Ch18: Bad news
[May 18, 2003]
"Major Cater, I think we're just about done here."
"Yep. Looks like it. I'm glad it only took us 2 months instead of 3," Sam replied to the thechnition.
---Unshceduled incoming wormhole---
General Hammond entered the control room.
"Tok'ra id, sir."
"Open the iris," Hammond instructed. Sam and Hammond made their way to the gate room.
The iris opened and Jacob walked down the ramp, limping slightly.
"Dad!" Sam called as she saw him walk with a slight limp. "What happened?"
"Hi Sam, Hi George." Jacob put one hand on each of Sam's shoulders. "I'm afraid I've brought some bad news. Martouf and I were on a reconnaisance mission when we were ambushed by the Goa'uld. Sam, Martouf's dead."
Sam felt like her heat had stopped working. Her vision became blurry and it took her a second to realise it was from the tears rising up.
"Sam, I'm so sorry," Jacob whispered. He was about to lean in and hug her, but her knees gave way and Sam colapsed on the floor. She sat quiet, almost as if she were stunned. She couldn't comprehend what she was just told.
..........................................................................
"Dan, change the channel! This show's crap," Nat complained. Dan and Nat were sitting on the couch at Dan's place.
"Crap! What are you talking about? This show's a classic!" Daniel complained, refusing to change the channel.
"Maybe in your time it is. Not in mine! PLEEEAAASSEE change it!" she complained, trying to grab the remote off Dan. He kept pulling the remote away from Nat's reach, which only made her laugh harder.
"Ah come on!! Gimme the remote!" Nat squealed in between her laughing.
"You know what? I think I'm going to make you watch it!" Dan laughed back, continuing to keep the remote away from Nat.
"I'd like to see you try!" She laughed back. In one swift move, Dan dropped the remote behind the couch and grabbed Nat's wrists. He sat up and pinned her down on her back.
"AH! NO NO! I wont watch it!" She squealed, trying to get free, but the harder she laughed, the weaker she got.
"Watch it!" Dan laughed.
"No! NO!" Nat squealed, shaking her head! She looked up at Dan and smiled. Both had reduced their laughs to giggles and continued to smile at each other.
-ring ring-
Dan let go of one of Nat's wrists and reacher over to the side table for the phone. Nat tried to wrench her other wrist free, but Dan wouldn't let go.
"Hello?.. Oh hey Jack...Yes.. What!?.." Dan suddenly loosened his grip on Nat and she sat up. Nat figured the news couldn't have been good by the look on Dan's face.
"Yes.. I'll.. we'll be right there." Daniel hung up the phone with a sad look on his face. "What happened?"
"Martouf's dead," Daniel said quietly. Nat looked at him, not believeing at first, but when Daniel's facial expression didn't change, she realised what had been said to her.
"Marty?.. NO! He can't die!" Nat cried. Daniel hugged her.
"Jack said that there's going to be a sort of funeral service for Martouf at the Tok'ra base tonight," Daniel explained as he stroked Nat's hair, trying to comfort her.
"When I knew since I was in high school that Martouf dies in battle," Natalie mumbled. Her face still nuzzled in Daniel's shoulder. "But back then I didn't have his sister's memories, and I assumed he died a lot later and older. You never told me he died so young," She cried. Dan rubbed her back and continued to hug her.
"I guess if in the future if I told you, it would change the events in the future," Daniel replied. He took off his glasses and put them on the coffee table, so he could rub his eyes.
"Screw the future! We all know it's going to be invaded. When you get old and meet me as a teenager, promise me you'll tell me everything so I can change it!" Nat said, pulling away form Dan.
"Nat, You know I can't promise anything," Daniel replied, still holding onto Natalie's arms.
"Why not!? Maybe if the next time round I can actually change a few things! Maybe the world will end up being a better place in my time!" Nat complained, getting off the couch.
"Nat, don't get mad okay. I know you're hurting but there was nothing you could have done. Jack said he died on a reconnaissance mission. The Goa'uld killed him. Not you," Dan assured Natalie. He walked up to her and hugged her again. Nat sunk her face into Daniel's chest and cried.
...............................................................................
