One Way....
Summary: In life there are some things that are fated to happen. And others that happen through chance.
A/N: Formerly known as "Finding A New Way To Live". I edited this part for mistakes that I noticed. Initially I planned a different storyline, but I've changed it so that it is easier to update. Feedback is always welcomed.
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The alcohol dumbed the pain, but not for long. The argument was bitter and cold, his voice shouting loud and hateful things to her. She always knew about his temper, always knew that if she said something that he didn't like, he'd fly off the handle and within a few minutes, they'd be knee deep in a spat about everything he could think of.
Thankfully the bar was void of any arguments, but filled with merry customers who'd obviously drunk a few too many pints of beer but she was amused at their antics nonetheless. Young couples flung their arms around each other in the semi-private booths at the back of the bar and middle aged drinking buddies played poker for matchsticks at a far table, the amount of players slowly increasing as interest in their game grew. She swivelled back round on her stool to face the bar, staring at the stained wood and drawing an outline with her finger over the condensation rings.
Someone sat next to her with a sigh, evidently as stressed as she was, but he was on the periphery of her mind. Her new job was starting in under a week and by rights, she should be feeling thrilled, but Jonas had ruined that. After all these years she wondered why it was a surprise. Yet she still stayed with him, loyal to a fault because in her own strange way, she loved him. She wasn't in love with him, but then she wasn't the kind of woman to believe in "The One" and true love. She'd never been the eight year old girl pretending to get married to one of her stuffed toys. She was the eight year old girl who saved up her pocket money to buy a chemistry set.
"Another gin please," She slid the glass towards the bartender who nodded mutely, and Sam sifted through her pocket to find the right money, knowing that he wouldn't be exactly pleased if she downed the drink and then realised she had no way to pay for it. Whilst the bartender, rather clumsily she thought, prepared her drink, she slyly turned to look at the man sitting next to her. He assumed the same position as herself, staring wordlessly at the bar with the weight of the world on his shoulders.
He must have sensed her eyes on him because he turned to look at her, nodding a small greeting towards her which she repayed with a small hello. His face was surprisingly young for a man with the dusting of grey hair that he bore. His clothes were casual and slightly too loose for him, but he looked good. No wonder all the women in the bar, young or old, were checking him out and then giving Sam a jealous look. The bartender returned with her drink, sliding it to her before requesting the money. She was about to hand him the five dollar bill, not caring whether it was the right amount when the man next to her spoke, "I'll get this."
The barman nodded, not really caring where he got the money as long as he got it and quickly left as the nameless man next to her paid for her drink. "You didn't have to do that," She said, her voice quiet amongst the loud voices of the other patrons.
He turned to look at her, the beginnings of a smile on his face, "I know. But we seem to be the only two people here not having a good time."
Sam took another quick scan of the bar, the faces looking remarkably...chirpy. God, it was a long time since she had felt like smiling for no particular reason, "That's true," She conceeded.
"And," He added, sipping his own drink, which looked to be a Guiness, "you look about as happy as I feel."
Sam smiled selfconciously, not realising that she her emotions were filtering through to her expression. She felt slightly annoyed at herself; her father had taught her that feelings could be damaging, volatile. Keeping them hidden helped keep your advantage, "I thought I'd get in here and everyone would be moping into their drinks. Turns out I walked into the happiest place on Earth."
The man next to her laughed gruffly, wiping his face with his hand and ruffling his hair, "I'm Jack O'Neill by the way."
She nodded, "Samantha Carter. Sam." She corrected, realising that without Jonas around she didn't have to use her full name, liking the ability to use the less gender specific shortening, "You live around here?" She asked, feeling that whilst she was making small talk, she also felt interested in his answer.
"Yeah," Jack replied, "For years actually. You'd think I would have realised by now that this place is for happier souls. How about you?"
"Just moved here a couple of weeks ago." She answered, taking a sip from her gin and then guiltily feeling like ordering another. She knew Jonas wouldn't like the alcohol on her breath "From Washington DC."
Jack smiled wryly, "I can see why you moved."
Sam nodded with a small grin, admitting mentally that whilst Colorado Springs wasn't exactly a match for the cut and thrust world of Washington that she enjoyed so much, it was certainly a lot more beautiful. And not everyone was trying to climb the career ladder so ruthlessly, "Mm," She replied eventually, "It certainly is a lot more scenic around here."
"One piece of advice; Garden of the Gods is such a tourist trap," He told her, "If you're looking for somewhere nice, Rampart Resevoir has great walks." He paused, "And fishing," He added almost as an afterthought, "Although I'm not sure how legal it is."
