Comforts of Love 9
Sam stood there, glued to the spot, mouth in a perfect "O". Daniel and T were behind her at the table, silverware clattering on to their plates in surprise. **Yes!** I give myself a mental fist punch in the air while I wait for her to answer me. I don't know what the hell possessed me to buy the ring in the first place. Hell, when I had bought it, she was still with the cop and I was still with Kerry. Maybe it was just wishful thinking on my part at the time, but now I'm glad I had got it when I did.
"Oh my God, Jack...I..." she stopped talking and I stood up to look her more in the eyes. There were tears there but I could tell that they weren't tears of sadness. Quite the opposite in fact. I took the ring out of the box and took her hand.
"Sam, I'm not saying we have to rush out and get married right away. I just want you to know that I'm here for the long haul. I'm tired of locking things in the room and trying to forget about them. I want you, **all** of you in my life for however much longer we have in our lives."
At that moment she pulls me down for a kiss. Her arms wrap around my shoulders and I clutch her to me. When we break apart, she's still holding my face and smiles brightly. "Yes. Yes, Jack O'Neill, I will marry you!"
I make an fist punch in the air for real this time. "Yes!" I grab her left hand again and slip the ring over her ring finger, silently happy that I got the size right. "She's going to marry me!" I shout to the guys, who are at the table smiling huge grins.
"Finally!" Daniel says with smirk. He stands up and comes around to hug Sam and shake my hand. "Really, I'm happy for you guys."
Teal'c is not far behind to offer his congratulations. He pulls Sam and I into a huge hug and we all laugh at his show of affection. "I am honored to have been witness to your betrothal. I know that you will be very happy in your journey of life together."
"Thanks Teal'c, Daniel." Sam said, still smiling.
"How about we finish breakfast and then go fishing?" That got me groans all around, but it didn't bother me because I finally got the one thing my heart had wished for for a long time: Samantha Carter was going to be my wife.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
The next few days flew by fast. We all spent time fishing, swimming, and just hanging out with each other. It was now Saturday and the boys were planning on heading back to the Springs on Monday morning while Sam and I had decided to spend another week at the cabin. I was kind of glad that she had suggested it last night. As much as I've had fun with the guys, I just wanted it to be me and Sam for awhile. Sam and I were in our bedroom getting dressed for the day when she sat on the bed and started to fidget.
"What's up?" I asked her as I pulled on my boxers then my jeans.
"Nothing's wrong. In fact, everything is perfect."
"So why the fidgeting?" I moved over to the bed to sit next to her and took her hand in mine, bringing it up to kiss her knuckles.
She stares at our joined hands, a far away look in her eyes. "I'm scared."
"Of what, Sam?" I ask her gently, not pressing her for answers.
"Of us. Of what we finally get to have."
I pull her into a hug, holding her tightly, rubbing her back. "Its about time, as far as I'm concerned. Everything will work out as it should."
"Jack?" she asks softly.
"Yes?"
"Lets get married today. I'm afraid of waiting." She pulls back and looks me in the eye. I see almost nine years of pent up feelings freely coming forth and I can't deny her anything in this moment. I pull her in for a kiss and then pull her to stand up with me.
"Then what are we waiting for? Let's do this!" She smiles at my enthusiasm and we hug again before we head out to the living room to get the guys.
"Daniel? T.? Come here please!" I shout out the door. In a few minutes, we are all assembled in the living room.
"What's up, Jack?" Daniel asks.
"We're getting married tonight." I say with my shit eating grin on my face.
"Um, don't you need a license? And a minister?" Daniel asks confused.
"Not a problem. I just need you guys to help get things together." I turn to Sam. "Do you want to call Cassie? I'm sure we can have the Prometheus beam her here."
"That would be awesome. I couldn't imagine not having her here. She'd kill us all."
