As Sam woke up, the unfamiliar surroundings momentarily disoriented her. Her gaze fixed on the ceiling for a few seconds as she tried to piece together her situation. She knew she wasn't at Vlad's place anymore, but the room she found herself in was equally unfamiliar. Then, her eyes fell upon a figure beside her, and her heart skipped a beat. It was Jack O'Neill, peacefully asleep, fully clothed, and lying in the same bed.
A flood of memories rushed back to Sam, hitting her like a tsunami. She remembered Jack's unexpected presence at Vlad's office, the intense gunfight that had ensued, and then everything going dark. She must have fainted, and now she had awakened in this mysterious place, with Jack sleeping soundly beside her.
Sam dared not move a muscle, fearing that any sudden action might shatter the enchantment of the moment. Perhaps, she wondered, this was all just a dream. And if it were, she had no desire to wake up. Jack was right there with her, and that was good enough for her.
She felt the familiar sting of tears beginning to well up in her eyes and fought hard to suppress them. She didn't want to spoil this precious moment with tears. All she wanted was to stay still and watch him. Of course, deep down, she yearned to hug and kiss him, but she was afraid that such boldness might cause her to awaken from this beautiful reverie. So, she decided not to push her luck and simply continued to observe him, her heart swelling with emotion.
Sam watched as he breathed peacefully, his chest rising and falling in a steady rhythm. She was lost in her thoughts until, suddenly, he stirred, and his eyes fluttered open. Sam swallowed hard, her bright blue eyes locked with his warm, brown ones, a mixture of surprise, anticipation, and a touch of vulnerability in her gaze.
Jack slowly blinked his eyes open, his surroundings coming into focus as he reluctantly abandoned the realm of dreams. As he stirred, he noticed Sam lying in bed, her eyes fixed intently on him. The sight of her caused his heart to quicken its pace, and he offered a groggy, "Hey," while adjusting his body on the bed.
Sam's gaze remained unwavering, and without breaking eye contact, she replied with a simple, "Hey," in return. Jack ran a hand through his disheveled hair, the weariness etched on his face. He hadn't intended to fall asleep, but the events of the past few days had taken a toll on him, leaving him utterly exhausted.
With a throat cleared, he tried to engage her, "How are you feeling?" He searched her eyes for a response, and after a few moments of silence, she responded, "Hungry."
A small smile crept across Jack's face. This was a good sign; Sam was rarely hungry.
Jack offered her some options, "Do you want to eat here, or would you rather grab something in the living room? The guys are there."
Sam looked momentarily puzzled, and she repeated, "The guys?"
Jack nodded and clarified, "Yeah, Daniel, Teal'c, and Tom, a friend from my black ops days. He's the one that found you."
Sam made an understanding 'oh' sound but stayed put, her gaze unwavering. Jack slowly eased himself out of the bed, offering, "I can bring breakfast here for you."
Sam agreed, "Okay, thank you," still not ready to face a group of people, especially her old friends and colleagues from SG-1.
Jack nodded and quietly exited the room, closing the door behind him. Outside, he found Daniel slumbering on the couch, Tom reclined on another sofa, and Teal'c ever vigilant.
"Is everything all right, O'Neill?", Teal'c inquired.
Jack smiled and replied, "Yes, she's awake and a little hungry. I'm going to prepare something for her to eat." He then made his way to their limited supplies, gathering coffee, water, a sandwich, and a protein bar to fulfill Sam's request.
As Jack reentered the bedroom, he found Sam seated cross-legged on the bed, still dressed in her pajamas and appearing even paler than before. Concern washed over him, and he gently placed the food on the bed.
"What is it?" he asked, his voice laced with worry.
Sam bit her lip and hesitated for a moment before finally speaking.
"I'm remembering. You came to the house... there were gunshots. I don't remember the rest. Did I faint?" she inquired.
Jack pulled a chair close to the bed and sat down.
"Yes, you did. Teal'c carried you out while we fought our way out of that place, taking down those lovely fellows. Quite the company you keep these days, Colonel," he remarked with a hint of sarcasm.
Sam's face reddened; she knew she deserved his pointed comments and more.
"I suppose you want an explanation," she said, avoiding eye contact, her hands fidgeting.
Jack crossed his arms and replied, "That would be appreciated, yes. Although your 'friend' Vlad offered a quite good one in his office. But I'd rather hear it from you."
Sam blushed even more, clearly uncomfortable with the situation.
