Disclaimer: The song 'Fallen From Graceland' by Richie Sambora doesn't belong to me I just borrowed it.
A/N Ok folks got a little bad news regarding this fic and any sequels which may have followed it. As of 14th June 2003 thanks to my very sick floppy disk all of my work is no more (300 pages worth) but because I want people to read this and appreciate my work as a writer I've decided to rewrite all my work over the last 18 months.
So it means a lot of hard work from me to get it back to the high standard some of this is and combine this with real life stuff in a few weeks is gonna be tricky. So all I ask anyone who reads this is just leave me a note in the review section so I know you want more ok.
I will try to update regularly as I have to the past but for now here's the latest instalment. Please enjoy and oh yeah to everyone that wanted more trust me this is very S/J filled chapter just a little tease of the 'ship' stuff I've got lined up when its written in a few months or so.
Anyway without putting you all to sleep here it is.
KP
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So there he stood at the 'mission' destination with not a gate in sight this time around, which part of him was grateful for since 'gate travel' at the best of times was severely overrated.
Carter and Daniel arrived there on schedule as was planned and he would have to had Daniel not called him and said he left something's back at the base which were for tonight and he needed someone to pick them up for him.
Jack entered the building carrying Daniel's two wrapped gifts, scanning the room for his friends he found her sitting at a table not far from the entrance, wearing a red jumper with no sign of him anywhere.
He proceeded to the table to join her
"Hey Carter"
"Sir"
"Where's Daniel?"
"He had to go check on Cassie Sir, she wasn't feeling well"
"Oh"
"He asked me to give you this when you arrived" she said handing him a piece of paper
Jack put the gifts on the table and took the note from her it read:
Good Jack you've got the gifts, your here, have a good time and I'll see you tomorrow. Daniel
"Oh for cryin' out loud Daniel" he whispered
"Something the matter Sir"
"Oh no, just the Canucks lost a game I wanted to know the score of that's all"
"Right"
"So Carter you ordered yet?" he asked as he sat down in the chair opposite her"
"Sir"
"A meal, have you"
"No Sir, I thought we were on assignment"
"We are Carter....here"
"O'Malley's"
"Sure"
"Why Sir?"
"Look you wanted an assignment sg-1 gave you one, which kinda helps ya Dad out to, because your off base for a few hours having fun and Friaser said it would do you some good"
"I should go"
"Why?"
"I'm not feeling too well under the circumstances" she replied as she got up to put a long back coat on
"Oh"
"I'll see you on base Sir"
"Ah listen Carter" he stood up "been on base all day isn't good for your or Alex and right now I'm not the best guy for company but what ya say we just forget work, do this lunch thing, I mean we are here after all, I'll even throw in the bonus of letting you be sick over me if ya like"
She smiled "what about the regs Sir?"
"Forget erm, if you have to think of this as your assignment to do what you want. Carter I'm not going to court-marshal you for having fun, besides how was I to know Jonas and Teal'c would get them selves reassigned to the infirmary for the night"
She sat back down and removed her coat
"How are they?"
"Well if they survive the wonderful care of that place, they'll be as good as new in no time"
"Good"
"Ya know Teal'c's shown that kid a few to many tricks for that sport"
"So I gather Sir, Daniel said he came off the worst
"If ya mean his egos buried then yeah, Jonas is the one with the concussion and dislocated shoulder, T's just mainly looking at some nice bruising, Frasier just wants to keep an eye on things"
A waitress came to their table to take their order "Hi can I get you anything?"
"Yeah, I'll have a beer...Carter"
"Mineral water please"
"Sure anything else"
Can you give us a few minutes?" he asked
"No problem when your ready to order just let me know ok"
"Thanks" Sam said picking up menus and handing him one
"So Carter whatcha having since ya eating for two now" with that comment he could have sworn by the look she was giving him he could have been dead on the spot as he spoke and he was pretty sure she'd tried to kick him at least once after he said it.
"Sorry, but you've got to keep ya strength up especially now and anyway I can't wait to see what 'dish ala Carter is"
"Sir"
"Craving Carter"
"Right"
"Jonas said you got some pretty wired ones" he paused when he realised what he said hoping she hadn't heard him correctly or something he quickly tried to change the subject "I'm going for steak, how 'bout you?"
"Chicken burger, with fries and extra salad cream with the side order of salad"
"That it"
"Yeah"
"OK" Jack replied grabbing the attention of a waitress to place their order
While waiting for the meal Jack remembered he hadn't give Sam the gifts that Daniel had carefully wrapped and labelled.
"Oh these are for you, I'm guessing there from everyone" he said moving the gifts over to her, she opened the one labelled 'Sam' first to reveal a box of chocolates, the second he hadn't noticed was labelled 'Alex' so he decided to take it back
"Ah sorry this one isn't for you"
"Sir"
"It's for Alex"
"Well we're going to have a problem"
"Your telling me Carter, who's gonna open this and keep it safe till she gets here"
"She"
"Yeah, just a guess, anyway I think she or he would give you the honour so..." he handed the gift back and she carefully unwrapped the gift dropping her hands to her lap before he had chance to see what was inside.
