Here's a bi of a shorter one...don't hate me for the events of this chapter, remember, I'm working on a follow up to this story so don't expect everything to get resolved in the last few chapters of this story. And as always I want to say thank you for so much to everyone who has been reading this and sticking with it and for all the reviews. By the way we're almost to 100 reviews so it would be awesome if we can actually get there! I didn't expect 10 reviews let alone 86 so thank you so much :)

Chapter 18: Airport mistake

"Good morning Sam." Janet says as Sam descends the stairs.

"Good morning." Sam replies.

"You sure seemed to sleep late." Janet observes.

"Actually, I didn't really sleep at all." Sam admits, then asks, "Where's Cassie?"

"Still in bed, she was up late on the phone with Dean." Janet says, then adds, "She'll be up around 11:30 or noon."

Sam smiles softly, the joys of young love. Her smile fades as she thinks about how much she and Jack talked on the phone before they were together. They would just call each other and talk for hours about nothing. Things with him had always been so easy, so comfortable, so right.

Janet watches Sam, she's worried about her, about the situation that she's in. She asks, "Did you talk to Jack?"

Sam looks at her, then back at the floor, then she takes a seat on the couch before answering, "No, he called a couple times, but I needed to think."

"Have you made any decisions?" Janet chances.

"I think I need to talk to him before anything is decided for sure." Sam replies.

"When are you planning to talk to him?" Janet inquires.

"Today, maybe after lunch." Sam says. She knows she's putting it off, but she can't help it, she doesn't want to face it. She looks over at Janet and can tell that she knows too, though she doesn't say anything. Janet is good like that.

Sam takes a deep breath and changes the subject to something inconsequential. Janet follows suit, knowing that conversation is over for now.


Time seems to pass quickly for Daniel. Once Jack stopped talking, Daniel started reading a magazine he had in his car. He was at a really good part when he had to put it down to go fulfill his car service job that fell on him. He really wants to know how they carbon dated that particular piece without knowing its origins. Ever since he started going through the Stargate, he realized how ignorant he really was, and how ignorant all of his fellow archaeologists still are.

They drive over to Sam's house in silence, Jack can tell that Daniel wants to say something, but for once, he keeps his mouth shut. What is there really to say anyways? He knows that Daniel has questions, questions that he doesn't feel like answering. Questions he's not even sure he knows the answers to.

As they pull up in front of Sam's house, Jack notes that the smashed car is no longer there. At least the insurance is jumping on that, the quicker they get that taken care of the quicker it can be over. Except that he still doesn't have a valid driver's license, for who knows how long.

Ronnie comes outside a couple minutes after they arrive and she silently gets in the car. Silence seems to be the new normal.

"Thank you for driving me." She says softly, almost so softly that Daniel and Jack can't hear her.

"You're welcome." Daniel responds.

They arrive at the airport about 45 minutes later and Daniel finds a place to park in the drop off area. Ronnie gets out and after a moment, Jack gets out too.

Daniel gives him a questioning look, to which Jack replies, "I'll be right back."

Daniel nods, though he doesn't approve, he really hopes his friend knows what he's doing.

Ronnie is nervous as Jack walks beside her into the airport. She's sad to leave, but knows she has to. There's nothing for her here, she knows that. Besides, Mark wants to talk, and she wants that too. Why does it sound like she's trying to convince herself?

"You don't have to walk me in." She says, trying to distract herself.

"I want to make sure you leave." Jack replies, he didn't mean for that to come out sounding as harsh as it did, but after everything that's happened, he doesn't really care.

Ronnie shrinks back at Jack's tone. She's not sure why she keeps thinking there could still be something between them, he's made it abundantly clear that there isn't. She feels like such a fool.

"Of course I'm leaving, did you doubt that?" She asks.

"Well, considering what happened last night, I just want to be sure." Jack says, reminding her of what all she said.

"I thought we were past that." Ronnie states.

"Are you?" Jack resorts.

"Of course I am, there is nothing between us." Ronnie says sternly, and just to prove it, she grabs Jack's shirt and pulls him to her. When their lips touch though, she's suddenly not so sure that she is over it.

It takes Jack a moment to realize what's happening, one minute he was talking to her and the next she's pressing her face into his. The real question is, why is his mouth moving in sync with hers?

The kiss ends and they just stare at each other for a moment, breathing hard. Ronnie was surprised that Jack didn't immediately push her away. She feels brave and leans in again, this time he does back away.

"Get on the plane." Jack says, and walks away leaving Ronnie standing there.

How could he have allowed that to happen? That was not what he had intended when he walked in with her, but he'd be lying if he said he didn't feel anything. Just what it is that he feels though, he's not sure. Though that's bad in itself. He doesn't love her, though if he's honest, he still finds her rather attractive. He groans when he realizes that he'll have to tell Sam.

Ronnie stands there and watches Jack leave. What has she done? What was she thinking? She supposes that she was hoping to prove once and for all that she feels nothing for Jack, now though, she's not so sure. He kissed her back, she hadn't expected that. She touches her lips and closes her eyes. She grabs her suitcase and heads for the security check, on her way home to her husband and kids, all the while, feeling conflict waging inside of her.


Jack gets back in the car and Daniel stares at him and asks, "What was that?"

"What was what?" Jack asks, feigning ignorance.

"I saw you Jack." Daniel says, accusingly.

"It was nothing." Jack replies, not looking at his friend.

"It didn't look like nothing from here." Daniel says, and puts the car in drive and heads out.

Jack is angry, angry at Ronnie for kissing him, angry at himself for kissing her back, and angry at Daniel for seeing it. Why was he watching anyways? How is he supposed to explain this to Sam? She's already so mad about everything, this will surely make things worse. He's probably going to lose her for sure now. He honestly had no intention of having any physical contact with Ronnie, maybe Sam will understand. Oh who is he kidding, he's doomed.

Before he even realizes it, they are pulling into his driveway, and he sees Sam's car parked there. She must be ready to talk now. He guesses this is it. He has to tell her the truth. Just as Daniel parks the car, Sam comes out of the house, she must have let herself in. Jack's heart skips a beat at how beautiful she looks. He is so in love with her it's not even funny. If they break up today, he'll be single forever. Now that he's been with her, he's ruined for anyone else. All other women are second to her. She is everything, everything he's always wanted and everything he never knew he needed. He knows in this moment that he will do whatever it takes to keep her, even if he has to get on his knees and beg. Even if she needs time and he has to wait, he'll wait forever if she tells him he still has a chance, even a small unlikely one. Any glimmer of hope she might give him, he'll take.