Every time Jack went to talk to Sam, since the whole Emily fiasco, he had to keep reminding himself that when she was first injured she had lost her hearing. He knew that who ever had taken her was more then likely a Goa'uld, but why damage her hearing? With all those things they have why make her deaf? So now as he once again walked into the kitchen calling out her name he had to remind himself of that moment in time when he was told she was deaf.
"Carter!" He called watching her for some recognition. Nothing! What ever tests Janet had done that came back all clear he had to know! This was not normal and he hated the fact that he'd scare her again if he just moved over and grabbed her arm. Sighing he watched her, and shook his head. "Sam," he said gently as he moved into the kitchen. Hearing him she smiled turning around.
"Hey!"
"Hey," he replied gently, before wrapping her in his arms.
"What's wrong?" She frowned pulling back, and staring at him.
"I want, no I need to talk to you, but Sam I need you to go back to Fraiser,"
"Why?"
"I think after what happened with Emily, your hearing's been affected again!"
"What? Why do you say that?"
"If someone is far enough away from you, not to feel their presence, you don't respond to them calling out to you! Sam I'm worried about you!"
"I didn't realise," she muttered. Smiling he nodded.
"That's kinda the point," he smiled. Leaning in he gently took hold of her lips and kissed her gently. No sooner had she responded did he break contact.
"Tease," she mumbled against his chest as she sighed and rested her head against his shoulder. Smiling at the top of her head he kissed her hair, before hugging her even tighter.
"Sam, I don't want to live without you and Xan in my life anymore! You know this already, and..." Sighing he closed his eyes, as she pulled back to watch him.
"It's ok, Jack. I can't go back to the Air Force anyway! I don't want to be killed and never see Xan grow up! I want to be there for her!"
"Sam I know you can't go back, but what I'm saying is that I put in for retirement, I don't want to be the one running around out there and thinking if I'd be coming back to the both of you, after I get captured, dead or alive!"
"Jack you can't resign!"
"I have Sam, and I'm just hoping the president sees and understands my reasons!"
"He wont let you, you know that!"
"I have to try Sam,"
"I know, but..." Sighing she shrugged.
"The SGC will have you back as a civilian Sam we know that already!"
"If what you're saying is true Jack, they wont!"
"Look we'll just get Janet to do one more hearing test! I just want to see the results ok?"
"That'll be the tenth one this month Jack!" She stated wide eyed.
"It'll be worth it angel, please. I don't want an experiment going wrong, and having people yelling at you to get out the way, for you not to hear them and therefore have something happen to you!"
"Your such a sap," she smiled at him, as the front door opened.
"I'm home!" Xanthie yelled coming into the kitchen to see them standing in each others arms. Grinning at them, she ran into them hugging them tightly.
"Hey there munchkin!" Jack laughed.
"Can I talk to you later Jack? After mum helps me with my homework?"
"Sure thing," he smiled and let go of Sam, who went with Xantheia to her room.
So after reflecting of all that Jack found him self, lying next to this most beautiful little girl. It was her birthday coming up and as it was near the same time as his, they had decided to do a joined party at their home. Their home. Smiling he looked at the little girl, who reminded him so much of his little sister. Looking up he sighed yet again and waited for her to wake up after drifting off to sleep straight after dinner, and in the middle of their conversation.
"Jack?" She whispered opening her eyes.
"Yeah I'm here,"
"When are you going to tel mum you love her?"
"It's hard munchkin,"
"No it's not," smiling he rolled his eyes.
"You wanted to talk to me about something?"
"Is mum deaf? I mean I know she's not deaf, deaf, but sometimes I say something to her and she wont hear me."
"We're getting that looked at tomorrow munchkin. I promise I'll be looking at the results, and I'll let you know when I know alright?"
"Good!" She grinned at him. "So why is it hard?"
"Xan," he groaned, to which she giggled at.
"Well?"
"It just is ok?"
"But you tell me all the time!"
"That's different!"
"How?"
"It just is!" He laughed slightly.
"But how is it different?"
"Ok, fine!" He huffed shifting to look at her. "I love you and I love your mum, but I love your mum in a way that's totally different then the way I love you, therefore it makes it harder to tell her!"
