A/N:
I realise I said I was going to make you wait until the weekend for my
next update, but I couldn't sleep last night and therefore due to my
insomnia have typed the entire chapter...enjoy!
BTW IloveSG I do realise the characters are becoming out of sync with their on screen ones but due to the fact that I have crossed borders and such with them, I do believe a little change in their character is in order, otherwise my entire fic will just be them ignoring and avoiding...I do not believe you all want that...
Jack's POV
Jack sat reading and rereading Sam's reply, it just seemed weird, that in only a few days they could go from colleagues to something neither of them could describe. 'You've been the only potential for over eight years' "How could I be so stupid?" Jack muttered to his now dark office before turning off his computer and leaving his office for the weekend. 'Oh yea that's right, neither of you did anything unless under the influence of an alien device or disease!' Jack walked slowly down the now emptying corridors of the SGC, all day personnel were packing up and leaving, 'I wonder if she's left yet?' Subconsciously Jack walked to Sam's lab, he was about to knock when he heard a familiar song blaring form inside, smiling to himself he strolled towards the elevators and the surface.
"Good Evening General" the checkpoint SF saluted Jack
"Yes airman it is a great night" Jack smiled returning the salute, "Enjoy your weekend"
Jack continued to his car, then the shops on his way home. It was necessary that if were to cook Sam dinner he would need to actually have food to present her with when she got there; 'At least I should have something cooking!' Jack walked aimlessly down the aisles, 'What would Sam want to eat? Steak is out after last night, possibly chicken? Yea chicken I can do that!' Jack smiled to himself as he walked towards the deli before stopping short, 'Crap! What will I put with it? Get a grip O'Neill you can handle this, just think of an easy chicken recipe…nothing coming to mind! How about rice? Chicken and rice go nicely together! Yes but rice is plain, you need a sauce to go with it…try lemon? Nah will remind her of McKay…Mango! She loves mangoes! See O'Neill that wasn't too hard now was it?' Jack stopped arguing with himself when he decided upon dinner, but a voice next to him caught his attention.
"Can I just get a small chicken please?" a female voice caught his attention
"Kerry?" Jack asked to the stranger beside him
"Jack! What are you doing here?" Kerry asked taking the chicken from the deli assistant
"Well since it's a supermarket I suppose I'm shopping" Jack smiled at Kerry before turning his attention to the deli assistant, "Two skin-less breasts please"
"Your cooking?" Kerry chuckled
Jack took the wrapped chicken, "Yea usually customary when one invites someone over for a cooked meal" Jack smiled again before turning to leave, but Kerry's hand stopped him
"It was good to see you Jack" Kerry smiled hopefully up at the officer
"Yea it was Kerry, but I really have to go, need rice and mango sauce yet" Jack slipped his arm out of her grip before heading away looking for the aisle with rice and sauces
"Jack!" Kerry called after him causing him to halt.
Turning slowly towards him, Jack tried making his face neutral, "Yea Kerry?"
Kerry looked unsure of herself for a moment before she stepped forward and kissed Jack gently on the lips; Jack pulled back abruptly, "Kerry what the hell?" Jack hissed
"I miss you Jack" Kerry whimpered
"You left me Kerry, you told me to retire and go after Sam! Now you want me, what gives Kerry because my little brain can't handle too much information at the moment!" Jack asked as calmly as possible without drawing attention to their 'discussion'
"I was wrong OK! I saw her standing there looking hopeless and I thought I saw a different look in your eyes and body movements Jack! It was as though her being there was awkward for a reason, not just because you hadn't told her about me! I was wrong OK!" Kerry began whimpering again
"No Kerry you were right, something was different when she was around, I'm not comfortable talking about her with you OK? Now if you will excuse me I have a very beautiful woman coming around in just over an hour for a nice home cooked dinner" Jack ended the conversation leaving a shocked and saddened Kerry in his wake
"You realize you can't have her right?" Kerry called, "You will never be able to have her like you could me!"
That did it, Jack spun around not caring who witnessed, "I don't have to have her like I did you for me to be happy! Don't you get that? Just being with her on a day to day basis is what I need, sure it may not be enough, but I will not let her ruin a brilliant career and she won't let me do the same. Think what you want Kerry I choose her no matter the consequences, now please, just leave it" Jack fumed storming towards his previous direction.
