True Intentions

Title: True Intentions

Author: Suz W.

Spoilers: After Between Two Fires and 2001 (episode tag)

Rating: PG-13, S/J Romance, Friendship, Angst, Mild Language, and Mild Violence.

Summary: The shadows growing around Sam and Jack begin to close in.

Disclaimer: All publicity 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.

Copyright: The original characters, situations, and story are the property of the author. Copyrighted on September 6, 2004, by Suzanne R. Whitmarsh.

Author’s Notes: This story follows “A Web Of Deception”. My series is beginning to take a twist of it’s own making. It’s been so much fun writing each story, and there’s so much more to come. I can only hope that each of you will continue to enjoy reading them as much as I love writing them. You’re feedback is always welcomed and greatly appreciated, as it is such a motivating factor for me to keep going! So enjoy this new story!

Dedication: I want to dedicate this story to my most dedicated fans (you know who you are!). Thank you for your continued support and patience as I try my best to get these out in a timely manner. My life is so hectic right now, and you’re understanding of that means so much. I promise to do my best to keep them coming as closely together as possible. But it does me good to know that if one extra week goes by, you’ll still be there, waiting and anticipating my next story. So this one’s for you!

Jack walked out of the briefing room with a purpose, his walk more intent then his usual casual saunter. His purpose: to go check on Sam. For the last forty-five minutes, he had been forced to sit and defend Sam’s actions and their intentions to the President. The conference call not only included himself, but General Hammond, Teal’c, and Daniel. Only Sam was missing.

They had wanted to hold off the debriefing until she could join them, but Kinsey had immediately informed the President of what had just taken place, and the President wanted answers. General Hammond had managed to get a brief overview from Sam as she was being taken to the infirmary. It was all Jack could do to keep from reaching out and taking her hand as he followed along side, listening to her account of what had happened aboard the Harvester ship that the Aschen had been using as a place for their negotiations. He could see that she was in pain as she held onto her right shoulder, her face scrunched, reflecting the hurt she was feeling. It made Jack’s blood boil to know that Kinsey was ultimately the one responsible. If he hadn’t restricted Jack from going with Sam and the Ambassador, he might have been able to find a way to keep the situation from escalating to the point where she had to drop into the Stargate, forcing her to slam onto the ramp and injuring herself.

And then there was the Ambassador. As much as Jack didn’t care for the obvious flirting he had been throwing at Sam the last few times he’d been near her, Jack knew that Joe was a decent guy, and that he had sacrificed himself in order to help Sam get safely home. For that, he would always be eternally grateful. He could only hope the Aschen weren’t torturing the poor guy. As dismal as the thought was, he could only hope that Joe was dead, and not being forced to suffer through life and in a place that was unfamiliar to him. Jack didn’t like leaving anyone behind, but with the powerful bio-weapons that the Aschen had created, they couldn’t take a chance at opening the Stargate to retrieve him, only to risk being destroyed. That was one of the things that had been decided at the debriefing. And as Jack walked to the infirmary, he dreaded having to be the one to tell her that there wasn’t going to be a rescue mission.

Jack knew that Sam would blame herself, and as he continued to close the distance to the infirmary, he knew he would be doing the same if it had been him in her place. All he could do was be there for her, and hope that with time, she would forgive herself. But there was nothing to forgive, and Jack intended to remind her of that. He did, however, need her forgiveness. Jack knew that he had acted like an ass in the Gateroom after she had come flying through the wormhole and rolled down the ramp. He had held his composure, trying to play down the feelings of concern that had been welling up in his throat after he saw what had happened. But with Kinsey and General Hammond standing right there, the only thing he could think of was to act like nothing had really happened. It was in moments like those that he almost hated his military strength, and the subsequent training he had received in not showing any emotion. She deserved more that that, so much more than he could give her. But she loved him, and he loved her, more than his own life, and that was something worth fighting for.

Arriving at the infirmary, he found his eyes immediately scanning the scattering of occupied beds for the familiar form of the women he had come to know so well. As he did a second scan of the room, he stuffed his hands in his pockets, nervously playing with the loose threads in the pockets that had escaped the stitching. He had found himself doing this earlier as he had paced the briefing room floor around the table, listening to the arguing with only half an ear, his thoughts much more occupied with Sam and how she was doing. And now he found himself wondering why she wasn’t in there.

