Epilogue
The knock on the door woke Jack from a restless sleep. He opened his eyes, slowly, unwilling to wake up if he didn't absolutely have to. Maybe it was a salesman, and they'd leave if he didn't answer. After all, it was Thursday morning. No one was home on Thursday morning. Everyone was at work, or at school. The only people staying home were people with little kids, and people with dogs who were still recovering from eating something they shouldn't have on other planets. Jack had to assume there weren't a lot of people like that in his neighborhood.
There was a snort in his ear, and it made him shiver when the warm breath tickled his sensitive skin.
"I'm not getting up," He mumbled to Jaffer. The two of them were stretched out on his couch in the living room where'd they been sleeping since early the evening before. Actually, Jack was stretched out on the couch; Jaffer was more or less stretched out on Jack. His black body half supported by the back of the sofa, and half supported by Jack, and his head resting against Jack's shoulder, which put his nose right near Jack's ear. It was an extremely comfortable position for both of them, as long as you didn't mind a hundred plus pound blanket. And Jack didn't.
The knock sounded again, and this time Jaffer licked Jack's ear, causing him to shiver again, and scowl.
"Stop. They'll go away."
He scratched Jaffer's jaw, and the black lab sighed in pleasure at the touch and closed his eyes. Yeah, they'd go away. Jack closed his eyes as well. A little more sleep was definitely in order.
"Jack?"
The voice from the other side of the door was Jacob's, and Jaffer recognized it and rolled off Jack, one foot accidentally coming down in the absolute worst spot possible, pinching parts of Jack that were most sensitive, which woke him up completely and immediately.
"Hey! I might want to use that sometime, mister," Jack grumbled, rolling off the couch as well.
Jaffer didn't look at all apologetic, but he did wag his tail cheerfully as he headed to the door, watching and waiting for Jack to come over as well. It was good to see the black lab looking so chipper, and Jack couldn't have been mad at him, even if he'd done the foot thing on purpose. Which he might have, Jack realized. The knock sounded again.
"I'm coming!"
He went to the door, and opened it. Sure enough, there was Jacob standing on his doorstep, his hands in his pockets. Jaffer moved slightly to stand between Jack and his company, but Jacob reached down and stroked the black nose cheerfully.
"Hey Jack. How's he doing?"
"Good, Jacob." Jack was always willing to discuss Jaffer. "He's a bit sleepy, but I think he's just being lazy, I don't think it's a side affect of whatever it was."
"Are you sure?"
"Why don't you try to sneak in the house tonight, and we'll see?"
Jacob smiled.
"I'll pass, thanks."
"Where's Sam?"
"She's at the base."
"Why aren't you with her?" Jack asked. "Come to talk to me again?"
His voice was calm, and his expression was even more so, which told Jacob that he probably wasn't being serious. But he wasn't sure. He nodded.
"Actually, I have. Can I come in?"
Jack was surprised, but he nodded. If Jacob had come to pick another fight – and really Jack couldn't believe that he had – it was just as well to have it happen in his own house, where he could hide the evidence if he ended up killing the old coot. He moved to the side, and Jaffer and Jack both watched as Jacob walked into the house and to the living room.
"Something to drink?" Jack asked, closing the door.
"Nah, thanks. I told Sam I'd meet her for lunch, so I can't stay long."
Jack nodded, then leaned against the back of the couch, and waited to hear what the older man wanted to say to him.
Jacob's hands went back into his pockets as the Tok'ra met his gaze for a long moment, apparently trying to figure out what he wanted to say, or how he wanted to say it. Jack was patient, though. He waited, giving the man whatever time he needed.
"I'm not against you marrying Sam, Jack." Jacob said, finally. "You're good for her, I know that. You love her, which is even more important, and you come with a handy security alarm." He looked over at Jaffer, who had jumped up into an old recliner and was watching the two of them from where he'd stretched out.
Jack smiled, slightly.
"Did she tell you to come and make up?"
Jacob's smile echoed his own, but he shook his head.
"No. She told me a lot last night, and not all of it was nice, but she didn't send me here. As a matter of fact, she doesn't know I'm here, and I'd like to keep it that way for the time being."
"Why does that sound familiar?" Jack asked sarcastically. He wasn't upset though. Jacob had already said he wasn't against him marrying Sam, and he'd sounded sincere.
Jacob pulled his hand out of his pocket and walked over to stand in front of Jack.
"I'm here to give this to you," he said, handing over a tiny box.
Jack took it and opened it. Inside was a delicate, and beautiful, diamond ring. It wasn't brand new, but it was lovely, and although the golden band was worn smooth it only added to the charm of the piece. Jack looked it over for a moment, and then looked up at Jacob, whose expression was completely unreadable.
"Jacob, I can't marry you.... I'm already engaged."
The Tok'ra laughed, but then turned serious.
"That's Sam's mother's wedding ring, Jack. When you marry Sam, I think it'd be fitting if that was the ring you put on her finger."
Jack looked back down at the ring.
