Title: Three Days (0/3)

 

Author: Lisa Yaeger

 

E-mail: lisayaeger@hotmail.com

 

Rating: PG-13

 

Category: Angst, Romance

 

Pairings: Sam/Jack

 

Content Warnings: mild language

 

Summary: Kind of confusing, but Sam stumbles into a quantum mirror and likes what she sees in the alternate reality.  When she heads back to her reality to break the news that she wants to live in the AU world permanently, something goes wrong.  Is the Jack she sees when she wakes up her Jack, or not?

 

Season/sequel: Set in season 6

 

Spoilers: 100 Days, general knowledge of the show

 

Archive: SJD, yes & whoever else wants to- I'd be flattered!

 

Disclaimer: All publicly recognizable characters and places are the

property of MGM, World Gekko Corp and Double Secret productions. This

piece of fan fiction was created for entertainment not monetary

purposes and no infringement on copyrights or trademarks was intended.

Previously unrecognized characters and places, and this story, are

copyrighted to the author. Any similarity to real persons, living or

dead, is coincidental and not intended by the author.

 

Status: Complete

 

Author's notes: 13 days until the US gets a new ep on SciFi!

 

Feedback: Please!!!

 

Date: 28-12-2002

 

*****

 

Part 1

 

*****

 

"Jack?"  Her eyes could barely focus long enough to recognize the

shape of the man that she had all but memorized in the past few years.

 "Thank god."  A weak smile formed just before she closed her eyes and

drifted off again.  She had made it back.  That was all that mattered.

 

Confused didn't quite begin to describe his thoughts.  Had she ever

called him "Jack" before?  His mind raced to scan his memory banks in

search of a time, a place, when his name had flowed so easily off her

lips.  His brain stumbled over scenes filled with "almosts"- moments

where they had nearly allowed themselves to be just Sam and Jack.

Admittedly, he had called her "Sam" on several occasions, in the

beginning, before things got complicated. Or rather, more complicated.

 But he couldn't find a single instance where she had called him Jack.

 Jolinar had.  At least he thought it was her.  Samantha had.  Damn

these alternate realities!  He knew he should call Janet to let her

know that Carter had woken up, even if only for a second, but he knew

what the doctor's response would be, "Did she say anything?"  And then

what would he say?  That she called him by his name?  Janet would

certainly know that meant Sam wasn't herself, and truth be told, that

thought made him more sad than anything had in a long time.  That she

would have to be influenced by something alien or have been in another

universe to feel comfortable enough to call him Jack hurt his heart in

a way he couldn't quite describe.  So he didn't say anything; he just

sat back and waited for her to wake again.

 

Her thoughts were muddled: strong emotions fighting through a fog of

drug-induced sleep.  Even in her half-awake state she was aware enough

to realize that she was under the influence of something.  But why?

The last thing she remembered was waiting to come back.  To say

good-bye to "her" reality.  The one where Jack hadn't retired, where

Teal'c was still part of SG-1, where she was alive.  Then she would

leave again, for the last time, and go back to the "other" reality.

Where Jack had retired, where Teal'c lived on Chulak, where that Sam

had died over a year ago, where Katie was.  She remembered waking up

and seeing the "other" Jack, in civvies, with stubble on his face.

So, at least she had made it back to his reality.  The one she would

now call home.  If only she could remember how...

 

Minutes turned into hours.  His eyes had glazed over long ago,

fighting sleep, wanting to be there when she woke up for good. To get

some kind of explanation about the reality she had been in for the

past three days.  They had all been on downtime- two weeks.  He

couldn't remember the last time it had been for so long.  Stopping

only long enough to ask her to come - he knew what the answer was

before the question left his lips - he headed to Minnesota.  Teal'c

had left the same day to spend time with his family.  But Jonas and

Sam, always the enthusiasts, had accompanied SG-7 on what was supposed

to be an easy mission.  No signs of life from the MALP reading, just

lots of soil samples waiting to be taken. Lots of rocks to study, and

maybe, if they were lucky, nothing out of the ordinary.  That was

until Sam stumbled, literally, into a quantum mirror.  Jonas wasn't

two feet away and saw it happen, but there was nothing he could do

except go back through the gate with the rest of the team and report

to the General.  That's when Jack had been called home, when word was

sent to Teal'c, and when the waiting began.  Then, on the third day,

she came back.  Bound and gagged and drugged, but apparently unhurt.

