Part 4
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SAM
I was shaking so badly that, when I passed through the inner doors to the mess hall vestibule, I leaned for a few seconds against the wall trying to regain my composure. Base commander, bird colonel? Did he really think appealing to my ambition would seduce me into forgetting how badly he'd hurt me?
Anger put some starch into my backbone and I walked through the outer doors to see my father, Daniel and Teal'c sitting idly on the raised edge of a flowerbed. I put my hands on my hips and walked up to the trio.
"Bored, boys?" I asked with a touch of annoyance.
Daniel stopped swinging his leg to answer, "Uh, no, just waiting for you, Sam. How did it go?"
"It?" I prompted, playing dumb.
"Jack's 'job' offer. Breakfast. Whatever."
"I said I'd think about it, nothing more, and I left before eating. Now, let's get going. I'm sure Janet has a whole bank of really fun tests ready and waiting for me." My father rose with my two and walked to my side.
Leaning into me he said, "Sam, let's talk." He led/dragged me like a sulky teenager to the dorm room where I'd slept last night.
He rounded on me. "Give me one reason why you didn't accept Colonel O'Neill's offer."
"You are asking me why I don't give up command of SG-1 to move here for the unlikely possibility of a relationship with him?" He stepped away, one hand on his hip, the other smoothing back non-existent hair from his forehead.
"Sam, you're my only daughter and Jack O'Neill is not exactly the man I would have picked for you, but you two love each other. It's been plain to me since I first saw the two of you together. Now, I know you've never acted on your feelings - not counting the dream world – but maybe you should."
"Dad, I tried to act on it several months ago and he… he pushed me away. I've never been so hurt by anything in my life, except Mom's death. Plus, I don't know if I could live on a planet where nothing good has ever happened to me."
"Sam, good memories don't just happen, you have to make them. Don't blame the things that have happened to you here on the planet. Jack's a good man – a little off kilter, but so am I – don't throw him away because he followed some bad advice." He winced at his slip.
"Who's bad advice?" I demanded quietly.
"I'd really rather not say, Sam. He told me in confidence; and he feels really bad for having done it."
"Dad!"
"George." He looked like someone had kicked him.
"General Hammond told Jack not to be with me?" Several things made a lot more sense now. I could feel my jaw clenching in anger, but couldn't stop my reaction.
"Now, Sam, it's not quite that simple, but essentially, you're right. After you all returned from the dream, Jack asked George for his advice about whether you two should go for it or go back to the way things were before… you know. George gave the company line and convinced Jack that for you to give up your military career just to try to reproduce your fantasy would be a major mistake - for you and for Earth."
His words took all strength from my knees and I sat – okay flopped – down on the bed. My emotions ran from anger – at Jack, at Hammond, at the Air Force rules, everything – to despair that we'd ever get together, that something would always come between us.
"Has General Hammond changed his mind about Jack and me being together? If we both reported to him, he would have to approve."
Dad gazed earnestly at me. "Sam, he's ready to help you pack right now if you'd agree to stay here with Jack."
"Then, I'll think about it. But that's all I promise, Dad."
"Would it help if I say that Selmak thinks you should go for it, too?" He grinned weakly and I returned the gesture.
"Maybe."
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JANET
"Sam, all your blood work and tests show you to be in excellent health, except for a slight decrease in weight and electrolytes, most likely from not eating or drinking enough for three days."
"Thanks, Janet. So, I'm cleared to return to work?" A hopeful expression lit up her face.
"After a weekend off, yes. Your system has been through a lot of stress over the past few days. You need to rest for a couple of days." Sam crumpled like a five-year-old whose favorite toy was off limits during a timeout. Her face formed a pout. "Sam, you either need to stay totally away from Colonel O'Neill or marry the man. You're even picking up his bad habits."
Snickers came from the doorway and we turned to watch Daniel and Teal'c walk into my domain while trying to suppress laughter. Sam's face froze in the realization that what I'd said was true.
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SAM
Janet wanted me to go, Hammond and Dad wanted me to go. I knew where Daniel stood on the subject. In desperation, I turned to my rock, Teal'c. Throughout the past months, he had always been there for me, for anything from a smile or nod of approval to a hug or shoulder to cry on when the loneliness got too much. I would never have made it through this last year without him.
