A/N I don't know if they have to quote their serial number when calling the
SGC but I thought it could be a security measure that they may take to
insure the security of the Stargate.
There is actually a restaurant/fish and chip shop on the water in Cooktown. For privacy and copyright reasons I have not used the restaurants official name but I can tell you their Barramundi is to die for.
The smell of chicken cacciatore wafted through Sam's house as the orange of the sunset filtered through the window. Transferring the pot of rice over the sink she drained it thoroughly and tipped into onto the waiting plate. Stepping over to the stove, Sam turned off the element, slipping on oven mitts she carried the steaming pan over to the plate and poured the chicken dish over the top of the bed of rice. Dumping the pan into the sink Sam took her glass of Asti Riccadonna, her favourite white wine, and her home cooked meal to the dining room table. It felt great to be back in her own house again, to take a shower in her own bathroom, to wear whatever clothes she wanted. Sam felt safe there, the safety she had so desperately craved back on the planet. Pushing those thoughts aside Sam took a sip of wine before gingerly tasting the steaming hot culinary delight before her. She winced as it burnt her tongue slightly, dropping her fork to the plate Sam sighed to herself. A few minutes later a knock came at her front door, interrupting her thoughts about a certain Commanding Officer that had just been fired and the events of the day. Emptying her glass she left the dining room table and jogged over to the door. As she opened it she spotted a young man dressed in blue overalls with the logo FED EX stitched into the fabric standing on her doorstep holding a small box in one hand and a clipboard in the other.
"Major Samantha Carter?" he enquired. Sam nodded and the young man handed her the clipboard and a pen.
"I have a package for you could you please sign at the bottom." He requested in a bored monotone voice, Sam could tell it had been a long day for him, and he wasn't the only one. Sam quickly and illegibly scribbled her name at the bottom of the sheet of paper and gratefully the box from the deliveryman.
"Thank you." She smiled at him hoping it would make some sort of difference to the man's mood, but it didn't, instead she received a simple grunt in reply and the young man walked away from her door, got into his van and sped away from her house.
"Talk about customer service." Sam muttered to herself as she closed the door, her eyes transfixed on the package in her hand. She wasn't expecting anything, it was too small to be something from the SGC and they wouldn't take the security risk of someone other than SGC personnel handling the delivery. The only person she thought it could be from was Mark, she hadn't spoken to him in a while and the thought left her feeling guilty about not keeping in touch more with the only member of her family that still lived on Earth. Flopping down into her comfy couch, completely disregarding the early dinner she had prepared herself, Sam carefully pulled the lid of the book. She peered tentatively inside and found a CD; the cover had "FOR SAM" in large, looping, calligraphy writing. An expression of bewildered she pulled it cautiously out of the box and found a lone piece of small paper underneath. Setting down the CD somewhere next to her on the couch, Sam reached in and grasped the paper between her two fingers. Sam didn't know why but for some reason her hands began to shake, she opened the folded note slowly and instantly recognised the handwriting.
Dear Samantha,
I've never been very good with words so I have found a song that says how much I love you, I have had this for a while but have never found the right time to give it to you.
I will always miss you and cherish the time we have spent together.
Please remember that I will always love you.
Jack.
Sam choked back a sob as tears of joy began to spring from her eyes. She read the note over again in case she was dreaming the words on the page but they were there, for her, in black and white and in his handwriting. Dropping to her lap Sam got up from the couch with CD in had and walked over to her CD player, opening the CD changer Sam shakily pulled the blank, gold CD from it's case and placed it carefully on the tray, not wanting to damage it in any way. It only took a few seconds for it to load and soon the music filled Sam's house, the lyrics cutting through straight to Sam's heart.
Look into my eyes - you will see
What you mean to me
Search your heart - search your soul
And when you find me there you'll search no more
Don't tell me it's not worth tryin' for
You can't tell me it's not worth dyin' for
You know it's true
Everything I do - I do it for you Look into my heart - you will find
There's nothin' there to hide
Take me as I am - take my life
I would give it all I would sacrifice
Don't tell me it's not worth fightin' for
I can't help it there's nothin' I want more
Ya know it's true
Everything I do - I do it for you
Sam covered her face with her hands as her initial trickle of tears turned into a flood to rival the Amazon River. It was finally happening. After over half a decade of keeping their feelings hidden from one another Jack had finally said the words Sam had been longing to hear, I love you. Through being nearly frozen in Antarctica, captured by the Goa'uld countless number of times, fighting the Replicators and other life- threatening missions they were finally admitting their love for each other. She felt like running through the streets and yelling it at the top of her lungs, he loved her and she loved him, thoughts of the regulations entered her mind briefly but the excitement of the moment made them dissolve into oblivion.
There's no love - like your love
And no other - could give more love
There's nowhere - unless you're there
All the time - all the way Don't tell me it's not worth tryin' for
I can't help it there's nothin' I want more
I would fight for you - I'd lie for you
Walk the wire for you - Ya I'd die for you Ya know it's true
Everything I do - I do it for you
As the song began to fade out Sam rushed to the phone and frantically punched in the SGC's number hoping to catch him before he left.
"Hello may I help you?" a young, female voice asked.
"This is Major Carter, Serial Number 5448 8214, I need to speak with Colonel O'Neill immediately." Sam demanded, she could feel her heart beating faster than it ever had before.
