SSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS
As Jack walked through the artificially lit, institutional halls of the SGC on his way to the infirmary, he thought how much he really liked being back, despite the underground grimness of the place. He often wished he hadn't left. He reminded himself that if he hadn't, he wouldn't be with Sam. A thought he'd been trying to ignore for weeks came once again, the thought that maybe it would be nice to have an excuse to end it with Sam. She was crowding him, wanting things he didn't have in him any more.
They say, "Be careful what you wish for, you may get it." Jack really believed that it was always better to not think about the future, because even if it turned out well, if it wasn't like what you had imagined, it would be a let down. The situation with Sam proved he was right.
All those years lusting for Sam, he had focused on how hot she was, how exciting it would be making love to her. The reality hadn't turned out to be some sort of sexual fantasy come true. He had gained a wonderfully considerate, tender woman, who wanted to do things for him, in every aspect but one. If he tried to move away from extremely conventional sex in any way, she was uncomfortable. Even if she tried to accommodate him, it shut her down. He thought that deep inside Sam was a good little Catholic girl who had learned too well for his purposes what the nuns had taught her about sex belonging in marriage. What they were doing without even an engagement ring on her finger was really bothering her on some level.
He was willing to bet that once she got married, she'd loosen up some, but it wasn't a sure thing. It was one of the factors, if he was honest with himself, that was causing him to hold back on the marriage. The main reason was simply the fuss and bother. If they could just go quietly to a justice of the peace somewhere, fine. It was her first wedding, however, and she'd already said things that indicated she had daydreamed forever of the whole dog and pony show. Even worse, if the little Catholic girl raised her head any further and wanted to be married in the church, he'd first have to go through a damn annulment proceeding to end his marriage to Sara.
Sara. Ah, there was a thought. Every time there was an awkward mismatch of sexual preferences with him and Sam, he found himself remembering Sara. There hadn't been anything Sara wouldn't do. She had been wild before she had settled down with him. The expert Sara had been the teacher and he had been a very grateful and apt pupil. As he approached the infirmary, he remembered actually having his hand on the phone, poised to phone Sara yesterday, and forcing himself to call a halt. He wasn't free to make that call, even in the guise of just getting back in contact.
He walked into the outer room of the infirmary, heard voices, and slowed down a little, wanting to know what was going on before he barged in. It was Daniel and someone else, someone who sounded a little like Sam. This must be her niece. He had no qualms about eavesdropping and stepped softly to beside the door where he could glimpse the two alone in a four bed ward, but they wouldn't be likely to notice him. Rain had climbed out of her bed and was sitting next to Daniel on his. They were talking about how they both felt pretty good and wanted to make a break for it.
"I think Dr. Lam is under orders to keep us here," Rain said darkly.
Daniel kissed the top of her head and said, "Why do you think that?"
"It makes us easier to control."
Daniel suggested reasonably, "They could just order us to stay on base, right? There are no reporters in here."
"Maybe they don't want to order us to stay on the base because that would look bad. Like there was something to hide."
"Rain, who would know that they ordered us to stay on the base? Are you going to tell them?"
"Enough talk," she said. "Let's go."
"Are you proposing to leave the Mountain? You don't have quarters on base."
"I don't want to piss off Mitchell and Landry," she said. "I am hoping to make major in record time. Can I go to the guest quarters with you?"
"Isn't that against some sort of rule?" Daniel asked.
"Yes it is," Jack said, deciding it was time to make an appearance. He strolled across the room to stand before the two huddled together on the bed like a schoolmaster who'd just caught them red-handed and was considering what to set them to writing on the blackboard a few hundred times.
"Hey Jack," Daniel said a bit sheepishly.
"Get the paranoia under control, kiddies. No one is requiring you to stay in here for non-medical reasons," Jack said. "Listen, I've spoken with Dr. Lam and she agrees you should both leave the infirmary. General Landry thinks you should stay on the base, Daniel. That arm just looks bad. The President is taking a day or two to think over the advice he got about going public. In the meantime, we need to continue to try to keep this story as low key as possible. Captain Carter needs to meet her father." He pulled the local daily newspaper out from behind his back and pointed to an editorial about how the Air Force was treating the families of its airmen.
"Begging the general's pardon, but I haven't spoken with my father as a matter of choice for about 9 years. I would prefer to leave it that way," Rain said, lifting her chin, struggling to look respectful but not doing very well.
