Life's Problems – Part 3
Thanks to all of you for reviewing!!! I wrote this before "Affinity" aired so some differences in my story. I hope you like it.
Thanks again to Brandie for Beta reading!!
Sam lay in bed wide awake. Her thoughts kept drifting from her concern for her father and her doubts regarding Pete. Pete was great at first. He was cute, charming, funny, and he knows about the SGC. Perfect relationship right? ... So why was she suddenly feeling like she was trapped. Now he was making decisions for her. She still couldn't believe he had bought a house. What was he thinking?! She had this nagging feeling that things weren't going to get any better after they were married. Was she rushing into this? Was Pete just her chance at a relationship or was she really in love with him?
She let out a loud sigh, and threw the covers back. She knew staying in bed hoping for sleep was pointless. She made her way to the kitchen through the dark house. There was enough moonlight showing through the windows that she didn't need any lights. She sat down at the table with a glass of milk.
She looked outside at the sky blanketed with stars. "Where are you dad?" She whispered. 'Are you Ok ...Are you hurt ...scared ...have you been captured' every scenario made her stomach churn. She was a soldier. She had been captured and tortured numerous times and near death more times then she cared to remember. The one big difference between her father's situation now and her situation ... she had SG-1, and together they always managed to escape. The SGC NEVER left anyone behind, and they weren't about to start with him. She continued to gaze at the stars thinking about her father and SG-1 until the sun finally peeked above the mountains.
Later that morning she decided that she needed to tell General O'Neill of the recent events regarding her father. He had been on vacation to relieve some stress of his new job when the Tok'ra arrived with news about her father. Since the Tok'ra didn't have enough information regarding Jacob's situation, they decided not to intrude on Jack's vacation. Jack, however, said he was staying in town if they needed him. He would be back on base tomorrow when the Tok'ra arrived, so Sam decided maybe talking to the General would help calm some of her fears. He might after all come up with one of his great 'simplistic' ideas.
She arrived at Jack's house. He was a little surprised to see her when he opened the door as if he was expecting someone else.
"Carter! Hey what are you doing here?"
"Am I disturbing you, Sir?"
"No of course not come on in." He smiled "So what do I owe for this pleasant surprise?"
She gave him one of his favorite smiles. But he noticed the smile didn't reach her eyes.
"Carter, are you ok? You look a little down? You know if you're having any problems with your team, I can always order them to go out with SG-13. You know how many dessert planets they end up on. I can do that now you know." He said teasing her.
She walked into his living room and sat down on his sofa. "No Sir. It's not Daniel or Teal'c. Actually it's about my dad."
Jack walked over and sat down beside her. He was a little nervous now. "Is everything ok with dad?"
"Not really, Sir. The Tok'ra came through yesterday informing me that he has been missing for a month." She said sadly.
"A month! Why haven't they told us before now! You know I'm really getting sick and tired of all..." She touched his knee to calm him down. It wasn't that she didn't agree with him, she was just as angry, but right now she needed to talk to someone.
He was a little surprised by the touch and forgot what he was saying. They were always the perfect soldiers never letting emotions get in the way of their jobs. Granted they were forced to admit to unprofessional feelings for one another during the Zartec test a couple of years ago. They never acted upon them, because their jobs were too important. Every once in a while they would be there for one another, and they comforted each other in extreme circumstances, like when Janet died.
"I know Sir. I feel the same way, but they'll be back tomorrow. If they haven't found him they will allow us to help search for him." She said it so quietly that he barely heard her.
He could see the dark circles under her eyes from lack of sleep. "Hey" he whispered turning her to face him. "We'll find him. You know Selmak will not let anything happen to him. I'm sure he's fine." Jack silently prayed he was right.
"I know you're right. It's just...I can't lose him." She said almost in tears.
"Hey come here." He pulled her into a hug.
It felt so good to be comforted by him. She pulled away to look at him to say thank you. She looked into his warm eyes and instead of saying the words; she lost herself in the rare emotions that were showing in his eyes. She felt her heart leap. "Jack" she whispered. "There is something else..."
All Jack could do was stare deep into her blue eyes. He didn't know what to say. These moments were so rare. Both of them letting the soldier façade break away a little to see the person full of emotion within.
"Pete and I ....I'm having second thou..."
"Hey Jack! Honey, I'm back." A woman said entering the house breaking the spell. She hadn't noticed the two sitting on the couch.