Just then, Janet appeared in the room, her eyes scanning a chart. Since she appeared not to have noticed him standing in the doorway, Jack cleared his throat. Janet looked up and smiled. “Colonel. I’m sorry, I didn’t see you. Since I know you don’t like to come here on a voluntary basis, I would imagine you are here to check up on Major Carter.”

Jack nodded. “You guessed it, Doc. So…where is she?” Jack was doing his best to keep his voice as casual as possible, knowing that there were other staff members in the room.

Janet couldn’t help but smile at the nonchalant way that Jack had just asked about the woman he cared more about than his own life. She knew inside he was going crazy with worry. Not wanting to keep him in suspense, she walked over a little closer and looked up at him, offering him a reassuring smile. “I sent her home, Colonel. You just missed her. She’s okay. Beyond her right shoulder being dislocated and some external bruising, she’ll be fine. I reset her shoulder and prescribed some mild pain medications for her. She really just needs some rest. Knowing her, I’m sure she’ll be back in her lab by tomorrow morning.”

Jack took in a breath to try and calm his rattled nerves. Nodding at Janet and giving her a small smile, he responded. “Thanks, Doc. Maybe I’ll stop by and check up on her on my way home.”

A slow smile formed on her lips as her eyes met Jack’s. “I’m sure she’d like that, Colonel, but remember, she needs her rest.”

Jack gave her a quick wink and a slow, small smile as he turned to go. “You’ve got it. It will be my pleasure to inform Carter that she has to actually stay away from her lab for at least an entire night.” And with that, he hurried out of the infirmary and made his way to his office in order to collect his coat and keys. The sooner he got off the base, the sooner he would finally be able to hold Sam and show her how much he really did care.

Sam had just finished putting her stuff down and was making her way to the kitchen for a glass of water when a knock came at her door. Smiling, she turned around and reversed her path, making a beeline for the front door, knowing it was Jack. She had been a little irritated at him after she’d come flying down the ramp, only to come to an abrupt halt in front of him, and then had to lay there in pain while he just stood in front of her, hands in his pockets, with a casual look on his face like nothing had happened. She understood that he couldn’t show a lot of emotion, especially with Senator Kinsey standing right there, but anything would have been better than nothing. And that was a point she intended to bring up to him as she unlocked her door and turned the handle.

“Well, it’s about time….” Sam stopped in mid-sentence as she realized the person on her doorstep was not who she had expected. In the place where she was hoping to find Jack, Senator Kinsey stood instead, a hateful and disgruntled look on his face. Clearing her voice and trying to hide her surprise, she continued. “Senator Kinsey. I wasn’t expected you.”

Kinsey simply stepped around her and entered the house, his beady eyes darting around the room in front of him. “Yes, but it seems you were expecting someone else. Who would that be, Major Carter?”

Sam could feel the irritation at his intrusion into her home rising to an angry level. As she responded, she did her best to keep her voice calm. “With all do respect, Senator, that’s none of your business. This is my private home, and I don’t remember inviting you into it.”

Kinsey just ignored her as he moved forward, his hands clasped tightly behind his back, fists clenched in frustration. “Well, forgive me if I don’t really care. You took it upon yourself to go against what you were supposed to accomplish on that planet. Now it’s my turn to go outside of the lines.”

Sam clenched her jaw as she followed him into her living room. Her shoulder was beginning to ache with more intensity, and she rubbed it with her other hand as she responded. “Well, you’ll have to excuse my lack of surprise. It seems like all you do is go outside of the lines. I think you hardly have any room to judge me or my actions in defending this planet.”

Kinsey whipped around and stared hard at the woman opposite him by only a few feet. Her right arm was in a temporary sling, and despite the pain he knew she was feeling, there was nothing but defiance in her eyes. This only angered him more. “Not only did you destroy negotiations that were going remarkably well, but you managed to send an innocent American to his death!”

Sam couldn’t hold back her anger any more. She raised her voice to match his. “The Aschen were going to destroy us! What part of that don’t you understand! They were going to sterilize this entire civilization and send us to extinction!”

