Chasing The Wind

Pete screamed her name as if she was a child and he was about to reprimand her. “What the hell!” Pete repeated in a more demanding shrill voice than he’d used even screaming her name. What the hell!" 

“Oh, shit!” Jack exclaimed a second time only louder. ‘Stupid, stupid, stupid man thinks he has a chance with her using that tone!’ he thought as he hurriedly pulled his clothes back on. He’d never talked to her like that and he was her commanding office, but he respected her and valued his life.

“Hey, boy! Just who in the hell do you think you are and who do you think you’re talking to?” Jack’s anger flared and his voice was that of a commanding officer chewing out an airman.

Pete snapped an angry reply not caring who Jack was or who the hell he thought he was. “Who the hell are you to talk to me that way?!” Pete was mad. Mad because he felt that Sam had betrayed him and mad because he realized he didn’t have much chance with her after what he just witnessed.

Jack started toward him. Sam grabbed his arm and pulled him around to face her. Both fear and anger flared like homing beacons, but she stood her ground. Silence filled the room and Jack understood every non-spoken word.

Smiling, he stepped aside and waved her on. Pauly… was just about to get it, only he just didn’t know it. Yet. “It’s your house, Major.”

Sam gave Jack her most brilliant smile and then it turned off as fast as it turned on as she turned back to Pete.

“You, you slut! Does you brother know about your little whoring ways? This is how you got to the rank of Major? Prostituting yourself!”

“Get out! And don’t ever come back!” She advanced toward him, but he started walking to the door.

“Don’t worry. Why would I want to be involved with a tramp? Bet your brother’s gonna want to know this. He can’t understand how you’ve been promoted so fast.” Pete snarled the words as if she was a perpetrator and he was the bad cop interrogating her.

Before he could move past her, her fist met his nose. “What the hell!” Pete straightened up and took a step toward her, but Jack’s voice stopped him.

“I’d think twice, Pauly boy. She could’ve broken it if she’d wanted to.” She’s a level four in hand to hand. Bet you’ve never fought a level four, have you boy?

Pete stared at her then looked at Jack with such an evil hateful gleam, but he said nothing. Sam stood in a ready stance waiting for him to make another move. “I’m telling you, you’ll be sorry,” Jack’s sing song voice was filled with humor. “Guess I’ll just grab me a set and watch her beat your ass.”

Pete backed toward the door and then as he opened it he slurred hurtful words toward Sam, “Slut, don’t worry, I wouldn’t touch you now if you were the only woman on Earth. I’ve had my share of whores and unfaithful bitches.”

“Carter, if he doesn’t leave soon, I’m not going to be responsible for my actions. He’s out of time.” Jack’s look was pure evil, one that Pete recognized. He walked out and slammed the door. They could hear him as he loudly proclaimed, “Good riddance,” on the other side of the door.

Jack moved to Sam and pulled her into his arms. She was shaking. He just held her tight and they swayed together for several minutes saying nothing. Her body finally began to relax and she stopped shaking. Jack moved his head from the curve of her neck and drowned in her eyes. They were filled with unshed tears creating a shinning brightness.

“Hey, it’s okay.” Jack knew she was on a cross roads. Being caught red handed by anyone was something that she would have hated. But the probability that her brother was going to find out was the worst, and she knew what he would think when he did.

Sam and Mark used to be close, really close. But when she joined the Air Force Mark had put her in the same class as their father because he still blamed the Air Force and his father for their mother’s death. He hadn’t exactly disowned Sam, but he’d made it clear that he wasn’t happy with her life choices.

That had hurt her very badly, because as a younger sibling she had idolized Mark. He’d been her playmate, her protector, her friend and her hero until she announced on her nineteenth birthday that she had been accepted into the Officer’s training courses for the Air Force. She had just received her first BS degree.

She knew Mark wouldn’t like it, but she felt it was her best advantage to get into NASA which had been her dream for many years. Besides, she wanted to be a pilot; she had always loved planes and adored every opportunity to fly with her father.

The distance between them only increased as years moved on. Sam was stationed in too many places, too far away from Mark and eventually their emotional distance equaled their physical distance. But she still loved Mark and still sought his approval almost as much as when she was a child.

As if Jack could read her mind he quietly suggested, “You call Mark, before Mr. Potato Head has a chance.” She smiled and the tears stopped. Then she started to giggle. Her giggles turned into outright laughter and before long the tears were streaming down her face again.

“Sam?” Jack was baffled. “What’s so funny?” It took several minutes for her to stop laughing and answer him.

“Just… just think about it Jack. It is funny. Us bursting through the door, and me stripping you naked, well partly naked and then….. with Pete watching. Did you see his eyes? It is funny! Then you call him…. Mr. Potato Head. Well it just cracks me up!” Her giggles started before she could finish her sentence.

“I’m glad you find it so funny.” He said but he was laughing too. Anything that made Carter smile was okay by him, and for her to really laugh, well it just made his day. …..Almost as much as the previous activities had. Almost…..

After they had pulled themselves together, Sam found her purse and took out her cell phone. Finding Mark’s number she pushed the call button and waited. It only took two rings before Mark answered. “Hello, Sam, how’s everything. You and Pete having a good time?” Pete was Mark’s friend. He had introduced them and then talked Sam into going out with Pete.

