fic- "So They Lied" Stargate SG-1 Part 14
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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It took Jack a few days to really get back to being himself, and General Hammond made a point of keeping SG-1 busy. The days turned into weeks, then months and Diana wasn't ever mentioned. The sad, far-away look Jack would sometimes get the only external sign that Jack was thinking about her.
It was several months since their trip through the mirror and General Hammond was surprised to see a leave request cross his desk from Jack. The reason for the leave was listed as “personal” and it made Hammond curious as Jack's leave requests generally had “fishing” listed.
After a recon mission briefing Hammond asked to see Jack in his office for a moment regarding the leave request. In an uncharacteristically quiet and serious voice Jack told him exactly what the leave was for.
Two weeks later Jack stepped into the parole hearing for Doug Canning, wearing his dress blues with every ribbon and medal he had earned proudly displayed and his picture of he and Diana from his locker tucked near his heart. He cut an impressive figure and even Paul Davis was impressed, although confused as to why Jack was there to begin with. Canning simply glared, he had no idea who exactly who Jack was or why exactly he had shown up at his parole hearing.
When the parole panel asked if there was anyone there to speak on the victim's behalf Jack stood up, and after being acknowledged, he cleared his throat gently and began to speak, “There are a few people in this room that knew Diana. And for those of you who didn't get the opportunity to know her, you missed out. She was smart and funny, and loved to laugh. She was someone who really cared about people, and would do anything for a neighbor. Children adored her and she wanted to adopt a houseful; she would have been a wonderful mother,” Jack had to pause and swallow hard to keep his emotions in check before continuing, “She loved this country, and worked tirelessly on projects for our government that help our military keep this country safe. Diana was the type of person that made this world a better place, a more optimistic place. To be cliche' she was the glass is always half full type of person, someone that could always see the light at the end of the tunnel, and someone that could find the good in any situation. I know this meeting is about Doug Canning's suitability for parole, but I don't want what he took from this world to be forgotten. Diana was a incredible human being, someone who was as beautiful on the inside as she was on the outside. And Doug Canning left her to drown on her own blood on their front porch after almost beating her to death with his own hands. And I'm here to say that five years in prison isn't enough of a payment for what he took. Those of us that were lucky enough to know and care about Diana miss her every single day and will always miss her. And I respectfully ask as one of those people that you deny Doug Canning's request for parole. Thank you.”
No one would ever know how many times Jack had practiced that speech at home. He had worked on it and worked on it until he finally though it was perfect. Or as perfect as he could get it anyway. He could see the fury in Canning's eyes and secretly wished the man would try something, anything, that would let Jack just beat him to a pulp.
Paul Davis was floored, he had absolutely no idea that Jack knew Diana. She had never mentioned it to him in all the time that they worked together. It seemed odd. He didn't have time to dwell on it however as it was his turn to speak. Paul's words were polished, and eloquent, but didn't quite carry the emotional weight that Jack's had.
When the panel adjourned to deliberate and make their decision Jack and Paul found themselves sitting together with a coffee on a bench in the hallway. Paul's curiosity finally got the better of him and he said, “Sir, I wasn't aware that you knew Diana.”
Jack looked down at his coffee, “Do you remember a short report crossing your desk about two years and a half years ago about my wife?” The question was vague enough that anyone listening in wouldn't make anything of it.
Paul though hard for a moment, and then he remembered the report. It had been extremely light on details, and the name of Jack's wife had never been listed. Paul's quick mind rapidly put two and two together, “Diana, Sir?”
Jack had looked up and Paul could see the pain in his features, he didn't reply but simply nodded.
Paul's mind raced now that he had a real person to put in context to the report. Knowing Diana well, he could see her with the Colonel. And although Jack was far from perfect, and had some rough edges at times, he was a good man, and would have treated Diana well. Knowing what it had to cost Jack to come to Washington and speak at this hearing, he felt for Jack. He couldn't help but smile though, because if anyone could have kept the infamous Jack O'Neill on his toes, it would have been Diana. Jack shot him a questioning look at his smile and he said, “Sorry, Sir. I just... well, I could see the two of you together. She was an amazing woman.”
“Yes, she was.” Came Jack's succinct reply.
A few minutes later the clerk reconvened the meeting. Doug's parole was denied. Jack closed his eyes for a moment and let out the breath he didn't realize he had been holding. Canning was furious and his lawyer was trying unsuccessfully to keep him calm, and when his gaze fell on Jack the look on his face turned murderous. Jack just smirked and stepped closer to Canning and said in a flat, deadly tone, “Every time, Canning. I will be here every single time. I hope you enjoy prison.”
