Chapter Sixteen
Amanda was pretty worried about her mother when she returned to work the next day. Ever since she returned home from work the day before her mother had been moping about the place but refused to tell Amanda the reason that she was like that. All she would say was that she had had a visit from Colonel O'Neill and that he made her realise a few things that she should have realised a long time ago.
Thinking back to what her mother had said Amanda felt the only way to get the truth about what happened with her mother was to face Colonel O'Neill and get him to tell her what happened between her mother and himself.
Walking into Jack's office without even knocking Amanda saw Jack slouched in his chair with what she could easily tell was a hang over and Sam sat on a chair in front of him talking quietly to him.
Sam looked up just then and said in her command voice "Captain is there something that you wanted?"
"Yes ma'am, I just wanted to have a quick word with Colonel O'Neill" Amanda said noticing the commanding tone in Sam's voice so thinking that it would be safer to act properly as well.
Sam looked back at Jack and noticed the pleading look in his eyes which said 'not right now' then turned back to Amanda and said "Captain, Colonel O'Neill will find you when he's available to talk."
"Yes Ma'am, I'll more than likely be in my office all day as I've got a few reports that need to be finished before the end of the day" Amanda said as she was leaving the office more puzzled now then she was before walking into Colonel O'Neill's office.
It was late in the afternoon when Jack finally got the nerve to go talk to Amanda. Walking slowly down the corridor to her office a thousand thoughts were running through his head. Before he'd even realised it he was stood in front of her office door, it was then that his stomach decided to twist it self into knots.
Knocking quickly on the door before he had a chance to back out he quickly walked in before Amanda even had a chance to acknowledge the knock.
Once he saw her sat in her chair he decided the best way to get through this was to be professional so that's what he did.
"You wanted to speak with me Captain," Jack said his voice failing him slightly.
"Yes sir, I was just wondering if you could tell me what you and my mother were talking about yesterday as she's been really upset since you talked to her" Amanda said noticing that Jack was sticking all professional for some reason.
"That, I think you should ask your mother about, as it's her that likes to keep secrets from people" Jack said, bitterness clearly showing in his voice once the professional attitude slipped.
"I've asked her but she refuses to tell me and I was just hoping that you could shed some light" Amanda said more softly noticing the bitterness in his voice.
"I think that's even more reason to ask your mother rather than asking me… One last thing could you please give your mother this for me it may get her to cheer up a bit… but I can't promise you that it will" Jack said handing Amanda an envelope.
"I will sir, and I mean that regarding both things… I will find out what's going on, or what was going on between you two even if I have to get in touch with some of mum's old friends to find out" Amanda said watching his reaction for anything but all she could tell was that he had blocked all of his emotions from his face.
"You do what you have to Captain, just make sure to give your mother the note" Jack said before he left the office not looking back.
Amanda was sat at the desk staring at an envelope in her hands when Jonas entered office half an hour later. "What's that you've got there" Jonas asked his curiosity peaked.
"It's a letter to mum from the colonel" Amanda said refusing to take her eyes off the envelope in her hands.
"You do realise that no matter how long you look at it the envelope it isn't going to become transparent… so if you want to see what it says just open the envelope and read it" Jonas said moving into the office and taking a seat on the opposite side of the desk from Amanda.
"I can't, mum will be able to tell that I've read it" Amanda said once again refusing to look away from the envelope.
"Oh give me it here" Jonas said snatching the envelope off of Amanda and quickly opening it.
Unfolding the letter that was contained inside Jonas read what was written in the letter aloud.
"Ruth,
I know that we've both hurt each other's feeling un-intentionally but there's nothing we can say to each other to change that, all we can say is sorry and hope that the other will forgive.
I know this may be hard to believe but after what you said yesterday I did a lot of thinking and yes, I admit I was angry and can honestly say that I'm still angry now. The only question that I would like answering is how could you keep something like that from me even given the way you thought I left you?
I tried talking to you and I tried explaining to your friends who answered your phone why I phoned but I know now that you must have refused the messages or you never received them. I can tell you that I did love you and that I was willing to marry you if you had given me the chance.
The only thing that I do hold against you is the fact that you kept that secret from me. I know I can't talk about it in this letter because no doubt Amanda will read this and I'm glad she will. She will finally find out the truth as I know that she won't give up until she's finds the answer she wants, she's too much like her father in that way.
Please just be honest with her and know that I will never hate you but know that at this point in time I am angry but also know that I will get over it. I just hope this time we'll be able to stay friends.
Please just tell Amanda the truth that's all I ask.
Jack"
Once the letter was finished Jonas folded it back up and put it back in the envelope handing it back to Amanda.
Amanda blinked away tears that were forming in her eyes and the only words that she could make herself form were "He knew my father."
