'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 (Part Two)!
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S is for... Secrets Shown (Part Two)
1 week later
Sam stood on the doorstep nervously shuffling on her feet nervously. 'OK, Sam. You can do this! Just... ring... the doorbell!'
Sam's finger moved to the button protruding from the doorpost. The sound of little boys playing in the back yard didn't go by unmissed nor did the two extra family cars and two people carriers in the drive. Jack had said his Mom lived alone. Obviously Jack's siblings were visiting.
Her finger pressed against the button and she quickly removed her hand stuffing it under the denim jacket she hung over her hands.
"Just a minute!"
The door opened and Sam's eyes fell on her mother-in-law-to-be. The woman was surprisingly short and plump. Her grey hair was cut into a style about the same length as Sam's. She had a kindly face although she also looked strict. Over her flowery dress she wore a well-worn and stained apron. She looked at Sam with dark eyes that she had no trouble identifying as she spoke, "How may I help you?"
"Um... Are you Mrs. O'Neill?"
'Great conversation start, Sam! You have a PHD in Astrophysics and you can't come up with a thing to say!' Sam had a feeling the word 'um' would feature prominently in everything she said.
The woman nodded, "Yes. I am."
"Uh... My name's Samantha Carter... um... I..."
The woman watched her with curiosity and a sort of pity at her obvious nervousness, "What can I do for you, Samantha?"
Sam tried to smile as she blushed, "Um... It's... I have some news about your son, Jack."
The woman's eyebrows rose and then creased in a frown, "What trouble has that boy got himself into now?"
OK, now Sam was cracking under the pressure. After a few seconds she managed to mumble, "Can I come in?"
Mrs. O'Neill observed her cautiously for a second before opening the door. Sam stepped inside as the elderly woman closed the door behind her. Sam stood in the hallway awkwardly before Mrs. O'Neill spoke, "You can come into the kitchen, Dear. Don't just stand on the doormat."
Sam nodded fervently and hurried into the kitchen, where she continued to stand feeling awkward. She looked out of the window at the 9 boys running around on the grass in the June sunshine. Sam smiled slightly as she realised she was looking at her future nephews, all of them ranging from 3 to about 11 years old.
Mrs. O'Neill caught her watching, "My grandchildren. Well 9 of them. In all I have 16... uh... 15 Grandkids." It was the way she corrected herself that gave Sam the distinct feeling she'd just subtracted Charlie from the grand total.
"Jack said he had a lot of nieces and nephews."
Mrs. O'Neill fixed her with a look when she mentioned Jack again. After a second she spoke, "So what's Jonathon done this time?"
"Um... well about two months ago we went on a mission..."
"We?"
Sam blushed; feeling embarrassed again as she mumbled, "Yes. I'm in the Air Force. I was the Colonel's second in command. Major Samantha Carter."
The older woman's eyes immediately rose to her hair and then nodded, as she went back to making three cups of coffee, "Would you like a cup of coffee?"
"Um... yes, please," Sam said trying to smile gratefully although the butterflies in her stomach refused her the relief.
Jack's mother got another mug out from one of the cupboards, "You were saying?"
"Well, while on the mission, the town we were visiting accused us of stealing something sacred to them. It had been a rogue military group dressed like us tat had really stolen it, but we were accused. Jack told them to let me and the rest of my team go and he'd take the blame for it." Sam let a small shuddery sigh at the memory, which didn't go missing by the woman, who, Sam got the distinct feeling, was keeping busy because she feared Jack was dead. "They took him into their prison and they tortured him... badly. When we finally freed him, he was blind."
The elderly woman looked up at her in shock for a second before hiding it in true O'Neill fashion, passing her the cup of coffee, "Carry on, Samantha."
"Well, we got him home, but he had to leave the Air Force. Anyway, the real reason I came... um... was to... give you this," Sam rummaged in the pocket of her denim Jacket and pulled out the envelope. She stared at it for a second before she handed it to the woman, her hand shaking as she stretched it out towards the woman undecidedly.
Her dark eyes scanned the envelope first before she opened it and pulled out the wedding invitation. Janet, as the maid of honour, had already ordered all of the wedding invitations ever since she'd secretly watched Jack propose to her in the hospital! Janet's need to be prepared for everything came in handy sometimes!
Sam immediately began staring out of the window wishing the tiled kitchen floor would just swallow her up, so she wouldn't have to face the embarrassment of Jack's mother finding out. Not really embarrassment, as such, just overall discomfort. She was a complete stranger to Mrs. O'Neill and vice versa.
The elderly woman pulled on a pair of reading glasses off the side and read it aloud, "Mrs. K O'Neill, you have been invited to the wedding of Colonel Jonathon O'Neill and Major Saman..." The woman's voice trailed off as Sam bit her lip and winced. She could feel the older woman's eyes on her, "You and... my son?"
Sam looked up quite surprised by the woman's tone. It was as if she was saying, 'How can someone like you be marrying Jack O'Neill?' Sam began to mumble again, "Um yeah. We've... uh... been in love for years," Sam couldn't help but smile, "But the military regulations said we couldn't have a relationship. We both denied we felt anything for each other until Jack was blinded and had to retire. And... Well... we got together."
The elderly woman sighed, a strand of silvery grey hair dropping from behind her ear, "How long have you been engaged?"
Sam blushed, "Just over 11 days."
The woman dropped the invite and gawped at her, "11 days!"
It was at that moment a woman stepped into the kitchen. In one had she held a carry cot with a sleeping baby in and in the other she held the hand of a tiny little girl, sucking a pacifier. She spoke, "Hi Mom. Can you take Alice for me? My other girls have gone to watch TV with Kieran... and Phillip... Uh Hi."
Sam smiled with whatever remained of her confidence, "Hi. You must be Felicity?"
The woman's eyebrows rose in a way Sam guessed was trademark O'Neill, as she placed the sleeping baby on the table and turned to her toddler, "Go find Kerry and Jade." The small child waddled away into the hallway before Jack's sister turned to her, "Yes. That's me. Don't mean to be rude, but who are you?"
"Jack's fiancée."
Mrs. O'Neill spoke before Sam could and Sam suddenly wanted to transform into a chameleon so she could meld into the kitchen surface and become practically invisible.
To Sam's surprise the young woman grinned, holding out a hand to be shaken, "Oh that's wonderful! I'm so pleased to meet you! I'm Felicity Green, Jack's baby sister, but you can just call me Flick."
Sam took her hand gratefully, suddenly feeling a lot less nervous. At least someone was happy about her news, "I'm Samantha Carter. It's great to actually meet someone from Jack's family."
The young woman nodded. Sam guessed she was about 5 years younger than her. She had the O'Neill eyes and dark brown hair which had been pulled back into a pony tail. She was thin and had a nice figure.
The moment disappeared a second later when the baby began to whimper. Flick moved to the child and cooed, "Aww hello Oliver. You hungry?" She lifted the baby up and hugged him to her and the baby almost immediately fell silent. Flick grinned, a wide maternal smile, "He just wanted a cuddle. That's Mommy's little man."
Sam smiled as three small girls ran back in with an older boy who was about 8. All three girls had clouds of frizzy blonde hair that made them look like lions, especially with their amber eyes. The oldest girl who looked about 7 began to speak loudly, "Mommy, Mommy, Mommy. Phillip says we can stay around Uncle Joe's tonight! Can we? Can we? Can we?"
"Kerry sweetie, Uncle Darren is staying around ours tonight. He wants to see you. You can sleep around Uncle Joe's another time although how he can fit you three in there as well as his rabble I have no idea!"
The middle daughter who only looked about 5 shrieked, "Uncle Darren!"
Felicity nodded as she gently jiggled the baby boy in her arms, "Yes. He arrived while we went to the park." She looked over at Sam with a sudden mischievous grin, "Phillip, go outside and get everyone in here we have someone they should all meet." The little boy gave Sam a suspicious look and then sped out of the room past Sam to the back door as Flick smiled, "Shall we go into the Living room?"
Mrs. O'Neill began speaking with her daughter in a hushed tone, "Felicity, I don't want you telling the kids they're going to have a new Aunt. They've only been engaged 11 days!"
"Nonsense!" Felicity hissed back, "She obviously loves him enough to come all the way to Chicago from Colorado Springs and meet us, meet you!"
"What's that supposed to mean?" Mrs. O'Neill said with a small chuckle. She then spoke, "I'll go get those big kids hidden up in the spare room playing that ghastly Playstation."
With that the older woman began to climb the stairs as Flick led Sam into the living room. On entering the room, she noticed a teenage boy of about 17 sat in the armchair watching TV. When they came in he barely looked up until he saw her. The O'Neill eyebrow came into play as he looked at her before going back to watching Simpsons.
Felicity sat on the couch patting the seat next to her, "Don't stand there like a lemon, Samantha. Come and sit down."
Sam sat down and spoke with a smile, "Just call me Sam. No one calls me Samantha."
"Surely your Mom does! My Mom always calls me Felicity no matter how many times I correct her," Flick said rolling her eyes in exasperation at her mother.
Sam cleared her throat, "Actually my Mom died when I was 12."
Flick's face became sympathetic, "Oh I'm sorry. I didn't mean to upset you."
"Oh no, you didn't," Sam said smiling, before she sighed, "That's one reason I'm desperate to make amends between you guys and Jack. Your mom's opinion of me means a lot."
Flick nodded, "Don't worry. She's really a sheep in wolf's clothing!"
Sam laughed gently as Flick continued, "So why didn't Jack come to see us? I never had him down as a coward!"
Sam's smile faded as she murmured, "He'd feel really uncomfortable... Flick, I can't explain it all to you now..." She glanced over at the teen watching TV sulkily and lowered her voice, "But the reason me and Jack could get together was he had to leave the Air force..."
Flick's eyebrows rose, "You're Air force?!?"
Sam nodded with a smile before it faded again and she murmured, "Jack had to leave because..." A lump appeared in her throat, as she managed to mumble, "He's blind."
"What?"
Sam spoke softly, "We were on a mission and he was tortured and they blinded him." Sam sighed, "He didn't want to come because he was... afraid, I guess. He kept saying how you're the only one in his family that didn't make digs at him all the time."
Flick's horrified expression didn't lift as she whispered, "We always were close, me and Jack. My 2 oldest brothers were too busy being old and my two youngest older brothers were always too busy teasing me. Me and Jack, we were the middle ones in a way. The ones that stuck out. Me being the only girl and the youngest, Jack being... Jack." Flick looked up at Sam, "I have to see him soon. I had no idea. How long's he been like that?"
"Just over 2 months."
"And he didn't call?"
Sam tried to smile, "I only discovered Jack actually had a family 9 days ago!"
Felicity chuckled softly as four men and an army of ten boys marched into the Living room followed by Mrs. O'Neill. The oldest man spoke, "So Flick, why the family... meeting?"
