It bothered her, and she didn't know why. Jack had pushed things aside before, refused to talk about them…but not in this magnitude.
He woke up that morning with a somber expression, and she wondered if he was having second thoughts.
She reprimanded herself, scolding herself for even thinking that.
Jack was subject to moods like that…it was just how he coped with things. He had gone for a run, in the rain of course, and Sam could only guess if he'd stayed in human form.
She knew things were getting stressful for him…but he expected that he would be able to handle it as if it were nothing.
She sat at the table, nursing a glass of orange juice, having given up coffee for the baby…but as soon as this little one was born, she was back on coffee. No exceptions.
There was a knock at the door, and she could only assume who it was…it could've been a news camera, a member of the Springs PD, even a member of the Trust. Luckily it was just Vala, coming to check on her best friend.
"Hey, how are you this fine morning?" She asked. Sam nodded, taking a swig of her orange juice.
"I'm good. I'm tired." She said. Vala smiled, sitting down at the table with her.
"Okay, what's going on?" She asked.
"What?" Sam asked.
"Something is going on. Is everything okay with you two? Or do I have to take the mongrel out and beat him?" She asked.
Sam smiled. "No, he had a nightmare last night. I heard him talking in his sleep." She said.
"I thought all that stopped?" Vala asked. Sam nodded. "So did I. He was talking about a gun. Vala, I don't know what to do, I know he's worried about this baby, about our safety." She said.
Vala shook her head. "I never really did find out what happened." Vala said. "I asked Daniel, but he told me I would have to ask you or Jack." She finished.
Sam nodded. "While Jack was in Black Ops he was required to keep a service revolver in his home. His son Charlie got the gun and shot himself. He died at the hospital." She said.
Vala covered her mouth. "What did he do after that?" Vala asked.
"He went to Abydos, with Daniel. He wanted the mission to be the one he wouldn't come back from. He met Skaara there and it brought him back. Suddenly it wasn't about himself anymore. He needed to save these people. His second mission back there I was put on his team…he wasn't too happy to have a scientist on his team. I told him he'd like me once he got to know me…how right I was." She said, smiling and shaking her head.
"That's a good thing. He really does like you." Vala said, standing up. She walked to the fridge, grabbing the orange juice and pouring herself a glass.
Jack ran hard, his heart pounding in his ears. He knew there was no chance that his nightmare would become a reality, but it still hurt to think about it.
Charlie's death had shown him that he was not meant to be a father and that if it were to happen again there was the possibility that he would screw up. He refused to let Sam see that side of him, he really was excited for this baby, but there was no way in hell he was going to hurt Sam like he did Sarah.
He ran around the track a few more times, deciding he'd tortured his lungs enough, and headed back home.
Vala sat down on the couch, picking up Sam's book.
"I never understood why everyone got into those…they don't sound very appealing." She said, setting the novel back on the coffee table.
"They're actually really good. The main character, Bella, is sort of going through the same thing as I am right now…only she's married, and gets pregnant, and has the baby in a month." Sam said.
Vala shook her head. "I still don't understand it. Why write about a vampire when most of the people on your planet don't believe in them?" She asked.
Sam shrugged, picking the book up. "If you ever decide you want to read them, I have the four. That's the only thing that got me through our last couple missions. I was ready to kill Cameron, in fact I'm glad they stationed him at Edwards, he was way too gung-ho for everything." Sam said.
"You know, he wasn't very happy when Daniel told him that you were engaged to Jack. He was rather unpleasant." Vala said, raising her eyebrows.
Sam nodded. "I heard. Jack wasn't too happy when he found out they gave Cameron command. Lucky for me, I was already involved with Jack so I never worried about it. He showed interest in me, but I ignored him, flaunting my relationship. That's when the newspapers got word that I was with the man who had tried to kill a US Senator." She said, sighing.
Jack came in the sliding glass door, stripping off his wet t shirt and heading to the bathroom.
"Is it just me…or is he starting to resemble Teal'c?" She asked. Sam smiled, nodding. "Now it's my turn to get fat." She said.
Vala laughed. Daniel and Teal'c pulled up in the driveway with Dominick and Cassie in the back seat.
"He must have invited everyone." She said, going to the door. Jack came in the living room, deciding that the women could take the couch.
He sat on the floor in front of Sam, smiling when he felt her hand in his hair. The four came in, taking seats wherever they were available.
"I brought a movie we could watch." Daniel said. "Good, is it Star Wars?" Jack asked.
