Hanging By a Moment – Chapter 2


Jack walked quickly towards his office ignoring all who tried to gain his attention as he walked past them in the corridor. Since he wouldn't be sure what he would say to them it was best to say nothing at all. He rushed past Siler and other technicians fixing a broken light with the biggest spanner possible. Even the huge spanner didn't draw Jack's attention despite the fact that he's always wanted to know what exactly it is used for… Finally he got to his office, shut the door behind him and leaned against it.

"This really complicates things," He said to himself. He ran a hand through his silver hair in hope that it may dislodge the feeling of hopelessness that seemed to press down upon him. That distinct feeling of a headache was approaching him. What was he going to do now? He was finding it hard enough as it was to tell Sam, now this was worse.

Then he suddenly realised something, she could not marry Pete. That would be bigamy. She would be married to two people: himself and Pete. This was not good.

Sitting at his desk massaging his forehead, with hope that it may give some insight into his problem. The photograph was staring right at him. He liked the picture; the relaxed body language captured by the camera made him realise how relaxed they were together. A smile came across his face as he remembered a night in with the team.

The whole of SG-1 were all sitting round on the sofas in Jack's living room, with several bottles already empty on the coffee table between them. It was late, so late it was dark outside and a screeching owl could be heard in the distance and a reply much further away. They had been sitting here all afternoon discussing various topics ranging from the intricacy of astrophysics to the brilliance of the Simpsons. As per usual, Teal'c was the only sober one in the group although that didn't mean that Jack didn't give up on him.

"Come on T, join in the fun. One beer won't kill you. Even the doc can't argue with that!" he insisted.

"A doctor would indeed agree with you O'Neill, however, I still decline your offer of an alcoholic beverage," he said with a sight bow of the head.

"Well I don't," Daniel said getting up and reaching for another beer. But a large hand grabbed his wrist stopping him.

"I do believe you have to give a presentation early tomorrow morning, and another drink would be highly unwise," Teal'c explained.

"Oh come on Teal'c," Daniel said struggling to release his hand from the friendly giant.

"Actually Daniel, I agree, remember the last time you ignored Teal'c…" Sam reminded Daniel. That was an amusing briefing. Daniel was still drunk from the previous evening, and he found it very hard to keep a straight face and fumbled his words. Jack and Sam found if very VERY hard to keep a straight face with all the faux pas' he was making.

"She's got a point Daniel," Jack interjected into the conversation. Giving up Daniel retracted his hand and settled for fiddling with the empty bottle already in his hands, spinning it round and round.

"What time is it anyways?" Jack asked, not being bothered to either look at his watch or at the clock on the mantle piece.

"It is 2:15 in the morning O'Neill," Teal'c answered.

"That late?" Sam said astonished. She had not intended to stay this long.

"Think it's time to I better be going. Still need to finish my notes for the briefing," Daniel said while trying to get up. Trying being the operative word, and failing would be another.

"I think that would be wise Dr Jackson. Major Carter, would you also require assistance travelling home?" Teal'c offered in his usual manner.

"It's OK Teal'c, it's too far out of your way, I'll get a taxi," she explained. "But thanks."

He bowed and helped Daniel to his feet. Jack started clearing away the empties, while Sam sat there trying to motivate herself to get up from the very comfortable chair she was sitting crossed legged on.

Jack came back into the living room with two mugs filled with steaming refreshing coffee. He handed the bright yellow mug to Sam and sat down beside her with his.

"Something nice and warm to cuddle up to," Jack said.

"Oh, I can think of something better," Sam joked, winking playfully at him. He laughed at her leaning back in the chair beside her moving her feet so he could sit down. She sipped away on her coffee content in Jack's company, not saying anything, simply enjoying the silence. Finishing her coffee she places the mug down on the floor and rests her head on Jack's shoulder. They sit like this until Jack realises that she has fallen asleep. He gently lays her down and lifts her feet onto her the chair and laying a blanket over her. Wiping the blonde hairs from her beautiful face, and smiled at the beautiful amazing woman sleeping on his couch. Kissing her on the head, he turns off the light and leaves her to sleep.