"Cute Sir, very cute" she said a smile beaming across her face as she showed him a brown coloured teddy bear dressed in a sandy colour uniform like they wear sometimes on those trips to sandy planets through the gate, a pair of black shades and wearing a matching cap to the uniform, which strangely enough just happened to be placed exactly like a certain Colonel in the room wore his.
Oh yeah, Daniel definitely set this up he thought as he looked at the gift.
"Thanks Sir"
"No problem although I think Daniel needs all the attention for that one" he said pointing to the bear
After their meal the continued to talk for a few more hours, but mostly Jack was lost in his train of thought for what tomorrow would bring.
"Dance with me Sir" she said cutting into his thinking at that moment"
"What?"
"Dance with me"
"You sure you're up to it?"
"Yes"
"What, here, now?"
"Yes"
He wanted so much to find a way out of the situation, that was what he remembered the most lately being with 'her' the night of his retirement party and yet here she stood the same as 'her' and yet so different. He decided that tomorrow would probably be the day stuff returned to normal how he remembered with Connor, but she would still be dead, so what harm could it do if he did as this Carter requested.
He let out a sigh "all right" he said moving to the isle way he moved closer to where she stood. As a new song started in the background something that kind of fitted the sound of acoustic guitars with a soft over tone of a slightly heavier sound like an electric guitar stared playing.
He gently put his arms around her waist and she in turn strangely allowed herself the task of putting her arms around his neck and resting her head slightly on his shoulder.
Ooh, oh...
There's a line that you cross when you find out that you're lost
When your world is closing in and it crawls under your skin
And the heart's always blind when it's in this state of mind
There's a burning light in this town
For every heart that's broken down tonight, here tonight
You're stranded out there in the rain
And you just can't see past the pain tonight
You've fallen from Graceland, fallen from Graceland
When you're too proud to crawl, it keeps your back against the wall
You wanna die, but you live with nothing left to give
And there's no place to hide when you're tangled up inside
There's a burning light in this town
For every heart that's broken down tonight, here tonight
You're stranded out there in the rain
But you just can't see past the pain tonight
You've fallen from Graceland tonight
And there's no place to hide when you're tangled up inside
There's a burning light in this town
For every heart that's broken down tonight, here tonight
You're stranded out there in the rain
But you just can't see past the pain tonight
You've fallen from Graceland
Fallen, you've fallen from Graceland tonight
Fallen, fallen, fallen, fallen from Graceland tonight
There's a light, a bright light burning
For every broken heart in this world tonight
Deep inside yes, there's one light burning
That will lead you through the storm tonight
It's gonna be alright, be alright, yeah
Gonna be alright, yeah
(Fallen, fallen from Gaceland)
It's gonna be alright
(oh, it's gonna be alright) Tonight
(Fallen - fallen - fallen - fallen - from Gaceland tonight)
(Fallen from Gaceland tonight)
(Fallen - fallen - fallen - fallen - from Gaceland)
(Fallen, fallen from Gaceland...)
She took her arms away from around his neck and lifted her head from his shoulder releasing herself from his hold a hand quickly moved to her stomach and the other rested on the table for support.
He got a slight glimpse of her face as she had moved away from him and right in that one moment it was a mixture of concern, worry and he was pretty sure panic was there too. Normally he would have gone to her side in an instant but something held him back so he just stood there.
"Ouch"
"Cater what's up?" she never answered him so he tried again "Sam" he said with a little more concern
She still never answered but turned slightly towards him still with her hand resting on her stomach slightly, the momentary look of fear in her eyes and her use of "Jack" was all he needed for him to move to her side grab her chair and help her to it.
"Can we get some water here folks" he shouted going into military mode with his orders
"Do you need good old Doc Friaser to make an outta office house call?
She shook her head slightly "no Sir I think I'm fine"
"You sure"
A waitress handed a glass of water to her "yes Sir"
With that she slightly flinched her spare hand again automatically going to her stomach. Jack got up off his knees and took the glass from her to stop it spilling more he placed it down on the table then pulled his cell phone out of his pocket. "I'm calling this one in Doc Frasier's still on base" with that he started dialling on the phone. Only stopped by a hand reaching for his arm "Sir" the voice said softly, He stopped dialling and lowered himself slightly to her level.
"Yeah" he said almost in the same tone of voice as he watched her place his hand on her stomach temporally removing hers and placing it on top of his
"Wait"
A minute or so later "feel that Sir" she asked noticing how quick he moved his hand from her stomach when she felt the next movement
"Sure did...listen I'm gonna get some air.... be right back.... I'm pleased for ya Carter...really" he said as he moved away and head for the door.