When Destiny Comes Calling

Title: When Destiny Comes Calling

Author: Suz W.

Feedback: You Bet!!

Spoilers: After The Light (episode tag)

Rating: PG-13, S/J Action/Adventure, Angst, Romance, Friendship, and Hurt/Comfort.

Summary: Sam, Jack and Daniel are stranded on P4X-347 for a short time. It’s amazing what can happen when there doesn’t seem to be much happening at all.

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 May 27, 2004, by Suzanne R. Whitmarsh.

Author’s Notes: This story follows “Whispers From The Heart”. I know that it seems like I’m beginning to take you on a roller coaster ride with my series, but I have to admit, I’m enjoying the ride. And I hope you are! There is so much left for me to do with this series, and I can only hope that you will continue to enjoy the adventures I put our favorite couple through. On that note, I’m going to be writing a spin-off series to this one once it’s done! So even though Stargate SG-1 will end, you’ll still be able to experience new adventures with Sam and Jack. So enjoy this latest story, and remember, feedback is always welcomed and greatly appreciated!

Dedication: I want to dedicate this story to ALL of my readers! Your dedication to my stories means so much to me, and I can’t thank you enough for your continued support of this series. Also, thank you for your continued patience and understanding of my busy schedule! I hate to make you wait a few weeks for a new story, but it is usually unavoidable. Believe me, I don’t like having to wait on writing them just like you don’t like having to wait on reading them!

It had been a week and a half in a palace by the sea. But to Jack’s dismay, it had not been his idea of a great vacation. Not that they had chosen this vacation. Since they had become accidentally addicted to the Goa’uld device that transmitted an opium-like effect, it was impossible for them to leave until their dobutamine levels could be brought down to a neurologically safe level. Sam, Daniel and Teal’c had figured out how to work the machine, and had discovered how to turn down the machine and it’s effects in increments, until eventually, there would be none. Unfortunately, they would all go insane and die if they were to just shut it off, so they had been forced to wait at least two weeks for their bodies to normalize before returning to Earth.

Initially, Jack had seen great potential for this little accidental vacation. He had hoped to get some real quality time with Sam since they hadn’t had any in what seemed like the last month. But that hope was shattered when he remembered in almost the same moment that Daniel was also stuck there with them, along with Lauren, the young man they discovered living there and had befriended.

So a week and a half had past without so much as a kiss from the woman he loved. Since they weren’t allowed to wander far from the palace where the device was located, it had been impossible to find the privacy that they needed for such an intimate moment. So Jack had kept himself busy watching movies on the portable T.V./DVD combo that had been sent through the Gate, along with playing his Gameboy that had been “accidentally” written down on the list of things he needed to get by on. But there were only so many movies he could watch and so many games he could play before he had begun to feel like he was going crazy, rather the device was working or not.

Sam, on the other hand, had kept herself just as busy as usual, having set up a miniature lab right down the hall from the main room that held the Stargate. Working off her laptop and the stacks of files and notes that had been sent through, Jack had barely seen her the whole time. When he had, she hadn’t seemed like herself. Besides lacking color in her face, her moods seemed to be swinging more freely now than they use to. And the sparkle that was usually in her eyes was gone, and had been replaced by a hazier one, one that was incredibly hard to read. He decided that he could flatter himself and say her condition was due to their being apart, but he knew there was more to it than that.

So two nights before they were scheduled to return to Earth, Jack decided he’d had enough of trying to figure out what was going on with her. He was afraid that if he didn’t talk to her now, they would get back to Earth and she would just bury herself in more work. He was really worried about her, and he refused to sit back any longer and watch her deteriorate before his very eyes.

Jack waited until everyone had been asleep for at least an hour. Getting up from his cot, he made his way over to Sam’s cot without making a sound. Everyone, including Lauren, had been sleeping in one of the large gathering halls just adjacent to the room that held the Stargate. As Jack squatted down, he could hear Daniel’s soft snores echoing off the walls around them.