"Done. I'll get a hold of the Prometheus here in a few, you call Cassie now. Don't tell her why, just tell her she's coming to visit for a few days." Sam heads back to our room to call her and I turn to the guys. "Okay. Here's the plan. I need to head into town. The Mayor is an old high school pal of mine and he owes me a few favors. When Sam comes out, tell her I will be back soon. Here is my credit card. Once Cass is beamed here, I want you guys to take them into town and let them pick out something nice."
"Um, Jack?" Daniel finally asks when I stop talking.
"Yes, Daniel?"
"Aren't you forgetting something?"
"What would that be?"
"Do you have a ring?"
"I do."
"Oh."
"I was a boy scout. Always be prepared." I quip.
"Since when?" he asks me again.
"Since I was about 5." I reply.
"No, I mean, since when have you had a ring?"
"Oh. Since the zanax thing." I shrug it off and look at Teal'c. He just nods and smiles.
"How did you know that you would end up here?"
"Faith, Danny. Pure faith." I thumb towards the door. "I gotta get going. I'll call you guys once I talk to the captain on the Prometheus."
**************************************
A few hours later, I'm back at the cabin with my friend, Mike. I change into my suit I keep up at the cabin and then start a fire in the fireplace. Mike's wife, Cindy, was putting the finishing touches of flowers and candles around the living room and I had to admit, she did a damn good job. Sam would be speechless. I finally hear the crunch of the gravel on the driveway, and Cindy shakes her head at me, running out to greet the group. Daniel and Teal'c come in through the front door and a few moments later, I hear the back door shut.
"This place looks gorgeous." Daniel comments as he looks around. They are both dressed in charcoal suits, and Teal'c has his customary beanie on his head.
"Thanks, guys. Cindy, Mike's wife did all the work. Once she found out there was to be a wedding, she went full speed ahead." After I responded, I introduced the guys to Mike and we stood around chatting for a few moments. Cindy finally poked her head out of the master bedroom and called for "Murry". Teal'c went towards the room and Cindy came out, dimming lights as she did. She then went to the CD player and put in a CD, going to the song that she wanted and turning the volume down a bit. The strains of a soft song start up and its one I don't recognize.
//The
winters mar the Earth
It's floor was frozen glass
You slip into
my arms
And you quickly correct yourself
Your freezing speech
bubbles
Seem to hold your words aloft
I want the smoky clouds
of laughter
To swim about me forever more //
About this time, the door to the bedroom opens and I see Cassie walk slowly out. Its at this moment I realize just how much she has grown up into a young woman that her mother's would have been proud of. Her hair is swept up, with a few stray pieces flowing down and she has on a tea length pale green dress. She comes to the fireplace and I meet her and kiss her cheek. "Thanks for coming, kid."
"Always, *Dad*." She smiles and takes her place on the other side of Mike. The song continues and then I see Samantha walking slowly out of the room on the arm of Teal'c. She's such a vision that I lose my breath. Her dress is white and floor length. It has a lace cover and long sleeves. The neckline dips low, but not terribly so and she has a beautiful tiara on top of her golden hair. She's holding a bouquet of red roses and as she gets closer, I can see the tears glistening in her eyes.
"Hello." I whisper.
"Hi." she replies back. "Its gorgeous in here. Did you do all this?"
I shake my head and nod towards Cindy. "Nope, the queen of weddings did this."
Mike interrupts. "Are we ready?"
We nod and he starts the ceremony.
"Who gives this woman to this man?" he asks.
"It is I who has the honor of giving Samantha's hand over to that of O'Neill's." Teal'c says. He bends down and places a light kiss on Sam's cheek and moves to stand next to Daniel.
"Dearly beloved, we are gathered here tonight to join Johnathan O'Neill and Samantha Carter in holy matrimony..."
//I
will race you to the waterside
And from the edge of Ireland shout
out loud
So they could hear it in America
It's all for you
The
shells crack under our shoes
Like punctuation points
The
planets bend between us
A hundred million suns and stars
The
sea filled in this silence
Before you sank those words
And now
even in the darkness
I can see how happy you are
I will
race you to the waterside
And from the edge of Ireland shout out
loud
So they could hear it in a America
It's all for you...//
End Chapter 9