Chapter Text
April 2005
“What are you doing, Sam?” she asked herself. “He’s with someone.”
She must have repeated that a dozen times on this drive to Jack’s house. Yet, that hadn’t stopped her from getting into her car or made her turn the car around yet.
As of 7pm, she was no longer under his chain of command. She finally found the courage to say this, and it was now or never. What’s the worst that could happen? An awkward team trip to the cabin for SG-1’s final hurrah? She could always feign an illness and not go.
She waited a few minutes in the driveway, willing every ounce of courage in her body to be with her now. There was a tapping at her driver side window.
Fuck. There was no leaving now.
“Carter, you just going to sit out here all night?”
How long had she been sitting here?
“Sir, I was just…”
“You don’t have to do that anymore. Just Jack.”
She smiled. “Habit.”
“Right. Come in.” He opened her door and ushered her into the house. “Can I get you something?”
“Uh, sure. Beer?”
“Coming right up! It’s a nice night out. Want to join me on the roof? I was just getting set up.”
“Sure.”
He handed her a beer and they climbed up to his roof. She’d never been up here before, but she knew he had a telescope. He talked about it from time to time.
He took a moment to adjust the scope. “You want to take a look?”
“Sure!”
Her voice was almost unnaturally high. What the hell was she doing here? All of the courage she had when she got into her car tonight seemed to evaporate.
Jack cleared his throat.
“So, I’m pretty sure I know why you’re here. Do you want to go, or do you want me to go?”
She swallowed thickly. Perhaps she should have thought this through. Maybe it would’ve been better to say this downstairs. Getting off the rooftop without making a scene might be harder.
“So, sir…”
“Really? Sir? Right now?”
She shook her head. Old habits really did die hard. “Jack, I came over to talk to you.”
“Obviously.”
“About us.”
He raised an eyebrow. “So then, you want to go?”
Thinking to herself “just do it, Carter,” she grabbed her left wrist with her right hand before continuing.
“I realize you’re with someone, but I’m ready to take it out of the room. We are not in the same chain of command anymore, and I just need to say it so it’s out there and we’re not dancing around it. Which I guess we don’t really have to worry about that anymore since we won’t be seeing each other. But I just need to say the reason I couldn’t marry Pete is because of you. I have feelings for you, and I’m ready to explore those, but I get that you’re with someone. I just thought I should say something.”
There was a pause for a moment.
“That’s a good speech, Sam. Did you practice that?”
She stared at him in disbelief. “That’s all you have to say?!”
He grinned before leaning in and kissing her. When his tongue found her lips, she happily granted him permission to deepen their kiss. When he leaned out, he flashed her a smile
“That was quite a statement, huh?”
She flashed him a smile. “I’d say so.”
He wrapped his arm around her shoulders and pulled her into his side.
“When you didn’t get out of your car, I knew why you were here. I think we should take it out of the room.”
“Aren’t you with…”
“Nope! Free agent!”
“Oh,” she nodded in understanding. “Also, a free agent. Obviously.”
“Do you want to not be a free agent?”
“Um, well…”
“Say we take it out of the room. Where does this go? I’m going to DC, and you’re headed to Nevada. Are you just here to spend the night together or something more?”
“I…”
“I’d be okay with either, but I’d prefer one of those much more. You’re worth more than one night.”
She felt the heat rise in her cheeks. “I want something more.”
“Good because honestly, I don’t think I’d be okay with just one night with you.”
“Why? I’m a bit of a mess.”
“No more of a mess than me, and well, because I love you. I have for a very long time. If we’re taking this out of the room, I think I can finally say that.”
“You can. Because I love you too, Jack O’Neill.”
She kissed him this time.
He seemed to be thinking about something. So she continued. “So then what do we do? How do we proceed?”
“That part is simple. I just want to be with you. It’s the logistics we have to think about.”
“Logistics? Like living over a thousand miles apart?”
“That, but we're not in the same chain of command for now. We both know they’re going to eventually call you back to the SGC. Your skillset is invaluable. What then? We just take a pause?”
He wasn’t wrong. Eventually, they’d call her back and she would answer to him once again.
“You want to be with me, Jack?”
“Yes.”
“And I want to be with you. I think that’s the important part here.” She remembered her father’s words. “We’ll figure this out.”
A moment of silence passed before him. He bit his lip, indicating he was unsure about his next words and thinking about them carefully.
“So, there is a way that we can avoid the regulations from this side.”
“Okay?”
“It’s going to sound crazy. Wacko, even.”
“Okay.”
“And I want you to think about it. You don’t have to answer right away.”
“Okay. Just say it.”
“Marry me.” She raised her eyebrows, which prompted him to continue in a much more rushed cadence. “I guess I should have phrased that as a question, but just think about it. And…”
She didn’t let him finish his sentence. She didn’t need to.
“Yes.”
“Hmm?”
“I’ll marry you.”
He cocked his head. “Really?”
“Yeah. We’ve been doing this dance for a long time. You know me, and I know you. We love each other and want to be together. Beyond being truly committed to each other, it doesn’t change anything. It means the Air Force can’t split us up in the future.”
“That’s the plan.”
“It gives us control over our relationship. That’s smart, Jack.”
“I have my moments. So, that’s a yes on marriage?”
She nodded. “When?”
“Tomorrow?”
For some reason, marrying Jack felt like a very big deal also but not a big deal at the same time. It wasn’t something scary or that she needed time to process. It felt natural but also exciting.
She laughed before shrugging. “Why not? Let’s do it.”
“Seriously?” He raised an eyebrow.
“Okay you have to stop asking me if I’m serious.”
He shrugged. “Making sure I didn’t ask you to marry me and then had a stroke waiting for the response.”
She slapped his arm as he grabbed her hand, lacing their fingers together.
“Oh, I agreed to marry you. Tomorrow even.”
“So, how about we go to the county clerk’s office in the morning. Get the license and get married. Then, drive to the cabin and have a few days alone, a little honeymoon if you will, before the boys join us.”
“Seems like a good plan. I didn’t bring my stuff for the trip with me, but…”
“Aht, aht, aht! You’re going home tonight.”
“I am?”
“Yeah, it’s bad luck for the groom to see the bride before the wedding…unless he’s picking her up to head to the wedding. I’ll pick you up at 8am.”