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Jack and Diana slipped into a relationship as easily as slipping on well-broken in boots. There had been a goodly amount of teasing at the mountain when folks there found out about them, people were just used to the sarcastic volleys flying between them, the sight of them sitting together eating lunch and laughing was something totally new and different.
The rest of SG-1 were thrilled for Jack. He had been alone a long time, and since he and Diana had mended their fences, he was much more relaxed and some of his rough edges had been smoothed.
Supporting each other came very naturally for them both, in spite of their past. Diana helped Jack get through the anniversary of Charlie's death, and he went with her to Washington to Doug's parole hearing. And they were both finding it pleasant to be with someone that they didn't have to lie to about their work.
It didn't take this Jack as long as the other Jack to decide that he wanted Diana to become a permanent fixture in his life. Maybe it was because they had already known each other for a couple of years or maybe it was because he had been given a glimpse of what their life together could be like from the other Jack, either way Jack had made up his mind and went ring shopping.
He had been racking his brain trying to figure out how to propose to Diana. Nothing seemed right. And the ring had been burning a hole in his pocket for a week when an opportunity presented itself.
SG-1 had been invited to a special formal dinner at the White House hosted by the President and First Lady. It was for those on the Hill that knew about the Stargate program as well as their Russian counterparts. Teal'c was the only member excused from attending, and Jack knew that Sam and Daniel had already claimed each other as an escort.
Jack had been noticing that his two resident geniuses had been spending more time together than usual. He purposely decided not to investigate that further, although he knew that the two of them were in the same boat as Jack had been before his relationship with Diana. Dating someone outside the program was difficult at best. Besides being unable to talk about what they actually did, their frequent and sometimes extended time off world played havoc on any relationship. Jack had gotten very lucky with Diana. He didn't know exactly what, if anything, was going on between Sam and Daniel, but if by some fluke it was something, he was happy for them. They both deserved to be happy.
Jack planned on taking Diana to the White House dinner knowing that her clearance level was high enough for her to attend without a problem. He found himself looking forward to taking her to something where she could really shine, she was wonderful with the politicians and other dignitaries. He also figured that having Diana on his arm might, just might, keep him out of trouble. Besides, he was dying to see her all decked out in an evening gown; they were both very casual people outside of work and he hadn't seen her really dressed up and he was curious.
The four of them checked into their hotel the day of the dinner, and found that they could only get three rooms close together, someone would have to be on a different floor. Personally Jack and Diana thought it was ludicrous that they needed two rooms, but the White House had made the arrangements and given that they weren't married, they got two rooms. Daniel volunteered to take the odd room out, leaving the rooms with the adjoining door for Jack and Diana with Sam in the room across the hall from them.
It was only a few hours before the dinner, and Sam and Diana had hair and manicure appointments at the hotel salon leaving Jack and Daniel to their own devices. The two women had formed a casual and friendly working relationship when Diana had arrived at the SGC, in many ways they were very similar women, both independent and strong minded. As Diana's relationship with Jack grew, it was often the four of them getting together and sometimes five when Teal'c came as well, and the two women found themselves banding together against the boys' teasing.
The women dropped their bags in their rooms and headed for the salon. Sam seemed a little more excited than usual to Diana, and she was babbling, “I can't wait to see Daniel in tuxedo.” And there it was, Diana thought, she should have know. Diana let a little smirk curl the corners of her mouth but didn't tease Sam, she knew first hand how hard it was to find someone, and if Sam and Daniel's friendship had morphed into to something more than friendship she was happy for them both.
The two men were having a beer in the hotel bar. Daniel could see Jack pat his pants pocket every once and a while, like he was checking to make sure something was still there. Finally he couldn't stand it anymore and said, “It's still there, Jack, you don't have to keep checking.”
Jack hadn't been aware that Daniel had noticed and replied, “What... ?”
Daniel sipped his beer and gesturing towards Jack's pocket teased, “Whatever is in your pocket that you're afraid of losing.”
Jack looked a little sheepish, “Oh. That.”
“Something you want to talk about?”
Jack put his hand in his pocket then paused, “Before I show you this, I just want to stress that contrary to the jokes around the base, we did in fact send the right Jack O'Neill back through that mirror six months ago.”
Daniel was even more confused, those particular half-serious jokes had started shortly after Jack and Diana had started seeing each other. “Okayyy... I believe you. I think.”
