Chapter Ten

It was late evening now. Everyone had eaten their fill. Jacob Carter and George Hammond were in deep conversation about 'The good old days.' Teal'c and Cassie were playing a game on Jack's PS2. Daniel had long since passed out from drinking too much beer. He'd had two.

Sam was looking around the house for Jack, who had disappeared.

Finally an idea struck her. She clambered up the ladder to the roof. Jack was sitting in his chair, drinking a beer.

"Jack?"

"Hey," he said turning.

"You okay?"

"Yeah. I had to escape, your dad's kinda..." he didn't finish, but Sam knew what he meant.

Sam laughed and came to sit next to him. "He loves you really." She reassured him.

Jack snorted. "You okay?"

"Oh yeah!" Sam said, highly satisfied. She grinned at Jack, then noticing that his smile was faint, she said, "What's wrong?"

"Nothin' I just can't believe… this." He said, gesturing between them.

"I know. I mean, this is you and me, Jack and Sam. Not some virus induced thing, not Jonah and Thera. Us."

Jack smiled and took her hand. "Yeah… about that," he paused, "we should talk."

"Youwant to talk?" Sam asked, incredulous.

"Yeah. When we were in the cell, I accidentally triggered a memory. You were on the Prometheus and…"

"I know which one you mean," Sam interrupted. "I was hallucinating."

"Yeah, but…"

"It was my subconscious trying to tell me something. My dad appeared and basically said I needed to let go of the thing that was stopping me from loving someone. I thought he… I meant you. I was delusional."

Jack laughed at that. "You're sure this is what you want, Sam?" He asked.

"You're not?" She countered.

"For me: yeah. For you?"

"Jack, I love you. I have loved you for eight years. I think I'm pretty sure this is what I want."

Jack grinned. "Eight years?"

She hit him gently on the arm. "Something about you liking women?" He chuckled. "And the dress blues. Can't resist."

"Sam, you wear dress blues. General Hammond wears dress blues. Your dad wears dress blues." Jack pointed out.

"Not like you do."

Jack snorted at that. Sam snuggled against his shoulder. "What about you?" She asked.

He snorted, "I think it was, 'I'd like to think I've been preparing for this my whole life,'" he said. "No seriously, the way you faced down Kawalsky and Ferretti." He said. "I thought the 'reproductive organs' comment was a bit strong though." He added.

Sam laughed. "You okay?"

"Better than okay." He replied, turning to kiss her.

They heard his house phone ringing. Jack groaned.

Sam said, "Ignore it."

This wasn't to be, however. From below they heard the sound of a very loud, very drunk, and somehow awakened Dr Daniel Jackson, "JJ! JJ! Phone!"

"I hate him." Jack said, rising to climb down the ladder.

Sam smiled as she watched over the railing as Jack snatched the ringing phone from Daniel, snarling, "Don't call me JJ, Danny!"

Daniel gave an unbelievably girlish giggle and was promptly led to a chair by Teal'c.

"O'Neill." Jack answered the phone. He was silent for a moment, then, "How?" Silence. "When?" More silence. "He'll be long gone by now. Inform the authorities and I'll deal with it tomorrow. O'Neill out."

Sam climbed down the ladder. "Jack?"

"That was the base. Apparently the Airmen that were here earlier have just got back. Shanahan's escaped."

Jacob and George stood up so fast their chairs fell over behind them.

"What d'you mean he's escaped?" Sam asked.

"Apparently he overpowered the Airmen that rode in the ambulance with him. Knocked them and the medics out. Took one of their sidearms."

"Damn." Daniel muttered, suddenly sober.

"Yeah." Jack agreed.

"O'Neill, we must endeavour to find PeteShanahan-" Teal'c began.

"No." Sam said. They all stared at her. "He won't come back. Its over."

"Sam, in all likelihood he's on his way here now." Jacob pointed out.

"I'm with dad on this one, Sam." Jack said. The others nodded.

"Sam, the guy's nuts." Cassie said.

"You don't know him like I do." Sam said. "He won't come back."

"No, we don't." Jack said. "But even so, I'd feel better if you had someone with you when you're at home."

"Why don't I just stay here?" Sam asked.

Jack smiled, surprised. "You want to?"

"Yeah sure, you betcha." Sam grinned.

"Let me make a call," Hammond said, "I'll get someone on to finding him."

Jack nodded and handed him the phone.

Jacob looked at his watch. "Sammie, I gotta go."

"Do you have to?" She asked, walking over to him.

"Yeah, but I'll be back soon," Jacob said softly. Then, louder, he added, "Wouldn't want to miss the wedding."

Jack looked panicked, "Wedding?" He turned Cassie, asking her, "What wedding?"

Jacob grinned at Sam, "I'll ride with George back to the base."

"I will escort DanielJackson home." Teal'c said.

"I'm fine Teal'c." Daniel slurred.

"You are in no condition to drive, DanielJackson."

"I'll go with them." Cassie said, nodding her head in Daniel and Teal'c's direction.

"Cass, you sure?" Jack asked, "Plenty of room here, kid."

"Yeah, you two should have some alone time." Cassie and Daniel sniggered at this. Sam jabbed Cassie in the ribs with an index finger.

"We'll go shopping tomorrow, okay Sam?" Cassie pleaded.

"Sure, Cass."

Teal'c and Cassie supported Daniel as they made their way to Teal'c's truck.

George walked back out onto the decking. "They're looking." He said in response to the looks he was met by. "They'll call you if they find him." He said to Jack. George turned to Jacob, "Jacob, you need a ride back to the mountain?"

Jacob nodded, and, with a final hug for Sam and mock-glare at Jack, followed George round to the front of the house.

Jack caught Sam staring at him, "What?"

She grinned and walked into the house, heading for the bedroom.

Jack followed her, leaving the scattered glasses and beer bottles for the morning.