'S is for...' Series
By Sam I Am –Rating: PG-13 (can't honestly be more than that)
Warnings: Sam/Jack (that's a warning for anyone who don't like that) also Daniel/Janet, but not in great detail. Violence (not a lot and not that bad!), slight language!
Category: Sam/Jack Romance, Angst, Hurt/Comfort, Drama. (If there's anything I missed out someone tell me!)
Spoilers: Bits and Bobs from Seasons 1-4!
Time frame: About Season 4!
Summary: S is for... Selfless Sacrifice - While visiting a planet, Jack is accused of stealing a valuable weapon belonging to the planet's people. When he is sentenced to death, the rest of SG-1 have to struggle to get him free.
S is for... Secrets Shown – Jack learns to live with his disability and finally gets the one thing that makes him happy... But not before having an unfortunate encounter with an old 'acquaintance', the O'Neills and Mark Carter!
S is for... Second Sight - What happens when the nightmare ends? The final (and shortest!) part. Every S/J shipper's dream comes true! Sam gets her own back on Kinsey or more precisely his son and we see a few familiar faces. And, finally, they all live Happily Ever After!
Disclaimer: Stargate SG-1 and its characters are the property of Showtime / Viacom, MGM/UA, Double Secret Productions, and Gekko Productions. No copyright infringement is intended. No money is being made. The original characters, situations, and story are the property of the author. Not to be archived without permission. If you want to archive my story TELL ME, or, to borrow a phrase from our beloved Colonel, I am SO gonna kick your ass!
Author's Notes: My longest story yet and it's quite a biggy! It's taken me a year or two to write it and I've just kept adding bits of detail here and there for ages so it's taken a LONG time. I hope it was well worth it. If you have any comments on the story or just feel like being nice to me, send me some FEEDBACK. I'd really appreciate it.
Dedications: As always to my Best pal/Editor. If there was an award for patience you would be an Olympic competitor! Honestly, how you manage to put up with me I can't even begin to understand. Love you Baby! Also to my other Best Pal, Yasmino! You are fabulouso, Honey. Always keeping me company during the lonely summer holidays (and if the truth was to be known, preventing me from writing my fics, but your company was needed all the same!) To anyone who's sent me feedback so far. It was nice to get some support from you guys. And finally, to any sci-fi geek that's out there! Live long and prosper!
Abracadabra... S is for... Secrets Shown!
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S is for... Secrets Shown
2 Months Later
Jack sat in his world of darkness and despair. He'd been in the air force hospital for over 2 months now and not a lot of good things had happened.
Teal'c had reminded everyone of his own time spent being blind. He'd told them about Nyan and his device. Daniel had almost exploded with excitement, not an exaggeration, because Nyan was working at the library on base. Daniel had sped out of the hospital and almost killed anyone who got in his way. He'd begged Nyan to use it, but Nyan, to add an irritating anti-climax to it all, had told him how the boys at Area 51 had confiscated it.
Fat chance, they were gonna let him use it! They'd refused to give it to him point blank and that had been 7 weeks ago.
He sighed and wondered what the time was. He'd only just woken up. He felt along his bedside until his hand fell on his alarm clock. He felt along the buttons until he came to the right one. He pressed it as the clock said, "7:56 am. 7:56am."
Just as the clock finished dictating the time there was a familiar knock on the door.
"Come in," he said clearly. After the use of God knows how many antibiotics, Jack's lung infection had cleared up totally. His voice had come back to normal about 3 weeks ago and Jack was relieved he didn't sound like a frog anymore!
He heard the door open slowly as someone stepped inside, obviously carrying something as he heard a slight clatter and muttered curse before the usual greeting filled the room with a surreal daylight, "Morning."
Sam Carter's beautiful voice rang out clearly through the darkness and Jack felt himself smile; his shadowy world of gloom and despair evaporating in less than a split second.
She shut the door behind her as he said smiling towards the door, "Morning, Carter."
She walked over and sat in the chair next to his bed, "I brought the usual. OJ, Froot Loops and the paper..."
"Thanks," he whispered.
"No problem, Sir."
It was the same almost every morning, when she wasn't out on a mission. Jack was so glad. It was usually the only thing that got him through the day and when she couldn't come... well, the poor nurses had been warned about his unpredictable, unless you knew what to look for, mood swings by Janet and they still never knew what hit them!
She slid the tray onto his lap and placed the spoon in his hand gently her fingers brushing against his. She spoke softly, that note of care in her voice, "How are you today?"
"Alright, I guess," he paused, "How was your mission?"
"Dull."
"You're just saying that," Jack muttered, falsifying humour.
Sam spoke seriously, "Nope. The mission was boring as hell and I'm not just saying that. God, I swear I almost lost my mind!"
He chuckled, cheering up slightly, "Mineral Survey?"
"Nope. Weather Station Data Transfer from R4T 627, you know. The one prone to unpredictable monsoons?"
"Ah. As thrilling as it was short, no doubt."
The woman chuckled and then he heard her sigh, obviously realising what he was hinting at, "I'm sorry I was away so long."
Jack just smiled though it was slightly forced, "Hey, it wasn't your fault..."
"It's hard to make time for doing stuff I wanna do when Hammond's making us train up the new Colonel."
Jack nodded gently and thoughtfully at the phrase 'the new Colonel'. No one referred to 'the new Colonel' as anything else as if the moment they began referring to him by his real name 'the new Colonel' would replace Jack, which they had all made sure Jack knew they could never do.
After a few seconds he heard the paper rustle as she opened it. He had a few sips of the OJ and a few spoonfuls of cereal, but nothing more. He never used to eat a lot in front of Carter. He made way too much mess and he hated Carter to see him so degraded and useless.
Sam began to read the paper aloud to him. Jack was learning Braille, but you couldn't get many papers in Braille, so she'd come every morning and read to him. Her voice bright and fighting away the shadows. Jack wasn't really listening. He had absolutely no idea what was going on outside the blackened pit that was his room. He never actually listened to what she was telling just as he'd never really understood what astrophysics wonder she was babbling on about even when she'd explained it to him a hundred times! He just liked to hear her voice. He liked to listen to her speak. It was the only way he could picture her. He liked to hear her laugh and liked to hear her smile. He loved her smile. Warm, dazzling and beautiful...
"You're not really listening, are you?"
'Remove hand from cookie jar,' he thought to himself at the words she'd just spoken.
He could hear her smiling right now and even when he couldn't see it, it was still infectious. He answered her question, "No, not really. Just like to have company."
"I know. Why don't we go for a walk?"
Jack was quite enthusiastic at the thought, "Yeah. I'm using crutches now."
"I heard," Sam said speaking strictly, "Janet told me how you'd started refusing to use a wheelchair!"
"I can walk. That's about all I can do, but I can do that and she's not going to stop me!"
Sam laughed, warm as sunshine, "She'd be scared to try!"
She lifted the tray off his lap and laid it on the side. He sat up straighter, "Uh... Carter, could you leave?"
"Why?"
"I wanted to get changed..."
"Oh..." Jack could tell Sam was blushing as she handed him his clothes and laid the crutches next to him.
"I'll be right outside the door, OK?"
"Yes. Yes. Jesus, Carter, anyone would think you're my wife!"
'Note to self: Never talk about Carter being my wife!'
Sam stuttered, "Call me if you need me!" And made a quick exit through the door.
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'Note to self: Never do anything that will make Jack talk about you being his wife!'
As Sam stood outside the door, she replayed the past 2 months in her head. Every day she could she'd come to visit Jack and every day she realised she was falling more and more in love with him and even more so when she was on a mission and couldn't come to see him. If she was off world she'd think about him non-stop and was always distracted which many of her colleagues had noticed, although none of them said anything. The moment she got back she'd always be there the next morning as early as she could. She sighed. Jack was no longer in the air force, but she didn't have the guts to make the first move.
That night in the Infirmary she'd been about to tell him she loved him too, but now she couldn't summon up the courage to just say it. It seemed that the deeper she fell in love with the man, the less she felt like telling him.
Janet had tried setting her up with one of her gorgeous doctor friends. He was apparently gaga over her. She'd seen him around. He was always smiling at her and asking if she was all right. He'd been asking after her and why she was at the hospital every day. She'd said 'no' to the date and Janet had asked why.
Sam, of course, hadn't answered, but Janet sort of knew the answer, although the woman daren't mention it in case she was wildly wrong. Janet was worried that if she mentioned it Sam would get embarrassed and would distance herself from the Colonel. She believed that if Sam did that it would lead to tragic consequences...
Sam sighed gently. She loved him so much. When she walked into the room, a smile came to his face and the whole room seemed to brighten up. There was no doubt in her mind he loved her as well, but Sam still couldn't seem to tell him how she felt.
The door opened and Jack hopped out on his crutches awkwardly. His shoelaces trailed and he almost fell. Other than that he'd got dressed quite well. She steadied him, as he looked at her shocked for a second.
"Do you want me to sort out your laces?"
The sad look in his eyes was unmistakable as he murmured, "Thanks"
She looked at him worried for a second and then bent down and fixed his laces. She stood and found herself barely millimetres away from his face. She took a deep breath as she stared into his eyes. He looked away embarrassed, as Sam sighed gently. Her breath tickled his cheek as she murmured, "Come on."
