She was rummaging in his drawers, frustrated beyond compare. Does this man really don't have any organization at all? The salad servers had to be here anywhere. She even tried to search in some cabinets as she heard a car driving into the driveway. Curious about who it could be, she stepped out of the kitchen into the hallway. Jack didn't want anyone from the SGC to find out about their relationship. Kerry understood this, they had to work together in a professional way, if everyone knew about them this could get awkward.
Through the louvre she spotted Colonel Carter sitting in her car, making no attempts to get out of it so soon. Kerry knew that Jack and his former team was close, they fought together side by side for a long time and became like family. But she couldn't think of a reason that made Samantha Carter show up unannounced at her boss's house on a Saturday afternoon.
A couple of minutes went by, with Sam's only movement being her biting down on her lower lip. Were there tears in the Colonel's eyes? She was staring at Jack's house and it looked almost as if she was trying to pluck up courage. Kerry felt a knot of unease forming in her stomach. Whatever this woman wanted here, it certainly had nothing to do with work.
Finally Sam opened the door of her car, hesitantly she got out of it.
The woman in Jack's house took a step back, ensuring she wasn't visible in case Sam headed towards the entrance door. But that hadn't been necessary, Sam saw the smoke rising behind the house so she assumed he would be in his backyard. It took her a great amount of courage to walk up to him, that much you could see even if you hadn't known her.
Kerry moved inside the house to get a better view. Sam had her arms around her body as if to shield herself from something while she stepped closer. Her 'Hi, Sir!' didn't sound like the self-confident soldier she always was.
Why should she be afraid, Kerry wondered.
And Jack's 'Carter' was a mixture of surprise and fear. Why the hell was he afraid? As if he didn't want Sam to discover her. Like especially not Sam.
Kerry grabbed the bowl of salad, being prepared to step outside if she was to be discovered. She moved closer to the backdoor to be able to listen to the conversation.
"...trying to work up the nerve for a lot longer than this."
Kerry felt like an intruder although she was the one actually invited here. Honestly she didn't know how or why it happened, but she was lucky enough to attract the attention of Jack O'Neill. They were good together, the sex was even great. But the whole time she felt like he was being held back by something. Now she came to think what it might be. Or who.
"The truth is I'm having second thoughts about the wedding… "
"Why?" Jack's answer was again a mix of surprise and, this time, hope?
"... I get the feeling that I'm making a big, huge mistake."
God, Kerry's heart pounded in her chest. Jack was nervously checking the inside of the house with one quick glance. He knew exactly what the beautiful Colonel wanted to tell him and suddenly it all made sense to Kerry.
He didn't want anyone from the Stargate Center to find out, not because he wanted to keep it professional at work, he didn't want to explain it to his friends and to Carter. Until now she didn't understand why.
"and if I don't tell you now, I might never…"
Kerry took courage and chose this moment to step out onto the porch, she worked with the military long enough to know about the frat regs and if her gut is telling her the truth the Colonel was about to pour her heart out right now. She wanted Jack to tell her not to marry that idiot fiancé of hers. Kerry read about him too. She couldn't let her go on like this because Jack wasn't free to say what he might want to say because Kerry was here.
Clearly they should have this conversation, but with nobody eavesdropping or getting in the way.
"Jack, I looked everywhere but I could not find…. Colonel Carter!" She tried to sound surprised and obviously it worked.
Jack started an awkward introduction and was rambling trying to find out how to tell her what Kerry is doing here. Finally saved by her phone ringing. It was a worrisome call, it sounded like bad news for Sam. When she hung up she looked briefly at both of them and excused herself.
"I gotta go, it's my dad." She turned around and left the backyard, heading for her car as fast as she could.
Kerry tried to make eye contact with Jack, just to see him even more worried. She knew Carter's father was a Tok'ra, what could possibly be the bad news?
After Sam had left they sat down to eat. She sensed his turmoil.
"You want to go after her." She simply stated, waiting for Jack's reaction.
He took his time, unsure what the correct answer to that question might be. Then he shook his head. "No."
"Yes, you do! Why don't you call the base and try to find out what's wrong first?"
"Kerry, we planned this weekend and…"
"You want to do what you feel is the right thing, I know. But if there's an incident you have to know and when some aliens were knocking on the gate you had to go either. Just call, Jack!"
He took a deep breath before he made a decision. "Okay!"
When he came back he looked pale.
"It's Jacob… He… He's dying."
Kerry was shocked, she hadn't expected that.
"But he's a Tok'ra, I mean, they do get really old, don't they?"
"Apparently Selmak was really old. She slipped into a coma right after the fight on Dakara. Jacob hoped to be able to attend his daughter's wedding, but apparently it got worse a lot sooner than he expected."
"Jack, about that wedding…" She started and tried to talk to him about what just had happened in his backyard.
"No…"
"But…"
"I said no, Kerry. I don't want to talk about it."
"You have to go in. Have to be there for her. She'll need a friend, now and for sure at the end of this day! Jacob was also your friend, don't miss the opportunity to say goodbye to him."
"I…"
She put her hand over his. "Go Jack! I'll clean up here, don't worry. She needs you. It's okay, I understand." And that she did. It was clear to her that his heart belonged to another woman, apparently for years. He nodded.
"Thank you." was all he replied when he stood up and left a kiss on top of her hair. He ran inside only grabbing his phone and keys and was out of the door in seconds. She heard his car drive away. Funny how all this started when she heard a car driving into his driveway and now she heard his car leave.
She got up and put the dishes away. While she cleaned up she picked all her belongings up too. She was sure that was the last time she was in Jack O'Neill's house. When she shot the door behind her she didn't bother to look back. With her stuff she walked up the road where her car was parked and took a detour to the mountain before she drove back to Washington.
It was unusually quiet inside these gray walls as she walked up to the General's office. Jack sat behind his desk, his head resting on his hand. She knocked and it seemed like she was tearing him deeply out of his thoughts.
"How's Colonel Carter's father?"
"Doesn't look good."
"Sorry to hear that."
She stepped in, closing the door, knowing that what she was about to do wouldn't need any prying eyes.
Jack tensed, he knew what was coming. He hadn't been black ops for nothing. He knew how to read people.
"Closing the door…"
"Yeah, deeply symbolic."
It wasn't that hard to say goodbye, she made sure to him that she knew and understood his feelings. Even offered him an option. Retire!
As if it was that easy. Honestly he tried it several times. But maybe now it is more possible than before. With the Goa'uld gone and the replicators weren't a threat anymore, maybe the president finally let him go. He would have to talk to her before. Make sure he interpreted her attempt correctly. But not today. Today he would be the friend she needed, the shoulder to support her and that she could cry on if necessary. So he stood up and made his way to the infirmary. He had to have a talk with Jacob too. Had to say goodbye and maybe ask him for his blessing. He had every intention to make it right this time, he won't let her marry this fool.
Sam sat in the observation room, looking down on her father. She knew after the Tok'ra said their goodbyes he wanted to talk to the General, he told her so, but she couldn't make herself get up and go to get him. Suddenly she sensed that she wasn't alone anymore. She didn't have to look up to know it was him, but she did anyway. He took the seat next to her and asked her how she felt. Hearing him utter that soft "C'mere!" like he did a few rare times before she felt safe. He placed his arm around her shoulders and she grabbed his hand with hers, bringing it close to her cheek in need of bodycontact. This felt so right. She didn't want to think about that woman she found at the General's house earlier today, she just concentrated on the comfort he's giving her.
"Thank you, Sir!"
"For what?" He asked honestly.
"For being here for me."
And his answer was not only a statement, it was a promise.
"Always!"