“So you don’t want to…”
“We’ll have plenty of time for that at the cabin. Plus, there’s nothing wrong with saving yourself for marriage.”
He winked at her as she punched his arm.
“So, we’re doing this?” she asked.
“Yep.”
They sat up on his roof stargazing for a while longer, just being together. And she learned that evening that he was a good kisser.
“You need to get home.”
“Are you sure you don’t want me to stay?”
“Of course I want you to stay.” He kissed her. “But I need you to go home tonight. I’ll pick you up in the morning.”
Later, she learned he sent her home for two reasons. First, he wanted her to have space to think about whether she actually wanted to go through with it. He was afraid if they slept together that night she would feel pressured into it. Second, he spent the night finding ways to make her day special even if their wedding was rushed.
As planned, he was at her door at 8am. Well, more like 7:55.
He whistled when she opened the door. “Good morning, beautiful.”
“Good morning, Jack.”
“So are we doing this?”
He had a hopeful but uncertain look in his eyes. It was the first time she’d ever seen him truly nervous.
She nodded and flashed him a smile. “We’re doing this.”
“In that case, I brought you something.” From behind his back, he pulled out a bouquet of fresh flowers. “These are for you.”
She blushed at the sentiment. He made the bouquet himself after visiting several 24 hour grocery stores to find bouquets containing sunflowers, daisies, and violets—her favorites—so that he could put one together for her.
“Thank you, Jack.”
He gave her a kiss before taking her bags for her. After she locked up, he took her hand and walked them to his truck.
“That’s a nice dress you’re wearing. Just keep one of those around?”
She wore a knee length cream colored sleeveless dress with a pleated skirt. It wasn’t her ideal wedding dress, but it would do. Besides, it would match the dress blues he was wearing nicely.
“I have many dresses in my closet.”
“Ah, yeah. I probably should’ve taken a look. You know, just to make sure I’d have enough space to accommodate so many dresses when we combine closets.”
She raised her eyebrows at that, plastering a playful grin on her face. “You don’t have to worry about that, Jack. Are you sure that’s why you wanted to take a look in my closet?”
He grinned without responding.
At the county clerk’s office, they had the first spirited debate of their marriage. She wanted to check the name change box, legally changing her name from Carter to O’Neill.
“Are you sure that’s a good idea?”
“Why wouldn’t it be?”
“Everyone will know we are married.”
She frowned. “Is that a bad thing? Don’t you usually let people know that?”
“Oh no. Definitely not a bad thing. This is probably among the best decisions of my life. And I’m really coming out on top because I get to claim YOU as MY woman. Your claim is a little weaker, but you also get to claim me as yours.”
She flashed him a smile. “Jack…”
“But it might be a good idea to keep a low profile for a bit. We haven’t even been out of the same chain of command for 24 hours yet. No one will believe we weren’t smashing those regulations to smithereens even if we weren’t.”
The wounds from Dad’s funeral were still a bit fresh. Noticing her grimace, he squeezed her hand and kissed the side of her head.
“I’m sorry. Are you okay?”
“Yeah I’m fine. But Jack, we have to file our marriage license with the Air Force anyway.”
“Yeah, some guy in the paperwork department or whatever will know. That’s different from rumors swirling around the places we frequent. If you suddenly show up as Colonel O’Neill, that will set off all kinds of alarms.”
“Jack, I’m pretty sure those rumors have been swirling around since the day we met.”
“If not since then, then definitely when you wore that sweet little tank top number and…”
She swatted his arm as he feigned outrage. “Hey! Is this abuse something I have to look forward to the rest of my life?”
“Only if we ever finish filling the forms out so we can solemnize the marriage! Why can’t I take your last name?”
“Samantha Carter is pretty important. All of your accomplishments…”
“You really don’t want me to take your last name?”
“Kinda surprised you want to take it and that I’m not getting a history of male ownership of girls and women.”
She grabbed his hand. “I would happily take your last name, Jack. You’re serious about this?”
“I think a bit of discretion is good for now. I guess I’d not even think anything of it in other circumstances, and it’s not like I don’t want you to take my last name. I feel like it’s important for you to keep your last name. ‘Carter’ means something.”
She didn’t love it, but Jack had a point.
Holding the bouquet of flowers he brought her and exchanging the plain golden bands he procured from a pawn shop that morning, Samantha Marie Carter married Jonathan Jack O’Neill that day. Legally, she remained Samantha Carter.
After a celebratory breakfast at a local diner, they made their way to his cabin. They both had the same idea to change at the diner so they could ride to the cabin comfortably: Jack in his jeans and button down shirt and her in a casual spring dress—under which she opted not to wear panties.
About eight hours into their trip, she decided to show Jack what was waiting for him when they arrived at the cabin. Guiding his hand under her skirt, she smiled as his fingers played with her wet folds. He grinned as her soft moans came stronger.
Being a responsible driver, about eight hours and ten minutes into their trip, he pulled over into a fairly secluded place.
He took her hand and pulled her out of the truck through the driver’s door, prompting her into the backseat of the truck. She giggled the whole time, never doing anything like this before. He was on her immediately, kissing her and touching her.
“Lie back for me, sweetheart. Let me take care of you.”
She laid back in the narrow seat, he lifted her skirt, and immediately, his mouth was on her clit. He alternated flicking at and sucking her clit as she practically mewled for him. When he drug his tongue to her opening, she arched her back off the seat.
“Carter, you taste so good. Even better than I imagined.”
How often had he imagined this? Clearly, it was a lot.
“Sir?”
He stopped, looking up at her. “Maybe not while I’m between your thighs?”
“Then, don’t call me Carter! Don’t stop!”
He grinned. “Yes, ma’am!”
He was quite literally fucking her with his tongue before he turned his attention back to her clit.
“Jack!” she cried his name unsure how much longer she would last but also very sure she needed more.
“Is that too much, or do you want more?”
“More. Need you inside of me.”
“In a minute.”
“Now!” she growled out, making him smirk.
She groaned at the sudden loss of contact. She heard him unbuckling his belt. She sat up a bit, lifting her dress over her head.
“Come here.”
He prompted her to bring her knee over his lap. She started to kiss him as she unbuttoned his shirt.
