Title: Remember Me
Written By: iluvaqt
Disclaimer: as per default chapter.
Author's notes: For CapriceAnn Hedican-Kocur who's so quick, I can barely keep up. Two chapters today, how's that? ;)

Chapter 8

Jack's apartment, dawn

Sam had finally fallen asleep, but Jack couldn't. Doubts continued to swirl around in his head. He wished he could sleep peacefully, but he couldn't. He got up and went to the bathroom. Turning on the faucets, he shed his clothes and stepped under the warm spray. Water came in contact with something on his calf and he cursed. On his leg was an ugly open wound. It was the wound of a staff blast. Suddenly he felt weak and seconds later, everything went black.

Jack woke up to find himself lying in bed. It was still dark outside. He could see the stars in the night sky through the open window. A cool breeze blew against the lace curtains. He could have sworn he had just been in the shower. How could it be night again so quickly? Surely he hadn't slept away a whole day. Everything was out of place. This wasn't his apartment. He looked across at the still figure next to him. Sam was fast asleep. Her deep breathing could almost count as light snoring, but for some reason, he didn't care in the slightest.

Something else bothered him. Everything about his experiences the past few days seemed disjointed. Almost like a dream. Then there were elements that were so clear and so frighteningly close to reality that he thought he had to be living it.

Feeling Sam snuggle against him and rest her arm over his middle, he closed his eyes again. So long as his reality wasn't being invaded and everyone was safe, he told himself he shouldn't worry. Forget about it Jack, enjoy this. Her warmth chased the chill away and he settled back into bed. Feeling the steady, comforting sound of her heart beating against his chest, he soon fell asleep.


Samantha's house, early morning

Sunlight was just breaking on the horizon, and the birds outside were beginning to chirp. It was still early. These past few days would live on in his heart forever, but he couldn't ignore his nagging feelings any longer. He'd tossed and turned all night. If his memory served correctly, he hadn't had one good nights sleep since he arrived. It didn't matter how many days passed, he couldn't get over the thought that he had to find a way back. As much as he loved being with Sam, and everything about this world, it wasn't his. His heart wanted to deny it, but he felt like he was cheating Samantha and himself by being with her.

Slipping out of bed as quietly as he could, he went for a shower. When he came back to the bedroom, Sam was still asleep. Walking softly to the bed, he bent and kissed her on the forehead.

A small smile touched her lips and his breath caught in his chest. You wanted his, his heart told him. Do you want to throw it all away? For what, a high-rank job and friends you hardly see anymore? With all the arguments rolling around in his head, something told him that this might be the last time he ever saw Sam like this.

Moisture sprung to his eyes, and he clenched his fist. With one last glance from the doorway, he made up his mind. Turning, he left the bedroom and walked down the corridor.

He found the room he was looking for and paused in the open doorway. She was still sound asleep like her mother. Blonde curls splayed out across her pillow. Her dusty long lashes curled against the tops of rosy cheeks. Resisting the urge to go to her, he stood back from the doorway. If he woke her, he knew his resolve to leave would fade away in an instant. Those innocent blue eyes; so trusting, and full of joy, gazing up at him, he couldn't bring himself to do it.

Part of him wished that he'd never set foot in her reality. Because he hated what he was going to do to her. Her father had died before she was born and now he was going to leave. He didn't know how she'd accepted him, but she had. He was going to break her heart. He was doing it to both of them. The other part of him was selfishly glad that he had, had this time with them. Shaking his head, he refused to regret anything. Life was complicated enough without wishing for things you couldn't change. If fate would grant him one thing, he wished it could be happiness for them.

Somehow he'd been shown a perfect life, but even one that had it all wasn't good enough if it wasn't his own. He knew that now. He'd been lying to himself when he said he didn't know what Thor was talking about. His wish. Secretly, he'd wondered for years what might have been if he'd stayed with Sam. Instead of admitting and doing something about his real desire, he locked himself in the past with a might-have-been fantasy.

As he turned, he took a last glance at the child in the bed. It didn't matter how long he lived, or how much happen in his future, he would never forget her. If there ever was any hope for him and Carter, then perhaps one day, Katie might exist in his reality. With that tiny flicker of hope in his heart, he silently left the house.

It took only fifteen minutes to reach the base. And a few moments later, he was standing before the empty frame. Was it weeks or days that he'd been away? He wasn't sure. It seemed like time had flown by, giving him only glimpses of happy memories, adventures and unforgettable experiences.

He stared at the frame, wishing that somehow it could give him the answers he was looking for. How did it work? Was he stuck in this reality forever? Could he ever go back? What about his reality? Would they miss him? Did they even need him? Why did everything have to be so damn complicated?

All of a sudden, the frame shimmered, and the mirror appeared. But instead of his reflection, Thor was there. He almost felt like strangling the guy. "It's about time you showed up. I was…"

Thor interrupted Jack's rant. "You have seen, what you needed to see. They will go on, but they will not remember you…"

Jack didn't have the chance to question it. Everything disappeared and he felt like he was falling into a deep abyss.