"Should I go, Teal'c? Can I trust him with my heart again?" I'd interrupted his Kel'no'reem and we were sitting on cushions in his candle-lit quarters.
"Do you love him?" Teal'c rumbled in response. I lowered my head to think for a moment, then sat up straight to face him.
"I don't really know. I did love him – so very much. But, after he put my feelings through a meat grinder, I don't know if I can be sure of him." Why was this stuff so hard? This makes physics look easy.
"SamanthaCarter, O'Neill has expressed a desire to make up for his mistakes. This may well be your last opportunity to be with him. Do you not owe it to yourself to find out whether you wish this relationship to continue?"
I held the silence and stared into space, thinking. "Maybe I do. Maybe I do," I muttered and looked up at my friend. "Thanks, Teal'c."
General Hammond was more than happy to allow me another seven days of downtime after my last disastrous attempt at a vacation. I sent Jack an email asking if his invitation for a visit was still open, and then I waited – for the email to make it to Eden in the daily dump of data, for him to answer the message and the reply to make it back. Those two days passed so slowly it felt like two years.
His answer wasn't a surprise, but it was a relief to have that over. While I prepared to leave the next day, Daniel and Teal'c stopped by.
"Hey, Sam. So, when are we leaving?" Daniel inquired.
"We, Kemo Sabe?"
"Yes, ColonelCarter. O'Neill has reported that, although seriously wounded by his pursuers and not expected to live, Lt. Simms is still at large. We cannot in good conscience allow you to go alone," Teal'c announced. Daniel I could have talked out of it, but with Teal'c, I knew I was beaten.
"Well, if two good looking men just happen to want to walk me to the base, who am I to say no?" I gave in as graciously as possible.
"That's the spirit, Sam. Teal'c is going on from there to spend time with Ry'ak and I have a ton of work I'm taking with me. Why not do it in a beautiful place?"
"Thanks, guys. I feel better with my two big brothers taking care of me." They were so puffed up at my easy agreement, I had to add, smirking, "Just remember: when we get back, I'm still the boss."
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DANIEL
Our trip to Eden Base was uneventful this time and the weather cooperated wonderfully by showing the late summer foliage to its best advantage. Two armed airmen, anxious to keep the colonel's guest safe, met us at the Stargate. Little did they know she could take care of herself very well when not betrayed by someone she trusted. I feared that, sadly, her trust would be much harder to gain in the future.
Adjoining rooms were ready and waiting for us in the dorm, Sam's filled with wildflowers, so the three of us unpacked. On the network terminal, I found a note from Jack, saying he had a work emergency and wouldn't join us until tomorrow. "Poor Sam," I muttered to myself. "She just can't get a break."
Sam, Teal'c and I decided to walk through the base before dinner. Jack and his people had made incredible progress in the months since first coming here. People from the base yelled greetings and came over to talk. The two big structures were more than half built in a newly cleared section of the camp and the foundations for two others completed what would become four sides of the central common of Eden Base. To the east clusters of log cabins shared smaller common areas equipped with tables, benches and outdoor grills - all the comforts of home. A horseshoe pitch and a volleyball field overlay a rough baseball field.
"At least Jack knows his people have to play," I commented. Sam and Teal'c exchanged amused glances.
"Daniel, if there's one thing the colonel knows how to do, its play," she added, grinning.
"Indeed, O'Neill is most proficient at recreational activities, especially if they involve the Simpsons."
Sam smothered a snigger at Teal'c's dry humor and asked, "Anyone else hungry? Colonel O'Neill's note promised a special dinner tonight. All we have to do is show up and ask for Sgt. Bodine."
"Let's go. You know how this fresh air makes me hungry, Sam."
Jack was right. The dinner was exceptional. Fresh fish and vegetables, delicately spiced, in a paper-thin shell made up the main course. Dessert was an exceptional chocolate mousse.
"Oh, this is fantastic," Sam moaned with pleasure over her mousse and coffee. "If O'Neill is trying to tempt me, this is by far the closest he's come." She glanced at the kitchen door, where our host, Sergeant Bodine, stood watching us. "Excuse me for a sec."