"One moment please." The operator put her on hold for a brief moment before Sam heard someone pick up on the other end of the line. Her heart skipped a beat as she waited to hear his sweet voice but it wasn't the voice she was expecting.
"This is Hammond." The General answered. Sam opened her mouth to blurt out that she loved him too but stopped dead when she heard the General's voice. She swallowed hard, clearing her throat.
"Ah, General sir, I was wanting to speak with the Colonel is he there?" Sam asked, her voice wavering slightly.
"I'm sorry Major but Colonel O'Neill left the base half an hour ago." Sam almost felt like strangling her superior officer.
"Goodbye sir." Sam ended the call abruptly, picking up the receiver again and dialling her office number. It rang for only a few times before Major Adermann answered sleepily.
"Major, have you seen Colonel O'Neill recently?" she asked fiercely, not wanting to waste any time with small talk.
"Ah well he came by here a half hour, 45 minutes ago." The Major recalled briefly.
"Did he say anything else, where he was going?" Sam enquired.
"Well he did ask me to sell his car for him, I don't know what that means exactly." he replied, sounding as confused as she was at that moment.
"Thank you, goodbye Major." Again hanging the phone and ending the conversation first. Grabbing her car keys from table beside the phone, Sam raced to the door; snatching her leather jacket from the stand beside it. Jumping into her car, the tyres squealed as she pulled out from her driveway and sped towards Jack's house.
For a trip that usually took twenty minutes, Sam screeched to halt in front of his house only ten minutes after she had left her own house. Not bothering to take her keys from the ignition, Sam jumped from her car and raced to the front door, pulling out her spare house key that had been given to her for use in emergencies. She shoved it into the door lock and pushed it open. The house was pitch back; the only light in house was the glow of his fish tank where his angelfish swam around, like Sam was, desperate to find something that wasn't there. Flipping on the light switch beside the door, Sam glanced around the room but there was no sign of Jack there.
"Colonel? Jack are you here?" she yelled, suddenly something caught her eye; a lone piece of paper was sitting on his usually messy coffee table. Walking cautiously over to it, she picked it up and skimmed the contents.
Danny, Teal'c, Carter or whoever you are.
I've gone on a very extended holiday; don't try my mobile or pager you'll find them at the bottom of my fish tank as my fishes' new exhibit.
The Man Formerly Known As Colonel O'Neill
P.S. Speaking of fish, will someone feed Skaara while I'm gone?
Looking over her shoulder at the tank she spotted two black objects behind the large, brown rock that had been placed in the tank originally.
"Oh for cryin' out loud," Sam muttered to herself, she scrunched the paper up angrily in her hand. Sam's mind raced, trying to think of how she could track him down.
"Holiday, Holiday, Holiday. Okay he wouldn't go to his usual places because we would just follow him there. Think, think Sam!" she cursed at herself when suddenly it hit her.
"Airport..." she whispered to herself. Whipping out her cell phone Sam pushed the number in for Directory Assistance.
"Colorado Springs Airport." She demanded of the operator. She tapped her foot impatient as her call was diverted; it felt like an eternity before the operator at the airport answered her call.
"Colorado Spring Airport how may I help you?" she asked courteously. Sam jumped at the voice.
"This is Major Carter, Unites States Air Force, I need to know if a Jack O'Neill is registered on any of your flight manifests." Sam enquired.
"I'm sorry mam I'm not a liberty to release that information." The operator replied as she had been trained to do. Sam felt like she was about exploded in frustration.
"What's your name?" Sam asked curiously.
"Annabel Stevens." The operator replied slowly and in clear annoyance.
"Okay, if you could just wait a moment I'll call the President and tell him that a Miss Annabel Stevens is obstructing official business of the United State Air Force. Now is that with a "v" or a "ph" in "Stevens"?" Sam enquired threateningly with clear sarcasm in her voice. The line went silent for a few seconds as Annabel thought over Sam's threat.
"Is that O'Neill with one L or two mam?" she asked, giving into Sam's full- blown lie.
"Two, Jonathan O'Neill." Sam repeated. Annabel enter the name into the database, it took nearly a minute for the computer to respond.
"A Jonathan O'Neill boarded a flight to Singapore, with a connecting flight to Cairns, Australia with another connecting flight to Cooktown only a few minutes ago." She informed her customer with the information from the computer screen in front of her. Sam's eyebrows shot up in momentary surprise, Australia, not exactly the place she thought Jack would be. Making a split second, erratic decision Sam dug into her jeans pocket and pulled out her wallet.
"Would you please book me on the next flight, the same as his, to Australia, I'll give you my credit card number, the ticket in the name of Samantha Carter." She requested, quoting the number on her American Express card, something she rarely ever used, but always seemed to come in handy.
"That flight will be leaving at 7.45am tomorrow morning."
"Thank you."
A small duffel bag sat on the seat beside her, a couple of essentials for the trip half way across the world. She was almost at the airport when her cell phone rang. Picking up her hands free she placed the microphone on her light blue blouse and the earpiece into her right ear, pressing the accept button on her phone.
"Hello?" she asked distractedly, not really in the mood to talk.
"Hey Sam it's Janet, just wanted to know if you wanted to go out tonight, I'll pick up from your house now and I'll drive. Get you use to good things Earth has to offer." Janet joked, remembering Sam had just come back from off world.
"I can't Janet, I'm on my way to catch a plane to Australia." She said frankly, under the circumstances she couldn't come up with a feasible excuse of the top of her head.
