Chapter 13
Sam lay in bed with Jacob asleep, she wasn't tired but she had been thinking hard, she was so glad Jack had come back into her life otherwise Pete would have won. She had always thought that he had loved her. Now she knew all along he had seen her as something to be controlled and she had let him. She vowed she would let no other man do that to her. Pete had been the same as Jonas only done it in a more caring fashion, hadn't hit her until after the marriage. As for what he'd said about the sex Sam didn't know. She'd never had any complaints but she hadn't had that many guys. She wondered if there was any truth to it. She'd noticed there sex life hadn't been as active recently, she'd guessed it was because it was hard to get in the mood when one was unconscious on the floor. Now she wasn't so sure.
She shivered remembering the abuse. Jacob cuddled her closer in his sleep. She didn't know what was going to happen next but there were going to be some ramifications of exposing the police. Media attention, then fall out with disgruntled cops. Sam knew she'd be better off on the run, taking Jacob out of school then going somewhere where nobody knew them. The only thing holding her back was her friends having just got them back in her life she didn't want to lose them again.
She noticed the door open a crack, Jack put his head round.
"Your awake, Doc wanted me to check on you" he whispered, Sam nodded
"Yeah I was thinking"
"Well at least that hasn't changed" Jack joked, Sam smiled
"I just can't believe I was so stupid, to believe Pete and his lies, I thought you guys hated me" Sam confessed,
"We'd never hate you Sam feel betrayed yes but not hate"
"Thanks Jack" Sam said finding her eyes closing.
Jack walked down stairs, Cassie and Lizzy were in the garden, Mac was typing on the computer, Teal'c was Kel'nor'eeming while Janet and Daniel where sitting with Sha're talking quietly. Jack walked to the kitchen on seeing Sam's letters he sat own sorting them into date he opened the first one,
Dear Sir
Well I guess its Jack now, finally I can call you Jack it seems strange to say and strange to write. I know your probably confused and angry at me now I'm sorry really sorry. I quit because I'm pregnant I don't want to leave my child like my mum did and the Stargate is just too risky. Pete got a new job, and we have a new house with a nursery I was waiting to say goodbye but Pete and his job couldn't. Maybe you can come and visit see the baby when it comes, or we could visit you? Just let me know when you next have leave.
I miss you guys
Sam
Dear Jack
I got no response from the last letter perhaps you are still on a mission. I hope we can visit soon I included a photo of me I'm huge. I miss you guys
Sam
Dear Jack
I checked you're not on a mission I hacked the system, I hope you're not angry. I'm 8 months gone or I would come and visit. Things aren't going so well with Pete, I'm thinking of coming back if you guys would want me I guess the none response it gives me my answer. I miss you guys
Sam
Dear Jack
Meet Jacob Jon Shanahan. Isn't he gorgeous? He makes everything we went through worth it all that pain is worth it so he grows up in a safer world. I actually left Pete, I'm coming home to Colorado Springs I hope if you see me in person you talk to me. I miss you guys.
Sam
Dear Jack
I'm back with Pete I'm sorry. I thought I was strong enough to leave him I know I was the weak link in SG1, maybe you were glad I left. I've made my bed with Pete and I will fix it. Thank you for everything and sorry I let you down
Goodbye Sir.
That was the last letter, goodbye Sir it seemed so empty, so final. Pete had battered her and finally broken Samantha Carter. But not totally she had fought back it had taken her 8 years but she was here again and he wasn't wasting time.
He snuck back upstairs, peeking in on Lizzy he saw her and Jake under a pile of blankets making a fort. They were busy talking telling each other stories. Jack grinned quietly closing the door.
He went to Sam's room knocking and entering.
"I read the letters, I wish I had got them"
"I'm sorry" Sam said,
"I wish you had come down here talked to me, we could have sorted everything out" Sam laughed
"I posted that letter myself, I guess Pete must have had a mole in the post office. That's why I really thought you hated me"
"We could never hate you Sam"
"I left you behind"
"No we did, we should have looked for you, it wouldn't have been hard to find Pete. We shouldn't have let you go. God I knew Pete was bad news when I found he ran that background check, then when he stalked you to Daniel's I should have made you listen"
"How about we both screwed up" Sam offered. Jack nodded
"Are you coming back to the SGC? We can always use another scientist"
"I don't know, I feel so screwed up and I owe Jake some time. Maybe take him to Disneyland once I've divorced Pete"
"You know I promised to take Lizzy and Teal'c there this summer, you're welcome to tag along" Jack offered
"We'd like that" Sam said, shifting so she was lying with her head in his lap. Sam closed her eyes enjoying the sensation
"I missed you Sam" Jack admitted thinking she was asleep "God why can't I tell you I love you" he whispered. Sam sat up
"You do?" Sam asked not sure if she had heard properly
"I do" Jack confirmed
"I… I've waited so long for you to say that, I love you too Jack don't doubt that but I want…need time. To divorce Pete sort myself out. Can you wait Jack?"
"Promise no more Pete's coming between us and I'll wait as long as you need" Jack promised, Sam smiled her eyes closing on their own as tiredness took over. "Sleep Sam I'll wait"
It was an hour later when Janet poked her head around seeing both Sam and Jack sleeping on the bed. She grinned closing the door letting them sleep.
Sam woke up feeling safe and secure, there was something about the way Jack held her that unlike Pete whose hold felt possessive Jacks just felt right. The sooner she could divorce him the better.
She extracted herself from his grip. Wondering down the hall to where Mac sat working.
"Am I disturbing you?" Sam asked sitting down on the guest bed.
"No actually I had some surprising news, because of the negative press coverage the trial has been moved up to next week."
"Is that good?" Sam asked, worried while she wanted it all over as soon as possible she also wanted justice to be done.
"Well it means the prosecution will be busy but the defence has less time to corrupt the proceedings. The court is in Denver hopefully that will reduce the bias. We will both have to testify but he isn't making bail"
"Ok that's good" Sam said comforted.
"Ok, I've just emailed my boss told him I'm needed to testify. He has assigned me to NORAD, apparently there is an Airforce, Marine joint venture that needs some legal guidance." Mac told her confused. Sam smiled she had a good idea of what the joint venture was.
"You know Jack, Janet, Daniel and Teal'c work there" Sam offered
"Really that's cool," Mac said surprised, she had thought Janet worked at the Academy hospital.
"You know George has said you can have your old job back" a voice from the door startled us both. Jack stood there with a smug smile. "You'd get health insurance for you and Jake, protection of a lot of Marines, and you'd get to play with your doo hickeys again and save us all from your mini me"
"My mini me?" Sam questioned
"Haley you created a monster there" Jack moaned, Sam laughed before explaining it to Mac
"Haley was a spirited cadet that I took under my wing before I left the Air Force" Mac nodded thinking of Bud and how they had nurtured him no doubt some people would describe that Mac and Harm had created a monster.
"He'd really give me my old job back?" Sam asked unable to believe she'd be accepted back so easily.
"Easily, Haley is good but she struggles with the likes of Felger and Combs"
"As a civilian" Sam checked
"Yes" Jack confirmed
"With flexible working so I can fit it in around Jake?"
"Yes just like me, or Daniel as long as you work your hours it doesn't matter when and we both have secure servers so we can occasionally work from home"
"Ok count me in"
"Ok I'll let George know" Jack said happily as it meant Sam was sticking around.
"So NORAD Jack it doesn't seem like you?"
"You'll find out Monday Mac" Jack warned for her to stop digging. Mac got the hint dropping the subject.