[May 31, 2004: It's been nearly 2 weeks since Martouf died. Sam and Nat cried through most of the Tok'ra funeral service, but that's about all Sam seemed to be doing for about 3 days. We all understood that she'd lost someone extremely close to her, so she took a week off. Even though Janet told General Hammond that Sam's mentally incapable of going on missions, he's still asked her to continue coming to work after she came back from her a week off. Since Sam started coming back to work, she's been quiet and staying in her lab a lot. Nat's been sitting with Sam in there and says that Sam's been trying to keep busy by working on another one of her inventions. A few times Natalie's come into my study, crying after Sam had thrown her out of her lab. Nat said that Sam seems to want to morn alone. She said that Sam's mumbled something about quitting, but Hammond said he wont let her until she's thought about it some more. I tried to go see Sam once but after about 20 minutes of silence, she told me she wanted to work on her invention and so I left. Teal'c suggested maybe Sam try some meditation with Nat and himself, but Sam refuses to do anything social...]
"Hey Danny, still writing in those journals eh?" Jack commented as he entered Dan's study.
"Apparently I never stop writing them," Dan smiled back.
"Well, maybe in the future you should tell Nat to let us read them," Jack joked, trying to sneak a peek at the journal Daniel was writing in. Daniel realised and closed the book. Jack huffed.
"So have you gone to see Sam yet?" Dan asked.
Jack sat on the stool across from Daniel. "No. Not yet. It's not like you guys have had any luck. I saw Nat running out of there crying on numerous occasions," Jack explained. "I doubt she'd even want to see me. She'll probably throw something at me before I even enter the room."
"Well, in two of those occasions, Nat only ran out crying because Sam's been getting snappy and doesn't want to talk about Martouf. The first time Nat ran out crying was because Sam and her HAD been talking about Martouf, but Nat was late for her mission with the Tok'ra so she had to run to the gate room. I reckon you should go see Sam. You two have always had a.. bond," Daniel explained.
"I dunno. If you can't get through to her, how can I?" Jack huffed, flicking through one of Daniel's books.
Daniel took the book off Jack. "Because you have a.. unique way of reaching people."
......................................................................
"Knock knock," Jack announced nervously as he stood in the doorway of Sam's lab. She didn't look up from the huge 'thing' on her workdesk. It was some sort of contraption that had wires coming out of everywhere and lights flashing all over. "Can I come in?" Jack asked. Sam didn't respond. She gave a little shrug but didn't stop what she was doing. Jack slowly walked in, ready incase Sam decided to yell or throw something at him, but she didn't so he sat opposite her on the cold metal stool.
"So what'cha making?" Jack tried to ask cheerily. He watched her for a minute while she was adjusting something with her screwdriver. Jack was tempted to touch a few of the buttons when Sam finally spoke.
"I bet you're happy," She said in a cranky voice. She didn't look at him when she spoke, but kept working on her invention.
"Happy? Actually.. No. I'm not. One of my best friends is cooping herself in a four by five room for the last week and that cant be good for her health," Jack explained. He leaned over the machine and took the screwdriver off Sam.
"Would you stop for just five minutes!" He said frustrated that she wasn't listening. "Take a break. You've had no proper social contact in two weeks. Let's talk," Jack instructed.
Sam looked at him, unimpressed that she'd had the screwdriver taken away. In a way she was hiding behind it, working so she wouldn't have to talk to anyone. Sam didn't say a word, as if she was waiting for Jack to do the talking.
"Okay, I'll start. What'cha making?"
Sam knew that Jack was trying to avoid all subjects that would relate to Martouf. "I bet you're happy that he's gone," She replied in a cold voice. He'd never heard Sam talk like that before.
"Carter.. I'm also morning over Martouf's death. He was going to make my best friend a very happy woman. If I could have, I would have tried everything to save him," Jack explained.
Sam looked at the floor. Jack looked around the room and saw food wrappers all over the bench behind Sam. "Sam, you cant go on living like this," Jack commented. "Take a day off. What if we round up the gang and we go out for lunch? I know a great Thai resturant we haven't tried yet."
"I have work to do," Sam but in, picking up another screwdriver. Jack grabbed it off her.
"Sam. Please."
"What do you want?"
