1Author: Caroline O'Neill
Title: Things don't always Turn Out
Category: Angst, Romance, Action
Pairing: Sam/other, Jack/other, Janet/Daniel and Finally Jack/Sam
Summary: SG1 finds out about Jack and Kerri at Sam's engagement party. And then the fun begins.
Disclaimer: They are not mine! I wish Jack was though. Hehe
A/N: Got the idea from a song "Things don't always turn out that way"
I know it is short but I will write more if you like it.
Thanks again to Stargazzr2 and Star Trek Chick for being my beta readers.
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He had been looking for Colonel Carter all morning. In an attempt to find her, he searched her lab, Daniel's lab, Teal'c quarters, the commissary, the control room, even the infirmary. As a last attempt he tried her lab one last time.
"Ah, Carter here you are." General Jack O'Neill sat down on the swivel chair across from Sam. This would have to be one of the hardest things he has ever done. He hated letting her down but he didn't want to go and watch her being paraded around by Pete. Other than he was taking Sam from him, Jack's gut feeling told him he really didn't like Pete.
"What can I do for you sir?"
"I won't be able to make it to your engagement party this weekend." He watched her reaction, not looking directly into her eyes; He could see she was upset by his news.
"Oh, no! Why?" she said, dismayed. He knew she really wanted the old SG-1 team to be there. Even General Hammond was coming from DC.
"I have an appointment in Washington on Friday and I'll be staying there over the weekend. Sorry again Carter, tell Pete congratulations."
"Thank you sir I will." She couldn't believe that he wasn't coming.
"I've got to go; I have a briefing with SG-3 in five minutes. See ya Monday Carter, have a great party," he said as he walked out the door of her lab, leaving her standing there totally stunned.
Sam felt hurt and betrayed. It was probably the first time in a long time she felt like crying. Jack was one of her best friends and he wasn't coming. She wasn't happy and needed to talk to someone. She chose the only person who would understand how she felt. Heartsick, she walked down to Daniel's lab. Sam found him seated at his desk lost in thought as he stared at his computer screen.
"Daniel, why isn't the General coming this weekend?" Sam rushed her words as a tear ran down her face.
"What, sorry I was looking at this… What? Jack's not coming? Why?" Everyone knew what was going to happen this weekend.
"That's what I'm here to ask you. He said he'is going to DC and staying there the weekend." Daniel could see the tear that she had running down her face and how much she was trying to hold it all together.
"Daniel, I….was…really looking forward to having all of us there, to celebrate. Sorry, I shouldn't come to you with this but dad's not going to be there and now the General. It was important to me that they both be there. Could you please talk to him maybe convince him to come back after his meetings?" Sam asked hopefully. She felt bad but she knew Daniel could get Jack to do just about anything.
"I'll try, that's all I can promise. It will be ok; it will be fun no matter what happens, the rest of us will be there."
"Thanks Daniel. I should go back to work; I'll talk to you later?" She said as she wiped her face and headed back to her lab.
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Daniel and Jack had been sitting in Jack's office for a good five minutes both knowing what this little conversation was going to be about. Watching Jack sign endless forms and putting them in a neat stack Daniel leaned forward and asked, "Can't you come back after your meeting Jack? Sam would love it if you were there."
"I know, but I already made these plans and I can't change them." Jack replied tersely.
"What is so important that couldn't be cancelled for Sam? Jack, this is Sam, you know the person for whom you would do anything?" Daniel said. The guilt trip usually worked on Jack when it came to anything to do with Sam.
"Daniel this is none of your business and I wish you would stay out of it." Jack said getting up from his chair and walking out of his own office just to get away from him.
No matter how hard Daniel tried, he could not change Jack's mind. Jack left for Washington on Thursday afternoon, glad to be getting out of town for a couple of days. He hadn't spoken to Carter, Daniel or Teal'c since he had his little chat with Daniel. He knew they were disappointed at his absence and after this weekend they would be for a very long time.
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"Wow this place looks great. They've gone all out for this." Daniel said as they all walked into the hall. Janet agreed as she spotted Sam standing at the bar sipping a glass of wine.
The party was held at a local hall in the centre of town. It had been an art gallery and a restaurant but now it was rented out for private functions. It had its own Bar and kitchen on the right towards the back, with a hall way entrance to restrooms over the far left. Most of the walls were a plain cream colour but the hall entrance had an ornate wooden carving at the top. The bar was a little more modern with stainless steel top with wood cabinets underneath. The tables were placed around the perimeter of a wooden dance floor. Everything was rather plain but Sam had fancied it up the tables with blue and white silk tablecloths. Each table had a floating candle in the middle surrounded by six place settings. Another table Janet guessed was for Sam and Pete was in the middle of the two groups just off the dance floor.