Jack pulled out the little velvet jeweler's box and placed in on the bar and said, “I'm going to ask Diana to marry me.”
Daniel looked at the box then to Jack, “That's... well, that's great, Jack. I got the impression you two were pretty serious but I honestly didn't see this coming for a while yet.”
“We're good together. And I don't want to waste any more time.”
“What do you mean by waste any more time?”
As they drank their beer Jack told him about the whole misunderstanding about Paul Davis. And he told Daniel about the conversation he had with his other self, and about the note the other Jack had left. “He said she was a second chance at being happy and having a family. And he was right. She makes me happy, and I didn't think I'd find that again, Daniel.”
“Yeah, I know all about that.”
“It made me really think about this whole “saving the world” thing we do. I mean what's the point of saving the world if you don't have someone to share it with?”
Daniel sighed, “Well there is that, I guess.”
Jack took another sip of his beer, and without looking at Daniel, instead fixing his eyes on the mirror behind the bar he said, “You know, that really is something you should consider.”
Daniel met his eyes in the mirror, “What?”
“Your own second chance.” The look he gave Daniel was a knowing one.
“Jack... “ Daniel started, he wanted to explain, but Jack cut him off, it was a conversation as their commanding officer that he just couldn't have without being forced to do something about it, like splitting up SG-1, and that was unacceptable.
“Daniel. I'm just saying, don't miss out on your second chance.” His eyes held Daniel's for long moment and Daniel didn't say anything but simply nodded in acknowledgment, knowing that even though he couldn't actually say the words that Jack had given them his approval.
They finished their beers and Jack threw some money on the bar, “Well, guess it's time to go change and get this dog and pony show on the road.” He picked up the ring box and tucked it safely away in his pocket again.
As they headed towards the elevator Daniel asked, “So when you gonna ask her?”
“I haven't exactly figured that part out yet.”
“Do you know what you're going to say?”
“I haven't quite figured that out yet, either.”
They reached the elevator and punched in their two floors and Daniel teased, “So what have you figured out?”
Jack gave him a flat expression, “I bought the ring, didn't I? I figured I'd handle the rest of it like we always do.”
Daniel snorted, “You mean you're going to make it up as you go along aren't you?”
“Yep.”
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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
---------------
It took Jack a few days to really get back to being himself, and General Hammond made a point of keeping SG-1 busy. The days turned into weeks, then months and Diana wasn't ever mentioned. The sad, far-away look Jack would sometimes get the only external sign that Jack was thinking about her.
It was several months since their trip through the mirror and General Hammond was surprised to see a leave request cross his desk from Jack. The reason for the leave was listed as “personal” and it made Hammond curious as Jack's leave requests generally had “fishing” listed.
After a recon mission briefing Hammond asked to see Jack in his office for a moment regarding the leave request. In an uncharacteristically quiet and serious voice Jack told him exactly what the leave was for.
Two weeks later Jack stepped into the parole hearing for Doug Canning, wearing his dress blues with every ribbon and medal he had earned proudly displayed and his picture of he and Diana from his locker tucked near his heart. He cut an impressive figure and even Paul Davis was impressed, although confused as to why Jack was there to begin with. Canning simply glared, he had no idea who exactly who Jack was or why exactly he had shown up at his parole hearing.
When the parole panel asked if there was anyone there to speak on the victim's behalf Jack stood up, and after being acknowledged, he cleared his throat gently and began to speak, “There are a few people in this room that knew Diana. And for those of you who didn't get the opportunity to know her, you missed out. She was smart and funny, and loved to laugh. She was someone who really cared about people, and would do anything for a neighbor. Children adored her and she wanted to adopt a houseful; she would have been a wonderful mother,” Jack had to pause and swallow hard to keep his emotions in check before continuing, “She loved this country, and worked tirelessly on projects for our government that help our military keep this country safe. Diana was the type of person that made this world a better place, a more optimistic place. To be cliche' she was the glass is always half full type of person, someone that could always see the light at the end of the tunnel, and someone that could find the good in any situation. I know this meeting is about Doug Canning's suitability for parole, but I don't want what he took from this world to be forgotten. Diana was a incredible human being, someone who was as beautiful on the inside as she was on the outside. And Doug Canning left her to drown on her own blood on their front porch after almost beating her to death with his own hands. And I'm here to say that five years in prison isn't enough of a payment for what he took. Those of us that were lucky enough to know and care about Diana miss her every single day and will always miss her. And I respectfully ask as one of those people that you deny Doug Canning's request for parole. Thank you.”
