Letting Go
**
Jack sleepily opened his eyes as the form lying behind him stirred pressing against his naked back. Pawing at his back the small body moved closer biting playfully and licking at old combat wounds. It all of a sudden disappeared, turning in surprise he saw Sam standing behind the couch cuddling into the ginger cats warm fur, she was already dressed in her fatigues and long sleeved black shirt. "Hey you, leave the colonel alone." The only response it made was a small meow before she set him down and he padded into the kitchen for his food. "Sorry about him."
"It's ok, what time's it?" he sat up slowly rubbing at his eyes then pulling the quilt round his waist. Despite his grand plans the most him and Sam done was talk about Jonas and old missions until it was too late to drive home so Sam had let him crash on the couch.
"It's seven, coffee?"
"Yeah that'd be great."
"I'll let you get ready, you know where the shower is."
"Thanks," Jack grabbed his gear and headed upstairs followed closely by a curious Schrodinger who was quickly called back by Sam.
**
The blue sea whooshed out before them, drawing back it settled into a shimmering pond. The four comrades strolled up the ramp, Jack, as tradition for him, drew his hand across the blue causing a ripple before he stepped into the unknown followed by his team.
A moment later they were across the threshold looking at an untouched wilderness. "Wow, look at those big green things, I hear they're trees, never seen one before... though...oh wait! I have." Jack's usual sarcastic humour broke through the open silence. "Jonas with me, Carter your with Teal'c, stay in radio range, we'll rendezvous back here in five hours." They split into their groups, Jack followed a rather over excited Jonas to the ruins as he bubbled about there possible connection to the ancients. Teal'c left with Sam in the opposite direction towards a river to collect mineral samples.
**
After nearly three hours of listening to Jonas rant on about ancient symbols, architecture as well as following him in every direction as he followed the path of a small stone wall. Jack decided to save his sanity. "I'm going to scout ahead, I'll get you here."
"Yeah...sure." Jonas was only half listening to what Jack was saying as he made sketches.
A small stream made the path Jack followed for twenty minutes in the direction that Sam and Teal'c had headed. The stream widened into a river forcing Jack up the bank running alongside the verge of a forest. Buzzing from overhead drew his attention from the tranquil splashing of the water below. The familiar form of a UAV soared over his head. Jonas had requested an aerial survey to determine if there could be any intact ruins further a field. On lowering his gaze again a movement between the trees caught his attention, bringing up his gun he released the safety and stalked through the trees towards the disturbance. 50 yards off he stopped dead, taking cover behind a patch of brambles he watched in sheer confusion as Teal'c forced Sam back against a tree. With one hand he had her wrists above her head, his body held her tightly in place, back to the tree, front to him, drawing up his free hand he cupped her breast as their lips crashed together. Jacks mind swirled with a thousand questions, the main was if Sam was consenting to this, even though Jack knew Teal'c would never intentionally hurt Sam he couldn't shake the idea. In the seconds since he had first seen this he got ready to move forward in case she was in danger.
But what happened next shocked him beyond belief. Sam freed her hands, but instead of fighting off Teal'c, as Jack would have thought she pulled his jacket off showing his bare muscled arms and black sleeveless top. Continuing their passionate kiss, Sam's jacket was also discarded to the ground. Pushing against her lover the pair crashed back to the soft earth. Releasing their lips they took in heavy breaths, Teal'c smiled up at her reddened face; as soon as her breathing had levelled of he assaulted her lips with his own once more. Jack felt the icy knife of betrayal stab him square in the back. Jack turned his back on them; the echoes of Sam's laughter floated to his ears forcing him to slink off to avoid detection and return to Jonas who appeared unaware that Jack had actually left.
Jacks head spun with a hundred questions, a feeling of betrayal overwhelmed him, the image of his love and best friend pressed against a tree flashed into his mind repeatedly making him feel nauseous. He finally decided to confront Teal'c later.
