Chapter two
The arrival of the Tok'ra fleet had been exciting, with all of the community coming out to greet them at the new landing site. Since his accident there the year before, Jack had been out to the site many more times, but he'd always worn his protective helmet. He also avoided the upper roadway, even though he did miss the view, opting instead to take the new road that led directly down into the valley.
Jack held Mellie and stood next to Sam as they watched the first two ships land. She was wearing her maternity dress blues with a shiny oak leaf pinned on her jacket, and Jack thought she made a fine looking Lt. Colonel, even with the huge bulge at her waistline! The passengers stepping out hesitantly, as they set nervous eyes on the planet that was to be their new home. These people had lived beneath the surface of many planets, but never...in their collective memory...had they ever lived on the surface of one!
The first Tok'ra to disembark were members of the High Council, some of whom Sam and Jack had met before, like Councilor Malek and of course Grand Councilor Garshaw. Along with them were scientists and educators, and among those was an archaeologist/scientist that they had never met before, but whom Jack found particularly interesting. Jack found out her name was Freya, and the snake's name was Anise.
As the council members were greeted by the new commander of the Tauri/Tok'ra community, newly appointed General William Reynolds, Jack and Sam introduced themselves to the other new arrivals.
"Retired General Jack O'Neill at your service, Ma'am," he said, bowing his head slightly at Freya. The snake responded verbally, as Freya held out her hand. Jack willingly took the offered hand in one of his.
"It is a pleasure to meet you at last, General. We have heard so many good things about you," she enthused, and Jack's face split into a shit-eating grin. Sam knew what that silly expression on Jack's face meant, and quickly moved to intercede, before this gorgeous alien woman got any ideas about setting her hooks into him.
"I'm Lt. Colonel Samantha Carter...Dr. Carter...soon to be O'Neill," she rattled off. "I'm in charge of scientific and technological research, and this is our daughter...the General's and mine. "Well sort of. We're engaged," she blabbered, not able to restrain herself.
'God, is this pregnancy turning me into a possessive bitch and a blithering idiot as well!' Sam swore to herself.
Jack gave her a critical scowl that said, "Too much information, Carter!"
"I have heard many fine things about you as well, Colonel Carter," the skimpily clad alien replied politely. She glanced down quickly at Sam's belly and then turned her attention back to Jack, who was still holding Freya's hand. "So General, when do I get that tour of your...er...facility?"
Sam literally reached out and grabbed his arm, digging her nails in until he let go.
"Ow!" he yelped as he pulled his hand free from the Tok'ra's embrace. "Actually, it's not imy/i facility anymore, but I'd be..." But Jack didn't get a chance to complete his offer.
"Sorry, but we've got to mingle," Sam said hastily as she took his arm and pulled him toward some of the other new arrivals.
Jack obediently moved along, while Anise spoke to her host. "That human male is very attractive. I wonder if Col. Carter is capable of satisfying him, particularly now that she is so encumbered by her pregnancy," she commented. Freya looked down at the ground, glad that no one else could hear Anise but her. Freya found her symbiote's attraction to General O'Neill to be very embarrassing.
Four days later Sam and Jack were expecting another group of people to arrive on Egeria. But this time it was their friends and wedding guests from Earth, and they were arriving via the stargate, and not all at the same time. Daniel and Janet got to Tok'ona early in the day, because they were both playing a big part in the wedding. Janet was to be Sam's Maid of Honor, which was no surprise to anyone. Daniel still hadn't gotten over the shock that Jack had asked him to be his Best Man.
The two women were in the master bedroom of the two-bedroom apartment getting dressed in their wedding finery.
"I bet this apartment is working out a lot better for you," Janet commented as she put another rhinestone clip in Sam's hair. Janet had helped Sam sweep the sides up and back and was pinning the golden tresses in place. With the new, longer length that she was wearing it these days, Janet thought Sam looked more like 26 rather than 36. The lucky woman!
Sam knew that Janet was referring to the fact that up until six weeks ago, Mellie had slept in their bedroom, which made having loud, crazy sex a very difficult thing to do. Although they had sometimes managed it anyway!
