, "he likes her. A lot. He says she drives him crazy, and he's annoyed by her at times. But she gets him."
"Huh," Jack fluffed his pillow as she laid down and slid to his side.
"He likes her a lot," Sam pulled the duvet to bunch it slightly under her arm.
"You know, talking about Daniel while laying in bed with you isn't what I call sexy," Sam laughed at his remark and buried her head into his chest.
Morning came and she sat happily drinking her coffee, and reading through a math proof she was sent. He had the Simpsons on and was working on his weekly crossword.
"Five letter word for disappointment, has a k in it," Jack elbowed Sam who looked over.
"Baulk, B-a-u-l-k," she offered. Nodding Jack wrote it out, as she closed the folder. "So, what do you want to do today?" She looked at him with a smile, as the house phone rang.
"Answer it," Jack offered as he turned down the TV even more.
"Hello," she winked at Jack as she answered the phone. "Yes, this is Samantha Carter," Jack turned his body as he watched Sam's face change. "Yes, I just gave my first read through the proof," she added pointing to the folder that now rested on the coffee table. "No, no I agree, it holds great potential. I would need to see the other…" at that moment her cell phone rang. "Can you hold on a moment?"
"What's going on?" Jack asked as Sam shrugged.
"Carter. Bill….you just got a call too…. the math proof, no I agree…. McKay's matter bridge….Bill can you hold on a second." She placed her hand over the cell phone, and pressing the button on her house phone, picking up the call again. "Thank you for holding. I will have to call you back." Hanging up the phone she turned back to her cell. "Bill? I'm coming in. Can you make sure I have every bit of research from that data stream? Also get Dr Campbell and her team. Thanks Bill. See you soon."
"So, not the zoo?" Jack asked as Sam looked at him.
"I got this math proof from a colleague of mine, Dr. Peel, he said it was intriguing. He also sent it to Bill Lee, and a few other colleagues of ours. The thing is, Bill put pieces together. This is the math proof we need to mark the inter-dimensional bridge McKay has been working on in Atlantis." Jack stared at her, like he always did when she spoke of things he didn't really understand. "Okay, so," she moved to face him. "McKay has been doing research with zero point energy, and there is something called Project Arcturus, now it was disastrous, we all know that. He blew up a solar system, but," Sam continued as she picked up the folder. "This math proof, this is what we need. I just read it, haven't really had a chance to really dig, but the phone calls, one was Bill, the other, was someone from Area 51."
"Samantha," Jack held up his hand. "Go."
"I'm sorry, this is ground breaking," she gave him a look of sorry. "I promise we'll make more time together, but this."
"Is big, I get it Carter."
"Thank you," she leaned over and placed a kiss on his lips. "I'll be here for supper, I promise." Giving him another kiss she said her goodbye as she made her way to the base.
She had kept her promise and had made her way home that night, and was on a plane the next morning on her way to Vancouver, and he went to Washington. With a promise to see him as soon as she could make her way out East, with a secretive kiss goodbye before he made his way to the cockpit of the plane, and she made her way to the military jet waiting for her.
She was able to get out of Colorado, hopping onto a commercial plane. He didn't know she was coming, and was hoping to surprise him. If she showed up to the airport in full dress, she was usually able to board a flight, today she lucky and slipped in the cockpit. It paid to be a pilot.
Checking her watch as she approached his townhouse and pulling out the key, letting herself in. The house was empty, it was only 5pm, she had hoped he'd be home soon. The quiet of his house was refreshing, the house wasn't as much Jack as his old house had been, in fact, this one was a little more modern. Placing her briefcase and purse in the hall closet she moved to the kitchen. Spotless. The maid must have come earlier in the day. Opening the fridge she chuckled, milk, beer, mustard and a package of deli-ham. Placing the grocery bags she had picked up on the way, because she knew Jack, she started emptying the contents. She had made supper, waited, and ate, cleaned up and ended up leaving him a wrapped plate in the fridge.
