Chapter 8: Major Carter Finally Screws Up (Caution: Mild Profanity)

"Oh, you picked the absolutely best time to finally screw up." Jay told Sam outside Chloe's apartment. His statement was dripping with sarcasm.

"I'm sorry. I thought she had the right to know before she started getting any kind of false hope."

"Did it ever occur to you that maybe I have feelings for her as well? Of course, not. You have your head so far up your ass that you think that you're the only woman on God's green earth that I can be attracted to. Or maybe in some sick, perverted way, you can't stand my paying attention to someone else, even though you were never attracted to me in the first place. Do you have any idea what happened last night?"

"I assumed that you just took her over to the cafeteria for a burger or maybe even just coffee."

"No. I took her to the nicest, most romantic restaurant in Los Vegas. Then, we went over to my mother's house for desert. We took a little stroll. I told her that I loved her, which I do. I even asked her to marry me. Now does that sound like a mercy date to you?"

"No, it doesn't. I'm sorry for getting in the way. I had no idea what was going on."

"Well, maybe you should get your facts straight before you start poking your nose where it doesn't belong. I may have been infatuated with you. I might even go as far as to say that I had a crush on you, but I am in love with Chloe. Before, I was afraid to pursue things with her because I didn't think I could handle that kind of rejection.

You rejected me, and it was just a small injury to my ego. She rejects me, and I feel as I would die from a broken heart. She makes me a better man. I know that I can let my guard down with her. I knew that she would always be there for me, until now. Do you have any idea how great that made me feel? Do you even know why I resigned?"

"I assumed it was because you could no longer handle the stress."

"I resigned so that Chloe and I would no longer be tied to silly professional restrictions. The biggest reason why I was holding on to SGC was so I could see her everyday. I even acted extra gruff to her to hide my unrequited love. But, just before you and I left for P5S-117, she kissed me, and I knew that there was hope. So I gave up everything to do with Stargate Command just to be with her. But now, she won't even talk to me. I know she still loves me. But now that she thinks I just went out with her for a chance to go out with you."

"So do you want to still hang out with me just to get your mind off things?"

"No. I've got to figure out some miracle that will help me patch things up with Chloe. No thanks to you, I have lost every chance I ever had with the most beautiful, special lady I have ever known."

"No, you haven't." The two finally noticed Chloe's head poking out her door.