They had a light dinner – well, light for them – and then the two lounged on the sofa for a while, supposedly watching TV, but Jack couldn't get interested in anything on. He was sprawled on the couch, using Jaffer's warm body as a pillow. The black lab didn't mind, of course. He liked it when Jack leaned on him like that. It was part of his job to be a pillow, after all. The two were pretty much just doing what Sam had told them to do. Spending time together.

Jack could have gotten up and sought out Daniel or something. His best man had called him twice that night – supposedly to make sure that Jack wasn't getting cold feet, but Jack was pretty sure Daniel himself was almost as nervous as he was. He could have gone over to Hammond's. The General had invited him over for the night, thinking that Jack shouldn't be alone. But Jack had assured him that he wasn't alone. He had Jaffer. His hand stroked the silky black hide lovingly, and Jaffer responded by wuffling Jack's ear messily.

"Let's go to bed, little man," Jack said. He wasn't watching the ballgame. Had someone asked, he wouldn't have been able to tell them who was playing without sneaking a peek at the TV. He was just going through the motions, trying to keep his mind off the wedding to come.

Not because he was nervous. Jack knew he wanted to marry Sam. There was absolutely no doubt in his mind that she was the woman he wanted to settle down with for the rest of his life. He was just a little scared, he supposed. He'd been married once, and it hadn't lasted. What if he did something to ruin what he had with Sam? Jack was well aware of his own shortcomings, after all. Sam was patient and forgiving, but what if he did something so bad that it was unforgivable? Like he'd done when he'd allowed Charlie a chance at his gun?

Jack got up, trying to shake his suddenly melancholy mood. That wasn't going to happen. He was smarter, now. Wiser. He took Jaffer out back and spent a few more quiet minutes with the evening while waiting for the lab to wander the back yard, making sure nothing had been misplaced, and searching for the perfect place to pee. What had happened with Charlie had been an accident. A terrible one that Jack always blamed on himself – and always would – but it wasn't going to happen again.

Of course, it almost had. When Shawn had managed to get hold of Jack's Beretta at camp. Nothing had happened that night, but it so easily could have that Jack felt a cold chill that belied the mild evening. Shawn could have shot himself that night. Could have shot Jack, too, for that matter, although Jack wasn't at all concerned about himself. What if he and Sam had a son? Would it happen again?

Jaffer came rushing over to Jack, wagging his tail and looking up at O'Neill so cheerfully that Jack was pulled from his bleak thoughts. He smiled down at the lab, ruffling his ears.

"Everything okay, Jaffer?"

Jaffer snorted. Everything was fine! Nothing would dare come into his yard without permission! Unfortunately, that included stray pizzas and chicken nuggets.

"Ready for bed?"

Jack was. He didn't want to mull over the memories that were tumbling through his mind just then. He wondered why he always thought of bleak things like that when he should be focusing on the positives. Sam was going to marry him, after all, for God's sake. How could that be bad? It wasn't. It was great. His life was about as complete as Jack had ever imagined that it could be – or it would be anyways. A brilliant, beautiful wife. A great dog. Even his work was going good just then – he and his team hadn't been involved in anything too serious for weeks and weeks.

Jaffer stuck his nose in Jack's hand, pulling Jack from his thoughts once more, and Jack shook his head. Was he just waiting for something to happen? Were things were so good that Jack just couldn't believe they were going to stay that way? Jack frowned, and headed inside, again trying to shake his moodiness, and wishing Sam was there to talk to. She'd know what to say to him to make things better. She was an expert at easing Jack's concerns – those few times that Jack actually let her in on them.

This was all Janet's fault.

He made sure Jaffer's food dish was full – in case the lab woke up wanting a snack in the middle of the night – then headed for bed. Jaffer jumped up on the bed and watched as Jack undressed, and the big dog made room for him when Jack slid under the blankets with a sigh. Sensing Jack's bleak mood, Jaffer stretched out with his head on O'Neill's belly – a sure sign that he wanted to be petted and cuddled, and Jack responded by running his hand along the silky black coat.

Stroking Jaffer was soothing, and Jack was able to refocus his thoughts while doing it. There was a lot more positive in his life than negative, and he knew it. He was just being moody. He was good at that, after all. Didn't Sam always say that? Jaffer snorted, causing Jack to smile in the dark. He wondered how one man could manage to have the best dog in the world, and the best fiancé. Soon to be the best wife.

He looked at his watch, and debated calling Sam. Janet probably wouldn't let him talk to her, though. Stupid customs. Jack scowled in the dark, and that made him feel better. His hand ran along Jaffer's jowls and he scratched the dog's ears for a moment before moving once more to his shoulder and side. Jaffer sighed in the dark, and Jack echoed the noise, closing his eyes. He needed to sleep. Needed to be bright-eyed and bushy-tailed for the next day. He snorted, but forced his mind to clear a bit, and made himself relax. Despite his concerns and brooding thoughts, Jack managed to fall into a troubled sleep fairly quickly.

"Jack..."

His brooding thoughts had followed him into sleep, and had been plaguing him in the form of uneasy dreams, but they were all shattered when the deep, masculine voice spoke into Jack's mind. O'Neill opened his eyes, but he didn't see anything.

"Hmmm?"

"Stop being so nervous, Jack... I won't let anything happen to you."

"I'm not nervous."

There was a gentle wave of amusement, and Jack couldn't help but smile, even though he knew this was a dream.

"Okay, maybe I'm a little nervous. Sam deserves more than what she's getting."

"Sam loves you."

"I know."

"I love you."

"I know."

How could he not know? He could feel the love spreading a gentle warmth through him that was driving all his fears and concerns away. Nothing bad could stay close to a love like that.

"You're a good man. Sam sees it, even if you don't."

"She doesn't know-"

"She knows. She knows a lot more than you think she does. She just doesn't care. And neither do I."

Jack frowned, and again he felt that gentle amusement.

"Sleep, Jack. Tomorrow's a busy day, and you need to be fresh. Sam might not mind you yawning through the wedding, but Janet Fraiser wouldn't approve."

"She won't let me talk to Sam..."

"I know. You'll see her in the morning, though. Go to sleep."

He couldn't have resisted if he wanted to, and he really didn't want to. He closed his eyes – eyes that hadn't actually been open – and settled into a deeper sleep, the troubled dreams fading and the loving Presence blanketing him in gentle warmth.

"Can you tell her I love her?"

"It doesn't work like that, Jack..." The voice chided, amused.

"Come on..."

"Fine... go to sleep."

He did.

..............

In a spare bedroom on the other side of town, Samantha Carter was having troubled dreams of her own. She was nervous, and even though she was excited about what was to come the next day, she was also very aware that her relationship with Jack was going to change the moment she said 'I do'. And it was a little scary. What ifs kept running through her mind. What if she wasn't what he'd been looking for? What if she didn't make him as happy as she wanted to? What if-

"Sam..."

She didn't wake, but she was suddenly aware of someone close by. Someone that seemed familiar, although she'd never heard the deep voice before.

"Jack loves you. You make him happy just being in the same room with him. Now go to sleep."

She sighed, softly, feeling as though someone had just thrown a warm blanket fresh from the dryer over her, and her troubled dreams faded, leaving her sleeping peacefully, well aware that Jack loved her, and secure in the knowledge that no matter what happened, he was hers, and she was his.

The Presence stayed with her long enough to make sure she was asleep once more, then Sam was alone, again. But still she was swathed in love, and the bad dreams stayed away.