fic- "So They Lied" Stargate SG-1 Part 13
Title: So They Lied
Author: CJ aka WritinginCT
Fandom: Stargate SG-1
Pairing: Jack/OFC
Rating: Teen - PG13
Warnings: AU, Angst in later chapters
Comments: AU. Jack often has a look of loss and pain in his eyes. Was it all from losing his son or has he lost more than everyone knows?
banner by WritinginCT
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Jack was whistling as he entered the locker room. His conversation with Diana had certainly gone vastly different than he had intended when he went to her office, but in reality so much better than he had thought it would. He spun the combination lock on his locker and thought about how his hand had tingled when they shook hands. It had been the first time that they had ever touched, even casually.
His eye was instantly drawn to an envelope propped up on the shelf in his locker, his name in his own handwriting staring back at him. He shook his head, his other self must have left it for him.
Sitting on the bench he opened it, trying not to be weirded out by words written in his own handwriting that he did didn't remember writing.
“Hey,
Since I know me, and you are me, you're eventually going to come to your senses about Diana. I really hope you do, and do it soon. There isn't anyone that deserves to be happy more than her.
Now, some words of advice to keep you out of doghouse - don't pick on her choice of hockey teams, and whatever you do, don't throw her old Bruins jersey away, no matter what color paint gets spilled on it. A week on the couch isn't great on the back. Stargazer lilies will always get you out of trouble, roses make her wonder what you're up to, and daisies just make her smile.
And two really important things. First, take the woman flying, she loves it almost as much as we do. And the last thing, get her a puppy. A boxer. I thought about it long and hard, I think the reason you two didn't connect was because you don't have a Peanut in your reality. But then again, maybe if we hadn't had a Peanut in my reality she'd still be here, and I'd be in your shoes. I don't know. You know how this stuff makes my head hurt. Anyway, remember what I told you, it's your second chance. Don't blow it, O'Neill”
Jack folded the letter back up and placed it in its envelope. He smacked the envelope against his palm and spoke out loud to his other self, the one that had lost so much, “I won't.”
---------------
Diana's thoughts were all over the place as she drove home. The events of the past week with the other Jack had been thought provoking on their own, but not nearly as mind blowing as the conversation that she had just had with her arch sarcasm rival, Jack. She was glad they had finally cleared the air. And to think that it had all been just a big misunderstanding. She thought about shaking his hand and the shiver it had sent up her spine. She had had physical contact with the other Jack, and it was great, but it didn't compare to the intensity of what she felt from the contact with the Jack in her reality.
---------------
Jack was reaching for two plates when he heard a car pull in the driveway and he instead grabbed four. He had just made it to the door with plates in hand as someone knocked, he opened the door to find the two people he expected, Daniel and Teal'c.
Daniel didn't know exactly what to say to explain their sudden appearance on his doorstep, but he didn't have to in the end, Teal'c took care of it in his stoic, no-nonsense way.
“O'Neill. We do not believe that you should be alone this evening. And we have brought pie, as well as a movie about hockey that I have been assured is a classic Earth film.”
Jack shook his head and stepped aside letting them enter and head for the living room. Sam beamed at the two latest visitors, she should have known that they would show up too. And soon the normal banter and teasing filled the house as the beer flowed and the comedy on the television distracted them all.
General Hammond slowed down as he drove past Jack's house. He had wanted to check on his second-in-command if he had been by himself but George saw both Daniel and Sam's cars and knew that Jack wasn't home alone, wallowing in memories only he had of a woman he had wanted to spend the rest of his life with. As he drove away a faint smile crossed his face as he thought about SG-1. SG-1 wasn't just a team, it was family. An odd, somewhat dysfunctional family, but one that really cared about each other. And one that would always take care of their own.
---------------
The next day was Saturday, and Diana was grateful it was the weekend. She still had boatloads of work to do at the mountain but had learned a long time ago that she needed the weekends to mentally recharge and clear her head. And some weekends were needed more than others, like this one.
She didn't have any plans, and the warm, sunny weather outside made her yearn to have a dog again, she used to love to just take off with her backpack and Peanut and get lost in the woods. She sighed heavily, allowing herself a moment of grief for her lost boxer. Someday, she thought, she would get another boxer.
She allowed herself a moment to think about the other Jack, he had told her that he and his Diana had spent a lot of time outdoors. And she wondered if the Jack in this reality enjoyed it as much as the other.