That was six hours ago, and they were still waiting for her to wake

up.

 

As if sensing his growing discomfort, Sam opened her eyes and saw the

same sight she had before- a tired looking Jack across from her bed.

She formed another smile and held out her hand to him.

 

He reached out his hand to meet hers, hesitantly, but with genuine

affection.  His Sam would never initiate physical contact with him,

but he was beyond caring.  "Hey."

 

"Hey."  Her thumb stroked the back of his hand, as she drew it closer

to her face.

 

He was dumbstruck.  But he didn't want to do anything that would upset

her- god knows what she had been through in that other reality.  From

the looks of it, she was decidedly different.  And damn if it didn't

feel good to touch her skin.

 

"Where's Katie?"  Her cheek nuzzled the palm of his hand.

 

"I'm not sure."

 

She stopped all movement, and looked into his eyes, "What do you mean

you're not sure?  Is something wrong?"

 

"No, no."  He had to assure her that everything was OK until he found

out what the hell was going on with her. "I think she's sleeping."

 

Relieved, "It must be nap time then."

 

"Yeah, it is."  He knew he had to call Janet.  Every minute he played

along with this, they could be further from finding their Sam, unless

this really was her, and she was just confused.  Really confused.

"Let me go tell Janet you're awake."

 

"Okay."  She released his hand, but not before kissing it and smiling

up at him in a way he had only dreamed of before.  He hadn't even

reached the door to leave when he heard her say it again, "Jack?"

 

He was afraid to turn around and see her eyes for fear he would run

back and never let her go, "Yeah?"

 

"I'm glad I'm here."

 

He could only nod.

 

*****

 

One hour later, he found himself sitting across from Janet in the

briefing room.  Teal'c took Sam's place on his right while Jonas sat

next to Janet. 

 

The doctor began, "This is our Major Carter.  She remembers everything

that our Sam has been through.  She described, in detail, the mission

where she found the quantum mirror.  She remembers Jonas calling to

her just as... well, just before SG-7 returned three days ago.  This

is her, I'm sure of it."

 

Frustrated, Jack blurted out, "Then explain to me why she's

different!"

 

"Colonel?"  General Hammond motioned for him to continue, wanting him

to define "different."

 

Janet interrupted the exchange to clarify, "I think what Colonel

O'Neill means is that Major Carter is a little more - open - than

usual.  More emotional somehow."

 

"And she asked for someone named Katie."  That part still had him

stumped.

 

General Hammond narrowed his eyes and spoke the obvious, "I guess the

only one with the answers is Major Carter.  Let's go talk to her."  He

stood up to leave, but Janet had other thoughts.

 

"Sir, with all due respect, I think it would be best if only a few of

us were in there.  Whatever happened in the alternate reality, it's

obviously affected Major Carter somehow.  If there are bad memories,

and judging by the way she was returned to us, I think that's a

distinct possibility, then any revelations she may have would best be

brought to light with a smaller audience."

 

"Very well.  Proceed with Colonel O'Neill, Doctor.  We'll debrief when

you think she's ready."

 

"Thank you, Sir."

 

*****

 

Walking with Janet down the hall back to the infirmary, he asked the

question that was usually on his mind when Sam had been separated from

the rest of the team.  He reasoned with himself that he would ask it

about any woman that was under his command, and he honestly would, but

the answer wouldn't have the power to either wash relief over him or

infuse anger into his soul for any other woman in the same way.