She grinned at him. “Still doing the crunches?”
“Yep! Every morning.” They both laughed.
He unfastened her bra, and she let it slide down her arms. She was slightly self-conscious to be completely nude in front of him in this way in his truck until he said: “So beautiful.”
She immediately let go when his mouth found her nipple, making her head fall back a bit. His mouth on her body felt so good. It was almost too intense.
“Do you want me to use a condom?”
“No, it’s okay.”
They hadn’t really talked about it, and she was on the shot. But he didn’t seem to care one way or the other.
She slid onto his cock, eliciting a grunt from him. Finding their rhythm, he caressed her breasts as she rode him and kissed him until she felt her legs shake. With a few more thrusts, he found his release as well.
He pulled her down, cradling her into his chest allowing his open shirt to cover them both.
“Well, I haven’t done that since I was a teenager.”
“Sex?”
He laughed. “In the backseat of a car.”
She grinned up at him, blushing a little bit. “I’ve never done that.”
He kissed the top of her head. “Happy to have been your first! Besides, who am I to deny my wife?”
She giggled. “No giggling, Carter.”
“Can’t order me not to giggle.”
“Can’t order you to do anything. Wouldn’t be very becoming of your husband.”
“No, but you seem to like it when I tell you what to do.”
They both laughed, lingering in his backseat just a little longer in each other’s arms.
They drove a few more hours before finding a hotel room for the evening.
At that hotel in rural South Dakota, he insisted on carrying her across the threshold.
“Sam, I have to do it.”
“With your terrible knees?”
“Hey! I can still lift you!”
“Okay, fine. Carry me away, flyboy.”
Without warning, he scooped her into his arms. “With pleasure, flygirl.”
That made her laugh. He kept holding her when they got into the room, kicking the door closed behind them.
He sat her down, making sure she was steady before his lips found hers and he backed her against the door.
Surely what he meant to be sweet and romantic quickly turned into a romp as she unbuckled his pants, pushing them to his ankles before wrapping her leg around him and guiding him inside of her.
He fucked her mercilessly against that door as she kissed any part of him that she could reach. She already loved the physical aspects of marriage to Jack.
Though when they finished, she was slightly embarrassed that for the second time that day, she acted like a horny teenager. As the shame spread across her, she turned a deep shade of red. Almost like he knew what she was thinking, he kissed her forehead.
“Don’t be ashamed of being a passionate woman. Never stop telling me exactly what you need.”
“I’m not…it’s just in the truck and now here. I’m sure you had something more romantic in mind. I’m sorry I ruined your plan.”
He chuckled softly. “Sam, there is no plan! I’m frankly shocked you went along with this. I thought you’d hear me out, call me crazy, and leave—not actually marry me less than 12 hours later!”
“You are crazy, Jack. But so am I. Crazy in love. With you. I love you, and marrying you is the way I get to live in that love forever.”
She kissed him sweetly.
“I love you too. I’m sorry that…well, I just wish the day could’ve been more special for you.”
“Jack, it was very special.”
“Really? You wanted to spend your wedding night in a seedy motel in the middle of nowhere wearing a secondhand wedding band?”
“Not exactly what I envisioned, but I’m beyond thrilled that I’m spending my wedding night with you.”
“Well, I’m glad you didn’t just dismiss me and are willing to give this marriage thing a chance, sweetheart.”
She’d never loved pet names, but when he called her that it made her chest swell with pride for their love, that she could call him her husband. From Jack, it was a term of endearment, not diminishment.
“Always, Jack.”
“Besides, if you’re using me for my body, you get a limited return on an aging General’s body. You better get your value’s worth now. Wouldn’t want you to get buyer’s remorse.”
She swatted his chest as he laughed.
“I love you, Sam. Always.”
“I love you, Jack. Always.”
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
February 2006
“Sweetheart, I’m sorry I couldn’t spend Valentine’s Day with you. I tried like hell to make my schedule work.”
“Jack, it’s fine! We both know there was a high likelihood that I could have been working off-site anyway.”
She spent the day working in her lab, hoping like hell that Jack would eventually be able to catch a flight to Colorado. She kept checking her phone for updates. When he didn’t confirm by 4pm, she knew he wouldn’t make it out. It had been months since they’d seen each other, but it wasn’t his fault. There was no reason to make him feel bad about it. After all, she missed both Thanksgiving and Christmas.
“I’m really excited about our trip to the cabin in May! We will both have time off, and we can celebrate then!”
For their anniversary, they were going to the cabin. That is, if all was well at the SGC. Her schedule had become even less predictable than his when she was reassigned. For the first few months of their marriage, when she was at Area 51, it was much easier to schedule their monthly trips to see each other.
“Are you sure you’re not upset?”
“We’re two busy people with important jobs. I’m not mad that you can’t just drop everything to spend the day with me!”
“You don’t want to see me?”
“Jack, I always want to see you.”
There was a knock on her door. “Hold on. Someone’s at the door.”
She opened the door to see those brown eyes peering back at her. “Surprise, sweetheart!”
He was holding a sweatshirt out to her. He was wearing a black sweatshirt with a red heart in the center that read: “I’m with my sweetheart.” On the one he handed her was a heart in the center that said: “I’m the sweetheart.”
“Jack!” She flashed him a huge smile as she hugged him and kissed him.
“Ack! Given the hour, we’re going to have to do this out of order. Dinner and then we tumble. I’m not risking losing a hand because I didn’t feed you. Put your shirt on so we can go.”
She pulled the sweatshirt over her head before he took her hand and led them to the car. He had booked them reservations at a local Italian restaurant–but they missed those. So, they ended up at a pub. She wished she’d thought to snap a photo of them.
After dinner, they spent the rest of their evening and morning tumbling—as Jack called it. On February 15, 2006, Sam Carter made history. It was the first time she ever used a sick day.
He kissed her bare shoulder in bed. “You know, I can’t really condone this misuse of sick leave, Colonel.”
“General, I am sick.”
“Oh? With what?”
“I’m heart sick.”
They both laughed. “Heart sick, huh?”
When it came time for her to be moved back to the SGC, it was a regulatory impossibility. Privately, the President sent his well wishes to them, and he told the Chief of Staff to just work it out. No rules had been broken, and it was unlikely the chain of command provided a real problem given the work of Homeworld Security.