"The Air Force can't order her to take an action like that in her private life, can it?" Daniel asked, appalled.
"The captain's father has created some serious problems for the Air Force. She just told you that she wants to make major in record time. What do you think the wise thing would be for her to do?" Jack asked.
Rain sighed and said, "Point taken."
"Sam could go with you," Daniel suggested.
"I don't want to be double teamed and pressured to get into the family or something," Rain said.
Jack said, "I'll go with you. I've met Mark a couple of times."
"Would you really do that for me sir?" Rain said, astounded.
"Surely Daniel has told you that he is one of my closest friends?" Jack asked raising an eyebrow. "The man appears to be besotted with you so that makes you part of the Daniel package. Now, we have just used up my quota for discussing feelings for a day or two, so just get yourself together and meet me at Landry's office by," he paused and looked at his watch, "16:00 hours. I'll call Mark Carter and set up the meeting, if you want me to."
"Thanks a lot, Jack," Daniel said. "I don't like her being forced into this, but I feel a lot better with you there. You're a good friend."
"Didn't I tell you I was already over quota on feelings?" Jack warned, only partly teasing and left.
Later, he escorted Rain to his sporty little car. She made a point of admiring it before she got in. She actually clapped her hands as he squealed out of the parking lot. "All right. This is fun driving. Daniel drives like he has an Oldsmobile, even though he doesn't. My driving makes him nervous, although he never says anything, just clings to the seat."
Jack laughed. He didn't mind some young woman telling him he was a little wild. Sometimes he thought one of Sam's major appeals for him was the ego boost he got at her ignoring the handsome, younger Dr. Jackson and picking him, a much older man instead.
The meeting with Mark Carter was at a hotel near the airport. Jack and Rain were immediately confronted after getting out of the car by a reporter who, perhaps, had just finished getting more information from Mark about yet another instance of suspect behavior by the Air Force in the escalating focus on Cheyenne Mountain. "Captain Carter, you appear to be well. What really has caused the Air Force to keep you sequestered in the Mountain?" he asked.
"I'm an Air Force officer," Rain said, blandly. "I was doing my job."
"What do you know about the death of Lieutenant Kovak?" was the next question.
Jack said, "Excuse me." He shoved past the young man, pushing him aside with his shoulder and ushering Rain through the door of the hotel. They were being pursued into the hotel. Jack nodded at Rain, who already knew the room number, and then body blocked the reporter from following her until she had disappeared down the hall and into an elevator.
There was a tense moment and then the reporter backed off. Jack made his way to Mark Carter's floor alone. He knocked on the door and Rain opened it, looking very relieved.
Mark had a suite and was seated on the sofa, his suit jacket thrown over the back of a chair and his shirt sleeves rolled up for comfort. He immediately stood and extended a hand to Jack. "General O'Neill, it's good to see you."
Jack shook his hand and simply said, "Mark."
Mark said, "It's amazing how much Rain looks like my sister. When I first met her as a girl, I could see a resemblance, but I had no idea that it would flower to be so striking."
"Yupe," Jack said.
They sat in heavy silence. Mark said, "Sam told me Rain was seriously ill. She's denying that there's any problem. Can you clarify?"
Jack said, "She was accidentally poisoned. It was serious until they got it out of her system."
"Poisoned?" Mark exploded. "What the hell is going on in there?"
"I'm a soldier, Mr. Carter," Rain said, her voice icy. "We get exposed to risks. That's our job."
Mark threw up his hands. "I'm sorry. It is your job. I'm sorry I apparently made trouble for you, insisting that I be allowed to see you." He walked to the window and looked out. "You think I wronged you by sending you to that school."
"Brilliant," Rain said.
"We make choices Rain and then sometimes that means there no more choices left"
He turned to look at her. "My wife has serious mental problems. If I had had you in the house, I couldn't have protected you and my other children. She's clever and she comes from a rich family. If I leave, I lose your half-brother and sister. In another 3 years it won't matter."
Rain was looking at him stony faced. "Rain, haven't you ever been in combat when you had men down and you had to make decisions to try to save as many as you could, to do the least damage?"
The anguish on the man's face was inescapable. Rain was completely still. Jack was surprised to hear himself say, "I have. Too many times." He looked at Rain. "Rain, I think I should go back to the lobby and let you talk with your dad. What do you think?"