Coming back to reality he realised the number of times that they had done that, sat comfortably with each other. It was part of why he liked her. She wasn't one of those girls who was overly 'girly', worrying about breaking a nail, or how her hair looked, she was like one of the boys… but hot! She was strong, confident, and beautiful, everything he ever looked for in a woman. It was a pity she was in the military, things could be so different…

What was he thinking? He threw the picture down on the desk and got up to pace around his room. Everything was all messed up. He needed to talk to someone about their marriage, but who? He couldn't talk to either Daniel or Teal'c as by rights, they would have to report it. Hammond was out the question for that reason too, and Sam was the last person he wanted to talk to right now. He could always go and talk to Sara, despite her having a new life, but she didn't know about the Stargate Project so he couldn't talk to her. Who was left?

Then an idea came into his head, an idea worthy of a light bulb. There was a person who would understand. Grabbing his car keys, he opened his office to reveal Pete standing there, hand raised in the air like he was just about to knock on the door.

"Pete?" Jack said surprised to see him there.

"Er, hi Jack," Pete said just as surprised at Jack opening the door.

"I…er.. Can I help?" Jack stuttered.

"Can we talk?" Pete said carefully.

"I'm kinda busy…" Jack started to explain.

"Please Jack, this is important," he pressed. Looking past Pete and realising he couldn't just make a run for it, Jack turned back around and Pete followed him into his office. Sitting at his desk, Jack looked at Pete and raised his hands urging Pete to continue.

"I want to talk to you about Sam." Alarm bells start ringing in Jack's head. This is not good.

"What about her?" he said keeping it innocent.

"I know that she means a lot to you," Pete started.

"She's a valuable member of this command. Without her, we couldn't do half the things we do," Jack said going into his usual praise of the Colonel.

"I know that. Which is what I wanted to talk to you about. Sam and I have been talking about kids and I want to know that you will give her the time off when she needs it. I mean, she is important to you,"

"This command," Jack corrected him.

"Whatever, but she wants a life of her own outside of here. But if you call her up all the time, she's never going to have that." Jack just nodded, not sure what else to do. "I understand how much her job means to her, but she has a commitment to me. I know how selfish that may sound but I need her just as much as the world does."

After Pete had finished his little speech, Jack sat back in his chair. He wasn't sure how he was going to handle this situation.

"I understand that she needs to have time with you, but we do need her. She is the best scientist we've got. But, the SGC will one day have to cope without her, just earlier than we thought," Jack said. Of course there was a hidden meaning behind that statement…

"I'm glad you understand Jack. Sam told me you yourself were married once, so I thought you may understand." Jack sucked in a breath. Not quite what he had expected to hear from him, and the memory was still sore, everyone knew that: everyone except Pete it would seem.

"Well I…" Jack said getting up. "I have to be somewhere," he said.

"Oh sure. I bet you've got gold…goa… What they called again?"

"Goa'uld."

"Yeah those. I bet you've got bad guys to fight"

"Yeah, always," Jack said quietly.

"Anyways, thanks for everything," and Pete held his hand out. Reluctantly Jack took it and then Pete made his way out closing the door behind him.

Jack released a breath he didn't realise he was holding, and slumped back into the chair. His head in his hands, he tried to compose himself. Sitting upright, taking deep breaths he managed to compose himself, and upon doing so grabbed the files again, and ran out of the base… literally!

Driving faster than he probably should, he made it in record time to his destination. He jumped out of the car, slamming the car door and leaped up the stairs and knocked on the door.

Slightly opening the door and peering through, the woman glared at Jack.

"Well, you're the last person I expected to see here," she said closing the door so she can take the door off the latch. Opening the door again, she let Jack in.

"I'm sorry to just turn up like this Jennifer, but I need to talk to you," Jack said barging past and storming into her living room.

Slowly following him, Jennifer entered the room to watch Jack pacing in front of her fireplace. "I can take it this isn't a social visit?"

"Again, I'm sorry about this, but I didn't know who to turn to," Jack said, his voice somewhat failing.

"What's happened?" Jennifer said concerned.

"It's Sam," Jack simply said, not able to continue the sentence.

"What about Sam? Is she OK?" Jennifer asked, extremely concerned.

Jack sat down hard onto the soft couch, leaning forward and running his fingers through his hair. Jennifer came and sat down beside him, and put a reassuring hand on his shoulder.

"Jack?"

"I remember."

"Excuse me?"

"I remember everything about that night. It all came back to me seeing that photograph. I remembered getting married to her. I can't believe it, I mean, we actually got married!" Jack said getting back up and pacing around the room again. "And now…" Jack threw his hands up in the air in frustration.