Sam walked to the sergeant and spoke briefly with him. His chest puffed up and he grinned happily at her words. The portly cook continued smiling as he watched her retreating form all the way back to our table.
"I think Sam's made another conquest," I commented to Teal'c, who merely nodded sagely.
"Would you believe the colonel actually caught the fish we ate?" she asked, seating herself again. I shook my head and Teal'c looked doubtful.
"Has he told you yet what he's got planned for this week?" I replied with a question of my own.
Sam swallowed her last bit of dessert and licked the spoon with a wicked grin. "Nope. He just said, quote 'Bring hiking boots and sunscreen, but leave the dancing shoes and party dresses at home. Bathing suit optional.' What do you think of that?"
"Hmm, sounds like a regular mission to me, Sam. Ex-cept for the bathing suit part." It made me blush a little.
"Perhaps O'Neill wishes you to conduct another survey, ColonelCarter."
She chuckled and said, "I'm tired guys. I'll see you at breakfast." We walked her to her room and said our goodnights.
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SAM
Ever the optimist, I'd brought some professional papers. I pulled one out of my duffle and set it on the night table. In the spare, but functional bathroom, I prepared for bed. Discarding the sexy nightgown I'd packed, hopeful for an opportunity to use it, I grabbed a XL tee shirt and shrugged it on.
The paper did its duty and within a few minutes, I was too sleepy to read anymore. It seemed no more than a few seconds after my eyes closed that a breath of air brushed against my cheek. Suspecting the colonel of sneaking up on me again, my eyelids rose ever so slightly. A shadow approached from behind a large chest in the far corner.
His voice was so low; I strained to hear his muttered words. "Samantha, my darling, I'll rescue you from this prison of walls. Hmm, mm, yes…" The words degenerated into a grating buzz of sounds. His halting footsteps whispered against the soft area rug by my bed.
"Oh, god, it's Simms," ran through my panicked mind. His aroma – sweat, dirt, infection, dung, whatever – hit me like a slap. I froze, afraid to breathe or move, lest this nightmare turn out to be real. I could almost believe I'd never left the cave.
As he stole up to the bedside and reached his hand out to touch me, I thought, "No! He's not going to do it to me again. I won't be his victim this time!"
Adrenaline surged through my muscles and propelled me from the bed. Grabbing a lamp from the table, I swung at his head, smashing the cheap ceramic base with a highly satisfactory crash. Taking the lamp cord, I turned Simms over, sat on his back and bound his hands behind him.
"Well, I can see you didn't need me to rescue you this time, Sam." Hanging from an access panel to the upper crawl space was a smirking Colonel O'Neill. He dropped to the floor and walked to where the unconscious Simms and I occupied most of the available floor space. The colonel's toe nudged Simms' arm.
"Samantha, my love, don't listen to his lies. He just wants you for himself," raved my prisoner.
As one, O'Neill and I yelled, "Shut up!"
The colonel held up his radio and asked, "Mind if I call the guard to get your friend out of here?"
"Be my guest, sir."
He spoke into the radio, "Seems the lady didn't need our help after all. You can take out the trash now." Within minutes, six SFs and a couple of burly USACE types arrived to take Simms away, carefully not staring at my bare legs. One of the SFs turned to me as he left, his face deadly serious.
"Thanks for capturing him, ma'am." Before I could respond to his rather mysterious statement, the door closed behind them. Now for the $64 question.
"What are you doing here, sir?" Sneaking around my room at night was getting to be a habit with him.
"I suspected Simms would try to visit you tonight, so I decided to wait for him."
I was incredulous at his gall. "You used me for bait!" I accused him angrily and slapped him as hard as I could before stalking to the bathroom. I didn't care if he brought me up on charges, it felt so good. The door made a very satisfactory boom when it slammed shut. My clothes from the day still hung on the door, so I hurriedly dressed and packed up my things. All the while, the colonel spoke to me through the door.
"Sam, it's not like that. I asked Teal'c not to tell you, but Simms almost killed two of my people two days ago. He tried to steal food from the garden and two SFs caught him. He took a 2x4 to them. They'll both will need some rather extensive dental surgery. That is, after they get out of the infirmary."
Well, that explained the thanks. I opened the door and started packing my clothes.