Really, it was all bullshit. More of a wink and a nudge, reminding them not to get carried away in official settings, no obvious favors, and to keep working as they always had. They needed her too badly. And well, the President just kinda assumed they were in a long-term relationship anyway.
“If I had to leave my husband this morning, I don’t think I’d make it.”
“Ah. I see. Want an omelet?”
“Jack, I have no groceries here. I’ve been offworld more than I’ve been home.”
“Ah yes, the new big bad keeping you busy.”
“Well, I don’t have to worry about that today. I’m sick. Take care of me?”
She flashed him a pout, making him laugh.
“Of course, Mrs. O’Neill. It’s always a pleasure. And I won’t even tell anyone that you’re playing hooky!”
Except well laid plans don’t always go according to plan.
As they settled in to play a game of Scrabble, there was a knock on the door.
“I’ll get it!” exclaimed Jack as he kissed the side of her head.
On the other side of the door stood the entirety of SG-1.
“Oh hey, Jack!” she heard Daniel exclaim from the door.
Jack was shirtless, and she was in the Valentine’s sweatshirt Jack brought her and shorts, so there was no hiding exactly what this was. “Honey, your team is here!”
Daniel furrowed his eyebrows. “Landry told us to take the day since you were sick, and we wanted to make sure you’re okay. We brought a movie and wanted to see what you needed. I guess you don’t need us though.”
“Well, Danny, you’re already here. Speaking of, do any of you know how to use a phone?”
“Well, Jack, we thought she was alone and sick! It’s good to see you, too.”
“Always a pleasure, Danny.”
“But I guess ‘sick’ was actually code for ‘Jack snuck into town.’”
“First time this one has ever played hooky in her life!” He pointed at her and she slapped his leg. “But General O’Neill officially arrives at 06:00 hours tomorrow morning.”
“It is good to see you, O’Neill,” said Teal’c with a smirk. “I wish the circumstances were better as it appears we have interrupted your time with Colonel Carter.”
“Good to see you too, T.”
While Daniel and Teal’c knew, Cameron and Vala did not. Cam looked like a deer in the highlights while Vala was clearly plotting.
“So, what’s going on?” Cam said, looking around him.
She sighed. “Cam, we’re married.”
“You’re…married? To each other?”
Jack narrowed his eyes now. “Well, I hope her husband doesn’t come home to find me here!”
“Jack!” she said in a slightly raised voice. “We are. It’s not something that is public knowledge. Well, I guess it is. We filed a marriage certificate. It’s just not something that we advertise.”
Daniel was laughing softly. “Biggest open secret ever: Jack O’Neill and Sam Carter.”
“Well clearly not to Mitchell over here.”
He shook his head. “I’ve heard rumors but didn’t think they were true because of regulations. Please tell me this isn’t in violation of regulations.”
Cam was a good egg, but it was clear that he was now rethinking his life choices in fear that he might have to report them. “Mitchell…”
“General O’Neill, sir.”
“At ease. Don’t worry about reporting us. The Air Force knows. The President knows. He even sent a fruit basket to congratulate us. It’s just…we aren’t running around hugging and kissing on base. We’re consummate professionals!”
“Except for when you play hooky because your spouse is in town.” Daniel was incredibly amused by this situation.
“Hey, that’s not me! That one over there, however…” he pointed at her, shaking his head. “Very bad!”
She put on her sweetest smile. “Didn’t you order me to take a sick day, General?”
The color drained from his face. “Sam…”
Teal’c was clearly amused as Daniel and Vala laughed.
“I didn’t know he was hiding THAT under his shirts. I bet that’s not all he’s hiding. Good job, Sam!” exclaimed Vala as she squeezed her shoulder and took a seat next to her on the floor.
Now, it was her turn to blush. Jack looked down, realizing he still wasn’t wearing a shirt. He ran into the bedroom and threw his sweatshirt on.
“Okay, campers, here’s the deal.”
Daniel started laughing, almost howling.
“What?” asked Jack.
“Your shirts!”
The rest of the team looked at them and also started laughing—even Cam this time.
“Are these shirts also part of the Tau’ri custom?” asked Teal’c in earnest, even though he wore an amused look on his face.
“Jack, I never thought you’d be so dorky in love! But I love it!” Daniel added, still laughing. “No, Teal’c. These shirts are special.”
She felt the heat rise in her cheeks. Jack walked over to her, holding out his hand. She took his hand, allowing him to pull her up. He pulled her back into his chest, wrapping his arms around her.
“Proudly with my sweetheart.”
She turned slightly and kissed him.
“That was like watching my parents kiss,” said Cam. “So, what’s the deal?”
She and Jack smiled at each other.
“You wanna stay here and watch a movie, let’s do it. Danny, you will go get us some beer, and I’ll pay for our dinner. Mitchell, try not to combust. I promise we are all above board here. And we will all agree not to tell Landry about this, yes?”
“Ooh!” Vala exclaimed as she raised her hand.
Jack narrowed his eyes at Vala as Sam smiled. She often wondered what would happen if these two spent more time together.
“Why are you raising your hand?”
“Will there be dessert?”
“Do you want dessert?”
“It would help me remember what not to tell Landry. Chocolate cake please.”
“And we’ll have chocolate cake!” exclaimed Jack. “T, what movie are we watching?”
“We have chosen Terminator 2, O’Neill.”
“Really? Why? Odd choice for a sick day movie.”
“Daniel Jackson and I surmised that Colonel Carter’s sickness involved missing her mate on a day of cultural importance in celebrating Tau’ri love, so we have chosen one of your favorite movies to help her heal.”
Jack’s eyes widened a bit in recognition. “Oh. That was nice of you boys.”
Her eyes watered a bit. Daniel and Teal’c knew that she was upset because Jack wasn’t there yesterday. She’d started the day hopeful that he could make it, but as it became clear he would not make it, her mood soured a bit.
She smiled. “Thanks, guys!”
Vala shrugged. “I just wanted to get out of the SGC and was told it is a popular Tau’ri movie. But now I look forward to gossiping with Samantha about this.”
Vala plastered a wide smile to her face. She certainly loved girl talk.
And that was how Jack’s Valentine’s Day visit turned into an impromptu team night.
