Tying up lose ends, this is the final chapter. I didn't know what to write so I do hope this ending is okay. I'll be editing the chapters now, it was a pleasure to write this and I enjoyed it so much. I'd like to thank every single one of you for taking time to read my work and review it's meant the absolute world to me. I hope you enjoyed it!
It's very late at night, the titles of the end of their third film are displaying. Jack is sat on his chair with a bottle in his hand, Sam is on the sofa with Teal'c and Daniel, the table has snack crumbs, glasses and bottles. Teal'c finishes his drink.
Teal'c: That film was most unsuccessful.
O'Neill: Maybe we'd know what these films are about if Daniel stopped trying to talk to everyone while we're trying to watch.
Daniel: Well I'm just trying to make the most of it.
Carter: Most of what?
Daniel: You're back Sam, and it's a relief I tell you.
Carter: Thanks Daniel. (she hugs into him and catches the Colonel's eye)
Teal'c: Indeed it has been a long since since SG1 have been together on such an occasion, I am pleased you are freed from being wrongly imprisoned.
Carter: As am I. (she sits back and looks at them all) Thank you guys. I mean you stuck by me the whole time- even when I told you not to. Even when I-
O'Neill: Hey Carter. You would have done the same for us. (she nods in appreciation). And I would have had to of found a replacement and you know how I feel about paperwork.
Carter: (small chuckle) Yes I do sir.
Teal'c: Shall we watch another movie?
O'Neill: I think we're good T.
Teal'c: Very well. O'Neill, I must retire to your spare room in order to perform Kelno'reem.
O'Neill: Now? Ah well sure. See you in the morning.
Carter: Night Teal'c (hugs him, Daniel also says goodnight)
Daniel: So…
O'Neill: So?
Daniel: What to do now. (there's a minute silence)
Carter: I think I might head home.
O'Neill: I think not Carter.
Carter: (confused) Why sir?
O'Neill: You've drank way too much, crash here for the night.
Daniel: Yeah think I might call it a night I'm shattered, and Sam you must be more exhausted than we are.
Carter: I feel okay really.
O'Neill: I think Daniel's just feeling what it's like to not have a system filled with caffeine.
Daniel: Funny.
O'Neill: What's the time?- Oh crap- well it's late enough, wanna do something interesting to waste our oh so precious lives away?
Daniel: (sarcastically) What, like drink? (Daniel nods in the direction of Sam emptying drops of her bottle into her mouth, Jack glares at him)
O'Neill: No. Daniel, make yourself useful and fetch the cards will you? (Daniel grunts and gets up to get the cards, O'Neill chucks Sam a mischievous smirk) Carter do you need a glass of water you look a little… flustered?
Carter: (steps towards him) Just getting a little warm in here, sir.
Hours pass and Daniel heads off to bed. Sam and Jack are left in the living room alone.
O'Neill: I guess I should let you let a couple minutes shut eye.
Carter: I'm actually not that tired.
O'Neill: You've said that a lot tonight, to me it means you are. (a little silence, Jack is tidying the cards up and Sam clears her throat) You alright?
Carter: Yeah, I kinda wanted to talk to you about something sir.
O'Neill: Whats up?
Carter: (pause) You were angry with me.
O'Neill: Carter I wasn't-
Carter: And you didn't come see me after you knew I lied.
O'Neill: You lied. But I wasn't angry at you.
Carter: Yes you were. Because when you lied to us on your undercover Maybourne mission I was annoyed that you didn't include me-us- you know, I was hurt.
O'Neill: What are you getting at?
Carter: As your subordinate I couldn't tell you that you were way out of line, but you could- hell you were supposed to tell me. I thought you were going to come in and tell me how out of line I've been. But you didn't.
O'Neill: Any normal CO would have come in and had a go, but I think we know we don't exactly have the most conventional CO and subordinate relationship. I couldn't see you, instead me and the rest of the team worked our asses off, sorry that wasn't good enough for you.