"Australia? Why? Shouldn't you be on your way to work?" Janet asked in confusion.
"Because that's where the Colonel is." She replied cryptically, turning into Airport Drive, the clock in her car read 7:20.
"I still don't understand why are you going?" Janet demanded a straight answer out of her best friend; it was slight erratic behaviour on Sam's part.
"Because he finally said it." Sam declared happily, it was the first person she had told.
"Said what!" Janet raised her voice in frustration.
"Said that he loves me!" Janet's jaw dropped in disbelief, a smile of happiness covering the rest of her face.
"Your kidding, oh my gosh that's great Sam!" she exclaimed. Sam couldn't help but smile in pure ecstasy; she hadn't slept the night before because she was so nervous and excited about seeing him. Janet knew how long Sam had waited for this.
"When Teal'c and Daniel get home tell them I've gone on holidays for a few days but tell them why ok?" Sam requested.
"Sure, oh my gosh Sam! Have fun, bring me back a souvenir." Janet responded as Sam pulled into a parking spot in front of the airport.
"Sure Janet, see you when I get back."
Sam never thought a flight could be so long, she could have sworn she was travelling by paddleboard across the great oceans of Earth. She managed to stay awake with sheer adrenalin from the excitement on the first leg to Singapore but only after half an hour of boarding the second plane to Australia the lack of sleep caught up with her, she dozed off with Jack's note clutched in her hand. After over 24 hours of flying, the plane touchdown in the right country, the largest island on Earth, the Land Down Under, Australia. The voice of the pilot filtered thought Sam's sleep.
"Welcome to Cairns, Australia. I hope you enjoyed your flight and thank you for flying Qantas Airlines this morning." Sam wiped the sleep from her eyes and peered out her window into the blinding sunlight of the early North Queensland morning. Glancing at her watch, she jumped when she saw the time; it was only twenty minutes until her plane would leave for Cooktown. Squeezing through the queue of people getting off the plane, Sam clutched her bags as she ran down the tunnel into the main area of the airport. In comparison to most airports she had seen it was miniature, it could only have been as big as two of the briefing rooms back at the SGC. Noticing the customer service desk in centre of room Sam shoved her way through the people waiting at the carousel.
After finding out the airport to Cooktown was outside the main airport terminal, Sam raced outside and waved down a taxi and soon she was speeding away from the main airport, along the main road until she saw a building no bigger than a toilet block on the right, a small plane sitting on the runaway behind it. Looking frantically at her watch, she only had five minutes until the plane would leave without her. The taxi driver performed a wild U turn and pulled to a screeching halt in front of the building. Sam threw a $20 note at him and jumped out of the cab, running at full sprint towards the doors. Practically knocking an elderly gentleman with a cane to the floor, Sam hit the service desk at full pace.
"Samantha Carter for the flight to Cooktown." She said breathlessly. The young gentleman behind the desk smiled warmly.
"Don't worry Miss Carter, you didn't miss the flight, we are boarding right now."
The plane to Cooktown only had 40 seats for passengers: the light air craft flew over vast forest areas and showed fantastic views of the ocean.
"Ah so that's why he came here, fishing." Sam finally realised, one of Jack O'Neill's passions. The plane touched down on a dirt runway surrounded by dry, brown bush only 45 minutes later. As she stepped off the plane she was hit by the extreme heat. Spotting a tourist bus parked just outside the tiny room that constituted the Cooktown Airport, Sam saw a group of elderly people, tourists she could see by the cameras hanging around their necks, gravitated towards it.
"Okay blend in Sam." She mumbled to herself as she jogged over to the group and mingled in amongst them. The crowd of people practically pushed her onto the bus, no arguments from Sam, she needed a way to get to the main area of town. The bus jumped over the bumpy dirt roads that led into town, the tyres throwing up the red dirt behind them. A lady who introduced herself to Sam as Agnes was chatting away about her children back in England.
"So what is such a lovely woman like yourself doing here? Don't you have a husband back home in the States?" she asked Sam curiously. Sam smiled at her tolerantly.
"No, I'm actually here on holiday with my husband." She lied; it was only a little lie in Sam's opinion. Agnes beamed at Sam when she heard her reply.
"Oh that must be so romantic! How did you meet him?" she discretely poked her nose in Sam's personal life.
"We worked together, he was my boss." Sam replied simply.
"Oh, a forbidden love." Agnes winked at her as if being let in on the most top-secret relationship on the face of the Earth.
*You have no idea* Sam thought to herself. The dirt roads soon made way for pavement as the bus drove through a little, sleepy town, on the left they passed a Bakery, various little arts and crafts shops and even a Post Office that was set up in an old historic house. Soon the ocean came into view, the sparkling blue water reflecting the sunlight off the surface. Small boats bobbed on the water's surface as children fished from the safety of the edge of the land. The bus pulled up in front of a restaurant called the "FISH AND CHIP EMPORIUM" that was written on the sign in large blue letters. The group piled off the bus and walked towards the entrance of the restaurant but something made Sam stop dead in her tracks, the other passengers pushed past her to enter the eating place. A small sign was placed in window.
BAIT SOLD AROUND THE CORNER.
Sam looked back to make sure no one would notice her disappearing act before she slipped around the corner and entered a small fish and chip store. A tall, young woman with glasses and a friendly smile greeted her.
"Hi can I get you anything?" she asked, a prominent Australian drawl in her voice.