10minutes later jack was in his car on his way home to cook Sam a beautiful meal, well hopefully beautiful! His recent argument with Kerry ran through his head, 'Is that enough? Seeing her each day? Of course it's not Jack, but you are respecting her career, please don't tell me you didn't think of the consequences of the emails! Uh…hello! It's me you're talking to; I never think ahead anymore…I just never thought it would get out of control. She's right though I can't have her, not like I could anyone else, so why am I still at this point?' Jack's thoughts were reeling when he reached home; grabbing the food he jumped from the truck and headed inside. Once inside Jack placed on some thought music and relaxed into the simple task of cooking mango chicken on rice. Just as he was beginning to upload the bags the first song finally came on, stopping Jack dead, the song that came on was exactly how he felt, 'I didn't know I had this song on CD?' Jack looked at the CD player only to see it on turner, 'Coincident?' The words washed over Jack as he prepared the dinner.
'Open up
your heart to me
And say what's on your mind, oh yes
I know
that we have been through so much pain
But I still need you in my
life this time
And I need you tonight
I need you right
now
I know deep within my heart
It doesn't matter if it's
wrong or right
I really need you tonight
I figured out
what to say to you
But sometimes the words, they, they come out so
wrong, always they do
And I know in time you will understand
That
what we have is so right this time
And I need you
tonight
I need you right now
I know deep within my heart
It
doesn't matter if it's wrong or right
All those
endless times we tried to make it last forever more
And baby I
know
I need you
I know deep within my heart
It doesn't
matter if it's wrong or right
I really need you, oh
I
need you tonight (I need you, oh I need you baby)
I need you right
now (It's gotta be this, it's gotta be this)
I know deep
within my heart
No, it doesn't matter it it's wrong or it's
right
All I know is baby
I really need you tonight'
As the song finished Jack placed the chicken in the oven, and hurried to shower and dress before he ran out if time to finish getting the house ready. He was hoping to catch her by surprise with a cleaner house and a nice dinner setting but with his interruption form Kerry he had lost precious minutes. 5minutes later Jack jumped out of the shower and roughly dried his hair before pulling on a pair of jeans, a black undershirt and a nice black button up with the first two buttons undone. Checking his appearance in the mirror he realized he hadn't shaved in days but decided to leave the 5 o'clock stubble there, she didn't mind it today why would she tonight? "Besides I said casual, shaving would mean I tried to look this good!" Jack snapped at his reflection before hurrying down stairs.
Jack checked on the chicken, turned it down and placed the rice in the microwave before heading to the lounge to throw out any empty stubbies and straighten up the couch and dinning table. Jack grabbed some candles from the top draw in the kitchen and set them up on the table and a few outside on the deck, they always ended up out there. After the third check of his watch, the kitchen clock and the VCR jack decided to straighten the placemats for the third time and re check that he chilled the beer and wine incase she wanted that instead. The ice-cream was still frozen in the freeze and the blue jell-o in the fridge, with some red for him. Jack was thoroughly stressed out when it reached and passed 1830 half an hour ago; Jack was about ready to call her cell when a timid knock on the door caught his attention. He strolled to the door, taking some deep breaths before opening it; Sam looked gorgeous, 'Where did she find that dress? I must thank them!'
"Sam, your…you…you look great" Jack was about to say late when he realized her tear filled eyes, "Hey Sam, what's the matter?" Jack ushered Sam inside before placing his hand on the small of her back and leading her to the couch
"Jack, I sorry, I…I…well I…" Sam tried numerous times to get out what she was trying to say before the tears just began to fall and her body tremble
"Hey shhhh…deep breaths Sam" Jack pulled Sam to him but she refused, "Ok Sam what's the matter? What happened?" Jack looked beyond worried
"I...supermarket…I thought I would bring something for dinner" Sam blurted, tears still cascading down her cheeks
"You're upset because of the supermarket? What did some guy try and pick you up?" Jack hand no idea the supermarket could get someone so upset
"No, Jack I saw you at the supermarket" Sam took a few more deep breaths to regain control of her tears and voice, "I saw you and Kerry, you were kissing" Sam blushed as the words slipped out of her mouth, almost as if it was none of her business Sam went to get up
"Oh shit, Sam don't leave please let me explain" Jack breathed
"There's nothing to explain Jack, I saw what I saw" Sam once again went to leave ignoring Jack's protests
Finally loosing his temper with women Jack rose fast shocking Sam back into the couch, "Stop it OK! I didn't kiss Kerry in the supermarket OK! She kissed me, she wanted me back and I said no, it was her last ditch effort to get me to come back!" Jack exploded to the ceiling, looking down her saw Sam's tears had begun falling again, "Oh crap Sam" Jack dropped to the ground in front of her, "I told her that she left me, she told me to retire so I can be with you! She then proceeded to tell me that she was wrong and that I should be with her because I can't have what I had with her with you" Sam lifted her head to meet his gaze
"I'm sorry Jack, I can't give up the Air Force" Sam sobbed
"I don't want you to give it up! I can't give it up you guys need me just as much as we need you. I need you Sam; I won't let you do anything to jeopardize your career! She just didn't understand that just seeing you each day makes the day that little bit brighter, even though I don't see the sun being all the way under ground." Jack chuckled, "See, you being here is enough for me right now, you're too broken and I'm too damaged right now." Jack pulled her into a hug, "It doesn't change the fact that I need you to be there everyday Sam" Jack whispered into her ear
Sam snuggled into the hug realizing it could be her only chance, before she sniffed the air, "Jack is there supposed to be a burning smell in your house?" Sam asked pulling away
"Oh no!" Jack raced towards the kitchen, moments later a huge sigh of relief could be heard from the kitchen
Sam made her way into the kitchen and laughed, "Wow Jack I never knew you could save food as good as you save the world"
"Go sit down, there should be matches by the candles" Jack shooed her out of the kitchen, before returning to the nearly ruined dinner, "I am so lucky" Jack whispered under his breath as he served up the chicken and rice. He carefully carried the two plates to the dinning table, "Ma'am your dinner is served, would you like a beer or some wine with it?" Jack bowed as he placed the dishes on the table
Laughing at the sight of Jack so relaxed Sam managed to get out, "Wine please" Before she was consumed by laughter at Jack
Jack kept up the charade just so he could continue listening to Sam laugh, "Wine coming right up ma'am" Jack bowed again before strutting to the kitchen, receiving his dues with a fresh round of laughter from his 2IC.