By the time he arrived home she was sleeping. It wasn't until she felt his hand sweep through her hair that she blinked her eyes open.
"Hey," she mumbled as Jack pulled away and started removing his tie.
"I didn't know you were coming," he said peeling off the uniform. "I was in a meeting."
"Yeah, I wanted it to be a surprise." She sat up in bed, letting his duvet fall to her waist. She had pulled on one of his t-shirts, despite having a spare uniform in his closet, and a drawer she had never really packed when she decided to come. She watched him undress as Jack turned to his dressed, reaching to grab a shirt for himself.
"That's my shirt," he teased. Sam grinned before she reached for the hem and pulled it over her head, tossing it to him. Jack cocked his eyebrow and caught the shirt before dropping it to the ground.
Stretching as the morning sun fell over the room, she looked around for the clock, which was on the other side of the bed. Leaning over him to look at it, it was flashing 12:00. She felt his hand splay over her back, as she reached for his watch. "Wow."
"What?" Jack mumbled as he rolled her over.
"It's 0900," Sam announced as she was able to grab her cellphone just as he flipped her on her back. The battery was dead when she arrived and had plugged it in before she went to bed. She laughed as he kissed her neck, just as her facial expression changed. "I have 27 messages," she pushed him off her, as he looked at her. "All from Daniel and the SGC… what the hell happened?"
Calling Daniel's cell she looked at Jack, worry all over her face. "Daniel, it's Sam… yeah, I'm in Washington, I just got all your messages… what? When?….I'm on my way." Shutting her phone she looked at Jack. "It's Vala, she's been kidnapped. I have to go, they think it's the Trust."
"I'll get you a co-pilot," he said grabbing his cell phone from the pocket of his uniform jacket. Sam scrambled to get dressed. She never expected a full weekend off and a quick trip to Washington would end up with her tracking Vala down the best she could. For three weeks she never went home, the entire time she remained on base.
She watched her friend work harder than he did with Sha're, and it made her smile. Who would have guessed that she, out of all the women they had ever come across, would be the one that captured Daniel's heart - not like he would have admitted it. She didn't blame him really, she did the same for years.
Then, she was hit by an Ori weapon. The entire time she laid there, she wanted no one else by Jack by her side. It wasn't like she didn't trust Cameron, but he wasn't Jack, he wasn't the man she loved, who had watched her six for more missions than she could count. He was always there to take her bullet, as it were.
Teal'c had been the one to call him once they entered the gate back to earth, as she was wheeled into surgery. Jack was stuck in DC, there was no way he could get back right away.
"Jack," Sam groaned as she opened her eyes to see Teal'c. "Hi."
"ColonelCarter," Teal'c reached and took her hand. "How are you feeling?"
Groaning again, she opened her mouth several times. "Sore," she breathed.
"I have telephoned O'Neill, he will be here when he is able to, he said tomorrow at the latest," Teal'c smiled softly, making sure to continue to hold her hand.
"Teal'c…" she looked at him and closed her eyes. "Thank you."
"Sleep, I will be here when you awaken," closing her eyes Sam drifted off again. Her whole body hurt. She didn't know what time it was by the time she woke up next, but Teal'c was still there, sitting stoically. She was still in the private room when she woke up to see Jack.
"Hey you," he smiled softly, running his hand over her forehead. "What have I taught you about getting yourself shot?" He joked lightly, the beeping of machines was all around.
"Jack," she whispered softly.
"T called, you know he didn't even bother to say hello."
"Don't make me laugh," Sam chuckled as she groaned in pain. "I'm glad you're here."
"Where else would I be?" He asked softly, Sam held his hand.
"Does anyone?" She started as he shook his head.
"Nope," he shook his head. "T is standing guard, you're not allowed visitors. I'm here under the guise of debriefing this whole mess," he explained squeezed her hand. "They're going to move you to the infirmary after a few more days, make sure you're out of the woods."