His eyes fell on Sam and his eyebrows rose. Sam let out a small chuckle, "If one more O'Neill raises their eyebrows at me I think I might lose it!"
Flick laughed before answering her brother's question, "Right everyone sit down and shh for a second."
Sam looked around the room. 15 grandchildren! Only 3 were girls and they all belonged to Flick. The rest were boys!
Flick spoke with a grin when everyone was silent, "Everyone I'd like you to meet Samantha Carter, but just call her Sam. Sam, these are my brothers. OK guys. Gather up your broods so I can introduce everyone."
All the children, except for the sulky 17 year old, scrambled around to get to their father until three of the men were surrounded with children. One of Jack's brothers stood on his own staring at her with something close to awe.
Sam shuffled uncomfortably under his scrutiny fixing all her attention on Flick as she began, her own children huddling around her, "OK. You've already met my baby boy, Oliver. And these are my girls. Kerry's my eldest, then Jade and then Alice." The small girls all waved shyly and Sam gave them her full blown smile that she reserved for children and of course on that big kid she kept stashed away at home!
Flick then pointed to the eldest O'Neill brother. His hair was greyer, and, naturally, much neater than Jack's hair as it was still recovering from his torture. He smiled politely, as Flick introduced him, "This is Mike. He's father to Kieran the misery guts sat over there," everyone laughed as the boy scowled and turned the TV up slightly, "And Jason."
"Hi Ma'am," the young teen said giving her a small wave.
"Hi," Sam replied moving onto the next eldest brother surrounded by six boys. Sam gawped at the six children for a second before she spoke, "And who are you guys?"
"Well, I'm Joe," the man said. He looked a lot like Jack. His face was less scarred and careworn and his hair dark brown hair only had flecks of grey. He had a wide grin pasted on his face as he spoke, "I'm Flick's second oldest brother and these here are my buddies. I'll go through names although I don't expect you to remember them all especially as we have identical triplets here!" He cleared his throat, "Phillip, Liam and Christopher are my eldest. Just call them 'the triplets'. It's so much easier! And then this is Harry, Benjamin and Jack."
Flick shared a look with her telling her not to mention her Jack and spoil the surprise. She turned to the one of Jack's brothers stood on his own, "This is one of my 4th eldest brothers, Darren."
He seemed to have lost his voice for a second before he managed to croak, "Hi Sam."
Flick noticed her brother's obvious crush on Sam and winced slightly before turning to her last brother, "And this is Darren's twin!"
The man held out his hand to be shook. Sam took it and he surprised her when he bent down on one knee and kissed her hand, "Enchanted, Ma'am."
The three little girls giggled as Mrs. O'Neill slapped her son's wrist, "Honestly, William!"
The man wiggled his eyebrows at Sam, "Sam doesn't mind, do you, Sam?"
"Um..."
"See," Will said with a hearty grin and a wink in her direction. Sam immediately took a liking to him. He was so like Jack, and just as terrible at flirting! Sam guessed he was about 4 years younger though. He turned to his 3 boys, "These are my boys, Thomas, Jamie and Daniel."
Sam smiled when she realised Daniel looked very similar to her Daniel. He was about five and hid behind his father's pant leg. He had small round glasses and big blue eyes, unlike every other O'Neill in the room. She gave him a small wave, "Hello Daniel. You know, you look just like a very good friend of mine. He's called Daniel too."
The little boy smiled shyly, obviously pleased that she'd compared him to one of her friends as Flick began grinning, "The reason I've brought you in here to meet Sam is she's about to become one of the family. It's seems Jack has finally sorted himself out. She's his fiancée."
Everyone began spouting congratulations except Darren who seemed a little crestfallen she wasn't single and that, in fact, she was going to marry his older brother.
Kerry began babbling, "Oh Wow. Does that mean you're going to be my Auntie?"
Sam grinned, "Yeah. I guess so, Kerry."
"Wow. Can I call you Auntie Sam?"
Sam nodded and was suddenly being ambushed by 13 children all hugging her and calling her Auntie Sam, the only two not participating were the teen, who turned the volume up on the TV again, with a huff of irritation, and tiny baby, Oliver, who began to cry at all the commotion.
Sam grinned. She thought she was really going to enjoy being part of the O'Neill family.
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Sam stayed at the O'Neill house all afternoon and had planed to stay in a motel somewhere, but Mrs. O'Neill had insisted she stay with her. Sam had only consented after all the O'Neills had ganged up on her.
She sat in the living room with Flick, sharing Jack stories. His Mom had told all of them that he was now blind to Sam's relief. She didn't think she would've managed to tell them all.
Sam glanced at the clock on the wall for about the hundredth time and Flick sighed, "You know, time won't move any faster if you stare at the clock!"
"What?"
Flick gave a small laugh, "You've been glancing at that clock every 10 seconds!"
Sam smiled at the woman who Sam had already begun to treasure like a sister, "It's just... well, my friend is staying with Jack tonight. I know Jack hates it, but I can't leave him alone..."
Flick nodded sadly before she said with a smile, "Why don't you call him? I'm dying to talk to him again."
Sam looked confused, "Why did you guys all stop talking?"
Flick frowned slightly, "It was kinda silly. First, Mom having a go at him about not keeping his gun locked up properly, which was terrible as I knew he'd already be crucifying himself about it. Then when he split with Sara, Mom continued to lecture him. Jack had enough. I think it's just too painful for him to visit, see all our kids running around, playing and laughing..."
Sam nodded sadly, not wanting Flick to continue. She stood, "Where's the phone?"
Flick pointed to the small table beside her and the portable phone stood in its cradle. Sam strode over and picked up the phone. She typed in Jack's... their home no. and listened as the phone rung as few times...
"Hello. O'Neill residence!"
Sam grinned, "Hi Daniel."
"Sam!" She heard him lower his voice, "How's it going with the in-laws-to-be?"
"Great!"
She could hear Daniel grinning, "That's so good. Jack was getting a bit worried they'd brutally murdered you, wrapped you up in heavy duty chains and thrown you in the fish pond!"
Sam laughed gently, before she spoke, "Can you put Jack on?"
She heard Daniel speaking with fake indignation, "Well, I'm sorry if my presence is not good enough for you..."
"Daniel! Just put my fiancé on already!"
She heard Daniel moving the phone, dropping it twice, swearing loudly as went in search of Jack. Sam was laughing and Flick pressed the loudspeaker button on the phone so she could hear what Sam was laughing at through the speaker. She began laughing as well as she heard Daniel curse, "Damn it, Jack! Why can't you just sit in your kitchen instead of sitting at the other end of the bloody house?"
A second later a husky voice came to the phone, "Hello?"
"Hey there," Sam said softly.
"How's it going with my mom?"
"OK."
"Bad, huh?"
"No. Not really."
"So you're OK?"
"Yep."
She heard Jack chuckle, "You know for an astrophysicist you're using a very limited vocabulary!"
Sam spoke with a grin, pulling a curls of her blonde hair behind her ear, "Well, I couldn't quite fit Quantum fluxing particle theory into a greeting!"
Jack laughed again, before he spoke gently, "Are you sure you're OK, Baby? Mom hasn't said anything has she?"
"Nothing bad, no."
Jack sighed audibly before he said, "I'm glad. I know how much her opinion means to you..."
"Yeah. All your family are around here. They're great."
"Everyone? Wow, guess being the Black sheep gets you kicked out of the family get-togethers."
"Don't be silly! Everyone says you're perfectly welcome! In fact, I was considering arranging a get-together round our place sometime. We could invite my Dad and Mark and his family, but they'll be seriously outnumbered!"
"Remember that Daniel, Janet, Cassie and T will never forgive you if you don't invite them!"
Sam grinned, "So that's a yes to the get-together?"
"Anything for you, Angel!" Jack said in an over-the-top tone before he spoke, "Just not yet. It'll have to wait until I can at least walk around my own house a bit better. Not to mention you'll have to somehow explain to the kids that I'm blind."
"I hadn't thought of that," Sam admitted, "They'll ask some really embarrassing questions, won't they?"
"They are O'Neill's, Carter!"
Sam giggled, "You called me 'Carter' again. Does that mean I get to start calling you 'Sir' and 'Colonel'?"
Jack laughed as well, "They are titles and so aren't allowed! Carter, however, is an affectionate nickname I created for you back in the days when I couldn't go around calling you 'Snookums!'"
Sam laughed again and glanced at Flick who was pinching her nose to stifle her giggles. Sam spoke, "Look Jack. Do you want to talk to Flick? She really wants to say 'Hi'?"
"Flick? Wow, she must like you. I'm guessing you two are already getting along like sisters?"
Sam nodded, "Uh huh. I'll pass you over, OK?"
Flick took the receiver, "Long time no see."
She heard Jack sigh, "Flick, I couldn't really come around when all that would happen was I'd get another load of stick from Mom and..."
"I know," Flick sighed and then a smile came to her face, "I'm so happy for you, Jack." She smiled at Sam warmly, "Sam's really great."
Jack spoke gently, "Yes. Yes she is."
"What I don't understand is how she ended up with you?"
Jack laughed, "Sam's the one who solves mysteries and rewrite the laws of physics every Thursday, not me! Maybe you should ask her!"
"God, Jack, I've missed you so much," Flick said softly.
"Yeah, I missed you too," he cleared his throat trying to hide his sadness as he said cheerfully, "So how's my newest nephew doing?"
Flick grinned and began babbling on about her son happily as Jack listened and laughed with her. Sam just sat and listened, contented to hear Jack laughing. She was only broken from her reverie when Flick spoke, "I'll hand you back over to Sam. I've got Darren staying around mine tonight and I need to round up my girls and drag him away from that darn Playstation you thought was an ingenious present to give Will for his birthday!"
Jack laughed, "Bet everyone except those guys is regretting that I did that!"
"Oh yeah. Anyway, I've got to go, Jack. I'll come visit soon. Really soon."
Sam heard Jack's voice falter for a second, "I... I'd rather you didn't..."
Flick sighed, "I love you, Jack. I don't care what you look like or what has happened to you. I just want to come see my big brother. I won't bring the kids if you don't want, although I might have to bring Oliver because Jeremy will go spare if I don't!"
Jack sighed, "Alright, but I don't really want the girls... to see me like this."
Flick grinned, "That's fine. I'd love to get away from the terrible three for a while. I tell you what I'll call you and tell you when I can come down and then I'll come and stay with you and Sam for a day or two, OK?"
Sam could hear Jack smiling, if not slightly nervously, "Sure. See you soon, Flick."
"You too, Jack. I'll pass you back to your fiancée." On the word 'fiancée' Flick giggled excitedly and Sam could hear Jack chuckle softly.
