John Doe

Chapter Forty- Three

XXXX

Sam shivered as she got out of her car, making her way towards her house, her arms wrapped around her body to retain a little warmth. It was a late September afternoon and getting closer to winter in Colorado Springs, which meant that snow was on its way. Thankfully, though, the sky was clear and neither snow nor rain would in the in forecast for days.

It was also a rare occasion for Sam, being able to drive home. At almost four months along, she hardly drove anymore, if only to make her husband to be feel more comfortable. However, she was still going through the Stargate on no-risk level missions, and had just recently returned from a visit to the Tok'ra home world. She was surprised when she gated home to find that he'd already left for the day. The fact that he was up to something was an instantaneous thought in her mind. Only ever was he not there when she returned when either something was wrong or he was planning something. When she weighed in the normal looks on the 'gate technicians faces and the fact of what the date was, the latter choice just seemed more plausible to her. And, for the most part, she was normally correct.

So, she had been forced to drive home. Well, not forced, she had been willing to go on her own. In fact, she had turned down an airman's offer to drop her off, knowing that her fiancé had probably asked him to do so. Sam had simply smiled at him and said that she could take care of it, but thank you very much. The airman had smiled back nervously, not really willing to argue with the boss' wife-to-be, but worried about what the boss would think when he didn't pull up into his driveway. Figuring a upset boss was the lesser-of-two evils (the other choice being a very mad, very pregnant, Lieutenant Colonel in the Air Force) he had let her go, allowing her to take one of the Air Force issued four-doors.

She didn't particularly like driving the stuffy, old sedan, but it was better than sitting in the passengers seat of any car. What she really wanted to do was take a ride around on her motorcycle, but she knew that wouldn't be happening for more than half a year. Frowning slightly at the thought she had driven home, making sure to follow all the rules and be extra careful. Jack wasn't the only one who got protective of the babies when she drove, of course.

As she neared the door, her pulse quickening in anticipation and curiosity, the different possibilities of what he did have waiting for her ran through her mind, teasing and taunting her, making her all the more anxious. Quickening her step a bit she walked up the concrete steps and took out her key, unlocking the door and stepping inside, whilst holding her breath in readiness for the surprise.

What she found truly amazed and confused her; it was nothing. All the lights were out, which was something she hadn't noticed before entering the house, and it all seemed deserted. His truck was in the driveway, though, so he had to be at home. Where, then, was he at? "Jack?" she called out, stepping further into the house, feeling a frown forming on her face. He couldn't have forgotten, could he? He surely shouldn't have forgotten. This was important. Very important. He couldn't have forgotten...

When she received no reply she called out once more, making her way into the dining room, "Jack? I know you're here..." I hope.

Still, no answer. She flicked on the light to the dining room, eyes darting around, searching for signs that he was at home. There was nothing to indicate that he had been there in the past day or so, unless you counted the neatness of it all. The house had been a mess when she had gone, and she had almost asked him to postpone so she could straighten it up, but he had assured her he would take care of it. He had to have come home some time, since it was so immaculate. "This isn't funny, Jack..." she said to the nothingness of her home. "This is really not funny."

Setting her things down on the table she turned a circle, once again looking throughout the room for something, anything to say that he had been there recently. When there was nothing to be seen she continued into the kitchen, her frown turning into a scowl when it was just as dark and empty as the living room and dining room had been. She was so going to kill him. How on earth could he have forgotten?

He wasn't in the kitchen, either, she decided after giving the entire room close scrutiny. And it didn't look like he had eaten anything in the three days she had been gone, which worried her. Did something happen to him? "Come on Jack..." she said, heading down the hallway and peaking into the various rooms along the way to hers. The bathroom was empty, so was the linen closet and guest room. When she checked the nursery she found that though he wasn't to be seen, he had obviously been there recently. A gasp escaped her lips and her eyes began to water, due to allergies... of course. Or, the hormones. One of the two, she decided.

The entire room was finished. There were two cribs, settled next to each other in the middle of the room, and along the north and south walls were separate dressers and baby-changing stations, both pale yellow. It had been painted dark blue and on the ceiling there different clusters of stars and one constilation that she recognized as the Big Dipper. Other than that, there were no specific patterns to them, although one looked suspiciously like a fish while another looked like Homer Simpson's head, although she had no idea how he had managed that one.

For a few moments, she could do nothing but stand in the middle of the doorway, gaping at the entire room. It was one of the most beautiful and amazing things she had ever seen, even if it was simply a nursery room. There were four lamps scattered about the room, each with a different stage of the moon's rotation, dumbed down versions such as full, quarter, half, and new. Sam smiled, remembering when her brother had sent those to her, and took another look around. The sheets to the cribs were the same pale yellow of the dressers and the tiny comforter like blankets were covered with stars. On one crib it said Baby A, which meant it belonged to the first-born of the twins, and the other Baby B. Until they decided on the names, it was either him or her, of A baby and B baby, and Sam had to chuckle at the signs.

Deciding that there was no way he had done all of this and forgotten, she left the room, albeit hesitantly. There was only one place to look, other than the garage or outside, and she had heard no noises from either, and that place was the bedroom. She headed down the hallway, quietly, so she wouldn't give her arrival away, and creaked open the door as softly as possible. Once again, she found herself in the pitch black, and it was beginning to frustrate her. What good was the invention of light bulbs if they were never used, anyway?

