STARGATE SG-1: Bed of Roses

Summary: Jack decides self-pity will get him nowhere.

Pairing: Jack/Sam, Sam/Joe

Spoilers: 2010, 2001

Season: Future (about 2006, after meeting the Aschen in 2001)

Disclaimer: I own nothing and am therefore receiving nothing for this little venture!

Author's Note: Hope you're still enjoying the story! This chapter is back to Jack's story (continuing straight on from chapter 1). Hope you enjoy it! Don't forget to R&R as always! Thanx! Enjoy! (ps - sorry if some of this is a little too like 2001).

Bed of Roses: Chapter 3 - The Listeners

'Is anybody there!' said the traveller,
Knocking on the moonlit door.

*

Jack awoke the next day, feeling like he had an anvil lodged in his cranium. As always, his waking thoughts were of her - his unattainable goddess.

It amazed him, after all the two of them had been through, that he felt so passionately towards her. After all the hurt of being ignored by her and then when she did take notice of him, it was to tell him to shut up. How could he love someone like that? . . .

It was no use. He couldn't paint her as the monster. She was just following orders and being on the inside of the organisation (the Aschen that is), made it damn near impossible for her to see what was happening. That's what made him even more angry with the Aschen. The fact they had 'brainwashed' her (for want of a better phrase).

Of course, he didn't fully know what it was they were up to yet. He just knew it was something. Even though it had been six years, he couldn't shake the look of powerlessness and defeat in the eyes of the Taionian people. They lived in a thriving Metropolis for cryin' out loud! It had been seriously unnerving seeing them. But he seemed to be the only who noticed it, or took note of it at least. He would have given anything to have been able to talk to one of them and maybe then he would be able to convince everyone else that the Aschen were up to no good.

Unfortunately, there was no way jack would be able to get to the Stargate - the only heavily defended place left in the world.

Carefully holding his head so not to let his brain suddenly lurch in it's place, Jack hauled himself out of bed and staggered to the shower. His throbbing head began to subside later as he made his way about the house - getting dressed, fixing breakfast, downing several cups of very black, unsweetened coffee.

By lunchtime, he was beginning to feel like something that vaguely resembled a human being.

He hated retirement more than he could describe. It just wasn't good at all for his over active imagination. And now it was worse than before. Now he knew her and he knew of all the things he would never again share with her. He still cursed himself for that. He might as well have thrown her at Joe. And now the two of them were off honeymooning together; sharing all the joys that Jack wished he could have had with her.

But she had made her bed and she had to sleep in it - with Joe. Not Jack.

The only problem was, he still loved her. Part of him - the part that still remembered what it was like before they came along - wanted to be happy for her. She was clearly happy with Joe, so he shouldn't try to get in her way. But the years had changed him somewhat. And there was no way of getting back the 'old Jack' that wouldn't have minded so much.

Of course, not all of the 'old Jack' was dead. He still held the non- defeatist attitude that had kept him going all these years. It had been somewhat suppressed of late, what with all that had gone on with the Aschen and the way his cataclysmic relationship with Sam had come to a spearhead the last time he saw her - going on for two years now.

But now, seeing her married like that, to her 'dearly beloved Ambassador', there was an in-suppressible rage within Jack that screamed for him to do something - ANYTHING! Not necessarily to get her back, but at least claim back what was left of her future before the Aschen screwed it up with whatever plan they had going. She deserved that from him at least. He didn't care if she never set eyes on him again, just as long as he could guarantee her eternal happiness. If that happened to include him, then so be it. But experience had taught him not to push that. It wasn't what she needed.

Jack's fighting spirit began to reignite even further as the day progressed and his hangover dwindled; as he thought more and more about what he owed Sam for his treatment of her two years ago.

Finally, he was resolved. Something had to be done.

*

But only a host of phantom Listeners
That dwelt in the lone house then
Stood listening in the quiet of the moonlight
To that voice from the world of men.

*

All things considered, it had been fairly easy for Jack to be granted an audience with the President. Mind you, up until that point, most of Jack's protests against the Aschen had been in private (apart from the outburst two years ago, but that incident clearly hadn't reached the ears of the President - thank goodness).

For the first time in a few years, Jack was back in his dress blues and actually looking half respectable. He was also clean shaven for the first time in a few days too. He sat fiddling with his hat, outside the Oval Office, waiting to be permitted entrance. It always surprised Jack how nervous he got when he was required to use diplomacy. Especially when his opponent was the one person (besides Joe Faxon) that could really mess with his head and send diplomacy packing and leave him searching for a gun!

"The President will see you now," the secretary said, showing Jack the way into the office. He stopped just inside the door - far enough in for the door to be closed but not far enough to show politeness.

"Colonel O'Neill," the President said cordially from behind his desk.

"Kinsey," Jack replied through gritted teeth. Of all the people in all the world - universe, even - there was only one person he could think of that could make his situation even worse - that was Maybourne.

But he was here now. And he had to do this.

"Please. Take a seat," Kinsey offered, moving towards one of the armchairs in the middle of the room.

Silently, Jack followed suit, still hating the fact that he was here at all.

'You're doing for her!' he kept reminding himself. Even though she was off honeymooning, right now, with another man, he was doing all this for her.

Kinsey waited for Jack to be seated, a slightly inane grin on his face the while time.