"And now?" Jennifer said urging him to continue.

"And now she's getting married!" Jack said stopping pacing and stared at Jennifer.

"Congratulations?" she said confused.

"Not to me." He paused. "His name is Pete. He's a cop," he explained.

"Ah, I see the problem."

"Problem? This is… tragic," he said choosing his words carefully.

"You're still in love with her," she realises.

"I've always been in love with her. From almost the first moment I met her." He really didn't know why he was spilling his heart out to a complete stranger!

"I knew that. I could tell from the first moment Michael and I met you guys. You were so protective of her, so worried about her, always checking on her, watching her so carefully. It was clear," she explained.

"I guess I never realised how much to do things like that around her," he said scratching his head.

"Does she know?" About you being married?" Jennifer asked.

"I haven't told her. I was about to tell her when Pete proposed."

"Now that's bad timing," she noted.

"Tell me about it!" Jack said.

"Are you going to tell her?" Jennifer asked.

"I don't know," Jack said sitting and calming down. "I mean, I never thought that I would have to deal with anything like. I'm black op trained, and I can't handle telling the woman I love that we're married and that she can't marry the man that she claims that she loves who has just proposed to her!" Jack babbled.

"Breathe, Jack. Jennifer said placing her hand on his. "You know, the truth always worked for me," she said smiling. He laughed, though not sure why.

"But how? What could I possibly say? Especially when? I knew when she started dating Pete that things would be different, and that I would have to confront that, but I really didn't think I would react like this!"

"That is because you're in love with her, and dealing with that must be hard. Does she know how you feel?"

"I… er…well probably she does, but that was a couple of years ago. Things have changed. We've changed. How can she love me, when she was going to marry someone else?" Jack said. This was what was bothering him the most.

"Jack, I'm serious, you have to talk to her, and I don't mean to be rude but I have to meet my friend in a little while so…"

"Sorry, I'm disturbing you," Jack said suddenly realising that he had come over uninvited.

"Jack, usually I don't mind, but today, I have something to do. I'm sorry Jack."

"It's OK, I should be going anyways," Jack said standing up and walking towards the door.

"Remember what I said Jack, just tell her the truth," Jennifer said smiling as she held the door open for Jack.

"Thank you," and with a smile he turned his back on her house, with a new found determination to talk to Sam. But he had to get her away from Pete. Which would be tough, as of late they have been almost inseparable.

Sam was curled up on her couch in her pyjamas, watching a film she rented called 'Thoughtcrimes' which was really interesting, could make a tv show….

There was a knock at the door. She really wasn't in the mood for visitors, so decided to ignore it. It wasn't going to be Pete as he was back home for a few days talking to his parents. But the knocking continued, but louder this time. She turned the TV up and snuggled further into her fluffy cushions.

"Hello?" she heard Jack's voice coming through the letter box.

She jumps at his voice, falling off the couch on to the floor with a bump. "Oww!"

"You OK in there, Carter?" Jack said upon hearing a noise from inside.

"I'm fine," Sam said jumping up quickly. Grabbing her dressing gown from where she threw it earlier and wrapped it quickly round herself and toddled off to the door. She wasn't sure if she wanted to see him so instead of opening the door, decided to talk through it.

"What are you doing her Jack? It's after midnight."

"Er, I was up. Couldn't sleep. Thought you may be up. Can I come in, it's somewhat chilly out here," Jack explained.

Pausing for a moment, Sam contemplated letting him in. Making sure her robe was securely fastened and slowly unlocked the door.

There standing on her doorway was her favourite CO dressed in a shirt and his black leather jacket that always looked good on him. Half not knowing what to do, she wrapped her arms around her, and stood in front of him.

"What's up?"

"Well… you know, it's still cold out here," Jack reminded her.

"Right, come in." She let him in and followed him in to her living room where her film was still playing.

"Brendan, I am a telepath."

"Well, that explains a lot," Sam said as she entered the room.

"He doesn't look too impressed," Jack said pointing to the young hot star on the screen.

"Well you wouldn't it you realised someone had been listening in to your thoughts all day long," Sam retorted and curled back up on her couch. Jack came and sat down awkwardly beside her.