Diana finally decided to go backpacking for the weekend and quickly showered and put on her jeans and hiking boots. She had just filled her backpack and had grabbed her keys and went to sling the pack over one shoulder when the strap on the ancient pack broke. She cursed out loud but quickly remembered that there was a small outfitter on the way to her favorite hiking spot. She could zip in and buy a new pack on the way.
She was crouched down poking through the lower rack of packs when a familiar voice an aisle over made her pause and stand up.
It only took Jack a second when she popped up to recognize her, but it did take that second. With her hair pulled back in a ponytail, no makeup, and wearing a Bart Simpson t-shirt, she looked ten years younger.
“Diana?”
“Jack. I thought I heard your voice.”
“Well this is a surprise. What are you doing here?”
She made an adorable, well Jack thought it was adorable anyway, pout face and said, “I broke the strap on my pack, and stopped in to get a new one on my way to the trail. I guess it's better that it broke in my living room rather than up on the ridge.”
“You hike the ridge trail?” It was a tough trail, and one of his favorites, and coincidentally where he was heading since it lead to one of his favorite hidden fishing holes.
“Yeah, it's a challenge but it's beautiful up there. So, what about you? Buying something fun?”
“Sorta.” He held up a spool of fishing line. “I'm heading up the ridge to this sweet little fishing hole I found a couple of years ago.”
She smiled and for some reason it made the butterflies in Jack's stomach start fluttering. “Well, it's certainly the perfect day to be outside. And I'd better let you get back to your fishing gear so you don't miss any of it. Have fun.”
“Yeah, you too.” He flashed her a little grin before turning to head for the cash register. He paused a moment at the door and looked down the aisle where he saw that she had picked out a very functional pack, but was now standing at the display of doggy packs and a sad little look flashed across her face before she turned the other way to where the trail meals were displayed.
As he headed out to his truck he thought about what his other self had said and written, and made a decision.
When Diana left the shop she found Jack leaning up against the bumper of his truck and at her questioning look he said, “So I was thinking that since we're both going to hike the ridge that maybe we could, oh I don't know, hike together.”
The comical, hopeful look he gave her made her chuckle and she just had to tease, “If you think you can keep up.”
His mouth dropped open for a second, not exactly believing that she was teasing him so freely, do-overs were a wonderful thing. And he teased back, “You know, just for that you get to clean the fish.”
They hiked, and talked and got to know one another. Any remaining tension between them officially disappeared after their first hour together in the woods. They also found that they were very comfortable touching each other. It started with touches on the arm to bring the other’s attention to something, like the fat wild turkey parading around in a clearing, and moved on to Jack putting his hand out to help steady her over rough terrain, to bumping hips when one or the other made a bad joke. They were comfortable, and enjoying themselves.
They had turned off the main trail after lunch, reaching Jack's secret spot late in the afternoon, and she could see why he loved it. The stream was particularly deep in the area and the area around it was relatively flat and was well shaded. It would be a great place to camp for the night.
In short order they had dropped their packs, and set themselves up for the night. Jack unpacked his fishing gear and headed for the stream. A little while later Diana grabbed a book out of her pack and went and sat next to him.
He glanced over, “Whatcha reading?”
She held up her book so he could see the cover, “The very latest book of Simpsons' Trivia.”
He gave her a wicked grin and threw down the gauntlet, “Hit me with your best shot. I am the master of all things Simpsons.”
Playfully she tossed question after question at him until she finally stumped him and she did a little happy dance where she sat. Jack carefully put his fishing pole down and turned towards her reaching for the book, “Okay, your turn, Lisa.”
With a grin she held the book just out of his reach and he didn't hesitate to lean in further across her to try and reach it. The moment he did however, their eyes locked and the book was forgotten as they each closed the remaining space between them and their lips met in a kiss that deepened from tentative to passionate in mere heartbeats.
When they pulled back Jack could see the humor flashing in Diana's eyes and she teased, “Boy, are we stupid. We should have done that years ago.”
He chuckled and stroked her hair and said, “Guess we'll just have to make up for lost time.” He pulled her back in and claimed her mouth again, enjoying the feeling of her melting into him. This time when they separated the look that passed between them was smoldering. The moment was broken by the whizzing sound of the reel on Jack's fishing pole, something had finally taken the bait. And once the enormous trout was safely reeled in Jack took a moment to look back over to Diana afraid that the moment that was broken couldn't be recreated. And he really wanted to recreate it.
