Authors Note: It seems that there are still some who are a little confused by the story. I'd just like to take a minute and respond to a review of Chapter 3. I did not intend, and didn't think I implied, that anyone should think that Sam is blaming Jack for her engagement to Pete. Or that in any way it's Jack's fault. I apologize to anyone who may have thought that was what I was saying. Anyway, this chapter should hopefully clear up why Sam got upset the way she did. Hope you all like it. Read and Review.
Jack stood in the team room, hurriedly packing his gear. He couldn't stop the thought that came unbidden to his mind. 'You're too late.' Fear and panic gripped his heart like a vise. He'd waited too long. Sam, Daniel, & Teal'c were all he had left. 'I'll never forgive myself if …' He cut his thoughts off viciously. He couldn't let himself think like that. Now was not the time to lose it. He needed to stay focused on getting them home; he couldn't allow anything to get in the way of that. He'd already wasted so much time.
"We've wasted so much time Jack." Her voice echoed in his head and the vise on his heart tightened painfully. "Sam, have you thought this through?" He hated asking the question, but he needed to make sure she knew what she was doing, what the consequences could be for her. He could retire. He'd done it before and would happily do it again if it meant that he'd have a chance with her. But for her things could get ugly, rumors, innuendo. He had known he was falling in love with her almost from the very beginning. She'd walked into that briefing room so headstrong & full of the need to prove herself. Jack knew that being a woman in the air force meant she constantly had to prove that she was just as good if not better than the men. He had no interest in playing big brother, having to watch over her, protect her. So he'd pushed her, just a little, to see if she could stand on her own. And she had stood her ground, even managed to knock him down a notch. He had to fight to keep the smile from creeping across his lips.
He had loved her, for close to seven years, despite himself. "It's all I think about," she answered. "I don't want to keep hiding how I feel." Jack heard her words and they sang in his heart. But his head was at war with his heart. His heart wanted so badly to tell her he loved her, to tell her that he would do whatever it took for a chance to be with her. His head screamed at him that he would ruin her, like he had ruined Sara and Charlie. His throat constricted at the memory of his son and he raised the beer he'd been clutching tightly in his hand shakily to his mouth. The alcohol burned its way down his throat chasing away the last remnants of memory.
He couldn't let that happen, he couldn't ruin Sam. "You deserve someone better." Jack felt the words abandon his mouth, leaving a sick feeling in his stomach. His mouth filled with the acrid taste the words left behind. "You deserve so much ...," his voice trailing off into silence. It killed him, every word that came out between his lips, as sure as a bullet to the heart. But he had to. For her.
Sam sat at the edge of the clearing watching the tree line, Daniel and Teal'c resting behind her. Her eyes darted over the surrounding forest checking for any movement, but her thoughts were light years away.
Sam felt her heart drop into her stomach. She couldn't believe the words that were coming through the phone. Had she fooled herself into believing in something that wasn't there? Had she read more into the moments that they had shared over the years? Sam felt her face flame and was glad for the darkness that swallowed her. "I understand," she said after several long minutes of silence, her voice breaking as tears rolled down her face. "I'm sorry to have bothered you sir." Sam could barely control her breathing, her chest heaving, her heart felt like it would explode. How could she have been so wrong?
"Sam," Jack said, his voice rising, his tone panicked. "Sam, wait. That's not what I meant. You don't understand." But Sam's mind screamed only one explanation and it echoed through her not allowing reason or intellect to invade. She'd been wrong. That was when she heard it, her heart stopping and her breath catching in her chest. "Jack, come back to bed." Sam heard a woman's voice purr in the background. Sam heard her own small cry of pain, but it sounded foreign to her ears. "Sam." Jack's voice was pleading now. But his voice barely registered as Sam shakily lowered the phone to it's cradle.
"What the hell is going on?" Pete asked stepping from the shadows. Sam whirled around to face him, knowing by the look on his face he'd heard more than enough of her conversation to already know the answer.
Sam's attention was brought back to the present as she spotted a group of Jaffa moving silently through the forest about half a click from them. She quickly went to Daniel then Teal'c, shaking them out of their restful states. She put a finger to her lips, motioning for them to stay quiet. "We've got company," she whispered.
Jack stood in the gate room, watching the big metal ring spin. He knew that the gate would be guarded. He'd been on enough missions to know they never left it unguarded. Jack knew that as soon as they stepped through it was a crapshoot whether any of them would be walking away at all. But he had no choice. He tensed as the last chevron locked into place, the gate opening with a loud whoosh. Jack checked his P-90, making sure the clip was locked into place, before turning to the teams gathered around him. "There are a lot of Jaffa waiting on the other side. They'll try to kill anyone who steps through. And some here will not make it home," he said looking around at all the faces of the men and women who had volunteered to attempt the rescue. "I have to go," he said quietly. "But none of you do. Anyone who wants to stand down; no one will blame you." Jack looked at the faces encircling him, all set with the same grim determination, and knew no one would take him up on his offer. Jack gave a short nod. "As soon as you get through the gate, get clear and take cover as quickly as you can."