Flick gave her a smile and a hug as she said, "Bye. I'll see you soon too."
"Bye Flick. It was really nice meeting you."
"You too," the woman grinned as she gave a small wave and left the room.
Sam took the receiver and spoke, "Hi there."
"I assume you're staying the night round there?"
Sam sighed apologetically, "Yeah, I'm sorry, Jack. But at least now I know everyone and I feel like I belong," she spoke softly, "I'll be back tomorrow about lunch time, I reckon."
"Alright,
Babe. Have fun."
Sam chuckled at his tone, "Daniel's not
lecturing you on Aztec treasure again, is he?"
"No, thank God, but he's been watching National Geographic channel all day!"
"Is that why you're hiding away from the living room?"
"Yeah. I wanted to do some reading in peace."
Sam nodded sadly before she murmured, "OK then, Honey. I'll see you tomorrow... Oh and don't forget my Dad's coming to Ea... town on Wednesday! We're going to have to tell him."
The tone in Jack's voice was unreadable as he said, "Great. Take care."
"You too. And tell Daniel to let you watch some Simpsons!"
Jack chuckled fondly, "I will," he paused for a second, "I love you."
Sam couldn't help but grin like an imbecile as she breathed, "Love you more!"
Jack chuckled again, "Alright. Don't let the bedbugs bite!"
"Night, Jack."
Sam put the phone down slowly and sighed happily, unable to stop smiling.
A gentle cough behind her alerted her to Jack's mother stood in the doorway to the living room. She smiled at Sam in that knowing smile Sam still remembered her mother having, before the elderly woman spoke gently, "Would you like something to eat, Dear? I'm just making some pasta if you'd like some."
Sam grinned again, realising she'd been accepted, "That would be great, Mrs. O'Neill."
The older woman chuckled as her gentle laughter filled the now strangely empty house, "Mrs. O'Neill? I sound like a Maths teacher! Just call me Kathy, Dear."
Sam smiled and stood up from her position knelt on the floor before the phone, "Sure Kathy. I'll come help you."
"Thank you, Sam," the woman smiled pleasantly, as Sam followed her into the kitchen.
Å
Four days later
"Sam, the door!"
Sam bustled to the door, glancing at her fiancé to check he was alright. She opened the door and a huge grin split her face, "Dad!"
"Hey Sweetheart!" He hugged her tightly and then pulled back glancing around, "I like the new place. It's great!"
Sam felt a little bit of colour rushing to her cheeks, "Uh... This isn't my place... well, not really... It's more our place."
Jacob frowned slightly, although Sam could see something in his eyes that told her he was faking ignorance, "'Our' being..."
"Me and..."
"Jack O'Neill," Jack appeared in the living room door with a smile on his face. He took a shuffling step forward, using his stick to guide him, "Hey Jacob. How are you?"
"I'm fine, Jack. How are you doing? Are you getting any better?"
Sam nearly hit the ceiling with shock. She looked from her fiancé to her father and back again in absolute amazement as she said in a high-pitched voice, "What?"
Jack replied to Jacob's question a smirk on his face, "Much better, but I'll admit most of my recovery is gonna be thanks to Sammy."
"How are the wedding plans coming?"
Jack chuckled, "You know Janet Fraiser! As Maid of Honour she's going organisation crazy! I swear everything will be ready next week!"
Jacob stepped towards Jack and said, "Here, Jack. Take my arm. What's say me and you explain to our Golden Girl?"
Jack reached out a hand and it landed on Jacob's arm, the man helping to keep him steady. Jack smiled in appreciation, "Sure. Let's reconvene in the garden." He looked up from the point his eyes were focussing on, vaguely near Jacob's head as he said gently, "Sam Honey, can you bring some beers out?"
"Sure," she stammered, watching in amazement as her fiancé and father both went outside, chatting amicably with each other.
Sam was about to follow when there was a knock on the door. Sam turned on her heels and opened the door for a second time slightly flustered, before a grin came to her face, "Flick!"
"Hey Sam," the woman said with a smile as she bounced baby Oliver in her arms slightly, "Can I come in or do I have to stand on the doorstep?"
"No! Come in. Come in," Sam said with a grin, as she took the woman's baby bag from her and placed it in the hallway.
Jacob and Jack's laughter came from outside and Flick frowned, "I hope I'm not intruding."
Sam shook her head with a smile, "Of course not! My Dad's just arrived and I don't know how, but he already knows about me and Jack, the fact he's blind and the fact we're getting married!"
Flick smiled, "Don't worry, Sam! Men are always plotting behind our backs! I grew up with 5 brothers! I should know! The whole male sex is just one huge conspiracy!"
Sam chuckled slightly as she led the woman through the house out onto the veranda. The sight that met her eyes made her hold back a snort. Jacob and Jack both sat in deck chairs, feet propped up on the table and having an animated discussion...
"But she's just so... ICKY!!!"
Jacob chuckled, "I know and you won't believe how many of us she's tried to ensnare!"
"You, Marty, Per'seus, me, Daniel, that Alvin guy..."
"His name's Aldwin and Anise has tried it on with a lot more than that, I can tell you!"
Sam cleared her throat as both men looked up with surprise. Jacob looked at the woman and the baby stood beside his daughter, "Sam?"
Sam moved to her fiancé and spoke gently, "We've got a visitor, Jack."
Jack frowned and moved his feet from the table, sitting up straight and looking around blankly. Sam looked at Felicity to notice she was close to tears, a hand held over her mouth in shock. Jack continued to look around blankly, "Sam? Jacob?"
"Hey there, Jack."
Jack's jaw dropped in surprise as Flick passed the confused looking Baby Oliver to Sam and stepped forward kneeling before her brother. She took his hand and he flinched.
He spoke shakily, "Flick?"
She threw her arms around him, a tear rolling down her cheek as she spoke, "Oh God! I've missed you so much!"
Jack hugged her tightly, his eyes screwed up tightly, "I missed you too."
She pulled back and wiped her eyes, before Jack's hands moved to her face and began to trace to contours of her pretty face. He let out a small chuckle, "You know, just from touch, you still look like you did when you were 6, except a bit bigger!"
Flick laughed and kissed him on the cheek, "You haven't changed a bit since you first left home!"
Jack grinned as his sister stood up again, "It's been a while since I was that young!"
"Yeah and you're still as immature as ever!"
Sam cut in for a second, bouncing Oliver in her arms slightly, "Flick, I'd like you to meet Jacob Carter, my Dad."
Flick turned to Jacob and grinned, holding out her hand, "Hi Jacob. It's nice to meet you!"
He took her hand politely although it was obvious he needed an introduction. Sam smiled, "Dad, this is Felicity Green, Jack's little sister and this here is Oliver, her son."
Jacob grinned in return and spoke, "Ah Jack does have family then!"
Flick snorted, "Yeah only 15 nieces and nephews, 4 brothers, me and my Mom."
Jacob gawped and then looked at Jack, "Since when!"
Jack grinned and stared in the vague direction of his father-in-law-to-be and spoke with his mock insolent tone, "Since I was born, Jacob!"
Sam smiled a dream coming true as everyday went by. She was with the man she loved. His family liked her, her family liked him... Wait. Mark!
"Sam Honey, you OK?"
Her Dad looked at her suddenly nauseous pallor with concern as Jack sat bolt upright and said with an anxious tone, "Sam?"
Sam spoke soothingly, "I'm alright. It's just... I haven't told Mark."
Her Dad let out a wince, "He's not gonna like it."
Flick spoke confused as she took her son from Sam's arms, "Who's Mark?"
Surprisingly, Jack spoke up, "Sam's brother who hates anything to do with the Air Force and is probably, no, definitely, gonna hate my ass!"
Sam bit her lip as Jacob spoke, "But you're not Air Force anymore. It's different."
Jack snorted, although the mention of Mark had caused Jack to seem crestfallen, "It's not different, Jake. As far as Mark is concerned, I'm just like that filthy bastard Hanson. In his eyes, I'm classed as a hard-ass military Colonel who is going to hurt Sam."
Sam sighed and then moved to her fiancé, "Jack, it doesn't matter what Mark thinks. If I went out with anyone suitable in his eyes, he'd have to be a bank clerk or a lawyer!"
Jack let out a small chuckle, "Well, I suck at Math and my kind of diplomacy cannot be legal!"
Jacob laughed, "You're gonna give Mark a run for his money I can tell you." He spoke seriously to Sam, "I'll tell you what Sam. Do you want me to talk to him? I'm heading for San Diego tonight. When I see him I'll have a talk with him, OK?"
Sam smiled, "That'd be great, Dad. Thanks."
"No problem, Kiddo," he said giving her a small hug before he said pleadingly, "Can I get some food? Anise's cooking leaves a lot to be desired!"
Sam chuckled as she helped her fiancé up and they all walked indoors. She grinned, realising now why she was so happy. She was with her family.
Å
3 weeks later
"Jack, calm down."
"Sam, I haven't seen my mother or any of my brothers for over 4 years. I've barely spoken to any of them either! How can I be calm?"
Sam smiled at her fiancé and gently sat him down in a garden chair in the hot sunlight. He'd insisted on wearing sunglasses as it would hide the scars on his eyelids and wouldn't scare the kids too much although Sam doubted any of them would've noticed.
She spoke gently, "Listen, it's going to be fine. Alright, it might start off awkward, but I promise it won't stay that way."
For the first time that morning, Jack smiled, "Yeah, I guess."
The doorbell rang and Sam gave him a not-so-hurried kiss before running to get the door. She opened it slowly and was greeted by the faces of 21 O'Neills!
Sam grinned, "Hey guys!"
Jack's younger twin brothers Darren and Will set to work talking to the children about how they had to be good for 'Uncle Jack and Auntie Sam' as Mike spoke to her with a groan of relief as he pulled his shades onto the top of his head, nestling them in his grey hair. His voice was melodramatic, "I think I'm a danger to myself!"
Sam laughed at Jack's eldest brother, "Why?"
Joe chuckled as he joined their conversation, "We tried to come down here in as few cars as possible. I took my crowd in my people carrier. Flick took Darren and all her kids in hers. Will took his kids and..."
"I was stuck in my small car with a morbid teenager, my mother and I think the most hyperactive 12 year old known to the planet!"
Sam laughed again cheerfully. During her one day with the O'Neills she'd become really close to them all and now she realised how much she liked them all. She was amazed that the Powers-That-Be had given her such an easy family-in-law to deal with. They were great!
After a second, Flick spoke to her, "Where's Jack?"
Sam sighed, "He's in the garden. He's so worried about this."
Jack's mother frowned, "So he should be!"
Mike spoke, defending his little brother, "Oh come on, Mom! It's just as much your fault as it is his that he stopped talking to us!"
Kathy O'Neill had the grace to look quite embarrassed but just smiled at Sam, "Lead the way, Sam. We need to get this over and done with!"
