Chapter 9

Sam walked into the apartment that was secured by SHIELD in Colorado Springs after her shift was over. It was a long day not only setting up the new SGC but watching Sara O'Neill insisted Jack come home with her to the home she was renting. Wearing the black suit once more she placed her keys down on the kitchen counter and then tuned on a small radio. The song It's a Heartache by Bonnie Tyler started to play and it was echoed her feelings at the moment.

It's a heartache, nothing but a heartache, hits when its too late, hits you when you're down. It's a fools game. Nothing but a fools game. Standing in the cold raid. Feeling like a clown…

Sam then wandered into her nearby bedroom and for the bathroom as the music played in her apartment. She decided a nice bath would make her feel better. She turned on the water as the music played.

It's a heartache, nothing but a heartache, love until your arms break, then he lets you down…

Sam started to remove her clothes as the bathtub filled with water. She slipped of her shoes and jacket. She loosened the tie and unbuttoned the pants sliding them down her legs and stepping out of the article. The music played louder than before.

It ain't right with love to share, when you find he doesn't care…for you.

As Sam bent over to pick up the trousers a shadowy figure came from behind her and placed a cloth of ether over her mouth. She found herself in a tight grip and couldn't get away as the music played in the background. She could hear the words as she succumbed to the drug.

It ain't wise to need someone as much as I depended on…you…

As the song continued the shadowing figured hauled Sam's limp body up and out the rear window and into the night. The music played in the empty apartment: It's a heartache, nothing but heartache, hit's when it's too late…

Meanwhile

Sara led Jack into the rented house. It was a small single level home with an attached garage and manicured front lawn. She flipped on the light and headed for the table as Jack carried the bags of food they got at the drive thru. She spoke as she turned on the lights, "I know this will take come getting use to for me. I lost you ten years ago."

Jack placed the bags of burgers and fries on the table but said little.

As she watched him unpack the bags of food it suddenly hit her, "You haven't told me much about your reality. What am I like there?"

"You're doing well," he replied.

"What am I doing?" she wondered.

He shrugged, "Not really sure. You divorced me after our son died. I wasn't there for you and I should have been."

"So, Charlie died in your reality and our daughter was never born?" she asked.

He nodded, "Yup! I like my daughter. She's a smart cookie."

"I know she is," she agreed. "So, what have you been doing all that time in your reality?"

"I go off world and fight bad aliens and go spend down time in the cabin I inherited from Grandpa. That's it!" he shrugged.

Sara gasped, "You are all alone?"

"I got my team," he told her.

"You're team!" she rebutted. "An alien, a linguist or archeologist or whatever he is who constantly argues with you and that blonde haired woman who is hanging around that billionaire, Stark." Concerned she told him, "Jack, I don't want you to be alone."

"Eventually I will go back home and you can't come with me," he told her. "You have to stay in your reality and I have to go back to mine and believe me that will be the hardest thing I will ever do because that means I have leave my kids behind along with some really cool Avengers that I met here. We don't have SHIELD or the Avengers in my reality. It's just us and no one else." he finished emptying the bag.

"Why did you come home with me then?" she asked.

"Because I know what it is like to lose someone you love and never get a chance to tell them goodbye," he told her. "I know what you and kids want. You want us to be a family again and even if I could stay that still won't happen because I'm not your husband anymore."

"You're not?" she gulped.

"I'll take the couch tonight and when you are ready to let me go I will move in with Daniel or Teal'c until we find a way back home." he told her.

"I see," she let out a heavy sigh and took a seat at the table. She then admitted, "I knew in my gut that you were not going to be the same man I married. I just wanted you back…"

"You have two great kids who will always be with you," he assured her.

"And you won't have anyone," she figured.

Jack sat down across from her at the table. He grasped her hand, "Which is why I am spending time with you and the kids now. So, I can remember it when I go back."

She sniffed, "The reality travel doesn't seem very fair."

"It's not," he agreed.

"Letting you go twice will be the hardest thing I ever do," she admitted. "But I want you to promise me that you won't be alone when you go back."