"I thought I was going to die," she whispered. "I thought I wouldn't get a chance to say I love you."
"I love you too, Samantha" he whispered squeezing her hand. Sam smiled and closed her eyes. It took a few days before she was released to the infirmary, and a few more days after that before modified duty, Jack had gone back Washington, to deal with the IOA. Daniel was still missing, and she wasn't yet cleared for off-world travel. Teal'c had come and visited multiple times a day, Vala came every meal time, Cameron rolled in as often as he could. Her side was still sore, and she was going to have one hell of a scar. Jack had teased that he dug chicks with scars. She had laughed and had accepted the kiss to her forehead as goodbye in the elevator before he left for Atlantis.
In the year or so they'd been together, she's wasn't sure either of them had said I love you to each other. She was sure this entire time that he loved her, and she knew she loved him, but they had never said it to each other. Never out loud.
Then she was married to Rodney McKay, well not really married, but it was strange. Two long weeks she was stuck. She missed her friends, and missed Jack. When she was finally able to return she missed more than she thought. She remembered walking into the house, feeling at peace, and had just sat down on the couch with a bowl of macaroni and cheese with a book when she heard the door unlock. Her heart skipped a beat as she put down the bowl and turned around, smiling.
"Hey," he nodded dropping his bag, he moved into the living room, as she reached for him. "So I hear you had an adventure."
"You could say that," Sam laughed as she let him go. "Did you get the report?"
"In my bag," he was holding her hand in his own, and she felt comforted. "Coles Notes version?"
"I was married to Rodney McKay," she replied as his face changed.
"Should have shot him when I had the chance," Sam laughed as she let go of his hand and the two made their way to the couch. She settled into his side, leaving the bowl of macaroni on the coffee table beside her book.
It wasn't long before they were both walking the halls of the Odyssey. Daniel in the holding room. They were standing a little too close, but only if you really watched you'd notice. "What do you think?"
"It's Daniel, when has he never been right?" She asked, turning to stop and looking at him.
"I know," Jack let out a sigh as he leaned against the bulkhead. She watched him as he stood and thought. She shifted her weight from foot to foot, as his head cocked to the side. "What do you think?"
"Me?"
"Yeah, you, what would you do?"
Sam chewed on her lower lip. "It's Daniel."
"I'm taking Vala out shopping," Sam held her cellphone to her ear as she stepped out of her car at the base. "I'll call you later tonight? I love you too. Bye." Closing her phone she walked into the base, placing her phone in her purse. Vala was standing at the doors, wearing her usual fatigues.
"It was these or my other outfits, but Daniel said it it wasn't appropriate," she shrugged as Sam nodded.
"He's right," she chuckled. "I'm glad you agreed to come out with me today. I don't normally get to have girl time with anyone."
"Too much testosterone on base," Vala grinned.
"You're not wrong," Sam chuckled. It was true, despite being a workaholic she didn't have a lot of female friends, in fact Vala had to be her only real female friend since Janet had died. There was never a lot of time to go out and meet new people who wouldn't understand her life was secrets and work.
She has come to terms with, and resolved to her best friends being members of the SGC. She couldn't imagine life without her boys to turn to.
"Your world is full of so much," Vala said almost in awe as they walked out of the Starbucks in Chapel Hills Mall. Sam, the ever planner, had a plan to make sure Vala got to feel more like a member of earth than not.
"Some would say a little too much," she chuckled. "So I say we do a little shopping, find you something other than fatigues to wear!"
Sam didn't realize how much she missed this type of friendship. She was happy in her personal life, Jack was everything she ever wanted, and needed. Vala made her laugh, and the woman's infectious nature of wonder was endearing.
"So Samantha," Vala asked leaning her chin on her crossed arms over a salad plate, she eyed the woman.
"Yes?"
"Love life?" Vala grinned as Sam's eyes grew wide.
"Oh. Uh. It's complicated," Sam mumbled. "The job makes it hard to find someone who understands."