Sam blinked in confusion. 'Honey?' why is there a woman calling Jack honey. It suddenly dawned on her. He had moved on with his life, she thought sadly.
Jack looked like a deer caught in headlights. An array of emotions washed over his face fear, dread, and sorrow until his soldier face was in place blocking all emotion. He stood up from the sofa to greet his other guest.
"Hey, we're in here." He looked down at Sam hoping she would be ok with this meeting.
Sam stood up and squared her shoulders. She didn't blame him, but she couldn't help the sting of jealousy.
"I'm sorry I didn't realize you had company." His guest said as she made her way into the living room. "Oh. Hi Colonel Carter! What brings you by?" She said oblivious to the scene she had walked into.
"Kerry?" Sam asked shocked, her eyes wide in disbelief. 'How much more shocking news can I take?' Sam thought.
"Carter came by to tell me that her dad is missing." Jack said answering Kerry's question.
Seeing the shocked look on Sam's face Kerry smiled because she was sure the rest of the SGC would react this way when they found out. "I know this is probably a shock, finding out Jack and I are dating. To be honest I was a little surprised when he agreed to have dinner with me. What has it been ... two weeks now, honey?" She asked looking at Jack.
Sam's heart stopped. 'He was dating Kerry?! But ...' She didn't really want to think about him and Kerry together.
"Uh ... Yeah ... I guess so." Jack said a little distracted by Carter's reaction. 'She hasn't said anything yet and that shocked look on her face is still there.' He wanted to tell her and the rest of SG-1, but it never seemed to be the right time.
"Uh ...Carter. I'm sure your dad is going to be OK." Trying to get back to the reason she came by. "Why don't we talk about this tomorrow? You said the Tok'ra will be back tomorrow right? So we'll come up with a plan and bring dad ... err... I mean your dad home ... OK?" He wasn't sure if he was trying to save himself or her from this awkward situation. He wasn't trying to dismiss her, although that's what he felt like he was doing.
Sam was already making her way to the door. She wasn't really listening to what the General was saying. "Sure Sir. I Guess I'll see you both at work." She left before either of them could respond.
"Is she going to be OK, I'm a little worried about her?" Kerry asked Jack.
"Yeah, she's tough. She's just really worried about her dad." Jack couldn't help but feel that he may have caused her more problems. This wasn't how he wanted to introduce the two. He wanted to tell Carter about Kerry before they met. He never wanted to hurt her. Carter seemed happy with... what's his name ... Paul, Peter, no...PETE, that's it. Daniel even told him they were engaged. Pete could provide her with the life she deserves. So he decided he should move on with his life as well. That's why when Kerry asked him to dinner he had accepted.
He replayed in his mind the scene of him and Carter on the sofa. What was Carter trying to tell him, before Kerry walked in? Was she going to tell him that she and Pete were engaged, or was she having doubts about Pete? Jack's heart soared at the last though. If she was having doubts, then maybe there was still a chance for him. 'D'oh ...She had just found out that he and Kerry was dating. Way to go Jack!' He said mentally kicking himself. He wasn't sure what he should do. He and Carter couldn't be together, IF that's even what she wanted, until one of them left the military and that wasn't about to happen any time soon. He was enjoying Kerry's company. She was intelligent, funny, pretty, and she worked at the SGC so that wasn't a problem. He couldn't wait around for a possible future with someone else, when Kerry could offer him a relationship right now... could he?
Sam made her way to the car. 'Oh...my ... word! He's dating KERRY!! Why hasn't he told me?' Her heart ached. She blinked back tears as she pulled out into traffic, not sure where she was going.
Tears fell down her face now as she felt that 'what could have been' ... was now gone forever.
She was having second thoughts regarding Pete. She had a good idea that her relationship with Pete was the reason Jack had moved on. She didn't blame him, but it didn't prevent her heart from breaking when she found out.
If it were a total stranger that she would see on rare occasions, that would be one thing, but what made it even harder... he was dating someone she would have to see and deal with at work.
She didn't want to dread going to work, she loved her work. Despite the constant dangers off world, SGC was her safe haven. She loved working in her lab. She thrived on the constant challenges and the problems she had to solve on a weekly basis. Her job was never boring, and her team was like her family.
