Jack came running from his office as an incoming wormhole was announced. He stood in the control room and waited.
Walter looked up at him. "It's SG-1's code, sir."
"Open the iris."
Jack ran downstairs to see Daniel come through, then Teal'c carrying Sam. He came down the ramp and headed to the infirmary.
"Is she okay?" Jack asked, fear rising in his heart.
"She has been shot, O'Neill."
Teal'c lay Sam down on a bed and Dr. Brightman and her staff went to work.
"Why was she shot?"
Daniel took off his glasses and rubbed his eyes. "We ran into some people who were about to sell us into slavery."
Jack's eyebrows shot up. "Slavery?"
Daniel nodded.
§§§
After Daniel and Teal'c had their post-mission checks and had showered, they sat waiting outside the infirmary with Jack. As they waited, Teal'c and Daniel gave Jack the whole story of what happened. Daniel finished by saying that he hoped no one on the planet would suspect that the woman had helped them escape.
Dr. Brightman came through the door and removed the surgical mask from her face. "She was shot on the side of her thigh. The good news is the bullet missed the bone. She also has a bump on her head that will be a little tender for a few days and will give her a headache, but she'll be okay. A day or two of rest, then I'll let her go home."
Jack nodded his head. "Thanks."
§§§
A few hours later, Jack came into the infirmary to see Sam lying on her back, staring at the ceiling.
"How ya doin'?"
"Okay, sir."
"How many times have I told you not to get shot, Carter?" he teased her.
Sam smiled. "Apparently, I wasn't listening" she bantered back.
Jack lay his hand on her arm. "Glad to know you're okay."
"I'll be back at work before you know it, sir."
Jack held up his hand. "Not until Doc Brightman gives you the all clear. You need to rest and heal."
"Yes, sir."
"Doc says you can go home in a day or two."
Jack saw Sam's expression change. Maybe she didn't want to go home. Maybe she didn't want to see Pete, and then he thought about Pete's phone call. He stuck his hands in his pockets and looked at the floor.
"Oh uh, Pete called while you were off-world."
"He did?"
"He was upset because he couldn't get in touch with you. Said you had an appointment with the caterer."
Sam took a deep breath. "I forgot. Thank you for telling me, sir."
Sam paused for a moment. "Since I can't get up and cell phones don't work here in the Mountain, could I get you to call Pete for me please, and let him know I'm back?"
Jack stared at her for a few moments. "Sure."
"If you'll get a piece of paper, sir, I'll write down the number."
Jack looked around and found a pad of paper and a pen on one of the bedside tables and handed them to Sam, and watched as she scribbled down the number. She tore off the piece of paper and handed it to him. "Thank you, sir."
Jack took the piece of paper and stuck it in his pocket. "I'll check with you later."
"Yes, sir."
Jack went back to his office and sat down. He didn't want to make this call, but he took a deep breath and dialed the number.
Their conversation lasted only long enough to give Pete the briefest details. Pete said he would come to see Sam when she came home.
Just as Jack hung up the phone, Daniel walked in, closed the door and sat down.
"You okay?" Daniel asked as he noticed the look on Jack's face.
"Just got off the phone with Shanahan, he called here while you were gone. He and Carter had an appointment with the caterer and since he couldn't get in touch with her, he wanted to talk to me and demanded to know where she was. Sam asked me to call him to let him know she's back."
"I see. I wanted to talk to you about him."
"Oh?"
"While we were locked in the building on the planet, I asked Sam how the wedding planning was going and I told her every time I bring it up, she doesn't want to discuss it. I told her she didn't seem too happy about the wedding."
"And?"
"I told her if she was having doubts, that maybe she should call it off or postpone it. I told her that I didn't think Pete was right for her."
"What did she say?"
"Nothing. She was sitting beside me when I told her and she stood up to look out the window of the door of the building they were holding us in. Neither one of us mentioned it again."
Jack looked down at his hands and shook his head.
Daniel set up straighter in his chair. "Look, I think she's really having a lot of doubts about this, and if Pete did cause the bruise on her wrist, then maybe she's seriously considering calling the whole thing off."
"Maybe she's afraid he'll get violent again if she tells him there isn't going to be a wedding."
"Jack, no woman wants to live with physical abuse from a man who is supposed to love her. The sooner you let her know how you feel about her, the sooner she'll break the engagement. I'm sure of it."
Jack started to open his mouth to say something but Daniel held up his hand.
