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The Epilogue
Sitting on the deck and staring up at the stars, Jack nursed a cold beer while Sam sat comfortably on the lawn chair, sipping her cup of hot tea.
"I cannot believe they stood me up! Again!"
"Sir, I really don't think that they see it that way. It has been several weeks since Teal'c spent time with Ry'ac."
"Yeah…guess I can't begrudge him that, but what's Daniel's excuse? Another 'hot date' he forgot to mention?" Jack quizzed bitterly.
Sam snorted quietly, "no. In fact, I highly doubt he will be going out for a while."
"Why not? What happened?"
"Well, apparently Allysa forgot to mention the fact that she was married. Daniel had no idea, of course. Her husband had followed her here and found them together at the restaurant. He went nuts, screaming at her about cheating on him with a geek and then threatening to beat Daniel to a pulp. Well, you know Daniel, he tried to explain, but it only made things worse."
"Oh boy! What happened next?" Jack asked, leaning forward in anticipation.
"Daniel tried to at least talk the guy out of the restaurant, but Allysa's husband shoved him into the neighboring table."
"Uh-oh." Jack shook his head in mock-pity. "When will people learn that just because Danny looks like a wimp, it doesn't necessarily mean he is?"
Sam nodded and continued. "Right. So Daniel, ever the diplomat, kindly explained to the guy that he should just leave, the guy took a swing at him, Daniel ducked and then out of nowhere, he grabbed him and did the nerve pinch. The man was out cold in seconds."
Jack laughed loudly. "Good thing Teal'c made Daniel watch all those episodes of Star Trek! It's finally paid off."
"Yeah, Daniel said he apologized to the manager, told Allysa goodbye and then just left her there." Sam finished proudly.
Jack nodded in understanding. "So, that's why he wouldn't say anything about it! When did you find all this out?"
She furrowed her brows and said faintly, "last night."
"Oh?" Feelings slightly ruffled, he inquired guardedly, "what was last night?"
"Nothing really, he just came over to talk. It was his grandfather's birthday the other day and he'd forgotten all about it until last night. He felt bad about not having any family and well, he asked if I was any closer with mine."
Taking a deep breath, she added hesitantly, "he asked if I wanted to have one of my own someday."
Her voice slowly trailed off to a mere whisper.
"Ah. So, what'd you say?" Jack asked semi-casually, masking his discomfort with a sip from the now lukewarm beer.
After a quick drink of tea, Sam softly replied, "I told him I was thinking about it. A lot."
When Jack didn't say anything, she hurried to add, "not that I'm ready for it yet, I'm just considering it. Someday. Not now. You know, when the time is right and all that..."
"Yeah." He said it so gently that she barely heard it.
"I guess I'm just waiting for things to settle down. Maybe then I'll be ready to 'get a life'."
"Don't wait too long." Jack stated sadly.
Frowning, Sam replied, "so, you don't think I should wait for Mr. Right to come along?"
"Do whatever you want Carter, it's your life. I can't tell you how to live it. Just know that I'm here if you need me. We all are."
Then trying to lighten the mood with a smirk, he added, "well, not now of course. I'm the only sucker out here tonight."
He saw her frown deepen and added quickly, "which brings me back to my original complaint, where is Daniel?"
With a devious grin, Sam answered, "oh, he's with Janet. She needed him to help Cassie with her French and asked him over for dinner. Personally, I think Janet's the one who is wanting the help with French, but don't tell her I said that."
"Carter, you have a very twisted sense of humor."
"Thank you sir, I'll consider that a compliment." Sam smiled brightly.
Jack shook his head and groused, "you would."
"I guess I'm not very good at accepting the real ones."
He cleared his throat and muttered, "yeah, well, you're great at everything else."
"No, I'm not." Then realizing the point he was making, she sighed. "oh…thanks."
With a shake of his head, Jack changed the subject as he pointed at the night sky. "So, care to tell me what exactly we are looking for up there?"
"Exactly? Well,--" Sam started but was quickly cut off.
"Wait! I've changed my mind. I don't really want to know." He teased. "Besides, I'm perfectly content just to sit here."
Smiling brightly, Sam looked up at the stars and then over to where Jack sat. "Me too, sir."
Suddenly Jack sat bolt upright in his chair, beer forgotten for a moment.
"Woah! Look there, Carter!"
Following the path of his finger as he pointed, Sam tracked the vividly bright spark as it streaked through the sky. She shook her head, thinking wryly, now there was a cliché and a half! Seemed like even nature was now insisting on giving her advice about her life…
"Make a wish, Sam." She heard him say softly.
She smiled. "I don't need to, sir. I don't need to."
Right at that very moment, she had everything she needed.
End.