**
Sam lay unconscious on the infirmary bed; Teal'c sat vigil by her side. Six hours earlier SG-1 had stepped safely through the gate, Sam had went to the lab to profile the mineral samples, Jonas to his lab to cross-reference symbols, Teal'c to the gym and Jack to his office, he needed time to think about Sam and Teal'c.
Less than an hour later a tremor flew through the base, a powerful explosion rang out as the bases warning lights flashed. Medical teams flew through the corridors to the centre of the blast, Sam's lab. The bases alert system piped up, "Medical alert in science lab 3, repeat, medical alert in science lab 3." As soon as the remainder of SG-1 heard this they got to their feet and ran towards it. Teal'c was first there, puling debris away he revealed the still, bruised figure of Sam. The med team removed her just as Jack and Jonas arrived. All three men loyally followed the entourage of medics and Janet to the infirmary that they were locked out of for nearly three hours. After they were allowed in Teal'c instinctively took the 'back seat' as Jack sat closest to Sam, Jonas who still felt out of place hovered at the edge.
24 hours later Jack reappeared at the infirmary after damage control. Teal'c looked into Jack's eyes as he crossed the room and Jack looked into his. He stopped mid-step the stoic brown eyes of Teal'c were glazed with unshed tears while streams of earlier ones marked his dark skin that was now slightly reddened from his crying. His lips quaked as he tried to speak, "There is...no...change, O'Neill," as he muttered the words he forced back his tears. Fraiser had diagnosed Sam with a severe concussion and a few cracked ribs, considering the state of the lab she was lucky to be alive and for a while it been touch and go, but Janet ensured a full recovery. It turned out that the minerals she collected on the planet react violently with common acids.
"I know I've just came from Fraisers office," he moved to Teal'c side and put a firm reassuring hand on his shoulder. "I know why your this...well why your," lost for a way to tell a jaffa he was crying he decided to cut the crap, "I know about you and Sam, I saw you on the planet with her."
Teal'c dropped his head and turned it from Jack in dishonour, "I am sorry O'Neill, I know you love her and I have betrayed you in a most dishonourable way, you are angry with me, I will accept my shame...if you wish me to leave I shall." He tried to stand but Jack refused to remove his hand.
"I...I don't want you to leave, but I am angry, furious and yes betrayed," his voice was stern. "Answer me this, do you love her?"
"I love her with all my heart and soul, I would gladly die for her." Teal'c spoke through his tears with conviction. "I never allowed you to know my true feelings for I knew yours."
"When did you first...I mean you and her, when? Why...?"
"We became closer when you were trapped on the moon with Maybourne, shortly after your return we became intimate." He stopped to find the words to explain why, "Why we are together cannot be explained beyond the fact that we are in love." Jack let go of his shoulder and moved away from him, standing with his hands forced down on a unit and back turned he tried to hide his own tears.
"Does Sam know how I feel about her?" jack spoke slowly through gritted teeth.
"She does not..."Teal'c tried to say something further but jack cut him off.
"Why didn't you tell me?" he now turned back to Teal'c who had been watching him, tear stained brown eyes met.
"I could not bring myself to tell you... I was a coward."
"Don't you think it would have been better for me to hear it from you than to see it." Teal'c didn't have an answer for that. "Look Teal'c I came here to tell you something and I need you just to listen." He grabbed a spare seat and sat it as the foot of Sam's bed facing Teal'c. "I was angry, I still am, and it's true that I don't think our relationship will be entirely the same again. But I can't blame you for it; if I had had the chance I would have done the same. You know I was considering telling Sam how I felt, I've only just realised how selfish that would have been and what it would have done to her. I also realised how much you love her, today you done what I have done many times before, running to her aid, getting her out of danger and not leaving her side until she wakes up. What I'm trying to tell you is...I'm glad Sam has found someone who she can be with, without having to worry about Regs, and I'm happy for you, take care of her for me." He got up and made to leave, Teal'c still a little unclear about what just happened watched him.
"O'Neill," jack stopped without turning back to Teal'c.
"Sometimes you love someone enough to let them go." With that he walked out of the infirmary.