They were trapped. The Jaffa were rapidly closing in on their position. The three of them sat motionless in the shadows of the trees. Watching, waiting. Hoping the Jaffa would pass by and they could escape unnoticed. Sam held her breath as one of the Jaffa strayed from the rest of the group, making his way towards the group of trees they had taken shelter in. In her peripheral vision Sam could see Teal'c stiffen, knew he was ready to fight, and her finger tightened on the trigger, her gun aimed at the approaching Jaffa.
Sam heard the sound of gunfire coming from the distance, the Jaffa who had been almost on top of their position turned towards the noise. "Jaffa.," their leader called, running in the direction of the gunfire. The rest of the Jaffa took off after him leaving SG-1 alone.
Sam breathed a sigh of relief when they were gone. "That was close," she said releasing the death grip she had on her gun. She grabbed her radio. "This is sierra gulf one leader. You guys have great timing. What's your situation?" Sam asked. The radio crackled with static for a few seconds before a voice came on. "We're under heavy fire. Repeat, under heavy fire. Make your way to the gate ASAP, we could use all the help we can get." Jack's voice shouted over the static of the radio. Sam could hear the sound of staff weapons being fired in the background and the answering rapport of automatic weapons fire. The feeling of relief that had washed over her when she'd heard the gunfire and the Jaffa had run off vanished instantly. "On our way sir," she replied, leaping out from the cover the trees had lent. 'What the hell is he doing here? Why hadn't he just sent backup?' She wondered, her heart in her throat. She had an awful feeling. Sam ran in the direction of the gate as fast as she could, not looking back, knowing that Daniel and Teal'c were right behind her.
Jack felt the wave of relief wash over him. So strong that he felt lightheaded. When he heard her voice on the radio he forgot that he was in the middle of a gun fight, he forgot about everything except the amazing sense of peace knowing that she was okay gave him. All the noise faded and all he could hear was the sound of her voice. 'She's okay,' his mind told him.
A staff blast hit the stone he was crouched behind sending a plume of smoke into the air where it made contact. The sounds of the conflict reached his ears again, bringing his mind back to the fight. He raised his head slightly, seeing that they had significantly diminished the number of Jaffa guarding the gate. Jack felt confident they could take the rest out with Teal'c, Daniel, and Sam's help before the Jaffa could get reinforcements mobilized. He raised his gun and fired, his aim hitting a Jaffa squarely in the chest. The bullets impacted the metal breast-plate he was wearing, giving off tiny sparks before the bullets drove through the metal and into his chest. 'Where are they?' Jack questioned, his eyes quickly scanning the tree line. Jack had a bad feeling, nagging him deep in his gut.
Sam approached the edge of the clearing cautiously. Teal'c and Daniel came to rest beside her, crouching low, assessing the situation in front of them. Sam felt tears sting her eyes as she took in the carnage that lay before her. 'So many dead.' She stared at the fallen SG members who had given their lives to try and save them and her heart ached. "There aren't too many Jaffa left," Daniel said quietly, his voice betraying his composed exterior. "We should be able to take the gate and get out of here before reinforcements show." Sam glanced at him, giving him a sad smile. She knew he felt responsible, that it was eating at him. "We need to hurry. Reinforcements are already on the way," Teal'c said springing into action as he heard a horn sound in the distance, signaling for help.
Jack heard them join the battle. He heard the surprised shouts of the Jaffa as they were attacked from behind. He shot off a round before ducking for cover as a staff blast whizzed by his head, inches from making a profound impact on him. Jack heard a steady stream of gunfire and raised his head in time to see the last Jaffa fall to the ground, the world collapsing into silence around them. Jack stood, along with the remaining members of Stargate command that had come through with him. A huge smile burst across his face.
"Damn it's good to see you guys," he shouted. Sam and Teal'c came to stand in front of him. Daniel headed straight for the DHD, punching in the address that would take them home. "Likewise sir," Sam said warmly. The wormhole connected and Daniel punched in his iris code. They hurriedly made their way towards the gate knowing there was little time before more Jaffa swarmed the area.
They had almost made it there when the first of the reinforcements broke through the tree line. "GO!" Jack shouted to the others, bringing his gun up and firing into the mob of Jaffa charging at them. He walked backwards towards the gate as fast as he could, never taking his finger off the trigger. Sam stood beside him her gun roaring.
He saw it happening a split second before; his entire world moving in slow motion. He saw a Jaffa aim his staff at Sam, saw the evil glow that sparked from it as it opened. His gun felt like it was trapped in molasses, heavy in his hands. He brought the gun up and aimed at the Jaffa's chest pumping the trigger. But it was too late, Jack saw the blast coming and did the only thing he could, he stepped in front of her. The staff blast hit him in the chest, his vest disintegrating around the wound; he fell to the ground at her feet. And the last thing Jack saw before darkness claimed him was her terrified face staring down at him.
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