Carter: I'm sorry I didn't mean it that way. It's just, out of everything that has happened recently- from Adrian Conrad abducting me and experimenting on me to Kyran and then Major Wade, the thing that ate at me the most was having to lie to you- all of you.
O'Neill: You've been through a lot, whether you like it or not you were in a vulnerable position. The first error was letting you go to that planet in the first place- especially as Frasier ordered you to rest.
Carter: Yeah but it's not like I'm the only person on that base to ever have a tough time. Plus, sir I volunteered and-
O'Neill: Stop. Please, just- not right now, you need to be taking it easy not stressing you- or me- out.
Carter: Sir-
O'Neill: (laughs) God Carter it's 3AM, we're drinking beer and you're still calling me sir?
Carter: What else would I call you?
O'Neill: You know for being one of the smartest people on the planet that was a dumb question. I have a thing called a first name.
Carter: Sir-
O'Neill: It's Jack.
Carter: I think we know what happens when we cross our boundaries.
O'Neill: (smirks, shakes his head and messily lifts his beer bottle into the air) To boundaries.
Carter: (gets up) Maybe we should call it a night. (collects the bottles and walks to the kitchen, he runs his hands through his hair and picks up the empty plates of crumbs, following her into the kitchen, they silently puts things away. They both go to leave the kitchen, Sam empties her keys and phone into her coat thats by the front door)
O'Neill: Hey Carter, wait up.
Carter: Sir?
O'Neill: I want you to know none of anything that happened was your fault. None of it whatsoever. I know you're strong- the strongest person I know, but if you need anything… and I mean anything, I am here for you.
Carter: Thank you. (she smiles and they stare at each other for a minute, emotion passing between them, Carter's eyes swell up slightly. they talk in hushed voices)
O'Neill: I was so worried.
Carter: I knew you'd save me, every time.
O'Neill: It was all such a gamble, situations that… that I should have been able to protect you from.
Carter: (smiles) I don't need protecting sir.
O'Neill: (smiles) We all need protection Sam.
Carter: Is that the mighty Colonel Jack O'Neill showing weakness?
O'Neill: Yeah I am.
Carter: And what would that be?
O'Neill: I think you know the answer to that.
Carter: (teasing) No degree in quantum physics? (he lets out a slight laugh and looks at her endearingly, he steps forward, then a tinier step so there's a millimetre of space between them) We need to stop.
O'Neill: I know. (he cups her face and begins to kiss her, her hand goes into his hair the other around his shoulder, he pulls her in so there's no oxygen between them and in unison they step back so she's against his door. The longer they kiss the more passionate they become, his hand slides underneath her shirt while he's caressing her neck)
Carter: (breathing heavily) We need to… should… st… stop.
O'Neill: You've said that already.
Carter: Teal'c and Daniel are close by.
O'Neill: (he takes a step back) Sorry I shouldn't have done that.
Carter: Don't be sorry. We could just say it was a drunken kiss.
O'Neill: I'm not drunk.
Carter: (smiles) Neither am I.
O'Neill: And if that's what you call a drunken kiss then…
Carter: It's not. It was more than that.
O'Neill: (Brushes her hand with his) It always is. (moment of silence)
Carter: It's late.
O'Neill: You can say that again.
Carter: (squeezes the hand he still hasn't let go of) Thank you for everything.
O'Neill: I'm just relieved you're okay, and back on SG1. Don't think I could cope alone with the excitement that Danny and Teal'c bring to the team.
Carter: (smiles shaking her head) Good night Jack. (she kisses him on the cheek, he raises his eyebrows in surprise)
O'Neill: (taken back he nods his head approvingly) Get some shut eye. (she walks up the hallway and he's watching her, she turns around)
Carter: Sir?
O'Neill: Yeah?
Carter: I like it when you show me your weakness. (She smiles and walks off)
O'Neill: (to himself) Damn, I'm in trouble.
THE END
This chapter ended up nothing as I had planned it to be, it was written just now, I thought there was a lot of drama in this so I concluded it on a lighter note. Hope you liked it.