Resolution

By: JaneRain

Author's Note: This is my first Stargate fanfiction. It didn't turn out quite like I meant for it to.

Spoilers: Season 9, regarding Jack's job

Resolution:

She stood outside his door trying to gather the courage to knock. She'd made up her mind. She was going to do this. She'd even spoke with Daniel to ensure none of his bad timing would interfere. She was going to finish her talk with him this time. She knocked.

"Carter?" Her former CO looked at her. "What are you doing here?" He stepped back, allowing her entrance into his house.

She surveyed the room. It was filled with boxes. "I came to talk to you, before you leave."

"Oh?" She looked nervous. He was sure he knew why. He began fiddling with some of his remaining things, pretending to pack.

"Yeah, I..." She momentarily reverted to the familiar military mode. "Sir, I was wondering… about the room, I" It didn't do much. She looked embarrassed. "Is this it? I mean is this how it's going to be? You're just going to leave?"

"I've got a new job. Whadd'ya want me to do?"

"I know. You're moving to Washington. It's far but we can still…we're under a different chain of command now." Her eyes pleaded with his back.

He looked weary as he turned to look at her. "Carter, I'm old."

"You're not old." She nearly laughed at the idea.

"I'm fifty!" He said it with such finality. She looked down, feeling chastised. He sighed. "Sam, I'm tired. I just…I don't know what to do. We've been," he waved his hands, not sure of what to call what they'd been, "so long…where would we start? I mean would we just, you know…" more hand motions, "or…" he tilted his head to one side indicating another possibility, "or what?" he shrugged.

"We'd work things out." She stated. Her face displayed her firm resolve but her eyes asked a question – 'Or do you not want this?'

When he didn't respond after a second, she looked down.

He wanted this like she wouldn't believe but he didn't trust himself not to screw it up.

He placed his hands on her arms and looked into her eyes. "I want this, Sam, I do. We haven't been allowed anything for so long. What if it doesn't work out? What if we don't know how to interact on that level now that we finally can? I'm no good at this emotional stuff." Her eyes told him she already knew and she didn't care. "I'm scared to see you get hurt. Heck, I'm scared to be hurt! I don't know if I could handle that."

She was starting to get frustrated with his answers. She'd already considered the risks. "What makes you think I don't feel the same? Besides, what if it does work out? There's always a risk, Jack! I'm willing to take this one." – 'Isn't it worth it?' Her eyes shone with tears she refused to let fall.

He looked at her a moment longer, until he was sure that she was sure. He saw that she knew the future was uncertain but really wanted this. Well, he wanted it too. He wrapped her in his arms. "Yeah, it's worth it." He held onto her sending all of the comfort he had been unable to give her over the past eight years as she did the same. It quieted their uncertainties and reassured them that this was the only decision, and when he placed a gentle kiss on the top of her hair it was a kiss that said 'cherish'.

Author's Note: The idea I was trying to get across with Jack, which I don't think I did a very good job of, was that he wants to be with Sam but he's scared to lose her altogether. He also is unsure how to make the transition to a romance. Sorry if anyone is really out of character.