She went to hold his arm, but he shook her off. So she just walked beside him as they slowly made their way to the exit.
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They walked through the park in silence. The sun was quite warm and bright, but a cool spring breeze blew through the trees. Sam looked over at Jack hobbling slowly by her side. She remembered that he wasn't supposed to stay on his feet too long. Janet would kill her if she didn't give him a rest.
"Shall we sit down for a while?"
Jack stopped in the middle of the path and stared towards where she was, "I guess," he said gloomily.
Sam watched him for a moment and then led him to a bench. He sat down and stretched his broken leg out in front of him. He took in a deep breath and then sighed. She perched on the bench beside him as he turned towards her, "Why are you doing this, Carter?" She didn't answer, her voice disappearing from her throat as she tried to speak. He just stared in her direction awaiting a reply and when he didn't get one, he turned and sighed facing forwards, a look of disappointment and sadness on his face. He glared at the floor, as he spat, "I don't need your pity, Carter!"
"Pity..." Sam said sadly. Was that all he thought this was? Just pity. Oh God, Jack... After a long silence she finally spoke. Her voice betrayed her, as it came out choked, "Pity? Is... Is that what you think? That I am doing this because I feel sorry for you? No. No, Colonel, it's not pity."
"Then why?" he growled angrily. It was really hard to have an argument when he couldn't see her, but he needed to argue and he'd just have to try his best. Even though her voice was beautifully soft and Jack could hear the pain in her voice, he had to argue because he had to drive her away.
He'd made up the decision when they'd been walking. All she did was work and visit him. Jack had to make her leave. She was in her thirties and Jack knew she wanted a family. He had to drive her away. It was for her own good!
"Is it because you owe me? Is it because I'm your invalid CO? Do you know how much I hate everyone feeling sorry for me all the time? The nurses treating me like a child, the doctors treating me like a stupid child and as for you guys, you guys are even worse. Hanging around all the time reminding of how much I want to be hanging! I hate it!" He finished with a raised voice he turned to her. 'You have to do this,' he told himself, as he gritted his teeth and said, "Why Carter? Why do you come every morning?"
Sam sat there silently staring at him; she was close to tears although she pushed it to the back of her mind. Why was he saying this? She knew that he loved her. Why would he say that to her? They were good friends if nothing else.
She took a deep breath and closed her eyes as she murmured, "So I can spend time with you," she felt the tears brimming as she whispered, "The past couple of months have been hell for me! I miss you, so much! Our new CO's an utter chauvinistic pig! He ignores everything I say, he looks at me with utter disgust and he ignores me, as if as far as he's concerned I don't even exist. He listens and respects Daniel and Teal'c, but he hates me. I don't think Daniel has noticed, but Teal'c has. He's been trying to look after me, but all it's doing is making me look weaker!" She stared at Jack's look of complete surprise, "Every moment I have to spend with the jerk makes me want to cry, but I don't! I keep going because I know that after a hard day I can always come back to see you!"
Jack sat in a shocked silence, as Sam took in another breath fighting back tears. This was so hard, but he had to drive her away. He could hear her hurting in silence at what he'd said and Jack wished he didn't have to say anymore. Problem was that it was the only way...
"He's been treating me worse lately," she continued, her voice quiet and sad, "Dad always told me to ignore bullies, put on a smile and pretend they're not hurting me and then they'd leave me alone. But it just makes Colonel Warner want to make me crack! I only have one Colonel and that's you. I will always only have one of you, but that's all I need to get through the day."
As Jack spoke he realised how much he wished he didn't have to do this. That there was another option, but there wasn't, "What makes you think I'll always be there, waiting for you?" His voice sounded like ice and he felt his skin prickling in disgust as he spoke.
He could hear Sam give a small gasp or maybe a sob. Her voice lowered to a tiny whisper, "Because I love you, Jack." She sniffed quietly as she took in a shaky breath and murmured, "And I thought you loved me."
Jack felt his heart stop, as he realised for the first time that she really did love him. I mean anyone who's about to die can tell the first guy/girl they see that they love them, but as she said the words Jack felt himself freeze like a statue.
He turned to her as she whispered, "Do you still love me or are you telling the truth?"
'Make or Break time, Jack! Now what do you do?!?'
"I'm telling the truth..." he murmured and Sam's silence was enough to confirm her misery. He took in a deep breath and began to speak quickly, his soul gushing forth, "...when I say that I never stop thinking about you because you're the only person who can make me smile and laugh and I'm miserable when you're not around and I don't think I can ever stop thinking about you every single day and its driving me nuts because I'm head over heels about you and I have to pretend day after day that I'm not because that'll make it easier when you go off with some stud and get married and have kids and you're not there for me anymore..." He took another deep breath and continued, "I have to get through everyday in mind numbing darkness, only in the light when you're around and the fact that's there's no way you could ever love me back burns me up inside because I know someone as beautiful and wonderful as you can't possibly stay single forever and I can't see you which really cuts me deep as I don't think I've ever wanted anything more in my life than to see your face again, see you laughing and smiling, see your amazing eyes and it hurts me because the only way I can see you is in my head, in my imagination and I seriously need to get a reality check and just goddamn tell you and the rest of the world that I love you!"
She let out a small sob and Jack could tell she was now crying if she hadn't been before. It then occurred to him that he'd spoken out loud and she'd heard ever thought he'd had whilst sat in that hospital bed all at once. She slid closer to him on the bench and he pulled her into his arms as she began to cry and laugh relieved.
"I'm sorry. I'm so sorry about what I said before," he whispered softly as he held her tightly.
He felt her shaking slightly as she spoke to him, "Why did you say it then?"
Jack stroked her soft hair lovingly, "I was trying to drive you away. You've always wanted a family and the Doc said you were refusing to go out with some gorgeous Doctor because you didn't have the time... and you were spending so much time with me... I thought..."
She pulled away and stared into his face surprised, "You really didn't know? You didn't know all this time?"
"No. I really did think you were just being a good friend..."
"Oh God! I thought you knew. I told you..."
"Seconds before we were hanged... I thought you were just saying it. Spur of the moment kinda thing..."
Sam laughed gently, "I really did mean it, Jack. I've loved you for years. I'm not even sure when I started, but it happened and I haven't stopped loving you since."
"Even like this," Jack sighed miserably, "I'm goddamn useless. I can't see. I'm an old, grumpy, blind guy. How could anyone love me? It's a joke. I know the nurses flinch with disgust whenever I speak to them and I have reason to believe that they refer to me as Quasimodo!"
She put her head back down on his shoulder as she whispered into her ear, "No matter what happens, I can't stop loving you. No matter how tough things get, I'll be there because I need you and I love you just the way you are. I wouldn't have you any other way and I won't let anything stop me from telling you that ever again."
"Really?"
"Yeah," he heard Sam grinning as she murmured, "And I think those Nurses are flinching with jealously because you are one hell of a guy!"
Jack laughed humourlessly and shook his head, "Now you're the one who's blind!"
"No," Sam whispered seriously, "No, I'm not."
Jack's eyes widened in surprise, "You really mean that, don't you?"
"With all my heart," she said as she leant forward and her lips brushed his in a short kiss. She pulled back as Jack just blinked and looked more surprised than ever. He held out his hand and felt a tingling sensation as she slid her fingers into his open palm.
She slid even closer on the bench and kissed him again. And again. And again! He began to kiss her back as he felt her lips curve into a smile. They sat there blissfully unaware of everything around them for a long time before Sam pulled back. She placed a line of soft kisses on his cheeks as she murmured, "We better get back to the hospital. Janet will go ballistic if we're late."
Jack just nodded and gave a small sigh as he stood up, leaning heavily on his crutches. Sam put a hand on his shoulder for a second. He shook her off again to Sam's surprise. She suddenly felt seriously worried. He can't seriously still hate himself that much...? Then Jack held out his arm with a smile, "Would the lady like to be escorted back to the Hospital?"
Sam smiled relieved and slid her arm into his, so they entwined together, "Yes please."
Jack just nodded and then stared down at the floor as he murmured, "You... uh... might have to direct."
Sam just chuckled softly, "Sure. Come on."
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Janet sat in her office. She could see the two of them walking back down the path, arm in arm. Janet's eyes widened when she saw the Colonel was smiling. She'd not seen a true smile on his face since the mission, which had left him sightless and in her care. She watched as they walked into the building and considered going out to confront them, but decided for some reason that something was different about them both and that she'd leave it until later.
There was a knock on the door and Janet turned and murmured, "It's open."
The door was opened swiftly and a woman walked in. Janet knew immediately that the woman was either rich or important or both. She had a certain air about her and stared down at Janet sat at her desk with a look of superiority.
She was a tall, thin woman with long legs, which were exposed from her skirt, and fantastic body that Janet couldn't help but envy. Her hair was a sleek black and it fell about her shoulders without even a hair out of place. She had a thin neck and a very dainty face. Her face was almost perfect and Janet could tell the woman was extremely beautiful. She had a small nose and perfectly shaped lips. Her eyelashes were black and long, perfect for fluttering. Her eyes were large and a fantastic shade of jade green. They were so dark in colour Janet almost gasped.
The woman raised her beautifully thin eyebrow and said, "You are Dr. Fraiser?"