Just as he was about to reach for her, he noticed a movement out of the corner of his eye. Freezing in place, he carefully turned his head to the right and saw that it was Lauren turning in his sleeping. Holding his breath, he waited until the teen became still again, obviously lost in his dreams. Turning his attention back to Sam, he stared at the beauty of her face for a moment. She was sleeping peacefully, her face glowing softly in the moonlight that was coming through the open windows. He could hear the waves gently breaking against the shoreline, sending out a quiet rhythm for their beating hearts to follow.

Reaching down, he gently ran his hand over her cheek, a motion he’d done so many times, and one he was hoping she would recognize. He didn’t want to startle her out of whatever dreams she was having. Plus, he didn’t want her waking up the others. But to his relief, she just opened her eyes and found his face. Giving him a sleepy smile, Jack held his index finger up to his lips as he quietly removed the light blanket that was covering her. Motioning for her to follow him, he took her hand and helped her up. Together, they made their way silently across the floor.

As they approached the doorway, Lauren, who was sleeping nearest to it, turned over again in his sleep. Holding perfectly still, they both waited to see if he was going to wake up. But to their relief, he became quiet again. Waiting for a few more seconds, Jack then led Sam out of the room and through the palace, going past that Stargate, which was also in a silent state of slumber. Neither one of them said anything until Jack had almost reached the door leading to the outside.

Sam pulled on his hand and waited for Jack to give her his attention. Whispering as softly as she could, she looked into his eyes. “Jack, we can’t go too far from that Goa’uld device. You know what happened when we were on the beach last time.”

Jack nodded and pulled her close, whispering in her ear. “I know. But our drugged state isn’t as high anymore, right?” Seeing her nod, he continued. “And besides, if I don’t get some real alone time with you, Goa’uld device or not, I am going to go insane.” Pulling back slightly from her, he brushed a strand of hair out of her eyes and then took her hand and kissed it, his eyes never leaving hers.

Sam couldn’t resist that. She too had been going crazy not being able to be alone with Jack, but her pregnancy had begun to affect her. She was starting to experience a few bouts of morning and evening sickness, not to mention the fact that her mind was ridden with guilt that she still hadn’t told Jack about the baby. Giving him a smile, she nodded, and then let him lead her out of the door and into the night air.

It was a mildly warm night, the air heavy with the smell of salt and sand from the sea in front of them. As they walked away from the palace and closer to the shoreline, Sam watched as the three moons that hung lazily in the sky reflected off the water’s surface, sending an array of sparkling light all around them. There was a light breeze in the air, and as it brushed through her hair, Sam looked up. “It’s a beautiful night.”

Jack looked over at her and smiled as he squeezed her hand. “Yes, it is.”

Sam looked over at him and could feel the color rising in her cheeks as he realized that he was talking about her. Reaching out a hand, she ran it through his hair and then embraced him in a hug, loving the feel of his arms around her. “I’ve missed you. Even though I know you’ve been right here, I’ve missed you.”

Jack pulled her back slightly and cupped her cheek. “Well, I’ve missed you, too. Hence the reason for this little meeting.” Looking over at the sea, he allowed a hint of mischief to reveal itself in his eyes. “You know, we could also add to the agenda. How do you feel about skinny-dipping?”

Sam gave him the first real smile he’d seen in a long time. “Well, now that’s an agenda addition I like. But,” she said, as Jack gave out a small groan, “I’m afraid we might wake up Daniel and Lauren, and then what would we say?”

Jack grinned at her. “Hey, can I help it if that Goa’uld device decided to mess with my willpower?”

Sam smiled back at him, shaking her head. “A likely story, but one I’m sure they’d find hard to believe since they wouldn’t be in the water with us.”

Jack scrunched up his face. “Oh thanks a lot! That’s an image I never wanted to imagine. I can barely handle Daniel when he’s fully clothed.”

Sam just laughed. “Well, let me wipe that image from your mind.” And with that, her lips found his in a kiss, a kiss that sent warmth rushing down through her body, all the way to her toes.