"Sam…" Jack just couldn't bring himself to tell her. She wouldn't believe him anyways. This was a bad idea! He put his hands into his jacket pockets and felt something. Pulling it our, he handed it to Sam. It was a ring.

"What's that?" Sam enquired.

"Do you remember when were in 1969?" Jack asked.

"Of course, the wormhole past through a solar flare which…"

"Carter," Jack stopped her.

"Sorry, sir," Sam apologised.

"Please call me Jack. Anyway, do you remember that whole episode?"

"Yeah."

"All of it?"

"What are you getting at?"

"This is yours," he said handing the ring to her. He stood up, and paced around her room, his eyes intently on her.

"I don't remember…" she said staring at the ring, until it all came flooding back to her like a monsoon.

They were wandering round the shops, looking in windows. She and Jack were holding hands. Jennifer and Michael were a little further ahead, staring in a shop window pointing at something.

"Hey Jack, come and look at this," Michael called over. Jack pulled Sam to see what they were looking at. It was a jewellery show, with some absolutely gorgeous rings in it.

"What do you think of them for wedding rings?" Jennifer pointed out. The rings she pointed to were made of gold, and had writing round the outside. It looked Latin to Sams untrained eye, until he read the translation below.

'You'll always be in my heart.' Translation from Latin ("Hey! it was Latin!")

"They're beautiful," Jack commented. Sam thought they were just the thing for herself, as no-one could read them, well apart from Daniel and Dr Lee… Not that good idea then. But this got her thinking. There were some gorgeous rings there.

"Jennifer, what do you think of that one?" she said pointing to the gold ring with a single sapphire in the middle.

"That's amazing. That would really go with your eyes," Jennifer said.

"It's a pity the shop is closed or I would go in and get you one," Jack said wrapping his hands round her waist and resting his chin on her shoulder.

The boys walked off, further up the street to talk, leaving the girls to continue to admire the pretty rings.

"I really wish I could have that," Sam said staring at what she now considered as her ring.

"You know, I could get it for you. I want those rings for Michael and I, so when I get them, I could get yours and you could come back and get it sometime?" Jennifer suggested.

"You would do that for me?" Sam said touched.

"Of course. You and Jack are as happy as Michael and I. You deserve it." Jennifer said smiling.

"Thank you," Sam said teary. And they linked arms and followed the men further up the street.

"Oh my god," was all that Sam could say.

"I know," Jack said still pacing the room.

"But we were… I mean… It was so…long ago," Sam said struggling to complete her sentence, as she had so many flying round her head.

"But it still counted," Jack said handing her the marriage certificate.

"Oh boy," Sam said looking and reading the piece of paper. "We've been married 35 years!" She said working it out.

"I know," Jack said, still not really knowing what he was going to say.

"How did you find out?" Sam said confused.

"Jennifer saw me at one of those events. She recognised me," Jack explained.

"I'm married to you!" Sam said with a little bit of a smile on her face and then laughed.

"It's not that unbelievable!" Jack said insulted by her laughter.

"No, just ironic. I get try to get over you and agree to marry someone else, only to find I was married to you the whole time," Sam's laughter was somewhat hysterical. The irony of it all made her laugh.

Jack is standing looking at her, not sure whether he should take that as a compliment or not, while also thinking that she is not upset or that worried about it, considering.

"What do you want to do? Because I mean, we can't get it annulled, it's been too long and well, it will be very difficult to explain to a divorce lawyer how we have been married for so long," Jack said without taking a breath, then stopped when he looked down at Sam who seemed upset.

"So you don't like the idea of being married to me?" Sam said rather hurt. Jack sat down beside her and took her hand in his.

"I didn't say that. But you are marrying Pete," Jack explained. Sam pulled her hand out of his and stood up.

"That doesn't mean he's the one I want!" she exclaimed. Jack looked confused and started to say something but Sam stopped him. "Jack, I agreed to marry him, because I knew that you and I can't happen. But this," she said holding up the marriage certificate, "changes things. We have been married for 35 years, and no-one knew."

"Not even us," Jack added.

"Exactly. Which proves to me, we could happen. Jack, I see this ring and so many feelings that I suppressed for so long come flooding back to me, and I remember how long I have been in love with you," she said kneeling in front of Jack.

"I know. When I remembered, it made me realise that I can't lose you to Pete," Jack agreed.

"Then why didn't you fight for me? It seemed like you gave up too easily," Sam asked, now crying.

