Title: Can We Still Dance Through the Tears?
Rating: PG
Spoilers: "Chimera" Season Seven
Season: Post "Chimera"
Summary: Sam and Jack find themselves in new territory...their hearts.
Disclaimer: Okay I don't own Stargate SG-1 or anything to do with it's universe, you know that and I know that so lets not bring it up. I don't own any rights to Lionel Richie or his music, the same goes for Garth Brooks. I do own the plot and all of the original characters in it.
Author's Note: Here's chapter seven! This one takes a slight detour from the others but it's just to move the story along and add a little character development. Please read and review.
Special Thanks: I wanted to say a special thanks to Eridani-Moon who reminded me of Lionel Richie. And to my snuggle bunny who came up with the title ;) I can always count on you! sends sundaes your way
Author Warning: I just wanted to let everyone know that I usually reply to all signed reviews I will be unable to for several days because I'm having surgury on Thursday morning. I will reply as soon as I get back to my computer. I swear.
-Cathain
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Sam pulled up and parked in her driveway, quickly climbing out of her car and walking up the walkway. She found the front door unlocked, which wasn't surprising considering Jack's truck was already parked out front and he wasn't in it.
She closed the door behind herself and pulled off her jacket, hanging it on the coat hanger before dropping her keys on the small table and picking up her mail, which presumably was brought in by Jack.
She walked down the hallway to see exactly where her CO had lost himself to when suddenly the soft sounds talking and walking filled her house in a familiar pattern and she dashed into the living room to find what she had figured, Jack standing in front of her CD player with a grin on his face. The grin broke into a smile as the lyrics began playing.
What is happening here?
Something's going on that's not quite clear
Somebody turn on the lights
We're gonna have a party
It's starting tonight
Oh, what a feeling
When we're dancing on the ceiling
Oh, what a feeling
When we're dancing on the ceiling
"Carter, I wouldn't peg you as a Lionel Richie fan." Jack said with a smirk.
Sam attempted to keep from turning six shades of red as she put the mail down, "Well sir what can I say? I guess it runs in the family."
"What do you mean Carter?" Jack asked as Sam walked into the kitchen and opened the refrigerator, grabbing two beers.
"One of my oldest memories is my dad dancing with my mom, singing her "Three Times A Lady". Ever since I've had an affinity for the song." Sam replied as she opened the beers and headed into the living room.
Jack's grin quickly sobered as he realized what Lionel Richie meant to his 2IC. He looked down at his feet, slightly embarrassed by his behavior. Sam walked in and handed him one of the beers in her hand before motioning for him to take a seat. She sat next to him and the pair just sat in silence for several long moments, drinking their beers.
Finally Jack spoke up, "Uh, Carter, are you alright? I mean with all of the stuff that's gone on recently I just want to make sure you're okay."
Sam turned and looked at her CO's profile before looking down at her beer. She knew she should tell him the truth, nearly dieing with Jonas on Kelowna, the whole experience on the Prometheus, nothing had been easy for her recently. Then of course Pete came into the equation. She had been alone for so long she was happy to have company other than SG-1 but at the same time there was something about Pete that made her a little wary. At first she tried to tell herself it was just the thought of being with someone after so long but the longer the relationship progressed the more she came to realize that wasn't it, it was almost like the vibe that she had gotten from Jonas...not Quinn of course but her former fiancé. That threat of something violent just under the surface.
She glanced back up at Jack who was looking at her now and she sighed, "To tell you the truth, I'm still pretty confused. Between the hallucinations I had on Prometheus and the run in with the naquadria, I don't know, everything is still pretty jumbled."
Jack nodded, "I understand, it's hard enough to make sense of an event after a few months but to have so many things happen in such a short amount of time...well lets just say I know the feeling."
Sam looked at Jack who quickly looked away and took a swig of his beer. She wanted to ask what he meant, well sure he'd been though a lot at the SGC but it seemed like there was more to it than that, but she didn't want to pry.
Suddenly Jack sighed but never turned so Sam continued looking at his profile, "When I did Black Ops, a lot of stuff happened. I learned just to disconnect it...the pain, the sorrow, the anger, the loss...it was like a switch. I turned mine on really early and I've probably never really turned it off. It was tough when I first came home, Sara wasn't pleased but I always managed to put on a happy face with Charlie. Then...then after he died...put it this way, if the switch was near the off position it immediately flicked back to on."
