Road to Nowhere
Part 6
They drove on mostly in silence. Small talk didn't seem to be appropriate when you were on the run for your lives. Jack drove fast but was careful not go very far over the speed limit. Sam wondered where they were headed, but didn't ask. She could see the wheels turning in Jack's mind as he silently considered strategies and possible outcomes. It was around dawn when they finally crossed the Colorado state line. Jack exited from the interstate and pulled into a gas station.
Jack got back into the car after pumping gas and gestured to the IHOP across the street, "How do you feel about pancakes, Carter?"
"Do you think we should, sir?"
"We've got to eat and I think it's safe to say that if they knew what direction we went in they would have caught up with us by now."
"Yes, sir."
"Carter, don't do the 'sir' thing in public. It'll sound weird."
"Yes, sir."
Jack rolled his eyes. They were AWOL and she was still calling him 'sir'.
They ate in silence. Sam could tell Jack had something on his mind and it wasn't their current situation. "S-um-" Sam began. She had stopped the 'sir', but wasn't exactly sure if she should call him 'Jack' in public either. "Are you okay?"
"Yeah, sure," he answered too quickly. "Why wouldn't I be?"
"I don't know. That's why I'm asking."
Jack was silent again as he stirred a piece of his pancake around in the puddle of syrup in his plate. After a while he spoke, "I didn't know that Sara had another kid. Sitting here now is the first time I've had a chance to let that sink in. It makes me think of …other things."
"I'm sorry."
"Yeah, well. I'm glad she's happy, at least."
"Haven't you been happy?" Sam asked. She knew he was a man that kept his emotions closely in check so it was hard to read what he felt. That being said she thought he had been happy on SG-1. Maybe not as happy as with his wife and son but still not unhappy.
"Well, yeah. I got- or had a cool job and you guys have become my family. I'd be afraid to see who I was if I didn't have you in my life. It's just…"
"You miss what you had."
"Yeah." Jack seemed to shake off his melancholy and nodded to the motel across the parking lot from the restaurant. "We should get some sleep."
Sam dug through the suitcase Jack had packed for her, but she couldn't find any pajamas. "Uh, sir, can I borrow one of your shirts to sleep in?"
"Sure," he handed her the T-shirt he'd been wearing before his makeover. He had considered borrowing a pair of Sara's pajama's for Sam but had decided against it. Pajamas no matter how modest seemed a far too intimate thing to share especially between his ex-wife and the woman he cared about a lot more than he should. Besides if he was honest he kind of liked the thought of Sam wearing his clothes.
Sam took the shirt he offered and went into the bathroom to change.
When Jack came back out the bathroom from changing, he found Sam already asleep. He went over to the window and pulled back the curtain surveying the parking lot. Nothing seemed amiss so he climbed into the other bed and was soon asleep himself.
A short while later he awoke to the sound of a tussle and immediately grabbed his gun from the bedside table. He inspected the room but found no intruders, only Sam fighting with her sheets in the throws of a nightmare. He set his gun down and immediately went over to her. He untwisted the sheets confining her legs and was promptly knocked on his ass by a flailing leg for his efforts. He quickly got back to his feet and grasped her shoulders tightly restraining her movements. "Carter, wake up. Carter, c'mon. Wake up. It's just a nightmare. Carter, you're safe. Carter-"
Sam awoke with a gasp and slowly focused on the man clutching her arms, "Sir?"
Jack winced internally at the use of her 'sir' even obviously terrified by a nightmare. Then she tore herself from his grasp and threw herself into his arms. He held her close and she held onto him even tighter clutching at the material of his t-shirt. He felt her tears hot and damp on his neck. "Shhh, Carter. It's okay. You're safe." He rocked her back and forth and rubbed her back soothingly. Before long her sobs eased and he asked gently, "You wanna tell me what the nightmare was about?"
She took a deep breath, but still clung to him. "Adrian Conrad."
"Ah," he sighed. "You heard Sara and I talking." She nodded against his chest. "I didn't want you to have to remember."
"I know, sir," he barely heard her mumble.
Jack withdrew his arms and she held on tighter. He felt her short nails digging onto his back through the fabric of his shirt. "Carter, look at me." He reached up and pulled her face from his neck forcing her to look at him. He wiped her tears away with his thumbs. "Carter, look at me," he again commanded gently and she finally met his eyes. "I'm not going to let anything happen to you. I promise no one will do that to you again. I promise, Sam. I 'm gonna keep you safe."
Sam awoke feeling warm and safe. She snuggled closer to her source of warm comfort until she realized her bare legs were tangled with someone else's bare legs. Then she remembered her nightmare and Colonel O'Neill comforting her. She must have fallen asleep in his arms. It was terribly embarrassing. She tried to extricate herself from his embrace without waking him, but she should have known she wouldn't succeed. The arm around her waist tightened and his sleepy voice asked, "Where ya goin', Carter?"
"I'm sorry, sir," she said still trying to pull away from him.
"For what?"
"For falling apart, sir. I'm an Air Force Major. I shouldn't be balling my eyes out in my CO's arms because of a bad dream. I'm sorry I let you down."
"Don't be stupid, Carter. You haven't let me down. Both of us have been through some heavy shit. Stuff no one should have to go through. You don't think I have nightmares? I can't tell you how many nights I've woken up screaming. It's nothing to be ashamed of. Neither is needing someone to hold you." He brushed the hair from her forehead and turned her face to him. "Carter, you're one of the strongest people I've ever come across. I don't know how you've gotten through all you have. I don't know if I could have. I'm proud of you. Nothing's ever gonna change that." She blushed and tried to turn her face away from him, but he held her firmly. "Carter, listen to me. I won't lie to you. We're going to have a tough time and all we'll really be able to rely on is each other. And I'm here for you no matter what. I'm not gonna let those bastards get their hands on you. I swear." He hugged her tightly to him allowing himself to revel holding her in his arms. There were times when he wouldn't have minded remaining Jonah. Things were much simpler for him.
"Sir?"
"Just relax, Carter," he mumbled into her hair.
"I've got to go to the bathroom, sir."
"Oh, sorry," he released her. She crawled out of the bed and he watched walk into the bathroom. Her long legs were revealed beneath the hem of his shirt seemed to go on for miles. Yep, he certainly liked her wearing in his shirts.
They ate at IHOP again and were on the road shortly after dusk.
"Sir, if you don't mind me asking, where are we headed?" Sam asked.
"Vegas."
"Vegas?" she looked perplexed.
"Yep," Jack glanced at her with a mischievous smirk. "Don't you want to get hitched?"
"As in married, sir?"
"Sure. Why not?" he couldn't resist teasing her more.
"Well, I- uh-" she stopped. She had no idea what to say. The thought wasn't unappealing, but sudden and not entirely appropriate given the previous and current situation.
Jack let her mental wheels spin for a couple more seconds. He really enjoyed making at loss for words. "Kidding, Carter. Kidding."
"Oh." she sounded inexplicably vaguely disappointed. "So we're not going to Vegas, sir?"
"No, we are. We need to get you a new identity and Vegas is the best place around these parts to do it."
-
TBC
Falcon6- The name of the song is 'Modern Day Bonnie and Clyde' by Travis Tritt. I just liked that part the rest of the song really isn't appropriate.