CHAPTER THREE: MARRIAGE
The day before the Jackson-Gardner wedding, the sun shone brightly. Sam, Jack and the twins had just returned from their adventure on Kheb and had been immediately recruited for the wedding party.
"This is a mistake," a less than enthusiastic Jack O'Neill complained to his wife. "Sarah is a sick woman. Daniel doesn't need this. Hell she was a Goa'uld for two years, Sam."
"Your point?" Sam asked, fixing him with her best 'you're being unfair look'.
"My point? My point is that my best friend is marrying a mentally unstable woman who has tried to kill all of us just a few years ago. And from what I can tell, she's not doing a lot better now."
"Sarah's sick. You know she's been in and out of the hospital," Sam reasoned.
"See, that's my point," Jack countered.
"Jack, do you remember what I was like after Jolinar?" Sam asked after a moment's consideration.
"Don't remind me. You were so depressed, I wasn't sure you'd ever come around."
"So did you and Daniel and Teal'c give up on me?"
"Well no, but that was different."
"Really?"
"Yeah, you were one of us. We were a team."
"And Sarah asked to be a Goa'uld, I suppose."
"Sam you know that's not what I mean," Jack replied, his voice becoming a little more strident. "I just don't look forward to standing as a witness to my best friend ruining his life."
"Okay, I can see I'm getting nowhere," Sam concluded, deciding to change tactics. "Have you talked to Daniel about this?"
"Yeah, he doesn't want to hear it."
"Well, what did you expect? He's in love, Jack and at least as hard headed as you."
"Hard headed? Is that what I am?" he quipped.
"Hard headed, stubborn, single minded and incredibly handsome," Sam whispered the final syllables into his ear. "And I love you anyway," she said, pulling him into a gentle loving kiss, feeling his arms tighten around her. "And Jack, Daniel loves Sarah, in spite of, or because of, all her problems."
"So you're going to tell me just be there for him, no matter what, right?"
"Sounds like a good idea to me, Mr. Best Man."
OoOoOo
Sam could relate to her husband's misgivings. She'd talked with him before about her own concern for both Daniel and Sarah. She didn't bring it up again today… well just because. She knew there was nothing to be solved by more worrying at this point. She and Jack had both talked with Daniel, and Sam, well she'd spoken with Sarah several times. Gently, she'd tried to persuade Sarah that perhaps right now, still in the midst of upheaval and adjustments in her medications might not be the best time to enter a marriage. But Sarah had been determined to go ahead, hoping against hope that somehow marriage to Daniel would give her the stability she needed.
In the days leading up to the wedding, Janet had reassured Sam she'd done all she could. Janet reminded her friend of all the ways she'd tried to help Sarah over the past few years. Sam had been the one who insisted Sarah avail herself of the best possible outpatient therapy between her hospitalizations. At Sam's urging, Sarah had been included in all social occasions at the O'Neills, even when her behavior was erratic and disturbing to others. What's more, Sam had continued to try and relate to Sarah, sharing her own experience of symbiote possession. But none of this seemed to be of any help. Sarahremained at the mercy of her demons; when she least expected it, the memories would flood back and no amount of therapy or medication seemed to ease her pain.
So now at the eleventh hour, the O'Neills resigned themselves to coming events. It was supposed to be a joyous occasion. A good friend, really a member of their family in all the ways that counted, was getting married tomorrow. They were both standing up as witnesses. They wished Daniel and Sarah the happiness they had found together these past few years. But right now, it seemed unlikely that the coming nuptials would herald that much sought after contentment.
OoOoOo
The ceremony itself went off without a hitch. The wedding was a small affair held in a local park and conducted by a justice of the peace. Sarah was stunningly beautiful, her now long golden hair framed by an exquisite Victorian veil. Sam had done an expert make-up job to conceal the dark circles under the bride's eyes and repair the mascara smudges from the nervous tears she'd cried earlier that morning.
Sarah and Daniel looked happy as they recited their vows. The O'Neills hoped and prayed this was a sign of things to come.
OoOoOo
(Two days after the wedding …)
"Sarah, are you ready? It's about time to leave," Daniel called into the bedroom where his new wife was dressing. They were due at the airport to leave for their honeymoon within the hour.
"I don't know about this, Daniel. I'm not sure I can go," Sarah said as she walked into the living room, clearly not ready to leave the house. "You don't mind, do you? I'm just not feeling up to it. I think I'll stay inside today. Will you stay with me?"
Daniel swallowed and pushed down his disappointment, reminding himself that his wife was ill and would be for some time. "I understand. I'll call the travel agent. We'll go when you're ready, Sarah. I'll stay home with you today."
"Thank you."
During the next week, Sarah refused to leave the house. She ate sparingly and talked even less. Daniel had seen her like this before but now the depression was more severe than he had seen in the past. He'd taken her back to hospital, where she'd spent another week of her life, being evaluated, analyzed and given the best available therapy. Her psychotropic medications were adjusted and she was sent home.
Daniel had returned to work during the week Sarah was hospitalized. Once she was discharged he took another few days leave to settle her in again. His work was suffering; he'd completely abandoned off world assignments, but he knew this was the only choice he had right now. His wife needed him and he planned to be there for her.
Fortunately, when Sarah returned home she seemed much better. She took an active role in starting to furnish the new house they'd moved into and made her best efforts to be a good wife to Daniel. She even suggested rescheduling their honeymoon trip. Daniel was relieved to see her beginning to show some enthusiasm for their life together. By the end of the month, Sarah had taken a part-time job as a research assistant at a local college. Daniel felt confident he could return to work, but guilty to find he was relieved to be leaving home every day. In any case, Sarah was better.
She was gone within the week.
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