"Ah, ok," she smirked at him and rolled her eyes at him before settling against his side.
"So when you easily tell me you love me, its because you love me like you're my dad? And its hard for you to tell my mum you love her, because you love her like you want to make another baby?"
"What?" He gasped, jumping off the bed. "Xantheia!" He hissed.
"What? That's true though right?"
"Look little miss! I hate to tell you this but having me married with another child is not something your mother and I are even considering let alone talking about!" Huffing she rolled on her side keeping her back to him, and shrugged.
"Fine be a sour pus! I'm going to bed!" And with that she closed her eyes and tried desperately to sleep. Watching her Jack sighed and left the room.
"Sam, I need to talk to you," he stated coming to sit beside her. Jumping she looked up at him.
"When did you come..."
"You are getting your hearing tested first thing in the morning miss!"
"Yes dad," she smirked and cuddled up to him. Hugging her tightly she grinned up at him, as he leant down and kissed her gently.
"Come on lets go to bed,"
"Not yet. You wanted to tell me something?"
"Later," he stated and got up, pulling her with him. 'You little chicken shit! You can't tell the woman of your dreams that you love her? That her child lights up your life and that if anything happened to either of them you'd die! Christ O'Neill get a grip!'
The following morning saw Jack and Sam, headed to the infirmary. Upon entrance Janet smiled at them.
"Hey, what are you guys doing here?"
"I want you to test her hearing again!"
"Colonel?"
"Doc!"
"Colonel I've tested her, every things come back..."
"Then why is it that she can't hear Xanthie or my self half the time we're talking to her?" Widening her eyes she looked at Sam who just bowed her head.
"Sam?"
"I obviously didn't realise. Jack told me last night, so..."
"Ok, I'll get everything drawn up, and we'll do the test again now."
"Thank you doc!" Jack stated and moved Sam to a bed, where he pulled the curtain around them.
"Jack, you don't have to stay it's ok,"
"I'm staying Sam, and I am going to see these results myself!"
"Jack I know you care but..."
"No buts Sam! I have to see these results!" Sighing she nodded.
"Right!" Janet stated coming into the cubical and smiling at them. As she ran the different tests, Jack frowned. He watched her as she turned Sam's head away, and hit a metal object on the small table to cause it to vibrate against its self. And then ran it by her ear asking her to tell her if she could hear anything or not. When Sam's answer the first four times was no, but the final time was yes, they both raised their eyebrows.
"So?" Sam sighed lying back in the bed four hours later while Janet was staring at her, and Jack was reading a piece of paper.
"I think what is happening is that, you are perfectly fine with your hearing, however if there are other noises around then you suffer. Now I can organise a hearing aid to help with that. It's not like the normal ones you see everyday Sam. It'll be so small and fit perfectly inside your ear no one will notice it."
"A hearing aid?"
"This doesn't make sense doc!" Jack stated looking up and thrusting the page into her hands. Reading it she frowned.
"That's not possible. With the tests we ran our selves colonel these results are not possible!"
"Looks like someone's fudging your results to get you back Carter!" Jack stated staring at her wide and shocked eyes.
"I'll leave you two alone, for a few minutes I need to talk to general Hammond about this!" And with that Janet ran from the cubical. Sighing Jack sat on the edge of her bed.
"Sam, what ever happens I'm not leaving you and Xan ok?"
"Jack if I'm deaf social services will get interested!"
"I'm not letting anyone take her from you Carter!" He huffed, with a slight glare at her.
"I know but..."
"I love you Sam!" He stated which not only shocked the hell out of him, with the fact he'd finally come out and told her, but the look on her face. "Sorry I..." Stopping him mid sentence, she grinned at him. Reaching for him, she pulled him to her and kissed him.
"I love you too Jack," she whispered, pulling back ever so slightly she had to look up at him through her eyelashes. Grinning at her he hugged her tightly before shifting to lie next to her. Cuddling up to him Jack smiled.
'Well it's about darned time Jack my boy! You found it so hard to tell her since you've known her! But what was making it that hard? You spent months together ten nearly eleven years ago, and every time you managed to say it to her! What was so hard?'
