Summary: Sam tries talking to Jack but is interrupted by someone. A little take on an idea from the upcoming "threads" It was written before all the new pics came out.
Disclaimer: Stargate isn't mine! (unfortunately )
Author's note: I wrote this for school and it's not as good as I'd like. It's my first completed fic so feedback would be much appreciated!!!
ThreadsLieutenant Colonel Carter stood outside the closed wooden door and stared at the plaque nailed into it. It read: 'Brigadier General Jack O'Neill'. Brigadier General. She hated those two words before that name. It was a subtle reminder of why things were like they were. The 'Sir's' and ranks that forbid any relationship other than a professional one.
With a shaky hand, Sam knocked on the door. The conversation she was about to have was one she didn't particularly want to have here of all places. The walls of the SGC seemed to have ears. But she didn't trust herself to do this at his or her place. Being on base would keep the conversation from going too far.
"Come in!" his voice called from inside the office. He sounded too chipper and she had a fleeting thought of running away. She'd already chickened out twice in one day. This time she was determined to do it.
Carter opened the door to find the General sitting in his chair behind a large pile of folders. She couldn't help but smile slightly, "Delaying the paper work, Sir?"
He laughed, "Just got started. Walter threatened to tell Hammond or the President on me if I didn't start soon. But what can I do for you, Colonel?"
Her smile faded as she remembered why she was there. "You're obviously busy. I can come back later." She bit her lip, nervously.
"Are you kidding?!" He laughed, "And miss out on a chance to take a break from this!" He waved at the masses of files before him. He suddenly noticed how nervous she was and he frowned. "What's wrong, Carter?"
Jack watched as she chewed on her lip for a moment in deep thought before she finally shut the door and walked over to stand before his desk. "Pete bought us a house." She spoke suddenly.
His heart dropped. Any conversation but this one. He tried not to betray his emotions by keeping his best poker face as he leaned back in his chair. "Oh? That's nice."
"Is it?" She countered.
"Isn't it?" He shot back. The exchanged reminded him of a conversation they'd had in the elevator almost a year ago.
"I'm not so sure anymore." She confessed and she turned to look out of the gate network window into the briefing room. She clasped her hands behind her back and began playing with her engagement ring on her finger.
Jack's eyes were drawn to the ring and he sighed, "Carter, people do usually live together when they get married so buying a house is a good start." He knew she was talking about her marriage and not the house, but he was stalling. He didn't want to have this conversation.
"I'm not so sure about that anymore either." Sam stopped playing with the ring and she slowly turned around again to see his reaction.
"Oh," It was all he could say. He knew he didn't want her to marry Pete. Truth is that Pete isn't that bad of a day. Jack trusted Carter and if she liked Pete then Jack did too. All he wanted was for her to be happy, and if it was with Pete, then Jack would learn to live with it. Even if it killed him inside in the process. He'd wanted to tell her not to marry him the day she showed him that darn ring. But she'd said 'yes' to him and now it was too late. So many chances he'd had. Eight whole years and the closest he'd come was admitting four years ago that he cared for her more than he was supposed to. Even then he'd done it only to keep both of them from being put to sleep indefinitely. They'd both agreed then and there that they'd 'keep it in the room'. He should have retired long ago. He should have done something.
Sam watched him as his eyes glazed over and she knew he was thinking. All she wanted to do was scream 'Say something!' Specifically, Sam wanted him to tell her not to marry Pete. She'd wanted him to say that when she'd first told him about Pete's proposal. "I wish things were different." She finally spoke, breaking the silence. His eyes focused on her face. Tears sprang to her eyes and she fought them back. She wouldn't cry in front of him. Not here, not now. "What if I quit the Air Force?" She asked. She'd had this conversation before. This time it would actually be with him.
Jack's brown eyes opened in surprise. "I would never ask you to give up your career." The conversation was beginning to scare him. They'd never talked like this before, because he knew that once they voiced everything, things would change and he wasn't sure if he was prepared for the outcome of that.