Sam led the army of O'Neills through their house into the back garden...
Jack stood gripping onto the garden table as if his life depended on it. His jaw was gritted and he was tapping his foot slightly in the way that told Sam he was nervous. The children almost swamped her fiancé with screams of 'Uncle Jack!' resounding around the neighbourhood.
Jack grinned widely as he hugged all his nieces and nephews, Sam stepping over to him, supporting him as he told the children to go and play with the toys in the box, strategically placed at the other end of the garden.
When the hoard of children had dissipated, Flick stepped up to her brother with a grin, "How are you today?"
"Fine. You?"
Flick laughed and didn't reply hugging her brother tightly and giving him a kiss on the cheek before Mike stepped forward. He looked sort of uncertain as he looked at his brother, completely unaware of his scrutiny, "Hi Jack."
Jack looked in his direction as a smile came to his face, "Mike?"
Mike smiled back, his awkwardness visible, "Yeah... Um... how've you been?"
Jack frowned slightly, "Same old. Same old."
Sam, in an attempt to lighten the mood, poked her fiancé in the arm, "Excuse me!"
Jack chuckled, "Oh and I picked up this gorgeous chick..."
"That's better!"
Everyone laughed, much happier for the humour. Mike patted Jack on the shoulder causing him to jump and Mike to pull his arm away sharply, turning bright red, "Sorry."
Jack smiled sadly, "It's OK. I just didn't expect it..."
Mike stepped forward and slowly placed a hand on Jack's shoulder before pulling him into a manly hug as he said with a small chuckle, "I knew you were a stubborn son-of-a-bitch, but I thought you would've visited us before now."
Jack gave a strained smile, "I've been a bit preoccupied."
Mike nodded as he stepped back and Joe stepped forward, "Jonathon O'Neill, you old dog!"
Jack's grin widened, "Joseph Charles!"
Joe hugged him tightly as he chuckled, "That was uncalled for!"
Jack mock-glared at his older brother, "You started it!"
Joe pulled back and spoke gently, "I'm really happy for you."
"Thanks Joey."
Before Jack knew what hit him Will was lifting him off the floor in a bear hug. Jack yelled in surprise before he said, "Will! God Dammit! Put me down!"
Will spoke with fake-disappointment, "Ohhhh! You guessed it was me!"
Jack spoke sarcastically, "Ya think! Darren?"
Darren stepped forwards slightly taking Jack's hand in a hand shake, "I'm here, Bro."
Jack grinned, "It's really great to see you, Guys... well, not so much of the seeing part, but all the same! I'm really glad you're here!"
"It's good to see you too, Jack," Flick said dotingly before glancing at her awkward-looking mother and saying, "Mike, will you help me with Oliver and his stuff?"
Everyone took the cue to leave with various excuses as Kathy O'Neill stepped up to Jack and spoke quietly, "Hello Jonathon."
Jack replied equally quietly, "Mom."
Kathy stared at Jack with what looked like anger and Sam prepared herself to break up any major arguing. They both glared in the other's direction neither speaking for a silence that stretched on for minute after minute.
Suddenly, the short elderly woman pulled Jack into a fierce hug as tears filled her dark eyes, "Oh my little boy!"
Jack realised his mother's distress and gently began to rub her back as he mumbled, "It's OK, Mom. I'm alright now." He spoke squeezing Sam's hand that was still in his, "If anything I'm a lot happier than I was. OK, so I went and got myself tortured again, but now I can have the one thing in my life... No. Now, I can have my life. And she's all that matters to me now."
The woman began to cry harder as Sam decided to mingle with her in-laws-to-be and leave Jack to deal with his mother. She squeezed Jack's hand and he looked up towards her, knowing instinctively she was leaving him alone to make peace with his mom. His lips curved into a small smile that Sam knew was meant for her. She walked away realising the first part of the day had gone through practically without hitch.
Now all she had to worry about was the second, and worst, part...
Å
Sam stood in their garden shivering with an indescribable anxiety in the hot July weather. She looked at her watch and then at the door leading into her house again before she felt a hand touch her forearm.
She jumped and turned to see Joe watching her with slight amusement in his dark brown eyes. She let out a soft sigh, "Christ, Joe! You scared me!"
He spoke in an undertone, "Jack told me to tell you to calm down."
"I'm calm," Sam said a little too quickly causing the second oldest O'Neill sibling to laugh.
"Sam, I think I will never see you this edgy ever again!" Joe spoke supportively, "Look, no matter what, my little brother loves you. Now out of everyone here, he should be the one afraid of meeting your brother, not you."
Sam smiled thankfully, "Thanks for the pep talk."
Joe grinned, "Any time! Oh and Jack wants to know when your friends are going to show..."
"Right now!"
Sam looked up to see Daniel, Teal'c, Janet, Cassie and General Hammond all stood grinning at her. Janet and Cassie jumped on her and began to babble excitedly as Daniel stepped over to them, "Hey Sam. How are you holding up?"
Sam grinned at Joe, "Just fine."
Everyone looked at Joe expectantly, waiting to be introduced. Sam spoke, realising she was supposed to answer the unasked question, "Oh! Guys, I think I better start with the introductions now or we'll never get through them all! This is Joe, Jack's second oldest brother..."
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"Jonathon, stop fidgeting!"
Jack glared in the general direction of his mother, although he spoke fondly, just glad to be on speaking terms with her again, "Sorry Mom."
He could hear her smiling as she said gently, placing her old worn hand on top of his and squeezing gently, "It won't be all that bad. I'm sure Sam's brother will love you..."
"Mom, he hates the Air Force."
Kathy O'Neill spoke again, her tone slightly disapproving, "Both his father and his sister are in the Air Force. I don't particularly like the profession, but I put up with you."
"He can just about cope with Sam and Jacob..." Jack sighed, "But Sam's first serious relationship turned out as a disaster because that woman-bashing son-of-a-bitch..."
"Jonathon! Language! There are children here!"
Jack glared at his mother again and continued, "Because he was Air Force, Mark will take me to have been made from the same mould. He'll hate me from the word go..."
Someone spoke from beside him, "That's not true, Jack, so stop worrying."
Jack grinned at the familiar voice, "Hey there, Space monkey!"
He felt the Archaeologist's hand squeeze his shoulder gently, "Sam's introducing everyone and I've already checked on her, but how are you holding up?"
Jack sighed, "Not very well, but don't tell Sam!"
Daniel took the garden chair beside him as he spoke to Kathy, "So you must be Mrs. O'Neill?"
She gave a small laugh, "Don't call me Mrs. O'Neill, Dear. My name's Kathy."
"Mom, this is Daniel, my best friend."
Kathy smiled, "Ah yes. Sam told me quite a bit about you. You're an Archaeologist, yes?"
"Yes," Daniel said, pleased that the elderly woman was interested in him.
"...And finally, everyone, this is Kathy O'Neill, Jack's Mom."
Jack heard his fiancée's voice and then the many exchanged greetings between his families. His blood family and his soul family. To him his friends were such a part of him that there was no way he could separate them from him, like he couldn't remove his soul.
Sam watched her fiancé's peaceful expression and smiled, taking Daniel's seat and whispering to him softly, "Anybody home?"
Jack chuckled, turning to 'look' at her, "I doubt it."
They shared a gentle kiss as suddenly, the army of O'Neill offspring, including Jack's brothers, marched over and the introductions continued.
Sam grinned as she noticed Jack's nephew, Daniel. He gave a small smile and waved as Sam waved back. She spoke to Jack, "I think it's about time Daniel met Daniel."
She stood from her chair and held her hand out for the small boy. He took it cautiously before he smiled at her, his glasses askew for no apparent reason. Sam grinned and pulled the glasses into their correct position before she led the boy through the throng of O'Neills towards Daniel.
She poked the man on the shoulder and he turned to face her. Jack's nephew hid behind her, his head only slightly visible as he glanced at Daniel. Sam beamed at the small boy before she spoke, "Daniel Jackson meet Daniel O'Neill."
Daniel waved at the little boy as he said with a friendly smile, "So you're Jack's nephew, huh? Sam told me all about you."
The little boy smiled obviously happy that he'd been noticed. He spoke quietly, almost inaudible beneath the loud banter of the O'Neills, "Really?"
"Yeah. She told me you like dinosaurs?"
The little boy grinned and nodded silently as he let go of Sam's hand and Daniel continued to talk to the little boy, "I like dinosaurs too. I've even dug some up..." Sam grinned as soon enough Little Daniel took the Archaeologist's hand and allowed the older man to introduce him to Janet and General Hammond.
Sam turned to a tap on her shoulder. Mike stood behind her grinning. He spoke in a whisper and pointed over to the far end of the crowd, "Look, Kieran's cheered up for once!"
The sulky teenager, the oldest of Kathy O'Neill's Grandchildren, was smiling at his new companion. Sam had to move slightly so she could see who and began to laugh. Cassandra Fraiser stood talking to the boy, only a year or so older than her, blushing slightly.
Sam chuckled, "That's Cassandra, my best friend Janet's daughter."
"Ah," he looked at Cassie as she walked over to Jack and hugged him, the man sitting her on his knee when she'd finished as if she were a small child. Mike spoke, "She's close to Jack."
Sam smiled sadly, "Yeah. We found Cassie on a mission, her whole village had been slaughtered and she was the only survivor..."
"How awful!"
Sam nodded, "Janet adopted her. I would've taken her, but my job is dangerous and... Well, although we work together, Janet is the base's doctor and she could be home with Cassie a lot more often," Sam chuckled as Cassie kissed Jack on the cheek and then whispered a secret in his ear, "Jack loves her like she's his daughter. In a way, she's like our team's daughter. We're all... like a family."
Mike nodded, "I understand. I used to be a fireman, and though it's not quite the same, we still all knew that if we didn't look after each other properly chances were someone would get hurt."
Sam smiled at Mike and was about to speak when the doorbell rang...
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"So Dad, what's he like?"
Jacob glanced at his son and then into the back where his daughter-in-law was keeping his grandchildren amused. He spoke to Mark, "He's a good man..."
"Yeah, just like that Jonas..."
"No," Jacob said firmly, "Jack O'Neill would never harm a hair on Sam's head."
"How do you know that, Dad?" Mark said glaring at the road as they drove towards the party, "How do you know? You don't. He..."
"... is in love with Sam and Sam is in love with him. Your grudge against the Air Force has to stop now, in this car."
Mark's glare increased as they pulled up at some red lights. He pulled a hand through his golden-brown hair, "He's Air Force. He can defend himself. I don't see why you keep telling me to lay easy on him..."
