Second Chances, pt 2
Sam woke slowly and stretched, starting slightly when she felt another body in the bed with her. It had been a while since she had woken in someone’s arms and it threw her off balance for a minute. Then the memories of the night before came flooding back and she smiled, rolling over to wrap her arms around Martouf’s chest.
“Good morning” she greeted him, placing a kiss on his neck.
“Mmmm . . . morning.” He replied with a smile, kissing her on the forehead.
“So . . .” Sam started with a sigh. “I’m expected to come up with a way to get everyone home.” Martouf could hear the reluctance in Sam’s voice. “I know everyone needs to go, to save their realities from the Ori. I just can’t help but wish . . .” Sam trailed off.
Martouf sighed and tightened his arms around Sam, drawing her up so he could kiss her gently on the lips. “I know.” He whispered. “And I’ve been thinking about it. Janet has been a terrific addition to the team in your absence . . . perhaps she could replace me if . . . well . . . something should happen and I ended up stuck here.” Martouf smiled sheepishly at Sam. “It could happen, you know.” He shrugged a twinkle in his eye.
“I can’t ask you to give up everything and everyone you know . . . again . . . just to satisfy my own selfish agenda. I won’t ask you to do that!” Sam kissed him again and moved to get out of bed. Martouf grabbed her around the waist, pulling back into his embrace.
“You . . . she . . . never asked me to leave everyone behind. I chose to, because being with her was all I could think about. All I wanted. And I know that you would never ask me to that. However, I want to. My reality holds little for me now . . . she’s moved on, gotten married, is on maternity leave.” Sam’s eyes widened at this revelation. “I can just as easily and readily fight the Ori here, in your reality, as I can in my own. I can’t let the chance at a full and happy life with you slip away twice. I won’t lose you again . . .” he searched her face for an answer, for any indication that she wanted the same thing.
Sam took a deep breath and smiled softly at Martouf. “I need to think . . . “she snorted softly. “Of course I do.” Sam shook her head at herself. “Look, it may not even matter . . . if I can’t find a way to fix this, everyone will be staying here.”
She didn’t’ even want to consider the implications. Sam leaned in to kiss Martouf deeply and scooted out of the bed, heading to the shower.
~*~*~*~
Sam rolled her head and shoulders, trying to loosen the tense muscles there. She had been poring over all the data in her laptop for hours and, with the help of one of her alternate selves, had finally found a solution. She decided to take a short break before presenting her findings to General Landry.
She headed to the commissary for a cup of coffee, lost in her own thoughts. Martouf’s suggestion kept rolling around in her head. Could she really accept his offer to stay here with her? Was she really ready for that kind of a commitment with anyone, let alone him? She was so focused on her thoughts that she didn’t see Janet coming out of the infirmary and plowed right into her, almost knocking the petite doctor to the ground.
“Oh God, I’m sorry!” Sam started, grabbing her by the arms and steadying her. “Janet!?” she smiled widely and pulled Janet into a tight hug. “I had heard that you were here with Martouf and his team!” Sam could feel her face flush pink at the mention of Martouf.
“Yes, “Janet answered, her eyebrows raising at the flush covering Sam’s face. "I was hoping to run into you!”
“I was just on my way to get some coffee. Join me?” Sam asked, smiling widely when Janet nodded in agreement. The two women got their mugs of coffee and found a table in a quiet corner.
“God, it’s so good to see you again . . . alive!” Sam said.
“I have to say, the news of my . . . well your Janet’s . . . death came as a shock. I’m sorry if it’s hard for you to see me.” Janet smiled apologetically.
“A shock, yes; hard, a little. But it’s so good to see you and talk to you again! I’ve missed you!” Sam blinked away the tears that welled in her eyes. They spent a few minutes catching up when Sam decided to tell Janet about Martouf and his offer.
“I don’t know how much Daniel’s told you” Sam started, “but we lost our Martouf as well, during the whole za’tarc mess. It’s been an . . . adjustment . . . seeing him again too.”
“I can’t even imagine!” Janet smiled sympathetically. “Were you and your Martouf . . . involved?” she asked, raising an eyebrow.