"No, it is not." Teal'c said. Jack looked up at Sam, smiling. "Good, our resident genius can't discredit the amazing George Lucas." She shook her head, rolling her eyes.
"Nope, not even close." Daniel said. Dominick smiled.
"Thir13en Ghosts…good choice, it's a great scary movie." He said. Jack rolled his eyes with a smile. Teal'c turned to Jack and Sam.
"I have spoken to Bra'tac. He and Rya'c are going to attend the wedding, as well as Ishta and several of the female Jaffa." He said.
Jack nodded. "Well, you might have some ascended beings there too. Skaa'ra came to me the other day. Apparently the air's been buzzing up in the next plane. Just like the elders predicted." Daniel said.
"The elders predicted?" Sam asked. Daniel nodded.
"Jack is the last of the Ancients. 'Cai'ena' means 'sole survivor'." He said, glancing at Vala.
Sam looked down at him. He glanced at her, looking at Daniel sharply. "I didn't think it was all that important." He said, shrugging his shoulders.
Sam shook her head, deciding not to say anymore.
Daniel had fallen asleep before the movie ended, head resting on the back of the couch with his mouth open.
Sam smiled, stroking Jack's hair as they watched the movie.
He smiled when she tensed, jumping as the character Dennis was broken in half on a corner of the wall. "I think I've changed my mind about glass. And I'm never going in the basement alone again." Vala said. Jack snorted, shaking his head.
The wedding came in no time. Jack stood at the altar, Teal'c standing behind him.
Cassie walked in first on Dominick's arm, Vala in next on Daniel's, Mark led his wife in.
General George Hammond was honoring Sam's wishes by escorting her down the aisle.
When Jacob died, Sam had been adamant that Hammond was going to be the one to give her away.
George and her father had known each other since before Sam was born, and she thought of him as a second father.
Sam met his gaze, smiling subtly. They got to the altar and George grabbed his hand, placing Sam's in his own.
"Dearly beloved, we are gathered here today to witness the joining of these two souls, Jonathan Ryan O'Neill and Samantha Lynn Carter, in holy matrimony."
"Jack, do you take this woman to be your lawfully wedded wife, to have and to hold, in sickness and in health for as long as you both shall live?" He asked.
Jack smiled. "I do." He said.
Sam smiled. "And do you Samantha; take this man to be your lawfully wedded husband, to have and to hold, in sickness and in health for as long as you both shall live?" He asked her.
She smiled. "I do." She said.
"By the power vested in me, I now pronounce you husband and wife. You may now kiss the bride." He said. Jack leaned in, kissing Sam.
Her arms wrapped around his neck, and she smiled as the audience cheered. "Ladies and gentlemen, I now present Mr. and Mrs. Jack O'Neill." He said.
Teal'c and Bra'tac stepped toward them, a smile on their faces.
"Bra'tac, it's good to see you." Sam said. Bra'tac bowed his head. "It is good to see you too, Colonel O'Neill." He said.
Jack smiled, shaking his hand. "Good to see ya, Bra'tac." He said.
"And you as well, human." He said with a grin. Ishta stepped up when Bra'tac left.
"I wish you well. I had no doubt you would find each other." She said with a smile.
She turned to Sam. "Do not let him tie you down. You are a great warrior, do not lose that." She said, bowing her head at them.
Lou Ferretti stepped up. "So ya finally caught her." He said with a smile, winking at Sam.
"You two look good together; I only wish Kawalski could see ya." Jack nodded. "Same here, but it's great ya came, thanks." Jack said.
Jack whisked Sam away after the wedding for a three week honeymoon in paradise.
Those three weeks they spent as if they were teenagers, in complete bliss.
Every morning she awoke in Jack's arms was the dawn of a newfound realization for her.
She felt whole, complete, like every wrong thing in her life had been fixed.
But it also brought thoughts of their impending parenthood to the surface.
"I think we should have a second honeymoon." Vala said.
Daniel smiled. "Where do you want to go?" He asked.
She shrugged. "How about Canada, there's a nice little place called Banff?" She said.
"Not to change the subject, but have you noticed Jack's scars?" Daniel asked.
Vala nodded. "I have. They're disappearing, which can't be a bad sign, can it?" She asked, playing with the hair on the back of his neck.
"They're not disappearing, they're changing colors. It's strange. I've done some more research and it looks like the form of lycanthropy he was exposed to was a voluntary type. He can choose to transform." He said.
"So it's more like he's an Animorph than a werewolf, he can decide when he needs to change." Vala replied.
Daniel smiled. "Yeah, I guess you could put it that way." He said.