Jack pulled her closer to him, one hand snaked around the back of her head, his fingers lost in the short golden locks of her hair. His mind seemed to have become mush as she explored his mouth and he hers. Echoing her soft moan, he felt her knees buckle slightly, and he took the opportunity to lay her down gently on the sand.

Sam felt the cushion of the sand beneath her head as she continued increase the depth of her kisses, her desires outweighing that of her sensibility. As Jack intertwined their fingers together, he brought her hands over her head. As their interlocked hands met the coarseness of the sand, they sunk deeper into it as Jack moved his lips from her mouth to her throat, increasing her need.

As her eyes searched the heavens above, not really seeing anything, she felt her stomach begin to churn. As Jack began to work on pulling the bottom of her shirt out of her pants, she started to panic as the sickness in her stomach became worse. “Jack,” she said, her voice still a husky whisper, “stop, please. We can’t…”

“Shhh,” Jack said, still focused on what he was doing. “It’s okay. They’re fast asleep. I can be quiet if you can.”

Sam tried to settle her stomach mentally, but it was no use. “You don’t understand. It’s not that…” Knowing she was out of time, she freed one of her hands and pushed on his chest. “Jack, please, get off!”

Shocked by her sudden change of tone and body posture, he looked up at her to find her face pale and full of desperation. Moving off of her, he watched in confusion and concern as she quickly got up and ran a few feet from him, only to stop suddenly as she bent over and threw up.

Sam heaved several times before she could feel her stomach return to a more normal state. Coughing and trying to catch her breath, she could feel his eyes on her back. Composing herself as best she could, she turned around to find him only inches from where she stood, a look of confusion in his eyes. “Sorry. That was a bit unexpected.”

Jack, still trying to get over what had just happened, wasn’t quite sure what to say. “Well, that’s not usually the reaction I look for when I attempt to drive you wild.” Shaking his head slightly, he gave her a serious look. “Mind telling me what that was all about?”

Sam was still slightly shaking from the after affects of yet another bout of sickness. “I’m really not sure,” she said, lying through her teeth.

Jack wasn’t buying it this time. “Oh, don’t give me that load of crap.” Jack could feel his concern turning to frustration. “I know something’s going on with you and I’m tired of you shutting me out. Now tell me what is going on. Are you sick?”

Sam shook her head. “No, it’s not that. I…I just don’t know how to tell you.”

Jack shrugged. “Well here’s a thought: how about you just tell me. I think I have a right to know what’s going on with you.”

Sam nodded, her voice much softer than his. “Yes, you do..”

“I mean,” Jack continued on, not hearing her, “I know I’m not the best at dealing with emotions, but….what did you say?”

Sam gave him sad look. “You do have a right to know.”

Jack paused, taking a breath. “Oh, well, that’s good. So what is it? Did you pick up some kind of alien disease?”

Sam shook her head. “No, I didn’t.”

Jack could feel his brain trying to explore every possibility. “Because if you did…”

“Jack…” Sam said, trying to get a word in.

“…I swear I’ll kick whatever creature gave it to you in the butt, several times.”

Sam raised her voice. “Jack, I’m pregnant.”

Jack’s ears didn’t register at first what she had just said. “Leave it to ol’ Doc Fraiser to….” Jack caught his breath and stared at her. “I’m sorry? What was that?” He didn’t believe he’d just heard her right.

Sam lowered her voice again. “I’m pregnant.” She waited for Jack to say something, watching his face as it went through a cascade of emotions.

“You’re pregnant? How…I’m mean when?” Jack moved closer to her, his voice now matching hers in tone.

Sam pulled in a breath. “Apparently, we weren’t as carefully when we thought we were Jonas and Thera. It just took that one time.”

Jack allowed her words to sink in. “It happened when we were on that planet? But that was…that was over two months ago. When did you find out about it?”