Janet stood up and said, "Yes. And you are?"
"Rosanna Morgan," she spoke her voice soft and flowing, "I'm an acquaintance of Colonel Jonathon O'Neill. You have him in your care, I believe?"
Janet's eyebrows rose as she spoke shocked, "Yes, of course. I'll lead you to his room."
Janet got up and moved to the door. The woman turned and waited for Janet to open the door for her before stepping out into the corridor. She led her to the Colonel's room and paused. She knocked on the door.
From inside there was a bright, "Come in."
When she heard Sam's voice, the woman pursed her lips and her eyebrow raised another couple of notches. Something gave Janet the impression that this woman was more than just an acquaintance.
Janet glanced in the door, praying that the Colonel and Sam weren't looking like a couple. They weren't. Jack looked as if he was about to say something and Janet noticed a nervous frown on his face. Sam sat in the chair by his bed. She was reading him the paper as usual. Janet gave her an apologising look as she opened the door and the woman stepped in.
Janet didn't miss the cold look those large, bottle green eyes shot at the smiling woman holding a newspaper. Sam's face fell as she stared at the woman and Janet caught her glance that said, 'Janet, what's going on?'
Jack was frowning in confusion at the awkward silence that had filled the small room. He spoke unsure as he said, "Carter? Doc?"
"You have a visitor, Colonel..."
The woman spoke a small smile on her lips, "I've finally tracked you down, Jonathon. Took me a long time to find out where you were, but when I heard you were in this..." she looked around distastefully, "hospital, I decided I should visit and get you transferred somewhere else immediately."
Jack's eyes widened as he croaked, suddenly losing his voice again, "Anna?"
"Ah, so you do remember my name!" The woman said haughtily, "I was beginning to wonder if you even remembered who I was, Jonathon."
Janet saw how uncomfortable Jack was. He turned to Sam, "Carter, could you...?"
"Yes Sir," she murmured and stood up taking Janet by the arm and closing the door behind her.
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Jack sat in silence waiting for Anna to speak. She would have to turn up just then, at the exact moment when Jack had finally built up enough courage to ask Sam to marry him. How Jack had even built up the courage he didn't know! He didn't know why, but something in his heart had told him she would say 'Yes.' And he was about to stammer out his question when there was a knock on the door, and none other than Anna stepped into the room. Talk about irony!
"Well, Jonathon," Anna began, "I'm going to have to get you transferred to a private hospital..."
"I don't want to go to a private hospital, Anna. I'm fine where I am."
"I have the money," she gave a small laugh, "You know I have the money."
Jack spoke like a child being told he'd have to go stay with his batty great-aunt, who had at least a million cats and who's house smelt of old people, damp and cigars, "Yes, but I'd rather stay here, thanks."
"Jonathon, you really are stubborn," she spoke softly, "And boy, does it make you look hot!"
Jack just spoke to the darkness as he felt blood rushing to his cheeks, "Anna, this isn't the right place or the right time."
"Yes, you're right," he heard her grimace in disgust, "Ugh! This place is pitiful. And look at you! Your hair is a disgrace! Did they cut that?"
Jack spoke again interrupting the woman, "Why are you here?"
"Can't have my fiancé left in this dump," the woman said condescendingly in a way his mother had spoken to him when he was 7! Jack's eyes widened in surprise as her words finally made it from his ear to his brain. Fiancé?!? Since when?!?
"I'm not your fiancé!"
She was tinkering with all the stuff on his bedside table, although due to his condition, Jack had no idea what she was looking at. She spoke in her confident tone, "Fine. Jonathon O'Neill, you will marry me, won't you?"
Jack knew the question was rhetorical. He spoke up, "Why do you want to marry me?"
"Oh, Jonathon, don't be silly!" She said quite patronizingly.
Jack spoke again slightly angry, "You married your first husband for the money and then you married your second for the status! Why on a freezing day in hell would you want to marry me?!?"
Jack heard her take a step back at the insult. She spoke coolly, "Because I want you. And I always get what I want."
Jack heard her walk to the door and slam it behind her.
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Sam sat outside on one of the cool plastic seats that lined the corridors in groups of four. That woman would have to turn up just then, at the exact moment when Sam had finally built up enough courage to ask Jack to marry her. She'd been sat hiding her face with the paper as she'd prayed he wouldn't think she was asking out of pity. And then she was about to whisper her question when there was a knock on the door.
She looked up as the door opened and the woman stepped out slamming the door behind her.
She had a small smirk on her lips, but also looked quite annoyed. When she spotted Sam she walked over and sat on the chair beside her. She placed her handbag on her lap and pulled out a compact mirror and some makeup and began to powder her nose.
She was extremely familiar and Sam couldn't remember where she'd seen her before. She was about asking who the woman was before she beat her to it.
"Who are you?"
"Major Samantha Carter, USAF," the woman looked at her in disdain before Sam added, "And you?"
"Rosanna Morgan." The woman spoke as if hearing her name was an honour, but Sam had heard her name before. Oh boy, had she heard this gold-digger's name before! This woman had first married the late billionaire, Peter Carrington, at the age of nineteen. It had been a huge thing as the man had been 76! When he died four years later, he'd already left almost all of his money to her. She was now a couple of billion dollars richer. Then when she was 28 she married a famous actor, whose name Sam had forgotten, as after marrying the woman his fame had almost completely diminished. About five years after the marriage the woman divorced him on account he'd been having affairs. She was then famous again, and had been having relationships with well-known people ever since.
She was the same age as Sam and she still looked extremely young. She spoke again a small smile on her perfectly shaped lips, "I have asked Jonathon to marry me. He will. I always get what I want."
Sam looked at the woman in surprise unsure as how anyone could actually say that out loud. It seemed to Sam to be more like disjointed thoughts. She also felt the woman was an extremely spoilt brat!
Sam felt her heart beating wildly in her chest, as she said, "No, he won't."
It was Rosanna's turn to look at her surprised. She could see the hatred burning in those unfathomable green eyes, as the woman spoke, "Oh, really?"
"Yes, really."
"And why would he not, may I ask?"
Sam spoke frankly, "He doesn't love you..."
The woman interrupted her lips pursed, "Listen Sister, he's getting old, if he doesn't marry someone he's way past his sell-by date! Besides, I'm the only woman offering."
"No, you're not," Sam said quietly as she turned to stare at the floor.
"Yes, I am. He has no other woman. He's been with me for months and the poor fool hasn't had anything to do with other women since. I'm the woman he loves."
Sam prayed to God it wasn't true, but spoke, "He doesn't love you... because he loves me."
The woman laughed icily, "You?!? My dear Major, how could he possibly love you over me?"
Sam spoke, "Because I love him in return, unlike you who obviously want something. It's not money and it's not fame, so what is it?"
"A gorgeous guy on my arm," she spoke bluntly, "The first time I saw him sat in that pathetic excuse for a bar I knew he was perfect for me. We both treated it as a fling, or at least I know I did. I began to pretend I was the desperate type and started calling him whenever I could. It was then I learnt all about him being in the air force and I could already see the headlines. Now he'll marry me. Even in the state he is now, he's still about ten times better looking than half of Hollywood!"
Sam shook her head in disgust at the woman who just glared back and stood walking back to the room and stepping in waving at Sam mockingly.
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Jack heard someone step into the room and sat up slightly. He was about to ask, who it was before that voice spoke, "Well, when shall we have the wedding? I want a summer wedding. We could rent out Hyde Park."
"No," Jack said firmly.
The woman spluttered, "No? Jonathon, what are you talking about?"
"No, we are not getting married in Hyde Park."
"Fine, how about the Empire State Building or maybe...?"
"How about... No, as in 'No wedding'!"
"Getting cold feet already, Jonathon," she said patronizingly.
Jack spoke angrily, "My name is Jack! And we're not getting married!"
The woman spoke equally as angry back, "Why not?"
"Because I'm in love with someone else!"
Jack heard the woman let out an exasperated snort from her nose. She began to laugh coldly, her laugh echoing around the room and around his head.
Jack muttered, "What?"
"You love that little urchin out there?"
"If you mean Sam, then yes I do."
Rosanna let out another cackle at laughter, causing Jack's heart to momentarily drop as she spoke coldly, "Listen, she can't support you for the rest of your life even with your income as well. You could stop work entirely if you married me."
"You wouldn't be able to look after me," Jack said quietly.
"What? Of course I woul..."
Jack stared blankly at her from the bed as he said, "I'm blind, Anna."
The woman gave a strangled cough and said, "You what?"
"I'm blind. I can't see," Jack said firmly, wondering why in the name of God he'd ever sort comfort with that woman. Well... he had been fairly drunk...
Anna just gave another shocked cough, "You can't see?"
"No," Jack said glaring at her, "Ruined your plans slightly, have I?"
Anna was gasping and spluttering suddenly strangely unvocal. He couldn't stop the satisfied but humourless smile that came to his face as the woman started to try to speak, but all that came from her mouth were incoherent sounds. She continued to sputter until Jack said coolly, "I don't want to marry you and you're not going to get what you want, so don't you think it's about time you left?"
She gave an insulted gasp and said after a few more seconds of offended spluttering, "You and the Urchin will pay for this!"
