The Song Series - "Cry"
Season 8 - Missing Scene - Affinity
Disclaimer - Yes they really aren't mine but this story is. Also I do not own any rights to the Faith Hill Song "Cry" but I love it anyway! And in case you don't know this song you can listen to a snippet at this site http/ Thanks to everyone who reviewed this story up to now. If you have the 30 secs it takes, please review this when you are done so I can figure out if I should post anything more in the future.
PS There is an authors note at the end too - But without further ado, here is the last chapter.
Jack finished his whiskey, turned back to the bar, grabbed his beer and returned to his task of watching the crowd. He could see Pete pulling Carter away from Daniel and T'ealc and onto the dance floor. The music was slow and Pete pulled her close to him, possessing her. Jack's eyes grew black watching the scene and all SGC personnel seemed to notice the change and began to watch waiting to see what "the General" would do next. Daniel had seen the look in Jack's eyes many times before and began to move through the crowded bar towards him.
Jack took another slug of his beer as the first bars of a new song began and the sultry country tones of a female voice that Jack couldn't place began.
If I had just one tear rollin' down your cheek
Maybe I could cope
Maybe I'd get some sleep
If I had just one moment at your expense
Maybe all my misery would be well spent
The words washed over Jack as he remembered the first time he had met Sam. She had walked into that initial briefing all those years ago, head held high, and she looked like an angel to him. After all he had been through, she was a breath of fresh air walking into his life, a life he instantly knew would be better for her being in it. And he learned quickly that not only was she beautiful but so smart and she had easily stolen his heart.
He thought about how he never held out any hope of her returning his feelings until they both caught that alien virus and she jumped him in the locker room. Her lips felt like fire on his and he was so tempted. But that would have been worse than taking advantage of a drunk woman and he was way too honorable for that.
But he had received his first taste of her and, like the worst drug, he was addicted to her. Then to find out that they had been both married and engaged in alternate realities convinced him that the concept of Carter and O'Neill together was nor purely a figment of his imagination. It was fate! Or so he had thought.
Could you cry a little
Lie just a little
Pretend that you're feeling a little more pain
I gave, now I'm wanting something in return
So cry just a little for me
And the stolen glances and 'accidental' touches continued and the flirting was fun and often blatant in front of their friends and Jack truly thought that a future together was possible. They were like a pair of 'star-crossed lovers', secretly pursuing their version of a relationship, at their own pace, within the regs. Until that fateful day when the Z'atarc testing forced their feelings into the open. Into the blinding light of day where it was not ready to thrive. So he agreed when she asked for their feelings to be left locked in that room. Never to be spoken of again. But they continued to bear the intense feelings they held for one another and time and time again, they wordlessly assured each other that they would wait for the other. Knowing it was meant to be.
If your love could be caged
Honey I would hold the key
And conceal it underneath
The pile of lies you've handed me
And you'd hunt those lies
They'd be all you'd ever find
That'd be all you'd have to know
For me to be fine
But all of the hugs and softly spoken words were a lie.
While Sam was missing on Prometheus, Jack remembered feeling like he had a part of him ripped away. He was so scared that he would never see her again and couldn't bear the thought of a life without her. He didn't sleep during those four days, cursing himself over and over that he wasn't smart enough to figure out how to bring her home like she had him so many times before. And during those dark nights, Jack prayed to a God he had thought he no longer believed in, with tears streaming down his face. Bargained with him that if He bought Sam home safe to him, he would lay his heart open to her and make things change for them.
And she did make it home and while Jack was working up the courage to tell her of his love for her, she found Pete. Threw herself into a relationship with him as if her life depended upon it and Jack waited patiently to get it out of her system. He rationalized it as some sort of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder.
And you'd cry a little
And die just a little
And maybe I would feel just a little less pain
I gave, now I'm wanting something in return
So cry just a little for me
But he had been wrong. Sam had abandoned him – deserted their love and had callously and openly ripped his heart out without a care in the world for him.
Give it up baby
I hear your doin' fine
Nothings gonna' save me
Til I see it in your eyes
Some kind of heartache honey
Give it a try
I don't want pity
I just want what is mine
Jack's anger left him as he saw Sam look up into the eyes of the man she would marry and smile. Jack's eyes became moist knowing that she never would be his.
Would you cry a little
Lie just a little
Pretend that you're feeling a little more pain
I gave, now I'm wanting something in return
So cry just a little for me
In three and a half minutes, Jack's life with Sam had flashed before his eyes. He had seen all that he had held to be true – the friendship, the passion, the love – and had realized it had all become a lie. The unspoken promise of a life together was broken.
And in that moment all of his dreams for the future died.
Something changed within him once again and the tears dried up and his eyes turned black. He took one final slug of his beer and turned and walked towards the exit.
Cry just a little for me
Could you cry a little for me
Sam had seen the look of loathing and hardened determination settle on Jack's face and had watched him turn to leave. She longed to cry out to him, to tell him to stay, that it was him that she wanted – only him that she loved. But dancing in her fiancé's arms, her courage failed her.
And as the final refrain played, a single tear rolled down her cheek and fell to the floor.
The End.
A/N - For all of those who think that this ending is a little sad, you're right it is sad. But so has the Sam and Jack relationship been for so many years - hopefully that will improve in Season 9 :-)