"Doc?"

 

"Yes, Colonel?"

 

"Was she...  hurt?"

 

"Beyond the obvious cuts on her wrists where the rope dug into her

skin and the after effects of the sedative that was used to knock her

out, you mean?"  She knew what he meant, but some part of her wanted

him to have to say it.  To confess to her, and to himself most of all,

that Sam was different to him. 

 

"I mean, was she - violated - in any way?"

 

"No.  There aren't any signs that she was raped or molested."

 

He exhaled.  Thank god.  It always worried him far more than he would

admit.  It's funny that it never occurred to him before really.  Not

with any other woman he had ever served with in all of the years he

had been in the Air Force.  But ever since that day he saw her in that

dress, and she had been abducted....  Well, he saw a lot of things

differently after that mission.  And viewing Sam as a woman, and as a

very capable soldier, were definitely among them.

 

They walked back into the infirmary just in time to hear Sam ask one

of Janet's nurses if she could see Katie.  Looking up to see Jack and

Janet walk in, she pleaded with them, "Katie must be up from her nap

now, why can't I see-"  Her eyes were glued to Jack- now showered,

shaven and dressed in BDUs.

 

He followed her eyes as they trailed up and down his body.  Normally

he would be flattered, if a little embarrassed, at the obviousness of

her gaze.  But the fact that she seemed horrified by his appearance

gave him a clue, "Carter?"

 

He head snapped up.  Wide blue eyes stared into narrowed brown ones

with recognition, "Why are you dressed like that?"  It was no more

than a whisper.

 

"Why wouldn't I be?"

 

"You weren't before."

 

"I was unexpectedly pulled away from fishing." He smiled, hoping for

one in return, but all he could see were tears forming in the corner

of her eyes.

 

"Katie's not here, is she?"

 

Janet answered softly, "We don't know who that is."

 

Sam's eyes darted back and forth between her friend- in either

reality- and the man who was either her commanding officer or

something else depending on where she was.  And she was beginning to

realize she was back in *her* reality, and this was her CO, but maybe

there was still time to go back.  *That* Jack said he would give her 48

hours before he destroyed the mirror on his side.  She couldn't have

been out for that long, "I have to go to the mirror."

 

"It was destroyed, Major.  You came back drugged and restrained.  We

didn't have any idea what was on the other side, so General Hammond

ordered us to shatter it before any hostiles could come through."

 

Shattered.  The mirror.  Her.  It was all coming back- the last

minutes before she came here. The last time she saw him- would ever

see him now.  They were holding hands.  He was kissing her neck.  Her

eyes were closed, and she felt him walk behind her.  She remembered

thinking he probably wanted to push her through like this Jack had

done the first time she went through the gate.  There were so many

similarities between the two, and only one difference that she could

see.  That Jack had retired.  For that Sam.  But then she felt his

hand go over her mouth and nose, and she smelled something funny.  She

didn't even struggle at first, so complete was her trust in him.  And

then she heard him say the words that didn't make sense at the time,

but now were a lifeline- the only thing she had left to hang onto, "He

needs you more than I do, Sam.  Please forgive me."  He knew that if

he sent her back harmed in anyway that her General Hammond would

destroy the mirror.  Destroy her chances of returning to *his* reality.

 He was giving her back, to her own time and place, to her own Jack.

Only this Jack was Colonel O'Neill.  Not hers.  It was too much.  The

room started spinning and little black dots appeared in front of her

eyes, and finally, the darkness overtook her again.

 

*****

 

Part 2

 

*****

 

Leaving Janet to hook up monitoring devices to her, Jack walked the

path back to General Hammond's office trying to figure out what in the

hell he was supposed to say, 'Yes, Sir. It's our Major Carter, but

she didn't think it was us.' 'No, Sir, I don't think she's at all

happy to be back.' What happened there? And why did he have the

strangest feeling that whatever it was had a lot to do with *that*

him? He found himself at the General's door and braced himself to

deliver the truth.