And when in her impish little way she said, “I am so not cleaning that,” Jack realized somehow that all of this was just the beginning for them.
Later on, when the woods were dark and quiet save the crickets and the crackling of their little fire Jack leaned up on one elbow and just looked at the woman sleeping next to him. He pulled the edge of the unzipped sleeping bag covering them up a little so she stayed warm, and she snuggled closer to him. They had eaten Jack's magnificent catch for dinner and when they were done, Jack had built up the fire a little to stave off the bugs and they lounged on their backs on the sleeping bags talking about silly thing from their childhoods and crazy things they had done as teenagers. Jack finally caved in and rolled over and kissed her deeply, when they parted this time there was no doubting the attraction, but he saw something else in her eyes, a hesitancy that surprised him. But the words that followed somehow didn't surprise him, “Jack, I haven't, um, since... “
He didn't know what to say to that, and instead just kissed her again, and when his hand tried to make its way under her t-shirt her hand stopped it, and she whispered, “I have scars, Jack.”
He gritted his teeth for a second, the anger that any man would do the things that he had read that Doug had done to Diana flowing through him. And the idea that she thought he wouldn't want her because of a few scars made him a little sad and he whispered back to her, “So do I. And none of them matter.”
She saw the truth of it in his eyes and this time it was her pulling him in as she kissed him fiercely, leaving no room for doubt that he had said the right thing.
That had been hours ago, and as Jack watched her sleep, he thought of his other self, and now truly understood the pain and longing he had seen on the other man's face. It would be easy to fall in love with this woman. And he could envision having a family and a future with her. He just couldn't imagine being his other self. It wasn't fair on so many levels, not to that Jack, and certainly not to that Diana. He reached over and stroked Diana's cheek gently with his thumb, her eyes opened groggily and she smiled, then saw the sadness on his face, “You're thinking about the other Jack aren't you?”
He nodded sadly but didn't say anything. She reached up and cupped his cheek in her hand in a move reminiscent of what she had done with the other Jack and said, ““He really loved her. I can't imagine what seeing me had to dredge up for him.”
His voice was a little husky as he said, “I can.” And before she could reply he simply pulled her into a tight embrace and held her close until they both went to sleep.
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tbc....
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Chapter List for So They Lied
Author: CJ aka WritinginCT
Fandom: Stargate SG-1
Pairing: Jack/OFC
Rating: Teen - PG13
Warnings: AU, Angst in later chapters
Comments: AU. Jack often has a look of loss and pain in his eyes. Was it all from losing his son or has he lost more than everyone knows?
banner by WritinginCT
---------------
Jack was whistling as he entered the locker room. His conversation with Diana had certainly gone vastly different than he had intended when he went to her office, but in reality so much better than he had thought it would. He spun the combination lock on his locker and thought about how his hand had tingled when they shook hands. It had been the first time that they had ever touched, even casually.
His eye was instantly drawn to an envelope propped up on the shelf in his locker, his name in his own handwriting staring back at him. He shook his head, his other self must have left it for him.
Sitting on the bench he opened it, trying not to be weirded out by words written in his own handwriting that he did didn't remember writing.
“Hey,
Since I know me, and you are me, you're eventually going to come to your senses about Diana. I really hope you do, and do it soon. There isn't anyone that deserves to be happy more than her.
Now, some words of advice to keep you out of doghouse - don't pick on her choice of hockey teams, and whatever you do, don't throw her old Bruins jersey away, no matter what color paint gets spilled on it. A week on the couch isn't great on the back. Stargazer lilies will always get you out of trouble, roses make her wonder what you're up to, and daisies just make her smile.
And two really important things. First, take the woman flying, she loves it almost as much as we do. And the last thing, get her a puppy. A boxer. I thought about it long and hard, I think the reason you two didn't connect was because you don't have a Peanut in your reality. But then again, maybe if we hadn't had a Peanut in my reality she'd still be here, and I'd be in your shoes. I don't know. You know how this stuff makes my head hurt. Anyway, remember what I told you, it's your second chance. Don't blow it, O'Neill”
Jack folded the letter back up and placed it in its envelope. He smacked the envelope against his palm and spoke out loud to his other self, the one that had lost so much, “I won't.”
