Got to have a little angst here folks, 'cause it is a sad situation they've
got themselves in.
Chapter 2 Regulations Jack shut the door, although, as the conversation could be conducted in complete silence, there seemed little point. How long has this been going on, Jack?
Can't you tell?
I can look, but not without your permission.
Go ahead. You ought to know.
It can be invasive.
I'll tell you if I need you to stop. It was strange, like watching a video in his head of all the moments that illustrated his feelings for Sam. Right back to that first briefing when she had done the "Just because my reproductive organs are on the inside" speech. Had she made that up as she said or got it already beforehand, knowing she'd probably need a line like that? Jack felt Ashmel digging in his brain, in his memories. Gently, softly, but still digging. And the pain was like some civil war surgeon probing, without anaesthetic, for a musket ball embedded in his heart.
He remembered Sam invaded by Jolinar. Remembered thinking he had lost her forever, when he was marooned on Edora. Remembered his despair when she was trapped behind the force field after Anise's bracelets stopped working. Now, he could see Sam taken over by the entity and recalled the feel of the Zat gun in his hand as he aimed it at her and shot her once, then again. Stop, Ashmel, please. His mental voice was no more than a whisper.
Does she know?
Jack took a deep breath. She knows I care more than I ought to.
More than you ought to! What sort of nonsense is that?
Regulations.
Regulations?
Yeah. USAF. Sam and I can't have a relationship outside the CO/2IC one."
But you do have!
And if anyone finds out we get split up and demoted or court marshalled or . tied to a tree and shot or something.
Why?
For breaking the regulations!
No, I mean why the regulation?
In case we put the other person before the mission or the rest of the team or the future of earth, I guess.
You're rather close to all your team aren't you?
We've been together a long time, especially for this outfit. We're at war, even if the rest of the world doesn't know. Losses are inevitable. Even when we don't run into the Goa'uld, missions are a leap into the unknown.
But you love Sam.
Yeah. It came out like a sigh.
You should tell her.
And have her walking round in a daze, gazing at my hands during briefings? No.
Don't you think she loves you?
She was the one who realised we were 'lying' during the Zatarc testing thing! She's coping. I don't want to make it any harder for her. We can't do anything about it anyway.
Surely you are in danger of ruining a mission, behaving as you are now?
I'm not going to ask for a transfer - I want to be with her, keep her safe.
You can't keep her safe while you are staring at her hands!
True.
This is not healthy, Jack.
Tell me about it!
We have to do something.
WE?
Well you haven't done anything on your own about it for over four years!
So, a plan of action was needed. Jack refused to follow regulations and inform General Hammond and see what he suggested. Jack was too afraid of ruining Sam's career and getting split up.
End of angst (for a while anyway)
Chapter 2 Regulations Jack shut the door, although, as the conversation could be conducted in complete silence, there seemed little point. How long has this been going on, Jack?
Can't you tell?
I can look, but not without your permission.
Go ahead. You ought to know.
It can be invasive.
I'll tell you if I need you to stop. It was strange, like watching a video in his head of all the moments that illustrated his feelings for Sam. Right back to that first briefing when she had done the "Just because my reproductive organs are on the inside" speech. Had she made that up as she said or got it already beforehand, knowing she'd probably need a line like that? Jack felt Ashmel digging in his brain, in his memories. Gently, softly, but still digging. And the pain was like some civil war surgeon probing, without anaesthetic, for a musket ball embedded in his heart.
He remembered Sam invaded by Jolinar. Remembered thinking he had lost her forever, when he was marooned on Edora. Remembered his despair when she was trapped behind the force field after Anise's bracelets stopped working. Now, he could see Sam taken over by the entity and recalled the feel of the Zat gun in his hand as he aimed it at her and shot her once, then again. Stop, Ashmel, please. His mental voice was no more than a whisper.
Does she know?
Jack took a deep breath. She knows I care more than I ought to.
More than you ought to! What sort of nonsense is that?
Regulations.
Regulations?
Yeah. USAF. Sam and I can't have a relationship outside the CO/2IC one."
But you do have!
And if anyone finds out we get split up and demoted or court marshalled or . tied to a tree and shot or something.
Why?
For breaking the regulations!
No, I mean why the regulation?
In case we put the other person before the mission or the rest of the team or the future of earth, I guess.
You're rather close to all your team aren't you?
We've been together a long time, especially for this outfit. We're at war, even if the rest of the world doesn't know. Losses are inevitable. Even when we don't run into the Goa'uld, missions are a leap into the unknown.
But you love Sam.
Yeah. It came out like a sigh.
You should tell her.
And have her walking round in a daze, gazing at my hands during briefings? No.
Don't you think she loves you?
She was the one who realised we were 'lying' during the Zatarc testing thing! She's coping. I don't want to make it any harder for her. We can't do anything about it anyway.
Surely you are in danger of ruining a mission, behaving as you are now?
I'm not going to ask for a transfer - I want to be with her, keep her safe.
You can't keep her safe while you are staring at her hands!
True.
This is not healthy, Jack.
Tell me about it!
We have to do something.
WE?
Well you haven't done anything on your own about it for over four years!
So, a plan of action was needed. Jack refused to follow regulations and inform General Hammond and see what he suggested. Jack was too afraid of ruining Sam's career and getting split up.
End of angst (for a while anyway)
