In Time: If Things Had Been Different
Title: If Things Had Been Different
Summary: In Carter's lab, Jack and Sam's conversation takes a different turn.
Timeframe: During "Affinity."
Characters/Pairing: Sam/Jack
Genre: Angst, UST
Rating: G.
Thanks to wanderingsmith for feeding the plot bunny to my muse. :P
If Things Had Been Different
"What about you? If things had been different?"
That was a loaded question, Jack thought, hesitating. If things had been different… Different how? There were so many possibilities. What exactly did she mean? The question was so vague; his answer could be even more so.
If he said that he wouldn't be here, would she know what he meant? Would she know that he meant he'd be with her, that he'd retire for her if he had to? That he'd rather not be a General, rather be watching her six off-world, rather be with her, even if it meant one or both of them would have to transfer?
As he gazed longingly at Sam's face, studying her, he noticed she looked as though she were about to immediately back peddle for self preservation purposes. Jack knew he was taking way too long to answer. He couldn't let her back out, so he just blurted the words out, images of that ring, and who had given it to her blurring across his vision.
Jack pointed at the ring box, and in a surprisingly emotional, husky voice said, "That would be from me."
Oh God. Had he really said that? His gut twisted, and for at least three seconds, he couldn't look her in the eyes.
When he was finally unable to resist seeing her reaction, Jack looked up to find Sam gaping at him in shock, her mouth literally hanging open. Forcing back the bile rising in his throat, Jack clenched his teeth and started to turn away, letting his hands drag back slowly from the lab table.
As a warm, smooth hand suddenly gripped his, Jack stopped his movement and turned back, raising an eyebrow hesitantly. The look in Carter's eyes told him so much more than any words could, and he was slightly surprised when she actually spoke.
Her gaze dropped from his, and in a sad, soft voice she whispered, "I know."
-
Summary: In Carter's lab, Jack and Sam's conversation takes a different turn.
Timeframe: During "Affinity."
Characters/Pairing: Sam/Jack
Genre: Angst, UST
Rating: G.
Thanks to wanderingsmith for feeding the plot bunny to my muse. :P
If Things Had Been Different
"What about you? If things had been different?"
That was a loaded question, Jack thought, hesitating. If things had been different… Different how? There were so many possibilities. What exactly did she mean? The question was so vague; his answer could be even more so.
If he said that he wouldn't be here, would she know what he meant? Would she know that he meant he'd be with her, that he'd retire for her if he had to? That he'd rather not be a General, rather be watching her six off-world, rather be with her, even if it meant one or both of them would have to transfer?
As he gazed longingly at Sam's face, studying her, he noticed she looked as though she were about to immediately back peddle for self preservation purposes. Jack knew he was taking way too long to answer. He couldn't let her back out, so he just blurted the words out, images of that ring, and who had given it to her blurring across his vision.
Jack pointed at the ring box, and in a surprisingly emotional, husky voice said, "That would be from me."
Oh God. Had he really said that? His gut twisted, and for at least three seconds, he couldn't look her in the eyes.
When he was finally unable to resist seeing her reaction, Jack looked up to find Sam gaping at him in shock, her mouth literally hanging open. Forcing back the bile rising in his throat, Jack clenched his teeth and started to turn away, letting his hands drag back slowly from the lab table.
As a warm, smooth hand suddenly gripped his, Jack stopped his movement and turned back, raising an eyebrow hesitantly. The look in Carter's eyes told him so much more than any words could, and he was slightly surprised when she actually spoke.
Her gaze dropped from his, and in a sad, soft voice she whispered, "I know."
-