She was as close to them as she was to her biological family. Teal'c and Daniel were like brothers to her. She thought with a small smile. The General... well that relationship was a bit harder to categorize.
She had to admit there was a bond between her and Jack, but was it just friendship ... could it have developed into something more. If she was honest with herself she always hoped for more, but the Military would never allow it.
She had all the confidence in the world when it came to solving the problems with the Stargate or one of her experiments in her lab. Sure it may take a while to find the solution, but she knew with enough hard work she would find one. Unfortunately, when it came to matters of the heart Sam lacked confidence. That was one reason she and Pete had hit it off so well. He was so openly honest with his affection, she didn't have to guess what he was thinking or feeling.
With the General, he kept his heart and emotions well hidden behind military training. She could read him like a book in the field, during briefings, but when it came to expressing any feelings he closed off, just like she did.
She wasn't surprised to see the entrance to Cheyenne Mountain. She decided that she needed to workout and relieve some stress. By the time she signed in and made her way to the gym after she changed, there was no trace of tears. Her military face was back in place and no one would be able to tell the turmoil going on inside her.
The base was quiet for the middle of the afternoon, because most of the SGC teams were off world. So she had the gym to herself.
She decided to start with the treadmill; she set it for 5 miles. When she found her rhythm, her mind began to sort out the turmoil.
She didn't know what to do regarding Pete. She knew she couldn't wait forever for Jack, or if that was even a possibility. She wasn't getting any younger and neither of them was willing to give up the jobs they loved. What they did at the SGC was too important. They had never discussed their 'relationship' such as it was. She didn't even know if he still had feelings for her or not. With that thought her heart was heavy again, what if he didn't feel anything for her, anymore. What if she was just 'Carter' the soldier, the scientist that saved his butt, and the feelings he once had was nothing more than an infatuation that had worn off. If nothing else they were still friends with a strong bond.
Teal'c walked in the gym and greeted Sam. "Good afternoon Colonel Carter."
Sam was so deep in thought that she didn't know Teal'c had said anything to her.
"Colonel Carter?" Teal'c tried again walking further into the room. He noticed that there were unshed tears in her eyes.
He moved back towards the door closing it behind him. He stood guard not allowing anyone to enter the gym. He knew Colonel Carter was greatly troubled regarding her father's disappearance, but he had a feeling there was more causing her such distress. He would allow her this time to work through her problems. He knew she would open up when she was ready, but for now she needed to be alone to sort through her thoughts.
In the gym, Sam finished her five mile run. She slowed her pace to a walk to cool down. She glanced in the mirror and he eyes were glistening with unshed tears. She looked around a little embarrassed, hoping no one saw her. To her relief she was still alone in the gym. She decided she needed to shower and head off to her lab.
As she stepped through the doors of the gym she almost hit Teal'c with the door. "Teal'c, sorry I didn't see you standing there. What are you doing standing in front of the door?"
"I am unharmed Colonel Carter. How are you doing this afternoon?"
Sam realized that Teal'c must have walked into the gym and while she worked through her thoughts and prevented anyone else from entering the gym. She looked up at him and smiled. She squeezed his forearm lightly "Thank you Teal'c."
Teal'c knew Colonel Carter discovered his true purpose for standing outside the door. "You are most welcome Colonel Carter. Is there anything that I may assist you with?"
"It's kinda complicated."
"Matters of the heart usually are, are they not?"
Sam was a little surprised; did he know? Was she thinking out loud? A look of fear crossed her face.
"Colonel Carter. I am sure your father's disappearance must be very difficult for you right now." His earlier assumption that more was going on was just confirmed. However, whatever it was she was not prepared to speak of it.
"Yeah Teal's it is. I just wish the Tok'ra would tell us what's going on. The waiting is the hardest."
"Indeed."
"Well Teal'c I think I'm going to clean up and then head to my lab."
"Very well Colonel Carter."
"If you are in need of anything, you know where to find me."
"You know I will Teal'c. Thanks." She smiled at him before she headed to the elevators.
Sam was in her lab 30 minutes later, losing herself in her experiments. By early evening she was exhausted and decided to sleep on base. She locked up her lab and slowly made her way to her quarters. Once inside she fell on the bed thankfully too exhausted to think. She was asleep minutes after her head hit the pillow.
Next Chapter ... The Tok'ra return with news.
Don't kill me. I promise J/S eventually, they just have to sort out some issues first. :)