---------------
Diana's thoughts were all over the place as she drove home. The events of the past week with the other Jack had been thought provoking on their own, but not nearly as mind blowing as the conversation that she had just had with her arch sarcasm rival, Jack. She was glad they had finally cleared the air. And to think that it had all been just a big misunderstanding. She thought about shaking his hand and the shiver it had sent up her spine. She had had physical contact with the other Jack, and it was great, but it didn't compare to the intensity of what she felt from the contact with the Jack in her reality.
---------------
Jack was reaching for two plates when he heard a car pull in the driveway and he instead grabbed four. He had just made it to the door with plates in hand as someone knocked, he opened the door to find the two people he expected, Daniel and Teal'c.
Daniel didn't know exactly what to say to explain their sudden appearance on his doorstep, but he didn't have to in the end, Teal'c took care of it in his stoic, no-nonsense way.
“O'Neill. We do not believe that you should be alone this evening. And we have brought pie, as well as a movie about hockey that I have been assured is a classic Earth film.”
Jack shook his head and stepped aside letting them enter and head for the living room. Sam beamed at the two latest visitors, she should have known that they would show up too. And soon the normal banter and teasing filled the house as the beer flowed and the comedy on the television distracted them all.
General Hammond slowed down as he drove past Jack's house. He had wanted to check on his second-in-command if he had been by himself but George saw both Daniel and Sam's cars and knew that Jack wasn't home alone, wallowing in memories only he had of a woman he had wanted to spend the rest of his life with. As he drove away a faint smile crossed his face as he thought about SG-1. SG-1 wasn't just a team, it was family. An odd, somewhat dysfunctional family, but one that really cared about each other. And one that would always take care of their own.
---------------
The next day was Saturday, and Diana was grateful it was the weekend. She still had boatloads of work to do at the mountain but had learned a long time ago that she needed the weekends to mentally recharge and clear her head. And some weekends were needed more than others, like this one.
She didn't have any plans, and the warm, sunny weather outside made her yearn to have a dog again, she used to love to just take off with her backpack and Peanut and get lost in the woods. She sighed heavily, allowing herself a moment of grief for her lost boxer. Someday, she thought, she would get another boxer.
She allowed herself a moment to think about the other Jack, he had told her that he and his Diana had spent a lot of time outdoors. And she wondered if the Jack in this reality enjoyed it as much as the other.
Diana finally decided to go backpacking for the weekend and quickly showered and put on her jeans and hiking boots. She had just filled her backpack and had grabbed her keys and went to sling the pack over one shoulder when the strap on the ancient pack broke. She cursed out loud but quickly remembered that there was a small outfitter on the way to her favorite hiking spot. She could zip in and buy a new pack on the way.
She was crouched down poking through the lower rack of packs when a familiar voice an aisle over made her pause and stand up.
It only took Jack a second when she popped up to recognize her, but it did take that second. With her hair pulled back in a ponytail, no makeup, and wearing a Bart Simpson t-shirt, she looked ten years younger.
“Diana?”
“Jack. I thought I heard your voice.”
“Well this is a surprise. What are you doing here?”
She made an adorable, well Jack thought it was adorable anyway, pout face and said, “I broke the strap on my pack, and stopped in to get a new one on my way to the trail. I guess it's better that it broke in my living room rather than up on the ridge.”
“You hike the ridge trail?” It was a tough trail, and one of his favorites, and coincidentally where he was heading since it lead to one of his favorite hidden fishing holes.
“Yeah, it's a challenge but it's beautiful up there. So, what about you? Buying something fun?”
“Sorta.” He held up a spool of fishing line. “I'm heading up the ridge to this sweet little fishing hole I found a couple of years ago.”
She smiled and for some reason it made the butterflies in Jack's stomach start fluttering. “Well, it's certainly the perfect day to be outside. And I'd better let you get back to your fishing gear so you don't miss any of it. Have fun.”
“Yeah, you too.” He flashed her a little grin before turning to head for the cash register. He paused a moment at the door and looked down the aisle where he saw that she had picked out a very functional pack, but was now standing at the display of doggy packs and a sad little look flashed across her face before she turned the other way to where the trail meals were displayed.
As he headed out to his truck he thought about what his other self had said and written, and made a decision.
When Diana left the shop she found Jack leaning up against the bumper of his truck and at her questioning look he said, “So I was thinking that since we're both going to hike the ridge that maybe we could, oh I don't know, hike together.”
The comical, hopeful look he gave her made her chuckle and she just had to tease, “If you think you can keep up.”
His mouth dropped open for a second, not exactly believing that she was teasing him so freely, do-overs were a wonderful thing. And he teased back, “You know, just for that you get to clean the fish.”