"I know you have to consider the regulations. But I don't want to see her hurt any more. You telling her how you feel about her is the best way to get Pete out of her life completely."
Daniel stood up, opened the door and walked out.
Jack breathed a deep sigh as he ran his hand over his face.
§§§
Dr. Brightman released Sam to go home but with strict instructions that she was to take it easy. Daniel volunteered to drive her home.
Jack came into the infirmary just as Daniel rolled a wheelchair up to Sam's bed.
"Is this really necessary?" Sam asked the doctor. "I can walk on my own."
Dr. Brightman handed Sam a bottle of medicine for pain and a walking cane. "I want you to stay off that leg as much as possible for now."
"Don't argue with the Doctor, Colonel" Jack said with a grin.
"Yes, sir" Sam whispered as she sat down in the wheelchair.
Jack wanted to be sure she would be okay. "Do you need someone to stay with you?"
He saw the slight wince on her face as she looked down at her hands. "I'll call Pete to let him know I'm home. He'll probably want to stay."
Daniel glanced at Jack as he started to push the wheelchair. "Well, let's get going."
Jack walked with Daniel and Sam down the corridor.
"How's the head?" Jack asked.
Sam looked up at him. "Hurts a little."
When the doors to the elevator opened, he watched as they got on the elevator.
"Take care of yourself."
"I will, sir."
Jack watched the doors close and went back to his office.
§§§
Daniel and Sam arrived at her house and he helped her out of the car as she leaned on her cane.
She slowly walked up the sidewalk and into the house as Daniel followed. She unlocked the door and they went inside.
He watched as Sam sat down on the sofa and laid the cane down beside her.
"Do you have enough food?"
"I have a little."
Daniel checked the refrigerator, then found a note pad and pen and handed them to Sam. "Make a list of what you need and I'll go to the store for you."
Sam did as he asked.
"Will you be okay by yourself?"
"Sure" she said with a grin.
Sam got her cell phone from her purse and stared at it. She thought she should probably let Pete know that she was home so she dialed his number.
The phone rang a few times. "Shanahan."
"Hi, it's me."
"Are you okay?"
"Yes. Daniel drove me home. He has gone to get groceries."
"Okay. I'll be by after I get off work around six. I'll bring us something to eat."
"See you then."
She hung up the phone, slowly lifted her injured leg and lay back on the sofa. She turned her head and one of the pictures on the mantle caught her eye, a picture of SG-1, taken the first month they had worked together. They were sitting around the conference room table. Jack's hair was brown then, Daniel's hair was longer and Teal'c had that serious expression. Since the picture had been taken, they had all gone through so many changes, physically and otherwise. Jack had been promoted to base commander. Daniel had lost Sha're and had gotten more involved in his work, perhaps keeping busy so he wouldn't think about how much he missed her. Teal'c's wife had died and Rya'c had married. She had lost her dad. She stared at herself in the picture and could tell how much she had aged, and gone was the naïve young woman she had been back then. Every time that she, Daniel and Teal'c now went through the gate, she wished that Jack was still there with them, leading the team and making wise cracks about the aliens they encountered. Having him there always made her feel safer, because she knew he always watched their backs.
She slowly closed her eyes and the next thing she knew she heard someone open the door. She raised up from the sofa and watched as Daniel came in carrying two bags of groceries.
"Be right back." He returned to his car, then came back in carrying two more bags and kicked the door closed.
Sam grinned. "Looks like you got enough."
"I threw in some other stuff in case people drop by and you want something to snack on."
"Thanks."
After he put away the food, he sat down beside her and she turned to look at him.
"You know, I don't say it often enough, but you really are a great friend."
Daniel grinned. "Anything for you, Sam." He quickly kissed her on the cheek. "You know, if I'd had a sister, I would have wanted her to be just like you."
"Thanks. I'm closer to you than I am Mark, sad to say."
"Too bad Mark doesn't know about the stargate, maybe he would understand a little better why you love your job so much."
"Maybe he will if the stargate ever goes public."
"Do you need me to stay tonight?"
"No thanks. I called Pete and he'll be here after he gets off work. If you need to get back to the Mountain, I'll be fine until he gets here."
Daniel looked at his watch. "Well, I'll be by tomorrow. Need anything before I go?"
"No."
Daniel started to stand up but she grabbed his arm.
"Daniel?"
He turned to look at her.
"Did you really mean it, what you said back there on the planet, about Pete not being the right man for me?"
He sat back on the sofa. "Maybe I shouldn't have said anything."
