"Now who was responsible for this one?" asked Sam.
Jack looked deep into her crystal blue eyes and said with a smile. "To tell you the truth, I can't remember. I've actually lost track of whose turn it was."
Sam leaned her head against his and said "I don't care as long as the end result is the same, don't you?"
Jack smiled down at her and kissed her gently on the nose. "Yahsureyoubetcha."
They then continued on with what they were doing before they were "so rudely" interrupted.
o o o o
It was now 72 hours and counting. Sam and Jack were taking a bit of a reprieve in order to get things ready for the "changing of the guard."
At the very last minute Thor popped in and said that he needed Jack for a day or so to assist with a piece of ancient technology. They were in need of a human with the ancient gene and Jack was their most trusted ally.
Sam decided that she would surprise Jack and help him get ready for the big retirement party at his house. She knew that if left up to him, beer would be the main course and chips and pretzels would be the only food offered.
She went and met with a caterer who promised to deliver a sensational "Backyard BBQ." She then did a little grocery shopping and headed over to Jack's house.
Once inside, she put the groceries away and reviewed the catering menu. As she was putting the chocolate covered strawberries and champagne in the fridge, they were for after the party, she saw a cabinet that was about to spill out its contents.
As she opened it to straighten its chaotic interior she noticed a letter sitting alongside a jar of pens. It was slightly unfolded and her eyes caught what was written. Upside down she read the words Samantha Elizabeth! Curiosity got the best of her, she had to open it.
She slid the letter out. It was from Tiffany's – the jeweler. She started to read:
Dear Mr. O'Neill,
Thank you for your recent purchase. Our designer and craftsman have completed the settings for both rings and will now begin to hand select the diamonds and emeralds to be set. As discussed, acquiring stones of such purity will take some additional time.
Please clarify what you would like our engraver to set into each band. Per your request, additional room on the wedding band will be left for the date. Etc., etc.
Sam slid to the floor, she couldn't breathe and her head was spinning. She looked again and noticed that the letter was dated two years ago.
She put her head back between her knees to keep from hyperventilating. She got up and took a beer out of the fridge. This was a bit surreal; she was having a hard time absorbing it.
All of a sudden her phone rang. She jumped, startled. "Carter," she answered.
"Hey," said Daniel. "Jack just sent a message through the gate. He wanted to know if I could pick up a few things for him. Thor is keeping him longer than he expected and he wants to make sure he has at least some food in his house for the party. Do you think you could take care of it for me? I am absolutely swamped right now and I was thinking you wouldn't mind…"
"No problem," interrupted Sam, still in a haze over the letter. "I am having it catered anyway. I am at his house right now starting to get things ready."
"Great, oh," said Daniel. "I almost forgot. Jack also wanted me to pack a change of clothes for him. I really don't feel like fishing around in his underwear drawer. Could you handle that too?"
"Sure," said Sam "I will pack a bag here and have it on base in an hour or so for you to send through."
Sam hung up with Daniel and went into Jack's bedroom. Even though they had been a couple for a few weeks now, she still had not "spent any time" in Jack's bedroom. They were waiting for his retirement - bending the rules was ok, downright shattering them was a different story.
She grabbed a duffle bag from the closet and threw in his shaving kit and fresh BDU's. She then opened his top drawer looking for socks, t-shirts and boxers. Besides his usual Bart Simpson ones he also wore those snug boxer briefs. She had seen him in those but it was not completely intentional. That night was an absolute test of willpower that neither of them would soon forget.
She was just about to close the drawer when the small light blue box with white ribbon caught her eye. She didn't have to look twice to know what it contained. She lifted off the lid. It held that small velvet box she expected to see. She opened it with trembling hands. Inside was a set of beautifully elegant diamond and emerald rings. The engagement ring was platinum with delicate filigree work on each side of the band. It held a larger center diamond with emeralds on each side. The wedding band was also filigreed platinum with a row of diamonds and emeralds.
She looked inside the rings. The engagement ring read: My love always, Jack. The wedding band read: Samantha Elizabeth O'Neill with a space for the date. Just like the letter had described. The rings were stunning. She would have chosen the same ones herself.
She thought for a moment of the overly large diamond with gold band that Pete had given her. Not her taste what so ever. It was on the verge of gaudy. She couldn't believe it when she saw it. It was a compilation of the things she always avoided in jewelry. She never wore gold, hated high settings and especially hated tear drop cut stones. It was constantly getting caught on things. She could tell Pete was going for size and not quality or taste. That should have clued her in from the start, she thought to herself.
These rings were her. They had been chosen by a man who took the time to get to know what she liked, then added his personal touch. She couldn't help it, she slipped them on. A perfect fit. How did he know her ring size? She looked down at her hand and smiled. He had wanted to marry her two years ago!
She sat and thought for a moment, it seemed as though fate was constantly dealing them a cruel hand. Even in alternate realities they were destined to be together then pulled apart.
When would it end? Was this the reality where they would be able to be together, forever? Or would they yet again meet a dismal fate? Maybe they should just remain friends and teammates? This way they would at least be together, even if it was not what they really wanted.
A tear slid down her cheek as she took the rings off and carefully placed them back into the box. She covered them with a t-shirt, gathered up the rest of his things and headed back to the SGC.
o o o o
A few days later a delighted Jack made his way to Sam's lab. He found her playing with some new piece of ancient technology.
He came up behind her, slid his arms around her waist and whispered "two hours and counting."
She turned with a jerk "My god Sir, don't scare me like that."
Jack was a bit concerned with her reaction, but continued on. "Guess what?" he teased.
Sam tried to sound up-beat, "What?"
"Thor gave me a retirement gift" continued Jack.
"What kind of gift do you get from a two thousand year old Asgard High Commander?" asked Sam with a smile.
"The best kind," laughed Jack, "new knees, new back, new heart and a whole bunch of other upgrades. Well not new and not really upgrades, just really, really reconditioned. I am as good as new!" said Jack as he started to jog in place and bend his knees without the normal loud crack they always gave.
"At first it was just going to be my knees. Thor said he was tired of hearing me complain about them. I think the little guy was actually trying to be funny. Then he did this full body scan and decided to give me a complete overhaul."
Jack then leaned over and whispered into Sam's ear "Want to take the new me out for a spin?" he asked while waggling his eyebrows at her.
"We still have two hours to go Flyboy" said Sam. "We've waited this long. Let's not give the Pentagon any more ammunition to throw us into Leavenworth. Well, maybe not me, but you definitely."
"Ha ha, very funny" he said with a playful hurt look. "Hey what's this I hear about my retirement shindig being catered?" he asked her.
"Yah, well I don't think General Hammond or any other of our esteemed guests, would appreciate only being fed your famous burnt beer-dogs" she said.
A few minutes later Jack was making his way back to his office to start packing his stuff so his replacement could move in. He bumped into Daniel in the hallway.
"Nice job Danny, you forgot my socks." said Jack sarcastically and lifted his pant leg.
"Hey, don't blame me" said Daniel "Sam was the one who packed your gear."
"She what?" asked Jack a little startled by this news.
"Yeah, she was at your house getting ready for the party and I passed the buck to her" said Daniel. "Don't be so sensitive Jack; I am sure Sam didn't short sheet your bed or anything."
Jack felt like reaching over and strangling his best friend. A short sheeted bed was the least of his worries. He hoped she didn't go snooping around too much.
Did he ever get around to putting that letter away?
…
Where the hell did he leave those rings?
