CHAPTER 4: DOWN TIME
My thanks to everyone who has responded so warmly to this shippy little series. I hope you continue to enjoy it. This chapter is based on what has happened in SGA Season 4 so far, and Sam's absence from Atlantis during last week's episode. I know where I think she was. That's my story...and I'm sticking to it!
NOTES:
1. Substantial spoilers for season 4 through Doppelganger. If you don't want to know, please don't read!
2. Note to the Sam/Jack Ship Family at Gateworld: Each section of my story is divided by the initials, "S&J," repeated x14. You know why!!!
Jack shut the door with a smile. The princess, the bumblebee and the ninja had left his front porch smiling, after he added several pieces of chocolate to each of their baskets. He glanced at the clock—8:45. That was probably it. Another Halloween had come and gone. That meant he finally had time to figure out the little mystery that had been puzzling him all night.
Setting down the bowl of candy, he palmed one piece. Placing his fingers on either side of the small cellophane packet, he pulled it apart. Task accomplished, he popped the small, round marshmallow-like object into his mouth. Rolling it across his tongue for a moment, he positioned it in the center of his mouth and carefully bit into it. A sweet, gel-like substance was released. Pushing the marshmallow to the sides of his mouth, he concentrated on the gel. He just couldn't figure out what was in it! Ok…the candy was supposed to be eyeballs, the perfect bit of harmless horror for Halloween. He knew the kids would love them, and he had been right. But he had been popping these things all evening, and he just couldn't figure out what was in that gel! Maybe if he had just one more….
He was reaching for another cellophane wrapper when a hand reached out to stop him. "Jack…don't you think you've had enough of those?"
He turned with a grin. "I'm just trying to figure out what's in the gel in the center."
"Sugar," she said. "Lots and lots of sugar."
He turned to take her in his arms. "I guess I could substitute something else sweet instead."
"Substitute? I don't think I like the sound of that."
"Ah, you know what I mean," he grinned sheepishly, running a hand from the small of her back down to her backside. "There's no substitute for you, Carter," her murmured, pulling her closer and lowering his head to nuzzle her neck. He felt her lean into him, her arms curling around his neck as the fingers of one hand gently ruffled his hair. She felt so good against him, and tomorrow, she'd be gone…again.
"Packed?" he asked, pulling back to look into her deep blue eyes.
She nodded, moving to trace the outline of his face with her fingers.
"What's the plan?"
"I'll ride to the Pentagon with you. Daedelus is in orbit. They'll beam me up from there."
He nodded. She had been home on leave for almost two weeks…two weeks of her soft, warm body pressed up against his in bed at night. Two weeks of shared dinners…and several sensational shared showers. Two weeks of rented movies and TV on the couch in the evenings. Two weeks of laughter, making love and talking late into the night.
"Hey," she said. "Earth to Jack. We still have the rest of the night…that is, if you aren't sluggish after all that sugar."
"Nah…I'm in the middle of a sugar rush."
She giggled, pulled out of his embrace and began to walk down the hall toward the bedroom. He just stood there and grinned, fascinated at the magic that was Sam Carter O'Neill. "C'mon." She held her hand out. Shaking himself out of his trance, he followed her---quickly.
S&JS&JS&JS&JS&JS&JS&JS&JS&JS&JS&JS&JS&JS&J
She closed the dresser drawer on the lacy gown she had washed that afternoon. She sure wouldn't need it in Atlantis. She turned and looked around their bedroom. The gown had been the last of the laundry. The towels and sheets were neatly lined up in the linen closet, and Jack had six weeks of clean socks and underwear stashed in the dresser. She didn't have to do the laundry, but it had kept her busy while Jack was entertaining himself with the trick or treaters. And strangely, she found some sort of satisfaction in the task. It was a project that could be sorted, run and completed in a short time. It played to the quirks of her linear mind.
She sighed. Her two weeks at home were almost over. Tomorrow, she would head back to Atlantis, back to her new command.
These two weeks had been cathartic…lots of time talking with Jack, laughing with Jack…touching…Jack. She smiled. They had made a lot of good memories. She hoped the warmth she felt now would last until they could carve out some more together time.
