CHAPTER THREE

She opened up the door to see…

'Dad!' Sam gave a girlish squeal of delight and flung herself into Jacob's arms. 'What are you doing here! I thought you were doing Tokra stuff.' She said excitedly as she pulled away from Jacob and fixed her dress and hair.

'I'm here for your wedding of course. I wouldn't miss it for the worlds, honey.' She laughed at him.

'And General Hammond…?'

'He's in the Mercedes,' he said pointing over to the car. 'That way both your dad's can be here to escort you to your wedding.' He held out his arm for her. 'Shall we go now?' Beaming like anything, she locked the front door and allowed herself to be led out to the shiny new mercedes-benz, painted in a light blue colour.'

'Wow' she breathed. Whose is this?' Jacob took hold of her hand and put something in it. She opened her hand. Resting neatly in her palm was a light blue key on a key chain. The Mercedes-benz logo was stamped on it. She looked up at her father, hardly believing what she was seeing. 'For me…?'

'For you and cough Pete. A gift from the President.'

'Oh my gosh!' She gave her dad another hug. 'That is so unbelievably awesome!' Jacob opened the car door for her.

'Well let's get you hitched then.'

The church was beautifully decorated as Jack walked through the ornate wooden doors of the church. He showed his invitation to the usher at the door (which was completely unnecessary as the ushers made it a point to know exactly who he was and what he looked like). Jack cringed as he saw the words "Samantha Carter and Pete Shanahan" beautifully calligraphiged on the invitation.

He saw Daniel sitting down already and went to join him, but was met on the way by the elusive Mr. Shanahan. 'Hi Jack!' Pete greeted him. Jack groaned inwardly. 'Pete! The man of the hour! How ya doing?' Pete fiddled with his tie. 'Uh, yeah, just a bit nervous that's all. "Pre-wedding jitters" or something.' Jack gave a forced grin. 'It'll be great! It'll all go fine. I'm especially looking forward to the cake at the end. So uh, hang in there cowboy!' Jack gave a small corny thumbs up to him and started to walk away beginning to feel sick, sick of Pete, sick of being there, sick of the air force…'

'Hey Jack?' He turned back around to face Pete. 'No hard feelings?'

Jack blinked. 'Excuuse me?'

'Oh I just know that you and Sam used to have a thing for each other. And like I was knew it was all over and I was still a little wary at first… but she wouldn't say yes if she didn't mean it.' Pete suddenly looked very tall and a hell of a lot more confident. 'Yeah sure. Have a good day, Pete.' He said as if he were saying goodbye to a tedious customer at some department store and quickly walked away. He slid into the pew next to Daniel. 'Remind me why I haven't killed that guy yet.'

Daniel leaned over to him, 'Because Sam likes him.' Jack gave a deep sigh. 'Oh yeah, that's why.' He put his elbows on his knees and his face in his hands so the world wouldn't see how he was feeling. He took in some breaths of air, swallowed his tears and waited till he felt composed enough to lift his head up and face the world again. He was quite certain that everyone on Sam's side of the guests, which included a number of SGC personnel, was going to look at him today more than once. And he was going to show them that this didn't affect him at all. He was going to be the perfect supportive friend and CO. He lifted his head up again.

'You okay, Jack?' Daniel asked, concerned for his friend.

'Yeah I'm great, Daniel. I'm feeling so fine and dandy today, I think I'll tell the whole world about it. And while I'm at it I think I'll tell P4X639 and P3X233 while I'm at it. They ought to know too.' Daniel gave a soft laugh as the ceremony had just started and the priest was saying a few words. 'That's good, Jack. Funny. It's good for you, you keep doing it.' Jack gave his friend a small grin, but it immediately disappeared as the organ music began. He and Daniel and Teal'c (who had joined them before) dutifully stood up to see the wedding party coming down the aisle.

First there was Pete's two nieces wearing white dresses with blue satin sashes with nice curly blonde hair. Then Cassie in her sprig green dress, walking with the best man, Pete's younger brother.

Then came Samantha with Jacob. Even though Jack had already seen her, she ♪took my breath away♪, she was so beautiful, and replaced it with gut-wrenching anguish. Jack looked up at Pete to seem him grinning like a fool. Jack gave a contemptuous snort inside, and turned back to look at Sam, watching sickeningly as she reached the altar and linked hands with Pete. The priest began the matrimonial speech. 'Dearly beloved…' The congregation sat down with a creak and scraping of the pews. Jack sat up straight his eyes fixed on a spot on the wall above the priest. 'Tell me when it's over,' he mumbled to Daniel.

'I thought you were going to watch it.' He whispered back.

'You don't expect me to watch watch it, do you?' He turned back to look at the priest. 'I'm going to have the appearance of watching. I got Teal'c to teach me how to do his meditation Kel'No'Reem thingy with my eyes open. So I won't be taking anything in; I'll just look like I'm paying attention.' Daniel gave a tiny sad smile, wishing he could make Jack feel better, or make him do something! 'Good plan, Jack,' was all he could say though, and they both returned their "attention" to Sam and Pete.

The cathedral was getting hotter, it was a sunny spring day, hard for Jack to concentrate on his Kel'No'Reem. All he could hear was the drone of the priest's voice. 'If anyone objects to this union', he hummed, 'let them speak now or forever hold your peace.' Jack suddenly realised the full implications of the words 'forever hold your peace.' If he didn't say anything in opposition he would NEVER have another chance to tell her how he felt. He was prepared to do that.

Out of the corner of his eye he saw Daniel squirming. 'If you so much as lift a finger…' he threatened in a dangerously low voice. ‡ Daniel immediately stopped squirming. Jack gave a glance over to Teal'c who was sitting stoically on the pew. A small sigh escaped from his brownish lips.

Well, it seemed like everyone on Sam's side was kind of ambivalent § about this wedding, he thought as he surveyed the congregation half of who looked very uncomfortable. However the Priest had moved on, no one had objected and Sam and Pete were about to begin their vows. She was lost to him now.

Unable to keep face anymore, Jack put his head in his hands, his body shaking with emotion as he fought so hard to keep his tears inside and his feelings in check.

AN: This bit is proving really difficult. I just wanna give him a hug! My friend says it's just about physically impossible to write something you don't agree with so yeah… maybe not very good writing anyway. I keep putting tiny bits of humour in there. But I'll try. Can't wait to start writing the reception. :D I'll keep you in suspense. Please Review!

50 points if you can tell me the significance of these 2 planets!

‡ I couldn't think of a good enough threat that Jack would actually do to Daniel if he did object so… any ideas. I was thinking of Jack giving him to Baal. But maybe if he did object, Jack would actually end up thanking him 

§ Just so you know, Ambivalent is my new favourite word ;D I will try to use it at least once in all my stories. I'm going for twice in this one!