Jacob switched off for a second as his son continued the argument. Sam had asked him to talk to Mark about Jack, but Jack had asked Jacob to not mention the fact he couldn't see. 'Don't want him to think I'm pathetic as well as a jerk...' is what he'd said, but Jacob didn't know if he could stop a massacre if he didn't mention it.
"Mark Honey, give this guy a try. I'm sure he's nice. Sam's not stupid and she can also defend herself. If her fiancé was like that Jonas Guy she would've kicked his arse long ago, but she's been working with him for years and that man gave up his career so he could be with her. Don't you think that's true love?"
Jacob looked in the rear-view mirror and smiled at Rebecca. The woman smiled back, pulling a springy curl of her strawberry-blonde hair behind her ears, and looked at Mark as he began to speak again, "He retired because he's old."
Jacob frowned, "Mark, no more of that! Jack isn't that old and I promise you he had another good 15 years left. I believe whole-heartedly that he would've become General, probably higher, if he hadn't retired. He gave that up for Sam and I completely approve of their marriage. Whether you like it or not your sister is going to become Mrs. O'Neill and I know there is no way in Hell she'll let anyone, even you, stop her."
They pulled up outside the house and Jacob knew that this wasn't going to be pretty.
He got out of the car and helped Rebecca get Emily and Aaron. Both blue-eyed, blonde-haired Carters were twittering excitedly about seeing Aunty Sam and meeting their new uncle which seem to infuriate Mark further.
Jacob led the family to the front door and rang the doorbell. He could hear sounds of laughter and chatter coming from the back garden and guessed that all of Jack's family had already arrived. They stood on the doorstep before someone opened the door.
He grinned, "Hey there. So you're Sam's family?"
Mark spoke surprised before Jacob could speak, "You're Jack?"
Just then Sam came skidding into the hall looking flustered. She put on a smile although Jacob knew her discomfort was in her brother stood beside him. She spoke, "Hi guys!"
"Hi Baby Sis," Mark said giving her a kiss on the cheek, "How are you?"
Sam smiled, "I'm great. Rebecca, how are you coping with my brother?"
Rebecca just grinned and didn't reply causing Sam to laugh, "I see the situation is under control!" She turned to the man stood holding the door open, "I hope you introduced yourself."
"Yep," Will said giving her a wink, "I was showing them my 'Suave and debonair youngest brother of the groom' impression. Apparently it looks more like my groom impression!"
Sam sighed with fake irritation, "Will! Go play with the children or something."
"Yes, Ma'am," he said snapping off a playful salute and running out to the garden.
Jacob was chuckling, as he said, "I like him."
Sam smiled and shook her head, "Honestly, thank God the rest of them aren't as immature as Will! He's such a big kid!" She grinned, "Speaking of kids..." She scooped up Emily in her arms giving her a loving hug, "... how are my favourite niece and nephew doing?"
Emily, who had only just turned 6, smiled a gappy smile as she said with a slight slur, "I just lost another tooth!"
Sam grinned and looked to Aaron, "Hey little man!"
"Guess what, Aunty Sam? Dad says I can go to Judo lessons," the eight-year-old said excitedly as she chuckled fondly.
Her smiled faded slightly and was replaced with a nervous grimace, "Let's go through to the garden, shall we?"
She wandered through the house still carrying Emily. They stepped into the garden. Sam walked towards the other end of the garden with Emily and Aaron to introduce them to the dozen or so children running round.
Jacob surveyed the crowd. The adult O'Neills huddled together chatting and laughing happily along with the rest of SG-1, Dr. Fraiser, General Hammond and Cassandra. He couldn't see Jack, but Felicity noticed them and pushed through the crowd, dragging another man holding baby Oliver behind her. The man looked very much like Jack although Jacob knew he was one of his older brothers. His hair was neat, his face unscarred and he was grinning.
Flick spoke happily, "Jacob! It's nice to see you again. How are you?"
Jacob smiled, "Felicity, it's good to see you too. I'm fine," he turned to his family, "Mark, Rebecca, this is Felicity, Jack's sister."
"How do you do," the woman smiled, pulling a loose strand of dark hair behind her ear before holding out her hand to be shaken, "But just call me Flick."
When her introduction was over, she nudged the man in the ribs and he grimaced, "I'm Mike, Jack's oldest brother. It's nice to meet you."
"You too," Jacob said with a smile.
Mark spoke impatiently, "So where's Sam's fiancé?"
When Flick heard his tone she shared a look with her brother and then murmured, "He sat down with our Mom. Follow me."
They wandered across the gorgeous grass and the baby promptly began to cry. Flick took him from Mike and tried to calm him, but Oliver would not be calmed.
When they reached the throng of O'Neills, Sam had half run across the garden and had disappeared in their midst. She reached Jack and found him trying to stand. She went to help, but he shook her off along with everyone else. He then stood tall, a small smile on his face.
Jacob approached the man and spoke with a definite friendly tone, "Jack, how are you?"
A slight look of relief flickered on Jack's face as Jacob shook his outstretched hand, "I'm great, Jacob. You?"
"Ditto," Jacob said as he gave Jack's hand an imperceptive squeeze for support. He turned to Mark who was looking at Jack obviously disapprovingly. He decided to introduce Rebecca first, "Jack, this is Rebecca my daughter-in-law."
Rebecca smiled, obviously taking a liking to Jack already although obviously disturbed by her husband's expression, "It's great to finally meet you. Jacob's told us all about you."
Jack smiled and glanced in Jacob's direction, obviously trying hard to look in Rebecca's eyes, "Well, Jacob has spent the past 4 years I've known him bossing me around! I think he knows me pretty well. I hope you were nice about me, Jake!"
"Of course," Jacob said with a smile before turning to Mark, "Jack, this is Mark, Sam's brother."
Jack held his hand out, "It's nice to meet you."
Mark briefly took his hand before he muttered, "Likewise."
Jack cleared his throat awkwardly. Jacob noticed Sam hovering behind him, looking completely anxious, not sure of what to say or do.
Mark spoke, "What the hell are you doing with Sam?"
There was a movement behind Jack. Teal'c, Mike, Joe and Will suddenly looking pretty ominous making their objection to Mark's question known. Flick, Janet, Hammond and Kathy were all trying to stop Will who looked like he was about ready to break something, whilst Darren tried to console the two older O'Neill brothers.
Jack spoke seriously, "Guys, sit down and cool it. It was a perfectly reasonable question."
Teal'c spoke through gritted teeth as Daniel tried to hold the Jaffa at bay, "No, it was not, O'Neill. It was extremely unjust."
Jack turned and said quietly, "Teal'c, sit down and cool it. And the rest of you go play with the kids or something. You're acting like a bunch of knucklehead marines!"
Mike nodded understanding his brother and he and Darren dragged Joe and Will to the other side of the garden, all the O'Neills and SG-1 following. Sam stood beside Jack now, looking absolutely furious with her brother although she didn't speak.
Jack turned back to Mark and spoke, calmly answering his question, "Personally, I don't know. All I know is that I love her. That and her happiness are all that matter to me."
"Do you know what matters to Sam?"
Jack answered the next question, obviously beginning to lose his own temper. Jacob was surprised he hadn't already. He was being extremely civilised. He cleared his throat, "Yes. I do. We've been fighting for the same things for over 4 years and I think I have a pretty good idea of what matters to her. The question is, do you?"
That did it. Mark snapped. He began to speak angrily, "Who the hell are you to question me about my sister? Look at you! You look like up until today you were living on the fucking streets! Christ sake, you're living off my sister! You love her? Whatever! She has money so you love her. You retired and you're just going to sit around on your arse and let her do all the work to support you! You're a fucki..."
A slap echoed around the garden. Sam stood before Mark. She glared at her brother as the white handprint on his cheek slowly began to turn a sore pink. She was shaking with rage as angry tears filled her eyes. Mark gawped at her shocked as she let out an angry sob, "How dare you! You haven't got a clue..." Her anger drained away and was replaced with misery as another large tear rolled down her cheek and she ran off into the house.
Jack spoke quietly staring around blindly, "Sam?"
Jacob took his arm for a second, "She's run indoors."
Jack nodded, shaking Jacob off, and began walking towards the house very slowly. He stumbled and fell to his knees, his bad knee striking the floor quite hard, causing him to grimace. Daniel, who had been observing the argument, ran to his side, holding Jack's stick. He put a hand on his friend's back, but Jack shook him off fiercely, "I don't need your help!"
"But Jack..."
Jack glared in his direction as Jacob grabbed Daniel and pulled him back, Mark watching with baffled curiosity. Jacob spoke in an undertone as Jack dragged himself to his feet, "Daniel, leave him. He has to do this alone."
They watched as Jack stumbled and staggered towards the doors leading inside as Daniel spoke in an angry undertone to Jacob, "He is so stupid. He could get hurt."
"He'd rather get hurt than prove Mark right," Jacob replied sending a look to his son, who watched confused.
Rebecca stood beside Mark her mouth open in shock, having obviously become aware of Jack's disability. He spoke in a quiet voice, "I don't understand."
Daniel hissed angrily, almost red with anger, "He's blind!"
Mark suddenly looked very pale as Daniel continued, "He was tortured on our last mission together! He admitted to a crime he didn't commit so the rest of his team, including me and Sam, wouldn't be hurt! He's blind because of Sam! He did it for her! He says he did it for the team, but I know he really did it for her! I know that because he loves her! And that's why he has to find her alone! To prove he's not useless like you implied, like he thinks everyone sees him! He hates the fact that Sam is looking after him! He feels like he's worthless! Sam is the only person in the universe that can convince him he's not! And you want to take them away from each other because of some problem you have with the air force, not to mention a little jealously that you're not the only guy your little sister loves anymore..."
"Daniel, stop. That's enough," Jacob said also angry, "That's enough arguing. This is supposed to be a happy occasion. I don't care if you don't speak to each other again, but Mark in a while I want you to go in there and apologise to Jack and Sam and apologise good. Both of you are going to be pleasant and in a good mood. Now go and cool off somewhere."
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Jack clutched onto the banister as hard as he could, panting slightly. He was out of breath partly from the fear of falling down the stairs, partly from his burning rage and desire to sock Mark one and partly because he was struggling against tears. He could feel them prickling although they wouldn't fall. Mark's words had cut Jack deep and that was an understatement.
Jack removed one hand from the banister kneeling on one of the steps, putting his hand on the step in front of him. He brushed it along the carpet and when it didn't come into contact with another step, he realised he'd reached the landing.
He crawled onto the landing and blindly held his hands out in front of him until they came into contact with the wall. He shakily got to his feet and began to move slowly along the corridor hands held out in front of him. The loose floorboard creaked as he shuffled across it. He moved one hand away from in front of him so it brushed against the wall, the sounds of his fiancée crying getting closer. When his fingertips sweeping the wall came into contact with their bedroom door, Jack rapped his knuckles on the wood gently and murmured, "Sam?"