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
April 2006
She smelled the flowers that had just arrived at her house before calling Jack.
“Thanks for the flowers, Jack. They’re beautiful.”
“Well, if we can’t spend our anniversary together, the least I could do is send you something to brighten your day.”
“Did you get my gift?”
“I did, but I haven’t opened it yet. I was waiting to talk to you.”
“Well, open it!”
She waited patiently for him to open it on the other end of the line. She’d nearly not made it to the post office in time to ship it because she got stuck off world.
“Oh, this is nice, sweetheart. Did you make it?”
“I did!”
It was a titanium plaque that read “The O’Neills est. 2005.”
“Thank you!”
“I thought you could hang it in the hallway by the front door.”
“Excellent idea! There’s also an envelope here. Let me see…” he erupted into laughter. “You seriously sent me your lingerie?”
“It’s what I was wearing for Ole Sparky last week.”
Every week when she was not off world and Jack was home, they had Sunday night date night. They’d watch the new episode of The Simpsons together. Then, they would have phone sex. He encouraged her to use Ole Sparky—the name Jack gave her jackrabbit vibrator.
“Oh…an excellent gift, sweetheart,” Jack responded in a husky voice.
He’d really enjoyed that phone call.
“So, Sam, I wanted to talk to you about something.”
“Yeah?”
“When I come to pick you up for the cabin…”
“Which I still think is ridiculous. I can just fly up to Minnesota! It will save you time!”
“I like the drive! Maybe I like driving my wife around. Maybe we can do what we did last time. That made it an even better drive!”
She smiled. “Okay. Maybe I’d like it if my husband could actually rest!”
“What if I had business in Colorado?”
“Like what?”
“Let’s get married!”
“We’re already married.”
“I mean a real wedding. You know, one with a ceremony, people, dancing, and cake!”
“Okay. But then people will know.”
He laughed. “You make it sound top secret!”
“You were the one who put the shroud of secrecy around our marriage. If you’ll recall, I tried to tell the world by taking your last name!”
“I explained my reasons, and you agreed!”
“Not really. Not about the name thing. But I understand, Jack. So we don’t need to be so secret anymore?”
“The Air Force knows and the President thought we were already married. So I guess it doesn’t matter. And enough time has passed to avoid toxic rumors.”
He never wanted to spell it out, but he was protecting her reputation.
“So what brings this on?”
“You deserve a real wedding, Sam. Not a shotgun wedding. I want to take you as my wife publicly. You deserve that.”
“But nothing really big, right? Just our friends and family?”
“That’s what I was thinking.”
“I’ll call Mark.”
He sighed on the other end of the line. “Sam, he hasn’t answered any of your calls in nearly a year.”
“I know, but he should know. And maybe we can talk. He’d probably want to be here.”
“Sweetheart…”
“He’s my brother. He can’t stay upset forever.”
“Okay, but he might not answer. You’ll be upset if he doesn’t answer, and I don’t want that to ruin your day. And he’s the one who owes the apology here, not you. I know he’s your brother, but I don’t really want him there if he doesn’t apologize to you.”
Though it seemed he intended to be upset forever. She called and left a message for him when he didn’t answer. His wife called her back and asked that she never call again.
It ruined her day. She used her emergency message code to get in touch with Jack. He called her back within ten minutes. Sitting on the floor in the corner of her lab, she sobbed into the phone.
“What did I do so wrong that he never wants to speak to me again, Jack? He’s the only family I have left!”
“Sweetheart, you did nothing wrong.”
“If he would only let me explain…”
Jack sighed. “If he wants to listen to whatever your dipshit ex told him, then that’s his loss. You’re an amazing woman. You’re so special, and you make everyone’s life better by just being there. I know you certainly make mine better.”
“I know you’re busy. I shouldn’t have bothered you with this.”
“Never too busy for you, Sam. I’m so sorry. I promise we are going to have the best day! There will be dancing and cake because I choo-choo-choose you!”
She always smiled when he said that.
“And sweetheart, what you said isn’t true.”
“What?”
“He’s not the only family you have left. You have me. We’re a family now.”
“I love you, Jack.”
“I love you more. To Chulak and back and maybe even further.”
She giggled. He always did that to make her smile.
About ten minutes after she hung up with Jack, Daniel and Teal’c were in her lab to take her to team night.
—
They planned a moderate sized wedding—nothing like what Pete had in mind. Vala was all too happy to help plan her first Tau’ri wedding. She also loved that bridal shops have free champagne. Vala was a great friend.
She wished Dad was here to walk her down the aisle. Would he be proud of her?
The wedding was outside. General Hammond let them use his backyard. Given the wedding was just Air Force personnel with appropriate clearance, Sam beamed in. And she accidentally called him sir. It was a habit to do so in this crowd. Of course, he made a joke about it.
Surrounded by their family and friends, they married once again.
Teal’c even cried, which might’ve gone unnoticed but for Vala.
“My first Tau’ri wedding, and Muscles is crying!”
Teal’c only nodded. “I am very happy for O’Neill and Colonel Carter, who I understand custom now calls Mrs. O’Neill. I have watched them love each other for a long time, and it is very nice to witness this tradition.”
She blushed at Teal’c calling her “Mrs. O’Neill.”
“You can still just call me ‘Colonel Carter,’ Teal’c.”
Teal’c nodded in understanding. “I am glad you have been bonded as mates for life.”
“Thanks, T!” Jack said as he shook his hand.
Then, Daniel chimed in. “Actually, it’s probably better if we all stick with Colonel Carter in the field. Calling a married woman ‘Mrs.’ is not appropriate in every context. In fact…”
Jack frowned. “Danny, are you about to anthropology us?”
Daniel shook his head as Vala came and took him away.
He kissed the side of her head. “So what are the odds that Daniel has found Mrs. Jackson?”
She laughed. “I think he’s still figuring that one out.”
Despite her exam schedule, Cassie was able to attend. Cassie was with her and Vala this morning as she got ready. She marveled at the young woman who was certainly not the same eleven year old from Hanka. She was pre-med; she wanted to be a doctor just like her adoptive mom, Janet. Sam wished Janet could see the beautiful woman that Cassie grew into. She wished she could be here with them today.
“Aunt Sam and Uncle Jack, I’m so happy this finally happened!”