The End
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**
Jack sleepily opened his eyes as the form lying behind him stirred pressing against his naked back. Pawing at his back the small body moved closer biting playfully and licking at old combat wounds. It all of a sudden disappeared, turning in surprise he saw Sam standing behind the couch cuddling into the ginger cats warm fur, she was already dressed in her fatigues and long sleeved black shirt. "Hey you, leave the colonel alone." The only response it made was a small meow before she set him down and he padded into the kitchen for his food. "Sorry about him."
"It's ok, what time's it?" he sat up slowly rubbing at his eyes then pulling the quilt round his waist. Despite his grand plans the most him and Sam done was talk about Jonas and old missions until it was too late to drive home so Sam had let him crash on the couch.
"It's seven, coffee?"
"Yeah that'd be great."
"I'll let you get ready, you know where the shower is."
"Thanks," Jack grabbed his gear and headed upstairs followed closely by a curious Schrodinger who was quickly called back by Sam.
**
The blue sea whooshed out before them, drawing back it settled into a shimmering pond. The four comrades strolled up the ramp, Jack, as tradition for him, drew his hand across the blue causing a ripple before he stepped into the unknown followed by his team.
A moment later they were across the threshold looking at an untouched wilderness. "Wow, look at those big green things, I hear they're trees, never seen one before... though...oh wait! I have." Jack's usual sarcastic humour broke through the open silence. "Jonas with me, Carter your with Teal'c, stay in radio range, we'll rendezvous back here in five hours." They split into their groups, Jack followed a rather over excited Jonas to the ruins as he bubbled about there possible connection to the ancients. Teal'c left with Sam in the opposite direction towards a river to collect mineral samples.
**
After nearly three hours of listening to Jonas rant on about ancient symbols, architecture as well as following him in every direction as he followed the path of a small stone wall. Jack decided to save his sanity. "I'm going to scout ahead, I'll get you here."
"Yeah...sure." Jonas was only half listening to what Jack was saying as he made sketches.
A small stream made the path Jack followed for twenty minutes in the direction that Sam and Teal'c had headed. The stream widened into a river forcing Jack up the bank running alongside the verge of a forest. Buzzing from overhead drew his attention from the tranquil splashing of the water below. The familiar form of a UAV soared over his head. Jonas had requested an aerial survey to determine if there could be any intact ruins further a field. On lowering his gaze again a movement between the trees caught his attention, bringing up his gun he released the safety and stalked through the trees towards the disturbance. 50 yards off he stopped dead, taking cover behind a patch of brambles he watched in sheer confusion as Teal'c forced Sam back against a tree. With one hand he had her wrists above her head, his body held her tightly in place, back to the tree, front to him, drawing up his free hand he cupped her breast as their lips crashed together. Jacks mind swirled with a thousand questions, the main was if Sam was consenting to this, even though Jack knew Teal'c would never intentionally hurt Sam he couldn't shake the idea. In the seconds since he had first seen this he got ready to move forward in case she was in danger.
But what happened next shocked him beyond belief. Sam freed her hands, but instead of fighting off Teal'c, as Jack would have thought she pulled his jacket off showing his bare muscled arms and black sleeveless top. Continuing their passionate kiss, Sam's jacket was also discarded to the ground. Pushing against her lover the pair crashed back to the soft earth. Releasing their lips they took in heavy breaths, Teal'c smiled up at her reddened face; as soon as her breathing had levelled of he assaulted her lips with his own once more. Jack felt the icy knife of betrayal stab him square in the back. Jack turned his back on them; the echoes of Sam's laughter floated to his ears forcing him to slink off to avoid detection and return to Jonas who appeared unaware that Jack had actually left.
Jacks head spun with a hundred questions, a feeling of betrayal overwhelmed him, the image of his love and best friend pressed against a tree flashed into his mind repeatedly making him feel nauseous. He finally decided to confront Teal'c later.