"But you've..."
"I was engaged. It didn't work out," she shrugged. Vala surveyed her friend. "And no, it wasn't anyone at the SGC."
"Not even Daniel?"
"Daniel is like a brother to me," Sam placed her fork on her plate. "So is Teal'c. I love them both, but I'll never see them as anything but."
Vala and Sam watched each other for a brief second before Sam smiled. "Pedicures after lunch?"
"Oh please!"
The girls outings ended up becoming a regular occurrence. Not only did it give Vala an excuse to get off the base, it forced her off the base when Jack wasn't in town, or she couldn't make it to Washington.
She knew Teal'c knew more about them than he was allowed to let on. He could have told each of them what their lives were liked how they handled themselves. The moment he came back it changed the timeline.
She saw his looks at the group as their lives changed slowly. She knew she would have cried herself to sleep more than once on the ship. And felt her heart leap out of her chest when they got back to Earth and Jack was in their house. She hugged him and refused to let go, as she held onto what she had.
"Is this General O'Neill?" Vala asked wandering around Sam's living room and picking up the photo on the bookshelf.
Sam stopped dead in her tracks and spun, "Yes, Teal'c took it at his cabin," she said evenly, trying not to reveal anything in her voice. Something she was getting quite good at. "There's one of all of us..." she moved to the other bookshelf and handed Vala the frame with the photo. "Jack had bought Teal'c a camera that year. He was quite the shutterbug for a while."
Relived when Vala put the frame of her and Jack down, and focused on the other photo. Despite their friendship she hasn't yet told Vala of her and Jack. Teal'c and Daniel knew, but no one else, including Cameron.
His presence wasn't so prominent in the living room, but it was unmistakable that they were involved if you stepped into the bedroom.
"So a date with Daniel?" Sam grinned as she sat on the couch, bringing her knees into her chest.
They had talked a few times about Daniel, and Sam has talked a few times with Daniel about Vala. She was very surprised when he had taken the leap and asked her to dinner.
"I'm being transferred," Sam sat on her bed, holding the phone to her ear.
"I know," he replied. "I approved it."
"Why?"
"You're the best option Samantha," she could hear the pain in his voice. She took a deep breath in, and wished she could be talking to him face to face. "You're next in line for the SGC, you need command experience."
"I'll miss you."
"We made it this far," he trailed off as she smiled.
"Yeah, we have."
Packing for Atlantis was the worst of it. He had gotten away and helped her pack away her life. She wasn't sure how long she'd be gone. She had called Cassie and kissed her head. She held Vala's hand and hugged Daniel.
Taking command was something she never thought she'd have the chance to do. It was different than her life for the past eleven years.
She had unpacked her photos, placing her favourite one of Jack on her beside table. Placed Cassie in her office. She was going to make the best of Atlantis, being away from him. It really was her first real big command. He was right, she needed it if she was to take over the SGC when General Landry retired.
"No!" Sam looked at the pair in front of her in shock. "You're putting me on," she laughed slightly as Daniel shook his head. "Oh my god!" She reached for Daniel and brought him into a hug. "Congratulations!"
"Thank you," Daniel smiled accepting the hug, as he let Sam go and she leaned to bring Vala into her arms.
"Did you know?" Sam looked at Teal'c who bowed his head. "I just saw you a few months ago!"
"It was not my news to share," Teal'c replied, his eyes glittering.
"And I just talked to you," she turned to Cameron. "Did you know?"
"Of course I did" Cameron teased, as Sam's jaw dropped as she looked at Vala.
"I can't believe it," she looked at Vala, who was just starting to show. "Am I the last to know!"
"Daniel and I wanted to keep this to ourselves for a little bit," Vala explained, as she looked at her friend. "But, I'm so happy you know!"