"Yes, did a man come in here, tall, silver hair probably would have brought bait?" Sam asked, hoping to god she was going to get a break in her search.
"Yeah, had the same American accent as you? He came in only a few minutes ago and bought some worms, said he was going out today." The shop assistant remembered the gentleman. Sam's eyes lit up in anticipation,
"Do you know where his boat was?" she asked as she felt the adrenalin began to flow through her body once again.
"Yeah, just go outside, turn left and the dock's just there, you might catch him before he goes out for the day." Sam smiled, adjusting the bag over her shoulder.
"Thank you so much." She replied hurriedly before running out the door, across the face of the building and ran out onto the dock, her shoes tapping gently on the wood. A small, green boat sat moored next to the dock, bobbing gently with the current. Time seemed to stand still as she walked cautiously towards it. Just as she reached the boat Sam's heart stopped in her chest as Jack appeared from inside the cabin wearing a black t-shirt and faded jeans, only a few metres away from her. She smiled to herself, she attempted to slow her heart rate and relax, leaning one leg on the side of the boat
"Janet says she'll look after your fish for you." Sam called to him. Jack stopped in the middle of dumping a bag of ice in his esky as he recognised the all too familiar voice. Dropping the remainder of the bag to the floor of the boat carelessly, he turned around slowly and couldn't believe his eyes when he saw her smiling face looking back at him. His heart skipped a beat as his mind began to race with thoughts of what she would say to him, did she know about him being discharged and if she did what did she think about it? Was she here because of the package her sent her? Sam jumped down onto the boat and dropped her bag down beside herself, looking around her at the boat as if taking in every detail.
"I didn't know you owned a boat." She said casually, striking up conversation.
"What's up Carter?" he asked just as casually, skipping past the small talk.
"Janet and General Hammond told me what you did in the time loop, why you were discharged. I just wanted to say thank you, if you hadn't broke the regulations I'd still be back on that planet, being implanted with a Goa'uld." Sam said, her cheerful tone turning slightly quieter. Jack nodded,
"You both would've done the same for me." Jack replied dismissively.
"But that isn't the whole reason you came here is it?" he questioned her, knowing her all too well. Sam looked down in embarrassment, the ever- familiar pink tinge to her cheeks and the "not so innocent" look on her face. Sam pulled Jack's note that accompanied the CD from her back pocket, holding it between her two fingers for him to see.
"I also wanted to let you know I got your package and I just thought it would be nice if I delivered my present in person." She replied coyly, taking a step closer to him. Jack raised his eyebrows in curiosity.
"Present? You came all the way to Australia to give me a present? Ever heard of Fed Ex?" he joked nervously, she was now standing only inches away from him, his heart rate had just jumped to sprinting level.
"I don't think Fed Ex can deliver this kind of present." Sam responded seductively, resting her hand on his chest she took hold of the front of his shirt and pulled him gently towards her. As their lips touched, their minds were suddenly wiped clean, no thoughts about Jack being discharged or anything else but enjoying their moment together, a moment both had been waiting for since they had first met each other. As the kiss deepened, Jack's arms slipped around Sam's hips, pulling her closer towards him as his body screamed for more. Sam felt like she was about to suffocate, reluctantly breaking away from their kiss she gasped for air before saying what she had always wanted to say without fear.
"I love you too."She whispered through a smile. Jack was so amazed that for one of the few times in his life, he was lost for words, his mouth opened and closed but no sound came out. Sam couldn't help but giggle to herself; she had never seen him so flabbergasted in the very long time they had known each other.
"So, speaking of time loops, you never really answered the question Daniel asked you after the first time loop." Sam reminded him, thinking about her conversation with Daniel back on P6Z 435. Jack snapped from his momentary state of shock to reply.
"Do you really want to know?" he asked toying with her, still holding her close to him
"Of course, I wouldn't have asked if I didn't." she pointed out. Jack thought for a moment,
"Okay, I'll tell you what happened... if you come fishing with me today." He bargained, thinking back to the fond memory of fishing with Sam in the time loop. Sam rolled her eyes at him,
"Trust you to say something like that, you've been trying to get me fishing with you for how many years?" She teased. Jack shrugged his shoulders,
"Too many to count." He replied. Sam sighed in resignation.
"Alright you have a deal." Sam agreed in a tone that seemed to be reluctant but she really was excited at the prospect of spending time alone with Jack away from home.
"Excellent. If you wouldn't mind getting the rope we can head out and catch something for dinner." He responded eagerly, planting a quick kiss on her lips before letting her free from his grasp. Soon they were gliding effortlessly over the water, the spray hitting Sam's face as she stood at the keel with Jack gazing out into the morning sun, it was such a beautiful sight Sam almost had to pinch herself to make sure it was real and not just a perfect dream. After a couple of hours of travelling Jack finally stopped the boat in secluded river passage. Sam could see the excitement in his eyes at the prospect of catching dinner but she had other plans. When Jack handed her a rod Sam simply discarded it to the floor of the boat, doing the same with the rod in his hand.
"Hey, wh-"Jack began to protest before he was caught mid sentence by Sam's lips pressing firmly and passionately against his. Sam parted her lips just far enough to ask the one million dollar question.
"Where's the bedroom on this thing?" She whispered seductively.
THE END!!!!
Yes, it's finally the end, after how many months I have finally finished and have had a blast writing this.
I hope you have enjoyed reading this, as I have loved writing it.