"I've carried that ring on the same chain as my dog tags for a long time," Jacob said, softly. "I've just been waiting for the right time to give it to Sam." He shrugged. "The more I think about it, though, the more I think it'd be better coming from you."
"It'll be an honor, Jacob," Jack said softly, understanding the precious gift he was being given. "I'll make sure she knows that it came from you, though."
"Let it be a surprise, though, okay?"
Jack nodded. "If that's the way you want it."
"I'd prefer it that way."
"So I can marry Sam?" Jack asked.
"You're going to anyways, right?"
"Yup."
"Then you can marry her."
Jack smiled.
"Thanks."
"But you'd better take care of her, Jack." There was no mistaking the concern in his voice, and Jack nodded.
"I will, Jacob."
"You, too, Jaffer." Jacob told the black lab, who wagged his tail. Duh. Of course he'd take care of Sam! She was his second favorite person in the whole wide world, and she smelled better than Jack!
Jacob looked at his watch. "I'd better get going."
"Thanks for coming by, Jacob," Jack said, putting the ring carefully back into its box and then putting it in his pocket. He was good at hiding rings, so he'd have no problem keeping it a secret until the time was right.
"Sam says you and Jaffer have to come for dinner." The older man told him as they walked to the door.
"Tell her we'll be there."
Jacob opened the door, then stopped and looked at Jack.
"I'll kill you if you hurt her." It had to be said.
"I'd die, first."
He nodded, satisfied, and turned to go.
"Hey, Jacob?"
The Tok'ra turned back.
"Yeah?"
"Does this mean I get to call you dad?"
"Not if you want me to answer."
He turned without another word and went and got into his car. Jack watched, grinning, as he started it up and drove off, and Jaffer came over to stand next to him, watching as well.
"Sounds like a yes, to me." Jack told his baby.
Jaffer snorted.
The End!
Author's Note:
So! Now Jacob knows! I want to thank everyone who's been reviewing my stories for their reviews. Like the stories or not, it's always nice to know what people are thinking, and it's fun to have you guys trying to guess what's going to happen before I write it. It's also fun for me to try and use some of your ideas. Remember, when I write a story, it's not completely set in stone until I've typed it out, which means things can – and usually do - change right in the middle of the telling. So keep it up! Tell me what you liked about this story. What you hated. Do I use Jaffer too much? I really like to write about the relationship the three of them (Jack, Sam, and Jaffer) all have. It's almost a love triangle. So, give me ideas for another story, and let me know what you want to see. The wedding is coming, but it's not coming yet, so not that... anything else is open game.
The knock on the door woke Jack from a restless sleep. He opened his eyes, slowly, unwilling to wake up if he didn't absolutely have to. Maybe it was a salesman, and they'd leave if he didn't answer. After all, it was Thursday morning. No one was home on Thursday morning. Everyone was at work, or at school. The only people staying home were people with little kids, and people with dogs who were still recovering from eating something they shouldn't have on other planets. Jack had to assume there weren't a lot of people like that in his neighborhood.
There was a snort in his ear, and it made him shiver when the warm breath tickled his sensitive skin.
"I'm not getting up," He mumbled to Jaffer. The two of them were stretched out on his couch in the living room where'd they been sleeping since early the evening before. Actually, Jack was stretched out on the couch; Jaffer was more or less stretched out on Jack. His black body half supported by the back of the sofa, and half supported by Jack, and his head resting against Jack's shoulder, which put his nose right near Jack's ear. It was an extremely comfortable position for both of them, as long as you didn't mind a hundred plus pound blanket. And Jack didn't.
The knock sounded again, and this time Jaffer licked Jack's ear, causing him to shiver again, and scowl.
"Stop. They'll go away."
He scratched Jaffer's jaw, and the black lab sighed in pleasure at the touch and closed his eyes. Yeah, they'd go away. Jack closed his eyes as well. A little more sleep was definitely in order.
"Jack?"
The voice from the other side of the door was Jacob's, and Jaffer recognized it and rolled off Jack, one foot accidentally coming down in the absolute worst spot possible, pinching parts of Jack that were most sensitive, which woke him up completely and immediately.
"Hey! I might want to use that sometime, mister," Jack grumbled, rolling off the couch as well.
Jaffer didn't look at all apologetic, but he did wag his tail cheerfully as he headed to the door, watching and waiting for Jack to come over as well. It was good to see the black lab looking so chipper, and Jack couldn't have been mad at him, even if he'd done the foot thing on purpose. Which he might have, Jack realized. The knock sounded again.
"I'm coming!"
He went to the door, and opened it. Sure enough, there was Jacob standing on his doorstep, his hands in his pockets. Jaffer moved slightly to stand between Jack and his company, but Jacob reached down and stroked the black nose cheerfully.
"Hey Jack. How's he doing?"
"Good, Jacob." Jack was always willing to discuss Jaffer. "He's a bit sleepy, but I think he's just being lazy, I don't think it's a side affect of whatever it was."
"Are you sure?"
"Why don't you try to sneak in the house tonight, and we'll see?"