"It will be great when the baby comes to have the extra room, but so far it hasn't really made much difference. At least not in our sex life. The truth is I just don't feel like doing it much lately. I'm just so fat!" Sam cried. "I mean look at me! I look terrible!"
"I bet Jack doesn't think so," Janet said, rolling her eyes and grinning at Sam in the dresser mirror.
Sam chuckled. "No, I don't suppose he does. In fact he always seems to want sex. But I just don't feel like it anymore," Sam said sorrowfully.
"Don't worry; you'll get those cravings back. You're just going through a hormonal shift. Once the baby's here and you've had time to heal, you'll be back to your old self. I guaranty it!"
"Will you swear on your physician's oath?" Sam asked playfully.
"On my oath!" Janet replied with a grin. "Now come on. We've got only an hour before we have to be at the chapel. Let's get you into your dress." Sam groaned at the thought of how she would look in it. 'Janet will look precious in the rose pink, waltz-length gown that she'll be wearing, but no amount of fancy clothing could make my body look nice,' Sam worried.
Meanwhile the groom and the his best man were at the community center. They were already dressed in their dark gray suits and were supervising some last minute preparations for the party. Sam's staff had decorated the place the night before. The tables and chairs were all set out, and everything look pretty good, Jack thought as he surveyed the big room. He still couldn't believe that in less than two hours he and Sam would be here celebrating their marriage. After all of the problems they'd had and the tough times they'd gone through, he was almost afraid to accept that this was finally going to happen.
"Okay, Jack, let's get over to the chapel and see if anyone has arrived yet," Daniel suggested, seeing Jack's pale countenance. He could tell when Jack was nervous, and he prayed that his friend wouldn't get cold feet and do something stupid...like back out.
"Alright. I guess it is that time, isn't it," Jack commented nervously. He followed along behind Daniel, feeling as though his feet weren't even touching the ground. 'Is this really happening today, or am I still in that coma and stuck in one of my dreams?' he asked himself.
Jack shook himself mentally, telling himself to snap out of it. Then, in order to ground himself, he began to think about his plans for their honeymoon. Jack's staff, from when he had been commander of the settlement, had volunteered to construct a sort of encampment up on their mountain, where he and Sam would spend three glorious days away from every responsibility. And the only problem Jack was still trying to solve was how to get her up there; it had been weeks since she could manage the steep trail up to their little glen.
But suddenly Jack's worries about the honeymoon took a back seat, as he was met at the door of the chapel by General Jacob Carter, who he hadn't seen since before Mellie was born. Jack thought the phrase 'loaded for bear' pretty much described Jacob's expression as he moved toward Jack.
"Well, Jack, you must be feeling pretty smug about now. You've gotten everything you wanted, haven't you?"
"General Carter, I don't think this is the time or the place for..." Daniel began, but Jack raised a hand and cut him off.
"It's okay, Daniel," was all Jack said to him. But Jack's look said, "You don't have to help me fight my battles anymore."
"Jacob, I'd be happy to have a talk with you, but not here. Why don't we go out back, where we can talk undisturbed. 'And without anyone hearing or watching...just in case I decide to knock your teeth down your throat,' Jack thought to himself.
"I'd like that, Jack," Jacob said calmly, and the two men walked around the side of the small, clapboard building, leaving Daniel standing there looking very worried.
The multi-denominational chapel had been constructed to look like a nineteenth century Christian church on Earth, including a bell tower. And everyone had been glad to see that it was not just a plain concrete and metal building like the others in the compound. But it was small compared to most churches on Earth, and it took no time at all for the two adversaries to reach the rear of the building.
"I'm really surprised to see you here today, Jacob. We haven't seen you in a long time." And Jack had hoped not to see him today as well! Jacob Carter had always been a thorn in his side, and Jack wasn't about to let him ruin their wedding day.
"YOU haven't seen me in quite a while, Jack, but Sam has. You didn't really believe that she'd abandon her father for you, now did you? We've seen each other twice in the past three months, and we write back and forth regularly," Jacob added, a smug smile on his face.
Jack was so startled by this revelation that he didn't quite know what to say. When they'd postponed the wedding, Sam had vowed not to speak to Jacob until he accepted Jack. He had no idea that Sam and Jacob had seen each other recently. Jack had already decided that Jacob had been messing with Sam's head during that whole Martouf thing, and he was certain the whole postponing the wedding thing was just an excuse to give him more time to work on Sam...to someone talk her into leaving him. It obviously hadn't worked, but Jack did have to wonder how much crap she was having to take from the man!
