When Sam wake up she was surprised not to find Jack in the bed but then her brain started to process something about a phone call and going out so she decided to have a long shower. She was a little sore from last night's activities. The hot water might relax her muscles. She was dressing when she heard the front door opening and then closing. Seconds later Jack was in the bedroom.
"Morning honey" he said giving her a deep kiss in the mouth.
"Hi" she answered back while brushing her hair and making a pony tail.
"Want some breakfast or you want to pack first?" he asked.
"I can pack first, not really hungry" she said taking one of the suitcases from the wardrobe.
"What a shocker" he said starting to grab a couple of clothes and throwing them to the suitcase.
"Jack…" she said looking at the pile.
"What? We don't need much; we have must of our clothes there. Just put some things you really like and I'll help you close the suitcase" he said going to the bathroom to pick the toiletries.
He wasn't wrong. They had a second wardrobe in the cabin so there was no need to pack lots of clothes. Sam just sorted out what was wearable and closed the suitcase. He picked it up and brought it downstairs.
"Coffee'" he asked picking up a mug.
"Yes. At what time do we have to leave?" she asked.
"We have 45 minutes yet" he said giving her mug with fresh coffee.
Sitting in one of the chairs Sam took a sip.
"So where did you go?" she asked.
"Do you mind if you talk about that when we got to the cabin?" he asked.
Sam was a little surprised with his answer but just said 'no' with her head.
Jack's driver picked them up and drove them to the airport. Luckily the flight was neither late nor full and Sam picked a book and started to read. Jack was asleep in a couple minutes after takeoff. As he said, their SUV rental was waiting for them when they arrive at Minnesota. They just stopped to get some groceries and went straight to the cabin.
"I miss us here", Jack said picking her hand while driving through the rough trail that led to the cabin.
"Yes, me too" she said kissing his hand.
He parked the SUV and while Sam went to open the cabin and the windows he grabbed the suitcase and their groceries. It was a beautiful day, the lake was a mirror and the birds were singing.
"Do you want to stay a little here at the deck?" he asked picking up the foldable chairs.
Sam was taking her cap from the purse. "Sure" she said sitting in one of the chairs.
Jack took the other and offered her a beer that she accepted.
"Okay so before everything I want to tell you where I was this morning but I don't want you to freak out no matter what you hear me say. Hear me out until the end, ok Sam? Please?" he asked slowly.
Sam felt her stomach tighten.
"Why I have the feeling that I'm not going to like this conversation, Jack?" she asked putting her beer in the deck.
"You won't like the beginning, no honey but wait until the end, please" he asked again.
"Ok" she said looking straight ahead to one tree on the other side of the lake to maintain focus.
"I'm going to tell you all. No lies, no secrets. The phone call was from Paul Davis. He has been dealing with Kerry since I end things. Apparently she continued to call, send messages, tried to make appointments, he's been the one talking to her. He called me this morning because he had a message from her" Jack stopped and grabbed Sam's hand.
"Please Sam don't freak out" he plead.
Jack was very afraid of Sam's reaction because the question of children although discussed and decided was something that Jack knew was a painful subject to his wife.
"Get on with it, Jack" she said impatient.
"She said that she was pregnant and I either met her or she would call you" he said very slowly.
"Pregnant? She's pregnant?" Sam eyes were full of tears in seconds and she tried to take her hand from Jack but he held tight.
"Listen, please, until the end" he asked.
Sam closed her eyes and the tears fell freely.
"I went to her apartment and she told me the same thing. That she was pregnant and I was the father. I told her that was impossible. I…" Jack hesitated.
He really didn't want to discuss these details with his wife but they were fundamental in the story. "I always used two condoms when I was with her and always checked if everything was ok afterwards. No woman was having my babies except you. I'm sorry, Sam, I know this hurts you but I'm not the father. I'm most certain she's not even pregnant" he said caressing her hand.
"You cannot know for sure, Jack" Sam whispered, tears still falling through her face.
"Well she kind of confirm it when she started to blackmail me" he said.
Sam opened her eyes.
"What?"
"Yeah. She threatened to go to the higher ends and tell them she was pregnant with my child and ruin my career. I had to tell her that President Hayes was already full briefed and not a happy camper. And that he was definitely team Sam so she had a lot to lose and nothing to gain" he explained.
"Team Sam?" she asked sniffling.
"Yes my love, why do you think the President had that little talk with you in the gala like I wasn't even in the room? He was making sure that you're alright. If you had said that you're taking time out or leaving to go back to the Hammond earlier I think the Secret Services would have taken me on the spot. Right there. You just have to say the word and I'm gone. The man just loves you, Carter and his wife is even worse. She plain hates me right now. So yes, Kerry understood she's facing the Oval Office, not just me. She gave up" he said finally.
Sam wiped her tears with her free hand and continue to stare at the lake. Her heart was bumping at a speed that if Janet was alive would put her in the infirmary right now.
"What if she was pregnant, Jack?" she asked fear coming through all her pores.
This is what Jack was deeply afraid.
"Not going there, Sam. No 'what if'. She's not. Full stop" he said with determination.
"Would you want to be a father?" she insisted.
Jack moved to look straight into his wife taking both her hands. Sam was forced to look at him.
"Sam we had this talk years ago. We both agree not have children. I'm still happy with that decision. I do know that deep down you're not and I'm very sorry about that but realistic I'm 65 years old. It would be a grandchild for me, Sam. I wouldn't see her or him grow. Wouldn't be fair to you either. If we hadn't had to wait so many years to be allowed to be together that would be another story, my dear. I would be making babies with you as many as you would like but not now. And the only woman I ever consider making babies with, after Charlie, was always you. Only you" he said honestly.
The tears returned to Sam's face but now they're were happy tears. Although they had decided their life's were not compatible with rising children and they already had Cassie, deep down Sam always wanted to have a baby with Jack. It was her only regret. But she had him after all they had been through and it was enough. He was right.
"Well we have Cassandra" she said trying to keep it positive.
"Yes we do and that's has been a wonderful journey" he said smiling.
"I do believe I really love you Lieutenant General Jonathan J. O'Neill" she said pulling him to her and kissing him in the lips.
"Oh I'm certain I love you Doctor Colonel Samantha Carter-O'Neill" he said deepening the kiss.
After the air stated to become a necessity, they briefly parted although still holding each other.
"I think it's better we take this inside" he suggested.
"I agree" she said getting up.
Their used their time at the cabin to get reacquainted, body and soul. Sam need to trust Jack back and he made sure his wife had every reasons never to doubt his love again. Their marriage had gone through tumultuous waters but their boat was still very afloat and was getting steady as the days passed. Sam had had a rocky landing on Earth but was handling her stay just fine, like everything she put her mind and her heart to. And that was a certain General that was now her husband and that she intended to be until the day she died. She always loved motorbikes and not like an alien device she frequently handled, that simple but fast machine mostly need an engine and two wheels. Like her marriage need their love and both of them. No third wheel.