Chapter 50

Really sorry about the delay, people. I was unavailable due to the Fellowship Festival in London and I'm only just recovering from the excitement! I got 2nd in the costume comp and my Dad came first! WHOO HOO! 12 months of hard work did pay off. But I think the garter scene makes up for the wait ;) Please read and review.

Sam's POV

A few guests have paid their respects and left already. I can feel Jack's impatience even as we mingle with our friends. We both want to leave. Now.

"Sam, why don't you throw your bouquet now?" asks Cassie with a wicked laugh.

"Ah ah ah!" says Janet. "The garter goes first."

I feel my heart skip a beat at the suggestion and turn a glare at Janet as the crowd nearby gathers closer. She shrugs innocently before winking at my Jack, who is standing there with that smug grin of his that makes me want to kiss him or kill him.

"Well Colonel?" I raise my eyebrows in challenge. Your move Jack.

"Who am I to argue with tradition." He squeezes my hand in reassurance, as he sits me down on a nearby chair and bends over in front of me.

My heart is pounding before his calloused hands start moving up my left leg from my ankle. I hold my breath and ignore the calls and whistles from our friends. His hands stop at my knee and he looks up into my eyes.

"Breathe Sam." He teases even as his fingers tickle the soft flesh at the back of my knee, before continuing their journey up my leg. I start counting backwards from twenty in a last ditch effort to control my breathing and heart, which is so loud it drowns out everyone else in the room.

As his fingers find the blue lace garter and draw it slowly down my leg, the devil in me perks up and I subtly close my thighs, trapping one of his hands in place, before releasing him and allowing him to pull the garter completely off my leg. I can't help the grin on my lips as his breath hitches for an instant. Barely noticeable for someone who isn't used to the way this man's mind works, but the equivalent of a flare for me.

Jack stands up and tosses the garter behind him to the hoard of single batchelors, giving us both a moment to catch our breath as it lands squarely in Daniel's hands, causing rowdy laughter.

Jack gives me a hand up and there is a gentle warning in his eyes that makes me giggle. I turn around and wait for the single ladies to gather behind me, but just as I'm about to throw the bouquet, I feel a familiar pair of hands at my waist, and hear a softly whispered "Trust me."

I relax and find myself lifted up on to a chair. Jack steadying me with both hands as I throw the bouquet and there is a squeal as the few women that are present make a grab for it. I turn around and Jack lifts me carefully down. There is cheering as Janet holds up the bouquet with a grin and I laugh, even as I lean gently against my husband.

His hand finds mine, interlacing our fingers and he moves his eyes in Thor's direction. I rest a hand on top of his, asking him for a few more minutes, before glancing meaningfully at my Dad and then Daniel and Janet, who are taking the good natured ribbing well.

He smiles indulgently, and I kiss him on the cheek, before heading for Dad. I feel my husbands warm gaze on me, even as he makes his way towards Thor.

"Dad?" He turns at my soft question, from the joking as Daniel and Janet share a dance as tradition demands. He looks me up and down, and I feel like we're saying goodbye forever. All the attention is on our friends and he gives me a hug. "I love you Dad."

"I love you too Sammy. Be happy okay?"

"I am. I promise. You'll visit soon right?"

"As soon as I can. You know how life with the Tok'ra is."

I nod. I understand a lot more about my father today that I have since before Mom died. This isn't goodbye forever. It's a goodbye to what we were. I'm not just his little girl anymore. I'm Jack's wife.

We both pull back, and I sense Jack come up beside me. He doesn't touch me yet, allowing Dad and I one more moment.

"Jack."

"Jacob. You gonna be around more often now? Make sure I don't mistreat our Sam?"

Our Sam? Is that the way they refer to me now when they're together. A concession from one alpha male to the other?

"I trust you Jack." Answers my father as he slaps him manly on the back, and I sense Jack's pride at that statement. "Welcome to the family."

"Thanks Jacob."

"Jack. Call me Dad okay? No point in stopping now that it's technically true."

"Yes Dad." Replies Jack as they shake hands, sealing their bargain.

SG-1 SG-1 SG-1

Janet's POV

The elation I feel at having caught the bouquet is short lived as Daniel and I are made to dance.

Normally dancing with Daniel is like chocolate. There's never enough of it, but it's great while it lasts. Even earlier, we laughed and had a good time.

Not since I caught the bouquet though. I can feel his sense of panic, wondering if I know the symbolism of us catching these two not so innocent items. The problem with Daniel when he panics is he gets clumsy. Standing on my feet is not helping our current lack of harmony.

"Hey Daniel! Kiss her!" calls Ferretti and I turn an icy glare on the Major, promising long needles the next time he's under my care. The call turns into a chant that even Cassie has picked up and we are dancing to the words instead of the music.

Daniel looks helplessly at me and I roll my eyes, before reaching up to kiss him. There's nothing there though. Except fear. I pull back and force a smile on my face. I see Sam talking to her Dad with Jack, and know that soon I won't even have me best friend to talk it out with. The green eyed monster rears it's ugly head again as Sam relaxes into her husbands embrace. They'll probably use this distraction to escape. I wish I could.

Finally the song is over and I exert subtle pressure to get out of Daniel's arms. He gets slapped on the back manfully and I slip out of the Gate room as quickly as I can.

SG-1 SG-1 SG-1

Sam's POV

"I just want to say goodbye to the guys and Janet, Jack." I say as I lead him away from my father.

