A/N: Hello fans, thanks for all of your comments and encouragement over the past two years. I'm so sorry that it took me so long to update. Long story short, I had a lot of big events happen in my life and it has been hard to find time to do much of anything. My dad was diagnosed with cancer and I had to deal with that, as well as planning a wedding with my now husband.
I already started the next chapter and hope to update again in the next week.
Enjoy, and thanks for being so patient with me.
Disclaimer: I own nothing.
Chapter 3:
He placed the picture under the O'Malley's magnet on his fridge. Every time he took a look at it, he was filled with melancholy.
It was his kid, but it never really would be.
He sighed with resignation.
It had been three weeks since that hospital visit. They had talked on the phone a few times, but she was busy spending time with her brother and his family. Something Jack knew that she hadn't gotten to do very often while on SG-1.
She had to be showing by now, and he frowned at the thought of missing out.
Having not much else to do, and wanting to keep his mind off of the situation, he sat down to watch some hockey.
After a while, the doorbell rang. Stretching his arms over his head, he got up to answer it.
There she stood on his doorstep, dressed in a pink stretchy top that showed her obvious blooming baby bump. She was sopping wet from the rain and crying.
"Carter?" With one quick gesture, he pulled her inside, gently closing the door behind them.
He knew that words weren't what she needed at the moment, and he allowed her to fall into his tight embrace. He rubbed long smooth strokes into her back with his hands. She nuzzled her head into the crook of his neck, sobs cascading through her body.
Slowly, he picked her up into his arms, carrying her to his bedroom.
"Here." He tossed her a big t-shirt and some sweatpants. He helped her slip the wet clothes off and the new ones on before picking her up in his arms again.
He laid her on the bed, placing himself behind her, and holding her until her sobs turned into slow deep breaths of sleep.
He stayed like this for a while, before rising to fix them some dinner.
xoXoxoXox
She awoke to the smell of meat and potatoes invading her nostrils.
Sam sat up quickly, embarrassed that she was laying in her former commanding officer's bed.
"Wakey wakey." Jack walked into the room, spatula in hand.
"Sir.." Her face was red with embarrassment.
"Can we stop with the 'Sirs' already? I'm not your commanding officer anymore... Sam." The words danced on his tongue and she blushed deeper as he waved his spatula at her. "Come get some dinner." He held out his empty hand and helped her off of the bed.
They entered the kitchen, and an incredible scene unfolded before her..
The small table was covered with a silky red tablecloth, and there was a candleholder in the middle. Two sets of silverware were laying across the table from each other.
He was busying himself preparing the plates while she stood there, admiring.
She sighed. He seems so..happy.
He placed plate full of food at each place and lit the candle.
"Ma'am." He smiled and motioned to a chair. "Let me show you to your table." He pulled out the chair, allowing her to take a seat.
She smiled at the plate in front of her. Steak and potatoes. The typical Jack meal.
"Bon appetite!" He dug right into his plate. She watched him, a grin on her face. "What?" He stopped, fork mid-air.
"Thank you, Jack." She reached across the table and grabbed his other hand. A jolt of electricity shot through both of their bodies.
"Welcome." He smiled, his eyes lighting up as they met hers.
They finished their dinner and retired to the living room.
Jack flipped through the channels, settling on a cartoon with a familiar theme song.
"Really?" She laughed. "The Simpsons?"
"You have something better in mind?" His eyes grew skinny as he pouted.
"Nope." She grinned and covered herself with a blanket.
After a while, she decided to speak again.
"Hey Jack?"
He looked up at her in response.
"I'm sorry for barging in on your day like this."
He shook his head. "No need to be sorry, I've enjoyed the company." He gave her a half smile. "What made you decide come, if you don't mind me asking?"
Sam swallowed hard, her lip starting to quiver.
"If you don't want to talk about it, I understand…" He got up from his chair, moving over to the couch where she was sitting.
"No, I need to." She lifted to blanket, allowing him to slide under it beside her. "I was visiting my brother, as you know. He's still a little angry that I broke it off with Pete, but supportive about the whole baby thing for the most part." She swallowed hard again. "Well, last night, my brother received a phone call after 20:00. It was Pete. He was at my house looking for me. My brother told him I was in San Diego, and Pete was going to take a direct flight out there. I decided to pack my things and leave before Pete got there."
She looked at Jack. "Pete has no idea that I'm pregnant. I didn't tell him, because I didn't want to make him feel worse than he already does."