"I'm so excited," she beamed at her friends. Of course she and Vala had talked about her feelings for Daniel, and she and Daniel had talked about his feelings for Vala. But she never expected the pair to find themselves parents to be so early in their relationship. She had just been relieved of her command of Atlantis, and although that was a sting, she knew it was for the better. She got to be Auntie Sam to Daniel and Vala's unborn baby.
He was waiting at the house when she walked in for the first time in months. Dropping her bag, she looked at him before she ran into his welcoming arms. "I miss you so much."
"Me too," Jack whispered as he held Sam to him. They stood like that for who knows how long.
"Vala's pregnant."
"I know, Daniel called when he first found out," he chuckled.
"So you knew before me too? I can't believe it." Sam moved to sit on the couch. "It feels so good to be home." Jack smiled as he kissed the top of her head, squeezing her shoulder.
The months went by, and the pair were able to see each other almost every weekend. Sam had never felt happier. She had helped Vala officially move off base into a house with Daniel. His one bedroom apartment was not big enough to fit the new baby, and all his stuff.
"How long have you and Jack been together now?" Vala asked as she balanced a bowl of popcorn on her belly looking at Sam, who shot her friend a look. Daniel was off in Atlantis, which meant the very pregnant Vala had been hanging around Sam far more than normal.
"Is it that obvious?" She asked seriously.
"Initially, no," Vala started popping popcorn into her mouth. "But General O'Neill didn't visit the base as often as he did before you went to Atlantis. And you always have this little silly look on your face when he's around. Stand a little too close. Now me and Daniel can't be the only couple in the SGC."
Sam chuckled and shook her head. "We've been together for a fair bit. But it's complicated. He's still my superior."
"I don't see that as a problem," Vala grinned. Sam laughed, Daniel had said something similar to her years ago, when he first noticed the growing spark between his friends.
Life had gotten back to how normal it could be as a member of the SGC. She felt happiest when she and Jack were together. "That looks good on you," Jack announced as he walked into the infirmary, where Sam was cradling the newborn baby. Vala was sitting up, Daniel sitting on her bed as they watched Sam meet her niece for the first time.
"Hey," Sam grinned.
"Jack," Daniel smiled as he nodded. "Meet your niece."
"It's a girl?" Jack moved behind Sam and looked over her shoulder at the baby. The baby's head was covered in black fuzz, and her face was calm and content.
"Yeah," Daniel chuckled.
"She's pretty," Jack remarked. "What's her name?"
"Elladae," Vala responded as Sam moved to hand the baby to Jack, who took the baby and cradled her.
"Elladae Claire Jackson." Daniel added, pride evident in his voice. Sam felt her heart melt at the sight of Jack holding a baby. She felt a prang of jealousy that Vala and Daniel got to have what she wanted the most: a family. Daniel and Vala didn't have to hide their relationship, they could have a baby and not have anyone look at them like they did something wrong.
"I could quit," Sam said that night as she pulled her knees to her chest looking at Jack.
"Samantha," he started. "Your career, it matters."
"But what if it's you that I want?" She asked softly. Jack let out a breath as he watched Sam, her eyes were pleading.
General Hammond had died, and her heart fell. She cried in his arms, stood a little too close to him at the funeral. Her grief mattered. No one said anything when he guided her out by the small of her back - former teammates had connections no one else could understand.
The night before she was set to take command of the George Hammond, he walked into the house and placed a piece of paper on the counter. She looked at him, before her eyes fell on the paper. He had retired. His notice was in.
She had kissed him goodbye standing in the gate room, she had hugged Teal'c and Cameron. Held Daniel and Vala and kissed Elladae's head. She passed the baby back to her parents before moving into Jack's embrace again, promising she'd be home soon.
Her tour lasted two years. The longest two years of her life. She loved her job, but she knew that there was something better. Something she wanted more. He never really left her, they had stolen moments as often as they could. He was at their house far more than she was, and the few times she was off the ship and stepped foot through the front door, he was always waiting. They'd spend their leave together, visit with Daniel, Vala and Elladae, and she was always in awe at how much the little girl had grown between visits. From the tiny human she could cradle in her arm, to the walking and talking toddler. Daniel's curiosity and Vala's tenacity rolled into a little girl who had everyone wrapped around her finger. Then she would go back to the George Hammond, a picture or two to add to her quarters.