Cassie reached an arm around both of them, drawing them into a group hug.
“Glad you could make it, kid!” Jack exclaimed. “What are they teaching you over there?”
“Lots of good stuff, Uncle Jack!”
Jack cocked an eyebrow at her. “You don’t need me to take care of anyone, do you?”
Cassie was always Jack’s little girl. She and Charlie were the same age, and she knew that was hard for Jack sometimes. Where would Charlie be today? She wanted to be with Jack on Charlie’s birthday. That was always a hard day for him, but she was stuck offworld.
When it was time for their first dance as husband and wife—which wasn’t really their first dance—Jack led her to the dance floor.
“Come here, beautiful,” Jack said as he pulled her close.
“Which song did you choose?” she asked him. She always lets Jack choose the song.
“The same one as our real first dance.”
She smiled. “A perfect song.”
Ordinary? No.
Really don’t think so
Not a love this true
Common destiny
We were meant to be
Me and you
“Well, it is our song, Mrs. O’Neill.”
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
June 2008
Jack met her at Andrews Air Force Base, which was somewhat of a surprise. Given they were in a public place at a military installation, she saluted him—which made his eyes almost roll into the back of his head.
“General O’Neill.”
“Colonel Carter.”
She flashed him a smile, staying rooted in place and relishing in one of her favorite ways of teasing her husband.
“Are you really going to make me say it?” When she didn’t respond, he grumbled. “At ease, Colonel.”
“It’s good to see you, sir. I thought you would send a car.”
“It’s good to see you, too. I wish the circumstances were better, and of course, I’m here to take you home.”
He grabbed her bags, but he didn’t take her hand. They never did that on base.
Though as soon as the car was off base, he took her hand and kissed her before pulling her into his side and cradling the side of her head in his hand. “I’m sorry, Sam.”
She shrugged. “It’s okay. Shit happens.”
“You were more than qualified and doing great, and…”
“Jack, it’s okay. I promise. I’m not mad or upset.”
“Really? I’d be pissed off.”
“I was upset at first. But then, the whole way here all I could think about was how happy I am to see you and that I’d finally get to live with my husband.”
“Hmm. Does he know?”
“What?”
“Does your husband know about us?”
She lifted his left hand from his lap, thumbing the titanium wedding band on his ring finger. “Boy, I hope so!”
He laughed as she swatted his chest. She pulled her dog tags from under her uniform and removed her diamond encrusted sapphire wedding ring.
Jack had replaced their secondhand golden bands within days of their first wedding. The day before Daniel and Teal’c arrived at the cabin, they went to a local jeweler. Though she was adamant that the ring was fine, Jack was not so convinced. This one, a sapphire stone set with seven diamonds around it on an infinity ring, replaced that plain golden band.
“Here, let me.”
Jack placed her wedding band on her left hand before taking it into his own.
“Thanks for coming to pick me up.”
“Always. And I managed to clear my schedule for the next 48 hours.”
She looked up at him. “Oh?”
“Oh, yeah. I think that gives us time for the initial tumble, a more intimate tumble, dinner at a nondisclosed location that will require you to get spruced up a bit, a movie followed by more tumbling, sleeping, and a breakfast and a tumble. The rest of the day you can plan!”
She giggled.
“Carter…”
“Sir?”
He laughed at her. “You have to stop doing that.”
“Why? It always gets my desired reaction! I need to go shopping.”
“Shopping? All of your things are at home.”
Home. She hadn’t been at the townhouse in a year. Home was with Jack, but the townhouse was merely a physical place where she had some closet and cabinet space.
“I know, but I haven’t been here in over a year. I need to get new toiletries and, well, other supplies.”
He wiggled his eyebrows. “Oh, your lady supplies? Well, I’ve cleared out space for you to have all of the lady supplies you need! I restocked your shampoo and conditioner and got that body wash you liked with the matching perfume. I wasn’t sure if I should get anything else.”
“Thank you, honey.”
Jack was always very thoughtful.
“More for me than you. Wouldn’t want to deal with that smell.”
She flashed him a smile. “Where are you taking me for dinner? How dressed up do I need to be? We may have to cut one of those tumbles from this afternoon for me to get to a mall.”
“Cut a tumble?” He glared at her. “Who are you and what have you done with my wife?”
In the end, they did not cut a tumble—as Jack called it. As usual, their first tumble came not long after he shut the front door. They never made it to the bed the first time after she came home. Once again, he had her against the front door as she kissed every part of him she could reach.
When they finished, he found her lips.
“Welcome home, sweetheart.”
“I’ve missed you, Jack.”
As predicted, their next tumble came about an hour later in their bed. It was the one that usually lasted the longest as they reconnected as husband and wife.
“You seem a little distracted, sweetheart.” He kissed her shoulder as they spooned.
“I’m just thinking I should probably get to the mall.”
“What is it with you and the mall today?”
“I need a dress for tonight!”
“You have dresses in the closet! A bunch of them. Want me to help you pick one out?”
She didn’t want to point it out to him because she was feeling a little self-conscious. She put on a little bit of weight in Atlantis. Those dresses wouldn’t fit.
“Jack,” she kissed him. “I’m going to shower and get to the mall. I have plenty of time if I leave soon.”
He reached for her arm as she got out of bed.
“Can’t we stay in bed? You don’t need a new dress for tonight!”
“Jack! I need a new dress!” She dropped her head into her hands. “I’ve gained weight.”
“Really?”
“You didn’t notice?”
He shrugged. “You're soft! Women are supposed to be soft!”
She slapped his arm. “You did notice, didn’t you?”
“No, Sam. I didn’t notice! All I could think of is how happy I am to have my wife in my arms. Why don’t you pick a dress you want to wear tonight and see if it fits? If it doesn’t, we’ll go.”
“Fine.”
She picked one, and it didn’t fit.
“I knew it wouldn’t fit!” she tearfully told her husband.
“Hey, it’s okay. It’s been a year! Let’s go get a new one!”
So, there they were at the local shopping mall late in the afternoon. During their trip, she made a mental note of getting her diet back on track and maybe starting a membership at the new Pilates place she noticed near the townhouse.
Membership. It would be nice to be here long enough to establish a routine and use a Pilates membership.