Jack spoke with a satisfied smile, "As long as it's 'Me and the Urchin' I couldn't care less!"
Her breath came out in an angry sigh as she sped out of the room, furiously slamming the door and making Jack's ears ring.
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When Rosanna Morgan stormed out of Jack's room for the second time, Sam stood. The woman came to her, her face like thunder. She spoke in a deadly whisper, "You won't be able to support him, Major. He needs someone with enough money to look after him; if you really loved him you'd convince him you didn't. He needs special care, which I can provide."
"When I thought you couldn't stoop any lower," Sam said coldly, "What he needs is someone who loves him how he is, not someone who wants to make herself look good by marrying a gorgeous, albeit blind, man." It was then Sam realised why this woman still wanted to marry him even after discovering his disability, "You want to marry him for the publicity. If you pretended to love him, everyone would think you were a wonderful, caring woman when really you're an absolute witch!"
The woman glared at her angrily and without another word stormed out of the hospital.
Å
As the door opened again, Jack knew this time it wasn't Anna. He heard the familiar soft footsteps as the door was closed gently. His sixth sense kicked in again and he instinctively knew it was Sam who had just entered his room.
A small smile came to Jack's lips as he murmured, "She called you a little urchin."
Sam gave a soft laugh, "She called you a poor fool."
Jack smiled sadly into the darkness, "I told her I was blind."
He heard Sam walk closer and quietly sit in the chair beside his bed, as she murmured sympathetically, "I got the impression."
He sighed, "Well, that was an interesting conversation."
"Why did she storm out?"
Jack turned to face where Sam sat and found himself lying with a wry smile, "I told her to stop calling me 'Jonathon'."
Sam laughed gently, but didn't speak. They sat in silence for a long time, until Sam finally spoke softly, her voice extremely uncertain, "Jack?"
"Yeah?"
"You... and Rosanna Morgan?"
He snorted, "Yeah. She practically threw herself over me when I was having a drink. It was... uh... after the whole Netu incident and... well you and Martouf... it made me kinda... miserable. Not to mention I was... slightly pissed... and... uh... yeah..."
"Oh," Sam understood and decided she didn't need to hear any more anyway. They sat in yet another silence until she spoke quietly again, sounding even more hesitant, "Jack?"
"Yeah?"
"I... Will you... I mean... Would you say 'yes' if... if... I asked you to marry me?" She spoke the last words so quietly Jack barely heard it.
Jack stared at where she sat and could almost see her staring at her regulation boots and twiddling her thumbs nervously. His heart was pounding in his chest as if attempting to break out. He felt himself almost holding his breath as he managed to say quietly, "No."
Jack heard Sam stand up extremely quickly, the chair she'd been sat on clattering to the floor in her haste. Her voice sounding close to a sob as he heard her trembling, "I'm sorry. I have to go." He heard her receding footsteps as she fled for the door.
"Sam..." Jack said and he heard her stop by the door. His sixth sense told her she was watching him again. He spoke softly, "I'd say 'No' because... I know it sounds sexist and like a terrible cliché, but I realised earlier that I should've gone back to retirement a long time ago and that I should've asked you to be my wife..."
Jack sat in the silent darkness, after his reply feeling really stupid and half expecting her to laugh at him and leave, even after what she'd said. He heard Sam move slightly on the spot. She whispered anxiously, "Are you?"
He felt himself smile slightly, "Yes. I was about to when Anna came in."
Jack reached for his crutches and got out of bed. He hobbled along towards her feeling along the bedside cabinet and the wall rail in the room until he sensed she was only inches away from where he now stood swaying slightly precariously. He spoke his voice suddenly weak, "I can't kneel because of this damn cast, but... Samantha Carter, will you marry me?"
Again silence and Jack began to wonder if Sam had left and if it hadn't been for the soft breathing he heard that wasn't his own he would have thought he was talking to himself.
Sam spoke her voice as quiet as the wind, "Of course I will," he heard her smile as she said, "That's why I asked you first, Stupid!"
Å
Janet hesitated from knocking on the door. She'd seen and heard most of the argument between Jack and Rosanna Morgan through CCTV and when Sam had walked in there she'd ripped herself from the screen and walked back to the Colonel's room. She debated going in or not and decided she had to find out if Jack and Sam were arguing or if they were alright.
She opened the door quietly and glanced in at the couple stood in the room. She was about to reprimand Jack for being out of bed when she'd specifically told him he was only to spend a certain period of time standing when his expression stopped her.
She continued to watch through the crack in the door at the man wobbling slightly as he gripped onto the hand rail that was strategically fixed all around the room for the use of blind patients. He spoke softly, his voice sounding unsure and anxious, "I can't kneel because of this damn cast, but... Samantha Carter, will you marry me?"
Sam whispered, "Of course I will." Janet watched as her best friend's face changed from anxiety to surprise to a huge, overjoyed grin which split her face, "That's why I asked you first, Stupid!"
She watched as Jack let out a relieved sigh and nearly fell over happily, "Come here!" When she was within arms length he pulled her into a tight hug, obviously relieved she'd answered 'yes'. Jack was laughing and Janet felt her heart twang of the look of complete and utter delight on his face. He barely smiled anymore... except when Sam was around.
Janet felt her eyes glued to the situation, as Sam pulled out of the hug and stared at Jack smiling softly. She could tell by the expression on the man's face that he was positive what was about to happen next, but the shock and surprise in his expression, Janet could see clearly.
Sam spoke hesitantly, "Can I kiss the groom?"
Jack shrugged and spoke nonchalantly though she could see the thrill in his eyes, the first expression she had seen in them for what felt like years, "Sure. Why not? Nothing like being origina..."
Sam leant forward and began to kiss him slowly, cutting off the rest of the man's sentence as he most definitely kissed her back! Janet's eyes widened and she silently closed the door again, 'I think it's safe to say they're alright!'
Å
2 days later
Daniel wandered down the sterile hospital corridor to Jack's room, completely preoccupied with his thoughts. His mind was folding in on itself wondering why on Earth Jack wanted to see him. If the truth was to be known, Jack was being one hell of a manic depressive and when Daniel visited he barely replied with a grunt, let alone spoke. The only time he had seen Jack happy had been when he had visited once and Sam had been there. He'd been smiling and looking much better than Daniel had ever seen him since that mission.
The Archaeologist hesitated as he stood outside the door contemplating what level of depression his friend needed counselling with today. He knocked two knuckles against the shiny wooden surface, waiting for the grunt of welcome from his friend, no more than a shell of the man Daniel had once known. An unexpectedly cheerful, "Come in," erupted from the room within as Daniel frowned confused and opened the door.
The first thing Daniel noticed relieved him to no end. Jack was... smiling. In fact, he was grinning like an absolute moron. This was one scenario Daniel had definitely not been prepared for!
"Uh... Hi Jack," Daniel said cautiously as the man's almost unreal grin widened.
"Danny Boy!" The man said with what sounded suspiciously like laughter, "How are you, Space monkey?"
Now, Daniel was getting worried. His friend was just strolling along the brink of the abyss of insanity at the moment... Daniel spoke cautiously, "Jack, you're... uh... acting really... weird."
Jack laughed heartily, "I guess from your point of view I look like a crazy, blind man, huh?"
Daniel spoke concerned, "Teal'c said he'd never smuggle alcohol in for you again. You didn't somehow change his mind, did you?"
Once Daniel had spoken Jack couldn't stop chuckling, "No, Daniel. Honestly, I'm not on drugs or anything. I'm fine. OK, a little light-headed, but it's not drug induced!"
"You're going a little OTT on the happiness, Jack. It's kinda scary and I'd be really happy if you'd just stop grinning like that."
Jack smile almost vanished as he murmured, "Are you OK, Danny?"
"It's just... When I got the call from Janet saying you wanted to see me, I expected you were still..."
"A depressed, morbid, poor conversationalist?" Jack supplied with a small smile.
"Yeah," Daniel winced, "It's just sort of freaky. I visited you last week and you barely acknowledged me with an incoherent sound and looked as if you could just about use a gun..."
"And now I'm talking in full blown sentences and grinning like an imbecile, aren't I?"
"Yeah," Daniel murmured as he took the seat beside his friend, "Don't get me wrong! It's great! You don't know how worried I was getting! I thought they'd be committing you to an institution!"
"A real pleasant thought," Jack said sarcastically, although Daniel could still see the smile on his lips. There was something else about him but Daniel couldn't place it.
After a few minutes of trying to work out what was different, Daniel sighed and murmured, "So... what happened?"
Jack's grin came back in its fullness and then it hit Daniel. Since... that mission, Jack's eyes, which had once been so full of expression, had become gaping voids, emotionless and blank. But now as Daniel sat there watching his friend he saw Jack for the first time in what felt like years, his sightless eyes no longer blank and befuddled looking, but full of... life.
Jack's voice broke his thoughts as he murmured, "It's a long story."
Daniel could see the grin had faded and left a soft smile on the man's usually weary features. He seemed to have become ten years younger before Daniel's very eyes. Although Jack didn't know it, he was staring out the window into the warm June day, a small secretive smile on his face, a true smile that Daniel had only seen a few times.
Daniel cleared his throat gaining the man's wandering attention, "Could you give me a bullet point summary? Or tell me why I'm here?"