Sam knew she couldn’t lie to him anymore. Looking down, she answered him. “Two weeks after that. Janet told me right after we got back from rescuing you and Teal’c from being stranded in the X-302. She performed a routine exam, and my blood work showed levels of HCG in my blood.”

Jack put his hands up and shook his head. “Okay, hold on. I don’t know what these…HCG’s are, but what I do want to know is when you had exactly planned on telling me? You’ve known now for over six weeks! Isn’t the baby mine?”

Sam tried to keep the situation from getting out of hand. “Of course it’s yours. Please, Jack, try to understand. I wanted to tell you, but first you were recovering from being stranded in space, and then we got busy. And I wasn’t sure how to deal with it, let alone how to tell you. This isn’t supposed to have happened.”

Jack got a sarcastic tone in his voice. “Gee, ya think?” Blowing out a breath, he went on. “Look, not only does the understanding of why you didn’t tell me escape me, but were you ever going to tell me?”

Sam looked hurt, her eyes pleading with him. “Of course I was going to tell you. This is your baby too. I guess I was afraid.”

Jack looked at her, confusion in his eyes. “Afraid of what? That I wouldn’t understand? That I wouldn’t be supportive? So instead of telling me, you decided to wait until you were throwing up in front of me to inform me? For cryin’ out loud, Carter! Give me a little credit.” Jack wasn’t trying to be angry with her, but he was hurt nonetheless. Hurt that she hadn’t come to him sooner. Suddenly, a thought occurred to him. “So since Doc was the one to tell you about your being pregnant, who did you tell her the father was?”

Sam looked up at him. “She already knew about us. I was so upset at the thought of losing you out in the cold reaches of space. I was in my lab, frantically working up the drift calculations when she confronted me about my feelings for you.”

Jack couldn’t believe what he was hearing. “So you told her?”

Sam could only nod. When he didn’t say anything, she went on. “It’s okay, Jack. She understands and isn’t going to say anything to anyone.”

Jack gave a little laugh. “Yeah, well, unless you come up with some boyfriend instantly, I think our little secret is going to be out when you start to show.” With that said, another thought occurred to him. “Wait a minute. I know I’m no rocket scientist or anything, but isn’t gate travel a bit dangerous for you in your condition? Did you even consider that?”

Now Sam was getting angry. She shot back at him. “Of course I did. Do you really think I would put the life of our child in jeopardy just to keep our secret?” Turning around, she drug her hands through her hair. She’d been expecting him to be angry with her, but she hated fighting with him. She wasn’t use to doing it. Turning back around, she pleaded with him. “Look, can’t we just move past this point? There’s a lot more at stake here.”

Jack just stared at her. “Oh sure! Let’s just move past this. No problem. I can get over the fact that you’ve been lying to me for the past two months just like that!” Jack knew he was angry with her, but he couldn’t seem to control his emotions. Walking up to her, he came within inches of her and looked directly into her eyes. “You must not love me half as much as you say you do. Otherwise, you would have never done this to me!”

Sam couldn’t believe this was him talking. Tears formed in her eyes as his words registered in her heart. Giving him a defiant look as the tears started to flow, she shot back at him. “How dare you judge me like that!”

Jack was about to respond when Lauren’s voice interrupted them. “Stop! You must stop! Please, don’t fight any more! Jack, Sam! You must come back inside. You have been away too long from the device. I don’t think it’s working.” Pleading with them, he pulled on Sam’s hand. “Please, come with me.”

Sam blinked and wiped at her tears before looking at Lauren. “What?”

Lauren pleaded with her again. “Come and see. I don’t think the device is working.” Pulling on her hand again, he was relieved when he found he was able to move her. Pulling her towards the palace, he called back to Jack. “Jack, please, you must come.”

Jack looked at Sam and then to Lauren. “I’m coming. I’ll be there in a minute.”

Lauren shook his head. “No, come now!

Jack blew his top. “I said I’d be there in a minute!!” Taking a breath, he realized how out of hand the whole situation had gotten. “Look, I’m sorry. Take Carter inside. I’ll be right there.”