If you liked this fan fiction check out my other stories at
All my best to you
O'NeillRoxMyWorld
There is actually a restaurant/fish and chip shop on the water in Cooktown. For privacy and copyright reasons I have not used the restaurants official name but I can tell you their Barramundi is to die for.
The smell of chicken cacciatore wafted through Sam's house as the orange of the sunset filtered through the window. Transferring the pot of rice over the sink she drained it thoroughly and tipped into onto the waiting plate. Stepping over to the stove, Sam turned off the element, slipping on oven mitts she carried the steaming pan over to the plate and poured the chicken dish over the top of the bed of rice. Dumping the pan into the sink Sam took her glass of Asti Riccadonna, her favourite white wine, and her home cooked meal to the dining room table. It felt great to be back in her own house again, to take a shower in her own bathroom, to wear whatever clothes she wanted. Sam felt safe there, the safety she had so desperately craved back on the planet. Pushing those thoughts aside Sam took a sip of wine before gingerly tasting the steaming hot culinary delight before her. She winced as it burnt her tongue slightly, dropping her fork to the plate Sam sighed to herself. A few minutes later a knock came at her front door, interrupting her thoughts about a certain Commanding Officer that had just been fired and the events of the day. Emptying her glass she left the dining room table and jogged over to the door. As she opened it she spotted a young man dressed in blue overalls with the logo FED EX stitched into the fabric standing on her doorstep holding a small box in one hand and a clipboard in the other.
"Major Samantha Carter?" he enquired. Sam nodded and the young man handed her the clipboard and a pen.
"I have a package for you could you please sign at the bottom." He requested in a bored monotone voice, Sam could tell it had been a long day for him, and he wasn't the only one. Sam quickly and illegibly scribbled her name at the bottom of the sheet of paper and gratefully the box from the deliveryman.
"Thank you." She smiled at him hoping it would make some sort of difference to the man's mood, but it didn't, instead she received a simple grunt in reply and the young man walked away from her door, got into his van and sped away from her house.
"Talk about customer service." Sam muttered to herself as she closed the door, her eyes transfixed on the package in her hand. She wasn't expecting anything, it was too small to be something from the SGC and they wouldn't take the security risk of someone other than SGC personnel handling the delivery. The only person she thought it could be from was Mark, she hadn't spoken to him in a while and the thought left her feeling guilty about not keeping in touch more with the only member of her family that still lived on Earth. Flopping down into her comfy couch, completely disregarding the early dinner she had prepared herself, Sam carefully pulled the lid of the book. She peered tentatively inside and found a CD; the cover had "FOR SAM" in large, looping, calligraphy writing. An expression of bewildered she pulled it cautiously out of the box and found a lone piece of small paper underneath. Setting down the CD somewhere next to her on the couch, Sam reached in and grasped the paper between her two fingers. Sam didn't know why but for some reason her hands began to shake, she opened the folded note slowly and instantly recognised the handwriting.
Dear Samantha,
I've never been very good with words so I have found a song that says how much I love you, I have had this for a while but have never found the right time to give it to you.
I will always miss you and cherish the time we have spent together.
Please remember that I will always love you.
Jack.
Sam choked back a sob as tears of joy began to spring from her eyes. She read the note over again in case she was dreaming the words on the page but they were there, for her, in black and white and in his handwriting. Dropping to her lap Sam got up from the couch with CD in had and walked over to her CD player, opening the CD changer Sam shakily pulled the blank, gold CD from it's case and placed it carefully on the tray, not wanting to damage it in any way. It only took a few seconds for it to load and soon the music filled Sam's house, the lyrics cutting through straight to Sam's heart.
Look into my eyes - you will see
What you mean to me
Search your heart - search your soul
And when you find me there you'll search no more
Don't tell me it's not worth tryin' for
You can't tell me it's not worth dyin' for
You know it's true
Everything I do - I do it for you Look into my heart - you will find
There's nothin' there to hide
Take me as I am - take my life
I would give it all I would sacrifice
Don't tell me it's not worth fightin' for
I can't help it there's nothin' I want more
Ya know it's true
Everything I do - I do it for you
Sam covered her face with her hands as her initial trickle of tears turned into a flood to rival the Amazon River. It was finally happening. After over half a decade of keeping their feelings hidden from one another Jack had finally said the words Sam had been longing to hear, I love you. Through being nearly frozen in Antarctica, captured by the Goa'uld countless number of times, fighting the Replicators and other life- threatening missions they were finally admitting their love for each other. She felt like running through the streets and yelling it at the top of her lungs, he loved her and she loved him, thoughts of the regulations entered her mind briefly but the excitement of the moment made them dissolve into oblivion.
There's no love - like your love
And no other - could give more love
There's nowhere - unless you're there
All the time - all the way Don't tell me it's not worth tryin' for
I can't help it there's nothin' I want more
I would fight for you - I'd lie for you
Walk the wire for you - Ya I'd die for you Ya know it's true
Everything I do - I do it for you
As the song began to fade out Sam rushed to the phone and frantically punched in the SGC's number hoping to catch him before he left.
"Hello may I help you?" a young, female voice asked.
"This is Major Carter, Serial Number 5448 8214, I need to speak with Colonel O'Neill immediately." Sam demanded, she could feel her heart beating faster than it ever had before.
"One moment please." The operator put her on hold for a brief moment before Sam heard someone pick up on the other end of the line. Her heart skipped a beat as she waited to hear his sweet voice but it wasn't the voice she was expecting.
