Pacing his office was doing nothing. Eating was not helping at all, especially cake. He could hear Sam's voice in his head giving him a lecture.
"Jack O'Neill put that cake down. You know what the doctor said, he'll be able to tell you know." Sam's voice sounding inside his head making him smile.
He hadn't heard anything since he left Destiny. No news on how things were going. He was just about to leave his office and contact Destiny when Everett came past his office or at least the airman who was now Everett Young. Seeing the look on his face was not promising.
"Do I need to take a seat?" Taking one anyway as he was getting a sore knee from all the pacing.
Young just stood and waited for him to sit down before he told him everything he had done, and what he had heard about the Lucian alliance.
Jack sat and listened, he was already formulating a plan as Young finished speaking.
"Go, take care of your ship, I've got things at this end." Waiting until Young had left before he sprang into action.
Going into the nerve centre of the Pentagon, he worked quickly. Time was of the essence.
"Get me all ships in the area immediately. Put me through to the closest one." Standing behind Harriman as he looked over the computer screens.
"Sir, the only ship we have is The Hammond. Shall I signal Colonel Carter?" Not daring to look up from his computer keyboard.
Well wasn't that just great! The Hammond, the closet ship, my god, the only ship. He really needed to kick some ass and get more ships out there. Bracing himself, he nodded at Walter to connect him to The Hammond. Seconds later, the main screen came to life and there she was. The one and only Colonel Samantha Carter. Or as she now went by, Samantha Carter-O'Neill, when she wasn't being an air force colonel of course. His wife, his soulmate, his other half. The woman he knew he couldn't live without, yet the woman he was always sending out on missions she may never come back from. Before it was different, before it was somehow easier. At least on SG-1, he was there, at least to start with. Then when he took over the SGC, he knew Daniel and Teal'c would watch out for her. Not that she needed watching out for. She had proved on many occasion, far too many occasions, she could take care of herself. At least as the commanding officer of the SGC, he was there when she left and came back until he ended up here.
Here wasn't so bad. Here, as in Washington, meant happiness. It meant she was his, now and always. It meant the rings they wore briefly on their ring fingers, that resided on their dog tags when working. It was official, legal, and sanctioned by the US Air Force. Now standing looking at her face, all he wanted was to reach out and touch her, feel her smooth skin under his fingers as he stroked her cheek. He didn't want to send her, he didn't really want to be in Washington at all, let alone have his wife commanding one of only a handful of ships defending Earth. He had heard how close she had come last time when he sent her to help Icarus base when it was under attack. Now he was sending her back into the fight, back to the Lucian alliance. Why couldn't they have just got married, went to the cabin and stayed there?
She looked as beautiful as she always did. Her long hair now dark, and tied in a ponytail. But her eyes, her eyes were still the same dazzling blue they had always been. So bright, so alive, so Sam. He could see his whole life in them eyes. His past, his present, and his future, all shone out of them bright blue eyes.
"Sir, how can I help you?" Her voice breaking through his wondering mind.
"Colonel Carter, we have a problem. I'm sending you a data stream," signalling Walter to send the information. "It contains an address for an apparent Lucian alliance base. From that base, the planned attack and capture of Destiny is taking place. I need you to go stop it." Locking eyes with hers as he spoke.
"Yes sir, we'll do our best." Looking down at the information that was filtering through.
"Good luck, Carter." Knowing she should understand what he was saying.
"Thank you, Sir." Hearing her add extra meaning on the Sir at the end.
For a married couple, that was all they needed to say. By adding Sir on the end, plus the way she said it, he knew she was telling him she loved him, that she would be back. He only ever remembered once, hearing his rank and hating it with a rage he had never felt for his chosen career before. By the way he had said Carter and not colonel, he was using the name only he got to call her. He used that name as an emotional carrier pigeon, sending all his love and support to her in just one word.
The screen went black and he just stood there, staring at the place her face was seconds ago. Nobody in the room said anything, they continued doing what they did, ignoring the fact that he was stood still. After a few seconds, maybe even a minute or two, the hustle and bustle drew him back. Moving around, he checked everything over, made sure all plans were in place, everyone was doing what they were supposed to be doing. Again, the waiting game began, only this time he had more at stake, his own wife being the main one.
There was nothing for him do so he left everyone to do what was needed, they didn't need a stuffy, overbearing general breathing down their necks. Especially a general who had more to lose than anyone else, in his personal life anyway. Stopping by the coffee machine he filled up two cups and headed back to his office. Passing Harriman, he ignored the small smile on his face and the shake of his head as he spied the two cups. Sam was so going to hear about his little transgression. He gave Walter a slight nod of his, letting him know he had seen him looking at his coffee. When he made it back to his office he placed both cups on his desk and closed the door. Taking a seat at his desk he contemplated what to do to pass some time. Moving the cups to one side he picked up some of the files and decided maybe paperwork would numb his brain enough to distract him.