"Sam, we're s'posed to be sneakin' out. It's half the fun." He complains with a pout, but I can tell he's mostly doing it for effect. He'd let me say goodbye to the entire mountain if I wanted.

"Please Jack?" I plead, gripping his hand tightly in thanks.

"Fine. Go. Run."

"In these heels Jack?" I ask with a laugh.

"Carter."

"Sorry sir." I whisper in his ear, and I'm pleased to see a flash of desire slip through the bored mask he's put on as a front. "Why don't you save time and start packing up our wedding gifts?"

"Oh no. I'm not falling for that one Samantha. Thor'll beam up the whole caboodle when we depart. I'm coming with you."

As I turn to look back at Daniel and Janet with a laugh, I see Janet making her way out of the Gate room at top speed. Not now. Please don't need me right now Janet. I take one look at Daniel before turning to Jack.

Jack sighs in resignation. "For crying out loud. Trust Danny-boy to interrupt our honeymoon. One way or the other. You take the Doc, I'll take our Rock-phile."

"I love you Jack O'Neill." I press a kiss to his lips and exit the gate room as fast as possible.

A few minutes later, I find Janet in the Infirmary. She has pulled a lab coat on over her dress, too upset to change clothes. She's sitting in a dark corner, crying.

"Ohh Janet. What's wrong?"

"Sam? What are you doing here? Shouldn't you be in Minnesota by now?" She asks, desparely drying her eyes with the corner of her coat.

"The Colonel and I saw you leave. What happened?" I ask, even as I pull her into a hug.

"It doesn't matter. You should go."

"Janet. Do you think Jack and I could really enjoy ourselves knowing that there's something wrong between two of our best friends in the Galaxy? We're both here for you whenever you need us."

"I don't think what's wrong with Daniel and I can be fixed in three weeks let alone three minutes Sam. It can wait. It's my life, and I can manage."

"That's what I thought when we got back from Yamyria. Now look at me. Married to my CO. And it's all down to the best friends a woman could ask for. So stop arguing with me and tell me what's wrong."

"Daniel doesn't want me anymore."

"What! Janet that is the stupidest thing I have ever heard! Daniel adores you."

"Sam. You don't understand. I can feel him trying to find any excuse to get away."

"Honey. You've just proved my point."

"Sam?"

"Don't you remember what Olmas said on Yamyria. The empathy only lasts as long as the feelings are there."

"But what if it's only still there on my side?"

"Now you're being silly. Daniel has been attracted to you for years. He's not going to suddenly turn the feelings off like a light switch. He cares too much."

"Sam, you still had feelings for Jonas Hanson for years after you two split up, didn't you."

"Janet." From my own experience with Jack, I know that Janet and Daniel are feeding off each others despair. One of them started thinking like this, and the other picked it up. It's a vicious circle that has to be broken if we're going to solve this anytime soon.

"No. It's better this way anyway. I'm a single Mom with a teenage daughter. I should be setting a good example for her, not sleeping with some guy because I feel attracted to him."

"Some guy? Is that how you think of Daniel?"

"No Sam. I loved him. I really loved him."

"Ohh Janet. What am I going to do with you?" I ask as I smooth back her hair. I sense a similar frustration from Jack, a few levels down and know that if I'm going to save my best friend's relationship and my Honeymoon, I'm going to have to pull another miracle out of my box of tricks.

SG-1 SG-1 SG-1

Cassie's POV

Jack and Daniel are having a yelling session in the briefing room, which isn't as sound proof as we thought it was. For two such good friends they sure fight a lot.

Uncle George and Uncle Jacob are planning something in a corner, Thor is talking to Teal'c about human emotions, and everybody else in the room is listening in stunned silence.

We can only catch the occasional word, but it's enough to recognise that they're talking about Sha're, Sara, Charlie, Janet and Sam.

One name we've all learned not to say around Daniel is Sha're. And you don't even think about mentioning Jack's lost son without careful consideration beforehand.

I start edging my way towards Teal'c. He doesn't understand the Grown-up Tau'ri all the time either. I'm filled with a need I don't understand, to be close to all of my family. Mom and SG-1. If they'd just stop shouting at each other.

"Teal'c?" I ask in a small voice and he leans down to envelop me in a hug.

"All will be well CassandraFrasier."

"But why are they yelling?"

Uncle George and Uncle Jacob come up beside us and rest a hand each on my shoulders.

"They're family sweetie. Like brothers. Sometimes brothers yell. It doesn't mean they don't still care about each other or you. It's just their way of working things through." Says Uncle Jacob. "Right Teal'c?"

"Indeed. Many times off-world have O'Neill and DanielJackson begun discussions and they sometimes raised their voices to such a level."

"But why?"

"Because they are both stubborn men, who have very different views of the world. It just so happens that the roles are reversed for once." Replies Uncle George.

"I don't understand." I jump as I hear something shattering in the briefing room, two levels up, followed by more yelling.

"Neither do we. They fight but eventually they find some compromise and they don't hold grudges for very long."

"Today is supposed to be a happy day. Daniel's ruined it."

"No Cassie, he's just… postponed the ending. After all, it wouldn't be an SG-1 wedding without some excitement, right? I mean they can't even go shopping without something happening."

"Really?"

"Really. You'll see. They might come out there in a bad mood, but they'll still be family. And Sam'll quickly cheer Jack right up. You've seen that before, right?"

"Yeah."

"There you go then. It'll all work out in the end."

SG-1 SG-1 SG-1