Jack spoke seriously, "I need to talk to Jacob."
Daniel frowned bemused by his friend's odd behaviour, "Jacob?"
Jack nodded, "I need you to sort it out with Hammond for me seen as I can't really do it myself. It needs to be careful planned, as a certain individual needs to be absent when he comes. Knowing your sly and devious side, I thought this would be your area of expertise, Danny Boy and I knew how much you like to put any of your skills into use."
"What? Jack, can you explain this to me in one simple sentence?"
Jack's grin came back as the man sighed contentedly and murmured, "I'm getting marri..."
"Morning, Honey! Sorry, I'm late with breakfast this morning. It's just..." Sam stopped dead when her eyes fell on Daniel sat in the chair gawping.
The man's blue eyes moved from Jack to her and then back to Jack. Daniel's face twitched slightly and Sam gulped as she murmured, "Hey Daniel."
He didn't reply. Oh God! What had she done? Daniel wasn't speaking. Oh God! Why wasn't he saying anything? Oh God! Not good. Not good! The man's face twitched again and then again as she gently placed the food tray on Jack's bedside table. She watched Daniel as he sat there staring at her, unmoving and silent. Just staring.
"Daniel?" She spoke cautiously and before she knew it the man was pulling her into a tight hug and laughing hard. He then turned to Jack and pulled him into a tight manly embrace as Jack began to laugh too. She'd obviously missed something!
"Uh Guys?"
Daniel pulled her into another hug jumping up and down as he cried, "Oh Sam! I'm so happy for both of you! Oh Wow! Oh Wow! I can't believe you two... I mean... FINALLY!"
Sam pulled back confused as the chuckling linguist collapsed back into the chair, "You... know?"
Jack interrupted speaking with a hint in his voice that clearly said 'Daniel, don't mention Jacob!' "I asked Danny over so I could tell him. I needed to tell someone. You have no idea how frustrating it is sat here grinning to myself all day, especially as the Nurses all keep asking me what's wrong and every one of them has had to confirm my medication to check they hadn't given me the wrong stuff!"
Sam smiled fondly and it was then Daniel realised how much they truly loved each other. Sam perched on the gurney beside him as he murmured, "You don't mind me telling?"
"No. In fact, I hadn't really thought about telling anyone yet. My mind's been... preoccupied," the woman said blushing slightly and Daniel noticed that she was also grinning inanely.
Jack grinned mischievously as he said, "I had an interesting conversation with the Doc earlier. I think she knows!"
"Aww, you're joking!" Sam groaned, "I was so hoping to tell her myself... how do you know?"
Jack spoke chuckling, "She mentioned something about weddings and then said 'You know I think instead of kissing the bride it should be kissing the groom. Wouldn't that be original?' I could tell she'd obviously heard and I asked her whether she'd considered taking a job as a Soviet spy. Then she began stifling giggles before she muttered something like 'I don't speak Russian' and sped out of the room."
Daniel looked at both of them confused before he shrugged and then said in wonder, "You guys? Engaged? How? I mean, when? Why?"
"Why else." Sam replied with a beautiful smile and a small snort.
Daniel chuckled, "OK. That was a really stupid question. How? When?"
Jack and Sam spoke in unison, "Yesterday," before both of them blushed slightly and Jack mumbled, "Uh... shall we say an... old acquaintance of mine showed up and... me and Sam sorta..."
"Pissed her off," Sam said with an impish grin.
Daniel made the 'oh' shape with his lips for a second before he said, "That kind of old acquaintance. So who was she? Anyone I know."
Sam looked at Jack and he watched as her fingers curled round his, "You want to tell him?"
"Rosanna Morgan, Danny."
Daniel looked at Jack, who's sightless eyes were staring at the blanket and then at Sam, who was biting her bottom lips slightly when he realised they weren't joking. Daniel choked, "The Rosanna Morgan and... and Jack?"
"Apparently so," Sam said seriously before a small smile came to her lips, "And she's a real bitch. I'm talking... serious Bitch!"
"Damn straight," Jack said before he said with a grin, "She wouldn't stop calling me 'Jonathon'!"
Sam laughed slightly, "Oh come on, Jack! She suddenly tells you you're her fiancé and you're getting married in Hyde Park and your only problem is she calls you 'Jonathon'!"
"What?!?" Daniel exclaimed although it seemed he was now no longer part of the conversation as Jack continued.
"It reminds me of my Mom, who, by the way, hasn't even met you yet, doesn't know I'm blind and still hates me for divorcing Sara," Jack then groaned realising he'd said too much and muttered, "Damn Fraiser and these drugs! I swear she slipped some truth serum in there with them!"
Sam spoke surprised, "You've never mentioned your Mom before."
"That's because I'm the Prodigal Son," Jack said begrudgingly, "I'm the O'Neill she likes to think doesn't exist."
"How do you know that?"
Jack looked up at her with his sightless eyes, his free hand moving to clasp around her other hand holding them together, "Sam, trust me, OK? Out of the five of us boys I'm the one she blamed everything on..."
"Five boys?!?" Sam said with a grin.
Jack grimaced, "As I was saying, truth serum..."
"So you have four brothers you never thought of mentioning. Not got a couple of sisters you've kept hidden from either..."
"Well actually..."
"Jack! I can't believe you didn't tell me!"
Jack frowned, "If you really must know I'm the third oldest in my family, beneath my two older brothers, Mike and Joe. Then after me are the twins, Darren and Will and our little sister, Felicity. That's it! Happy now!"
"You have four brothers and a sister and your Mother, who, I'm guessing, you don't talk to, don't talk to you either and in fact has absolutely no idea what's happened to you since your divorce! God, Jack! I have one brother! How you lived with four brothers and a sister..."
Jack spoke still frowning slightly, "Look, I'm sure we can invite them to the wedding, but they won't come!"
"Ahem!"
Both Jack and Sam looked up towards Daniel sat in the chair looking rather left out, "Can't you continue your argument at home?"
"Sorry, Daniel," Sam murmured.
He smiled getting up, "No problem really. Now you've got together I can forgive you guys anything."
"You leaving?" Jack asked with a slight tone of sadness in his voice.
"Sure. I've got to..." Daniel bit his tongue before he mentioned Jacob, "let you guys carry on your argument. I need to finish translating something for SG-2. I'll see you guys later."
"Bye Daniel."
"See ya, Danny Boy." Daniel turned to leave and reached the door before Jack spoke up, "And you better buy yourself a decent suit, Daniel. Can't have my Best man looking as if he just stepped in off the street, especially in those suits you've got locked up in your closet."
Daniel turned with the widest grin Sam thought she'd ever seen him smile, even on G5R 908 when they found that Aztec temple and were given 2 weeks to translate. Daniel stuttered his eyes lighting up, "R-Really? You... You want ... me to be... your Best man? W-What about... all your brothers?"
Jack smiled, "Daniel, I have five human, and I stress human, brothers... The four that are blood related are a nightmare. The fifth however, who happens to be a linguist, not a blood relative and annoying as hell sometimes... is the best out of the lot." Jack smiled warmly, "There's no way I'm having anyone but you, Daniel."
Daniel grinned and then murmured, "Gee, Jack, I'm honoured. Really?"
"Yep."
"Oh Wow," Daniel said eyes lighting up with childish excitement as he sped out from the room, "I'll see you guys later!"
Sam glanced at Jack as she murmured, "That was really sweet, Jack."
He blushed, "Oh please don't pull that on me! Daniel's an only child and has been an orphan for a long time. I've taken him under my wing as it were and as far as I'm concerned he's my little geeky brother with a doctorate in Archaeology, Anthropology and like a bazillion languages."
Sam placed a soft kiss on his cheek, "You always act like he annoys you all the time. I'm assuming that's just to keep up your tough Colonel O'Neill reputation."
Jack turned and caught her lips in a kiss as he growled, "Tell anyone, and fiancée or not, I'll have to shoot you!"
Å
As Jacob stepped through the Gate he was greeted by General Hammond, Dr. Jackson and Teal'c. He frowned slightly, worry taking over his mind and making him panic slightly.
"Where's Sam?"
His first words made Hammond chuckle slightly as he murmured, "She's not here at the moment, Jake. In fact, she doesn't even know you're here."
"What? I assumed when you sent the message that something was wrong or..."
Daniel shook his head with a smile, "Not as such, but someone needs to talk to you."
Jacob's frown increased in complete confusion, "Who?"
Daniel glanced at the General as he murmured, "Can we go?"
"Of course, Son. Give him my best."
Daniel nodded with a small smile and glanced Jacob up and down, "I'd change into something... normal if I were you."
Jacob followed the younger man from the Gate room, "We're leaving the base?"
"Yep. It's time for a field trip!"
Å
As they pulled into the Air force hospital car park, Jacob began to worry again. Even though Daniel had assured his Sam was fine and on a weather survey off-world, Jacob still worried that she'd be lying in this hospital.
He sighed slightly as the car pulled up. He unfastened his seat belt and opened the door hesitantly. The young archaeologist smiled at him, "Come on. Janet's waiting for us."
"Dr. Fraiser wanted to talk to me?"
"No," Daniel said obviously attempting to avoid the subject, "She works here, remember? We're visiting one of her patients."