Jacob smiled.
"I'll pass, thanks."
"Where's Sam?"
"She's at the base."
"Why aren't you with her?" Jack asked. "Come to talk to me again?"
His voice was calm, and his expression was even more so, which told Jacob that he probably wasn't being serious. But he wasn't sure. He nodded.
"Actually, I have. Can I come in?"
Jack was surprised, but he nodded. If Jacob had come to pick another fight – and really Jack couldn't believe that he had – it was just as well to have it happen in his own house, where he could hide the evidence if he ended up killing the old coot. He moved to the side, and Jaffer and Jack both watched as Jacob walked into the house and to the living room.
"Something to drink?" Jack asked, closing the door.
"Nah, thanks. I told Sam I'd meet her for lunch, so I can't stay long."
Jack nodded, then leaned against the back of the couch, and waited to hear what the older man wanted to say to him.
Jacob's hands went back into his pockets as the Tok'ra met his gaze for a long moment, apparently trying to figure out what he wanted to say, or how he wanted to say it. Jack was patient, though. He waited, giving the man whatever time he needed.
"I'm not against you marrying Sam, Jack." Jacob said, finally. "You're good for her, I know that. You love her, which is even more important, and you come with a handy security alarm." He looked over at Jaffer, who had jumped up into an old recliner and was watching the two of them from where he'd stretched out.
Jack smiled, slightly.
"Did she tell you to come and make up?"
Jacob's smile echoed his own, but he shook his head.
"No. She told me a lot last night, and not all of it was nice, but she didn't send me here. As a matter of fact, she doesn't know I'm here, and I'd like to keep it that way for the time being."
"Why does that sound familiar?" Jack asked sarcastically. He wasn't upset though. Jacob had already said he wasn't against him marrying Sam, and he'd sounded sincere.
Jacob pulled his hand out of his pocket and walked over to stand in front of Jack.
"I'm here to give this to you," he said, handing over a tiny box.
Jack took it and opened it. Inside was a delicate, and beautiful, diamond ring. It wasn't brand new, but it was lovely, and although the golden band was worn smooth it only added to the charm of the piece. Jack looked it over for a moment, and then looked up at Jacob, whose expression was completely unreadable.
"Jacob, I can't marry you.... I'm already engaged."
The Tok'ra laughed, but then turned serious.
"That's Sam's mother's wedding ring, Jack. When you marry Sam, I think it'd be fitting if that was the ring you put on her finger."
Jack looked back down at the ring.
"I've carried that ring on the same chain as my dog tags for a long time," Jacob said, softly. "I've just been waiting for the right time to give it to Sam." He shrugged. "The more I think about it, though, the more I think it'd be better coming from you."
"It'll be an honor, Jacob," Jack said softly, understanding the precious gift he was being given. "I'll make sure she knows that it came from you, though."
"Let it be a surprise, though, okay?"
Jack nodded. "If that's the way you want it."
"I'd prefer it that way."
"So I can marry Sam?" Jack asked.
"You're going to anyways, right?"
"Yup."
"Then you can marry her."
Jack smiled.
"Thanks."
"But you'd better take care of her, Jack." There was no mistaking the concern in his voice, and Jack nodded.
"I will, Jacob."
"You, too, Jaffer." Jacob told the black lab, who wagged his tail. Duh. Of course he'd take care of Sam! She was his second favorite person in the whole wide world, and she smelled better than Jack!
Jacob looked at his watch. "I'd better get going."
"Thanks for coming by, Jacob," Jack said, putting the ring carefully back into its box and then putting it in his pocket. He was good at hiding rings, so he'd have no problem keeping it a secret until the time was right.
"Sam says you and Jaffer have to come for dinner." The older man told him as they walked to the door.
"Tell her we'll be there."
Jacob opened the door, then stopped and looked at Jack.
"I'll kill you if you hurt her." It had to be said.
"I'd die, first."
He nodded, satisfied, and turned to go.
"Hey, Jacob?"
The Tok'ra turned back.
"Yeah?"
"Does this mean I get to call you dad?"
"Not if you want me to answer."
He turned without another word and went and got into his car. Jack watched, grinning, as he started it up and drove off, and Jaffer came over to stand next to him, watching as well.
"Sounds like a yes, to me." Jack told his baby.
Jaffer snorted.
The End!
Author's Note:
So! Now Jacob knows! I want to thank everyone who's been reviewing my stories for their reviews. Like the stories or not, it's always nice to know what people are thinking, and it's fun to have you guys trying to guess what's going to happen before I write it. It's also fun for me to try and use some of your ideas. Remember, when I write a story, it's not completely set in stone until I've typed it out, which means things can – and usually do - change right in the middle of the telling. So keep it up! Tell me what you liked about this story. What you hated. Do I use Jaffer too much? I really like to write about the relationship the three of them (Jack, Sam, and Jaffer) all have. It's almost a love triangle. So, give me ideas for another story, and let me know what you want to see. The wedding is coming, but it's not coming yet, so not that... anything else is open game.