Good Luck & Godspeed
Part 9


I woke up with something heavy on my chest. I looked down to see Carter still sleeping and grasping my shirt. She was mumbling something and I tried to listen.

Her forehead was scrunched and she was gripping my shirt harder and she yelled, "no, stop you're hurting me" before waking up.

She was disoriented and looked at me and took a deep breath before laying her head back onto my chest.

She was shivering and I pulled her close to me.

"Bad dream," I asked.

"The worse, it felt so real and I thought I was there and I had to get away before he…."

"Before he what Sam?"

She was silent and I asked again.

"Nothing it's the past it's over with and nothing for you to be concern about."

I raised myself up and she tried to hold me down. I pulled her up with me and gripped her arms.

"What were you dreaming about Sam? Did he hurt you? Why was he yelling at you on the phone and what are you hiding from me?"

I was angry and she pulled back. She bit her lip and closed her eyes. I was scaring her. She was trembling and I was being a jerk by doing this.

I let her go and got out of bed.

"Jack don't go please, I'm sorry."

I turned to her and took her hand.

"Why are you hiding things from us? Has he ever become physical with you? He is unstable Sam please let me help you."

She was being stubborn saying she was a big girl and could take care of her own problems that she didn't need me to fight her battles and this battle was over and done with.

I respected her but knew this idiot was not done with her. She did not know he had tried to storm the mountain looking for her. He was dangerous and she thought she could take care of herself not likely.

Daniel peeked in to see me sitting on a chair by Sam's bed and her turned away not wanting to discuss Pete any longer.

I was trying to control my anger but Daniel knew better and steered clear of me.

He went over to Sam and asked how she was doing, she shrugged and said tired but a little hungry. The nurse came in next and Carter asked her if she could help her to the bathroom to get cleaned up.

I turned and saw the nurse nod and Carter left without looking back. I had so screwed up with her and would have to apologize when she got back.

Daniel cleared his throat.

"Okay Jack what did you do because when I left you two yesterday Sam wasn't mad at you and today she's raring to be away from you. The tension is so thick you can cut it with a knife so spill".

I told Daniel about what had happened earlier. He listened and agreed with me.

"She's hiding something Daniel and she won't admit it. This guy is bad news we both know it and what General Hammond said just confirms it. So do we tell her or do we keep it from her?"

"You're right she is hiding something, he's been abusive mental and it's escalating too physically. We can't let that happen."

I looked at Daniel and asked; "if you knew it was getting this bad then why didn't you do anything?"

I saw him flinch, "like I said Jack it was a hard time for all of us when you were gone, we disintegrated as a team shutting each other out trying to deal with your loss and feeling helpless to help. It was bad I let her down I didn't believe her when she said she talked to you in her mind I thought she had gone over the edge. But now I believe."

"Believe what Daniel? I'm clueless here give me something stop talking in riddles because right now I want to hit something or someone. I'm one step from walking out these doors and finding that bastard and teaching him some manners on how to treat someone you claim to love."

Sam had walked back in and Daniel came close to me and whispered, "you have all the answers Jack it's in there."

He tapped me on my chest right where my heart was and I looked at him and he nodded and moved away to help Sam into bed.

I looked at my chest and remembered someone else telling me the same thing.

"Jack I talked to Cassie she should be home tomorrow and can't wait to see you and Sam. So how are you feeing this morning Sam?"

She said she was hungry and felt better after her shower. Dr. Garrett walked in and said my all tests had been done and I was good to go.

"Carter could come home too right?" I blurted out.

Dr. Garrett smiled and said Carter could go also but she had strict guidelines that had to be adhered to or she would be back in the infirmary. Daniel agreed and followed her as she went to write up the guidelines so they would be understood and no excuses could be made.

"So we're leaving this place good news right Sam?"

She was fidgeting with her hands and I came close to her and stopped her. I cupped her chin and raised up her face. She was biting her lip and whispered, "I've got no where to go. He's going to be at the house and you're angry at me and I'm sure you don't want me around I'll tell Dr. Garrett I'm staying. It would be better for everyone."

I stopped my self from shaking some sense into her. I had to show her that I was not like that jerk. That even though I was angry at her for hiding things from me I would never turn her away from me.

"Stop just stop I am not angry with you. I'm just upset that you had to hide what was happening to you. We will be talking more about this Sam, this subject is not closed, and what made you think I wouldn't want you to come home with me?"

I pulled her into my arms and she nuzzled close.

"I'm sorry I've told you this before but I can't say it enough. Pete was a mistake, something I needed to fill the need of not having you. But I have you now and I don't need him any longer. You are my life now Jack and I will not give you up. We agreed we would fight for what we both want."

Daniel walked in and saw me comfort Sam he turned around to walk out when I called to him.

"So are we ready to go Danny?"

"Yup all set you two have to just dress and we are out of here. Ah Jack is everything all right? Sam he did he make you cry again? Because I know this big bad jaffa that can take care of this problem just give the word."

We both laughed and said everything had been cleared. I looked at her and said not everything but that was for another time. I looked at Daniel and said we should tell her.

"Tell me what?"

Daniel was hesitant and I nodded my head.

"You do it or I will Daniel."

Sam looked at both of us and asked again.

"Sam, Pete came to the base a couple of days ago and with his security clearance made it to the second check point and started to demand you be brought to him. He claimed that Jack was keeping you away from him and that you two were involved."

Sam gasped and covered her mouth. She pushed me away and covered her face with her hands whispering no over and over again.

"He was here? Oh my god he must have been infuriated when he didn't get to see me. I have to talk to him and make him see that it wasn't you that kept me away. I need to see him and try and calm him down. He could make trouble for us. Who did he talk to? When did this happen? Oh my god it must be all over the base? Sir I'm sorry for all of this it's all my fault I should have returned his calls. What have I done?"

She started to cry she rose up her legs and I pushed them down.

I could see the anger brewing in Daniel's face and I motioned for him to leave he whispered he would find Teal'c and meet us at the locker room.

I tried to hug her but she pushed me away, telling me to stay away from her that she had done enough and she had endangered my career thanks to the ranting of her obsessed boyfriend.

"Ex boyfriend right Sam."

"Yes ex-boyfriend. I thought I could handle him that what I thought was love was really obsession. I'm pathetic and if you don't want to see me anymore I'd understand. Just chalk it up to Samantha Carter never being able to be happy in love and my radar of attracting the lunatic fringe intact."

I snorted and said, "you're stuck with me till you get sick of me so lets get out of this place and get home."

She cupped my face and leaned into me.

"I'll never get sick of you silly. You're my life and my future. I love you Jonathan Jack O'Neill with two l's and I will be by your side till you get sick of me."

I hugged her and knew it was right. I had been given the best gift of all someone loved me as much as I loved them and no one or nothing will keep us apart.