Jack continued to pepper her with compliments telling her how beautiful and stunning she was, even calling her his “smoking hot young wife” a couple of times. Even if Jack didn’t notice, she still wanted to feel good in her body.
But during their trip, she also made note of something else.
There were a lot of moms with their little ones at the mall. Some of them looked incredibly happy, and some of them looked incredibly stressed. But even still, they were families.
She and Jack never broached the subject. He had Charlie, and he’d lost him. Since they married, they’d never even lived in the same place. Theirs was a perpetual long distance relationship, and frankly, she'd love it if it stopped being a long distance relationship.
She and Jack were already a family. But she wouldn't mind making it bigger by adding a few little O’Neills to it.
She wanted to be a mom, but what if he didn’t want to be a dad again? What would it mean if he said no? Usually, this is something people iron out before marrying. Unsurprisingly, it’s not something that came up at all during their 12 hour engagement.
They were at home getting ready for their evening out, sharing the bathroom mirror. Jack was shaving as she finished her makeup.
He pointed to his shirtless belly. “You know, I’ve put on a little weight myself. It’s these damn desk jobs!”
She smiled. “I’m sure that’s it.”
His belly was flat, and he probably did 100 crunches this morning. He thought she didn’t know about the special workouts he performed when she was due home.
“You are still stunning, you know? And I love your hair like this.”
He kissed her cheek and thumbed his fingers through the loose ends of her hair. He had never seen it this long before.
“Jack, you don’t have to keep complimenting me.”
“I will keep complimenting you until you get out of your thoughts about this. You’re absolutely beautiful as you are. I can see you overthinking this.”
“Oh, that’s not what I’m thinking about.”
She sighed. Why didn’t she just let him think that was it?
“Well then a penny for your thoughts?”
She paused, her brush still in hand. “Can we have a baby?”
He laughed. He actually laughed! She went rigid, holding her brush in midair as she glared at him. He stopped laughing.
“I’m sorry, sweetheart. You just dropped that like you were asking if we could get ice cream after dinner!”
“I hadn’t thought through the delivery. It’s what I was thinking about though!”
“You want a baby?”
“I do. Do you?”
He shrugged. “If you want a baby, we can have a baby. But you know, Sam, there are logistical concerns here.”
“Such as?”
“Your next assignment. You’re being considered for...”
“I don’t care.”
“What?”
“I don’t care! Unless it’s here with you, I don’t care. I don’t want it. I’m 38—almost 39. I’ve done all the exciting things I need to do in this world and off world for that matter.”
Jack looked at her. “You’re sure this isn’t just a reaction to what happened with Atlantis?”
“It’s not. I can apply for a position at the Pentagon.”
“That creates a chain of command issue.”
“Fuck! Then, I’ll retire! I’ve been getting private sector offers for years.”
“You’ll retire? Sam, you don’t have 20 years of service yet. You would be…”
“I’ll resign! I don’t care!”
“You say that, but I see the ghost of Jacob Carter coming to strangle me in my future. I just want to make sure I understand what this is.”
“What I’m telling you, Jack, is that I want to be with you. I’m tired of waking up alone. I want more than a week at a time together! I want to build our family, and if you don’t want to have kids, that’s fine. But at least let’s live under the same roof for once!”
“Sam, I’m fine with this. To be clear, I’m fine with all of it. I want you here! If you want a baby, let’s have a baby! But I don’t want you to throw your career down the drain because you think you don’t have a choice. Atlantis didn’t work out, but you’re still on lists!”
“I don’t need to keep marking off Air Force achievements. I need you.”
He winked. “Oh, I could tell just how much you needed me. Ole Sparky just doesn’t get the job done the same way!”
She rolled her eyes. “I’m being serious! Do you want a baby?”
“I just said…”
“That if I wanted a baby we could have a baby. That doesn’t mean you want to have a baby.”
“You’re the one who has to do the pregnancy thing. I just get to watch and eat sympathetically.”
She swatted his arm, as he grabbed her hand. “Sweetheart, yes. Let’s have a baby. I’ll put in for retirement.”
“You will?
He brought her hand up, placing kisses on the inside of her palm. “Yep. I think it’s time. Besides, it’s not like they don’t have someone who can fill my shoes!”
“Will they accept it?”
“You think anyone would accept your resignation? You’re the Air Force’s—hell, Earth’s—most valuable resource.”
If it meant she could finally be with Jack without barriers, a part of her wished someone would accept her resignation.
Jack winked at her. “We can even get started after dinner if you’d like.”
She flashed him a smile. “I’m still on birth control, but I can stop it at my next appointment.”
“Doesn’t mean we can’t practice! So when can we get a dog? Every kid’s gotta have a dog! We should get him trained before little O’Neill gets here!”
She ignored his pitch for a dog. They could deal with that when he actually retired.
“Jack, there is one more thing.”
“What?”
“I want to change my last name.”
“Sam…”
“I heard your reasons out, and they made sense at the time. But…”
“If it’s important to you, and it sounds like it is, then do it.”
“I want to have the same last name as my kids.”
He kissed the top of the shoulder. “The doorway does say ‘The O’Neills’. You know I’ve never not wanted you to be an O’Neill. I’ve just always thought Samantha Carter is very special, but Samantha O’Neill will be too.”
She started the paperwork for her name change, and he put in for retirement. His retirement papers came through three weeks later.
For three weeks, she woke up with Jack and had coffee with him every morning.
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
July 2008
“Get…to the gate,” he croaked out. As though she were in someone else’s body, she watched in horror as all hell broke loose around her.
Whatever happened the next several hours after that, she wasn’t entirely sure. She remembered Cameron pulling her away, nearly freezing to death, leaving Daniel to die, and being found…by him.
When the surviving members of SG-1–Cameron, Daniel, and Sam–arrived in this extremely altered version of their reality, they explained and reasoned, hoping those in charge in this reality would see the threat.
They quickly learned an important lesson: you can’t reason with those who don’t want to see it.
“Dr. Carter, we have an offer for you,” said General Landry as he entered the interrogation room that had become her secondary holding place.
Her primary holding place was the guarded barracks where they allowed her to sleep. It had been at least fifteen days since she’d seen Cam or Daniel. Surely, they had all the details they needed by now, so there was no need to keep them separate.