 

*****

 

She feigned sleep, but she wasn't sure how long before they would

realize it. What could she say when she saw them? It was all so

complicated. How was it possible for her to fall in love with a man

she had only known for three days? Well, six years and three days,

but it wasn't the same man. Except that it was. And then there was

Katie. The most beautiful little girl she had ever seen. And now she

really would grow up without a mother. Even though Sam wouldn't have

been her "real" mother, she would have been a damn close second. And

they would have been a family. She had to pull herself together.

 

*****

 

After telling Hammond as much as he knew, he walked back to the

infirmary. He mused that it was a good thing there wasn't carpet in

these halls or he would have worn tracks in it long ago. He opened

the door to her room to see her staring up at the ceiling. She looked

determined and focused, much like the Major Carter he had grown to

know and lo- "Hey."

 

"Colonel." Her eyes looked right through him without expression. She

was going to get through this by giving them as little information as

possible. What was the point? She couldn't go back, and they

wouldn't understand why she would want to.

 

"Feeling better?"

 

"I'm fine."

 

"Good, good." He came to stand beside her, his eyes searching her

face for any kind of recognition that the last exchange between the

two of them had been, different, to say the least.

 

Whatever he was looking for, she wasn't giving it away, and her empty

eyes just stared back at his, "I assume General Hammond will want to

be debriefed on the other reality?"

 

"Whenever you're ready."

 

"As soon as Janet lets me out of here."

 

On cue, Dr. Fraiser walked in to confirm Sam's appraisal of her own

condition, "You seem fine to me. I think the blackout before was

probably a residual effect of whatever-"

 

"What blackout?" In for a penny...

 

Janet and Jack exchanged glances with each other before the doctor

responded, "Before, in the infirmary. You were asking one of the

nurses for someone named Katie, and then we came in. You seemed

surprised that Colonel O'Neill was in uniform, and you asked to go

back to the mirr-"

 

"Who is Katie?" In for a pound.

 

"We were hoping you could tell us that." He wasn't quite buying it.

 

She had to be stronger, more convincing, "I wish I could, too, Sir,

but I don't remember anything before waking up just a few minutes

ago."

 

"Sam, what's the last thing you remember about being in the other

reality?"

 

She turned her eyes upward toward the ceiling as if trying to

remember, while she really decided on just how much to give away.

Given the Colonel's obvious distrust of her sudden lack of memory, she

decided more information about that reality might make them believe

her memory "loss" was localized to the most recent events on this

earth, "I remember standing in front of the mirror with that Colonel

O'Neill-"

 

"What was he wearing?"

 

"Sir?"

 

"You heard me, Major, what was he wearing?"

 

If she noticed he was being harsh with her, she chose to ignore it and

stay cool, "He was wearing a button-up shirt and slacks, I think.

Why?"

 

He leaned down over her bed so that his face wasn't far from hers,

"You seemed awfully disturbed to find me in uniform when you woke up

in this infirmary just a few hours ago. I thought there might be a

connection."

 

"Sorry, Sir. I don't remember that." Right. She could do this.

 

"It's okay, Sam, just continue with what you do remember. You said

that Colonel O'Neill was standing with you in front of the mirror on

his side, and?"

 

"Right, and then the next thing I remember was smelling something odd,

and waking up here like I said."

 

"Colonel, I think the 'something' that Major Carter smelled could have

been the drug used to knock her unconscious. Then the person or

persons who bound her wrists and gagged her must have sent her back

through the mirror."

 

It was easy to produce a shocked look at that information, because she

didn't realize *that* Jack had gone to such extremes. He hadn't hurt

her exactly, but he did enough damage to make sure that this Jack

would destroy the gate. She had to hand it to them; they certainly

knew themselves.