Kinsey fired back at her. “And what about Ambassador Faxon? Did you even once consider his well being when you decided to save yourself?!”

Sam stepped a foot closer. “How dare you! Of course I considered him. He was suppose to come through with me, but he was struggling with Borren, and if I hadn’t have dropped through the Stargate when I did, we would all be dead right now!” Catching her breath, she lowered her voice, but kept it tight. “We’ll just have to find a way to go back for him.”

Kinsey gave her an evil smile. “Oh no, Major, there will be no ease of your conscious on this one. It’s already been decided that no one is going back. As you so obviously demonstrated in your heroics, the Aschen are too dangerous for us to risk opening the wormhole again to their world. So, that makes you ultimately responsible for what has happened to him!”

Sam faltered in her step as the news took her by surprise. In the back of her mind, she knew that there was only a slim chance that a rescue mission would be possible, but hearing it in reality hit her harder than she realized it would have. Still in shock, she responded, her voice softer and a little unsteady. “I didn’t think…”

Kinsey took the opportunity to interrupt her and drive the point home. “That’s exactly it, Major, you didn’t think. No one on your team ever does. Each of you are only concerned for yourselves! You make arrogant decisions that affect the rest of us, and even when you’re given explicit instructions to follow, you still shoot them down. Well, I’m here to tell you, this is going to stop!”

Sam blinked herself out of her temporary sadness. Looking up at him, she fired back at him again. “And just how do you plan on doing that? You can make threats all you like, but ultimately, there will always be someone above you making decisions and giving us the go ahead.”

Kinsey reached out and grabbed her sore shoulder, digging his fingers into her muscle. Sam scrunched her face as the grip from his hand sent pain shooting up and down her spine. Putting her hand on top of his, she found her voice. “Let go of me!”

Kinsey only dug his fingers in harder. “Not until I’ve finished what I’ve got to say!”

Sam could feel herself fighting tears as the pain increased. “Then say it and get out!”

Kinsey pressed even harder, forcing her to her knees. “Now you listen to me. You and your team may think you’ve got the upper hand, but it will not always be that way. One day, you’re going to be very sorry you ever crossed me. One day I will be in a position that will leave the entire SGC at my disposal. And I will be the puppeteer and you will be my puppets. And I promise to pay you and your team back for all the hardships you’ve caused me!”

Sam didn’t know how much more pain she could take. She could almost feel him physically dislodging her shoulder again. If she weren’t in so much pain, she would have kicked his ass. As he continued his death grip on her shoulder, she did her best to look up at him. “Alright! I get it! Now get out of my house, you son-of-a-bitch!”

Kinsey released her shoulder and without warning, sent the same hand flying across her cheek. Sam cried out and reared back from the blow, landing on her butt, her back against the side of the sofa.

Jack had entered just moments earlier, concerned to find her front door opened to the night. When he spotted Kinsey holding onto Sam’s injured shoulder, forcing her to her knees, he was in shock as the anger boiled his blood to a dangerous level. Then everything seemed to happen so fast. Sam’s voice yelling at Kinsey, his hand slapping her across the face, and Sam, crying out, as she flew back against the sofa. After that, everything went red. Jack actually felt himself growl like an angry tiger as he sprinted forward, lunging at his prey.

Sam wasn’t quite sure how it all happened. All she knew was as she sat there, dazed from the blow to her face, Kinsey was suddenly tackled by Jack, the two of them flying back across the floor, coming to a halt in front of the hall leading to her bedroom. As she watched Jack deliver the first several pounding blows to Kinsey’s face, she attempted to get up as two other men suddenly surged past her. They both reached for Jack and yanked him off Kinsey, who was now bleeding from his nose and mouth.

As the two men held Jack by the arms, one of them delivered a decisive blow to his gut, causing Jack to temporarily double over in pain. Sam, now on her feet, moved quickly forward and punched one of the men holding Jack with her good arm in the back, causing him to let go of Jack and twist around in pain. Jack took the opportunity to strike at the man holding him, sending him in the direction of Kinsey, who was now on his feet.

Sam quickly ducked a fist from the man she had hit, and delivered a kick that sent the man in the same direction that Jack had sent the first. As Jack moved forward to go for Kinsey again, one of the two men protecting him pulled out his gun and pointed it at Jack. Jack abruptly stopped and stood in place for only a moment before moving slowly forward again, his face red with anger, his eyes set with revenge.