"This is Hammond." The General answered. Sam opened her mouth to blurt out that she loved him too but stopped dead when she heard the General's voice. She swallowed hard, clearing her throat.
"Ah, General sir, I was wanting to speak with the Colonel is he there?" Sam asked, her voice wavering slightly.
"I'm sorry Major but Colonel O'Neill left the base half an hour ago." Sam almost felt like strangling her superior officer.
"Goodbye sir." Sam ended the call abruptly, picking up the receiver again and dialling her office number. It rang for only a few times before Major Adermann answered sleepily.
"Major, have you seen Colonel O'Neill recently?" she asked fiercely, not wanting to waste any time with small talk.
"Ah well he came by here a half hour, 45 minutes ago." The Major recalled briefly.
"Did he say anything else, where he was going?" Sam enquired.
"Well he did ask me to sell his car for him, I don't know what that means exactly." he replied, sounding as confused as she was at that moment.
"Thank you, goodbye Major." Again hanging the phone and ending the conversation first. Grabbing her car keys from table beside the phone, Sam raced to the door; snatching her leather jacket from the stand beside it. Jumping into her car, the tyres squealed as she pulled out from her driveway and sped towards Jack's house.
For a trip that usually took twenty minutes, Sam screeched to halt in front of his house only ten minutes after she had left her own house. Not bothering to take her keys from the ignition, Sam jumped from her car and raced to the front door, pulling out her spare house key that had been given to her for use in emergencies. She shoved it into the door lock and pushed it open. The house was pitch back; the only light in house was the glow of his fish tank where his angelfish swam around, like Sam was, desperate to find something that wasn't there. Flipping on the light switch beside the door, Sam glanced around the room but there was no sign of Jack there.
"Colonel? Jack are you here?" she yelled, suddenly something caught her eye; a lone piece of paper was sitting on his usually messy coffee table. Walking cautiously over to it, she picked it up and skimmed the contents.
Danny, Teal'c, Carter or whoever you are.
I've gone on a very extended holiday; don't try my mobile or pager you'll find them at the bottom of my fish tank as my fishes' new exhibit.
The Man Formerly Known As Colonel O'Neill
P.S. Speaking of fish, will someone feed Skaara while I'm gone?
Looking over her shoulder at the tank she spotted two black objects behind the large, brown rock that had been placed in the tank originally.
"Oh for cryin' out loud," Sam muttered to herself, she scrunched the paper up angrily in her hand. Sam's mind raced, trying to think of how she could track him down.
"Holiday, Holiday, Holiday. Okay he wouldn't go to his usual places because we would just follow him there. Think, think Sam!" she cursed at herself when suddenly it hit her.
"Airport..." she whispered to herself. Whipping out her cell phone Sam pushed the number in for Directory Assistance.
"Colorado Springs Airport." She demanded of the operator. She tapped her foot impatient as her call was diverted; it felt like an eternity before the operator at the airport answered her call.
"Colorado Spring Airport how may I help you?" she asked courteously. Sam jumped at the voice.
"This is Major Carter, Unites States Air Force, I need to know if a Jack O'Neill is registered on any of your flight manifests." Sam enquired.
"I'm sorry mam I'm not a liberty to release that information." The operator replied as she had been trained to do. Sam felt like she was about exploded in frustration.
"What's your name?" Sam asked curiously.
"Annabel Stevens." The operator replied slowly and in clear annoyance.
"Okay, if you could just wait a moment I'll call the President and tell him that a Miss Annabel Stevens is obstructing official business of the United State Air Force. Now is that with a "v" or a "ph" in "Stevens"?" Sam enquired threateningly with clear sarcasm in her voice. The line went silent for a few seconds as Annabel thought over Sam's threat.
"Is that O'Neill with one L or two mam?" she asked, giving into Sam's full- blown lie.
"Two, Jonathan O'Neill." Sam repeated. Annabel enter the name into the database, it took nearly a minute for the computer to respond.
"A Jonathan O'Neill boarded a flight to Singapore, with a connecting flight to Cairns, Australia with another connecting flight to Cooktown only a few minutes ago." She informed her customer with the information from the computer screen in front of her. Sam's eyebrows shot up in momentary surprise, Australia, not exactly the place she thought Jack would be. Making a split second, erratic decision Sam dug into her jeans pocket and pulled out her wallet.
"Would you please book me on the next flight, the same as his, to Australia, I'll give you my credit card number, the ticket in the name of Samantha Carter." She requested, quoting the number on her American Express card, something she rarely ever used, but always seemed to come in handy.
"That flight will be leaving at 7.45am tomorrow morning."
"Thank you."
A small duffel bag sat on the seat beside her, a couple of essentials for the trip half way across the world. She was almost at the airport when her cell phone rang. Picking up her hands free she placed the microphone on her light blue blouse and the earpiece into her right ear, pressing the accept button on her phone.
"Hello?" she asked distractedly, not really in the mood to talk.
"Hey Sam it's Janet, just wanted to know if you wanted to go out tonight, I'll pick up from your house now and I'll drive. Get you use to good things Earth has to offer." Janet joked, remembering Sam had just come back from off world.
"I can't Janet, I'm on my way to catch a plane to Australia." She said frankly, under the circumstances she couldn't come up with a feasible excuse of the top of her head.
"Australia? Why? Shouldn't you be on your way to work?" Janet asked in confusion.