"He's not my friend," she began. "And I'm sorry for everything I've said and done to you. I had to, but I'm sorry nevertheless," she admitted, still avoiding his gaze.
Jack continued to press, his tone a bit harsh, "So if you're apologizing, why aren't you even looking at me, Colonel?"
Sam swallowed hard and lifted her head, finally meeting his gaze. Her hands were clenched into fists, and the tension in the room was palpable.
"I'm no longer in the Air Force, General," she reminded him.
Jack shrugged his shoulders, a clear indication that he was not going to make this easy for her. "I'm waiting," he stated bluntly.
Sam took a deep breath, preparing herself to reveal the truth.
"What Vlad said in his office was true. He blackmailed me, I accepted, and I hacked the codes of the Russian Stargate. He now has access to them. You can deliver me to the military, and I'll confess everything. I'll serve my time," she said with a resolute tone.
Jack remained stoic, not showing any emotion on his face. He was stunned that she was willing to go to jail in exchange for saving his life. It had never crossed his mind to hand her over to the authorities.
"So you're willing to go to jail for what you did?", he asked curiosity in his voice.
Sam simply nodded.
"You said you were blackmailed..." Jack pressed further.
Sam's discomfort grew, and she replied, "I was, but that doesn't change the fact of what I did."
Jack shook his head in disbelief, processing the gravity of the situation and Sam's unwavering determination to face the consequences of her actions to save his life.
Jack's frustration boiled over as he demanded answers from Sam.
"There is something that I don't understand," he began, his voice escalating with each word. "Why is my life so important to you that you got involved with Russian gangsters and hacking Stargate codes? And being discharged from the Air Force, Samantha Carter?! What the hell were you thinking? Why didn't you tell me they were blackmailing you?" His voice reached almost a yell as he pressed her for answers.
Sam clenched her jaw and lowered her head once more, refusing to meet his intense gaze. She couldn't bring herself to tell him the real reasons why she had agreed to be blackmailed, especially after discovering he had read her private files. So she remained in stoic silence.
"You are going to answer me, Sam. By God, you are answering me this!" Jack insisted, moving closer to her. Sam swallowed hard but maintained her silence.
Fueled by frustration, Jack pushed the chair with such force that it crashed against the bedroom door, creating a loud bang. Daniel appeared at the door, concerned, but Jack yelled, "NOT NOW, DANIEL!" and Daniel quickly retreated, closing the door behind him. Jack paced the room, attempting to regain control of his emotions.
Sam was on the verge of tears, grappling with her inner turmoil, but she held onto her iron will, refusing to speak.
Jack stopped in front of her and pleaded, "Please talk to me, Sam! I need you to speak to me." His tone softened as he knelt in front of her.
Sam began to cry silently, hating herself for her vulnerability. Jack gently wiped away her tears, his touch comforting.
"You don't have to do this alone anymore, Sam. I'm here, and I'm not going away," he reassured her.
Sam sniffled and looked at him, her eyes filled with sorrow.
"They showed me photos of you, day after day. They had your entire routine. You were being followed without knowing, and they could kill you at any time," she finally admitted, her voice trembling. "I couldn't live with that possibility. I simply couldn't."
Jack sat on the bed, his knees not able to withstand the strain of the current position for long. Maybe he had lowered his guard and hadn't been aware. He had so many things on his mind lately that it was a possibility. His new role as CO, Sam's engagement, their falling apart, the list was long and painful.
"Why didn't you tell me, Sam? We could have figured something out together," he implored.
Sam shook her head vigorously, tears streaming down her face.
"They would have killed you. If I warned you or told anyone about what was happening, you'd be dead. They showed me how simple it would be. Trust me that I went several times to your office's door just to turn around and keep my mouth shut. So in the end, I said 'yes' and was told that I had to cut ties with everything and leave. It was the only option," she explained, her voice heavy with profound sadness.
Jack's heavy sigh echoed through the room as he confronted the question that had been haunting him.
"And since when did my life become worthy of such a sacrifice, Sam?" He asked, his voice tinged with both fear and longing. He feared that, even after reading what he had discovered in her private files, she still might not love him as deeply as he loved her.
Sam knew she couldn't evade this conversation any longer. She decided to address the issue carefully.
"You've read my private files," she replied, trying to stall.
Jack nodded firmly.
"I have, and you told me that you wrote them years ago," he reminded her.
Sam swallowed, realizing that there was no easy way to navigate this conversation.
"That might not have been totally accurate," she admitted, her words coming slowly.
Jack fought to keep his composure. He knew Sam's stubborn nature all too well.