The lights had been dimmed and the music played softly to create a romantic atmosphere. Janet and Daniel slowly looked around and noticed that the people from the SGC were all seated or standing over to the left side of the hall. Siler and Walter were already seated with their partners. There was a table towards the front of the hall left for SG1. To the right was filled with people they didn't know. They were all laughing and having a good time. The SGC side of the hall was much more somber and quiet. Janet thought it looked like a funeral.
"I think I need a drink to get through this," Janet stated as she walked to the bar. Daniel nodded and followed her. They had to support Sam no matter how much none of them liked Pete.
Despite their misgivings, the party turned out to be pleasant. A few drinks and General Hammond's presence helped. They were seated at a table in the back chatting and reminiscing about all the things that had happened over the years at the SGC. Pete and Sam made the rounds and eventually joined the table. The friendly atmosphere suddenly ended, and they quieted down in Pete's presence. He had security clearance regarding the Stargate and what Sam did, but didn't have full clearance to go on base or even know specific details.
Daniel, not thinking rattled on, "I wish Jack was here; it would be like old times. He's been pretty quiet since he became General!" Everyone looked at him.
"Well it's going to be a long time before you all will be together again once he leaves," Hammond said sadly. Jack had informed him that SG1 knew about his departure.
"What?" everyone snapped back. "Where is he going?"
The general sat there stunned. "You don't know?" He asked looking at their shocked faces. He groaned silently, suddenly realizing that they didn't know.
"General, what do you mean when you say leave?" Sam asked shocked.
"I shouldn't be the one to tell you."
"General please? Has this anything to do with him being in Washington this weekend?" Daniel asked.
"I'm sorry but I can't tell you. If Jack and Kerri haven't told you I don't want to be the one who does."
"Um, general, who's Kerri?" Janet asked quietly, glancing at Sam for her reaction.
Hammond nearly choked. They didn't know about Kerri, "Oh this was going to be good," he thought to himself. If he thought about it he only knew because he caught them dancing at a nightclub in Washington. Jack had taken Kerry out for her birthday. He gave a silent laugh. Jack dancing! Who would have thought of Jack as romantic. Daniel's voice brought him back to reality.
Daniel knew that name was familiar to him. Where had he heard it before? He was thinking hard, then it suddenly came to him.
"You mean Kerri Johnson the CIA agent? The one who investigated Kinsey and the Trust? And when you say Jack and Kerri, you make it sound as though they're together?" Daniel asked what everyone wanted to know. Teal'c cast a sideways glance at Sam.
All Hammond could do was nod a reluctant yes. "Look I shouldn't have said anything; please just talk to Jack when he gets back. He'll fill you all in."
Sam sat there stunned. Her heart sank at the General's words and suddenly she found it hard to breathe. Who the hell was Kerri? When had he ever mentioned that he was dating anyone? Sam felt her teeth clench and her jaw suddenly set tight in anger. As if in slow motion, she reached into her purse and fished out her cell phone. She stood up clutching it and headed to the door.
"Oh this should be good!" Daniel stated as he and Janet raced after her so they could at least hear her side of the phone conversation. Pete gaped after them, wondering why Sam was suddenly so angry.
Not remembering that there was a time difference between Colorado Springs and Washington, Sam dialed Jack's number and waited impatiently for him to pick up.
On the other side of the continent, his cell phone rang insistently. Groaning, Jack rolled over picked up the phone and looked at the caller i.d. Answering it as Sam only normally called when it had something to do with the SGC, he wasn't expecting the barrage of questions.
"O'Neill!"
"Who is Kerri and why are you leaving?" Sam said loud enough that Kerri woke up.
Jack covered up the mouthpiece and told Kerri to go back to sleep. He headed out to the kitchen so he could talk in private with Sam.
"Well? What do you have to say?" Sam said impatiently. "Who is Kerri?" Sam said as Jack cut her off.
"Colonel Carter, Kerri is none of your business! What I do is none of your business!" Jack snapped back. "May I remind you, Colonel, that this is MY personal business. You lost the right to comment on it when you started dating that cop. Remember him? Isn't his name Pete? Aren't you currently engaged to him? Or has that changed in the last 24 hours?
"I thought we were friends! I guess I was wrong!"
"Well I thought we were more! I guess we were both wrong! And Colonel, if you continue this conversation I can guarantee you will be put on report for insubordination to a superior officer! You'd better think twice about speaking to me in that tone. Mind your own damn business!" Jacks gritted into the phone before snapping the cell phone shut and throwing it across the apartment.
Sam just stood there looking at the phone, playing his last words over and over. Sudden embarrassment washed over her. What on earth was she doing, speaking to a superior officer that way? Had she lost her mind?
Janet came up behind her; Sam didn't even hear her asking if she was alright.