“Oh boy! I can’t wait to hear it! And it’s Colonel Carter. You use rank and title over salutation.” She replied sarcastically as she pulled the sleeves of her blue cardigan down her arm.
They’d long taken her uniform, providing her several sets of civilian clothes to wear.
“Not anymore.”
“Excuse me?”
“We’re going to resettle you and your team here.”
“Resettle?”
He nodded. “Yes. You’re no threat, and you’re a valuable citizen. Just the type of person America wants to welcome home!”
That sent a chill down her spine because she could sense where this was headed.
“We have a home, and I don’t recall saying I was looking for a new one.”
“Perhaps not, but you’re not resetting the timeline or whatever it is you want to do.”
She shrugged. “I’ve explained all that I can. Whether you all choose to believe me is a different story. We have the ability to fix this and neutralize the threat.”
He waved his hand as though he were waving her away. “There’s nothing to fix! We want to offer you a job.”
Of course they did.
“A job?”
“Civilian head of Air Force Research & Development.” He held up a folder. “I have all the details here with salary, benefits…”
“No. I’m an officer in the United States Air Force. I have neither resigned nor has the Air Force discharged me.”
“We can’t do that, Dr. Carter. But what I can offer you is the ability to resettle with your real identity. Dr. or Colonel, what difference does it make?”
She bit the inside of her cheek. “I’m a Colonel in the United States Air Force.”
That’s what had kept her and Jack apart for eight years. Jack. She couldn’t dwell on that now. She needed to stay sharp.
“We can’t just put you in the Air Force!”
“It doesn’t matter anyway. I don’t want the job.”
“Because you can't be an officer? Your contributions don’t change whether you're civilian or military.”
“No, I don’t want it because it’s an insult! You’re here to strip me of my rank and title and offer me this bogus job to get me to create weapons technology for you because your Samantha Carter is dead.”
“We’re offering you an opportunity to resettle and keep your identity intact. This way, you get to keep doing what you love!”
“Oh, and you’ve decided what it is that I love? Tell me more.”
“Otherwise, we will have to resettle you under an assumed identity with an NDA that will bar you from any work related to science or technology.”
She shrugged. “What difference does it make if you’re planning to keep me imprisoned one way or another?”
“Imprisoned? Dr. Carter, you’ll have your full freedom! We want you to share your vast knowledge with us to help defend America!”
“Defend America? Who are we bombing now?”
He cocked an eyebrow at her. “That’s nothing you have to worry your pretty little head with.”
She loathed this Landry. Whatever changed for him wasn’t great.
“This is a great opportunity for you! You’ll have gainful employment…”
“Chained to your government.”
“It’s your government too. We are asking for you to help create weapons technology to keep us ahead…”
“To slaughter thousands of innocent civilians while refusing to allow me to complete my mission to defend earth from a real threat. Oh! And stripping me of my rank and title. I recall there are international laws against that. At least there were in my timeline.”
He flashed her a dark grin. “If you enjoy fresh air and free movement, I think you’ll disabuse yourself of any notion of going public or making any claims.”
She flashed him a sardonic grin of her own. “Of course. Live in a gilded cage or face the consequences.”
“Relax! You’ll have your freedom and a good paying job! What more could you want?”
To go home. To defeat Ba’al. To get back to her husband. To start her family. To be the O’Neills.
“There’s nothing you could offer me that would get me to accept this job. Go to hell.”
He slid the folder over to her. “Why don’t you just take a little time and consider our offer. You’ll find all of the benefits and everything inside here. We’re excited to have you on board, Dr. Carter! You’ll do well here.”
She never opened that folder to read its contents. Every day for a week, Landry came to ask her about the job. He tried everything, telling her how much they wanted her and were excited to have her on board, luring her with gifts and promises, showing her the facilities, and promising her the ability to make advances.
And every day, she told him to go to hell.
“Dr. Carter, what is it? Is there some requirement missing from our offer? I’m afraid keeping rank and title are off the table, but what else? More money? Vacation time? You can be a valuable member of American society. A patriot! Isn’t that why you’re in the Air Force anyway?”
“Go to hell.”
He sighed. “Look, this is your final chance before we resettle you. We are starting resettlement tomorrow. If you don’t…”
“Yeah, a new identity. No science or technology. I heard you.”
“So I need to know your final answer here. Surely living in oblivion won’t suit that sharp mind of yours!”
She shrugged. “Go to hell.”
“Is that your final answer?”
“No. My final answer is fuck off.”
He chuckled softly. “You know, you don’t have to see me as an enemy here. I had hoped you would see reason, so we don’t have to go through this. Just know that the offer will remain open to you. Your handler will check in with you weekly to see where you are on this. We really are excited to have you here in your new home. Maybe getting settled in a bit will help you see reason.”
She didn’t respond. She just put her head down on the table. She was tired of this. Whatever they wanted to do with her they could. She was going home. One way or another.
She was able to see Daniel and Cam one last time. She was glad to see Daniel was recovering nicely—a recovery that would be unnecessary if she could do her job and get them home.
She hugged both of them one final time before they were separated for the last time. When the attorney came to go through the NDA with her she had only one question.
“What about my personal effects?”
Landry shrugged. “We can’t let you keep anything you brought here. Surely you understand that.”
My wedding ring.
She felt her face flush before she flashed a halfassed smile and spoke softly. “Of course.”
When she fixed the timeline, it wouldn’t matter. If the ring didn’t make it back with her, Jack would replace it.
He simply smiled at her and nodded. “Continue please.”
In the end, they were forced into a weird exchange with the government: their silence for their lives. No one believed them when they told them of the threat they faced. No one cared. Not even these strangers from a different timeline were enough to convince them of the truth.
For their lives, they agreed never to use their real names or titles. Dr. Daniel Jackson became Howard Bingham, a semi-professional rock climber who had lost his leg in a freak accident. USAF Lieutenant Colonel Cameron Mitchell became Charlie Hughes, an auto mechanic who repaired old cars in his spare time. USAF Colonel Samantha Carter became Mae Collins, a book editor who was trying her hand at becoming an author.
She never became Samantha O’Neill.
When she stepped out of the taxi in Tacoma, she was once again alone without Jack. Forever this time—if she couldn’t fix the timeline.