Sam wanted to protest, but if the device wasn’t working, she knew she had to get it going again. Even though they were close to being normalized, even the slightest shift could throw their chemical balance off again. Looking at Lauren, she spoke to him as normally as she could. “Isn’t Daniel working on it?”

Lauren shook his head. “Yes, but he needs your help. I told him I would come and find you.”

Reaching the doorway, she turned back to find Jack looking at the ground, lost in thought. “Sir?”

Jack waved her on, his voice suddenly sounding more depressed than angry. “Go on. I’ll be there in a minute.”

He watched Sam walk into the palace and disappear. He didn’t know what was happening to him. He was feeling so many emotions at once, and none of them he could control. She was pregnant. He wanted to be happy, and he was. So why did everything suddenly seem so grim. He turned and looked at the sparkling sea, his eyes searching for an answer.

Moments later, the only answer he had found was the overwhelming despair that was pushing him into the water. He never even flinched when the water began to soak his clothing.

Three minutes later, Sam found herself trying to fix the device with Daniel. But her mind kept wandering to Jack and why he wasn’t back inside yet. Unable to focus, Sam sent Lauren back out to get him. And no more than thirty seconds after that, she heard her name being screamed from the outside.

Sam’s heart dropped to her stomach. Dropping her tool, she looked at Daniel. “Keep working. We have to get that back online.” Turning, she ran as fast as she could to the sound of Lauren’s frantic voice. When she reached the outside, she found Lauren at the shoreline, pointing frantically.

Running to him, she looked at him. “What? What is it? Where’s Colonel O’Neill? Lauren, tell me!”

Lauren tried to contain his tears. “It’s happening again, just like my parents. He’s dead!”

Sam’s heart was thundering in her ears. Looking out in the direction he was pointing, her eyes finally focused on a figure floating face down in the water. “Colonel!!!” Surging into the water, she dropped as much weight off her clothing as she could before plunging into the water. Breaking the surface of the water, she swam as hard as she could. Reaching him, she pulled him upright and laid him back against her side. Pulling back in the water, she began swimming back to shore.

A minute seemed like an eternity before she finally felt ground under her feet. Using the last of her strength to pull him to shore, her muscles burning, she laid him down and checked to see if he was breathing. He wasn’t.

Lauren, frantic, huddled around her. “He’s dead, isn’t he!”

Sam couldn’t focus on bringing Jack back with Lauren crying over them. Looking up at him, she gave him a direct order. “Go tell Daniel to get that damn device working, and then tell him that I need his help. Do it now!”

As Lauren took off, Sam tried to control her emotions. She knew it was the machine partly affecting her, but she also knew it was everything else that had past between them. Positioning Jack’s head for two breaths, she slicked her hair out of her face. Giving him two strong breaths, she then checked to see if he had responded. Nothing. Checking for a pulse, she didn’t find one either. Beginning compressions, she called out to him. “Come on, Jack! Don’t you dare die on me! I love you, do you hear me?! You’re not leaving me, not like this.”

Just then, a tall figure appeared in the doorway of the palace. It was Teal’c. He had come to check on the progress of his friends, and now seeing the sight before him, he was glad he had. Running, he reached the edge of the shore where Major Carter was trying to resuscitate Colonel O’Neill.

“Major Carter! What has happened?” Teal’c fell to his knees in front of her.

Sam quickly gave Jack two breaths and then continued with the next set of compressions. “Teal’c, thank God. I need your help. I need you to give Ja…Colonel O’Neill two breaths like I just did when I tell you too. Okay?”

Teal’c nodded, feeling for the pain she must be going through. “I understand.”

Together, they worked for the next minute. As Teal’c was preparing to give another two breaths, Jack finally gagged and coughed, spitting out water and taking in precious air. Sam wanted to cry right there. The emotions of having him back were overwhelming. They helped him roll over onto his side and then helped him to sit up, his body leaning back again Teal’c for support.