"For you to morn like a normal person. You can't shut yourself out. Talk to someone. Talk to me," Jack replied. "I went through the exact same thing when Charlie died." Jack walked around the workbench and put an arm around the back of Sam's shoulder.
"I want him back. I need him here!" Sam burst out into tears. Jack put his other arm around Sam and hugged her. Her hands lay limp on her sides as her face buried itself into his sleeve.
................................................................
[May 5th, 2024: BBQ at Jack's place]
Daniel opened a beer for himself. "Natalie got a letter of acceptance into SG College this morning," Daniel announced.
"Congratulations Kiddo!" Jack yelled as he raised his beer. "Your parents must be proud." Natalie nodded.
"She is. What was it like for you guys? Being in Sg-1?" Natalie asked.
"It was most memorable," Teal'c smiled.
"It was full of action, emergencies, firefights, romance, suspense, and I wouldn't have turned it down for the world," Jack explained. "It's an experience to remember."
"Daniel, could you help me in the kitchen for a sec?" Sam asked Daniel. Daniel nodded and they headed back into the house, leaving Jack, Teal'c and Nat outside.
"What's your last name again?" Jack asked before taking another swig of his beer.
"Manslow, Sir."
"Please, call me Jack. Manslow.. You know, there was a lieutenant Manslow at the SGC for a while. She was a fine officer." Jack explained.
"Cool. Oh! Professor Jackson said that today is your eighteenth wedding annaversary with Samantha today. I've always been amazed at how people can stay together so long. Don't you get sick of being with the same person for so long?"
Jack looked behind Nat and saw Daniel coming back outside. "You're only young, but I'm sure when you're older, you'll realise that when you find someone that you really love.." Jack saw Daniel lean on the backdoor, which was behind Nat, listening to every word Jack was saying. "You can't live without them. To be without them can be almost unbearable because they complete you as a person," Jack explained. Jack saw that Daniel wiped away a few tears. "Have you heard how Sam and I got together?" Jack asked. Nat shook her head.
"Well, this is a long story, so get comfortable," Jack explained.
Teal'c turned from the barbeque. "O'Neill." He said, giving Jack a weird look.
"I think she's old enough to hear it," Jack replied. Nat didn't see the reassuring look that Jack gave Teal'c.
"So anyway, I think I had a thing for her since I first met her. But because of our jobs in the military, we weren't really allowed to have a relationship. After a few years, Sam got engaged to a Tok'ra named Martouf. I kept my mouth shut but everyone knew I wished I was the one she'd marry. After a few months, near the day they were to marry, Martouf was killed by the goa'uld," Jack leaned forward in his chair, leaning his forearms on his knees. He looked at the beer he held in both his hands. "Sam withdrew herself from the world. She wouldn't talk to anyone, and spent all her time building things in her lab. On June 7th, Sam didn't come to work. She was due for a checkup, and when she didn't come in, I went to her place to see how she was. She didn't open the door, so I let myself in and found her unconscious on her bed. She'd taken a handful of sleeping tablets. I took her to the hospital in time to save her. After that, Sam and I got closer because I'd saved her life. About two years later, we got married. And the moral of the story, Natalie, when you find that special someone, don't wait until until they're gone to realise how much you love them. Hold them close and tell them," Jack explained. He noticed that Dan was close to tears and had gone back into the house.
Sam came back out, holding a tray of food. "Hey! What did I miss?" She replied cheerily.
"Nothing at all. I was just giving Natalie some love advice," Jack explained as Sam placed the tray on the outdoor table and sat on Jack's lap.
"Oh, Nat. Have you found yourself a boyfriend?" Sam teased. She missed her old gossip sessions with Nat all those years ago.
Nat blushed. "Nah. No guy as yet. All the guys my age are so up themselves lately."
Jack and Sam saw Daniel finally come back out of the house and sit next to Natalie. "Don't worry. You're still young. You'll find someone," Sam assured Nat.
--author's notes: im adding all this future info cz it's all building up2 sumthn.. I know I sorta wrek a bit by telling u what happens to sam.. but –shrugs- it wont matter. But I cant tell you what that ending is.. MWAHAHHAAH!! P.s. yes to all u marty lovers.. im sad he died too.. but it's gona happen in the great scheme of things..--
[May 18, 2003]
"Major Cater, I think we're just about done here."