"Sam, don't go. I suspected he'd try something and wanted to be prepared."
I was still steamed. "Why didn't you tell me? Why leave me in the dark?"
Hands in his pockets, he looked down at his feet and muttered, "Because I was afraid you wouldn't come if you knew how bad things were."
I rolled my eyes. "Sir, what am I going to do with you?"
"You could call me Jack…" he suggested tentatively. This, not being the expected response, confused me for a second and I gaped like a fool.
"Look, Sam, I have to go check on my security team. Uh, make sure Simms hasn't left 'em all in a pile of little pieces. May I come back so we can talk about this? We really need to talk," he begged.
I reluctantly agreed and he left, taking all the air in the room with him. Unpacking took all of a few seconds. When I pulled the nightgown out of my duffle, the folly of my actions hit me. My refusal to trust him in any way or simply give him a break, seemed petty and almost hysterical, in retrospect.
"Come on, Sam. Quit being such a chicken shit and talk openly with him," I berated myself. My eyes fell on the diaphanous nightie. "Go on, go for it. Don't overthink it for once," the little devil in me urged. I grabbed the bit of silk and ran to the bathroom.
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JACK
The SFs were regaling the next shift with tales of how "their new colonel" had kicked Simms' ass but good, and, since the pronoun they used was "she," I kinda thought they weren't talking about me. They had Simms safely settled in the little closet we occasionally used as a cell. I checked to make sure he hadn't received any extra bruises on the way here. Satisfied that he was getting better treatment than he deserved, I said goodnight and hurried back to Sam's room.
My knock was soft enough not to carry beyond her door. All we needed was an audience to her letting me in at 2 a.m. Gossip on a small base is a major pastime pursued by almost everyone. Her career did not need this type of gossip.
"Come in, Jack," she called. I closed the door behind me and slipped the lock on. Only the fixture over the lavatory mirror illuminated the bedroom.
"Sam, you should have heard the guys bragging about how you took that slime ball down. You've got a fan cluuu…" My voice trailed off as I saw her silhouetted in the doorway.
"You know, I don't think I've ever seen you speechless, Jack?" Her self-satisfied smirk sent a jolt of electricity from my stomach straight south. This was not going at all as I'd planned, but I wasn't complaining. She walked toward me slowly, the silky material swaying around her hips enticingly, distracting me terribly.
"Uh, does this mean you've decided to stay?" Somehow, they never taught us in survival school how to resist this type of torture. Sam walked up to me and looked up into my face. Her expression was suddenly earnest, with a little fear thrown in.
"Maybe, but we'd have to set some ground rules first."
"Whatever you want, Sam. So long as it's in my power, it's yours," I promised sincerely.
"Okay. First, we have to work as partners here, so no keeping me in the dark – on anything!" I nodded my agreement. "Second, we take this relationship thing slowly, that is, if you still want to be with me."
"More than anything in the universe, I want you in my life. I love you, Sam."
She took a deep breath and bit her lip. Her voice shook as she replied, "I love you, too." We gravitated into each other's arms and held tight, though the feel of her skin through the sheer stuff she wore was making it really hard to keep my hands still.
I grinned happily. "Though, I have to say, taking it slowly kinda messes up what I had planned for tonight."
Her hand trailed from my shoulder down my chest to my abdomen, making my breathing ragged. "Well, that can be arranged."
"Actually, Sam, that wasn't what I was talking about – not that I'm saying no to that" Reaching into my pocket, I brought out the little jeweler's box and handed it to her. "This is what I had planned."
Her eyes were huge and she looked from the box to me, and back to the box.
"Open it," I urged, incredibly nervous.
"Oh my god, Jack. Is the Rock of Gibraltar missing?" Her mouth hung open – in awe, I hoped. I took the ring and put it on the tip of her ring finger, and then looked to her for permission to put it on all the way. Sam stared at me for an eternity, every bit of suffering I'd caused her displayed for me in her incredible blue eyes. She must have liked what she'd seen, because her special smile blossomed and she said, "Yes."
I slipped on the ring and pulled her to me for a kiss to seal the deal. The thought that another kiss could be as good as the one we shared in Simms' cave never occurred to me. This time Sam put her whole heart into it and I was lost until she pulled back to kiss her way down my jaw to my collarbone. Things got really interesting from there.