**
Sam lay unconscious on the infirmary bed; Teal'c sat vigil by her side. Six hours earlier SG-1 had stepped safely through the gate, Sam had went to the lab to profile the mineral samples, Jonas to his lab to cross-reference symbols, Teal'c to the gym and Jack to his office, he needed time to think about Sam and Teal'c.
Less than an hour later a tremor flew through the base, a powerful explosion rang out as the bases warning lights flashed. Medical teams flew through the corridors to the centre of the blast, Sam's lab. The bases alert system piped up, "Medical alert in science lab 3, repeat, medical alert in science lab 3." As soon as the remainder of SG-1 heard this they got to their feet and ran towards it. Teal'c was first there, puling debris away he revealed the still, bruised figure of Sam. The med team removed her just as Jack and Jonas arrived. All three men loyally followed the entourage of medics and Janet to the infirmary that they were locked out of for nearly three hours. After they were allowed in Teal'c instinctively took the 'back seat' as Jack sat closest to Sam, Jonas who still felt out of place hovered at the edge.
24 hours later Jack reappeared at the infirmary after damage control. Teal'c looked into Jack's eyes as he crossed the room and Jack looked into his. He stopped mid-step the stoic brown eyes of Teal'c were glazed with unshed tears while streams of earlier ones marked his dark skin that was now slightly reddened from his crying. His lips quaked as he tried to speak, "There is...no...change, O'Neill," as he muttered the words he forced back his tears. Fraiser had diagnosed Sam with a severe concussion and a few cracked ribs, considering the state of the lab she was lucky to be alive and for a while it been touch and go, but Janet ensured a full recovery. It turned out that the minerals she collected on the planet react violently with common acids.
"I know I've just came from Fraisers office," he moved to Teal'c side and put a firm reassuring hand on his shoulder. "I know why your this...well why your," lost for a way to tell a jaffa he was crying he decided to cut the crap, "I know about you and Sam, I saw you on the planet with her."
Teal'c dropped his head and turned it from Jack in dishonour, "I am sorry O'Neill, I know you love her and I have betrayed you in a most dishonourable way, you are angry with me, I will accept my shame...if you wish me to leave I shall." He tried to stand but Jack refused to remove his hand.
"I...I don't want you to leave, but I am angry, furious and yes betrayed," his voice was stern. "Answer me this, do you love her?"
"I love her with all my heart and soul, I would gladly die for her." Teal'c spoke through his tears with conviction. "I never allowed you to know my true feelings for I knew yours."
"When did you first...I mean you and her, when? Why...?"
"We became closer when you were trapped on the moon with Maybourne, shortly after your return we became intimate." He stopped to find the words to explain why, "Why we are together cannot be explained beyond the fact that we are in love." Jack let go of his shoulder and moved away from him, standing with his hands forced down on a unit and back turned he tried to hide his own tears.
"Does Sam know how I feel about her?" jack spoke slowly through gritted teeth.
"She does not..."Teal'c tried to say something further but jack cut him off.
"Why didn't you tell me?" he now turned back to Teal'c who had been watching him, tear stained brown eyes met.
"I could not bring myself to tell you... I was a coward."
"Don't you think it would have been better for me to hear it from you than to see it." Teal'c didn't have an answer for that. "Look Teal'c I came here to tell you something and I need you just to listen." He grabbed a spare seat and sat it as the foot of Sam's bed facing Teal'c. "I was angry, I still am, and it's true that I don't think our relationship will be entirely the same again. But I can't blame you for it; if I had had the chance I would have done the same. You know I was considering telling Sam how I felt, I've only just realised how selfish that would have been and what it would have done to her. I also realised how much you love her, today you done what I have done many times before, running to her aid, getting her out of danger and not leaving her side until she wakes up. What I'm trying to tell you is...I'm glad Sam has found someone who she can be with, without having to worry about Regs, and I'm happy for you, take care of her for me." He got up and made to leave, Teal'c still a little unclear about what just happened watched him.
"O'Neill," jack stopped without turning back to Teal'c.
"Sometimes you love someone enough to let them go." With that he walked out of the infirmary.
The End
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