No one would ever know how many times Jack had practiced that speech at home. He had worked on it and worked on it until he finally though it was perfect. Or as perfect as he could get it anyway. He could see the fury in Canning's eyes and secretly wished the man would try something, anything, that would let Jack just beat him to a pulp.
Paul Davis was floored, he had absolutely no idea that Jack knew Diana. She had never mentioned it to him in all the time that they worked together. It seemed odd. He didn't have time to dwell on it however as it was his turn to speak. Paul's words were polished, and eloquent, but didn't quite carry the emotional weight that Jack's had.
When the panel adjourned to deliberate and make their decision Jack and Paul found themselves sitting together with a coffee on a bench in the hallway. Paul's curiosity finally got the better of him and he said, “Sir, I wasn't aware that you knew Diana.”
Jack looked down at his coffee, “Do you remember a short report crossing your desk about two years and a half years ago about my wife?” The question was vague enough that anyone listening in wouldn't make anything of it.
Paul though hard for a moment, and then he remembered the report. It had been extremely light on details, and the name of Jack's wife had never been listed. Paul's quick mind rapidly put two and two together, “Diana, Sir?”
Jack had looked up and Paul could see the pain in his features, he didn't reply but simply nodded.
Paul's mind raced now that he had a real person to put in context to the report. Knowing Diana well, he could see her with the Colonel. And although Jack was far from perfect, and had some rough edges at times, he was a good man, and would have treated Diana well. Knowing what it had to cost Jack to come to Washington and speak at this hearing, he felt for Jack. He couldn't help but smile though, because if anyone could have kept the infamous Jack O'Neill on his toes, it would have been Diana. Jack shot him a questioning look at his smile and he said, “Sorry, Sir. I just... well, I could see the two of you together. She was an amazing woman.”
“Yes, she was.” Came Jack's succinct reply.
A few minutes later the clerk reconvened the meeting. Doug's parole was denied. Jack closed his eyes for a moment and let out the breath he didn't realize he had been holding. Canning was furious and his lawyer was trying unsuccessfully to keep him calm, and when his gaze fell on Jack the look on his face turned murderous. Jack just smirked and stepped closer to Canning and said in a flat, deadly tone, “Every time, Canning. I will be here every single time. I hope you enjoy prison.”
---------------
Jack and Diana slipped into a relationship as easily as slipping on well-broken in boots. There had been a goodly amount of teasing at the mountain when folks there found out about them, people were just used to the sarcastic volleys flying between them, the sight of them sitting together eating lunch and laughing was something totally new and different.
The rest of SG-1 were thrilled for Jack. He had been alone a long time, and since he and Diana had mended their fences, he was much more relaxed and some of his rough edges had been smoothed.
Supporting each other came very naturally for them both, in spite of their past. Diana helped Jack get through the anniversary of Charlie's death, and he went with her to Washington to Doug's parole hearing. And they were both finding it pleasant to be with someone that they didn't have to lie to about their work.
It didn't take this Jack as long as the other Jack to decide that he wanted Diana to become a permanent fixture in his life. Maybe it was because they had already known each other for a couple of years or maybe it was because he had been given a glimpse of what their life together could be like from the other Jack, either way Jack had made up his mind and went ring shopping.
He had been racking his brain trying to figure out how to propose to Diana. Nothing seemed right. And the ring had been burning a hole in his pocket for a week when an opportunity presented itself.
SG-1 had been invited to a special formal dinner at the White House hosted by the President and First Lady. It was for those on the Hill that knew about the Stargate program as well as their Russian counterparts. Teal'c was the only member excused from attending, and Jack knew that Sam and Daniel had already claimed each other as an escort.
Jack had been noticing that his two resident geniuses had been spending more time together than usual. He purposely decided not to investigate that further, although he knew that the two of them were in the same boat as Jack had been before his relationship with Diana. Dating someone outside the program was difficult at best. Besides being unable to talk about what they actually did, their frequent and sometimes extended time off world played havoc on any relationship. Jack had gotten very lucky with Diana. He didn't know exactly what, if anything, was going on between Sam and Daniel, but if by some fluke it was something, he was happy for them. They both deserved to be happy.
Jack planned on taking Diana to the White House dinner knowing that her clearance level was high enough for her to attend without a problem. He found himself looking forward to taking her to something where she could really shine, she was wonderful with the politicians and other dignitaries. He also figured that having Diana on his arm might, just might, keep him out of trouble. Besides, he was dying to see her all decked out in an evening gown; they were both very casual people outside of work and he hadn't seen her really dressed up and he was curious.