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SAM
We walked into the mess hall looking for my teammates and, again, every head turned to watch us. Daniel and Teal'c waved us over to their table. On the way, several people greeted us, and I was surprised how many knew me by name. "Although," I thought wryly, "I'm probably infamous here for being kidnapped and chained up in a cave by my own subordinate." Jack greeted the guys and walked toward the kitchen.
"You two look like you could use some coffee," Daniel observed. "Late night?" I felt the blush start at my chest and make its way up to my scalp. The little scamp chuckled.
"ColonelCarter, is there something wrong with your left hand?" Teal'c inquired.
"No." It was safely in my pants pocket.
"You're going to find it hard to eat with one hand, Sam." Daniel had me there, so I took my hand out and placed it on the table. His expression – absolutely agog – was priceless and worth letting the cat out. People all over the room gasped as the early morning light caused the huge diamond to sparkle. I could see Daniel was having trouble framing an adequate question, so I took pity on him.
"Jack tells me he found the stone in a stream near here and had it cut and set on Earth. It's the very first Eden gemstone found." Never one for jewelry, I was oddly quite proud of the "rock." Jack sauntered up carrying a rather large container for just breakfast.
"So, what's your plan for today, Jack? Don't you think you've kept Sam in the dark long enough?" my "brother" stated.
"Nope. It's a surprise - for her. If you're very nice – to her – you might find out when we get back," Jack quipped and turned to me with a smirk. "Ready to go, gorgeous? I picked up our breakfast and lunch to go."
He held out his hand to help me up and I took it. At that moment, a loud cheer and deafening catcalls broke out among the diners. Jack smirked - the jerk - and I smiled weakly, unbelievably embarrassed. This was so not going to be good for my credibility when I took command of this base.
We picked up our packs before heading roughly east along the trail to the next valley, the future home of Jack's colony. About a half mile from the base, he directed me onto an almost invisible track that lead sharply uphill. Bushes loaded with ripe berries and tiny rose-like flowers slapped against our legs as we climbed. The colors and scents enticed the senses. The soft duff underfoot absorbed all sounds of our passage.
Our upward path continued for perhaps another mile until we crested the ridge into a small opening in the forest. We walked for a few seconds until we stood on a ledge projecting out from the ridge like the prow of a sailing ship. I gazed at a 270-degree view of a pocket-sized valley. At the bottom sat a crystalline lake sparkling in the morning sun.
I couldn't help smiling at the untouched beauty of it all. "This is incredible, Jack! How did you ever find it?"
"I was surveying the area, searching for, well, anything at that point. We hadn't been here long and there was no handy Tok'ra satellite in the sky then." He smiled happily at me. "As soon as I saw it, I knew it was my price for taking the job."
"You're price…?"
"Yeah. When I agreed to take what was essentially my final assignment, I asked for a signing bonus of sorts." I looked at him incredulously. One didn't normally bargain with the United States Air Force when offered assignments. He smiled sadly and scuffed his foot in the humus underfoot. "Hammond knew the circumstances of why I needed to leave the SGC and felt a little guilty, so he arranged everything with the President."
"So, this valley is…?"
"Mine. Ours," he gestured to each of us and I felt tears prickle in my eyes. "And it goes to our heirs in perpetuity. Tax free, assuming Eden ever starts taxing people. The valley, everything in it and the ridge all around the valley are included. The fish you ate yesterday was from our lake. I found your diamond here, not too far from the hot springs. That's why I could keep it for you instead of turning it over to the colony."
I gazed at him in amazement - Jack never failed to surprise me. "So, this is where we're staying for the week?"
"If you'd like to, yes. I have a very small cabin down by the lake; just one tiny room for now, but I have plans. Having you there would make it the Taj Mahal." The way he looked at me made my knees weak.
I wrapped my arms around his waist and pulled him close. "Anywhere you want to go, I'll be there, watching your six."
His eyebrows rose and he asked, "You'll be staring at my butt?"
"Well, that too. I see no reason to stop now." I grinned broadly and drew his head down for a kiss. I could hardly wait to begin our new life together.
Continued in Garden of Eden