Chapter 4- Wedding Present

Meanwhile in the security monitoring room on level 18, two airmen were discussing the standard SGC gossip topics.

"So how about O'Neill and Carter? How long do you think it'll last?"

"Oh, it may last a while. I've got a juicy security tape that hasn't seen the light of day since it was created 4 years ago, from a medical lock-up."

"Ooh, let's watch it."

"Pop it in."

The younger lieutenant popped in the videotape and they watched it on a monitor.

"You may skip ahead to when you were trapped behind the forcesheild."

"Carter told me to leave."

"Sir, there's no time"

"But I didn't listen."

"You still could have saved yourself."

"I guess."

"What happened next?"

"She told me to leave again."

"Sir, just go!"

"No!!"

"But I didn't."

"Sir-"

"I didn't leave, because I'd have rather died myself than to have lost Carter."

"Why?"

"Because I care about her… A lot more than I'm supposed to."

The tape stopped, and the airman started "This next one is from 10 months ago, Carter's lab." And she started it up again.

"Carter, whaddya call me here for?"

"Sir, if things had been different…"

"What the hell are you talking about, Carter?"

"I'm talking about regulations, sir, if you decided to retire, if we didn't leave those feelings in the room."

"Carter, this is against regulations…"

"You don't understand, sir." Tears streaming down her cheeks

"What?" His voice softened "What don't I understand?"

"Pete left me, sir."

"What? Why?"

"I don't know, sir. Our wedding was in two weeks! I finally thought I was going to get married and have a family!"

Tears were ever prevalent on her cheeks, she tried to stop crying, but that just made it worse.

"Don't cry, Sam. I absolutely hate it when you cry."

"I can't help it. Why did he leave me? Why did they all die on me? Why can't I just get married with nothing going wrong? What the hell is wrong with me?"

"There is nothing wrong with you, Sam. Don't ever believe that there is."

"Jack, please, don't leave me…"

"Leave you? Why would I leave you?"

"I-I don't know, guys think I can handle this, but I need someone there for me, please, Jack, don't go."

She sat down at her work table.

"Sam, I wouldn't leave you for the world." He sat down next to her and she laid her head on his shoulder, wrapping her arm around his neck.

"Thank-you." She whispered. He pulled her close, rubbing her back soothingly. "You don't know how much this means to me."

The tape stopped once more, and the airman spoke once more "This last one is from one month ago, Carter's lab."

"Where'd you get this?"

"I put together some clips from previous security tapes for Dr. Jackson."

"Why?"

"It's a wedding present for Carter and O'Neill."

"Oh."

The tape starts again.

"Carter, I've decided to retire."

"What?" Tears started to stream down her cheeks "Sir, you can't!"

"I can, Sam, and I will."

She looked away. "Will I ever see you again?"

"It depends."

She looked back at him, "On what?"

"Sam, you are the most beautiful woman I've ever met. You've given me hope in places where I never though would recover since Charlie died. I don't know how you do it, but you do, and I've grown to love you since the day we met." He got down on his knee, pulling out a small black box, "Samantha Carter, will you marry me?"

A tea of joy escaped down her cheek. "Jack… I have no idea what to say."

"Just say what's in your heart."

She smiled "Yes."

They held hands as Jack slipped the ring on her finger.

And they kissed.

A/N: Ok, this was more fun to do, I worked for a week putting my first chapter story together.