Jack nodded, and Sam continued.
"Anyways, so I drove to the airport, and I was going through security when I saw him out of the corner of my eye. I ducked behind some people, but he still saw me. He kept yelling my name, and I pretended like I didn't hear him. I boarded the plane as fast as I could. I saw him try to follow me onto the plane, but some security stopped him."
Her face turned into a frown. "When I got home, there was a nasty.. threatening message from him on the answering machine. I was scared to stay at home, so I parked my car at the library and walked here. I didn't know where else to go." She leaned her head onto Jack's shoulder. He instinctively put his arm around her and pulled her closer, just as he had when her father had died.
"You can stay here as long as you'd like. I have a spare bed that I can make up for you tonight. As far as Shanahan goes, I'd like to kick his ass." Jack grimaced at the thought of him. "If he comes anywhere near you or this baby.. I swear to God."
"You don't have to do that." Sam looked up at him. "I'll be fine. I'm just being paranoid. He needs some time to let it all settle."
"No one has the right to treat you that way.." He looked her in the eyes. They were chocolate swirls of fury. Sam was taken aback by his sudden wave of protectiveness. Sure, he had acted this way when they were on missions, but that was when they were in immediate danger. This was just a crazy ex-fiance.
She smiled, appreciating this. "Thanks."
He nodded, holding her closer and listening to the sound of the raindrops hit the roof.
They both dozed off.
xoXoxoXox
Jack was soon awakened by a knock at the door, followed by the sound of it opening.
"Jack…" Daniel's voice rang out. Jack's eyes flashed open.
"It appears that we are interrupting. Shall we retreat, Daniel Jackson?" Teal'c questioned monotonously, eyeing down the two on the couch.
"Nonsense guys, we were just chatting." Jack rose from the couch, stirring Sam awake.
"Hello Colonel Carter." Teal'c walked in Sam's direction. "How is the the development of the fetus?"
Daniel laughed, a snort coming from his nose.
"The baby is doing great, Teal'c, very healthy from what I know." Sam smiled at her friend, patting a spot on the couch next to her.
"I hope you do not mind Colonel Carter, but Daniel and I came over to watch Star Wars with General O'Neill. It is the one where the empire strikes back. You may join us if you would like."
"I'd love to." She laughed.
Daniel stared at Jack, wondering.
"Can I speak to you in the kitchen for a second, Jack?" Daniel stuttered.
Jack nodded, leading the way to the kitchen.
"I know what you're going to say. No, I haven't told her, Daniel." Jack crossed his arms.
"About which one?" Daniel raised his eyebrows. "The part about you being madly in love with her.. or the part about her carrying your child."
"Neither.." Jack looked down at his toes. "I haven't found the right time."
"When will that be, when the baby's born? Or are you going to wait until they start kindergarten." He pushed his glasses up his nose, squinting his eyes at his friend.
"Daniel…"
"Jack." Daniel shook his head. "At least tell her how you feel. How long has it been now?"
"About.." Jack looked down at his watch. "Thirteen weeks since the last time you asked me that."
"This is your chance, Jack. This is your chance to be happy. It's within your reach. Why don't you just grab it?" Daniel tapped his foot on the ground, folding his arms.
"She felt that way once. What if she doesn't anymore?"
"Why did she come here?"
"She was upset. Pete threatened her and she wanted to feel safe."
"You're an idiot, Jack." Daniel stomped out of the kitchen, taking a seat on the other side of Teal'c.
"Shall we start this movie?" He looked at his friends and smiled.
xoXoxoXox
One hundred twenty four minutes later, the credits were rolling. Jack was asleep in the lounge chair. Daniel had moved to the floor to begin his slumber, and Sam was sprawled on half of the couch, snoring. Teal'c was wide eyed, watching the credits roll.
While his friends were resting, Teal'c retreated outside to catch some fresh air and look at the stars overhead.
While he was gone, the doorbell rang. When no one answered, it rang again. Sam and Daniel didn't stir, but Jack was angrily awakened by the noise.
He rubbed his eyes and rose to his feet. As he walked toward the door, he checked the time.
It's almost 23:00..who on Earth would be here at this hour.
He opened the door.
A fist flew at his face, making contact at his nose.
He stumbled backward, the blood rushing to his head.
"You son of a bitch." An angry voice shouted from the door.
His world went black.