She nodded mutely. He sat in the lobby and glared at everyone in sight. The lobby cleared out. Two more reporters showed up, but after being shut down by Jack, they loitered around outside. About a half an hour after Jack had left her with Mark, Rain appeared with her father. They went outside to the reporters and Mark said, "I just want to put it on the record that I've spoken with my daughter and she has assured me that she is fine. I probably overreacted, as many fathers would in the circumstances." There were many more questions, but Mark had nothing further to say and Jack and Rain steadfastly refused comment.
When they were safely back in his car, she said, "Can we please go somewhere and have a beer or something. I don't want to go back to Daniel this bummed out. It will upset him even more and he doesn't need that right now."
Jack drove until he saw an upscale restaurant. "Money usually helps with people leaving you alone. Let's try their bar."
They sat down. Jack ordered Guiness as did Rain. They made small talk until the waiter deposited their drinks and walked off. Rain said, "Look, this is very awkward what with you being a superior officer and all, but I have to talk to someone who really knows Daniel well and things are sort of tense still between me and my – does this ever sound weird – my aunt."
"I'm glad to listen. Don't expect me to have a lot of touchy feely feedback for you though," Jack said.
"Can I count on you to treat it all as confidential?"
He nodded. She said, "Well then, here's the thing. I am so in love with Daniel! I've never felt this way, this strongly before. I didn't know they made men this wonderful. All I have to do is look at him and my heart flips over. I tried not to love him this much. I was afraid of getting hurt because he's clearly on the rebound. It bothers me too that he doesn't share my religious faith, but our time apart made realize how empty life already had become without him. Then I almost died. It makes you think, you know?"
Jack definitely knew the truth of that statement. She fell silent. Jack said, "BUT?"
"But I'm afraid that in the end I wouldn't make him happy and that, ultimately, would ruin it for me too."
"What's not to make him happy? You've got it all from what I can see and he's crazy about you."
"I look like Sam, right? When I met him – you can't tell anyone this – he was really drunk and he thought I was her. He kissed me very thoroughly thinking I was her. There's absolutely no question in my mind that he was in love with her before he met me. He assures me that that I'm so different from her in so many other ways that we don't even look that alike to him anymore. If she wasn't sort of coming at him sideways the way she seems to be, maybe it wouldn't be such a big deal, but it makes me really insecure."
Jack was puzzled about the "coming at him sidewise comment," but he was getting a really bad feeling about what he was going to here next. "Then there's this whole kids and family thing. Like you said, I'm ambitious. I want kids, but I need to have my career better established first. He and Sam were sitting with me for hours. I was conscious and awake a lot more than they realized. At one point, I felt like I was sitting with my parents. They were talking about how many kids was the ideal number and whether it was better for the oldest to be a boy and how far apart they should be spaced. Sam brought up adopting because she was worried that she was too old to have as many as she wanted. Then they started talking about what kind of houses they wanted with all the kids."
Jack stared off in the middle distance, picturing the two of them, talking enthusiastically together the way he had seen them a million times. Ouch.
"That's not the worst. Apparently, she kissed him recently, after he and I got together, but I think before she knew she really was my aunt, to make him reconsider whether he was really in love with me or just going through transference from her. He was pretty upset about it when she brought it up – it made him feel like he had betrayed me even though it had just been the one time and she was the one who initiated it."
"She KISSED him?" Jack thundered. "Sam KISSED Daniel?"
"Yeah?" Rain said. "Look I know they are teammates, but it was just the once. It isn't like they are having a relationship."
Jack waved his hands helplessly in the air and thought fast. She would be mortified if she found out now that he and Sam were involved. He prayed that she didn't listen to gossip any time soon or listen to the right gossip anyway. ""It's against the rules. She's military. I would expect better of her," he temporized.
"The thing is, General O'Neill, I want to be sure I can make him happier than she can. I want to be sure that they aren't really in love with each other, but aren't not together for stupid reasons, like being teammates or who knows what. How do I do that?"
Jack gave her one of his long, hooded, and utterly unreadable looks. "The two of us are going to find some underhanded way to maneuver them into having to face this and either put it aside or get together," he said at last.
"Sir, I had no idea of getting you involved. I mean, it's my love life."
"It's also the love lives of two of my oldest friends," Jack answered, thinking and of my lover who has all sorts of things going on I knew nothing about.