"Would it help this conversation if I just told you something deeply personal as well?", he asked.
Sam discreetly wiped the rest of the tears from her face and simply nodded. So Jack opened his heart, gently picking her hand, "You are the person I want in my arms when it's midnight and raining heavily, and we're cozily in our bed." He spoke passionately, his voice filled with raw emotion. "My hands curled around you, and your head rested on my chest. Would that help you understand how in love I am with you?"
Sam stopped breathing for a moment, her emotions overwhelming her.
"Jack..." she began, her voice trembling with the depth of her feelings.
But Jack wasn't finished. He continued to pour his heart out.
"The way you make me feel is hard to explain, Sam. You make me smile especially. You make me fall deeper in love every day, and I honestly can't live another day without you. So please, don't you ever pull this disappearing act on me again," he pleaded, his voice filled with pain.
"I won't, Jack," Sam whispered, looking into his brown eyes and gently cradling his head. And then she kissed him, softly at first, and then with increasing intensity, a deep expression of her love and longing.
Jack held her in his arms, kissing her with all he had, his mouth firmly over hers. They kissed for long moments, their mouths fused and only stopped when they ran out of air. Sam looked at him, her fingers coming up to trace his cheekbones lovingly.
"I love you too, Jack. And yes, I also want to sleep with you in our bed, when it's midnight and raining heavily. Not make love. Just fell asleep. While lying next to you, our bodies curled together. Feel your heart beating while I'm lying on your chest. Your breathing softly mingled with mine. Drifting gently into each other's dreams."
Jack kissed her again.
"Sweet. So no sex? Our marriage isn't having any sex?", he asked with a surprised expression.
Sam blushed deeply.
"Marriage?!", she almost whispered.
In the bedroom of a safe house somewhere in New Jersey, Jack continued to caress her back, his brow furrowed with a mix of anticipation and concern as he raised his eyebrows and questioned Sam.
"Well, yes… After all of this of course we are getting married. Why? Don't you want to get married?" he asked, his voice tinged now with uncertainty.
Sam's heart raced, and she swallowed nervously, her eyes meeting his. Of course, she wanted to get married, but the weight of her actions pressed down on her.
"I just think we might be rushing things a little bit, Jack. My situation isn't exactly…" Sam hesitated, her voice trailing off, uncertainty making her pause. She swallowed again, her throat dry, before she finally found the words to continue, "Ideal."
Jack's expression shifted, and his eyes darkened as he probed further, a more serious tone creeping into his voice.
"What do you mean, ideal?", he demanded, his concern turning into a demand for honesty.
Sam gently withdrew her hands from around his neck, her fingers trembling slightly, and placed them on her knees. She took a deep breath, steadying herself.
"Jack, I've been working for the Russian Mafia," she said, her voice low and measured. "I've hacked the Russian Stargate. These actions surely have consequences."
Jack's hands dropped from their comforting position on her back, and he ran one of them through his face, a gesture of disbelief and frustration.
"This means what? Do you honestly expect me to throw you at the USAF Judiciary Directorate? No wait!" Jack's hand moved to his neck, and he grimaced as he processed the significance of her words. "You are no longer in the Air Force. Isn't that what you've said before? So what? Am I supposed to deliver you to the feds? Hold on! They don't know about the Stargate? The CIA? Nops. No can do."
Sam watched him with a mixture of confusion and distress. She hadn't anticipated his reaction, and she struggled to find the right words to respond.
"So what do you think I'm going to do with you, Sam?" Jack's voice wavered between hurt and anger as he sought answers from her. "Please tell me because now I'm damn curious."
In that tense moment, the future of their relationship hung in the balance, and Sam knew that whatever decision she made would have profound consequences for them both. Sam's eyes bore into Jack's, a mixture of emotions visible in her torn expression as she wasn't able to respond to Jack's previous statement, leaving a palpable tension in the room.
Jack, feeling the need to break the silence, took a deep breath and began to speak. His voice was filled with a sense of sadness and frustration.
"Come on, Sam. Give me something," he implored, his gaze locked onto hers. "Just seconds ago, you were telling me that you also loved me. That you wanted to sleep in the same bed as me. I talk about marriage, and you say that I'm rushing things? Okay, so maybe I am. Maybe I was too hasty, but I thought that we were on the same page. That you wanted the same thing as I did—to spend the rest of our lives together. Apparently, I was wrong..."
Sam attempted to reach out and grab Jack's hand, a desperate attempt to bridge the emotional chasm that had formed between them. However, he pulled away, his hurt evident in his actions.