After a second, he heard the door open and Sam gasped and sniffed, almost speaking with anger and reprimand, "Jack, what are you doing coming up here on your own?"
"Proving a point," Jack replied before he mumbled, "Can I come in?"
He felt Sam takes his hand in her own and lead him in carefully before they sat down on the edge of their bed. It was at this point that Sam let out a tearful whimper and began to shake gently as tears went back to running down her cheeks.
Jack spoke softly, his arm winding around her trembling back, "Oh Baby. I'm sorry. I'm so sorry."
Sam sniffed and spoke tearfully, "It's not your fault. I should've known... I just... I was so happy and..." She shuddered again as tears replaced her words.
Jack spoke gently, "Sam, look at me. Let me see you."
She snuffled slightly as she took his hands in hers and gently lifted his fingers until they touched her face. She sat still as Jack closed his eyes in concentration and gently trailed his fingertips over her skin. The sensation of warm droplets of salty water tingled through his fingers as he gently touched her face. His fingers slowly moved to her nose, her eyelids, her forehead, her ears... until he reached her lips.
He placed a finger beneath her chin slightly his other hand stroking her wonderful soft hair as he whispered with a tender expression in his sightless eyes, "Still beautiful as ever, although I always believed true beauty is in a Sam Carter smile..."
Sam blushed slightly as she let out a soft chuckle. She felt Jack's hands move, one to her cheek, stroking the silky skin with his knuckles gently, as he smiled lovingly, "There you go. Much better. Now I'm feeling all fuzzy inside."
Sam smiled wider still as he gently kissed and whispered, "I love you, Sam. Constantly. Just remember that. OK, so I'm not going to be much help from here on in and I'm not exactly going to win any beauty contests, but I love you. I know we had this argument before, Sam, but I think you've had enough time to think it over. I'll understand if you want to end it now."
Sam spoke her face pulling into an expression of mortification, "Want to end it? Are you kidding me? The reason I'm crying is I can't give my brother up and I certainly can't give you up. I just don't know what to do."
She began to cry again as he whispered, "I think you need a hug!"
Sam gave a soft chuckle as she wrapped her arms around her fiancé and let out a tearful sigh as he gently rocked her backwards and forwards. Sam kissed his ear gently as he gave her a small squeeze, ""Well, you're lucky. I am in a particularly huggable mood today!"
"I know I'm lucky," she mumbled, "Very lucky."
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Mark stepped into the hallway silently, a trait he had obviously picked up from his father, and was surprised to see Jack, his hands on the wall in front of him slowly shuffling along the corridor.
Mark suddenly felt extremely guilty about what he'd said earlier. He sighed gently and then began to walk up the stairs before he heard Jack knock on a door and murmur, "Sam?"
Mark paused as he heard the door open and Sam sniffle slightly before she spoke shocked, "Jack, what are you doing coming up here on your own?"
His sister's fiancé spoke softly, "Proving a point. Can I come in?"
Mark reached the top of the stairs and watched his sister lead Jack into what he assumed was their bedroom. He moved along the corridor and peaked around the door as Sam burst back into tears making Mark's heart hurt. He'd caused his sister this pain. How could she forgive him?
He watched Jack as his hand found Sam's shuddering back and gently wrapped round her shoulders pulling her slightly closer in a one armed hug, "Oh Baby. I'm sorry. I'm so sorry."
Sam looked up at the man as she spoke in a soft whine, "It's not your fault. I should've known... I just... I was so happy and..." She couldn't control her tears any longer and her back gave an especially big shiver as she put her face in her hands and continued to weep.
Jack sat beside her, eyes shut in a sort of surreal pain before he turned to face Sam and murmured softly, "Sam, look at me. Let me see you."
Mark frowned in confusion wondering how a blind man could see her, but as Sam took his hands in hers and slowly lifted them to her face he realised. Jack's eyes closed again and Mark saw a small frown on his forehead as he slowly, meticulously, felt every single millimetre of Sam's face. Mark watched on as Jack gently tipped her head up slightly, a finger beneath her chin as he opened his eyes unknowingly, or perhaps completely aware, Mark couldn't tell, that he was staring into Sam's watery blue eyes with love that made Mark blush slightly.
"Still beautiful as ever," Jack sighed softly before he added, "Although I always believed true beauty is in a Sam Carter smile..."
A soft tint of pink came to Sam's flawless face as she let out a soft chuckle. She felt Jack's hands move, one to her cheek, stroking the silky skin with his knuckles gently, as he smiled lovingly, "There you go. Much better. Now I'm feeling all fuzzy inside."
Mark realised how wrong he'd been about the man as he tilted his head slightly and began to kiss Sam tenderly. He pulled away after a second and whispered, "I love you, Sam. Constantly. Just remember that. OK, so I'm not going to be much help from here on in and I'm not exactly going to win any beauty contests, but I love you. I know we had this argument before, Sam, but I think you've had enough time to think it over. I'll understand if you want to end it now."
Mark felt himself wanting to shout, 'Sam, don't you dare!' but the expression of utter horror on her face at the idea let Mark breathe out a sigh of relief, "Want to end it? Are you kidding me? The reason I'm crying is I can't give my brother up and I certainly can't give you up. I just don't know what to do."
She began to cry again and Mark noticed the look of pain and pity on Jack's face before he murmured, "I think you need a hug!"
Sam wrapped her arms around her fiancé as she chuckled slightly, Jack somehow able to make her laugh even when she was so upset. Mark watched as Jack held his sister in his strong embrace and slowly swayed from side to side. After a second, Sam moved her head from its position nestled beneath her fiancé's chin and kissed his cheek as he pulled her to him slightly tighter and said jokingly, ""Well, you're lucky. I am in a particularly huggable mood today!"
Sam smiled softly as she whispered back, "I know I'm lucky," she mumbled, "Very lucky."
Jack snorted slightly, "You're lucky? I've gone and won the Jackpot!"
Sam looked up at the man, a look of laughter and humour in her eyes, "And what's the Jackpot?"
Jack smiled as he pulled her back into his arms and rested his head on hers, "About 5ft 7. Gorgeous golden hair. Blue eyes the colour of the sky. A Beautiful smile that I can still feel even when I can't see it. Soft, silky skin. She's loving and compassionate, Kind, caring, courageous. She could easily outsmart a supercomputer and could take out and entire base on her own, not that me, Daniel or Teal'c would let her. In fact, she's the most amazing person in the entire world, in the entire universe! And, get this; she's the one who proposed first!"
Mark's eyes widened slightly at this revelation as Sam let out a bubbly laugh, "Why's that so surprising? What reason was there for me not to propose?"
"Well, for one I'm... me. And secondly, at the time, you had a young George Clooney of a doctor literally gaga over you!"
Sam laughed again, "Why do I need George Clooney when I've got you, Babe?"
Suddenly Sam's eyes lit up and Jack shook his head, in fake horror, obviously knowing what was going through her head, "Please! No! Don't...!"
Sam began to sing full gusto, "Babe. I've got you, Babe..."
"Sing," Jack sighed before he tickled her in the belly in desperation to shut her up! Sam began to giggle as Jack just smiled happily, relieved to have stopped her rendition of Sonny and Cher!
Halfway through her laughter, Sam managed to splutter through her uncontrollable giggles, "Two can play at that game, Jack O'Neill!"
She grabbed his face between her hands and began to kiss the man thoroughly; the game of distraction causing Mark to blink for a second before he decided now would be a good time to leave. He walked down the stairs quietly before walking through the house towards the garden.
On his way, he was almost sent flying by the man with glasses who Mark reminded himself was one of Sam and Jack's best friend. He almost jumped a mile when he bumped into him, "Oh Mark! I didn't see you there. I need to find Sam."
"She's upstairs... I think," Mark added so as not to seem too conspicuous as the Doctor ran upstairs and Mark shrugged and stepped out into the garden.
It was then he saw that young girl sat with her mother as she cried in pain. Everyone was crowding round, Jack's brothers and sister taking their kids to the other end of the garden so they were out of the way.
A second later, Sam sped out of the house towards the girl, barging past him as she spoke to her friend, "When's the ambulance going to get here?"
Janet spoke tears in her eyes, "Soon, hopefully."
Sam spoke to the girl lovingly, smiling comfortingly, "Cassie Sweetie. It's me. It's OK. The Ambulance will be here soon..."
"Where's Jack?" The girl asked through her tears.
"I'm here," Jack said as Daniel attempted to help the man as he walked swiftly towards the huddle. Jacob guided him through and helped him to kneel down beside the girl.
She looked up at him with her hazel eyes, brimming with tears, "It really hurts..."
Jack smiled comfortingly as he found her hand and held it gently, "I know, Cass, but you've got to try and ignore it, OK? Tell me about that sleepover you had whilst your Mom was holding me prisoner in the hospital."
The girl tried as hard as she could to tell the blind man about her sleepover and gradually her breathing slowed and she stopped sobbing only letting out the occasional whimper although it was obvious she was in a lot of pain.
The sound of sirens approaching didn't stop Jack as he continued to ask her questions about the food and the games they played. It was only when the Ambulance men put her on a stretcher did Jack finally stopped asking questions. He touched the girl's tear streaked face as he murmured softly; "I'll see you soon. Really soon."
"Promise?" the girl whimpered as she was loaded into the Ambulance.
Jack smiled reassuringly, "Undomesticated Equines couldn't stop me!"
A slightly shell-shocked Janet climbed aboard the Ambulance as Sam spoke to Jack softly, "Jack, I'm going to go with them. Janet's in a bit of a state and..."
"That's fine," Jack murmured with a soft smile.
She gave him a peck on the cheek, "I'll call you later."
She hurriedly joined the Doctor on the Ambulance as the doors closed. Mark watched his father take Jack's arm and sit him down in a garden chair as the sirens began again and slowly faded as the Ambulance drove off into the distance.
Jacob sat beside him as he said quietly, "That was a good thing you did. Talking to Cassie."
Jack just shrugged, "She needed to calm down a bit. If Doc Fraiser taught me anything, except never to let her near needles, it was that when someone's hurt you've got to calm them down or it'll just make things worse and harder for anyone to help."
Daniel ran the toe of his shoe through the grass as he mumbled, "Out of all of us, you're her father, you know?"
Jack smiled slightly, "I'm sure if you'd bought her the dog, you'd be her father, Space monkey."
Teal'c spoke with a slightly amused smile, "Cassandra Fraiser adores you, O'Neill. Indeed, during your weeks in the hospital she was extremely upset and irritated at her mother's refusal to allow her to visit you. She missed you greatly."
Joe walked over from the other end of the large garden, "Hey Bro. What was up with the kid?"
"Appendix," Jack muttered, "Apparently she's been complaining of tummy ache all day, but it just suddenly got worse and Janet realised it was serious."