Where and when they had gotten together was something he was curious about. But more than feeling curious, he was feeling hurt...hurt that Sam would lie to him. Well, she hadn't really lied to him, he thought, trying to be fair. What she had done was avoid telling him. That wasn't the same as lying. Or was it?
"What's the matter, Jack? Is your wife-to-be keeping secrets from you? Sam wouldn't do that, would she? Oh, wait! She had a secret affair with Martouf, didn't she? I bet that surprised you as well, didn't it?" Jacob asked, his eyes twinkling with mischief.
"Shut up, old man, before I shut you up," Jack growled. He'd had enough of this man's evil remarks, and he wanted him to stop...right the hell now! But Jacob wasn't about to back down now that he had Jack at a disadvantage.
"I can see that I've upset you. I won't say I'm sorry, Jack, but I will suggest that perhaps you should stop and consider just exactly who it is you're intending to marry."
"What the fuck are you talking about?" Jack asked, his fists clinching and un-clinching at his sides.
"I'm simply saying that no matter how wonderful my daughter is, Samantha Carter is not the person you think she is. She's willful, stubborn, ambitious, and very smart. ...a lot smarter than you, Jack. She and Martouf had a lot in common. But you! I bet you don't understand even half of what she tells you about her work. She must hate that you can't even share in her triumphs in the lab."
"Oh, and I had to laugh when she told me you want five or six kids. Boy have you got the wrong girl! If you think my daughter is interested in devoting that much time to parenting, or is going to put anything or anyone before her career, then you're sorely mistaken. That reminds me, did she tell you she considered aborting this baby, because she wasn't ready for another one so soon after having Martouf's child?" Seeing Jack's astonished expression, he continued to hit the man while he was down. "In fact, she told me she didn't think she could handle another child."
Jack had just stood there, his anger boiling to the point where he was about to deck the old guy. But the last couple of sentences took the wind out of his sails. He just stood there looking defeated. If it were true...
"Sorry to have to be the one to tell you, Jack," Jacob added, and then he turned and walked away.
General Hammond, along with Teal'c, Shan'auc and their baby daughter, had arrived and were standing on the front porch of the little church, when General Carter walked up and joined them. George thought it was great that his old friend looked so happy, and he hoped that meant that Jacob had changed his mind about his daughter marrying Jack O'Neill.
The group was met by other guests from Earth and many from Tok'ona, and slowly they began to go inside the chapel, where they were escorted to their seats by Daniel Jackson and Charlie Kawalsky.
As the time for the ceremony grew closer, everyone went inside and got seated. About one hundred guests filled the little chapel, waiting patiently for the bride and groom to arrive. Cassie had been allowed to travel through the gate, but for security reasons could not bring her boyfriend, a fact that had her in an obvious foul mood. Tech. Harriman sat next to the young teen, his eyes warily seeking out Cassie's face every few seconds, as though he thought her head might explode...or at the very least spin all the way around. General Hammond sat in the front row on the bride's side, a space next to him where Jacob Carter would sit once he'd walked Sam down the aisle.
In the first row on the groom's side were seated Majors Charlie Kawalsky and Lou Ferretti and their families. Also on the groom's side were Teal'c and his family; the leader of the Free Jaffa, Master Bra'tac; and the Tok'ra High Council members. The latter were a group of invitees which Jack had adamantly objected to. But since they were considered guests of some standing in the community, Jack had lost the fight to have them omitted from the guest list. Also among the guests who had come from Earth were Tech. Sgt. Samuel 'Sly' Siler, and several nurses who worked for Janet and had known both Sam and Jack since the beginning of the SGC.
Daniel, who had greeted many of the people arriving for the big day, had finally taken his place at the altar, and now he was beginning to worry. He hadn't seen Jack in over half an hour, and he'd been so busy talking with and seating the guests, that he'd not had time to go and look for him. He was somewhat relieved to see Jacob Carter looking relaxed and uninjured, but even that didn't ease Daniel's worried mind completely. Where was Jack?
TBC
