Interruptions

A/N: Sorry about the delay, my internet's been screwed up and then I was busy with choir and then I was on holidays. I just got back yesterday from… that's right, Albany! It's so nice in Albany; the weather was really nice, until our last night when we had a thunderstorm, but what a thunderstorm it was! The lighting lit up Mount Melville and it was like daylight.

But anyway, I hope you enjoy this chapter, and I endeavour to update more often now that my internet is back up and running.

Chapter Fifteen

Sam and Vala were tied to two poles, one each. Men were gathered all around, ready for the spectacle about to take place.

"You can't do this!" Daniel was protesting to the judge. "Let them go!"

"They deserve punishment." The judge replied calmly.

"No they don't! We have different customs on our planet. Women are equal to men!"

There was a collective gasp from the crowd.

"You have yet to provide any good reason for punishment no to take place." The judge said.

Daniel opened his mouth to protest again, but Jack laid a hand on his arm and shot him a look. Daniel shut his mouth. Jack turned to the judge.

"You see her." Jack pointed at Sam.

"Yes."

"Her name is Samantha. And her?" The finger shifted to Vala. "Her name is Vala. They are my friends, our friends, our colleagues. We count on them to help us, to keep us safe, and vice versa. We value them."

"We too value women; they are good trade and possessions."

"No. We don't value women ad possessions. We value them as people. They become best friends, and even soul mates. Someone we were meant to spend the rest of our lives with, in an equal relationship." Jack stared at the judge.

"And do you have such a… woman?"

"Yes." Jack replied, without hesitation. He pointed at Sam. "You see her?"

"Yes."

"That woman is the love of my life. I'd die for her, I live for her. I'd do anything for her. I love her more than anyone. She is unique and special. Samantha is not property. I don't own her. She doesn't have to stay with me if she doesn't want to. I respect her."

Jack's words brought tears to Sam's eyes.

The judge stared at Sam. "Let her go. She has a man.

Sam was untied and shoved roughly at Jack, who caught her before she fell.

"Hey!" Vala said.

"Let Vala go too." Jack said.

"She has no one to lay claim to her." The judge said. "Therefore, she will be punished."

"Oh for cryin' out loud!" Jack exclaimed.

"Fine! I claim her! She's mine!" Daniel's exasperated voice cried out.

Everyone turned to face him.

"Gee thanks." Vala muttered. "Sam gets the 'I love you' speech and I get the "I claim her' line."

Daniel rolled his eyes. "Fine, Vala?"

"Yes?"

He walked over and kissed her. Deeply. "I love you." He said when he pulled back. "It's stupid, but I do."

Vala looked surprised. "Oh… really?"

"Yes."
She smiled. "I love you Daniel, I really, really do." She kissed him. "Really."

The judge sighed. "Let her go." And Vala too, was freed.

"Thank you." Daniel said.

"Now leave this planet. And don't return with women if you ever come back."

"Somehow I don't think that'll be a problem." Jack replied, coldly, then he turned to SG1. "Well troops, let's go home." He said, walking away with his arm around Sam.

They stepped through the gate and arrived back in the gate room on Earth. Hank looked relieved that SG1 had returned in one piece. He called a debriefing immediately.

Sam sat silently through the debriefing, wishing for it to be over so she and Jack could leave on their holiday.

"I've made the decision that we will not be returning to P7X-722. We can't shuffle our teams around to accommodate for planets with a no women policy." Hank said.

"I agree, Hank." Jack said. He glanced at Sam. "Some of our best people are women, and we can't exclude them because of that fact."

Sam smiled at this point, remembering how hard she'd worked over the years to gain the respect of various men she'd worked with. Jack was not one of the men she'd needed to gain that type of respect from. He'd respected her from day one, being a women didn't diminish his respect.

"Well that's that." Hank said. "P7X-722 is off bounds and this briefing is finished. You're all dismissed."

Jack held out a hand to Sam after Hank had left the room and Sam took it.

"Let's go to Australia!" Jack said.

Sam smiled up at him and stood.

"Have a great holiday guys." Daniel said to them. "Don't do anything stupid."

Sam laughed. "We won't."

Daniel smiled. "I know."

Sam smiled at Daniel, Vala, Mitchell and Teal'c, before she and Jack left the briefing room.

Jack drove Sam to her house so she could quickly pack a bag and then they could depart on their trip to Australia.

"Looking forward to this?" Jack asked.

"You have no idea how much." Sam replied, rummaging through her wardrobe for clothes, which was becoming increasingly difficult as Jack's lips started tracing circles on her neck.

Finally Sam stopped rummaging. "Jack, I can't concentrate with you doing that!"

"Cool." Jack murmured into Sam's skin, then he continued kissing and brushing his lips over her neck.

"Do you want to leave anytime soon?" Sam asked.

"Well, yeah."

"Then stop, please!"

Jack sighed and pulled back.

Sam turned and smiled slyly at him. "Don't feel bad. I did enjoy it."

Jack grinned.