Always 5/5
Authors note: This is the last chapter. When I started to write these chapters after Abyss I thought that I would be able to span this story across the last two season using only the little bit that were dropped throughout various episodes, but I couldn't, I just couldn't leave them apart for that long. I have what was going to be the end to this story and I will publish it once I am happy with it. It takes place just after Carter arrives home from Atlantis.
AN2: This is her last weekend assigned to Area 51 before she asked to be transfered back. If anyone remembers the name let me know if a review. This is the end and let me know if you enjoyed it and if it lived up to the earlier parts of the story.
Sam paced the confines of the small cabin. She looked at her watch again. It was only two minutes since the last time she looked. Next she checked her phone, no missed calls. Jack was beginning to worry her. They had arranged to meet in the middle and he was late.
It would not usually worry her but Sam had something important to tell him. They had a plan and now she had to abandon it. She would hurt him but it had to be done and it hurt her as well.
She was just about to look at her watch again when she heard the car pull up. She stood there trying to contain her emotions, but when he stepped from the car, Sam could stand it no longer.
He accepted her into his arms and kissed her. It was all so bitter sweet and he knew something was wrong. “Let's go inside - I brought dinner. We can talk after we eat. Let's just have tonight and then we can say goodbye.”
Sam tried to stop the tears but the continued to fall, “I don't want to...”
“Ah!” Jack held up his finger, “Tonight, give us one last night and then we can say goodbye.”
She nodded and allowed herself to be gathered up into his arms again. They stayed that way for a long time lying to each other that nothing had changed. Later they sat down to the cold takeout. Sam didn’t eat hers but pushed it around the plate hoping it looked like she was eating.
Every once and a while their eyes would meet only to look down at the food that neither of them had touched.
Eventually Sam pushed her food away and got to her feet. “I can't do it. I can't pretend anymore. Jack, I...” She turned away staring into the fireplace.
“Sam, I know. The minute Daniel's report came over my desk I knew you would have to return to SG-1. Mitchell was too pushy, and now the Ori have found us he was right. I knew you could resist while the world was safe, but the minute that changed - we changed. It was no longer just about us and our happiness. I knew you couldn't sit on the sidelines and I won't ask you to.” He sounded resigned, no anger or any other emotion in his voice.
She stood there shocked, “You are just going to let me go, without a fight? Don't you love me? Was this all for show?” She gestured to the cabin and the space between them.
Jack stood and swept all the food to the floor. The plates and glasses clattered to the floor shattering like their dreams. “No, I don't want you to go. I want to keep you there at Area 51, safe and protected, but I can't. I won't do that to you or me. You are needed out there and if Earth lost to the Ori because of us, I would never forgive myself and neither would you.” Just as quickly as the anger appeared it vanished again, leaving Jack drained.
Not knowing what to say she curled up against him, “It's not fair. We gave up eight years of our lives and now we have to give up more. We have paid our dues and now we should be allowed to be happy, but you’re right. I can't stay there in the labs with my head buried in the sand. I want to just walk away, but I can't.” Her voice trembled.
“I would love to be out there continuing to fight at your side but I have a different battle to fight. I have my place and you have yours. I hate it and I hate not being with you to make sure you are safe, but we both know that I'm no longer able to be in the field, but I can't walk away, any more that you can just so we can be together.”
She relaxed against his chest, “Maybe I can use the toaster and the microwave to build a time dilation device and then we can stay here in this moment forever.”
Dropping a kiss on the top of her head, “I would like nothing better, but we can't. Sam we have tonight, let's not waste anymore of it. Let's clean up and start the fire. For tonight we can shut out the world and I can tell you that I love you. Tomorrow I can't do that.”
Grabbing the garbage can from the kitchen they cleaned up the mess and sat down in front of the fire trying to hold on to the moment, but it slipped away.
Jack touched the box in his pocket. He had carried it for so long and now it seemed like he would carry it forever. It no longer looked new. The velvet had been worn away in places from his fingers touching it. Looking over at Sam, he studied her face trying to memorize every feature.
He was about to speak when she said, “What if we get married before I put in the transfer? What would that mean? What could they do? We got married while I was out of your chain of command and events forced me to come back into it? Could you make a call to Air Force One and see what we can do?" Sam asked.
Jack was stunned by her suggestion those were the last word he expected to come out of her mouth. He had been thinking about marriage for a long time and now it seemed so had she. Sam Carter was not someone who made decision like that, at the spur of the moment. She was a thinker and a planner, to know that she loved him enough to throw caution to the wind made her words mean so much more than she knew.
He swallowed before answering her, “I think we should just do it and the consequences be damned. We deserve something. I know the judge down in town - let me make a call to him and we can be married by midnight tonight. What do you think?" Sam could only nod. This was happening so fast but she didn't want to stop it. Jack smiled the smile that was only for her. "Then I have something for you then.” Jack pulled the sad looking box from his pocket and opened it showing her the ring inside.
Sam stared at it amazed, “How long have you had this?”
“Too long. I almost lost you Samantha Carter and I won't make that mistake again. I love you and I want you to be my wife. Marry me tonight and we will find out the consequences tomorrow.” Jack picked the ring up in his fingers and slid it on to her finger.
With tears in her eyes Sam said only one word, “Yes.”
Jack pulled her into his arms and the box fell to the floor forgotten, but now it no longer mattered. Sam was going to be his wife and nothing could stop it. Tonight was the first day of the rest of their lives and she would always be his.
The is the end and thanks for coming with me on my journey. If you liked it let me know, reviews make me smile.