"Yep. Looks like it. I'm glad it only took us 2 months instead of 3," Sam replied to the thechnition.
---Unshceduled incoming wormhole---
General Hammond entered the control room.
"Tok'ra id, sir."
"Open the iris," Hammond instructed. Sam and Hammond made their way to the gate room.
The iris opened and Jacob walked down the ramp, limping slightly.
"Dad!" Sam called as she saw him walk with a slight limp. "What happened?"
"Hi Sam, Hi George." Jacob put one hand on each of Sam's shoulders. "I'm afraid I've brought some bad news. Martouf and I were on a reconnaisance mission when we were ambushed by the Goa'uld. Sam, Martouf's dead."
Sam felt like her heat had stopped working. Her vision became blurry and it took her a second to realise it was from the tears rising up.
"Sam, I'm so sorry," Jacob whispered. He was about to lean in and hug her, but her knees gave way and Sam colapsed on the floor. She sat quiet, almost as if she were stunned. She couldn't comprehend what she was just told.
..........................................................................
"Dan, change the channel! This show's crap," Nat complained. Dan and Nat were sitting on the couch at Dan's place.
"Crap! What are you talking about? This show's a classic!" Daniel complained, refusing to change the channel.
"Maybe in your time it is. Not in mine! PLEEEAAASSEE change it!" she complained, trying to grab the remote off Dan. He kept pulling the remote away from Nat's reach, which only made her laugh harder.
"Ah come on!! Gimme the remote!" Nat squealed in between her laughing.
"You know what? I think I'm going to make you watch it!" Dan laughed back, continuing to keep the remote away from Nat.
"I'd like to see you try!" She laughed back. In one swift move, Dan dropped the remote behind the couch and grabbed Nat's wrists. He sat up and pinned her down on her back.
"AH! NO NO! I wont watch it!" She squealed, trying to get free, but the harder she laughed, the weaker she got.
"Watch it!" Dan laughed.
"No! NO!" Nat squealed, shaking her head! She looked up at Dan and smiled. Both had reduced their laughs to giggles and continued to smile at each other.
-ring ring-
Dan let go of one of Nat's wrists and reacher over to the side table for the phone. Nat tried to wrench her other wrist free, but Dan wouldn't let go.
"Hello?.. Oh hey Jack...Yes.. What!?.." Dan suddenly loosened his grip on Nat and she sat up. Nat figured the news couldn't have been good by the look on Dan's face.
"Yes.. I'll.. we'll be right there." Daniel hung up the phone with a sad look on his face. "What happened?"
"Martouf's dead," Daniel said quietly. Nat looked at him, not believeing at first, but when Daniel's facial expression didn't change, she realised what had been said to her.
"Marty?.. NO! He can't die!" Nat cried. Daniel hugged her.
"Jack said that there's going to be a sort of funeral service for Martouf at the Tok'ra base tonight," Daniel explained as he stroked Nat's hair, trying to comfort her.
"When I knew since I was in high school that Martouf dies in battle," Natalie mumbled. Her face still nuzzled in Daniel's shoulder. "But back then I didn't have his sister's memories, and I assumed he died a lot later and older. You never told me he died so young," She cried. Dan rubbed her back and continued to hug her.
"I guess if in the future if I told you, it would change the events in the future," Daniel replied. He took off his glasses and put them on the coffee table, so he could rub his eyes.
"Screw the future! We all know it's going to be invaded. When you get old and meet me as a teenager, promise me you'll tell me everything so I can change it!" Nat said, pulling away form Dan.
"Nat, You know I can't promise anything," Daniel replied, still holding onto Natalie's arms.
"Why not!? Maybe if the next time round I can actually change a few things! Maybe the world will end up being a better place in my time!" Nat complained, getting off the couch.
"Nat, don't get mad okay. I know you're hurting but there was nothing you could have done. Jack said he died on a reconnaissance mission. The Goa'uld killed him. Not you," Dan assured Natalie. He walked up to her and hugged her again. Nat sunk her face into Daniel's chest and cried.
...............................................................................