The rest of the dinner was met with companionable silence, Jack kept glancing at Sam, the faint flicker of the candles was creating golden streams to appear and disappear throughout her hair taking his breath away. Once Sam was finished she noticed him looking, "Yes Jack?" She smiled softly, 'Please stop smiling, I'm beginning to fight a loosing battle here'
"Nothing, you want to go outside and talk?" Jack asked picking up her plate and heading to the kitchen
"Don't you think its a little cold?" Sam asked noticing the chill when she arrived
"I can grab you a blanket? I have a telescope up on the roof, the staircase is on the outside of the house" Jack added knowing the stars were her weakness
"Really? Then definitely, it would be great to stare at the stars from our own planet" Sam smiled her mega-watt smile melting Jack's heart
Jack led her outside and up to the roof where two seats were set up with a large blanket and candles, "You planned this!" Sam exclaimed
"Not really, hoped more like it" Jack was glad for the dark for once to hide his blush
"I can't believe you would do this for dinner! I can still see you blushing by the way" Sam giggled
"No giggling Colonel" Jack warned wrapping the blanket around Sam and lighting some of the candles, "Do you like it up here?"
"It's beautiful! I've never seen the sky so clear in this town, not even from my own backyard!" Sam gasped
"I come up here to think" Jack admitted, hoping to steer the conversation towards the emails.
"Yea? I like to hide away in an Isolation chamber when I want to think, I know many believe I hide in my lab but I don't. No one goes near the Isolation chambers if they can help it, too many bad memories for most of the base" Sam replied
"Been there lately? I've have been asking some hard questions" Jack asked softly
"No, I haven't left my lab much actually, main reason being your emails" It was Sam's turn to blush
"Oh" Jack turned towards the sky, "I'm sorry if I've asked too many personal questions, sometimes I just don't know the boundaries very well"
Sam joined Jack looking up at the stars, "No not too personal, just too hard Jack. We both know the boundaries we can not cross and yet all we have done this week is push them until they bend enough. I will admit it is great to be able to talk about things and the emails have helped, but when are we going to have to remember the boundaries again?" Sam asked, "That's the part I'm not sure I'm ready for, you know, the boundaries and the pain we might have to go through all over again because we've over stepped and now have to deal with the awkward silences. The gossip behind our backs and now we know people get paid out of oversteps!"
"I realize this is not easy Sam, it hasn't been for years, we've survived, we will continue to survive. If you want to stop pushing the boundaries just say so and I will stop. I just needed to know Sam, simple and yet the most complex thing I've ever asked you. Not to mention the fact that it was the hardest thing to ever do" Jack explained, "Someday I know they will give us a break, I just wanted to know that I'm not going to be alone when they give it to us" Jack kept his eyes to the sky but Sam noticed the tear slip out of his eye
Jack felt Sam's gentle fingers wipe away his tear, when she spoke then next time he was startled by how close she was, "Your not alone Jack" she whispered before pulling away again and continuing her study of the stars.
Neither spoke for awhile, they just sat and watched the stars, contemplating what each had said, Jack accidentally let his arms slip off his arm rest only to collide with Sam's hand. Before he could apologize and remove his hand she took it in her own. "Let's just bend the boundaries a little more Jack" Sam spoke to the sky holding his hand. Jack relaxed into the situation, actually surprised by Sam's initiative and how familiar the situation felt. 'Why didn't I do this earlier?'