Three files later he gave up, he couldn't recall what he had read, only that he agreed and signed. Draining the first cup he threw it in the trash since he had used disposable for some reason. Sitting back in his chair he leans back and closed his eyes. His mind pulled up the image of Sam on the screen from before, her blue eyes again seeming to look deep into his soul and even when she wasn't real. This was the reason he wanted to retire, wanted to walk away and not have to sit and wait to see if she had made it through another mission he had sent her on. Sitting back up, he rubbed his hands over his face catching the two-day stubble that was there. Turning his chair to the right he opens the bottom draw and pulled out a small white photo album. Moving the now half cold coffee cup he placed it on his desk and opened it.
He read the inscription on the inside cover, running his finger along the gold lettering,
"Congratulations, you finally did it. We are so happy for you guys. I could say it took you long enough but I won't. All I will say is, you beat the odds, stood strong, but most importantly, stood together through it all. We all love you (yes, even Teal'c) and wish you all the best for the future, love Cassie, Daniel and Teal'c XXX."
He knew Cassie had came up with the idea, but had roped Daniel and Teal'c into helping her. They had both been given one on their wedding day. Both white, and with matching inscriptions in. The only difference in them being the pictures. The first picture in his was of a very young and fresh-faced captain Samantha Carter. She was stood in her dress blues, probably at some reception they had attended. The fantasies he had about her in them, even back then. The way the skirt hugged her hips and the blouse pulled across her breasts. 'Not the time Jack, definitely not the time,' reaching down and giving his pants a slight tug around his groin. Turning the page he found pictures of Sam with Cassie when she was first on Earth. The next few pages showed Sam on different missions, or just before they left for them. There was even a few of the whole team, Daniel and Teal'c either side, with himself and Sam in the middle. He noticed as he turned more pages, the pictures that had both himself and Sam were starting to show a pattern. Flicking back through he took more notice and found his suspicions were indeed correct. As the years progressed, and they bond between them grew, the closeness they shared, even when they tried to hide was always there. From the way they were looking at each or the way they stood so close together. It was so obvious to everyone looking on, and now he saw it himself.
Turning the last few pages he stopped at the last four in the book. His hand instinctively reached out as his finger stroked down the face on the picture. God, she looked even more beautiful that day, if that was even possible. They hadn't done a huge wedding, it was small and intimate with just close friends and family. They both stood in their mess dress, Sam pulling at her skirt every few seconds. Even though they had both agreed to do the whole uniform thing, he was more than impressed when she disappeared after the service and came back wearing a long flowing blue evening gown as was shown in the next picture. The second last picture had been taken by Daniel, or so Cassie had said. It was a picture of himself and Sam dancing. Sam was tucked against his chest, her head resting on his right side to avoid all the medals on his left.
Turning to the last picture he felt his heart swell with more love than he ever thought he would feel again. Cassie had taken this one since she was the only person allowed to share their honeymoon at the cabin. They were both sat on the small wooden dock facing the pond. Sam was sat between his open legs, leaning back against his chest. The sun was setting, the sky was a mix of warm pinks, reds, yellows and blues. The light was catching Sam's hair, making it look like she had a halo around her head. He remembered them sitting there, he had never felt so at peace with the world then he did as he sat with Sam. No wonder Cassie had taken the picture, it really was beautiful. Picking up the now cold coffee, he drank it down and cringed as it hit his stomach. Putting the cup down he picked up the album and sat back in his chair, the album open in his lap. Staring at the picture, remembering the peace and warmth that filled him when he was sat on his dock with Sam in his arms was calming. That was until there was a sharp rap on his office door, followed by Harriman opening it.
"Sir, we have The Hammond for you."
Jack quickly closed the album and hastily put it back in the door. Getting up he walked to the door to where Walter was still waiting.
"Sir, it looks like the intel is good, the planets laced with naquadria deposits. We're also reading a huge energy signature emanating from what looks like a pyramid." Looking directly at her her CO turned husband as she spoke.
"Pyramid, that takes me back." Knowing Sam would get the meaning of his words.
Sam continued to tell him about the planet and the shield technology that was preventing them from beaming Rush out, suggesting ground forces were needed to retrieve him. Jack knew it was needed so the commander and military office took over.
"All right Colonel, you have a go." Knowing he was again sending her into the path of harm, and possible death.
Sending her to survey was one thing, attacking another. Nodding her head the screen went black. This was it, the fight for Destiny was about to begin.