PART FOUR
The words to the song "Right Here Waiting" are not mine, I'm not that smart.
"SAM!" Cassandra said, running into the room.
"Cassie," Sam said, reaching down to hug her.
Jack watched from the other side of the room. Cassie and Sam got on so well, it reminded him of his friendship with Skaara before the Goa'uld had abducted him from Abydos and destroyed what was left of the real person inside. Jack turned away to watch Daniel and Teal'c talking in the corner. Jack stood up and wandered over towards them.
"-I still do not fully comprehend this idea of Christmas," Teal'c was saying.
"Well it's really just a celebration of Jesus's birth a long, long, long time ago," Daniel sighed.
"It's when people find mistletoe and use it as an excuse to kiss each other," Jack butted in.
Daniel glared at Jack. "What are you suggesting?"
"Nothing," Jack said, grinning evilly and looking from Daniel to Janet.
"Jack I'm warning you," Daniel said.
"Anyway – so Teal'c do you now understand Christmas?" Jack asked.
"I do not fully understand what Jesus is?" Teal'c asked.
Jack groaned and pulled open his drawer. "This is a bible, read it."
Teal'c took the book and flipped it over. "This is rather thick to just 'read it'"
"You'll manage," Jack sighed.
"Jack - " Daniel started. " – before when you said that thing about mistletoe, were you talking about me or you?"
"Just Christmas in general," Jack replied sarcastically.
"Talking about Generals – " Daniel said, looking around. " – where is ours?"
"Ah, he couldn't make it – he's spending Christmas with his family," Jack replied.
The phone rang. Jack ran towards the phone, but it was too late, Sam had already picked it up. Jack leaned over the bench and raised an eyebrow in question. Suddenly the expression on Sam's face changed. The happy, cheery face she'd had changed to that look people get when they've forgotten something.
"It's Sara," she said, handing the phone to him and walking off.
"Hi Sara," Jack said, taking the phone. "Merry Christmas."
"Merry Christmas to you too Jack," Sara replied.
"Why'd you ring?" Jack asked.
"You having a party?" Sara questioned.
"Yes, for work," he added quickly.
Even though they hadn't talked to each other for years, he still felt guilty about not inviting her. He looked at Sam who was still watching him. The Christmas mood had just zapped out of both of them. Daniel came up to the kitchen and opened the fridge door, noticing the expression of their faces.
"What's wrong?" Daniel asked Sam.
"Nothing," she replied.
"Who's on the phone?" he questioned.
"Sara," Sam replied.
"OH," Daniel said, realising the problem.
"Oh what?" Sam asked.
"Nothing," Daniel said, walking off.
Teal'c wandered over to Carter. He was still holding the Bible in his hand and seemed to have read the first few pages.
"Major Carter, this book is very difficult to understand and it is scientifically incorrect. The world could not possible have been made in seven days, that is theoretically impossible," Teal'c started to say. "Major Carter is something wrong?"
"Bye," Jack said, hanging up the phone. "Teal'c, there's nothing wrong with Carter and I wasn't serious when I told you to read that book. It's impossible to read the Bible within a short amount of time."
"But Colonel O'Neill I do not – " Teal'c started again.
Jack held up a finger to silence him. "Ah! Ask someone else."
"Who is Santa?" Teal'c suddenly came out with.
Sam started laughing from behind them. Jack spun around.
"It's not funny Sam!" he said.
She stopped laughing and looked up in surprise. "You called me Sam?"
"I've called you Sam before," Jack said.
"Only when we were about to die," Sam replied.
"OK then Carter," Jack said.
"That sounds more normal," she said, walking in Janet's direction.
Jack sighed and grabbed a beer. Leaving Teal'c to ponder over who Santa was and how the world was created in seven days, he walked outside onto the back veranda. He sat down on a bench and watched the sky. The sun was setting; everyone would be going home in about half an hour. He leaned back in his chair.
"Sir, are you all right?" Sam asked, stepping out onto the veranda behind him.
"Oh I'm fine," Jack said. "Just having a bad day."
"You have a lot of them don't you?" Sam asked, sitting down next o him on the bench.
Jack sighed. "I'm too old for this stuff."
"Jack, you're not too old to me," Sam said.
"You like old men?" Jack smiled. "Then you should go for General Hammond!"
"Jack – " Sam groaned.
Someone inside turned the music up and Jack leaned back to listen to the music.
Oceans apart, day after day
And I slowly go insane
I hear your voice
On the line
But it doesn't stop the pain
If I see you next to never
How can we say forever
Wherever you go
Whatever you do
I will be
Right Here waiting for you
Whatever it takes
Or how my heart breaks
I will be right here waiting for you
I took for granted
All the times,
That I thought would last somehow
I hear the laughter
I taste the tears
But I can't get near you now
Oh can't you see it baby?
You've got me going crazy
Wherever you go
Whatever you do
I will be right here waiting for you
Whatever it takes
Or how my heart breaks
I will be right here waiting for you
I wonder how we can survive
This romance
But in the end if I with you
I'll take the chance
"I bet the people who wrote that song don't even know what its like to be in love with someone you're not allowed to love," Sam commented.
"Probably not," Jack said. "But they've got the feeling pretty well figured out."
"Yeah," Sam sighed. "I'm going back inside, you coming?"
"Stay," Jack said quietly. "I don't want to go back inside just yet."
Sam didn't say anything, but she didn't move either. 'Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas' started playing inside. Jack looked up at the roof and smiled. Sam followed his gaze and looked up. Someone had hung mistletoe on the roof above where they were sitting. She looked into Jack's eyes and then looked away, feeling her cheeks burning up.
"About the timeloop – " Sam started.
"Yes?" Jack interrupted, before she had really finished.
"Did you –" she looked back into his eyes. "Was it – did it feel right?"
"Why don't you see for yourself," he whispered, moving closer. "It's the rules of mistletoe."
Their lips met and for a moment everything else around them seem to become distant and far away. Suddenly there was a loud bang and the door opened. Both of them sprung apart and turned to see who it was.
"Sorry Colonel O'Neill, Major Carter, I did not mean to interrupt your mistletoe session, but I was just wondering if this is normal for everyone who steps under mistletoe, or does it only apply to people who are already in love with each other?" Teal'c asked.
"Teal'c, can you do me a favour?" Jack asked.
"Yes Colonel O'Neill, I believe you are my commanding officer," Teal'c replied.
"Get lost," Jack smiled. "In a nice way."
"If that is your wish," Teal'c said. "Shall I ask Daniel."
"NO!" Jack and Sam both said at the same time.
"Well you can, but don't mention this – OK?" Jack asked.
Teal'c nodded and left. Jack turned back to Sam.
"I'm sorry, I should leave," she said, standing up. "I'll see you at work."
With that she turned around and left. Jack sighed and stood up. Daniel opened the door just as Sam ran back inside to grab her stuff. Daniel looked surprised.
"Did something happen that I should know about?" he asked, suspiciously.
Jack didn't reply; he walked inside. The party was over, at least for him. He was going to bed.