There had been an embassy party, an evening at the theatre and several memorable dinners out. But the best times had been the ones spent at home, just the two of them. They had caught up on the movies they had missed, and they had consumed a lot of popcorn. And on the few days Jack managed to avoid going to the office, they had stayed in bed. She felt her stomach do a little flip as she thought about it, and she chuckled to herself as her face flushed in response. She was still overwhelmed by how much she enjoyed holding him and being held by him. The sex, which after this long should have become routine, was still amazing. And after two weeks at home with him, she was again addicted to his touch. She chuckled to herself, wondering how she would cope with the withdrawal when she returned to work.
Of course, he had wanted to hear everything about her new command…although she was sure her daily report dispatches were stacked on his desk. She had told him about getting acquainted with the people who made up the Atlantis expedition, and about their struggle over Dr. Weir's loss. She giggled at his expression when she relayed details of Rodney McKay's welcome visit to her quarters. She recounted the déjà vu experience with the crystalline entity, and she told him about the raid on the Wraith hive ship. His face had clouded up during that story, and when she finished, he had looked at her solemnly. "Ya know, Carter, it's bad enough that you're a galaxy away. But remember that you're not part of a field unit anymore. You don't take the risks now. You're playing the role of Hammond. You're supposed to make good decisions, and see that field units get the support they need. That was the deal."
"Jack, when did you start questioning my judgment?"
"I'm not questioning your—"
"Yes, you are."
"No, no…not in the way you think. I just want you to do everything you can to come home safely, and heading off on a suicide mission where you're outnumbered hundreds to one by life-sucking aliens isn't my idea of staying safe."
"My gut told me I needed to go…and I wanted to establish credibility with these people."
"And that was the only way to do it? We respected Hammond, and he rarely left the SGC."
"And I'll probably do the same thing. But you've been telling me for years that I'm ready for command, and now that I have one, you're already questioning me."
"I'm just sayin'…"
"I know what you're saying, Jack…and believe me…I want the same things you do. But I had to do it…that time."
He shook his head and looked away, and they had spent the next few moments in an awkward silence. He was the one who finally broke it. "Sam…just don't take any unnecessary risks, ok? Promise me."
"I promise, Jack."
"We've just waited too long and…" He was looking down as his right hand gestured vaguely.
"I know, Jack," she said softly, reaching out to still his hand and hold it tightly. "I know…and I promise."
He looked up then, and she thought she saw tears glistening in his eyes. But no tears fell as he returned her gaze. He had pulled her into a hug, and she resolved to keep her word to him. After all, they had spent too many years sacrificing their own wants and needs for the job.
She sound of the doorbell broke her train of thought. She smiled as she heard Jack doing silly voices to entertain the children who had appeared at their door. Laughing softly to herself, she shook her head. Glancing at the clock, she noticed it was almost 8:45. Trick or treat activities should be almost over. It was time to redirect her husband's entertaining efforts. This was their last night together for awhile, and there were other things they should both be doing.
S&JS&JS&JS&JS&JS&JS&JS&JS&JS&JS&JS&JS&JS&J
She smiled and waved at him as her image shimmered, then vanished. Hands in his pockets, he watched for another moment, rocking on his heels as if he was expecting her to re-appear. Then he turned, opened the door and walked into the outer office, where his assistant was waiting with a stack of messages.
"General, you have calls from the I. O. A. Liaison Office, Congressman Tannbeckr and Dr. Jackson at the SGC."
He held his hand out to take the slips of paper from her hand, turned around and started back toward his office.
"And General, remember that you have an appointment with the Joint Chiefs in a half-hour…"
"Got it, Louise." He waved in acknowledgement as he shut the door. Tossing the messages on the desk, he took off his jacket, tossed it over a side chair and plopped down in his chair.
She was gone…again. Why was it so hard? For years, they had been together every day, but were unable to act on the emotions they felt. He didn't think anything could be as hard as that…but this felt strangely familiar.
Placing his elbows on his desk, he leaned forward and ran his hands through his hair. Then he sat up, sifted through the messages and picked up the phone. Back to work. He'd knock out these calls, go to his meeting and by then, the day should be almost over.
Maybe he'd work late…catch up on a little paperwork. Once most people went home, he could usually get a lot more done. He reached in the middle desk drawer for a pen. But his eye was drawn to an envelope with his name written on it. Opening it, he found the short message:
Dear Jack,
I promise.
Love--always,
Sam
He smiled. Just a few more weeks…
