A/N: Thanks once again for your interest in my story. Sorry the last chapter was a bit of a cliffhanger, but, yeah, I admit I'm evil. And with this chapter I still am. Of course if I were really truly evil, we'd now be looking back in on Daniel and Teal'c for a few chapters, maybe waste some time watching Thor battling some replicators, see the Nox making things invisible... :)
Chapter 27 – And the Answer Is...
Sam's jaw dropped. "Wh... J... Oh my god."
Jack immediately raised his hands. "Wait! Before you say anything, let me just say everything I need to say."
Not being able to form a coherent verbal thought anyway, all Sam could do was just nod slightly.
"Look, you know I'm a kind of a make-a-decision-and-immediately-act-on-it kinda guy, right?'
Another slight nod.
"And if Plan A doesn't work, there's Plan B... Plan C... Plan Z... Well, I decided I want to live my life with you by my side, whether it's here, on Earth or on some spaceship somewhere in between. We've waited long enough and now we've finally found some happiness... well... at least I have... and I hope you have... well... if we weren't stranded on some backwater planet somewhere... but... that's beside the point." He shook his head and continued. "I don't want an answer right now... I know you probably want to think about it... I know it took you a couple of weeks to answer Pete."
"Jack... Pete..."
"Wait! Let me finish. Anyway, just... don't say anything... We're leaving tomorrow to search for that town and I figured this would be a great spot for a sort of wedding... if you were interested... and if you were interested in doing this before we left... let's just say, I'll be here at..." At this he looked at his watch and thought for a second. "I'll be right here at 1800 Earth time. If you're interested... just be here, too. If not, or if you need more time... if you want to wait until we get home... then... don't show up... I'll know without you having to say anything and I can pretend you just need more time to settle your life back home... or we can pretend this whole conversation never happened... or just delay its outcome for a bit... We've gotten pretty good at that sort of thing, so it shouldn't be a problem." He finally looked up at her with a hopeful expression.
By this point, Sam was looking at the ground. "Yeah, we've gotten pretty good at pretending things haven't happened between us." she whispered so he could barely hear it. Looking up, she spoke louder, "Jack? There's no one here to witness or perform a ceremony or anything, how could we do something like that?"
He looked thoughtful for a moment. "I figure, legal marriages are based on local laws... Daniel was married to Sha're simply by the fact that it was local law for the father of the bride to give her away, literally... And... well... here in Samandjackland..."
She raised an eyebrow. "Samandjackland?"
He smirked at that, "Has a ring, doesn't it? Anyway, the local law could be whatever the local inhabitants, that would be you and me, make it. And we could say that marriage could consist of two people pledging vows to each other, witnessed by another sediment being."
"You mean sentient being?"
"Yeah, that, whether human or jaffa or telepathic dragon... Anyway... think about it." With that, Jack turned and quickly walked away to continue to gather food and prepare for their journey in the morning. He didn't look back as he reached the tree line. He wanted to, but was too afraid she might reject him on the spot.
Sam watched as he practically ran for the woods. She almost ran after him, but didn't know what she'd say or do if she caught up to him. Instead, she opted for collapsing to sit on the ground and think for a bit. This was a turn of events she hadn't expected.
Jack spent most of the day making preparations, preparations for the journey, preparations for what he hoped would happen later. He also spent most of the day hoping and praying to whatever gods were listening that he hadn't just completely screwed up his relationship with Sam before it had even had a chance. He left a note in the crater where the stargate had been for Daniel or anyone else that might come looking for them after they left. Then he went to the lake and washed up, shaved, made himself as presentable as someone who had just spent a couple of weeks on a planet with one change of clothes and no laundry services could get.
By 1730, Jack was back at the waterfall waiting with Rover. The dragon was looking in the water of the pool, every once in a while pawing at the surface, trying to catch a fish he saw swimming around. He was getting good at sending a question mark to Jack whenever he wanted to ask a question and Jack was starting to understand a little better the questions asked. At least he hoped he was, otherwise he'd have one seriously confused dragon in no time.
The late afternoon sun cast a golden hue across the waterfall, giving it gold highlights among the silvery water and rainbows playing in the mist. He had timed it well, if only Sam decided to show. He looked at his watch for the millionth time.
1810.
That was it then. Sam was a practical person. She probably felt obligated to clear things up with Pete before taking this kind of sudden step. Jack understood, he just hoped and prayed again he hadn't screwed things up and turned to walk back to the cave. As he turned, he stopped short at the sight before him...