It wasn't the same as being a part of the SGC
She didn't tell anyone of her arrival home, she needed to be with Jack first. She made it back to the SGC made sure it was in the evening, so everyone she knew would try and stop her would be gone. She moved at almost record speed through the SGC and found herself standing outside the door to the house. She didn't think she was as nervous as she was, but she unlocked the door and moved in the house. She heard the TV was on, he was watching hockey.
"Hey," she called as Jack poked his head from around the kitchen.
"Hey, what are you doing home?"
"I needed to see you," she replied reaching to bring him into her arms for a hug. "I'm pregnant."
She hadn't told anyone, not even her CMO on board. She had a feeling for a few weeks, her body felt off, and when she confirmed the pregnancy herself she knew she had to get back.
"You're pregnant?" Jack asked as he pulled back, her smile assuring him.
They had told Teal'c, Daniel and Vala first. Then Cameron. General Landry beamed and brought her into a hug. Cassie had squealed in delight that she was getting a cousin, and vowed to make the trek home as soon as she could.
Her transfer back to the base happened almost immediately, and she was officially taken off active field duty. Jack made sure of it.
Her promotion came next, before the baby arrived. Brigadier General Carter, with the position of Head of the SGC after her maternity leave.
They had spent hours talking names, Jack joking if their baby was a boy that they should name him Carter O'Neill. As the weeks went by and her belly rounded, her heart had settled into being home with Jack. They converted the spare room into the nursery, packed up books and notebooks and placed them in the attic. She had read all the books she could on pregnancy and raising a baby, Jack shrugged and said he'd wing it.
They found daycare and visited her brother in San Diego. They went to his cabin one last time before their couple became a threesome.
Elladae turned three the day Sam went into labor. He held her hand through the hours of labour, finally pushing out her daughter one minute to midnight.
"We should give her a name," Sam mumbled as she slowly fed the newborn, knowing their friends were on their way for the first visiting hours.
They had been alone all night and morning, and were content being the three of them. So far her eyes were Jack's, and Jack joked she looked more like Thor than either of them.
"I've been thinking that too," Jack ran his hand over the baby's head. "Grace Janet O'Neill."
They had talked about naming the baby after Janet, if it was a girl.
"Grace?" Sam asked, her heart skipping a beat. She never told him of the little girl with blonde curls she hallucinated when she was stuck in space.
"Yeah," he shrugged, and as Sam nodded in agreement.
"I love it," she whispered. "Gracie O'Neill."
At 12 weeks old, Sam left her daughter in her father's capable hands and moved to her new position to take over the SGC. Her office that belonged to General Landry, Elizabeth Weir, General Hammond and Jack was now hers. Her degrees now placed on the wall, photos of Gracie and Jack on her desk. Gracie's toothless smile staring back at her everyday was what she needed. And as the days passed, and photos updated of her little girl with brown eyes and brunette hair changed on her desk, as did life and priorities. Daniel and Vala welcomed their twins, Kenlee and Katea, and she sat happily in the audience alongside members of the SGC watched Cameron marry. Teal'c revelled in his life as Grampy to Gracie and the Jackson girls.
The life she thought would be when she was a little girl, from a wide eye loving science and dreamt of being a astronaut, to a mother and commander of the greatest top secret operation in Earth's history. She got to be there when Gracie took her first steps, and proclaimed 'Dada' as her first word. She got to sit next to Jack and watch Gracie's first dance recital at 3, and went into work late to take Gracie to her first day of school. Year after year and dance recitals and dance competitions, and different school activities, life with Gracie was everything she needed.
The fibre of the threads wove themselves into the strings of her life.