"Jack," she called softly, her voice almost a whisper. But Jack was already heading towards the door, determined to leave this emotional turmoil behind.
"I'm sorry if I was too hasty for you, Sam," Jack admitted, his voice trembling slightly. "I guess we aren't as aligned as I thought."
Sam, no longer willing to stand still, rushed towards the door just as Jack reached for the handle. She closed it firmly, blocking his exit.
"Stop it, Jack," she pleaded, her hand over his, still resting on the door handle. Her eyes were filled with emotion, a mix of love, regret, and frustration. "Just stop it! You caught me by surprise when you talked about marriage, okay? These past weeks haven't been easy for me; I'm a mess. So, I'm sorry if I'm not reacting the way you want. Yes, I love you—deeply. But I've also done some pretty awful things, and I'm a little overwhelmed with everything that's happened. I'm sorry."
As Jack looked into Sam's eyes, he could see the genuine distress she was in. He realized that he had indeed been too hasty in bringing up marriage so soon after they had rescued her just hours ago. His initial joy at finding her alive and well had clouded his judgment, and he had inadvertently pushed her away.
Jack's anger and frustration began to dissipate as he understood the complexity of Sam's emotions. He had messed things up, as he often did. Tension hung in the air like a heavy fog. Jack, his hand trembling on the door handle, turned to face Sam, his eyes filled with a mix of relief and frustration.
"Okay. Let's calm down," he said, his voice quivering as he withdrew his hand from the door handle and reached out for hers.
His fingers gently encircled Sam's, their touch conveying a message of reassurance amidst the chaos of emotions.
"I'm sorry if I overreacted," he continued, his voice softer now, "It's been difficult for me also, Sam, not knowing where you were, what had happened to you." Jack's breathing was heavy, and he took a deep breath to steady himself. "And when I finally found out, well, it wasn't easy," he admitted, his eyes locking with Sam's.
Sam, her eyes glistening with unshed tears, rested her head against his chest, finding comfort in the rhythm of his heartbeat. "I'm sorry," she whispered again, her voice heavy with sadness.
Jack responded by gently caressing her hair, his fingers running through the strands as he tried to convey his understanding.
"It's okay," he murmured, his lips brushing against her forehead, "you are okay, that's all that matters to me."
He enveloped her in his arms, holding her close as if shielding her from the world's uncertainties. Sam felt the familiar sense of security wash over her like she always did when she was in his arms. It was her safe place, her sanctuary, her home.
"Thanks for coming after me," Sam mumbled, her face buried next to his neck, the warmth of his skin and the scent of him providing solace.
"Always," Jack replied simply, his grip on her tightening slightly as if to reaffirm his commitment.
They remained locked in their embrace for some precious moments, finding solace and strength in each other's presence, until an unexpected interruption came in the form of a knock on the door. Jack reluctantly released Sam and moved to open the door.
It was Daniel, looking slightly embarrassed but determined.
"Sorry for interrupting," he began, "but Tom wants to speak with you, Jack." He glanced past Jack and offered a polite nod to Sam. "Hi, Sam," he greeted her, his tone friendly yet tinged with a hint of shyness.
Sam returned the greeting with a shy smile. "Hi, Daniel."
Jack cleared his throat, his attention back on the matter at hand.
"Okay, tell him I'll be right there. Just give me two minutes," he said to Daniel, who nodded and promptly disappeared, leaving Jack and Sam with their thoughts and emotions still swirling in the room.
The atmosphere in the room remained tense as Jack returned to speak with Sam about their impending departure. He looked at her with a mixture of determination and concern, aware of the gravity of the situation. Sam held onto his t-shirt tightly, her fingers gripping the fabric as if it were an anchor in the storm of uncertainty.
"I've to discuss the details of our departure. We need to get out of here as soon as possible. What do you want to do?" Jack inquired, his gaze locked on hers, searching for any sign of her preference.
Sam's response was simple but filled with trust and devotion, "Whatever you think is best. I'll do whatever you want, Jack." Her fingers didn't loosen their grip on his shirt.
Moved by her unwavering support, Jack leaned down and gently kissed her forehead, offering a small, reassuring smile.
"Okay," he said softly before reluctantly leaving the room to attend to the pressing matters at hand.
Sam watched him leave, her heart heavy with a mix of emotions. She knew that their situation was dire, and her fate now rested in Jack's hands. She picked up the chair that had been thrown against the door in a moment of frustration and sat down, her trembling hands resting in her lap.