As he began to breath more easily, Sam placed her hands on either side of his head and directed him to look at her. “Sir, look at me. Are you okay?” She was trying as hard as she could to conceal the emotional tidal wave in her voice.

Jack shook his head slightly and rubbed at his eyes. “Oh, man! What happened?” Coughing again, he focused his vision on Sam.

Sam answered him. “Well, Sir, you took a little dip in the sea. But I think you forgot to swim.”

Jack winced as he moved up on his own power. “Really? No wonder I feel like a drowned rat.” Daniel came running up to them suddenly, halting in his tracks and making sand fly everywhere. “Aaahh! Watch it, Daniel! Sand and water stick you know!”

Daniel looked at Jack as he began to brush himself off and then looked at Sam. “What happened? Is everything okay?”

Sam nodded, giving Daniel a small smile. “Yes, Daniel. Everything appears to be alright.” As she and Teal’c helped Jack to his feet, she looked back at Daniel. “Did you get the device fixed?”

Daniel nodded. “I think I did, and since Jack seems to be his usual sarcastic self, I’m assuming it worked.” With that comment, Jack kicked sand in Daniel’s direction. “Hey, I almost drowned, you jackass. Cut me some slack!”

Jack then looked over at Teal’c. “Teal’c! Good to see you! Did you stop by for a visit?”

Teal’c nodded. “Indeed. I have also brought each of you an injection. It would appear that through the samples of your blood, Dr. Fraiser has devised a serum that will mimic the effects of the device at the level you are now experiencing. Once you are back on Earth, it should only take a few more injections to return you to normal.”

Jack nodded. “Well, I can actually say this is one vacation I’m not sad to see cut short.”

Ten minutes later, they had all received their shots and were packing up to go back to Earth. Lauren was going with them, and in the last two weeks, the SGC had managed to find him a home with enough security clearance that could provide him with a place to live.

As Jack was finishing up collecting his gear and was loading it up onto the cart with the rest of their supplies, Sam came up to him. “Sir. How are you feeling?”

Jack looked at her and gave her a half smile. “Oh, as good as can be expected for having almost drowned.” Pausing, he continued. “Thanks, by the way, for saving my sorry butt. I really didn’t know I was the suicide type.”

Sam gave him a small smile. “You’re welcome. But it wasn’t your fault. It was the device affecting us.” Stepping closer, she continued. “Sir, how much do you remember?”

Jack looked at her, and then down at her stomach, and then found her eyes again. “Enough, Major. I remember enough.” Clearing his throat, he looked around for Teal’c. “Teal’c, dial up the Gate. Let’s go home.” Looking back at Sam, he found her eyes still on him, pleading with him for something more. Brushing his fingers quickly against her hand that was concealed from the others, he gave her an answer. “We’ll talk later.”

With that said, the seventh chevron locked in place, and they were homeward bound. As Jack began walking off, Sam could feel her stomach becoming unsettled again. But this time, she knew it wasn’t from the baby, but from the nerves of anticipation at what they would talk about.

An hour later, Dr. Fraiser was finishing up her examination on Jack. He was the last to leave the infirmary since he had to have extra tests and observation due to his near drowning.

Janet walked up to him. “Okay, Colonel, I think we’re finished here. You’re clear to leave. But I want you to take it easy for the rest of the night. Understood?”

Jack nodded. “Got it.” As he watched Janet begin to walk away, he called out. “Hey, Doc. Got a minute?”

Janet turned around and nodded. “Of course. Let’s go to my office.” Leading the way, she rounded her desk and waited for him to close the door and sit down across from her.

Jack didn’t know exactly what to say. “Look, I…I know about the baby.”

Janet nodded, her heart sympathizing for both of them and their situation. “Yes, I know. She told me about what happened on the planet.”

Jack shook his head. “Look, Doc. I know I was hard on her, but I think I had a right to be. Besides that damn device making my mood worse, I can’t say I’m surprised by my actions.”