"Because you don't feel anything for me?" Her voice was taking on an edge of anger. Jack stared into her teary blue orbs. He couldn't ever remember a time where he'd seen her look so vulnerable. He wished he could take her in his arms, shield her from her problems, and wipe away all her tears. He wished that he could be the one to make her happy.
The General slowly stood up and walked around his desk. It was probably a stupid thing to do because the desk was the only thing between them and the only thing keeping him from doing the one thing he wanted to do so much. He stood in front of her and not knowing what to do with them, he placed his hands in his pockets.
"Carter…" He stopped and began again more softly, "Sam, I" He was cut short by a knock on the door and they both dropped their eyes to the floor. "I'm busy." He called out softly. If that was Siler bugging him about the darn heating system again he was going to get mad.
"It's me, Jack." A female voice called through the door.
Kerry! Jack's eyes flew to the clock on his desk. It was one o'clock already?! He looked back at Sam apologetically. He wasn't sure if he should be relieved or upset. Considering he was about to say everything he'd kept bottled up for the last eight years, he was leaning towards the latter.
"Jack?" The voice called back impatiently. "What could you possibly be doing in there? Because I know you're not doing your paperwork."
The doorknob turned. They were both suddenly aware how close they were to each other, and they jumped apart. Kerry appeared in the doorway and looked back and forth between them.
"Colonel Carter, sorry I didn't know you were… Am I interrupting? I can go." Kerry looked embarrassed yet slightly suspicious at the same time.
Carter shook her head, "No, I need to get back to my lab. I have something I need to work on."
"Quarks, Colonel?" Jack smiled, bringing back an old joke. Once again, he was making jokes to ease the uncomfortable situation. Sam smiled. It was a real smile which reached all the way to her eyes. His smile widened. God he loved that smile! "Well, I won't keep you from your important work. I'll see you at the briefing. 1700, right? I actually read the memo." He beamed proudly.
"Yes, Sir." Carter laughed. "I'll see you then." She turned to walk away and nodded to Kerry. "Ms Johnson."
"Colonel." Kerry replied as Sam left the office. Kerry turned to look at the General who had found himself in his chair once again.
"How was your flight?" He questioned.
"Fine, Major Davis insisted on watching a couple of cop movies on the way though."
"Hey, at least it wasn't some alien movie he made Daniel watch once."
Kerry smiled slightly. He was avoiding looking her in the eyes. She wasn't exactly sure what she'd just walked in on. Whatever it was, it hadn't been regular SGC business. She'd heard the rumors about them, who hadn't? She'd never believed them, now she wasn't so sure.
"I'm in town for a week." She said happily. He just nodded, his eyes focusing on a point behind her. "And I'm not doing anything tonight." He nodded again. "So, if you want to go to dinner…" She trailed off.
Eye contact! Finally! Jack looked at her blankly. "Dinner?" He asked. Now it was her turn to nod. "I don't know about tonight. I have a lot of work to do." He dropped his eyes to the files. Kerry couldn't believe it. He was choosing paperwork over a date? Either he was yet again under alien influence or…
"Maybe some other night this week?" She asked hopefully.
"Yeah, maybe."
It wasn't going to happen and she knew it. They'd only been dating two months now. She'd thought things had been going well between them. "Well, I guess I should go then. I'll see you at the meeting?"
"Yeah," he replied and he finally looked at her again, "I'll see you then." She walked out of his office without even saying goodbye. He didn't seem to notice. There goes another relationship down the drain.
Jack stared at the empty doorway. He'd just screwed his relationship with Kerry, yet somehow he didn't seem to care. It was mean, and she didn't deserve that. He decided he'd talk to her later; hopefully they could still be friends. His conversation with Sam ran through his head. He wasn't sure what was going to happen with that. He couldn't squish the hopes of where it could lead. Retirement had always been in the back of his mind, and had sometimes come forward but he'd always pushed it back. Especially since Pete had come into the picture. He hated his new desk job. Retirement sounded like a dream, only if Sam was part of it. Pushing his thoughts aside, he groaned at the oncoming ambush of memo's and mission reports, as he opened the first file.
A/N: The second chapter is now up so please read it!!!!!