Amanda was pretty worried about her mother when she returned to work the next day. Ever since she returned home from work the day before her mother had been moping about the place but refused to tell Amanda the reason that she was like that. All she would say was that she had had a visit from Colonel O'Neill and that he made her realise a few things that she should have realised a long time ago.
Thinking back to what her mother had said Amanda felt the only way to get the truth about what happened with her mother was to face Colonel O'Neill and get him to tell her what happened between her mother and himself.
Walking into Jack's office without even knocking Amanda saw Jack slouched in his chair with what she could easily tell was a hang over and Sam sat on a chair in front of him talking quietly to him.
Sam looked up just then and said in her command voice "Captain is there something that you wanted?"
"Yes ma'am, I just wanted to have a quick word with Colonel O'Neill" Amanda said noticing the commanding tone in Sam's voice so thinking that it would be safer to act properly as well.
Sam looked back at Jack and noticed the pleading look in his eyes which said 'not right now' then turned back to Amanda and said "Captain, Colonel O'Neill will find you when he's available to talk."
"Yes Ma'am, I'll more than likely be in my office all day as I've got a few reports that need to be finished before the end of the day" Amanda said as she was leaving the office more puzzled now then she was before walking into Colonel O'Neill's office.
It was late in the afternoon when Jack finally got the nerve to go talk to Amanda. Walking slowly down the corridor to her office a thousand thoughts were running through his head. Before he'd even realised it he was stood in front of her office door, it was then that his stomach decided to twist it self into knots.
Knocking quickly on the door before he had a chance to back out he quickly walked in before Amanda even had a chance to acknowledge the knock.
Once he saw her sat in her chair he decided the best way to get through this was to be professional so that's what he did.
"You wanted to speak with me Captain," Jack said his voice failing him slightly.
"Yes sir, I was just wondering if you could tell me what you and my mother were talking about yesterday as she's been really upset since you talked to her" Amanda said noticing that Jack was sticking all professional for some reason.
"That, I think you should ask your mother about, as it's her that likes to keep secrets from people" Jack said, bitterness clearly showing in his voice once the professional attitude slipped.
"I've asked her but she refuses to tell me and I was just hoping that you could shed some light" Amanda said more softly noticing the bitterness in his voice.
"I think that's even more reason to ask your mother rather than asking me… One last thing could you please give your mother this for me it may get her to cheer up a bit… but I can't promise you that it will" Jack said handing Amanda an envelope.
"I will sir, and I mean that regarding both things… I will find out what's going on, or what was going on between you two even if I have to get in touch with some of mum's old friends to find out" Amanda said watching his reaction for anything but all she could tell was that he had blocked all of his emotions from his face.
"You do what you have to Captain, just make sure to give your mother the note" Jack said before he left the office not looking back.
Amanda was sat at the desk staring at an envelope in her hands when Jonas entered office half an hour later. "What's that you've got there" Jonas asked his curiosity peaked.
"It's a letter to mum from the colonel" Amanda said refusing to take her eyes off the envelope in her hands.
"You do realise that no matter how long you look at it the envelope it isn't going to become transparent… so if you want to see what it says just open the envelope and read it" Jonas said moving into the office and taking a seat on the opposite side of the desk from Amanda.
"I can't, mum will be able to tell that I've read it" Amanda said once again refusing to look away from the envelope.
"Oh give me it here" Jonas said snatching the envelope off of Amanda and quickly opening it.
Unfolding the letter that was contained inside Jonas read what was written in the letter aloud.
"Ruth,
I know that we've both hurt each other's feeling un-intentionally but there's nothing we can say to each other to change that, all we can say is sorry and hope that the other will forgive.
I know this may be hard to believe but after what you said yesterday I did a lot of thinking and yes, I admit I was angry and can honestly say that I'm still angry now. The only question that I would like answering is how could you keep something like that from me even given the way you thought I left you?
I tried talking to you and I tried explaining to your friends who answered your phone why I phoned but I know now that you must have refused the messages or you never received them. I can tell you that I did love you and that I was willing to marry you if you had given me the chance.
The only thing that I do hold against you is the fact that you kept that secret from me. I know I can't talk about it in this letter because no doubt Amanda will read this and I'm glad she will. She will finally find out the truth as I know that she won't give up until she's finds the answer she wants, she's too much like her father in that way.
Please just be honest with her and know that I will never hate you but know that at this point in time I am angry but also know that I will get over it. I just hope this time we'll be able to stay friends.
Please just tell Amanda the truth that's all I ask.
Jack"
Once the letter was finished Jonas folded it back up and put it back in the envelope handing it back to Amanda.
Amanda blinked away tears that were forming in her eyes and the only words that she could make herself form were "He knew my father."