 

Jack sat down in the chair opposite her bed that he had occupied

earlier. Maybe she really didn't remember. Maybe that drug had given

her false memories or caused her to hallucinate. God knew they had

seen stranger things. And if there was one thing he was certain of,

it was that Sam Carter didn't lie. Not about anything. So, he did

the only thing he could do, "Doc, if you think Carter's ready, I'd

like to tell the General we can debrief. I'm sure we're all anxious

to get past this and get back to our leave time."

 

"Let's make it tomorrow, Colonel. I'd like to be sure that there

aren't any more side effects to whatever substance the Major has been

exposed to." Janet turned to face Sam, "I'll be back later to check on

you. Let one of the nurses know if you need me."

 

"Thanks, Janet." She smiled, a real smile. That woman was as good a

friend as she could ever hope to have.

 

Jack stood up to leave, "I'll see you in the morning, Carter."

 

"Sir?"

 

"Yeah?"

 

"I'm sorry. That I interrupted your leave."

 

"It's not your fault. Besides, there aren't actually any fish there

anyway."

 

"I thought it was about the fishing, not the fish."

 

"Goodnight, Carter." It wasn't lost on either of them that he wasn't

keeping up his end of the banter that they would normally share.

 

The night felt endless. Her thoughts kept drifting back to the other

Jack. Her mind wandered into forbidden places without her consent.

And the same answerless question kept rising to the surface, Why had

he changed his mind and forced her back to her own reality? They had

grown so close in three days. The minute she saw him in civilian

clothes on the other side, she felt something wonderful and different.

He had brought Katie to Janet for a check-up. It didn't take an M.D.

or a Ph.D. to see that the brown-haired, blue-eyed girl was a genetic

combination of Jack and Sam. In any reality. The way he looked at

her, even though he knew she wasn't his... It was the way she had

dreamed her Jack would - could - look at her. He had immediately

taken her home with them. She learned when he retired (after the

black ops mission three years ago when Makepeace was discovered a

traitor); where they got married (at his cabin in Minnesota, where

else?); when they had Katie (two years ago); when that Sam was killed

(working on an experiment with naquadria just over a year ago). In

the 72 hours they were together she discovered so much about his life

before the Stargate- how he and Sara met, what their marriage was

like, what Charlie was like, his family. She couldn't get enough

information from him, and he couldn't seem to stop talking. That in

and of itself was a small miracle. Jack talking. To her! She didn't

want to leave, and she didn't want Katie to grow up without a mother

like she had. No one would get hurt. General Hammond would find a

replacement for her on SG-1. Finally her Colonel O'Neill could have a

2IC that wasn't a scientist. She barely saw her dad on her brother

anyway. It would be the life she couldn't have in her own reality.

It must have been too easy. Too simple to work. But why hadn't he

wanted her to stay? He said he did. They held hands, they kissed,

they talked of their feelings for the "other" Jack and Sam. They

would have made it work- if not for themselves, then for Katie.

Finally, the alarm signaled the end of her sleepless night and she

woke to face the debriefing.

 

Settled around the table at 0800, Sam felt absurdly calm. Prepared to

admit only what she had to and conceal the rest, she knew it was the

right thing. No one needed to know that there was another reality

where Jack and Sam had been together. No purpose would be served, and

she knew no one would directly ask the question. And certainly not

the one man she didn't want to tell.

 

General Hammond sat at the head of the table, "Welcome back Major.

Let's begin."

 

All eyes were fixed on her, and so she started to describe waking up

in the infirmary, her last memories of the other reality. The other

Colonel. 'Yes, he was retired.' 'A few years, I think, Sir.' 'No,

that Major Carter died in an accident, Teal'c.' 'Maybe about a year

ago?' 'No, I didn't see who drugged me, Doctor, but I assume whomever

it was also assaulted Colonel O'Neill as we were together when I became

aware of the odor.' 'No, Sir, I still don't remember why I called for

someone named Katie.' 'I think they were about where we are in terms

of technological advancements, Jonas, but I wasn't really there long

enough to make a thorough investigation.' 'Yes, General, I'd like to

get back to work as soon as possible.'