Sam continued staring at Jack's profile when suddenly she felt a single tear run down her cheek, it surprised her, she didn't mean to cry...but Jack was so right. She'd spent nearly her entire life with her switch in the on position, ever since her Mom had died. She spent her entire Air Force career attempting to do nothing but better herself, as if one day she'd be truly freed of the baggage that trailed behind her. It still hadn't happened. And now what did she have to show for herself? She was quickly pushing forty years old, unmarried, no children and the majority of her life was work.
She found herself reaching out slowly, her hand clasped Jack's shoulder and he quickly turned to look at her, his eyes were sad and slightly misty. She gave him a small smile as she squeezed his shoulder with her hand. He slowly responded by putting a hand on hers and squeezing back. She half laughed as more tears rushed down her face, then suddenly within nanoseconds she found herself in the arms of Jack.
She had both of her arms around his neck, squeezing him as if she ever let go he'd disappear while he had one hand on the small of her back and the other one clenched tightly between her shoulder blades.
Sam could feel herself continue to cry but what truly surprised her was the sudden drip of something cold and wet on her neck. Jack was crying. She couldn't take it anymore, thoughts of everything came flooding to her, all of her past boyfriends, all of the situations with SG-1, all of her childhood spent in books, everything - all at once flooded though her. She broke down and cried.
Jack couldn't believe it when he felt the first tear drop from his eye, that wasn't what he'd been expecting. But he couldn't help himself as other tears joined the first. The dark thoughts of what he'd done during his Black Ops days, what had been done to him and his men, the memories of fights with Sara, who was never satisfied with Jack's responses about work, the feelings of losing Charlie, everything that had happened with the SGC - all of the flirtation with death in the past few years, everything just suddenly hit him. He broke down and cried.
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Neither Sam nor Jack knew how much time passed, they just held each other and waited for the right moment to let go. They'd stopped crying some time ago and just began holding each other, letting out everything that they'd held in for so long. Suddenly the CD player switched CDs and a soft music began playing from the speakers. Simultaneously, Sam and Jack pulled apart to look at each other before Jack stood and held his hand out to Sam, who looked around the room as if they were about to dance in front of an audience but she took his hand and the pair began to dance.
When the rain is blowing in your face
And the whole world is on your case
I would offer you a warm embrace
To make you feel my love
When the evening shadows and the stars appear
And there is no one to dry your tears
I could hold you for a million years
To make you feel my love
I know you haven't made your mind up yet
But I would never do you wrong
I've known it from the moment that we met
No doubt in my mind where you belong
I'd go hungry; I'd go blind for you
I'd go crawling down the aisle for you
There ain't nothing that I wouldn't do
To make you feel my love
The storms are raging on a rolling sea
Down the highway of regret
The winds of change are blowing wild and free
But you ain't seen nothing like me yet
There ain't nothing that I wouldn't do
Go to the ends of the earth for you
Make you happy, make your dreams come true
To make you feel my love
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After their dance Sam and Jack returned to their beers and joked about the day at work, told some joke they heard, shared embarrassing stories about Daniel, and talked about the upcoming dance lesson.
After another beer Sam offered the spare bedroom to Jack but he refused. She at least talked him into a taxi and promised that she'd pick him up in his truck the next morning. After a little grumbling on Jack's part about the time she'd arrive they parted ways. Sam cleaned up the living room quickly enough before turning everything off and heading to bed.
She snuggled in under the covers and for the first time in an extremely long time she didn't feel the least bit sad or unfulfilled. The feeling of being content was a new one for her. She looked over at her dresser when her eyes found the picture of she and Pete from the dance he took her to when they first began dating. The sight of the photograph made something in Sam's stomach clench but her feeling of peace didn't falter. She pulled back the covers and picked up the photo, she stared at it for another moment before opening her sock drawer and putting it face down inside.
She turned back and went back to bed with a smile on her face and sweet dreams awaiting her. Perhaps Pete's hectic schedule was for the best...seeing as she'd never felt better and it was all thanks to him, or well his birthday gift. His birthday gift and her commanding officer - there was a combination she'd never have come up with. But what surprised her even more was the result. She was happy.
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After Thought: So what did you think? A little thick with drama I know but I felt it was needed; the two of them seem like people who keep everything bottled up even when they're breaking down. The series will get back to fluffiness...promise.