Sam turned sideways to face him. "You're my friend and you know me very well. I want you to be honest and your opinion matters to me."
He looked into her eyes. "No, I don't think Pete is right for you, he's a very controlling man. It seems to me that he's slowly taking away your independence. I don't think you're being honest with yourself. I think there is someone you love much more than Pete."
She bit her lip and stared at her hands as she uttered "Jack."
"Yes, Jack. He loves you, Sam. He loves you enough to let you marry Pete if that's what you really want, but is it?"
Tears filled her eyes. "We can't be together."
Daniel took her hands in his. "If you really want this, you can work it out. Jack is miserable. He tries to hide it when you're around, but you don't see the look on his face when you mention Pete's name or the wedding. You don't see the way he stares at you with such love in his eyes that it even hurts me to see it. He's crazy about you, he has been for a very long time. Teal'c and I watched you two become friends. That friendship has grown into a deep trust between you and that trust and friendship have grown into love over the years. I don't see that between you and Pete."
"Has he told you that he loves me?"
"Yes."
Sam started to cry as Daniel let go of her hands and wrapped his arms around her. In a few minutes she leaned back from him.
"I don't know what to do."
"I just gave you my opinion and I confirmed how Jack feels about you. What you do with this information is up to you."
Daniel gave her a hug then stood up to leave. "I'll see you later."
"Thanks. For everything."
He smiled at her. "You're welcome."
Sam watched Daniel leave, then she started to think about what he had said. She had to admit that deep in her heart, she knew she was in love with Jack. But if they acknowledged those feelings to each other, what could they really do about them? Would he resign? Would she resign? Could they talk with General Hammond and the President and work out some arrangement so that they could both stay with the Air Force?
Her head hurt and she realized how tired she was, so she lay down on the sofa.
She awoke when she heard someone coming through the door. She opened her eyes to see Pete smiling at her, holding a pizza box in his hands.
As she looked at him, the first thought that came to mind was 'Sam, what are you doing? You know this is wrong.' She tried to smile at him but felt it came out as a grimace.
Pete set the pizza down on the counter, then sat down beside her and kissed her on the cheek.
"Hi babe."
Sam cringed. "Please don't call me that."
Pete frowned. "I thought you liked it."
"No, I don't."
"Okay."
Sam took a deep breath. "I'm tired, Pete, and my head hurts. I think I'll go lie down."
"But I brought your favorite pizza."
"I'll eat it later." Sam got her cane and pushed herself off the sofa and grabbed her bottle of pills. She hurried as fast as she could to the bedroom as Pete stared at her for a few seconds then followed her.
"Are you sure you're just tired? You don't seem too happy to see me."
Sam pulled back the cover on the bed and turned to look at him. "Pete, I've had a very bad couple of days. Daniel, Teal'c and I were locked up on another planet. After we escaped, we were running toward the stargate when I got shot and hit my head. My leg hurts and my head is throbbing. I really don't feel like talking. I just need to rest."
"The least you could have done was give me a kiss when I got here."
Sam couldn't look at him as she sat down on the side of her bed. "I'm sorry. We'll talk tomorrow. Now if you'll excuse me, I'd like to get some sleep."
Pete clinched his fists. "And I suppose you want me to sleep in the guest room?"
"I would appreciate it."
"Fine" he said angrily as he stormed out of the room.
Sam closed her eyes and sat there for a few moments just trying to calm her jittery nerves. She stood and changed into her pajamas, swallowed a pill with some water, turned off the lamp and got into bed. Her thoughts went back to her conversation with Daniel. Jack loved her. The tears came again as she wished that Jack was lying there beside her, holding her in his arms. She realized what a mess she had made, all in her attempt to have a life outside of work. As she lay there, she knew that even if things could not work out with Jack, she was going to have to break the engagement.
"I didn't mean to hurt you, Jack. I love you too" she whispered. "Can you ever forgive me for hurting you so?"
She buried her face in the pillow so Pete wouldn't hear her crying.
The next morning Sam awoke with pain in her leg and she still had a slight headache. She glanced at the clock and was surprised to see how late it was. She threw back the cover, set up in bed, and started to stand but realized she was a little dizzy from the bump on her head. She sat there for a moment, then slowly stood to take a quick shower. When she had finished she applied a new bandage to her leg, got dressed and took another pill.
She got her cane and limped into the kitchen to find Pete sitting at the bar and reading a newspaper.
"Hi."