"Poor kid," Jack's older brother said with a sigh, "Tell her we all hope she feels better soon."
"Will do," Jack said with a smile before he asked, "What's the time?"
"Just gone 6," Joe said glancing at his watch, "We'll probably head home soon."
Jack nodded and then got out of the chair slowly, Joe grasping his hand in his. When Jack was on his feet he shook his brother's hand and then pulled him into a hug.
Joe spoke quietly, "it was great to see you again, Bro. It's been far too long. I'm really glad we're all back together now."
Jack smiled as he pulled back and Joe led him to his family, "Me too, Joey. Really really glad."
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Once all the O'Neills had left, Daniel and Teal'c said their farewells...
"You sure you don't want us to stay, Jack?"
Jack chuckled, "I'll be fine, Daniel. Jacob and Mark and his family are staying. There wouldn't be much room for you guys too. Besides Jake will look after me, won't you, Jake?"
Jacob chuckled and patted Daniel on the arm comfortingly, "He's in safe hands, Daniel."
"I believe, Daniel Jackson that we should give O'Neill time to become better acquainted with his fiancée's family."
Daniel sighed and then nodded, "Alright. Are you going to the hospital tomorrow?"
"Depends if Cassie wants company, but if I can I will. I'll see you guys there."
"As will we, O'Neill. Good night."
"Night, T. Night, Daniel."
The two friends said a quick farewell to Jacob and then left the house.
Jack sighed and spoke to his almost-father-in-law, "I get the distinct feeling that they're 'mother hen'-ing me again!"
Jacob chuckled and collapsed in the arm chair beside Jack as they sat in the living room, "They're just being good friends, Jack." He sighed also, but in a sad way, "I think they blame themselves for what happened to you on that mission. In a way, they feel there could've been some way to save you or stop you taking all the blame. In the end of the day, it happened and they just want to try and repay you for what you did for them."
Jack looked off into nothingness as he mumbled, "I guess..."
Jacob stood up again and stretched, "Right, where do you keep your take-away numbers?"
Jack chuckled, "Should be the second drawer to the left of the refrigerator? What's for dinner?"
"Probably Pizza. I'll go see what Mark and his crowd want."
When Jacob left the room, it plunged into silence, the pitch black engulfing Jack. He shuddered slightly before he heard soft footsteps enter the room. He spoke, "Hello?"
"It's me."
Jack smiled, "Hi Rebecca. Take a seat."
He heard the woman sit on the sofa to his right as she asked, "Are you OK?"
Jack frowned slightly, "What?"
He heard the woman smile, "It's just you've had a pretty busy day and you've been pretty quiet. I just wondered if you were OK."
Jack smiled in return, "I'm alright, but you're right. It's been a pretty emotionally taxing day."
Rebecca spoke gently, "Jacob told me that besides Mark yelling at you and that girl being taken to hospital, the other reason was you hadn't seen any of your family for a while."
"Over 4 years," Jack said quietly.
Rebecca spoke curiously, "I don't mean to be nosy, but why?"
Jack had already begun to like Rebecca a lot and found himself telling her something about himself he generally would never have talked about, "Well, me and my Mom had a row just after..." Jack had to clear his throat before he continued, "...just after my son, Charlie, died."
Silence filled the room before Rebecca overcame her shock and murmured, "Oh, I am so sorry. I had no idea."
Jack smiled reassuringly, finding her hand that lay on the arm of the sofa. He gave it a small squeeze, "It's OK. It's been about 7 years since it happened and I've finally accepted it."
"So if that was 7 years ago then why haven't you seen them for 4 years?"
"When me and my wife, Sara, got a divorce, my Mom started to have a go at me again telling me how careless I was and how I'd ruined my life. I'd just had enough. At the time I was just overcoming a serious case of depression and I didn't need someone else to tell me how it was all my fault. So I just stopped seeing them." Jack shook his head, "And now I can't see them at all. I know I was stupid to choose exile, but at the time I just couldn't take it anymore."
Rebecca nodded mutely before she sighed, "That must've been awful for you."
Jack chuckled sadly, "And that's an understatement."
Rebecca stood up and walked over to the mantel piece. She spoke softly, "Is this him?"
Jack gave a sad smile, "I have no idea."
Rebecca walked back over and sat back down as he said, "Can you... I mean... Can you describe... um... you know!"
Rebecca felt tears prickling her eyes although they never came close enough to the surface. She spoke quietly, "Well... you two are outside a house. You're both smiling and he's holding a baseball glove and a baseball. You're crouched beside him and you have your arm around his shoulders. He looks about..."
"6. 6 years old," Jack whispered with a small smile, "It was his birthday."
Rebecca nodded and murmured, "How old was he when he died?"
"He'd just turned 8..."
"Hey, I've ordered the Pizza. It'll be here soon... Rebecca? You OK?"
She smiled and wiped the tears from her eyes as she looked up at her father-in-law, "I'm fine, Jacob. I'll come help you in a minute."
Jacob took the hint to leave and glanced at her and Jack again, before respectfully moving back into the garden to keep Mark and the kids occupied.
There was silence until Jack spoke gently, "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to upset you."
"You didn't," Rebecca said with a small sniff as tears finally made it past her lashes, "I just... I was thinking of Aaron, that's all. He's going to be 9 in December and..."
Jack leant forward, "Hey. It's alright. There is no way the same thing will happen to Aaron."
"How do we know that? We always think it'll never happen to us, but it has to happen to somebody," Rebecca sniffed, pulling her fingers over her eyes, "It happened to Mark's Mom, it happened to your son and chances are..."
Jack spoke seriously, "It won't happen to Aaron. I always believed Charlie's death was my fault. It was in more ways than one. I never spent enough time at home. I never played with him enough," he gave a small sigh; "I never managed to get rid of that O'Neill stubborn streak."
"Those things don't make it your fault," Rebecca said gently.
"No, but forgetting to lock that drawer does..."
"What?"
The doorbell rang, too bright and cheerful against the sad darkness of Jack's world. He could hear Sam's niece and nephew laughing and playing in the garden and Jacob calling out as he hurried to the front door, "I'll get it."
Rebecca sniffed again before she asked quietly, "What drawer?"
Jack gently reached out until his hands touched hers. Gently, he took the photo from her hands and stared at it, even though he could not see a thing. After a second he spoke, "Charlie accidentally... accidentally shot himself... with my handgun."
"Pizza's ready!" Jack stood up as Mark walked in and halted, watching them both in confusion as he spoke again, "Rebecca?"
"I'm fine, Mark..."
Mark looked at Jack wondering what the hell the man had said to upset his wife. He was about to say something when Rebecca smiled at Jack and took his arm, "Come on, Jack. Let's get some Pizza before all the Carters scoff it all!"
Jack chuckled, but as they left the room Mark heard him murmur, "I'm sorry..."
"Don't be. I'm glad you told me before I heard it somewhere else."
Jack gave a small sigh of relief before he whispered, "You OK?"
Rebecca gave a small comforting smile that Jack could feel rather than see, "Don't worry about me. I'll be fine..."
Mark listened to the exchange confused and suddenly extremely curious about what they'd been talking about. He'd ask Rebecca later, he told himself as they began to tuck into pizza whilst chatting companionably, although Rebecca less than everyone else.
Their eyes met for a second and Mark asked his lovely wife silently, 'You sure you're OK?'
She smiled in the affirmative, although she didn't look completely sure. She pulled a wisp of her strawberry blonde hair from her eyes and struck up a conversation with Jacob, obviously to prove to Mark she was absolutely fine. He'd definitely have to ask her about this later.
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Mark woke with a jolt as the cry penetrated his dreamless slumber. He glanced at Rebecca beside him. The woman's eyes were wide open as she glanced at him, "What was that?"
Mark looked over at his two children, both of them fearfully running over to their parent's bed and climbing in. Mark looked at his wife and murmured, "I'm gonna see what that was."
Rebecca just nodded as Mark stepped out of the room. He crept along the landing and could hear noises coming from Jack's room...
"Mark?"
Mark jumped and looked around to see his father walking towards him. Mark put a hand to his heart and then Jacob said, "You guys didn't make that noise?"
Mark shook his head and in the gloom, Mark swore his father's face went pale. The man hurriedly pushed past him to Jack's room, Mark following behind.
Jacob opened the door and flicked on the light...
Mark winced from the bright light before his eyes fell on Jack. His father rushed to the man's bedside, "Jack?"
The man opened his eyes and stared around shocked. His breathing was erratic and he looked terrible. Jacob placed a hand on Jack's arm and the man nearly jumped a mile.
Jacob glanced at Mark and then murmured gently, "Jack, it's OK. It's Jacob."
"Jacob?"
Jack's croaky whisper made Jacob let out a relieved breath. He gently placed his hand on the man's arm again. Jack was sat up in bed, clutching the duvet around him, his eyes wide with fear and his body trembling as he rocked backwards and forwards hugging his arms around him.
Jacob spoke softly, "I heard you call out. What's wrong?"
"Nightmare..."
"You wanna talk about it?"
Jack took a deep breath his eyes screwed shut as he whispered, "I was being tortured again. The Hershrar asked me... 'What do you treasure most in the entire world?' Of course, it was Sam, but I couldn't tell him... He'd hurt her. I knew he would... I didn't want him to hurt her... that's why I let them lock me up in that place..."
Jacob spoke comfortingly, "What happened then?"
"He got out the photo, but it was different. It wasn't Fraiser's Christmas party. It was everyone I have ever cared about... ever. My family, Sara, Kowalski, SG-1, Sam and... and Charlie..." He let out a silent sob before he whispered, "I knew who they were, but... but I couldn't see their faces. They were just black holes." Jack's breathing was still too fast and he spoke obviously scared in a surreal way, "As I stared at the picture, they all began to fade away into black silhouettes... He said, 'Take one last look, Colonel because you are never going to see them again.' I tried to tell him to stop, I didn't want to stop seeing them, but he lowered the eyepieces and... my eyes began to burn and it hurt so bad. It hurt so bad..."
Jack stared in Jacob's direction eyes still wide before he held a hand to his forehead, closing his eyes as if he had a headache and let out a shuddery breath, "I'm forgetting, Jake."
Jacob glanced up at Mark again as they both shared a confused look before he spoke, "Forgetting what?"
"It's all just leaving... I... Everyone."
Jacob spoke softly, "Jack, you're not making sense. What are you forgetting?"
"Everyone. Everything. Everything about her. I can't remember her face, Jacob. I can't remember..." Jack stared at him, looking very vulnerable and lost for a second, "I can't remember Sam anymore."
Jacob gulped slightly before he murmured, "You can't see her?"