About midnight Sam left out a soft yawn, "I think it's time for sleep" Sam giggled; before Jack could protest she got up and began her decent down the stairs. Jack blew out the candles and followed her down, once inside they walked hand in hand to the front door, "Thanks Jack, I had a great time" Sam smiled, "Kiss her!'
"Thank you for coming, I had a great time too" Jack smiled back, there was something in Sam's eyes he was afraid to read, 'Kiss her you ass! That's what she wants!' Jack stepped a bit closer, "So I'll see you Monday?" he asked softly using their connected hands to pull her closer
"Yea, Monday, bright and early" Sam smiled moving towards him, Jack began to lean in as Sam reached up when there was an abrupt knock at the door, "Shit" Sam whispered regaining her footing, "You better get it, could be the base" Sam let go of Jack's hand as he headed for the door
"This better be good!" Jack barked opening the door to reveal General Hammond, Daniel and Teal'c
"Sorry to interrupt" Hammond apologized as soon as he saw Sam standing in Jack's living room in a rather fetching dress
"Don't mention it, what's up General? T! Danny boy! Weren't expecting you two back so soon" Jack pretended to be happy to see everyone
"We were called back, Presidents orders" Daniel explained
Sam finally stepped forward, "President's orders, sir what's going on?"
"The President has decided to pay the SGC a personal visit and Air Force One arrives within the hour, I suggest you both get dressed in your blues and get back to the base" Hammond explained further
Within 20minutes Jack and Sam joined General Hammond, Teal'c and Daniel at the surface entrance, "So he wanted to meet SG1? Shouldn't Mitchell be here too?" Jack asked
"He specifically said the original SG1, oh and he has given permission for Jonas to return if he wants" Hammond replied, "Stand at attention people here he comes"
The five of them greeted the President and his entourage before descending to the awaiting base personnel.
"General this place is very cozy" the President laughed noticing the cramp, grey cement walls, "You should get some paint, paint the place, cheer it up a bit"
"Would love you sir, but then the base personnel will need to remember the color of the corridors to their names and that could become messy, think about it, Med Team to Magenta corridor floor 27 next to Beige and Maroon?" Jack laughed
"Point taken, well which way to the gate room? I was informed that the base personnel are assembled there" the President asked
"This way sir, it is great seeing you outside Washington" Hammond smiled at his friend before leading him through the maze that is the SGC.
Upon arrival it was obvious that the rest of the base had had some knowledge of the visit because the usual bare embarking ramp was now decorated in reds, whites and blues with a podium half way up. The president made his way through the crowd shaking hands with a few people before taking his place behind the podium.
"You are all probably wondering why I have come tonight, pulled you away form your friends, families out-side commitments? Well, it has come to my attention that there is call for change and reform of the SGC. With us now coming into a new era without the system lords it is easy to forget the lives of those brave men and women who gave their lives for our cause, but it is not the death that concerns me tonight. What concerns me is the countless hours given by you individuals day in and day out to save a world who is negligent to your mission, a mission that has regretfully cost a few of you a great loss" Every eye in the gate room turned silently to Jack and Sam who were standing at ease facing the President, oblivious to the stares of their friends and colleagues, "So it is finally with good news that I am currently here, in person to deliver those changes. SG1 can you please step forward and receive your well earned recognition as the world ultimate line of defense. For eight long years now these four extraordinary people standing before you, have on countless time faces the ends of their physical and mental capability without complaint. Of course they have asked for a break here or there, but as I have heard they have on many occasions been ordered from their labs" All eyes were on Sam and Daniel, who were blushing, "or even the base itself, to get some rest. It has also come to understanding that within this great team a greater sacrifice has been made. One that has nothing to do with saving the world, nothing would change had this sacrifice been given to them by myself and previous administrations. Could General O'Neill and Colonel Carter please step even closer? I promise I don't bite" A deafening silence engulfed the base as every member of personnel held their breath. Would this be the moment everyone has been waiting eight long years for? 'Oh God, what have I done! I didn't kiss her I swear!' Jack gulped and took a step forward with Sam in tow
"Any ideas Sam?" Jack whispered low enough no one else could hear him
"None Jack" Sam replied in the same low tone.
They stood before the President, both wondering the same thing, Jack noticed the flicker of fear in her eyes, but snapped back to attention when the President began to speak again, his glance had not gone unnoticed.
A/N: Had to edit chapter, spelling mistakes…if anyone sees anymore please let me know…oh and if anyone can explain to me what a beta is I would be very grateful, thinking, I might need one of those things…
BTW I also forgot to disclaim the song: Backstreet Boys – I need you tonight…I thought it was appropriate since the lyrics said whether it was wrong or right…sorry about the cliff hanger too…sleep hit me just before I reached the end…
Muahsio,
fyre-anjel