A/N: There are no specific TWs for this chapter. Just Jack and Sam being their normal romantically obtuse selves.
"You wanna talk about it?" Janet asked Sam as she and Cassie made up the new bed with fresh linens.
Sam had borrowed Jack's phone as soon as she was up and dressed to call Janet to come get her for a shopping spree. First up was a new cell phone, followed by a new mattress and sheets. Sam had protested the wheelchair Janet brought along at first, but she was forced to admit it made getting around much easier.
"Not particularly," Sam grumbled. "I just decided it was time to come home."
"I thought you and Jack were finally hooking up," Cassie giggled, earning a look of reproach from her mom.
"What my daughter means to say," Janet rolled her eyes, "is we thought you two had finally figured things out."
"It's just too much right now," Sam evaded their unasked question. "We both need some time."
"You've had seven years, Sam," Cassie said with exasperation. "How much more time are you gonna need because I'm not getting any younger."
"Okay young lady," Janet bit back a grin at her daughter's words. "I think it's time for you to go clean up the kitchen. Now scoot," she threw a pillow at her head. "You know Cass does have a point," Janet offered once her daughter was out of earshot. "You and Jack aren't getting any younger. If not now, when?"
"You know it's not that simple," Sam tried to explain. "We both have some serious obstacles to overcome."
"General Hammond isn't going to stand in your way," Janet urged.
"It's more than Air Force rules and regulations," Sam replied.
"Like what?" Janet crossed her arms over her chest.
"Like the fact that he doesn't feel the same way anymore."
"Didn't he just tell you last night that he loved you?" Janet reminded her.
"He told me he was in love with me when he Zatted me three years ago," Sam shrugged. "That doesn't mean he's in love with me now."
Janet scoffed loudly, "That man lives and breathes for you. No I'm serious," she added when Sam shook her head. "I wish you could have seen him the night you were hurt."
"I did see him," Sam growled. "I was the one who'd been beaten, remember?"
"That's my point," Janet rolled her eyes. "You were in shock and probably don't remember this, but that man was incapable of anything except ensuring your safety. His entire being was centered on you. My god Sam, most women would kill for a love like that. What will it take for you to see what is right in front of your nose?"
Sam opened her mouth to respond but Janet held up a hand.
"Save it," she ordered. "If you want to live in denial that's your choice, but don't expect me to enable you. Holler if you need something," Janet said before leaving Sam to think about what she'd said.
Jack poked at the already chargrilled steak on his grill with a long metal tong. Taking a swig of beer, he splashed some on the burning meat then poked it again.
"I'll take mine medium-rare," Daniel said as he came up the walk from the driveway. "On second thought," he amended as he caught a glimpse of the blackened meat, "I'll just take some beans and potato salad."
"It's only a little singed," Jack bristled, flipping the steak over and splashing more beer onto it.
Daniel slipped into the house to retrieve the rest of the food, two plates, and utensils. Having been to Jack's more than any other member of SG-1, he knew exactly where everything was kept. However, he hesitated in bewilderment when he couldn't find the napkins.
"Jack!" He called through the open door. "Napkins?"
"Cloth ones are in the drawer by the stove," came the reply.
Grabbing a couple, Daniel carried everything outside and plopped it down on the table. "Since when do you use fabric napkins?"
"Carter likes them better," Jack shrugged. "Saves the environment and all."
"Hmmm," Daniel hid his grin as he took a swig of beer.
"Don't start," Jack grumbled, pointing the tongs at Daniel's head.
"I didn't say a thing," Daniel held up his hands. "Although, it is interesting."
Jack let out a deep sigh and took the bait. "What is?"
"That these cloth napkins are clearly a representation of your willingness to do anything to please Sam," Daniel shrugged.
"Daniel," Jack warned.
"I mean, you watched her date another man because you thought it would make her happy," Daniel took another drink. "You could have stopped her at any time, but you stood by—"
"And let an asshole abuse her under my nose?" Jack finished for him.
"What!?" Daniel's beer bottle handed on the table with a thud. "That's not what I was going to say, Jack."
"Maybe not," he shrugged, "but it's the truth."
"You aren't responsible for Pete's actions," Daniel growled. "And if you think Sam blames you—"
"I don't. She absolved me, too."
"Well, that's—"
"Doesn't change the fact that I should have known, Danny," Jack flipped the steak onto a plate and turned off the grill. "You think this was a one time deal?"
"Sam wouldn't stay with anyone who hit her," Daniel argued.
"Of course not," Jack grumbled. "But the emotional abuse was there. It was so subtle, I don't think she even realized he was separating her from us outside of the SGC. Chipping away at her confidence. Tell me you didn't notice?"
"I just thought her priorities were changing," Daniel looked down at his plate and pretended to pick off an invisible crumb.
"I pushed her away and right into his open arms," Jack dropped the plate onto the table with a sharp crack. "And when I saw the warning signs, I buried the voice in my head because I didn't want to get hurt. I didn't want her to choose him over me, so I said nothing and convinced myself I was wrong."
"Jack," Daniel waited until the man looked at him. "I don't believe for a second that you would have allowed Sam to deal with any kind of abuse if you'd truly believed it was happening."
"Wouldn't I?" Jack let out a dark laugh.
"No," Daniel said emphatically. "You wouldn't. Because you love her."
Jack's entire body froze. They didn't speak of this. Ever. Daniel had brought it up once and Jack had shut him down so hard and fast the guy hadn't dared to breach the subject again.
" You do not willfully hurt the people you love. Even when they hurt you."
"Daniel, don't," Jack warned him, turning to go into the house.
"I know Sam hurt you," Daniel threw all caution to the wind and followed him inside. "But I also know you love her. What I don't understand is why you won't just tell her."
"I did tell her, Danny," he finally said, letting his words settle between them.
"And?"
"She left this morning, didn't she?" Jack huffed. "I re-opened an old wound and probably created a few new ones, but I laid my cards on the table."
"Did you actually say the words?" Daniel asked, knowing Jack and Sam had never been good at actually communicating when it came to personal feelings.
"What? You mean 'I love you'?" At Daniel's raised eyebrows he shook his head. "Not exactly. We talked about what came between us the first time—"
"Wait," Daniel held up a hand. "The first time? What first time?"
Jack looked heavenward. "Back after the za'tarc thing," he rubbed the back of his neck nervously, "we may have been a little more than simply colleagues."
"Oh my god!" Daniel's entire body jerked as he began to pace. "I knew it! I told Teal'c," he pointed an accusatory finger at Jack. "You were together!"
"It only lasted a few months," Jack growled. "Then the damn cyber entity thing invaded her and I—killed her," all fight leached out of Jack at the memory.
"And being the idiot you are, you blamed yourself." It was Daniel's turn to look heavenward.
"I ended things before I could hurt her again," Jack countered.
"The last couple of years make so much more sense now," Daniel sighed deeply. "I can't believe you are this stupid," he held up a hand as Jack started to speak. "Scratch that. I know you are this stupid, but I cannot believe Sam would be. Unless—Jack, did you tell Sam that you are still in love with her?"
Jack opened his mouth, then closed it. "She knows," he finally said. "How could she not?"
Post Note: While I do not normally like to announce plot twists, I think you all have already figured out a dark one is coming. It starts at the end of the next chapter and is fully realized in Chapter 15. I'll be adding new TWs, so please check them out prior to reading.