Here you go, as promised, the next instalment, a big thanks to DC Chic for her great input.
Sorry for the delay, but MacGuyver has just started it's rerun, and I have to say, that RDA has not changed a bit, thankfully, and he's obviously still doing crunches.
As usual, Stargate is not mine; I'm only having fun.
Spoilers are from Season 2 onwards.
Rating: I think we'll go for PG today.
Chapter 10 – Watching and Waiting
They had been sat patiently by her side for over an hour now, Jacob had told the others that he needed to walk around and clear his head. Jonas had gone off to find some water, which left Teal'c, and Jack with the now apparently solid Daniel. No one had spoken since the ritual had concluded, but now Jack O'Neill was getting impatient. He could only put his emotions on hold for so long.
It was like she was gone, but not quite. Jack remembered the time they believed Daniel had drowned by fire, and they'd had their memories altered; watching him die, but then feeling as if he hadn't.
Drumming his fingers silently on the floor, Jack was the first to speak, not quite sure if this was the appropriate time or place to speak, especially in front of Sam. Pretending Sam was just 'sleeping' Jack whispered to Daniel as if not to disturb her;
"Daniel" Jack said with a touch of apprehension.
"Jack" Daniel replied remembering all too well how often he and Jack played this game.
"When will she….you know?" He gestured his hands towards Sam's body.
"The Afterlife's not on a clock you know Jack" Daniel retorted.
"I know Daniel, but it's been like an hour already, shouldn't we have seen… I dunno…something?"
"Like what?" Daniel asked his eyes squinting trying to fathom what the hell Jack was on about.
"How the hell should I know? You're the expert in this afterlife stuff." Jack responded in a forced whisper.
Teal'c who had remained patient throughout this exchange decided at this point he needed to intervene. "You must learn patience O'Neill. It is not yet certain, if Major Carter will return to us. She may have found things more pleasing on the other side."
Shaking his head as if trying to clear it, and getting increasingly impatient with every minute that passed without *something* happening. Jack's frustration was now clearly showing. "What could possibly be more pleasing Teal'c, than being here with us?"
Daniel spoke up at this stage "Well actually…"
"Ah Ah Ah… I don't want to hear it." Jack replied hastily.
Teal'c and Daniel simply tilted their head upwards in disbelief. They knew that Jack was not the most patient person in the world, but surely he didn't expect the Gods to just beam her back into her body, like some episode from Star Trek, or maybe he did.
"It may be O'Neill that she's going through some sort of ritual, to ensure her worthiness of returning to this world." Teal'c pointed out as matter of fact.
"Do ya *know* how stupid that sounds Teal'c." Jack countered getting more frustrated by the minute. Then realising what he had said, and whom he'd said it to, Jack just muttered, "sorry 'T'."
"It is ok O'Neill, I understand how difficult this is for you."
"I know ya do Teal'c, and I know that this hasn't been easy on you two either. I just don't know what to do with myself. I'm just not used to this waiting around stuff."
Not being able to stand it any longer, Jack stood up abruptly.
"Listen you two, I'm gonna go and find Jacob, there are a few things I need to speak to him about." With that, he left, and headed towards the surface. He wasn't quite sure what he would say to Jacob, but knew he needed to talk with him. Judging from the churning of his stomach, it wouldn't be a pleasant conversation.
O'Neill had forgotten that night had fallen on this planet and that it was damn cold. Rubbing his arms with his hands, trying to heat up, he wished he'd bought his jacket.
"Jacob? You out here?" Jack searched for him in the distance scanning the horizon.
Then he heard a small voice approximately 20 feet away, "Over here Jack."
Colonel Jack O'Neill hesitantly walked over to where Jacob was sat, simply staring at the stars that twinkled so brightly in the heavens. Jack O'Neill placed himself a couple of feet from Jacob, silently staring at the horizon ahead of them, searching for that place called home, which seemed (and probably was) a million light years away.
Neither of them needed to speak, it was sufficient enough that they were there, together, providing silent comfort.
"Jacob, about before, I'm sorry if I behaved inconsiderately. I know how much faith you put in Daniel, and me for that matter, and I know I behaved like an ass….totally unlike me I know, but…"
Jack wasn't sure, but he thought he had seen Jacob smile slightly.
"Don't worry about it Jack, I know how much you cared for her."
Jack heard the word 'cared', being used in the past tense and began to panic. Jacob couldn't possibly have given up on his daughter, could he? It shocked him. Jack always believed the ex-General could think positively about any situation. Seeing him here, vulnerable, it was something Jack never expected or wanted to see.
Both men sighed at the same time, Jack questioning himself on whether he should say what really needed to be said. Ah well, his timing always did suck. After a couple of silent pauses, he decided to go for broke; Jacob had a right to know about his feelings for his daughter.
"Jacob, um about Sam and me.." he started
Jacob sitting very still on the sand, with his knees bent towards his chest, his head leaning slightly forward on his knees turned to look at Jack with a small smile tugging at the corner of his lips, wanting Jack to openly say it, but kind of feeling sorry for him, simply said, "Don't worry Jack, I know."
Taken aback slightly, surprise clearly visible in his expression, and stuttering slightly, well it wasn't easy revealing feelings he'd been suppressing for 6 years, especially to the girls father. "Um…Um.. y.y.you do huh, um, *what* exactly do you know Jacob" he stuttered, trying desperately to regain his composure.
"I now enough Jack." Jacob said turning himself round more to face the younger man. "I also know how she felt about you."
Jack cleared his throat loudly as he mulled over Jacob's words. Carter spoke to her dad about him? Naaahh- maybe she might have said one or two things to Janet, but not her dad… would she?
"Right, ok, so…don't need to go into detail then?" He asked, eyes begging the General not to call him on it.
"No Jack " he simply stated "You don't."
Thank god for that Jack thought. This was actually going better than he thought, and he didn't even have to say anything. Sometimes it was really great that both he and Jacob were military. Of course sometimes it really sucked. Like when you fell in love with your 2IC.
The two of them lapsed into silence once more, just enjoying the beauty of the starlight, not a breeze in sight, the moon dancing over the dunes like a tidal wave of light, it was so peaceful he couldn't resist saying it.
"Carter would love this Jacob."
"What, the two of us, sitting out here discussing her love life, I don't think so Jack. She'd pretty much be mortified."
"Not that!" Jack answered impatiently. "I was referring to this, all of this," he explained pointing out towards the distance of the dunes and stars above.
"I know." Jacob answered simply. "You know what Jack, I'm kinda glad she didn't join the space programme in the end, because if she had, she wouldn't have met you all, and *that* would have been a waste."
Jack O'Neill thought that was probably the nicest thing anyone had ever said to him.
Words couldn't possibly convey the gratitude Jack felt from Jacob's words, but Jack had to try.
"Thanks Jacob." The older man nodded and turned back to the night sky.
Jack smiled serenely, they were gonna to be ok.
Both men got up at the same time to stretch their legs, Jack's knees protesting as he stood. Jack and Jacob just stood there for a few more moments watching the shooting stars overhead; each making a silent wish.
Suddenly Daniel materialized in front of Jack and Jacob.
"For crying out loud Daniel, you gotta stop doing that" Jack said visibly shaken.
"Sorry Jack." Daniel said slightly embarrassed, "Just thought you both should know."
"Know what?" Jacob asked.
"Sam's awake."
End of Chapter 10
Yeah I know I said I only had a couple of chapters left to go, but I couldn't stop myself. What do ya think? Answers on a postcard please, or if you're feeling techno crazy go log yourself onto the review page, and drop me a line.