"Because that's where the Colonel is." She replied cryptically, turning into Airport Drive, the clock in her car read 7:20.
"I still don't understand why are you going?" Janet demanded a straight answer out of her best friend; it was slight erratic behaviour on Sam's part.
"Because he finally said it." Sam declared happily, it was the first person she had told.
"Said what!" Janet raised her voice in frustration.
"Said that he loves me!" Janet's jaw dropped in disbelief, a smile of happiness covering the rest of her face.
"Your kidding, oh my gosh that's great Sam!" she exclaimed. Sam couldn't help but smile in pure ecstasy; she hadn't slept the night before because she was so nervous and excited about seeing him. Janet knew how long Sam had waited for this.
"When Teal'c and Daniel get home tell them I've gone on holidays for a few days but tell them why ok?" Sam requested.
"Sure, oh my gosh Sam! Have fun, bring me back a souvenir." Janet responded as Sam pulled into a parking spot in front of the airport.
"Sure Janet, see you when I get back."
Sam never thought a flight could be so long, she could have sworn she was travelling by paddleboard across the great oceans of Earth. She managed to stay awake with sheer adrenalin from the excitement on the first leg to Singapore but only after half an hour of boarding the second plane to Australia the lack of sleep caught up with her, she dozed off with Jack's note clutched in her hand. After over 24 hours of flying, the plane touchdown in the right country, the largest island on Earth, the Land Down Under, Australia. The voice of the pilot filtered thought Sam's sleep.
"Welcome to Cairns, Australia. I hope you enjoyed your flight and thank you for flying Qantas Airlines this morning." Sam wiped the sleep from her eyes and peered out her window into the blinding sunlight of the early North Queensland morning. Glancing at her watch, she jumped when she saw the time; it was only twenty minutes until her plane would leave for Cooktown. Squeezing through the queue of people getting off the plane, Sam clutched her bags as she ran down the tunnel into the main area of the airport. In comparison to most airports she had seen it was miniature, it could only have been as big as two of the briefing rooms back at the SGC. Noticing the customer service desk in centre of room Sam shoved her way through the people waiting at the carousel.
After finding out the airport to Cooktown was outside the main airport terminal, Sam raced outside and waved down a taxi and soon she was speeding away from the main airport, along the main road until she saw a building no bigger than a toilet block on the right, a small plane sitting on the runaway behind it. Looking frantically at her watch, she only had five minutes until the plane would leave without her. The taxi driver performed a wild U turn and pulled to a screeching halt in front of the building. Sam threw a $20 note at him and jumped out of the cab, running at full sprint towards the doors. Practically knocking an elderly gentleman with a cane to the floor, Sam hit the service desk at full pace.
"Samantha Carter for the flight to Cooktown." She said breathlessly. The young gentleman behind the desk smiled warmly.
"Don't worry Miss Carter, you didn't miss the flight, we are boarding right now."
The plane to Cooktown only had 40 seats for passengers: the light air craft flew over vast forest areas and showed fantastic views of the ocean.
"Ah so that's why he came here, fishing." Sam finally realised, one of Jack O'Neill's passions. The plane touched down on a dirt runway surrounded by dry, brown bush only 45 minutes later. As she stepped off the plane she was hit by the extreme heat. Spotting a tourist bus parked just outside the tiny room that constituted the Cooktown Airport, Sam saw a group of elderly people, tourists she could see by the cameras hanging around their necks, gravitated towards it.
"Okay blend in Sam." She mumbled to herself as she jogged over to the group and mingled in amongst them. The crowd of people practically pushed her onto the bus, no arguments from Sam, she needed a way to get to the main area of town. The bus jumped over the bumpy dirt roads that led into town, the tyres throwing up the red dirt behind them. A lady who introduced herself to Sam as Agnes was chatting away about her children back in England.
"So what is such a lovely woman like yourself doing here? Don't you have a husband back home in the States?" she asked Sam curiously. Sam smiled at her tolerantly.
"No, I'm actually here on holiday with my husband." She lied; it was only a little lie in Sam's opinion. Agnes beamed at Sam when she heard her reply.
"Oh that must be so romantic! How did you meet him?" she discretely poked her nose in Sam's personal life.
"We worked together, he was my boss." Sam replied simply.
"Oh, a forbidden love." Agnes winked at her as if being let in on the most top-secret relationship on the face of the Earth.
*You have no idea* Sam thought to herself. The dirt roads soon made way for pavement as the bus drove through a little, sleepy town, on the left they passed a Bakery, various little arts and crafts shops and even a Post Office that was set up in an old historic house. Soon the ocean came into view, the sparkling blue water reflecting the sunlight off the surface. Small boats bobbed on the water's surface as children fished from the safety of the edge of the land. The bus pulled up in front of a restaurant called the "FISH AND CHIP EMPORIUM" that was written on the sign in large blue letters. The group piled off the bus and walked towards the entrance of the restaurant but something made Sam stop dead in her tracks, the other passengers pushed past her to enter the eating place. A small sign was placed in window.
BAIT SOLD AROUND THE CORNER.
Sam looked back to make sure no one would notice her disappearing act before she slipped around the corner and entered a small fish and chip store. A tall, young woman with glasses and a friendly smile greeted her.
"Hi can I get you anything?" she asked, a prominent Australian drawl in her voice.
"Yes, did a man come in here, tall, silver hair probably would have brought bait?" Sam asked, hoping to god she was going to get a break in her search.