"Because it looked like you made your decision, and with rules and regulations, I had to watch from the sidelines as I watched you fall for some other guy. I felt you were the one who had given up on me," Jack admitted.

"So we both gave up really," Sam sad sadly.

"But not now. Not now I know that you still care," Jack said lifting up her chin so her eyes met his.

"You mean that?"

"Yeah, I'll fight Pete if that's what it takes," Jack said.

"You might have to. I don't think he will take this very well," Sam admitted.

"Niether would I, if I had just learnt I had lost the most perfect woman to another guy. It's bad enough to know I almost did," Jack said knowing how Pete will react and feel.

"Now what?" Sam said.

"Why don't I rewind the film a bit, and I can curl up here on the couch with my beautiful wife," Jack suggested.

Sam smiled, got up and curled up on the couch with him. Snuggling into him, she couldn't imagine being any happier than she is now. The troubles of her next task were far from her mind, but she still had to face Pete at some point.

"I'm so sorry Pete," Sam said as she sat together with Pete on a park bench. She was waiting for him to explode. Jack had warned her that he might be very upset. But he just sat there emotionless. "Well say something," she said, unable to stand the silence any more.

"I knew it. I've seen the way you look at him, I just thought that the regulations would put those feelings away. Clearly, I was wrong," Pete said bitterly as he stood up.

"Pete," Sam said. Although she didn't want to be with him, she did still care about him.

"Sam, I hope you two are very happy together, but don't expect me to be happy for you both. And don't expect to see me again."

"Don't be like that," Sam said hurt.

"What did you expect? Me to be overjoyed that you're dumping me for someone you said was 'only a friend'? I'm sorry Sam, but you lied to me," Pete explained.

"I am truly sorry," Sam said, not knowing what else she could possibly could say.

"I know," and Pete walked off and out of her life. Composing herself, she walked off. She had somewhere to be.

Sam got quickly changed into a white short dress that she had found in the shops this morning and headed over to Jack's house. There were several cars in the drive, including one she didn't recognise. As she walked round the back, she saw all her friends gathered together, and an old one.

"Jennifer!" Sam screamed running over to the woman and giving her a huge hug. "How are you?"

"I am well. You look beautiful, still," Jennifer commented. Sam smiled. Her attention was taken away from Jennifer by her dad who had come through to see her.

"Hey dad. Thank you," Sam said embracing her.

"What more can a dad do," he said holding her tight.

Sam looked around and saw everyone there: Cassie, Daniel, Teal'c, her dad, George Hammond, everyone. Her mind turned to all those she wished could be there. Martouf, but most of all, she wished Janet was there, to share this with her. She would have been so happy to witness this. But Sam always thought the deceased could be with you on your special moments in your life to share them with you. She clutched the silver necklace Janet had given her one birthday, closed her eyes and took a deep breath. She was here.

Behind them another Tok'ra, dressed in suit was standing seemingly waiting for something.

"Are you ready?" he asked Sam, taking her from her thoughts to the present.

"Of course," and she walked up to where the Tok'ra was standing. Everyone was standing behind watching. Daniel and Teal'c were at the front, while Cassie was standing by Sam.

And standing next to Sam was Jack, dressed in a suit, looking lovingly at Sam. He held her hand, and they turned their attention to the Tok'ra.

"We are here to celebrate the marriage of these fine people and reaffirm their vows. They have loved and cared for each other for many years, and today, they join together their love and reinforce their commitment to each other. The undying bond that you share remains strong, and will remain strong even in the realm of Elysuim. Now face each other and Jack, you may say your vows."

"Sam, I open my heart to you. Everything that I feel for you I wish to share with you, and never do I want to be apart. You are my world, heaven, and universe. And I hope to make you as happy as you make me."

"Sam," the Tok'ra ushered.

"Jack. Being with you has meant more to me than travelling the universe. Of all the people I have met, you are one I can't do without. You know me better than myself and I would love to share the love that you feel for me, as I feel it, just as much."

The Tok'ra gets a bit of twine and binds their hands together. "Like your hands, your lives are bound together. May happiness follow you both, and love always be in your heart."

Everyone clapped as Jack leaned over and gave his wife a kiss. Confetti flutters down around them as they look at each other. Sam wraps her arms round her husband and holds him tight, wishing she could keep hold of this moment forever.

The End.