They hiked, and talked and got to know one another. Any remaining tension between them officially disappeared after their first hour together in the woods. They also found that they were very comfortable touching each other. It started with touches on the arm to bring the other’s attention to something, like the fat wild turkey parading around in a clearing, and moved on to Jack putting his hand out to help steady her over rough terrain, to bumping hips when one or the other made a bad joke. They were comfortable, and enjoying themselves.
They had turned off the main trail after lunch, reaching Jack's secret spot late in the afternoon, and she could see why he loved it. The stream was particularly deep in the area and the area around it was relatively flat and was well shaded. It would be a great place to camp for the night.
In short order they had dropped their packs, and set themselves up for the night. Jack unpacked his fishing gear and headed for the stream. A little while later Diana grabbed a book out of her pack and went and sat next to him.
He glanced over, “Whatcha reading?”
She held up her book so he could see the cover, “The very latest book of Simpsons' Trivia.”
He gave her a wicked grin and threw down the gauntlet, “Hit me with your best shot. I am the master of all things Simpsons.”
Playfully she tossed question after question at him until she finally stumped him and she did a little happy dance where she sat. Jack carefully put his fishing pole down and turned towards her reaching for the book, “Okay, your turn, Lisa.”
With a grin she held the book just out of his reach and he didn't hesitate to lean in further across her to try and reach it. The moment he did however, their eyes locked and the book was forgotten as they each closed the remaining space between them and their lips met in a kiss that deepened from tentative to passionate in mere heartbeats.
When they pulled back Jack could see the humor flashing in Diana's eyes and she teased, “Boy, are we stupid. We should have done that years ago.”
He chuckled and stroked her hair and said, “Guess we'll just have to make up for lost time.” He pulled her back in and claimed her mouth again, enjoying the feeling of her melting into him. This time when they separated the look that passed between them was smoldering. The moment was broken by the whizzing sound of the reel on Jack's fishing pole, something had finally taken the bait. And once the enormous trout was safely reeled in Jack took a moment to look back over to Diana afraid that the moment that was broken couldn't be recreated. And he really wanted to recreate it.
And when in her impish little way she said, “I am so not cleaning that,” Jack realized somehow that all of this was just the beginning for them.
Later on, when the woods were dark and quiet save the crickets and the crackling of their little fire Jack leaned up on one elbow and just looked at the woman sleeping next to him. He pulled the edge of the unzipped sleeping bag covering them up a little so she stayed warm, and she snuggled closer to him. They had eaten Jack's magnificent catch for dinner and when they were done, Jack had built up the fire a little to stave off the bugs and they lounged on their backs on the sleeping bags talking about silly thing from their childhoods and crazy things they had done as teenagers. Jack finally caved in and rolled over and kissed her deeply, when they parted this time there was no doubting the attraction, but he saw something else in her eyes, a hesitancy that surprised him. But the words that followed somehow didn't surprise him, “Jack, I haven't, um, since... “
He didn't know what to say to that, and instead just kissed her again, and when his hand tried to make its way under her t-shirt her hand stopped it, and she whispered, “I have scars, Jack.”
He gritted his teeth for a second, the anger that any man would do the things that he had read that Doug had done to Diana flowing through him. And the idea that she thought he wouldn't want her because of a few scars made him a little sad and he whispered back to her, “So do I. And none of them matter.”
She saw the truth of it in his eyes and this time it was her pulling him in as she kissed him fiercely, leaving no room for doubt that he had said the right thing.
That had been hours ago, and as Jack watched her sleep, he thought of his other self, and now truly understood the pain and longing he had seen on the other man's face. It would be easy to fall in love with this woman. And he could envision having a family and a future with her. He just couldn't imagine being his other self. It wasn't fair on so many levels, not to that Jack, and certainly not to that Diana. He reached over and stroked Diana's cheek gently with his thumb, her eyes opened groggily and she smiled, then saw the sadness on his face, “You're thinking about the other Jack aren't you?”
He nodded sadly but didn't say anything. She reached up and cupped his cheek in her hand in a move reminiscent of what she had done with the other Jack and said, ““He really loved her. I can't imagine what seeing me had to dredge up for him.”
His voice was a little husky as he said, “I can.” And before she could reply he simply pulled her into a tight embrace and held her close until they both went to sleep.
---------------
tbc....
---------------
Chapter List for So They Lied