Here's the next installment of this story... be warned they may seem a bit out of character but in this alternate timeline, the events shaped them into different people. This is my take on how they changed. Enjoy!

2008

Sam awoke to a knock at the door. She put on her robe and looked over to the side of the bed where Joe should be sleeping. He wasn't, though, because he'd gotten called to DC for an emergency meeting with one of the Aschen.

She opened the door to see a face she hadn't seen in quite some time. Jack. She stared at him, silent, in shock.

"Hey Carter. Can I come in?"

He didn't wait for a response. He brushed past her and she followed him into the living room.

"Joe here?"

Sam managed to choke out, "No."

"Good. "

"What are you doing here, sir?"

"Ah!" he corrected.

"I retired, remember?"

"Why are you at my house at," she glanced at the wall clock, "three in the morning?"

"I needed to talk to you."

"Okay... talk. What was so important that you came all the way here in the middle of the night to tell me?"

"Actually, I came to ask you something."

"What is it?"

"Come away with me. Run away from all of this."

She looked at him, slightly amused.

"Jack, we're not sixteen. What are you talking about?"

"You don't want this life. You can deny it all you want, but you never wanted any of this," Jack told her, his hands gesturing largely.

"I do, I love Joe."

"No, you don't."

"Yes I do! I married him, didn't I?"

"That doesn't mean you love him."

"Jack, I -"

He cut her off by kissing her. She'd forgotten how nice it was to kiss him. It had been so long since that day by the oak tree... two long years. She started to deepen the kiss before remembering. Joe.

She broke away from the kiss and took three steps backward.

"Run away with me. Come to the cabin. No one will find us there."

"Minnesota? I... my whole life is here. My job... Joe. Everything is here."

"I'm not. I'm not here," he pointed out quietly.

"Jack... please. Just... go. I can't come with you. I... I have to stay here. With Joe. I love him," she stressed the last three words, hoping she could convince him. Convince herself.

"You don't love him. I know you Sam. I can see it. You don't love him."

"Please, please Jack. Go."

They stood there for what seemed like forever. Jack silently begging her to come, Sam begging him to go. Finally, he broke eye contact and walked out the door, slamming it behind him.

Sam sat down on her sofa and started to cry. When Joe came home the next day, he found her there. She refused to tell him what had gotten her so upset. Joe tried to reassure her that it wasn't so bad, that whatever it was would fix itself. But Sam knew it would be the last time she would see Jack for a long, long time... perhaps forever.

So? Any thoughts? Let me know - press that pretty little button down there - you know you want to! ; )

Only two more chapters and this story will be finished.