"Well, well," he said eventually, with more than a hint of ironic humour in his voice. "Colonel O'Neill. I don't believe I've seen you since you left the SGC."

Jack didn't say anything.

"You know, I've been meaning to thank you," he continued. "If you and your team hadn't met the Aschen, I never would have been voted President. Funny how the world works; isn't it?"

Jack still remained silent, finding it harder and harder to swallow his pride.

"So, what can I do for you?"

Jack looked up at him for a moment. But sharply looked away again, repulsed by the mock-friendly look in Kinsey's eyes. He mumbled something intangible in response to the question.

"I'm sorry, what was that?" Kinsey demanded, revelling in the power he had over the situation.

"I said," Jack said more confidently. "I need your help."

Kinsey burst out into a manic, raucous laugh that pierced Jack's ears like daggers driving into the very centre of his being.

"Oh lord!" Kinsey said through increasingly sporadic peels of laughter. "I wish I could've got that on video! Jack O'Neill asking me for help?! That's just made my day!"

He continued to laugh, ignoring the pained expression on Jack's face as he felt himself sink to an all-time low.

"So what is it that I can help you with?" Kinsey asked once he had regained his composure.

"It's the Aschen," Jack said plainly.

"What?!" Kinsey clearly had his doubts about what Jack was bout to say.

"They're up to something."

Kinsey rolled his eyes. "Oh here was go," he said under his breath, not quite loud enough for Jack to fully hear.

"Excuse me?"

"I wondered how long it'd be before you changed you mind. Granted I thought closer to six months than six years, but . . ."

Jack began to feel frustrated with his 'Commander and Chief'. "Change my mind?"

"Yeah," Kinsey said, denying Jack the chance to lay into him at this point. "You know. Realise you couldn't play the hero anymore so plotter against the Aschen."

"That's not why I'm here!" Jack bellowed.

"Really?"

"Really! . . . I swear to God Kinsey! Something's not right here."

Kinsey smiled ever so slightly again. Knowing exactly where to strike to cause the most damage.

"So why let it get this far?" he asked maliciously. "Heck! Why support them at all? I seem to remember you were just as enthusiastic about the rest of your team."

Jack looked down at his hands. "Well, I was wrong," he said quietly.

"So why wait six year?" Kinsey knew this was all crippling Jack's pride to admit everything like this and was thoroughly enjoying every minute of it.

"I didn't have any proof," Jack admitted, in the same hushed tone.

"Oh, and you do now?"

". . . No."

Kinsey allowed himself a larger smile. "Unbelievable!"

"Kinsey! They're taking over everything!" Jack was beginning to sound desperate, even to himself.

"Oh please! Of all the paranoid Bull I've heard! . . ." Kinsey paused in his attack, to fully hold his power over Jack. "Tell me Colonel. Just how long did you spend in the Black Opps? 'Cause it was too long, if you ask me!"

"You think I'm paranoid?!" Jack said indignantly. "Just how many laws have you passed without the approval of an Aschen delegate?"

Kinsey paused before answering, causing Jack to think he was in with a chance of persuading him onto his side. "That's standard policy. We share everything with everyone these days," he finally answered, completely taking the wind out of Jack's sales.

Jack's shoulders sagged slightly. "Why am I the only one who sees this?"

Kinsey laughed again. "Because you're the only one who wants to see anything, Jack!" He turned around and switched the TV screen on to CNN. "Look. There's no war. No hunger. No disaster that can't be solved in a heart beat. How do you see these people as a threat?"

"You said it yourself," Jack said, smiling stiffly. "I'm the only one who wants to see it. The rest of you are just too wrapped up in the benefits to see the bigger picture!" His tone had risen considerably, so he was almost shouting again.

Kinsey sat back down, shaking his head and chuckling slightly to himself. "I can't believe what I'm hearing."

"Kinsey, please listen to me!" Jack pleaded.

Kinsey's face suddenly fell and was as serious as Jack had ever seen it. "Oh. I think I've heard enough!" He pushed a button on the phone beside him, prompting his secretary and two secret service agents to appear in the doorway to the office.

"Colonel O'Neill will be leaving us now. Please escort him back to his vehicle."

Jack stood before the secret service men could move to him. "You're making a mistake! This won't last forever!" He felt two large hands on his shoulders, but he didn't move from the spot he was standing on. "And I swear to God, it'll come crashing down on you head!"

Kinsey raised his eyebrows. "Is that a threat, Colonel?"

"No," Jack said plainly. "It's a promise!"

Kinsey shook his head in disbelief. "Get him out of here!" he ordered.

Jack felt himself being moved off towards the door. As much as he tried to resist, he kept on going. Powerless against the strength of the goons holding on to him.

"This isn't the last of this!" he shouted, determined to have the last word. "You don't see what they're doing! None of you do!"

The door closed in front of him.

*

'Tell them I came! And no-one answered,
That I kept my word,' he said.
Never the least stir made the Listeners,
Though every word her spake,
Fell echoing through the shadowiness of the still house
From the one man left awake.
Ay, they heard his foot upon the stirrup,
And the sound of iron on stone,
And how the silence surged softly backward,
When the plunging hoofs were gone.

*****

Author's Note: So, that was chapter 3! Chapter 4 will be up shortly (I hope!). REALLY looking forward to writing that one actually! Anyway! Review! Thanx.