Kinsey grabbed the gun out of the other man’s pocket and pointed it at Sam. “Colonel O’Neill! You may not care about your own life, but I know you care about hers! I swear I’ll kill her if you don’t stop!”

Jack stopped again and looked over at Sam, who was frozen in place, her breathing labored from the pain she was in. Looking back at Kinsey, he took one more step, his blood burning hot.

Kinsey loaded the gun, the clicking sound loud against the walls of the house. “If you don’t think I’m serious, just take one more step. I promise you you’ll regret it!”

Jack reined himself in and realized that he couldn’t put anything past Kinsey. Stepping to the side, he put himself between Sam and the gun. “Go ahead and shoot, you bastard! Even if you kill me, I promise that I’ll haunt you until you join you’re maker in Hell!” His voice sounded unnatural, even to him, but he couldn’t help the anger he was feeling, not after everything Kinsey had done in the recent past, and especially to Sam tonight.

Kinsey simply smiled as he lowered his gun. “You’re so pathetically predictable. Always the hero! Well, one day, I’m going to prove to the world what a villain you actually are.” Nodding to his bodyguards, he took out a handkerchief and wiped at the blood slowly trailing down the side of his mouth as he moved forward. Jack stepped back closer to Sam, keeping himself between her and the men moving past them. He eyed them like a mountain lion who had been backed into a corner, hate in its eyes, ready to defend itself.

As Kinsey and his bodyguards made it to the front door, Jack now right behind them, Kinsey turned around and spoke up. “I do find it amazing that you always seem to be close by whenever Major Carter needs help. What I don’t understand is why you came over to her house at this time of night. Isn’t it awfully late to be visiting your second in command?”

Jack clenched his fists and jaw at the same time, his voice tight. “Well, not that I owe you any explanation or expect you to understand, but I was checking up on an injured friend.”

Kinsey smiled as he stepped out of the house and onto the front porch, his bodyguards following. “Yes, friends. That’s something else that I really don’t believe.”

Jack spoke up with more intensity. “Kinsey, I don’t really give a damn what you believe. Now get the Hell out of here before I call the police! And if I ever find you anywhere near Major Carter again, I swear to you, bodyguards won’t be enough to stop me from killing you!”

Kinsey dabbed at his wounds again. “You know, Colonel, there will come a time when you won’t be there at just the right moment. I suggest you remember that!”

Jack took a step forward. “Why you slimy, no good…” Just then, he felt Sam behind him as she placed a light hand on his back. Coming to his senses, knowing Sam needed him more right now than Kinsey needed a beating, he took a step back. “For the last time, Kinsey, get the Hell out of here and take your thugs with you!” With that, he slammed the door and locked it, his hand seemingly frozen on the lock, as if he was contemplating rather or not to unlock it again and just go after him.

As the shadows of the men outside moved away from the door, Sam placed her hand over Jack’s on the lock and gently pried it off. Lacing her fingers through his, she looked up into his face, which was hard with angry emotions. When his eyes met hers, she allowed a silent tear to well up and run down her cheek before moving forward, pressing her body into his as her face pressed into his chest and her arms held him.

Jack could feel her body shaking like a leaf, temporarily washing away the anger that was still burning in his blood. Bringing his arms around her, he felt her strength waver as he took hold of her. Without a word, he scooped her up into his arms and carried her to her bedroom. Laying her down on her soft mattress, he covered her with an afghan that was lying in a nearby armchair.

Standing beside her bed, he looked down at her. “Where are your pain pills that the doc gave you? You’re going to need them.”

Sam looked at him, surprised by his coolness. “They’re in my purse…on the kitchen counter.”

Jack just nodded. “I’ll get them.” Hesitating, he reached out, placing a finger on her left cheek that was slightly puffy and red. “And I’ll get you some ice for that.” Moving his hand away before Sam could capture it, Jack left the room and went into the kitchen. He moved blindly, his emotions a bundle of nerves. There was so much hate, so much anger still left inside of him that it scared him. As he reached the freezer, he opened it, looking for a frozen ice pack. Finding it, he picked it up from its place and brought it out of the freezer. As he did, it slipped from his warm fingers and fell to the floor with a thump, sliding away from him.