Jacob walked in silence beside the Doctor into the hospital having a conversation with Selmac as he went. His full-time companion began to reprimand him on his nervousness, 'Jacob, you're being silly! Your daughter is off-world not in this hospital. Stop worrying!'
'Her job is dangerous. I have a right to be worried!'
'The Tau'ri are peculiar about this kind of thing! You are far too anxious about her well-being even when you've been told she is fine and is not the one you are visiting.'
Jacob sighed slightly as he suddenly realised Daniel was stood before him greeting the small doctor. Janet smiled at him with her pixie grin, "Jacob! It's good to see you!"
"You too, Doctor. How's Sam?"
Janet smiled knowingly, "She's fine. Actually better than fine. She's very happy at the moment."
Jacob guessed that was why he was here because the two Doctors looked at each other as she nodded ever so slightly, "I'll take it from here, Daniel. You can visit later."
"OK," he turned to Jacob, "Tell him the General sends his regards and call me when you need a lift back to the SGC, Jacob."
"Sure. Thanks Daniel."
The young man smiled, "No problem," and walked back down the corridor towards the exit.
Jacob turned back to Dr. Fraiser to find her dark brown eyes were watching him. She spoke softly, "Follow me."
Jacob began to follow again until they reach a plain hospital door, leading into a private room. From inside he could hear a television blaring, 'Wheel of Fortune', if he wasn't mistaken.
Janet looked at him with a look that said 'brace yourself' and opened the door.
Colonel O'Neill was lounged on the gurney, one leg in a cast and lying on some pillows. He looked a state. All the skin that was visible around his hospital ensemble has scratches that were scarring, the most visible of which were the silvery scars on his eyelids. His leg was elevated on a pile of pillows and was in a cast. His hair was extremely uneven and looked like someone had tried to fix it, but it hadn't worked very well.
He was vaguely watching the game show, though the look in his eyes gave Jacob the impression the man was daydreaming and had no idea they'd just walked into his room.
The kindly Doctor spoke gently, "Jack? Jacob's here."
As if he'd just been electrocuted, Jack sat bolt upright almost tossing himself from the bed as he grinned, "Jacob!"
Jacob blinked surprised as Janet smiled and nudged him into speaking, "Hey Jack. So you're the mystery person who wants to talk to me?"
Jack nodded as he stared in their direction though he never met his eyes and that was sort of disquieting, "How are you, Jake? Having fun with the Tok'ra?"
"No more than usual," Jacob said as Selmac gave him an inward glare.
Janet spoke then with a small smile, "I'll leave you two to talk. If you need anything, Colonel..."
"I know. I know," Jack said in his usual joking way as the small Doctor left, closing the door behind her.
Jack's gaze went back to the direction of the TV as he murmured, "Take a seat, Jacob."
If that didn't sound awkward, Jacob had no idea what did. He tentatively walked over to the chair beside Jack's bed as he said, "George said 'Hi.'"
Jack smiled slightly, "Tell him I said where the hell he's been recently? He said he'd visit and ring me that fruit basket!"
Jacob chuckled and sat down as the man grumbled, "Why that nurse thought I'd like 'Wheel of Fortune' I have no idea!"
Jacob chuckled slightly already feeling tension mounting in the room. Whatever Jack wanted to talk to him about was serious and that was worrying. He sighed as Selmac murmured in his head, 'Come on. Let's get this over and done with.'
"Jack, I didn't come all the way back to Earth to discuss 'Wheel of Fortune' with you, did I?"
Jack's vision fell to his hands in his lap. Jacob noticed the scarring around his wrists as well now. Jacob began to wonder what the hell had happened to him for him to end up like this.
He was about to ask when Jack murmured as if reading his mind, "I was tortured. They mangled my leg up pretty bad and decided they'd take a hand at styling my hair. Burning, whipping, branding, the usual!" Jack's attempt at humour was a failure. Jacob knew the man had been hurt badly because as he spoke Jacob heard his voice falter slightly. He continued, "I had a really bad lung infection and I only changed back into a prince a few weeks ago!"
That time Jacob chuckled, but then he saw the expression on the man's face as he murmured sadly in a way that told Jacob that Jack O'Neill was upset, for use of a better term, and that alone was disturbing. It was only when the words, "They blinded me, Jacob," left his mouth that the horrific revelation Jacob had anticipated finally hit him like a double-decker bus.
Jacob felt his jaw drop open. He'd had no idea! The only indication was the fact Jack had never met his eyes during the whole conversation. He stared at Jack on the gurney as the younger man shuddered and murmured, "Jesus! Say something. You're making me nervous."
"I'm sorry, Jack. I... I had no idea."
The man gave him a small smile, "I've been in this dump for 2 months and I've been so miserable, well up until a few days ago," he cleared his throat, "And you still don't really know what I want to talk to you about."
"And...?"
Jack sighed and muttered, "You're not going to like it."
"Jack, tell me."
Jack's face flushed an amusing shade of red as he mumbled something Jacob couldn't hear.
"Pardon?"
"MeandSamareengaged," Jack mumbled slightly louder than before, obviously expecting Jacob to explode, as he winced and flinched away.
There was silence.
After a while, Jack opened his eyes again and spoke anxiously, "Jacob?"
Then Jacob began to laugh. Not cruelly, or as if it was all some big joke. He was laughing with happiness, "That's great!"
It was Jack's turn to look completely dumbfounded, "What? No 'My daughter can't waste her life looking after some stupid, grumpy, blind guy'. No 'Are you serious?' No 'Like hell you are!'
Jacob chuckled, "Nope."
"Are you OK, Jacob?"
"I didn't drink alcohol before I came if that's what you're implying," Jacob said with a smile. His voice became serious, "Honestly, Jack, I'm glad you two finally got your act together. Sam's been head over heels about you for ages! I could tell from the first time I met you at that Air Force get-together ceremony... thing. You two deserve this."
"Wow," Jack murmured, still looking utterly bewildered, "I wasn't prepared for a Congratulations speech!"
Jacob chuckled and then murmured, "When did you guys get together?"
"Well on Tuesday."
Jacob looked at him in utter shock, "Tuesday?"
"Well, Sam's been visiting me every morning she can since we came back from the planet two months ago. I... uh... admitted certain things on the mission... but we didn't talk about it again until Tuesday. And she asked me to marry her."
"She asked you?"
"And I said 'no'."
Jacob's confusion was profound, "You said 'no'?"
"Because, and even though this sounds sexist, which it isn't, it should've been me asking her and it should've been me asking her a long time ago. I told her that and... we're engaged."
"Well, at least nothing was complicated," Jacob said sarcastically as Jack chuckled appreciatively, obviously beyond relief. Jacob realised how much his opinion must have mattered to the man.
Jack spoke with a small smile, "I'm glad you approve, Jacob. I really am. It means a lot to me." Jack spoke so sincerely that Jacob couldn't help but reach out a hand and pat the man on the shoulder. He noticed the way Jack flinched at the contact, before it dawned on him it was Jacob and it was OK. Jacob's eyes filled with sadness at the man sat before him...
The phone rang suddenly it shrill ring echoing around the room making both of them jump.
After a second, Jack mumbled, "Can you... uh...?"
"No problem," Jacob said handing Jack the receiver gently. He watched as Jack gingerly lifted it to his ear.
"Hello?... Daniel! Hi!" A frown appeared on his brow, "What?... Already... She'll be here in two minutes!... Jesus Danny!... And you call me now!... You won't get here in time and no offence to Jacob, but I don't think he'll want to hide in the closet!... Tell her?!? Are you nuts?!? That would be suicide!... OK... Fine... I'll think of something... Danny, will you stop babbling and put down? She'll be here in a minute! Bye!"
Jack passed Jacob the receiver as he put it in its cradle as he spoke, "What?"
"Sam."
"Oh," Jacob said jumping up, "Where shall I hide?"
Jack gave him a sarcastic look, "How should I know, Jacob! I can't see a goddamn thing!"
Jacob winced slightly before he grinned, "How 'bout the closet?"
Jack's eyebrows rose in surprise, "I have a closet?"
Jacob began to walk over to the wardrobe, when there was a soft rap on the door. He hurriedly flung himself inside, with surprisingly little noise and closed the doors. The whole closet was empty and Jacob had a load of space to sit around in.
Jack spoke, the nerves in his voice most definitely present, "Come in."
Jacob looked through the crack in the doors as his beautiful daughter entered still dressed in her usual green fatigues. In one hand she was rolling a suitcase and in the other she held wads of paper and a book. She spoke with a wide smile, "Guess who!"
Jacob had to hand it to him, Jack was a fabulous actor. He let a gasp and said, "Sam! But you're not supposed to be back until tomorrow!"
"Oh, it was a weather survey!" Sam said, her usual enthusiasm for work completely missing, as she grinned, "I spoke to General Hammond on the M.A.L.P an hour ago. I said quote unquote 'I'm not sticking around on this godforsaken planet when the most exciting thing that happens is a 1°C change in the temperature.'"
Jack chuckled slightly, "What did he say?"
Sam laughed, a cheerful laugh as she came to perch beside Jack on the edge of his bed, "He just paused for a second before muttering, 'Damn that Colonel' and then saying loudly, 'Come on home, Major.'"
