A/N: In response to a review, there are going to be not one, but two prequels to this story. The first, which details my relationship with Jack, is entitled "My Story". The second, which details my relationship with Sam, is entitled "Young Guns". I may do those stories in conjunction with this one. However, it should be noted that I get sidetracked easily. So to curb that, I'll do this one first. Contact me at my profile to let me know which prequel you want first.
A/N #2: There is quite a bit of Sam/other (namely Vern) in this story, too. I tinkered with the idea of giving the story an M rating, but as there are kids involved it will remain a T. There will be chapters with the M rating, however. You have been warned.
Chapter 10
Jack managed to get me in the cab of the truck without swearing. He was obviously mad at somebody. Whether it was Carter or me or, god forbid, both of us, I couldn't tell right away. Sam followed in her car and with the configuration of the rigging for my chair, she was able to see me the whole way to the restaurant. To say that she was distracted was an understatement. I didn't do anything, but it was clear that my presence had done something to her.
When we got to the restaurant, I noticed that both Jack and Sam were looking guilty about something. Then I remembered that this was O'Malley's, the same restaurant that they were kicked out of five years ago.
"Uh, Jack?" I asked as he got me out of the cab.
"Yeah?"
"Weren't you three kicked out never to come back?" I asked.
"Yes, we were, Vern. General Hammond was pissed, but he eventually smoothed things over. He gave us a year's suspension from the place as a result of our actions. We've been allowed since then." Jack replied.
"Ah. How did Daniel take it?" I asked.
"In stride, Vern." Jack replied.
"OK. Is there something wrong, Jack?" I asked as Sam took me into the restaurant.
Jack told the maitre d of the reservations and asked for a booth in a secluded corner before answering with a question of his own. "Why didn't you tell me you had feelings for my nephew, Carter?" he asked.
"You never asked, sir." Sam said as the maitre d took us to our booth.
Sam placed me next to her seat, something that Jack took stock of immediately. He was about to protest when I said, "Jack, Sam was the reason I survived the crash. Remember when you were sick in the Antarctic three years ago?" I asked.
"I try not to," he said.
"That was when I crashed my plane in Iraq. Yes, Sam was worried about you. That's understandable. I was still in her former squadron, and I pulled some strings to get transferred stateside and specifically Cheyenne Mountain. By the time I got here, you were in the hands of the Tok'ra. When I got to the infirmary, Janet saw me and immediately called Sam and General Hammond." I paused; taking a drink of water as Sam placed her hand on my knee. She knew that this was tough for me, so she provided support for me.
"I didn't know." Jack said.
"You were sick, Jack. And off world. We didn't want to tell you because you had enough on your plate." Sam said as she put an arm around me. "Yes, I was worried, we all were. But I had two people to be worried about. Daniel wanted to ask, but the general cut him off. He also said I couldn't see him due to Janet's orders. I was upset, but I understood." she explained.
I picked it up from there, giving Sam a squeeze. "Even though I had friends and relatives in the Stargate program, I wasn't part of it at that time. Hammond felt that exposing me to it then would affect my recovery and Janet agreed."
"Wait a minute, who did you know before you joined?" Jack asked.
"You, Sam, Janet and George. You're my uncle, Jack. Sam I knew from our flight squadron days. Janet was my doctor at the Academy before George asked for her to join the program. George was under my dad's command in Vietnam and brought his body back to us when he died. Hammond swore that he'd take care of me when I grew up. He did and when I crashed, he ordered that I be brought to the Mountain for surgery. Janet performed it and gave Sam the bad news."
"When my special chair came in, Sam had to go off-world. Hammond saw me off and told me to recover in the back woods of the Northwest. He said he knew some people in the Portland area and set me up with therapists and a place to stay." I reminisced
Our food had arrived then, so Sam helped me with the story while I ate by telling Jack how we met. "My story with Vern starts with a letter that he sent with General Kerrigan's help."
"The commandant?" Jack asked.
"Yes." Sam said.
"Why?" Jack asked.
"Kerrigan recognized my talents were even better than Sam's, so he wrote half of the letter." I said. "How long was the letter, Sam?" I asked between bites.
"Twelve pages," she said. "It was the longest, sweetest letter I ever received," she added.
"Why was it so long?" Jack asked.
"The letter served three purposes. The first purpose was to give me an idea of how smart Vern was. The second purpose was to get him into my squadron after his graduation." Sam said.
"And the third purpose?" Jack asked.
"It was a carefully worded setup by the general contigent on Sam's response." I said.
"To what?" Jack asked.
"Whether Vern could go out on a date with me, Jack." Sam answered, flushing slightly.
"What was the response?" Jack asked.
"I said yes, Jack. I wanted to see him because of his mind, but he was so charming that after we started working together..." Sam said.
"She fell for me, uncle. Hard." I said.
"How hard?" Jack asked.
"Enough that I was ready to marry him, had he asked." Sam said, kissing me.
Caught by the kiss, my mind reeled at that statement. After she broke the sensuous kiss, I asked, "Really?"
"Yes." Sam said.
"If I asked you to marry me now?" I asked.
"I'd say yes, but it's been years." Sam said.
"Colonel, if I'm not mistaken, you are off until July 30th. Am I correct?" I asked.
"Yes, sir." Jack said.
"We have four months, then, Sam." I said, my eyes giving a mischievious twinkle.
"How'd you know?" Sam asked.
"Hammond." I said.
"Oh." Sam said.
"If, at the end of that time, you don't want to marry me, I'd understand." I said.
"Let me think about it. OK?" Sam asked.
"OK." I said.
We finished our dinners and left O'Malley's. Jack wheeled me up the ramp and locked me in place. "Carter, meet us at the truck dealership," he said to Sam.
"Why?" Sam asked.
I always loved it when I did that to her. Sam looked clueless until she looked at the big picture. I think she was looking forward to spending the rest of her life with me. I know I was after spending ten months as her boyfriend while we were stationed at Hill. However, Sam forgot one major detail (pardon the pun). That is, until Jack pointed it out.
"His chair, Carter." Jack said.
"Oh. Sorry, Vern. I forgot." Sam said.
"I forgive you, Sam. You were off world when I had the surgery. Fraiser is notorious for not divulging information when it comes to me. She's been my personal doctor since my Academy days and I trust her to keep my medical stuff confidential. Kerrigan told her when I was assigned to her that no one was to get my medical file except her. Any information that was requested was not to be issued without my authorization. In fact, I was part of the reason Fraiser was transferred to the SGC." I explained.
"Shall we go?" Jack asked.
"Anxious to get home?" I asked.
"Yes." Jack said sullenly, his hopes for a passionate night with Carter dashed. Oy.