 

"Very well. Dismissed for the remainder of your leave time, SG-1.

And Major?'

 

"Yes, Sir?"

 

"Stay off base. That's an order."

 

She smiled and nodded. They bought it. Well, there were only a few

lies hidden in her answers. Things she remembered, but denied

knowledge of. Truthfully, her memory was getting a bit foggy already.

And while she didn't want to forget, maybe it was for the best. She

was alone with her thoughts and Ja- Colonel O'Neill.

 

"Need a ride home, Carter?"

 

"No thanks, Sir, my car is still here." She followed behind him

toward the door. "I hope you have time to get in some more fishing

before the week is up."

 

"I think I'll just stay around the house in case you get into any more

trouble."

 

She chuckled, "I do seem to have a way of turning down time into..."

 

"A *up* time?"

 

"I wouldn't have put it quite that way." Their banter was back. It

was all okay. Then why did she feel like a traitor?

 

*****

 

Part 3

 

*****

 

Winterizing the O'Neill homestead was more than a matter of pulling in

a couple of lawn chairs.  It meant installing storm windows,

transplanting bulbs, taking out the air conditioning unit in the

bedroom, changing tires on his truck.  The list of things he had

decided to do with his remaining week now that he was home was

daunting.  But, they had to be done, and so he set about each task

like a man on a mission.  The first snow had already come but it was

little more than a warning that serious storms would follow.  So, he

began the task of taking the A/C unit out of the window in the master

bedroom first.  That was when he heard the knock at the door- as he

was balancing it between the window and the floor, trying not to drop

it.  "Hang on!"

 

Setting it on the hardwood floor and closing the window, he hurried to

the door prepared to curse whatever door-to-door salesman had the

nerve to interrupt him.  He opened the door to find her standing

there, "Carter."

 

"Colonel."

 

He didn't know what to say.  She never came over without an

invitation.  And even with one, she didn't stay long.  He swore if she

called him Jack he was hauling her back to the base.  "Come in."

 

"Thanks."

 

"Coffee?"

 

"Sure."

 

He headed toward the kitchen as she took off her coat and gloves. "I

guess it's getting cold out there?"

 

"Yeah, it is." 

 

"So, what brings you by?"  Not that she needed a reason, although he

knew she felt like she did.

 

"I owe you an apology."

 

Not expecting that.  "For breaking up my fishing time? We already

covered that, Carter, and you don't-"

 

"No, not for that."

 

He handed her a mug and motioned her toward the living room.  Once

settled, he expected her to continue, but she seemed hesitant, "Then

for what?"

 

"After you came back from Edora.  I was...  Well, I was.."

 

"Pissed?"  He thought filling in the blank might help.

 

"Yeah, I guess you could say that."

 

"Well, I wasn't exactly thrilled to be rescued, I guess."

 

"No, you weren't, and I didn't understand why.  Until now."

 

Okay, she had his attention.  What the hell was going on inside her

head???

 

"I guess I understand a little better what it's like - to be somewhere

and have it feel like home, even though you know it's not really

yours.  But it's nice, to be with someone that wants to be with you.

And have a chance at something, a family, that you can't have here.

To forget about saving the world every morning, to just be... happy."

 

What was she saying?

 

"The first time I woke up in the infirmary, and I saw you sitting

across from me, I thought you were *him*.  I thought I had made it back

from this reality to that one again."

 

He wasn't sure he was following, and he didn't want to interrupt her,

so he just sat back and waited for her to finish.

 

"I wasn't going to say anything.  What would be the point?  Just

another reality where another - us - was together.  Only this time it

was her that had died, and that him...  Well, he wanted me to stay."

 

"And you were going to?"  He tried not to sound as panicked as he

felt.