Jack lost it. “Damn it!!” Reaching for the closest thing he could find, which happened to be a bottle of white wine, he threw it as hard as he could, sending it slamming against the wall opposite him in the living room. The bottle impacted the wall, shattering into pieces as the clear liquid ran down the wall like raindrops in a storm. “Damn you, Kinsey!!” Taking his arm, he swept it across the island in front of him, sending items crashing to the floor.

Sam came running, her heart pounding from concern. She reached the kitchen as Jack slammed his fist into a nearby wall. “Jack!”

Jack barely heard his name as he whipped around. “What!” As his eyes met hers, the blue of her eyes wide and full of fear, he blinked and realized what he had just done. Breathing hard, he shook his head slightly as he leaned against the wall. “God, Sam, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to….destroy your kitchen.”

Sam moved over to him, reaching out to him with her good arm, her fingers capturing the hand he had just punched with. Pulling it to her, she ran a soothing touch over it before placing a gentle kiss on the red knuckles she knew had to be aching. Without looking at him, she spoke up, her voice quiet. “Are you okay?”

Jack just shook his head, retrieving his hand as he moved away from her, pacing. “No!! I’m not okay! God…when I walked in here and saw what that slimebag was doing to you…I could have killed him! Hell, I would have if he hadn’t had his two goons with him. Was he here when you got home?”

Sam met his eyes as he waited for her answer. “No. He knocked on my door right after I’d gotten home. Basically, he just pushed his way in.”

Jack clenched his fists again. “What did he want? Oh, wait, let me guess! He wanted to drive home the point that he had been double crossed once again!”

Sam just nodded. When she spoke up, her voice was so soft it was almost a whisper. “That and to inform me that there will be no rescue mission for Ambassador Faxon, that his loss is my fault.”

Jack dropped his shoulders as he could see the emotional roller coaster Sam was riding. Moving over to her, he pulled her into his embrace and held her as tightly as he could, careful to avoid her bad shoulder. “Sam…”

Sam just let the tears come. “First Narim and now Joe. Kinsey’s right. It is my fault.”

Jack released her and captured her face between his hands, forcing her face to look at him. “Sam, look at me.” He waited for her blue, teary eyes to meet his. When they finally did, he continued, his voice softer. “None of this is anyone’s fault, least of all yours. What we did…what you did…it was to save Earth. Faxon understood that. He was a hero as much as you are, at least as far as I’m concerned. The guy sacrificed himself to make sure that you made it home safely.”

Sam sniffed. “Yes, but now he’s trapped on another world with hostiles, and with no hope of a rescue. I guess I at least thought we could try something, anything, to get him back.”

Jack pulled her back to him, bringing his head down to her shoulder. “I know, and I agree. But the general’s right. There’s nothing we can do. If we try, we’ll only be putting Earth in danger again. And this time we may not be so lucky.”

Sam nodded. “I know, but it’s just hard.”

Jack took a moment to let the silence envelope them. Taking a breath, he released her and took her hand, leading her over to the couch. Once they sat down, Sam rested her head against his chest as Jack drew his arms around her. Kissing the top of her head, Jack asked the question he’d been dreading. “Sam…about Narim, Faxon. Was there something…was there something more that you felt for them?”

Sam was shocked by his question. Pulling back, she looked into his face and took his hand in hers. “Oh, God, Jack, no. A thousand times no. I liked and respected both of them, but nothing more. Narim…well, he had expressed his feelings for me, but I never reciprocated them. When he showed interest, I was still dealing with all the feelings left over from Jolinar, and I really didn’t know what I was feeling. I may have been uncertain to a point then, but not now. I do feel like we were responsible for his death, and I miss his friendship, but nothing more than that. It was hard to lose him, but I promise you that you are the only one in my heart.”

Jack nodded. “And Faxon…I swear I’m not trying to be jealous or a hard ass, but I just want to know.”

Sam smiled. “I know, and I appreciate your honesty. As for Joe, he was a nice guy and I took a liking to him, but there was nothing there that could have ever taken me away from you.”