[May 31, 2004: It's been nearly 2 weeks since Martouf died. Sam and Nat cried through most of the Tok'ra funeral service, but that's about all Sam seemed to be doing for about 3 days. We all understood that she'd lost someone extremely close to her, so she took a week off. Even though Janet told General Hammond that Sam's mentally incapable of going on missions, he's still asked her to continue coming to work after she came back from her a week off. Since Sam started coming back to work, she's been quiet and staying in her lab a lot. Nat's been sitting with Sam in there and says that Sam's been trying to keep busy by working on another one of her inventions. A few times Natalie's come into my study, crying after Sam had thrown her out of her lab. Nat said that Sam seems to want to morn alone. She said that Sam's mumbled something about quitting, but Hammond said he wont let her until she's thought about it some more. I tried to go see Sam once but after about 20 minutes of silence, she told me she wanted to work on her invention and so I left. Teal'c suggested maybe Sam try some meditation with Nat and himself, but Sam refuses to do anything social...]
"Hey Danny, still writing in those journals eh?" Jack commented as he entered Dan's study.
"Apparently I never stop writing them," Dan smiled back.
"Well, maybe in the future you should tell Nat to let us read them," Jack joked, trying to sneak a peek at the journal Daniel was writing in. Daniel realised and closed the book. Jack huffed.
"So have you gone to see Sam yet?" Dan asked.
Jack sat on the stool across from Daniel. "No. Not yet. It's not like you guys have had any luck. I saw Nat running out of there crying on numerous occasions," Jack explained. "I doubt she'd even want to see me. She'll probably throw something at me before I even enter the room."
"Well, in two of those occasions, Nat only ran out crying because Sam's been getting snappy and doesn't want to talk about Martouf. The first time Nat ran out crying was because Sam and her HAD been talking about Martouf, but Nat was late for her mission with the Tok'ra so she had to run to the gate room. I reckon you should go see Sam. You two have always had a.. bond," Daniel explained.
"I dunno. If you can't get through to her, how can I?" Jack huffed, flicking through one of Daniel's books.
Daniel took the book off Jack. "Because you have a.. unique way of reaching people."
......................................................................
"Knock knock," Jack announced nervously as he stood in the doorway of Sam's lab. She didn't look up from the huge 'thing' on her workdesk. It was some sort of contraption that had wires coming out of everywhere and lights flashing all over. "Can I come in?" Jack asked. Sam didn't respond. She gave a little shrug but didn't stop what she was doing. Jack slowly walked in, ready incase Sam decided to yell or throw something at him, but she didn't so he sat opposite her on the cold metal stool.
"So what'cha making?" Jack tried to ask cheerily. He watched her for a minute while she was adjusting something with her screwdriver. Jack was tempted to touch a few of the buttons when Sam finally spoke.
"I bet you're happy," She said in a cranky voice. She didn't look at him when she spoke, but kept working on her invention.
"Happy? Actually.. No. I'm not. One of my best friends is cooping herself in a four by five room for the last week and that cant be good for her health," Jack explained. He leaned over the machine and took the screwdriver off Sam.
"Would you stop for just five minutes!" He said frustrated that she wasn't listening. "Take a break. You've had no proper social contact in two weeks. Let's talk," Jack instructed.
Sam looked at him, unimpressed that she'd had the screwdriver taken away. In a way she was hiding behind it, working so she wouldn't have to talk to anyone. Sam didn't say a word, as if she was waiting for Jack to do the talking.
"Okay, I'll start. What'cha making?"
Sam knew that Jack was trying to avoid all subjects that would relate to Martouf. "I bet you're happy that he's gone," She replied in a cold voice. He'd never heard Sam talk like that before.
"Carter.. I'm also morning over Martouf's death. He was going to make my best friend a very happy woman. If I could have, I would have tried everything to save him," Jack explained.
Sam looked at the floor. Jack looked around the room and saw food wrappers all over the bench behind Sam. "Sam, you cant go on living like this," Jack commented. "Take a day off. What if we round up the gang and we go out for lunch? I know a great Thai resturant we haven't tried yet."
"I have work to do," Sam but in, picking up another screwdriver. Jack grabbed it off her.
"Sam. Please."
"What do you want?"