 

"Yes."  It was an admittance of so much.  Her lies.  Her feelings.

The truth.

 

They sat in silence for over ten minutes before she spoke again.  She

had to say it all now, make him understand her reasons, "It was for

Katie.   I would never have even considered it if weren't for her."

 

"Their daughter." He had suspected that before, and now he knew.

 

"She was so beautiful.  And smart.  Already at two you could tell she

was going to be a genius or something."  She was fighting back the

tears.

 

He smiled, 'Just like her mother' was all he could think.

 

"I couldn't let her grow up without a mother.  I know what that's

like."  She drew a deep breath and steadied her voice, "I knew I could

never be her, but I thought, over time, that it would get easier and

everyone would just forget."

 

"You honestly thought that we would forget about you?"

 

"That's why I was coming back one last time.  To explain my reasons,

to tell-"

 

"To tell us what?"  He was on his feet, anger filled his voice, "That

you wanted to leave and go play house?  That you were giving up on us?

 On earth?  On ME?"

 

She sprang to her feet, their faces inches apart, "Sound too close for

comfort, Colonel?"  Her eyes never left his as he saw the truth

reflected back.

 

She was right.  It was exactly like Edora.  Except it had taken her

three days to achieve the level of feeling he barely had after three

months.  But she had basically known everything and everyone there

already.  He had been ready to throw in the towel for much less.  He

had given up on them.  On her.  But he truly believed there wasn't

another way.  That he didn't have a choice.  He might have even had a

child there, too.  But now, his Sam was expecting him to understand

her feelings: that's why she had come.  To tell him the truth and seek

some comfort from the fact that maybe there was one person on this

planet that might be able to empathize with what she had been through.

 At least she had wanted to stay with *him*, a version of himself.  He couldn't be jealous of that, could he?  No.  She deserved better than that from him.    "Who drugged you?"

 

"Jack.  He said that you needed me more than he did.  I think he knew

that General Hammond would destroy the mirror when he saw the way I

came back."

 

"He was right about that."  He was right about the other thing, too,

but he was as ready to say it as he guessed she was to hear it.

 

"He asked for my forgiveness."

 

"Does he have it?"  Do I?

 

"In time, I think so."  She was emotionally exhausted and physically

drained.

 

"No one needs to know about this."

 

"I think I'm violating something like 10 different regulations-"

 

"I've never been too big on the regs."  He smiled.

 

She smiled back. So simple a gesture.  So many emotions stuffed

inside.

 

"Thanks for listening."  She started to leave, but a warm weight

surrounding her hand stopped her cold.  His hand over hers.  Her eyes

darted to his.

 

"How did it happen?"  He had to know.

 

She knew what he was asking, but it was so hard to say.  "He retired

after the mission where you exposed the branch of the NID that was stealing alien technology.  He finished the mission, but

never went back to the SGC.  He had had enough."

 

"And they started - what - *dating*?"  It seemed so surreal.

 

"Something like that.  And a year later, Katie came."  She walked over

to his bookcase and pulled out a photo album.  She turned a few pages

to a picture of Charlie when he was 2 years old.  One *that* Jack had

shown her just days before.  "She looks so much like him."

 

He hadn't looked at that picture in years.  He could only imagine the

similarities.  The differences.  Between his son and a daughter that

he could have with Sam.  A daughter.  With Sam.  Why did that feel so

right? 

 

Taking one last look at the picture, "I should go."

 

He didn't make a move to stop her.  He could certainly read her well

enough after all of this time to realize when she needed to be alone,

but he had to know something first, "How did he ever get her to go

fishing?"

 

"He didn't."  She put on her coat and her gloves and headed to the

door, "In fact, the first time she was ever at his cabin was the day

before they got married."

 

His eyes were fixed on her, "Then I guess I should stop asking."

 

She turned the handle and paused, "Don't you dare."  She walked out

the door and to her car.  She was ready to go home.