Stepping further into the room, she extended her hand and fumbled for the light switch. When she found it she flicked it on with an anxious breath, only to find that it wouldn't turn. Damn light bulbs. They never worked when you needed them to. "Jack?" she called out to the inky darkness, "are you in here?"

Greeted with silence, Sam took another step into the room, jumping slightly when she heard the door shut behind her. Ah ha. He was in the room. She knew it. Pretending to have not noticed the sudden change in the tiny bit of light the open door had provided, she continued on into the room. When she was almost at the bed she felt a pair of strong arms encompass her and couldn't hold in her giggle. "What is going on here, Mr. O'Neill?"

He kissed the curve of her neck, causing her to shiver, and whispered huskily, "Happy Anniversary."

She turned in his arms, allowing him to pull her closer to his body, which she realized immediately was void of a shirt. "Where were you earlier?" she questioned, bringing her arms around his neck and resting her forehead on his. "I was worried..."

Jack simply kissed her again, "Hold on, I'll show you."

Just as she was about to ask what he was going to show her, the lights in the room turned on and she let out a surprised, but excited, gasp. "Oh my god..." breaking away from his arms she turned around to get a better view of the room. It was completely covered in rose petals, like something out of a movie, although they weren't red roses, like the movies normally had. They were white, with pink tips. Her favorite. It didn't take her long to figure out that the bed was empty of petals, and a smile manifested on her face. "Jonathan O'Neill, are you trying to seduce me?"

"I still have to try?" he questioned innocently, the cutest expression on his face.

She shook her head, stepping closer to him and once again allowing him to pull her into an embrace, "You never did."

XXXX

Hours later, after they had eaten dinner, the two sat together in the living room to exchange gifts. He had bought her a beautiful three-stone, past-present-future, necklace, which she had immediately put on and admired. When it was her turn to give him his gift she smiled nervously, "I was wondering what on earth you get a man who has every DVD of the Simpson's, six different fishing rods and three tackle boxes, two non-military issued Beretta's and an antique .44 caliber pistol, not to mention the ammunition to last him the rest of his life, when it occurred to me that there was one thing you don't have."

"Just one?" he asked in all seriousness.

"Well, there was more than one, but this is just one big thing." She smiled and got up off of the couch, going into the dining room and fishing something out of her purse before heading back to the living room and where he was sitting. "Ok, close your eyes and open your hand."

He did as he was told and she quickly let the object in her hand drop into his, whereupon he opened his eyes and looked with confusion. "It's a key..."

"Yes."

"A key to what?"

Sam grinned, "A key to a boat."

"A boat?" he asked, his eyes growing wide.

"Your boat."

"My boat?"

Sam nodded, "Homer."

"Homer?" he repeated.

"What?" she questioned. "You don't like the name?"

"Oh, no... it's wonderful... My boat?"

"It's your boat, Jack."

"Well... where is it?"

"It's waiting for you at the dealership. We're going to pick it up in the morning."

Suddenly his expression turned from excitement to uncertainty, "Sam... boats cost a lot of money."

"I got a good deal on it and it was my money to spend. Dad didn't need any money from when I sold the house, since he's hardly ever on earth to spend it, so I got it all. Most of it went into a trust fund for the babies college money, granted one or both of them don't go into service, but I put aside some for a boat." She explained, assuring him that this wouldn't put them in debt so high up that they could swim in it. "Don't worry about the finances, I've got it all covered."

"Did Danny and T know about this?"

"Did Cassie know about my necklace?"

"...Yeah..." he replied. "She helped me pick it out."

"That's your answer."

"Danny and T helped you pick out my boat?" he questioned, his eyebrows furrowing. "Are you sure that you should have asked Doctor of Archeology Daniel Jackson and Jaffa Rebellion Leader Alien Teal'c for help on picking out my boat?"

Sam laughed and nodded, "I also asked the man at the dealership for help. The boat is perfect for you, Jack. Don't think so much."

Jack's right eyebrow climbed up his forehead, "Do you know what you just said?"

Again, she laughed. "I do. You're over-analyzing the situation. Daniel and Teal'c did a good job with helping me out."

He leaned over and pressed his palm to her forehead, "Are you feeling ill? Are the babies alright? I think you're losing it..." he shook his head, "you can't be serious. Me, over-analyzing? Danny and T, boat shopping?" He paused, looking around the house suspiciously, "...Am I in an alternate reality or something?"

"No Jack. I'm being serious."

"What about Pandora... that's a sure sign that I'm in the right place. No other Jack would deal with that mutt. 'Dora! Come here girl." The sounds of jiggling charms traveled through the hallway and Pandora was immediately on the couch, sniffing at Jack and wondering what was going on. "Damn," he cursed, "she's still here."

A smile spread across Sam's face, Jack spoiled Pandora and he knew it. The teasing was just part of him trying to not appear to soft. "Yeah... whatever. You're in the right place."

"Alright then," he said with a smile, leaning over and catching her lips with his for a brief moment. "Thank you, Sam. I couldn't imagine a better gift... at least, until the little one's are born."

Sam nodded, fingering the necklace, "And I love my present, as well."

"The saleswoman said they're very popular. I know you're not extremely big on jewelery, but Cassie assured me you would like it."

"Well she was right." Sam assured him.

There was a slight silence in the room before he spoke again, "So... what's my boat look like?"