"Hey" Sam said softly as she slowly sat down on the bar stool beside him. She knew this wasn't going to be easy but the sooner she did this, the situation would be better for everyone concerned.
"I need to talk to you."
Pete turned to her and his eyes narrowed. "This doesn't sound good."
Sam took a deep breath.
"I've been doing a lot of thinking and I think it's best that we call off the engagement."
Pete stared at her and Sam could see the anger in his eyes.
"What? Call off the engagement? I don't think so!"
Pete suddenly stood up and towered over her. He grabbed her by the upper arms and pulled her to her feet and shouted into her face.
"You listen to me, Samantha! We are not breaking this engagement! I love you and no other man is going to have you!"
The pain in her leg and head increased. She yanked her arms away from his grip and tried to back away but stumbled over the stool. Pete grabbed her again and spun her around to face him and shoved her to the floor. Sam raised herself up on her elbows, feeling dizzy as if she were about to pass out. She looked up at Pete, almost in shock at what he had done.
Pete could see how frightened she was as tears came to his eyes. "Oh, Sam. I'm sorry. I . . . I didn't mean to do that. Please forgive me."
Sam pushed herself to her feet and held on to the bar stool. "How dare you! Get out!" Sam clinched her fists and took a step toward him.
Pete reached out to touch her. "I'm sorry, Sam."
Sam was so angry she was trembling and she slapped his hand away with the back of her hand. "I said get out! Get out of my house! Don't you ever come near me again!"
Pete stared at her in disbelief at what he had done as he opened the door and looked at her for a few seconds, then closed the door behind him.
Her leg and head were really throbbing and her arms were hurting where Pete had gripped her so tightly. She stumbled to the bathroom and gulped down some water, then sat down on the side of the bathtub. She sat there for several minutes, trying to calm herself and process what had just happened.
The doorbell rang.
She realized that she had not locked the front door and thought that if it was Pete coming back, he wouldn't bother to ring the doorbell and would come barging in. But she wasn't sure.
She stood up and leaned against the bathroom door, waited a minute and slowly opened it. Then she heard the familiar voice she knew so well.
"Carter. You home?"
Sam hurried to the front door and opened it. They looked at each other and Jack's eyes widened as he could see that she was crying and frightened.
"What's wrong?"
He put his arm around her waist and helped her to the sofa. Through her tears she told him that she had tried to break off the engagement and Pete had gotten violent with her, but Jack interrupted before she could tell him that she called off the wedding because of him.
"You need to report this."
She put her hand on his. "No, Jack."
"What do you mean 'no?'"
"I'll handle this."
Jack stood up and stared at her. "You're not going to do anything about this? I can hardly believe what I'm hearing!"
"Jack, please."
He could no longer hold in all the hurt he had been feeling since Sam and Pete had gotten engaged.
"No! For once in my life I'm going to say what I feel. I love you, Sam. I have since the day I met you and after the zatarc test, I thought you felt the same way. But apparently I was wrong or you gave up on us. I know we've both had to wait a long time, but I always felt it was worth it. But you got engaged to this moron who doesn't trust you, bought a house without discussing it with you first, doesn't listen to your opinions, has no respect for your career, expects you to quit your job and gets violent with you. But go ahead, let him walk all over you and treat you like dirt, when you could have been with someone who loves you more than you can imagine!"
Jack felt anger, hurt and frustration as he hurried toward the door.
Sam pushed herself off the sofa, ran to him and grabbed his arm.
"Why didn't you tell me sooner that you love me?"
"I thought you already knew! You found out years ago, but I guess you didn't listen!"
"I did listen!"
"You wanted to keep it in that room!"
"I was protecting both of our careers! Please Jack, don't go! You don't understand! You didn't let me finish!"
Tears stung his eyes as he looked into hers. "It's too late" he whispered. He opened the door and walked out, slamming the door behind him.
She stared at the door, then slowly limped back to the sofa and sat down as tears ran down her face. She spent the rest of the day thinking about her involvement with Pete and how much she had hurt Jack.
When night came, she went into the bedroom, opened a dresser drawer and picked up a picture that Daniel had given her a few years ago, a picture of Jack and herself. In the picture, they were smiling at each other. She stared at Jack for a long time before placing the picture back in the drawer. Every time she thought about what Jack had said, that it was too late for them, she would start to cry again.
She lay down on the bed and berated herself for hurting the one man that she truly loved.
She closed her eyes but sleep would not come, so she lay very still, staring into the darkness.
TBC