Janet relaxed her doctor stance and saw her friend. Though Colonel O’Neill and her were nowhere near as close as she and Sam were, he was still her friend. “She doesn’t blame you for feeling the way you did. But you need to be careful. Her body doesn’t need to undergo any more undo stress than it already does going through the wormhole. The first trimester of a pregnancy is the most critical, and she’s still got another month before she passes that period.”

Jack gave her a hard look. “But I thought you told her it was safe to continue with gate travel. Is the baby okay?”

Janet nodded. “As far as I can tell, everything is fine. Sam’s a strong person, body and spirit. It would take a lot for her to lose this child. I think she’s going to be fine. But she needs your help with that.”

Jack was beginning to kick himself for being such a jerk to her. He knew he had a right to be angry, but he also knew that he’d overreacted. “What can I do?”

Janet smiled at him. “She’s hurting right now. Rather she’ll admit it or not, you hurt her, deeply. I don’t know how much you remember of what you told her, but she told me that you accused her of not loving you half as much as she claimed to. That really got to her.”

Jack felt like he’d been kicked in the gut. How could he have said something like that to her? “I don’t remember saying that. I certainly didn’t mean it. Sam has…she has brought more to my life than I thought would ever be possible after Charlie died.”

Janet got up and placed a hand on his shoulder. “Well, maybe you need to remind her of that. Be there for her. She really needs you.”

Jack got up and gave her a smile. “Thanks, Doc. Any idea of where I might find her?”

Janet nodded. “Well, if she’s following my strict orders, then she’d better be at home resting.”

Jack nodded his thanks again and slipped out the door, heading straight for his office to collect his keys and coat. He only had to make one stop along the way to her house. And once he was there, he wasn’t leaving until they had this whole thing worked out.

Knocking on her front door, Jack waited for her footsteps. When he failed to hear her approach, he found her key on his key ring and unlocked the door. Inside, the kitchen light glowed softly and a fire was burning brightly in the fireplace. Calling out, he hoped to hear a response. “Sam? Are you here?”

Waiting, he was about to go back to her bedroom when her voice found it’s way to his ears. “I’m outside.” Her voice sounded hollow as he registered the direction it had come from.

Moving through the living room, he finally saw her reclined in one of her loungers on her deck, her eyes gazing up at the sky. Opening the door, he shivered as the cold air hit his face. It wasn’t an unbearable cold, but certainly one he wouldn’t want to stay out in for long. Winter had taken its hold on the mountain once again, and a fresh layer of snow blanketed the ground beneath them.

Stepping out and closing the door, he cleared his voice as he slowly approached her. “You know, freezing to death is probably not what Fraiser had in mind for you. There’s probably a reason for that.” When she didn’t say anything, Jack softened his voice as he neared her. “Look, Sam, I’m sorry…”

Sam interrupted him, her voice full of emotion. “No, I’m sorry, Jack. I’m so sorry. I swear I didn’t mean to lie to you. I wanted to tell you…”

Jack came around the chair and looked down at her. Tears were streaming down her face as her breath came in white puffs. Jack sat down on the edge of the chair and pressed his hands against her cheeks that were cold as ice. “Hey, it’s okay. Com’ here.” And with that, he pulled her into his tight, warm embrace. Allowing her body time to relax, he held onto her and pressed a kiss against the side of her head. “I’m the one who’s sorry. I should have never said the things I did to you. I don’t remember everything, but Fraiser filled me in on what my memory forgot.” Pulling her back to look at him, he wiped at her tears. “I love you, and I know that you love me. I’ve never doubted that.”

Sam gave him a weak smile. “Thank you. But you were right to be angry. I should have told you about the baby weeks ago. I just didn’t know what to do or how to tell you. There’s so much to figure out.”

Jack pressed a finger against her lips. “And that can wait until later. Right now, you need to focus on staying calm and healthy, which doesn’t include sitting out here and freezing to death.” Hesitating, he continued after pressing a gentle kiss to her lips in order to warm them. “But before we go in, there’s something I want to give you while we’re out here.”