The four of them checked into their hotel the day of the dinner, and found that they could only get three rooms close together, someone would have to be on a different floor. Personally Jack and Diana thought it was ludicrous that they needed two rooms, but the White House had made the arrangements and given that they weren't married, they got two rooms. Daniel volunteered to take the odd room out, leaving the rooms with the adjoining door for Jack and Diana with Sam in the room across the hall from them.
It was only a few hours before the dinner, and Sam and Diana had hair and manicure appointments at the hotel salon leaving Jack and Daniel to their own devices. The two women had formed a casual and friendly working relationship when Diana had arrived at the SGC, in many ways they were very similar women, both independent and strong minded. As Diana's relationship with Jack grew, it was often the four of them getting together and sometimes five when Teal'c came as well, and the two women found themselves banding together against the boys' teasing.
The women dropped their bags in their rooms and headed for the salon. Sam seemed a little more excited than usual to Diana, and she was babbling, “I can't wait to see Daniel in tuxedo.” And there it was, Diana thought, she should have know. Diana let a little smirk curl the corners of her mouth but didn't tease Sam, she knew first hand how hard it was to find someone, and if Sam and Daniel's friendship had morphed into to something more than friendship she was happy for them both.
The two men were having a beer in the hotel bar. Daniel could see Jack pat his pants pocket every once and a while, like he was checking to make sure something was still there. Finally he couldn't stand it anymore and said, “It's still there, Jack, you don't have to keep checking.”
Jack hadn't been aware that Daniel had noticed and replied, “What... ?”
Daniel sipped his beer and gesturing towards Jack's pocket teased, “Whatever is in your pocket that you're afraid of losing.”
Jack looked a little sheepish, “Oh. That.”
“Something you want to talk about?”
Jack put his hand in his pocket then paused, “Before I show you this, I just want to stress that contrary to the jokes around the base, we did in fact send the right Jack O'Neill back through that mirror six months ago.”
Daniel was even more confused, those particular half-serious jokes had started shortly after Jack and Diana had started seeing each other. “Okayyy... I believe you. I think.”
Jack pulled out the little velvet jeweler's box and placed in on the bar and said, “I'm going to ask Diana to marry me.”
Daniel looked at the box then to Jack, “That's... well, that's great, Jack. I got the impression you two were pretty serious but I honestly didn't see this coming for a while yet.”
“We're good together. And I don't want to waste any more time.”
“What do you mean by waste any more time?”
As they drank their beer Jack told him about the whole misunderstanding about Paul Davis. And he told Daniel about the conversation he had with his other self, and about the note the other Jack had left. “He said she was a second chance at being happy and having a family. And he was right. She makes me happy, and I didn't think I'd find that again, Daniel.”
“Yeah, I know all about that.”
“It made me really think about this whole “saving the world” thing we do. I mean what's the point of saving the world if you don't have someone to share it with?”
Daniel sighed, “Well there is that, I guess.”
Jack took another sip of his beer, and without looking at Daniel, instead fixing his eyes on the mirror behind the bar he said, “You know, that really is something you should consider.”
Daniel met his eyes in the mirror, “What?”
“Your own second chance.” The look he gave Daniel was a knowing one.
“Jack... “ Daniel started, he wanted to explain, but Jack cut him off, it was a conversation as their commanding officer that he just couldn't have without being forced to do something about it, like splitting up SG-1, and that was unacceptable.
“Daniel. I'm just saying, don't miss out on your second chance.” His eyes held Daniel's for long moment and Daniel didn't say anything but simply nodded in acknowledgment, knowing that even though he couldn't actually say the words that Jack had given them his approval.
They finished their beers and Jack threw some money on the bar, “Well, guess it's time to go change and get this dog and pony show on the road.” He picked up the ring box and tucked it safely away in his pocket again.
As they headed towards the elevator Daniel asked, “So when you gonna ask her?”
“I haven't exactly figured that part out yet.”
“Do you know what you're going to say?”
“I haven't quite figured that out yet, either.”
They reached the elevator and punched in their two floors and Daniel teased, “So what have you figured out?”
Jack gave him a flat expression, “I bought the ring, didn't I? I figured I'd handle the rest of it like we always do.”
Daniel snorted, “You mean you're going to make it up as you go along aren't you?”
“Yep.”
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tbc...
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Chapter List for So They Lied