The more Jack thought about it, the more he realized this was going to suck all the joy out of his world for good. Oh, he'd known his heart would shatter -- it had broken the day she'd announced the engagement, but now would be beyond repair -- but he didn't expect it to affect every facet of his personality. He knew it was, though, when he realized he hadn't taken a single potshot at Daniel for agreeing to be Sam's maid-of-honor. She called him 'the other best man', but c'mon. Really!

Daniel and Cassie stood up with Sam. Mark and Pete's former partner stood across from them. No more than ten people scattered about the pews made up the sum of the guests. Generals Hammond and Carter, Teal'c and Jack himself were the totality of those seated on the bride's side of the aisle. Three generals and a Jaffa. There was definitely a joke in there somewhere, but he didn't have the heart to find it.

The minister was droning on, but Jack didn't hear a word. A ray of light streaming in through the high windows above the altar surrounded Sam, reflecting the gold in her hair and the soft sheen of her satin dress. He was transfixed. He watched the changes in her face, studied her posture. He knew the subtleties and nuances of her reactions intimately from years of close study. There was something in the set of her shoulders, the tiny creases around her eyes. He was really starting to believe she was unhappy.

Why did it suddenly feel like everyone was staring at him? Sam tensed and the thought crossed his mind that she was trying not to turn towards him. His mind played back the last words he had heard. "Or forever hold your peace." Oh, yeah. People were definitely staring, starting with the two bridesmaids. Jack caught Daniel's eye, and could almost hear him thinking, 'Last chance, Jack.'

"What the hell," he found himself announcing glibly to all assembled. "I make an ass of myself on a pretty routine basis. Right, Daniel? What's once more?"

The staring intensified, with the exception of Sam, who steadfastly looked away from him. "Carter, could I just... speak to you for a minute?"

Sam was absolutely still. It was Pete who answered. "General O'Neill, is something wrong?" Jack marveled at the man's ability to maintain that innocent, smiling, wide-eyed expression. It was a skillful deception, despite the combative body language he currently displayed. His arms were crossed tightly across his torso, hands curled into tight fists, shoulders tensed and high, but his friendly smile never faltered. Fleetingly, Jack contemplated asking Carter if her BS-detector was in the shop. She couldn't really be taken in by the 'good cop' routine, could she?

Ignoring Pete entirely, Jack continued, "Carter... Sam, please."

She turned on him, literally and figuratively. "What, Jack? What could you possibly have to say now that you couldn't have said six months ago, or six years ago?"

"Six months ago or six minutes ago, you weren't this close to making a huge mistake," he snapped back.

"What gives you the right to judge what I do?"

"I have experience at it," he said snidely, simultaneously wondering how this became an argument.

"I think you should leave," she said through gritted teeth.

"I think you should shut up and listen."

Pete's mask was beginning to slip. "And I think you should show my wife some respect," he said with smug bravado.

"She's not your wife yet, pal."

"I'm not your pal," Pete said, taking a step towards Jack. Teal'c countered with a step towards Pete.

"Enough!" The commanding voice of Jacob Carter rang out. Everyone came to an uneasy halt. "Jack, if you have something to say, say it now and say it quick."

Jack just let the words roll off his tongue. A minute later, he couldn't have told you what he said, just that he said it in earnest and meant every word. "Sam... You may think I'm doing this for selfish reasons, and yeah, I'm in love with you and I'd enjoy watching you marrying someone else like I'd enjoy white-hot needles in my eyes, but that'snot it. I knew you needed things I wasn't free to give you, and I never tried to stand in your way. You deserve to find happiness, I'm all for that, but you aren't happy. I see it in you, I know it. I can't sit back and let you choose unhappiness. Not if there's anything I can do about it."

Pete broke the long, expectant silence that followed Jack's pronouncement. "Sam..."

"I object!" Daniel blurted.

"Me, too!" Cassie jumped in.

"As do I," Teal'c affirmed.

Pete was beginning to lose his cool. "What the hell is with you people?" he yelled.

In a room full of soldiers and cops, it was the archeologist who started the fight. "No offense, Pete. We just have different perspectives," Daniel explained with his best innocent, smiling, wide-eyed expression. "From your perspective this is a wedding, but from ours, it's more like an intervention."

"Sonofabitch," Pete growled, while launching a fist at Daniel's head. Instantly all of SG-1 was in motion. Cassie jumped out of the way as everyone converged. Sam got between Daniel and Pete and pushed, backing Pete away. Teal'c and Jack closed ranks around Daniel, protective as always.

"Stop it, all of you!" Sam yelled. She swept a furious glare over each of the men in her life. "No, you know what? Go ahead. Take each other's heads off. You couldn't make this more of a disaster than it is." She marched back down the aisle to the dressing room and slammed the door. Suddenly really glad she had her boots on, she gave the door a good, hard kick.