Sam smiled, "I'll keep that in mind."
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Hours passed and before Sam knew it, the bar was closing with the bartender having to practically force her and Jack from the premises. She found it surprisingly easy to talk to her new-found friend, chatting to him about local attractions and what to avoid in the area. If it wasn't for Jonas and the fact that Jack O'Neill had a skin coloured band around his wedding finger where the sun had failed to reach him, she would've decided to make a play for him. God, she thought with a grimace as the pair stood waiting for a cab, how could she be thinking that when she was getting married to Jonas? The alcohol must have been doing something seriously bad to her head.
"So here we are," He said finally, his breath creating condensation in the night air.
"Here we are," She repeated needlessly, feeling like she needed to fill the gap. The area around the bar wasn't completely silent, mainly because the other customers were still pouring out, most of them more drunk than she and Jack.
A cab pulled up to the side and they both started for it, and then both pulled back as they realised the other wanted it, "You take it," Jack said, his voice more gravelly than expected.
"I couldn't-" Sam began but Jack interrupted.
"Sam, take it. I don't want to leave you standing on your own waiting for a taxi," He said in a protective manner. She knew she should have been offended, but she took the words as actually quite sweet seeing as the pair barely knew each other.
"What will you do?" She asked, opening the cab door.
"Wait for another cab," He supplied, holding the door open too, "Failing that I'll walk."
Sam smiled acceptingly, knowing that it was unlikely she'd be able to change his mind and even if she could, she would spend the whole night trying. Instictively, she leant over to kiss him on the cheek and he turned his head at just the wrong moment, reacting to a noise further down the street, and her lips landed dangerously close to his mouth. They stayed in the same position, practically glued to each other until Sam pulled back, mostly from embarrassment. This was obviously a married guy trying to score, proving he still had it, yet she felt some strange attachment to him.
"Thanks. I enjoyed tonight." She slid into the taxi, leaving Jack standing on the curb, stunned into wordlessness, "1398 Holden Avenue," She said to the cab driver before closing the door and sliding into her seat, her face flushed and her mind unable to stop thinking about him. She had turned into such a cliche.
1398 Holden Avenue. 1398 Holden Avenue. 1398 Holden Avenue. He repeated her address in his brain, unwilling to forget her. And as he saw the taxi drift off into the distance, the lights becoming less and less visible in the black night, he felt like he'd found someone amazing. And then let her go.
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The house lights were still on as she walked up towards her new front door, no doubt Jonas was pacing up and down the living room, ready to admonish her for not calling him. Opening the door surpringly easy, she slid into the house and placed her keys lightly on the wooden table by the door. On her journey to the kitchen, she stubbed her toe on three boxes and the door but safely managed to pour herself a glass of water by turning on a small, noiseless light by the sink. Shrugging off her jacket and hanging it on a dining table chair, she quietly creeped to the bedroom, surprised that Jonas hadn't made an appearance.
As she neared the bedroom, she noticed the door was ajar with light radiating from it. Jonas' voice was loud and clear, a tone she'd recognise anywhere.
"You have to go..." He began as Sam got closer and closer to the bedroom, her hand laying on the door, "She'll be back any minute."
The door slammed wide-open and Sam came face to face with her fiance, a sheet wrapped around his waist and she looked to the other side of the bedroom where a brown haired woman, naked apart from her underwear, was picking up her clothes, randomly strewn across the floor. Both had looks of shock written across their faces.
"Get out." Sam said under her breath, "Get out now." The nameless woman seemed only too happy to flee from the Carter-Hansen household but Jonas wasn't as eager.
"Sammie please-" He begged, walking over to her and attempting a bear hug.
"What are you doing?" She asked, pushing him away as she spoke through gritted teeth, "What the hell are you doing to me Jonas?"
"Sammie baby, I just...." He tried again to hug her as Sam paced up and down the bedroom.
"You have to leave," She turned round just as Jonas attempted another embrace, "Get off me!" She screamed, her resolve breaking, "Leave me alone! I don't want to hear any of your pathetic excuses Jonas!"
"One more chance..." Her fiance pleaded, "I love you,"
Jonas' attempt at subduing Sam had the opposite effect, his words incensing her anger further, "Love? Is that love to you? Sleeping with some girl you picked up?" She shoved his clothes towards him, fire in her eyes, "I don't want that kind of love. Not any more."
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Cont'd with "...Or Another..."