Jack looked at her. “Are you sure? Because, Sam, as much as I’d hate to lose you to someone else, I just want you to be happy. And though I’d probably fight to keep you with all I have, I want you to be happy.”

Sam smiled and placed a gentle kiss on his lips, pulling back enough to look into his eyes. “Yes, Jack. I’m sure. I don’t want you to ever doubt that. I know we can’t predict the future or what will happen, but one thing I can predict is that I will always love you…forever. Remember that.”

Jack pulled her to him and held her close, a smile on his lips. “Good, because if you’d said no, I think I would have had to go and rescue Flaxon just to let him know that he has no future with you.”

Sam smiled. “Jack, I don’t think you ever have to worry about that. Even if he were still here, I can’t imagine ever having a future with him. I’m too much in love with you.”

Jack squeezed a little harder, and realized too late, that he had done it too much. Her intake of breath reminded him of her shoulder and swollen cheek. Carefully moving her back, he wagged a finger at her. “Stay here. I’m going to get you that ice pack and those pain pills.”

Sam gave him a smile and a casual salute. “Yes, Sir!” Carefully reaching out, she captured his face and gave him a kiss, her lips melting to his as their warmth enveloped her. She gently captured his bottom lip and then his top, and then kissed him full out, her tongue softly probing his.

As she pulled back, Jack appeared to be a little dazed in the aftermath of her kisses. Opening his eyes slowly and looking at her, he got a puzzled look on his face. “What was I doing?”

Sam giggled. “Ice pack, pain pills.”

Jack jumped up. “Right…on the way…be right back.”

As Sam watched him collect what she needed, she couldn’t help but love him more in that moment of tender care. Here was a man who represented her whole future, her whole life. Whatever might come their way, whatever dangers they may have to endure, she was sure it would be done together.

After Jack handed her the pills and some water to wash them down with, he helped her to her feet and led her back into the bedroom. Helping her to lie down, he got her settled under the covers. Placing the ice pack on her cheek, wrapped in a towel, he kissed the top of her forehead. “Now, stay here. I promise not to tear anything else up.”

Sam felt a slight panic rush through her. “Jack, don’t go, please. Stay tonight. We’ve had so little time together.”

Jack smiled down at her. “Well, ol’ Doc Fraiser said you needed your rest. If I stay, I don’t know how much rest you’ll actually get.”

Sam gave him a look he couldn’t say no to. “I don’t care what Janet said. You’re what I need. Please stay…I promise I’ll be good.”

Jack laughed. “Now that’s not fair, Carter. How am I supposed to say no when you look at me like that! Oh, all right, pull my arm. Just let me go clean up the mess I made. I’ll be right back.”

Sam smiled contently. “Deal.”

Jack gave her a surprised look. “Deal?! Geez, Carter. You could have at least put up a fight about me cleaning up the mess.”

Sam fluffed her pillow and looked up at him, still smiling. “Well, it is your mess. I’ll be here waiting.”

Jack tried to act hurt, but knew it would have no affect. “Man, I really am whipped!” Hanging his head, he turned and walked out, secretly smiling as he listened to Sam’s gentle laughter.

Returning thirty minutes later, the kitchen and living room restored to it’s original shaped, Jack stripped down to his underwear and climbed in bed beside her, snuggling up next to her. Her breathing was shallow and content, indicating to him that she was fast asleep, hopefully in peaceful dreams. The pain pills had obviously done their job. Kissing her lightly on the cheek, he pulled her close, wrapping his arms around her as he whispered in her ear. “I love you, Sam.”

Closing his eyes, he drifted off to sleep, his future safe in his arms.

The next morning, the sun rose brightly in the sky, it’s pink, orange and yellow hues filling the kitchen where Sam was making coffee. Her shoulder still ached, but not as badly as the night before. Rather that was due to the pain pills or Jack’s presence, she wasn’t sure, but she was just happy to have some relief. The swelling in her cheek had gone down and was now almost invisible, and having gotten a good night’s sleep, she felt ready to face another day.

With Jack still asleep, she moved quietly to the front door and opened it, walking out into the cool morning air. It was the first week in March, and though snow still covered parts of the ground, the biting chill that was always present in the dead of winter had left, and a sense of the coming spring filled the air. Walking to the end of her sidewalk, she picked up the paper and took in a deep, cleansing breath of air. The birds were chirping an early morning greeting as a gentle breeze ruffled her hair, sending a cool shiver down her spine.