"Yeah, had the same American accent as you? He came in only a few minutes ago and bought some worms, said he was going out today." The shop assistant remembered the gentleman. Sam's eyes lit up in anticipation,
"Do you know where his boat was?" she asked as she felt the adrenalin began to flow through her body once again.
"Yeah, just go outside, turn left and the dock's just there, you might catch him before he goes out for the day." Sam smiled, adjusting the bag over her shoulder.
"Thank you so much." She replied hurriedly before running out the door, across the face of the building and ran out onto the dock, her shoes tapping gently on the wood. A small, green boat sat moored next to the dock, bobbing gently with the current. Time seemed to stand still as she walked cautiously towards it. Just as she reached the boat Sam's heart stopped in her chest as Jack appeared from inside the cabin wearing a black t-shirt and faded jeans, only a few metres away from her. She smiled to herself, she attempted to slow her heart rate and relax, leaning one leg on the side of the boat
"Janet says she'll look after your fish for you." Sam called to him. Jack stopped in the middle of dumping a bag of ice in his esky as he recognised the all too familiar voice. Dropping the remainder of the bag to the floor of the boat carelessly, he turned around slowly and couldn't believe his eyes when he saw her smiling face looking back at him. His heart skipped a beat as his mind began to race with thoughts of what she would say to him, did she know about him being discharged and if she did what did she think about it? Was she here because of the package her sent her? Sam jumped down onto the boat and dropped her bag down beside herself, looking around her at the boat as if taking in every detail.
"I didn't know you owned a boat." She said casually, striking up conversation.
"What's up Carter?" he asked just as casually, skipping past the small talk.
"Janet and General Hammond told me what you did in the time loop, why you were discharged. I just wanted to say thank you, if you hadn't broke the regulations I'd still be back on that planet, being implanted with a Goa'uld." Sam said, her cheerful tone turning slightly quieter. Jack nodded,
"You both would've done the same for me." Jack replied dismissively.
"But that isn't the whole reason you came here is it?" he questioned her, knowing her all too well. Sam looked down in embarrassment, the ever- familiar pink tinge to her cheeks and the "not so innocent" look on her face. Sam pulled Jack's note that accompanied the CD from her back pocket, holding it between her two fingers for him to see.
"I also wanted to let you know I got your package and I just thought it would be nice if I delivered my present in person." She replied coyly, taking a step closer to him. Jack raised his eyebrows in curiosity.
"Present? You came all the way to Australia to give me a present? Ever heard of Fed Ex?" he joked nervously, she was now standing only inches away from him, his heart rate had just jumped to sprinting level.
"I don't think Fed Ex can deliver this kind of present." Sam responded seductively, resting her hand on his chest she took hold of the front of his shirt and pulled him gently towards her. As their lips touched, their minds were suddenly wiped clean, no thoughts about Jack being discharged or anything else but enjoying their moment together, a moment both had been waiting for since they had first met each other. As the kiss deepened, Jack's arms slipped around Sam's hips, pulling her closer towards him as his body screamed for more. Sam felt like she was about to suffocate, reluctantly breaking away from their kiss she gasped for air before saying what she had always wanted to say without fear.
"I love you too."She whispered through a smile. Jack was so amazed that for one of the few times in his life, he was lost for words, his mouth opened and closed but no sound came out. Sam couldn't help but giggle to herself; she had never seen him so flabbergasted in the very long time they had known each other.
"So, speaking of time loops, you never really answered the question Daniel asked you after the first time loop." Sam reminded him, thinking about her conversation with Daniel back on P6Z 435. Jack snapped from his momentary state of shock to reply.
"Do you really want to know?" he asked toying with her, still holding her close to him
"Of course, I wouldn't have asked if I didn't." she pointed out. Jack thought for a moment,
"Okay, I'll tell you what happened... if you come fishing with me today." He bargained, thinking back to the fond memory of fishing with Sam in the time loop. Sam rolled her eyes at him,
"Trust you to say something like that, you've been trying to get me fishing with you for how many years?" She teased. Jack shrugged his shoulders,
"Too many to count." He replied. Sam sighed in resignation.
"Alright you have a deal." Sam agreed in a tone that seemed to be reluctant but she really was excited at the prospect of spending time alone with Jack away from home.
"Excellent. If you wouldn't mind getting the rope we can head out and catch something for dinner." He responded eagerly, planting a quick kiss on her lips before letting her free from his grasp. Soon they were gliding effortlessly over the water, the spray hitting Sam's face as she stood at the keel with Jack gazing out into the morning sun, it was such a beautiful sight Sam almost had to pinch herself to make sure it was real and not just a perfect dream. After a couple of hours of travelling Jack finally stopped the boat in secluded river passage. Sam could see the excitement in his eyes at the prospect of catching dinner but she had other plans. When Jack handed her a rod Sam simply discarded it to the floor of the boat, doing the same with the rod in his hand.
"Hey, wh-"Jack began to protest before he was caught mid sentence by Sam's lips pressing firmly and passionately against his. Sam parted her lips just far enough to ask the one million dollar question.
"Where's the bedroom on this thing?" She whispered seductively.
THE END!!!!
Yes, it's finally the end, after how many months I have finally finished and have had a blast writing this.
I hope you have enjoyed reading this, as I have loved writing it.
If you liked this fan fiction check out my other stories at
All my best to you
O'NeillRoxMyWorld