"For you to morn like a normal person. You can't shut yourself out. Talk to someone. Talk to me," Jack replied. "I went through the exact same thing when Charlie died." Jack walked around the workbench and put an arm around the back of Sam's shoulder.
"I want him back. I need him here!" Sam burst out into tears. Jack put his other arm around Sam and hugged her. Her hands lay limp on her sides as her face buried itself into his sleeve.
................................................................
[May 5th, 2024: BBQ at Jack's place]
Daniel opened a beer for himself. "Natalie got a letter of acceptance into SG College this morning," Daniel announced.
"Congratulations Kiddo!" Jack yelled as he raised his beer. "Your parents must be proud." Natalie nodded.
"She is. What was it like for you guys? Being in Sg-1?" Natalie asked.
"It was most memorable," Teal'c smiled.
"It was full of action, emergencies, firefights, romance, suspense, and I wouldn't have turned it down for the world," Jack explained. "It's an experience to remember."
"Daniel, could you help me in the kitchen for a sec?" Sam asked Daniel. Daniel nodded and they headed back into the house, leaving Jack, Teal'c and Nat outside.
"What's your last name again?" Jack asked before taking another swig of his beer.
"Manslow, Sir."
"Please, call me Jack. Manslow.. You know, there was a lieutenant Manslow at the SGC for a while. She was a fine officer." Jack explained.
"Cool. Oh! Professor Jackson said that today is your eighteenth wedding annaversary with Samantha today. I've always been amazed at how people can stay together so long. Don't you get sick of being with the same person for so long?"
Jack looked behind Nat and saw Daniel coming back outside. "You're only young, but I'm sure when you're older, you'll realise that when you find someone that you really love.." Jack saw Daniel lean on the backdoor, which was behind Nat, listening to every word Jack was saying. "You can't live without them. To be without them can be almost unbearable because they complete you as a person," Jack explained. Jack saw that Daniel wiped away a few tears. "Have you heard how Sam and I got together?" Jack asked. Nat shook her head.
"Well, this is a long story, so get comfortable," Jack explained.
Teal'c turned from the barbeque. "O'Neill." He said, giving Jack a weird look.
"I think she's old enough to hear it," Jack replied. Nat didn't see the reassuring look that Jack gave Teal'c.
"So anyway, I think I had a thing for her since I first met her. But because of our jobs in the military, we weren't really allowed to have a relationship. After a few years, Sam got engaged to a Tok'ra named Martouf. I kept my mouth shut but everyone knew I wished I was the one she'd marry. After a few months, near the day they were to marry, Martouf was killed by the goa'uld," Jack leaned forward in his chair, leaning his forearms on his knees. He looked at the beer he held in both his hands. "Sam withdrew herself from the world. She wouldn't talk to anyone, and spent all her time building things in her lab. On June 7th, Sam didn't come to work. She was due for a checkup, and when she didn't come in, I went to her place to see how she was. She didn't open the door, so I let myself in and found her unconscious on her bed. She'd taken a handful of sleeping tablets. I took her to the hospital in time to save her. After that, Sam and I got closer because I'd saved her life. About two years later, we got married. And the moral of the story, Natalie, when you find that special someone, don't wait until until they're gone to realise how much you love them. Hold them close and tell them," Jack explained. He noticed that Dan was close to tears and had gone back into the house.
Sam came back out, holding a tray of food. "Hey! What did I miss?" She replied cheerily.
"Nothing at all. I was just giving Natalie some love advice," Jack explained as Sam placed the tray on the outdoor table and sat on Jack's lap.
"Oh, Nat. Have you found yourself a boyfriend?" Sam teased. She missed her old gossip sessions with Nat all those years ago.
Nat blushed. "Nah. No guy as yet. All the guys my age are so up themselves lately."
Jack and Sam saw Daniel finally come back out of the house and sit next to Natalie. "Don't worry. You're still young. You'll find someone," Sam assured Nat.
--author's notes: im adding all this future info cz it's all building up2 sumthn.. I know I sorta wrek a bit by telling u what happens to sam.. but –shrugs- it wont matter. But I cant tell you what that ending is.. MWAHAHHAAH!! P.s. yes to all u marty lovers.. im sad he died too.. but it's gona happen in the great scheme of things..--