As she walked back up her front steps, something caught her eye. A large manila envelope sat upright next to her door, with no visible markings on it. Picking it up, she turned it over as she carried it inside, along with the newspaper.

Reaching the island in the kitchen, she put both items down and moved around to the coffee pot, its inviting aroma filling her senses with need. Pouring herself a cup, she moved back around to where she had placed the envelope and opened it, pulling out several thick pieces of paper. Picking up her coffee cup, she stopped in mid-swallow as she read the first piece of paper, the two little words simply spelled out in letters clipped from a magazine: I Know.

With shaky fingers, Sam carefully moved the top piece of paper to the side. There, staring back at her, was a photo of Jack and herself, in Hawaii, kissing in the tropical waters, looking happy and in love. As she went to the next photo, more of the same image appeared before her, each imaged zoomed a little more. The last photo was of the two of them on their private little island that they had found, making love, as the waves gently rolled in around them.

Sam’s fingers finally let go of the coffee cup, dropping it to the floor as it shattered in a million pieces, it’s crash echoing throughout the house. As coffee began to stream across the floor, Jack ran into the room, his hair tousled from sleep. Stopping in his tracks, he took in the sight of Sam, her face ghostly white, one hand to her mouth, the other holding up what looked like a photograph.

As he approached her, he carefully avoided the pieces of porcelain on the floor. Reaching out, he touched her arm. “Sam, what is it?” His voice was full of concern as she slowly turned and met his eyes. To him, she almost looked ill. Carefully taking what she held, he sucked in a breath when his brain registered what he was now looking at. Tearing his eyes away from the photo, he looked at the scattering of the other photos lying on the island, assessing each one. And then he saw the note, those two little words wrecking havoc on what could have been a beautiful morning.

Looking back at Sam, he could see that she was not very steady on her feet, the shock still absorbing into her system. Steering her around the broken pieces on the floor, he led her to the couch and they both sat down, the silence of the moment weighting heavily all around them.

After a moment, Jack spoke up, his voice quiet. “You know, if you wanted me to pick up some more stuff, you could have just asked.”

Sam looked over at him. “Jack…”

Jack shook his head. “I know, I know. Damn it! We’ve been so careful. It’s Kinsey, I’m sure of it! I should have just finished him off last night!”

Sam just stared ahead of her. “It may not be Kinsey.”

Jack looked over at her, surprise evident on his face. “Excuse me? How can you say that! He was the one who almost killed us in his plane, in Hawaii…”

Sam looked over at him, her voice a little more steady. “We don’t know that, Jack! We don’t really know anything except whoever is doing this now knows about us! Besides, if it were Kinsey, why didn’t he just confront us about it last night?!” Taking her hands, she covered her face with them and rocked slowly in place, her voice shaky. “God, I’m sorry, Jack. I’m not trying to yell at you. I just don’t know how to fix this! I don’t know where to start.”

Jack gathered her in his arms. “Shhh. It’s going to be okay. We’ll figure this out…together.” Jack hesitated before going on. “I promise you, we will figure out what their true intentions are. And I’m not going to let someone keep us apart just because of some pictures. I’ll retire before I allow that to happen.”

Sam pulled back and looked at him. “Maybe that’s what they want, Jack! But you can’t…no matter how much I want to be open in our relationship, Earth needs you, SG-1 needs you.”

Jack reached out for her, taking her face in his hands. “And I need you! I’m not going to let this…person separate us. We’ll just have to face this together.” Pulling her back into his embrace, Sam took in a deep breath as he held her. Her eyes traveled to the kitchen where the photos were lying, and then she closed her eyes, saying a little prayer as she held him closer.

The shadows that had been surrounding them, unseen, were now moving closer, and as Sam and Jack held each other, they found themselves wondering how much longer they had before they would close in completely. The part that they both feared the most was that they didn’t have the slightest idea on how to fight them off, or if they would still be together after the shadows passed.

Next Story--> "Between Memories And Dreams"

I would love to hear from you!

Back to Fanfiction Index