“Um, no it was taking me a while to work through what my feelings were within the jumble of feelings Jolinar had left behind. By the time I had started to figure out that I wanted to be with him, Martouf had become compromised and had tried to kill himself. I fired the zat that killed him.” Sam dropped her eyes to the mug in her hands, again fighting back tears. Janet reached across the table and took one of Sam’s hands in hers.
“And then here we come, years later . . .”Janet’s voice trailed off, and she shook her head.
“Right . . . and it all comes flooding back . . . and I think to myself ‘here’s my . . . our . . . second chance!’ And I let him convince me that it’s a good idea to let go and stop thinking.” Sam stopped talking suddenly and felt her face turn pink again as she realized what she had almost shared with Janet.
Janet squeezed Sam’s hand and smiled warmly. “I think I can guess where things went . . . and I can’t say I’m surprised. He and our Sam are still friends, but I’m sure he wouldn’t pass up a second chance either.”
“Janet, he’s offered to stay behind. To stay here for, with, me. I don’t know if I can let him do that.” Sam searched Janet’s face, as though she was trying to find the answer in the doctor’s brown eyes.
“I can’t say that I’m surprised. I do know that he still loves you . . . her . . . very much. But . . . do you love him?” Janet asked, knowing that even asking that question point blank did not guarantee a straight answer. Some things about the woman sitting across from her were the same in every reality. The pink that tinted Sam’s cheeks told Janet everything she needed to know, even before Sam nodded her head yes.
“I think I do . . . or could. But, it’s a big step to take and huge sacrifice for him to make.” Sam sighed, wishing there was an easy solution.
“Sam, honey, I think he’s already decided that it’s a risk worth taking. My advice? Don’t think too hard.” She smiled at Sam’s chuckle. “Let yourself feel . . . and just go with it.” Janet squeezed Sam’s hand again and moved to stand up. Sam sighed heavily and pushed herself away from the table. She moved around to hug Janet again.
“Thank you.” She murmured, reluctantly letting the tiny doctor go. “God I’m gonna miss you when you go!” Janet squeezed Sam’s hands before releasing her.
“Go, find Martouf. Tell him your decision.” Janet smiled widely at Sam. “Good luck!” she giggled as Sam grimaced slightly.
~*~*~*~
“Martouf?” Sam called his name as she entered her lab, closing the door behind her.
“Samantha. I was just looking over your notes. It’s great that you’ve found a way to get everyone back to where they belong.” He shifted uncomfortably.
Sam opened her mouth to speak, only to produce a soft squeak. She cleared her throat and tried again.
“Not everyone . . .” she started, smiling as she saw the realization of the meaning of her words dawn on him.
“Are you . . . are you sure?” Martouf asked, closing the space between them in a few steps.
Sam nodded, not trusting her voice at all now. She took his face in her hands and kissed him deeply. After what seemed like an eternity, she finally broke their kiss and smiled widely at Martouf.
“I think it’s time to go talk to General Landry.” She said, picking up her notes and leading him out of her lab.
~*~*~*~
Five years later . . .
Sam woke slowly and stretched luxuriously. She couldn’t help the big smile that spread across her face. She rolled over and snuggled closer to the man laying next to her, kissing his neck softly.
“Mmmm . . . “he sighed. “Good morning.” He smiled, tilting her face down to kiss her lips softly.
“Happy anniversary, Martouf.” Sam said softly, reeling a bit at the words.
“Happy anniversary.” He answered back, smiling broadly, his eyes shining.
Life was definitely good, Sam thought. The Ori were finally defeated, as were the Go’auld. The galaxy was finally safe, at least for now anyway. She and Martouf had been given a second chance; they had taken their time and were now celebrating their first wedding anniversary. And now, after all the sacrifices they had both made through out the decades, it was all about to pay off. Sam pushed herself up onto one elbow and gazed into Martouf’s blue eyes.
“Martouf, I have some news. . . “She started, dropping a kiss on his lips. Martouf laid still, knowing he’d have to let her tell him in her own time. “I’m, well, we’re, um . . .” she cleared her throat uncomfortably. “Martouf, you’re going to be a daddy! I’m pregnant!” she blurted out, laughing at the shocked look on his face.
Martouf swept Sam into his arms, kissing her until she was breathless. “Samantha, I love you!” he whispered in her ear, smiling when she blushed.
“I love you too.” She answered, gasping has he flipped her to her back and settling himself between her legs.
Life was good indeed.
~fin~