Jack smiled, speaking sarcastically, "Gee. I wonder who he could've been referring to?"
Sam laughed softly placing a chaste kiss on his temple, "He must be spitting and cussing that you've managed to turn his star astrophysicist to the Dark Side!"
"The Dark Side? What am I? Darth Vader?!?"
Sam laughed happily before she spoke with an even wider grin, "Do you want to hear the good news or the bad news?"
"Oh what the hell, we'll have a Happy ending!"
"OK," Sam said as she gently lifted up the papers in her hand placing them in his gently, "Bad news: I've brought you some homework. You know the usual 'The Cat sat on the mat' crap, which is completely condescending, although it'll help you learn."
Jack sighed as his fingers ran over the paper really slowly, along the first line of raised bumps. He did it again, Sam watching intently before he muttered, "Oh, it gets better, Sam! 'Tom and Jill live in a big white house'."
Sam grimaced, "I'm sorry, Jack, but you'll have to learn."
Jack nodded sadly, "I know, I know." He put on a smile, also well-acted Jacob observed, "So, Good news?"
Sam's million volt smile lit up the room as she said, "OK. I have a suitcase, a car and I believe you own a property... put the three together."
Jack looked at her in shock as he murmured, "I'm going home?"
"Yep! I think my whining was starting to grate. Janet decided you can go. She cleared the paperwork this morning, so all I've got to do is pack up your clothes and I can take you home."
Jacob watched his future son-in-law's face as the man gawped looking remarkably like a goldfish as he murmured, "I can... I can really go home?"
Sam chuckled softly, "Yes. Soon as I'm ready."
Jack began to smile slightly before his face was cracked in an overjoyed grin as he pulled Sam into an excited hug, "Oh wow! I can go!"
Sam laughed and pulled back, "I'll just pack your clothes. I had Janet have them all cleaned. Did one of the nurses bring them all up here again and put them in your closet?"
"No," Jack said, trying to keep his face neutral his eyes suddenly meandering about.
Sam shrugged slightly worried by Jack's tone of voice, "OK... You read some more 'Dogs go Woof, Cows go Moo...'"
"...And Jack goes stir Crazy!" Jack said as Sam giggled.
She continued, "And I'll go get your clothes together then Janet's going to come take off your cast and we're out of here."
She grabbed the suitcase handle and pulled it towards the door as Jack spoke sincerely, love shining from his eyes, "Thanks a lot, Sam. You don't know how long I've wanted to go home for."
She turned around and smiled softly and Jacob realised then that if it was possible Samantha Carter loved Jack more than Jack loved her, which Jacob assumed was impossible. She spoke in a loving whisper, "I knew, Honey. See you in a minute, 'K?"
Jack nodded as Sam left the room. After a minute or two Jacob came out from his hiding place, "Well..."
He noticed Jack jump as he said, "God, Jacob! I forgot you were here!"
Jacob smiled, "Sorry to make you jump, but I think I better skedaddle back to the SGC before Sam gets here. I need to get back to the Tok'ra anyway."
"Alright," Jack said with a small smile, holding out his hand to be shaken. Jacob took it as the man gripped his fingers slightly tighter than he usually would have as he said, "Thanks Jake."
"No thank you, Jack, for asking my consent..." Jacob snorted, "Not that I think even I could stand between you and my daughter!"
Jack gave him a true smile, "Oh Wild Horses, Jacob. Wild Horses."
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Jack sighed gently as he felt the gentle touch on his arm and heard the beautiful voice of the woman he loved, rousing him from his silent reverie as he realised the car had stopped.
Sam spoke in a gentle voice, "We're home."
He smiled as he heard her get out of the driver's seat and heard her open and close the door of her car before she walked around to his side and opened his door, helping him out of the passenger seat.
His leg, although no longer in a cast, was still slightly unsteady to walk on, but Janet said that even though the breaks had been bad, his leg was in really good condition and shouldn't cause him much of a problem in the future. That had been a lucky break... in every sense of the phrase!
She passed him his crutches and tenderly helped him to slip his hands through them and placed an arm around his waist for a second. He turned and felt a kiss on his cheek. He smiled slightly, "What was that for?"
"Nothing," Sam said softly, her arm moving from around his waist to hook around his elbow, as she slowly led him indoors.
Sam looked up and noticed both of Jack's sets of neighbours were watching them peculiarly from their verandas. She glared at them as if telling them to mind their own business. When Jack tripped slightly, her arms were steadying him in a flash. The Nosy Neighbours' eyes continued to watch her as she spoke gently, "Easy. Don't try and go so fast." Jack gave her a look that told her he was hating every minute of this and she replied in a whisper, "I know, Jack, but we're almost there."
She led him carefully up the path and helped him climb the steps up to his front door. She used the key to open it with a small click. She helped him indoors, removing his crutches from him as she sat him down in the Lounge.
Jack's house was large and very homely. She'd only really been here once and that had been to pick him up a few things while he'd been in that hospital and at the time she'd been so preoccupied with her task she hadn't noticed.
He spoke sadly, "They saw, didn't they?"
"Who?"
"The Parkers. The McGregors. Nosy little..." Jack's muttering rounded off with a frustrated sigh, "My... Our Neighbours."
Sam usually would've grinned at his correction, but the total self-loathing in his voice stopped her. She spoke quietly, "Yeah."
Jack sighed and sat in silence for a minute his useless eyes just staring into space. After a few seconds of embarrassed, angry and miserable silence, Jack spoke again, "You better get that suitcase in."
"Yeah," Sam replied again feeling strangely unvocal. The lounge once again plunged into an uncomfortable silence before Sam spoke cautiously, "Do you want the TV on? Or some music?"
"Sure. Whatever."
"OK," Sam said awkwardly as she moved to the TV, switching it on and then moving back to him. She picked up the remote from the coffee table and gently slipped it into his hand as she spoke with a small smile, "I'll be back in a sec and then I'll make us something to eat."
A smile returned to Jack's features although she could tell how his neighbours had caused him some discomfort. He spoke, "That's sounds great. Thanks Sam."
Sam stood straight again as she moved to the front door, hearing Jack flicking between channels until she heard a familiar cartoon character exclaim, "Doh!" and smiled to herself.
She opened the front door and stepped back out into the warm evening, the sun turning the sky almost orange. She hummed to herself softly as she wandered to the boot of her car. She slipped the key in the lock and twisted it as the boot sprung open. She hoisted the suitcase from the compartment and placed it on the floor. She pressed down the boot hard until she heard the lock click back into place removing the key and pulling the handle of the suitcase.
Her eyes rose to the two sets of couples now twittering excitedly to each other as they watched her, both having congregated together on one of their lawns. Sam felt her anger towards the people rise slightly as they so blatantly gossiped about her fiancé.
She walked over, dragging the case behind her and stopped beside them. They'd all shut up by now in the guilty silence that follows people talking behind your back. One couple looked at her through their spectacles. Both the husband and wife were thin and had dark hair dark eyes and very pointy features, only exaggerated by the black frames of their glasses positioned on their beak-like noses. The other couple were plump, with liberal amounts of blonde hair pasted to their heads and were extremely rounded. Unlike the almost gothic couple, these two wore brightly coloured clothing, the woman in a flowery summer dress, the man in a badly designed Hawaiian shirt and white trousers.
She held out a hand with a forced grin, "Hi, you must be Jack's neighbours?"
They all looked at her as if she was mad, none of them reaching to shake her outstretched hand. The thin man with dark hair spoke first, his voice surprisingly squeaky and high, "I'm Martin McGregor and this is my wife, Frances."
The podgy woman spoke, "Margaret and Harold Parker. Who are you?"
'Well, nothing like getting straight to the point,' Sam thought before she spoke with her most dazzling smile, "Oh, how silly of me! I'm Samantha Carter."
"I suppose the Colonel got himself blown up again."
Sam couldn't keep up the fake smile any more and it dropped almost immediately, after Harold in the appalling Hawaiian shirt spoke, his voice low and overly fruity, "He didn't get himself blown up."
The Parkers and the McGregors all exchanged disbelieving looks before Sam strode of back to the suitcase and stormed into the house.
She shut the front door with slightly more force than she would've usually. She turned and found Jack stood right in front of her. She let out a shocked yelp before she spoke slightly breathless, "Jesus! You scared the hell out of me!"
"You know you really shouldn't bother with them. No matter what you say they've already made up their minds."
Sam spoke, with a sigh, "I just want to... kick their arses!"
Jack chuckled softly, pulling her into an embrace, "Hey, I do too, but unless said butts belong to Goa'uld or Jaffa or other alien bad guys, we aren't allowed to kick 'em!"
Sam smiled, "Go back to your Simpsons, while I make dinner."
"Actually, I might go sit in the garden. We can eat out there if you want."
"Eating Al Fresco sounds good to me," Sam smiled kissing him softly and then deciding against pulling back again.
In the end, Jack pulled away with a grin, as he groaned, "You know that can't be good for my poor old lungs!"
Sam laughed, leading him out to the garden, "Well, next time, no kiss, no dinner."
Jack gave a fake look of horror pulling her closer into a hug, "Starving me? That's got to be cruelty to children!"
She kissed him again, "Your choice. Me or no food!"