"I can't make that promise," he told her. "You don't have be alone, Sara. I wouldn't want you to spend the rest of your life grieving for me. I want you to find someone and get remarried and have all things you deserve to have."

"You do?" she asked.

"Of course," he admitted. "Wonder if Phil is married?" he pondered.

"What?" she asked sniffing back the tears.

"I like Phil and I thought he would make a good fit for you," he confessed. "He would make a good step father for my kids. He's smart guy."

"Phil is sweet," she admitted. "Can you see me married to a SHIELD agent?"

"I can," he nodded.

"And you?" she asked. "There has to be someone for you."

"No one," he replied.

"Maybe you find her when you get back to your reality," she suggested.

"Maybe," he shrugged. He opened the burger wrapper. "This place has the best burgers in all of Colorado Springs."

She asked, "You live in Colorado Springs in your reality?"

He nodded, "Yup in a base provided house and I drive a big black dually that sucks gas."

"Why would drive a huge truck like that?" she wondered.

"So Carter can tell me how inefficient it is," he smirked.

"The blonde?" she asked.

"She's a Major," he nodded. "Her father is a Retired General. You know that stupid TV show with the actor who looks like me?"

"MacGyver?" she asked amused. "One of my favorite old shows."

"Hers too," he mentioned.

Sara noted Jack's eyes seemed to light up when he spoke of Sam. He smiled and was beaming for just a moment. It was a look she had not seen in a very long time. She knew the look when Jack was in love and he and that look when he spoke of Sam Carter. Sara understood he could not stay and was merely giving her time to say goodbye. She looked on as he continued to tell her all about Sam Carter and pondered what she could do to ensure this version of her dead husband would not spend the rest of his life alone once he returned home.

Next Morning

Jack stood in the elevator with Sara. Both were professionally dressed by SHIELD dress code of black suits. Jack heard a familiar voice as the door was about to close.

"Hold the door!" the voice called out.

Jack placed his hand between the closing doors and forced them back open. He looked out and couldn't believe his eyes. Major Janet Frasier of the Medical Corps had arrived. She stepped onto the lift, "Thank you for catching that."

Jack just stood baffled and asked, "Hammond or Phil?"

"Excuse me?" Janet asked.

"Who hired you?" he asked.

"General Hammond handpicked me to be this base new Chief Medical Officer. You SHIELD?"

"Currently," he nodded.

"Ah," she rolled her eyes.

Sara introduced herself, "I'm Sara O'Neill. I'm Phil Coulson's secretary."

"Pleased to meet you," she greeted her. "I'm Major Frasier. I'm a doctor."

Jack muttered, "More like Napoleon Power Monger."

"You say something Mister…I didn't catch your name." Janet told him.

"O'Neill," he replied. "I'm Special Agent James Bond O'Neill."

"Are you serious?" she cocked an eyebrow.

Sara laughed at the joke, "Everyone calls him Jack." She leaned close to Jack and whispered, "You know her in your reality?"

He whispered back, "And how! I can't tell you how many needles she shoved in my ass."

"I like her already," Sara told him.

Jack rolled his eyes. The elevator came to a halt and Jack stepped off. They rounded the corner and found Daniel, Teal and Tony coming towards them looking rather worried.

Daniel and Teal'c both spotted Janet and gave a look of relief. They were happy see her alive and well in the reality but something still bothered them.

Tony called out, "Has anyone seen Sam?"

Jack came to a halt, "Not since we left last night. Why?"

"She's not in yet," Tony told him. "This isn't like her. She's usually here before me."

Daniel added, "She's not answering her phone, Jack."

Jack figured, "We can check into it. Sara can you escort Frasier to Hammond's office and let him and Phil know what is going on?"

"Of course," she agreed. She spoke to Janet, "Come on…I'll walk ya."

They watched as Sara led Janet down the hall.

Tony stated, "I called Steve and he's on her way to her apartment to check on her."

Jack asked, "How close are we to dialing out?"

"Sam and I were gonna install the iris today," Tony replied.

"Okay," he pondered. "Let's see what Rodgers finds. Hopeful she is okay and just over slept….And forgot to charge her phone." He knew that wasn't likely but all he could do was hope.