Vala had spent mornings watching teen shows while she was getting ready for work. "There's one thing I'm not sure of." Vala said.
"What's that?" Daniel asked, raising his eyebrows. "Why would someone allow their child to watch a television series about a reading and talking dog?"
Sam shifted on her side, facing Jack. The scars on the side of his face had turned a dark gold color, almost matching the rest of his natural complexion.
She closed her eyes, pulling the blanket up to her chin. She relaxed, her breathing leveling off, and she was asleep.
Jack smiled, knowing she had been watching him, and faced her, looking at her expression. She looked peaceful, beautiful. He relaxed, letting himself drift to sleep. A few minutes later, Sam was awakened with a kick to her internal organs.
She sat up, gasping.
"What? What is it?" Jack asked.
"Your son is rearranging my insides." She said with a smile.
His eyes widened. "He kicked?" Jack asked her.
She nodded and took his hand, placing his fingers on the spot on her abdomen where the baby had kicked.
At first he thought it was a muscle twitching, but then he felt the heel of the baby's foot against his fingers.
"Whoa." He said; his eyes wide with wonder. Sam smiled. "Hey, be nice." He whispered to her belly, smiling when he felt a hand brush his nose where it touched her belly. "Yeah, it's your daddy, now be nice to your mom and settle down. She needs to go to sleep." He said, his hand patting her stomach.
She smiled widely, watching her husband talking to their baby. "A few more months and then you can move as much as you want, but until then be careful." He whispered.
Sam closed her eyes. "He stopped." She said.
Jack nodded. "We're gonna be great at this." He said, grinning.
Sam nodded, rubbing the same spot on her stomach. "I know one thing; I can't lie on my back anymore."Sam said.
Jack smiled. "C'mere." He said, pulling her closer to him. He spooned up behind her, burying his face in her hair.
"Why'd ya have to fall for an old man like me?" He asked.
"Jack, age doesn't matter to me. We love each other; we want to spend the rest of our lives like this, together." She said.
"Yeah, but my only question is why me? I mean, you coulda had any guy you wanted." He said, stroking her arm absentmindedly. She smiled.
"I chose you. " She said, rubbing her stomach again. "Mmm, yeah, you really picked a winner." He said.
She laughed. "I love you, Mrs. O'Neill." He said.
"I love you, too, Mr. O'Neill." She replied, nestling down into his embrace and pulling the blanket up by her nose.
He smiled as she drifted off to sleep. 'Old habits die hard.'
He thought, remembering the times he would watch her fall asleep on their missions, her sleeping bag up around her nose and ears with her fist under her chin.
"So, have you picked out names?" Cassie asked as she brought a spoonful of cornflakes to her mouth.
Sam nodded. "If it's a boy, Blake Jonathan, and if it's a girl, Rebekkah Brooklynn." She said.
Cassie grinned. "How'd he take that?" She asked. Sam shrugged.
"He told me he hated his parents for that, but I compromised, said we could use it as a middle name." She grinned back as she drank her orange juice.
"Do you want to go in with me today? I'm getting an ultrasound; listen to the baby's heart." She said.
Cassie nodded. "I'd love to." She said. "Is Jack gonna be there?" She asked.
Sam nodded. "Will you find out the sex?" Cassie asked, spooning the last of the cornflakes into her mouth.
Sam nodded. "We already think it's a boy, but at this point the only thing I really care about is that this baby is healthy. Nothing else matters." She said.
Cassie nodded. "So are you ready to be an official cousin/big sister?" Sam asked.
Cassie laughed. "I'm definitely going to be there. I can visualize the baby, your eyes, Jack's hair, your intelligence, and Jack's sarcasm. This kid is going to be perfect."
Cassie said as she loaded her bowl in the dishwasher. "You know that picture I have on my desk at work; of the three of us?" Sam asked.
Cassie nodded. "There was a woman that came in the other day, and she told me that I was very lucky to have such a special young lady for a daughter. I told her thank you, and that I was very proud of you. You'll always be my first, even though you're not biologically mine." Sam said.
Cassie smiled warmly. "Wow, I really can't get in trouble now, four parents." She said, hugging Sam.
"Well, this baby has a very strong heart, that's for sure." Carolyn said as she moved the wand over Sam's abdomen.
"Did you see that?" Cassie asked. Jack smiled as a hand moved across the wand.
"Already hates cameras, yep, it's my kid." He said.
Sam smiled, stroking his knuckles with her thumb.
"So, do we want to know what it is?" Cair asked, raising her eyebrows.
Sam nodded.