"That's a difficult one. You'll have to give me time to think that over."
They stepped out onto the veranda and Sam led Jack down the wooden platform to the deck chairs on the grass spread around a garden table. She sat him down and said, "If you want anything just holler." She grinned, "By the way, if you hear any cursing and swearing coming from the kitchen just ignore it, OK?"
"OK."
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When she stepped outside she was immediately aware of people watching. She placed the plates of food on the table waking Jack from his silent staring. She spoke fondly, "Jack? Hello? Still in Kansas?"
Jack chuckled as he murmured, "Didn't hear you come outside. Sorry."
Sam smiled, "No problem."
"So what's for dinner?"
Sam spoke with a small sigh, "Well, you know me and cooking! But I think this is OK. Hot dogs!"
Jack smiled, "They'll be easy to eat."
Sam looked around for a second, knowing she was definitely being watched now. She sat down in a garden chair she pulled up next to Jack as the amber light of the setting sun lit up the garden with warmth.
She picked up his Hot dog and placed it in his hand for him as the man tried to give her a thankful expression although Sam knew this was killing him.
"What's up?"
Sam looked at Jack surprised, "What?"
"Well," Jack explained, "I have this sixth sense, you see, and I can always tell when you're not smiling. So... what's up?"
Sam sighed and put on a smile for him to hear, "I'm fine."
Jack took a bite of his hot dog before saying, "Well, that's the most bullshit I've ever heard!"
"It's nothing," she replied, deciding it would be a bad idea to mention the fact his neighbours were watching them closely from either garden fence.
Jack frowned slightly, "You're reconsidering this, aren't you?"
She looked at him as if he'd lost his mind although he couldn't see the expression she'd pulled, "Why would I reconsider marrying the guy I love, Jack?"
An eerie silence rolled over the garden, Jack finally understanding that their neighbours were watching nosily. He sighed and spoke quietly, "Just made sense... that's all."
Sam looked at him shocked and stood slowly, her eyes fixed on him as she realised. She spoke her voice sounding weak and broken, "I'm not reconsidering, but you are..."
Jack nodded and spoke quietly, "You don't deserve this kind of life, Sam. I certainly don't deserve you. It would probably be better if you left now rather than waiting till after we're married and you discovering you'd rather be married to someone else..."
Sam just stared at him, unable to form a coherent sentence. After an awful lot of staring and her jaw moving wordlessly she finally began to speak, her voice strangely shrill as she spoke almost angrily, "So you think you can live without help? Try it for a while!"
She stormed out of the garden as Jack called after, "I didn't mean it like that!"
Sam turned and spoke in a whisper, "No, you didn't. But I'm still going to see if you prefer life without me or without your pride, Jack O'Neill, because that is precisely the reason you want me to leave. Your damn pride!"
'That's left him something to think about,' Sam thought to herself as she sped into the house and up the stairs. She found the spare room and stepped inside closing the door. She lay on the bed all evening, playing their argument over and over in her head.
How could he think she'd want to leave him? And for another man, no less! She loved him and she was willing to do anything for him.
The fact that stupid pride of his was yet again clouding his judgement on the whole subject had come as an unpleasant surprise. In the hospital, he'd been so excited about all of this... Sam's thoughts went back to the conversation on the bench in the hospital gardens. Well, maybe it wasn't all just his pride...
"I was trying to drive you away. You've always wanted a family and the Doc said you were refusing to go out with some gorgeous Doctor because you didn't have the time... and you were spending so much time with me... I thought..."
He thought he couldn't give her the life she wanted. Problem was all she wanted was to be with him and if he couldn't see that...
She could hear him stumbling up the stairs and as much as she loved him, she couldn't help him. He may not be able to see it, but she was going to make him see it if it was the last thing she did. He couldn't shut her out forever, they both knew it.
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Jack woke with a start his mind still reeling with the nightmare he'd just had. He could still smell the fumes and the blood, the putrid air still burning his lungs. He felt cold sweat on his forehead and stared around blind and disorientated. He was probably still in that prison having one of his delusions.
Then he felt cool fingers on his cheeks and flinched, scared. The soft touch moved away for a second as a loving whisper filled his sentences, "It's OK. It's OK. It's just me." The fingers went back to tenderly caressing his brow as Sam murmured, "Jack, you're at home."
He sighed as he remembered where he was. It was OK. He shivered slightly. It had been so real. Then again it was every night. The torture chamber filled his nightmares with complete pain and horror. Usually, he'd be sat in the hospital alone and no one would come, his only comfort the sound of his alarm clock dictating the time when he pressed the correct button. There was one thing that was different about this night. Sam was living in his house. She was here for him, here to calm him and she loved him. Unlike though stupid nurses, she came if he cried or panicked. It wasn't his fault at night he became a nervous wreck...
He lowered his head back to the pillow, finally relaxing, as the woman crouching beside the bed murmured, "I heard you cry out. Were you thinking about the prison?"
"Yeah," his voice was a hushed croak, Jack wondering why he suddenly had the inability to use his vocal chords correctly.
She stood and murmured, "You OK?"
He nodded, "I'm really glad you're here. I usually freak out at the hospital because nobody ever heard me."
Sam nodded and placed a butterfly kiss on his forehead before turning to leave. Automatically, his hand shot out grabbing her wrist. He was scared of the dark, for lack of a better term, and he needed his only light.
"Stay," he whispered, "Please."
There was more than one meaning behind the words and Jack knew she'd understand both. As if proving him right, the woman lifted the covers without consideration and crawled under them beside him. She pulled her arms around him and nestled her head in his chest as she murmured, "So you've reconsidered completely shutting me out then, have you?"
"I'm sorry," he murmured as he hugged her to him.
She kissed him gently and murmured, "I know. You and you're stubborn streak will be the death of me, Jack O'Neill! I was worried for a while there. I thought you didn't love me or something..."
He let out a sad sigh, "I'm sorry, Baby. God, how stupid can I get?"
"You're not stupid; sometimes you just act like it. I know this is really difficult for you."
"Forgive me?"
Sam snorted softly, "Would I be here otherwise?"
"Good point," he sighed softly as she shuffled in even closer, "Thanks, Sam."
It didn't matter that he was just in boxers and a t-shirt or that she was in some seriously short shorts and a tank top. He just needed someone. He realised how much he needed her in that one instant. God, if he didn't have her, he would've shot himself long ago.
He felt her lips place a small kiss on his cheek again before she yawned softly, "Night Jack."
He just hugged her slightly as he whispered, "Night," And almost immediately drifted off to the first peaceful sleep he'd had in months.
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Sam woke; dawn's light streaming through a small chink in the curtains, and pulled herself closer to the man lying beside her. She noticed the way his fingers were gripping the hem of her tank top desperately, even in sleep.
She looked up at his face, the scarred eyelids a reminder of where he'd been just over 2 months ago. At least he looked more peaceful now he was sleeping. When she'd heard him cry out last night, his eyes had been wide with fear and he'd looked so scared and helpless.
She sighed sadly and decided getting up would be a bad idea, not that she objected to having a lie in, and snuggled closer again allowing herself to doze off in Jack's arms.
The light coming through the curtains was much brighter when Jack finally began to stir, his scarred eyelids fluttering. Sam, who'd woken up from her snooze the second he'd begun to stir, watched in silence as his eyes opened slowly. The expression of pain on his face she didn't miss. The idea of waking up to darkness on a beautiful June day like today was enough to make Sam feel miserable.
After a second his hand clutching her tank top loosened its grip and she saw a small frown on his face. His fingers slowly trailed onto her arm then up to her shoulder, stroking her skin gently as he moved up to her neck onto her face before slowly tangling in her hair.
He smiled softly as his hand ran back along her body to rest on her hip, obviously unaware she was awake and watching him.
After a few minutes of feigned sleep, Sam pretended to wake. She let out a soft yawn as Jack chuckled fondly and murmured, "Mornin'." After a second, he spoke to her, or where she was, blushing, "Thank you... I mean... Last night..."
"No problem. Really."
Jack didn't look so sure, but spoke after a moment, "I think we should get up, don't you?"
"Nope," Sam cuddled closer, "I'd much rather have a lie-in with my fiancé, if that's OK with him?"
Jack grinned, "Well, I'm so glad I don't have to ask. I would've gone all bashful!"
Sam giggled softly before she leant forward and kissed him quickly. She pulled back and just stared at him as he whispered surprised, "What was that for?"
"No other reason than wanting to kiss you," Sam replied quietly.
Jack nodded as his hand cupped her cheek gently, "Well, then. Guess I have a reason to do this..." He tipped her head towards his as he began to kiss her thoroughly. He rolled onto his back, pulling Sam half on top of him.
A small groan left his throat and Sam pulled back for a second, asking worriedly, "Did I hurt you?"
Jack pulled an exasperated face and laughed, "No, Dear. Now don't interrupt again!" Sam giggled as Jack looked thoughtful, "Now, where were we? Ah, I remember!" Sam pressed her lips into his as she began to kiss him fervently. His fingers ran over her body as he whispered sincerely between kisses, "I love you, Sam."
"I love you more." She pulled back for a second, "And will you stop interrupting!"
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Read on in 'S is for... Secrets Shown (Part Two)'
Copyright © 2004 Sam I Am