Jack let out a broken sigh, "I can't remember anyone anymore. I told myself I'd never EVER forget Sam, but she's gone just like everyone else. I used to have at least a glimpse of her in my head, but suddenly she's gone. You're all gone. I can't... God, I can't even remember Charlie...!"
Mark had no idea who Charlie was, but by the look of horror on Jack's face and the look of equal shock on his Dad's, this was terrible.
Jacob was lost for words. What do you say to a guy who can't remember what the face of his dead son looked like anymore? Especially when said guy was about to marry your daughter, who he also couldn't 'see' anymore.
Jack sniffed and pulled a hand across his eyes as he whispered brokenly, "The only place Charlie still existed was in my head... and... he's gone, Jacob. He's gone."
Jacob stood and moved over to the closet pulling out a pair of Jack's jeans and a t-shirt, placing them on the bed as the man said gently, "Get dressed and I'll make some coffee."
"Go back to bed," Jack said in a blank sort of way.
Jacob spoke in a slightly angry hiss, "The longer you leave your demons, the more they hurt when they finally come to the surface! I should know! Now get dressed and then you are going to talk! You hear me?"
Jack looked slightly shocked by Jacob's attitude. Jacob deflated slightly, realising the fact he was going to be Jack's father-in-law didn't mean he could boss the guy around, especially when he was in the state he was in. He let out a soft chuckle, "Sorry. Sel..." Jacob stopped mid-sentence glancing at Mark who was still stood in the doorway, "My inner self gets seriously cranky when I don't get my beauty sleep!"
Jack gave a weak lop-sided smile, the closest to laughing he'd get before he yawned slightly and asked, "What time is it?"
Jacob glanced at the alarm clock on Jack's bedside table, "Coming up to quarter past 3."
Jack sighed, "Jeez! I'm sorry, Jacob."
Jacob smiled reassuringly, "No problem, Kid. I'll be back in 5 minutes."
He left the room, signalling Mark to follow him. He shut the door slightly as they walked back towards the spare rooms in a shocked sort of silence. Mark touched his father on the shoulder before he murmured, "Who's Charlie?"
Jacob whispered cautiously, aware of what his son's reaction would be, "Jack's been married before to a woman named Sara. Their son was called Charlie."
The fact this hadn't been mentioned to Mark both angered him and made him curious. Sam had failed to mention she was becoming a Step-Mom. Mark was about to say something to this effect when he noticed the look on his father's weary face and instead spoke quietly, "Was?"
Jacob's hushed voice stumbled across a painful story as Mark listened with rapt dismay, "One day Jack returned home from work and was talking to his wife before... before they heard the sound of a gun being shot. Charlie was 8 years old at the time and could never understand why his Dad could 'play' with guns and he couldn't. That morning Jack had just forgotten to lock the drawer he kept his sidearm in and his son... his son accidentally shot himself."
Mark blinked and frowned in shock and pity as his father continued to whisper quietly, "They rushed him to hospital, but the kid died. Jack was seriously suicidal after that always blaming himself for the death of his son. 3 years later Sara had had enough. Charlie was their love and without him there was no love left. So they got divorced and Jack was sent on a suicide mission where he met Daniel. A year later he joined NORAD and met your sister... and suddenly he was on the road to getting better."
Jacob paused for a moment trying to think of how describe the thoughts in his head, "I always thought Sam gave him hope. Hope that he still had a chance to love someone with all his heart and spend his life with that person, risk his life for that person... And he did. Again and again and again. I doubt some people noticed, but whenever Jack got hurt I could always trace it back to him risking his life for Sam or for his team. Doing something to protect the people he cared about was the root of everything he did. But the last time he didn't just magically get better and he didn't just get straight back into work. He couldn't."
"The mission where he was blinded," Mark stated softly.
Jacob nodded and then nodded his head towards the spare room, "Get some sleep."
"Night Dad."
Jacob gave a strained smile as he headed back to Jack's room, "Actually, it's morning."
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It was early morning, Jack guessed about 6am. His soon-to-be niece and nephew were still upstairs asleep with their parents. Their grandpa was in the kitchen making himself another cup of coffee, about the 5th since Jack had woken them up this morning.
"Jack, could I have a word?"
Through the darkness, Mark's hesitant voice was strangely loud and caused Jack to jump. Usually he would've heard someone come down the stairs or enter the room, but he'd been so wrapped up in his thoughts he hadn't heard.
Jack got up from the armchair and jumped when Mark went to give him a hand. Mark also jumped about a mile and Jack gave him a tight smile, unsure of what to expect, "Sorry. I wasn't expecting any help."
"No. It's my fault. I should've said something."
Mark? Apologising?!? Jack tried not to let his confusion show as he murmured, "What do you want to talk about?"
Mark sounded awkward as he scrapped a clad foot on the carpet, "Uh... Can we...um... You wanna go for a walk?"
OK... What was this guy planning? To murder him and leave his body in a dark alley somewhere? Most likely!
"Sure," Jack said, "Where's my stick?"
Mark grabbed the prescribed item from where it propped up against the wall and gave it to the blind man who smiled appreciatively before Mark led him towards the front door, where Jack slowly pulled on a pair of shoes and they both stepped out onto the sidewalk.
They strolled along in silence, the only noise coming from Jack as he tapped the ground with his stick rhythmically. Mark watched him for a long time until the older man spoke to him, although his sightless eyes stayed looking in front of him, "What?"
Sam's brother cleared his throat hurriedly looking away. He took a deep breath and then mumbled, "I wanted to apologise about yesterday..."
"Mark, you don't need to apologise. I know you were being protective of Sam. I was no different when my baby sister was getting married," Jack gave a small chuckle, "I scared poor Jeremy out of his wits and it was only when Flick slapped me one evening that I realised I was being an utter jerk to the poor kid who had no idea how to stand up to an Air Force Colonel, along with a Fireman, Lawyer, University Professor and Zookeeper!"
Mark stopped for a second, "Your brothers?"
Jack nodded with a small smile, "We like variety! Mike's an ex-fireman, Joe's a Lawyer, Darren's the university Professor and only George could be the Zookeeper"
"What does your sister do?"
Jack chuckled again, "Something I can't even remember! Something to do with numbers, computers and... stuff. I always knew Sam and her would get on well!"
Mentioning Sam brought Mark back to the point of this conversation. He gave an apologetic sigh before he spoke, "I'm sorry I was such a jerk, Jack. You're... You're a good man and my Dad was right about you. He said you'd do anything for Sam and now I realise you would."
Jack was stood still as he nodded solemnly and murmured, "Yeah. I would."
After a pause, Jack began walking again and Mark followed. He listened to the rhythm Jack was making with the stick against the concrete again and then spoke quietly, "She really loves you..."
That caused Jack to stop, the constant beat of the stick faltering as Jack murmured, "I never thought she did. Not for a long time anyway. Then... I convinced myself I was just hoping too much. It was the only thing that stopped me from retiring a week after I met her." Jack laughed quietly, "I never told her about this envelope I have in my office at the base. There are exactly 117 letters of resignation all dated and signed in there, but I never handed a single one in."
Mark gave a small chuckle, "117?!?"
"Well, I can tell you that figure doesn't give justice to the amount of times that smile of hers almost made me quit!" A soft sigh left the blind man's mouth as he smiled slightly, "For the first second I saw her, I knew there was something special about her. I knew that she would quite possibly be the only scientist, not including family, I would ever like, which, has been proven wrong..." Jack sighed again and then turned back so they were walking back towards the house as he whispered quietly, "I only realised how I felt and that she might feel the same way a couple of months after we met when we were on a mission in Antarctica..."
"Why were you in Antarctica?" Mark asked curiously. He had never believed the cover up story his father and sister spun about Deep Space Radar Telemetry. Jack certainly didn't look like the type! Mark wanted to see how Jack would improvise an excuse.
Jack spoke fluently, "We were setting up a sensor at the pole to calculate the magnetic disturbance that would affect our radar systems..." Wow, that had been unexpected! Jack continued, "Anyway, we'd set up the equipment and were heading back to the camp when we stepped across a thin layer of ice which gave way into a huge ice cavern. We were both knocked out. Sam wasn't badly hurt, but I'd broken some ribs and my leg... I began coughing up blood and we knew I had internal bleeding. She... She was angry and frightened because I hadn't told her about my ribs and chances were I was going to die long before a rescue..."
When Jack's voice trailed away, Mark spoke prompting, "And then?"
"I ordered her to leave. Take all the kindling we had left, anything she could use and try and make her way back to the base. She refused stubbornly, but in the end I convinced her to climb to the hole we'd made and get out. She did eventually leave me, but I didn't care that I was going to die, alone in the freezing cold." He stared down at the floor as he whispered, "I just wanted her to be safe. To get home to her family. But..."
His voice trailed off again and his brother-in-law murmured, "But...?"
"She came back." Jack sighed sadly, "She reached the surface and tried to contact me over radio, but I couldn't reply. I was too cold and I didn't have the energy to lift my hand to even touch the radio. She panicked, thinking I was dead, and literally slid down the ice, back to me."
Mark spoke surprised his sister had never mentioned this, "She waited with you until the rescue team came for you?"
Jack nodded as Mark led him back towards his front door, "We almost died. She could've gone, could've gotten back to the base, but instead she stayed with me so I wouldn't be alone."
Mark spoke with a smile, "Sam's like that, especially for people she cares about."
Jack smiled again, "Yeah. I know."
Mark knocked on the door feeling the warm rays of the July sun rising above the houses. He felt a lot better now he'd apologised and found out more about this man's relationship with Sam. He felt now like they were closer, linked together by Jack's fiancée and Mark's little sister.
Jacob opened the door, looked at them confused, but said nothing. He opened the door wider as they stepped inside. Jack spoke quietly, "I'm pretty tired. I think I'll go have a nap. Us old guys need our rest, eh Jacob?"
The man raised an eyebrow at his son-in-law-to-be, "Well, I don't know about you, but I'm as sprightly as a spring lamb!"
Jack chuckled, already making his way up the stairs, "I'm sure you are, Jacob, just don't complain when you start snoring in the middle of day!"
Jacob refused to laugh, although a smile covered his face. He called up the stairs in a hushed voice, "I DO NOT snore!"
Jacob heard the blind man chuckle again as he disappeared, the sound of a door opening and closing telling them he'd reached his destination.
Jacob turned to his son and looked at him with an expression that asked what he'd said to Jack and if Jacob should be angry about whatever Mark had said/done.
Mark just whispered excited, in a child-like tone, "My little sister is getting married!!!"
Å
Read on in 'S is for... Second Sight' Wait a sec! U can't! I REALLY need some help with this, preferable from an adult! So if you like this story and don't mind me ruining the next part slightly, please email me as I need someone's help so I can finish the final part of 'S is for...' And please review, your comments are always very handy!
Sam I Am x
Copyright © 2004 Sam I Am
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