Sam gave him a small smile as she sniffed from the tears and the cold that was causing her nose to run. “What is it?”

Jack gave her a mischievous grin. “Well, first you have to make enough room for me to lay back in this chair here with you.” After she did that, and Jack had her comfortably in his arms, he looked up at the heavens above. “Well, as you know, I’m no astrophysicist, but I do know my way around the sky.” Taking her hand, he stretched it out with his and began to trace the stars. “Now, if you follow that star pattern right there, you will find the constellation known as Andromeda, marking the Andromeda Galaxy as that faint blur of light. Do you see it?”

Sam nodded her head. She was familiar with this constellation and had always found it off of the bright star named Alpheratz, which was also apart of the adjacent constellation, Pegasus.

Jack smiled. “Okay, good. Now, tracing this pattern over here….you will form the constellation Perseus. They are always right next to each other. As Greek mythology has it, Perseus was the hero that beheaded Medusa.”

Sam smiled. “And Andromeda was the Greek Goddess of Love.”

“Exactly,” Jack said, as he placed a kiss on her cheek. “And every man who looked upon her beauty fell deeply in love with her.”

Sam continued for him. “But she loved Perseus the most, as he was her hero.” With this, she gave him a gentle kiss.

Jack held her closer in his arms. “Yes, well, smarty pants, I bet there’s something you didn’t know.”

Sam rolled her eyes and smiled. “Oh yeah? What’s that?”

Jack took her finger again and with his, pointed to a star in the sky. “Do you recognize that star?”

Sam looked down at him. “Of course. That’s the star that we always look to.”

Jack nodded. “Yep. And it stays between Andromeda and Perseus forever in the sky, keeping them together.” Taking a breath, he continued, his voice softening. “Well, that star has a name too.”

Sam gave him a curious look. “It does? But it’s not apart of any constellation.”

Jack smiled. “You’re right. But that doesn’t matter.”

Sam gazed up at him, the light in her eyes having returned. “So what is its name?”

Jack looked up. “Charlie.” Moving his arm temporarily, he pulled a folded piece of paper out of his coat. “Officially, that star will always be called Charlie.” He handed her the piece of paper and watched as she opened it and read the certificate.

Sam could feel tears welling up in her eyes. “It’s from the National Star Registry. You did this? You really did this. You named our star.”

Jack smiled. “Yep. I had it done a few weeks ago, but was waiting for the right time to give it to you. I hope you don’t mind that I named it after Charlie, but I kind of feel like he brought us together, just like that star brings Andromeda and Perseus together in the sky.”

Sam wiped away a tear that had escaped down her cheek. Sitting up, she took his face in her hands. “I love it. It’s absolutely perfect. You know, you really are a hopeless romantic, Jack O’Neill.”

Jack grinned at her. “Yeah, but don’t let on that you know.” Laughing with her, he kissed her and then pulled her back into his embrace. Becoming a little more serious, he continued. “I know we’ve got a lot to figure out, and I know that you have had to have felt alone these past few months. So, whenever you feel that way again, whenever we’re apart or can’t be together, just look up at that star and know that I love you and that we will always be together.”

Sam looked over at him, her eyes glistening with fresh tears. “And I love you, so much. Thank you for this.” And then her lips found his and caressed them with all her passion.

Jack could feel his body suddenly crying out for more. Breaking from the kiss, he smiled down at her. “Now, I think it’s time we get you warm.”

Sam nuzzled on his neck. “Well, how about a hot bath? We could try that skinny dipping thing you wanted to do last night. I know it’s not public, but I can’t think of a better way to practice. I might even have some bubble bath.”

Jack got up and carefully scooped her up into his arms, his energy renewed. “Getting to join a beautiful woman whose carrying our child in a tub of bubbles. A guy can’t say no to that.”

And with that, he opened the door and stepped inside, ready and very willing to make up for lost time. Jack knew they still had a lot to figure out, but tonight was reserved just for them.

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