“That’s what I’m calling about, Mark. Pete.. Uh.. Well….”

“Sam, let me tell him.” Jack said realizing she wasn’t going to be able to tell Mark. He held out his hand for the phone. She gave it to him and waited.

“Mark, this is Jack O’Neill, Sam’s CO. We just wanted you to be the first to know that Carter and I have decided to get together… …as in a couple. And… it seems that Pete may have… uh..seen more that he wanted. Well, anyway, here’s Carter.” Jack smirked as he handed back her phone.

“Gee thanks, sir!” Sam’s eyes were as big as Pete’s had been. “Now I really have to explain!”

Jack could hear Mark yelling over the phone, “Sam! Sam! What’s going on… Sam!”

“Mark, Mark, please stop yelling. I can hear you just fine.” She paused a moment and it gave Mark time to start with the questions.

“What did he mean Sam? How can you be a couple? Isn’t he your CO? Sam? What about Pete? He’s really crazy about you. Are you going to mess that up because of an old Air Force Colonel? Isn’t he too old for you? Sam? Why would you want him? Sam? Sam? You better start explaining this!” He finally had to breathe.

“If you’ve finished with twenty questions, I’ll try to answer…. I love him, Mark. That’s all there is to it. We’re together and that’s that. I don’t need to explain anything. I just wanted to tell you before Pete calls you.”

“What did he mean; Pete saw more than he wanted?” Mark asked.

“Well….., he was here when we came home…. We… we didn’t know anyone was here… Well… you get the picture I’m sure.”

“Yeah, my kid sister really messed this one up. Way to go Sam. Just when I find someone decent for you, you do this!”

“Now what a minute, Mark! First thing, I don’t need you to find anyone for me. I do fine without your help! Second, he wasn’t as decent as you think. Anyway, I just wanted you to know that I’m serious about Jack before you hear from Pete. He called me a few choice names and I’m sure he’ll have a lot to tell you.”

“I’ll call you back, Sam. That’s Pete now trying to get me.”

“Mark, don’t bother. I have nothing else to say right now.” With that last sentence, Sam slammed shut her phone. “I wish he could have heard that.”

“Heard what?” Jack asked watching the emotion play across her face.

“Me, slamming the phone shut.”

Jack chuckled and wrapped her in his arms. “There’s one more person we have to tell before Pete can cause too much ruckus.” He whispered against her neck causing goose bumps to pop up and down her body.

“Right now? Don’t you think it’s too late?”

“No. We need to be the ones he hears it from. Besides, it’s only 1100 hours he couldn’t have been asleep long.” Jack smirked at her.

“He’s not going to like it.”

“Oh, I don’t know. I think he’s been expecting it for a long time.” Jack answered her gazing into the bluest eyes he’d ever seen. “Have I ever told you how beautiful you are?”

“Do you really think I’m beautiful?” Jack pulled back with a jerk and a startled expression crossed his face.

“Carter? Are you serious? Don’t you know how beautiful I think you are? Don’t you know how beautiful you are?” As he watched the emotions play across her face Jack realized that she didn’t. It was a serious question for her. “God, Carter….Sam…You’re the most gorgeous, sexiest woman I’ve ever known.”

“I know you think I’m pretty and sexy, but beautiful? Really Jack…”

“No, Sam. You are beautiful…. …from the top of that gorgeous blonde head to the tip of your big toe. Sam, you’re beautiful inside as well.” He kissed her then letting her know with actions what he’d just told her with words. Pulling back and wrapping his arms tightly around her, he whispered in her ear. “My beautiful Carter. Mine.”

“We had better call the General now or he could hear it from someone else.” Jack said after looking into her eyes for a few long moments, debating with himself. He really wanted to take her to the bedroom, but Jack knew this was too important to take lightly. The General needed to know from them not someone else.

“I love you, baby. No matter what’s said or what happens. No one’s keeping us apart.”

0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0

“General, I’m glad you agreed to see us so late. I’m sorry to cause you all this trouble.” Jack said as General Hammond showed Sam and him into his den.

“What’s up Jack? It has to be important for you to call at this late hour.”

“Well, General, Sir…. Uh… Carter and I,” he hesitated looking at Sam for help, but she didn’t say a word. In fact she looked as if she would throw up at any second. No help from her!

“Jack?” General Hammond encouraged. He could tell this was about them. Not that he hadn’t been expecting this conversation for some time, but it did surprise him that it finally was going to take place and in his den apparently.

0o0o0o0o0oo0

“He took that pretty well.” Jack said as he helped Sam into the truck and shut her door.

When he walked around the truck and got in Sam answered, “All of it. Even the bit about Pete… uh..seeing us.”

“Didn’t think he was gonna stop laughing at that. What if we’d told him what you were doing!” Jack chuckled.

“He got the picture. I’m sure of it. The whole picture I’m afraid.” Sam never blushed more in her life. It was the single most embarrassing thing of her life. The fact that Pete had actually seen them bothered her a lot less that having to tell General Hammond what Pete had seen. Well almost tell him. They hadn’t explained details. The General got the picture just fine.

“You think he can persuade the Joint Chiefs and the President to agree?” She asked Jack.

“What? To let us be together? Or agree to my resignation?” He asked. “I told you it doesn’t matter what they say. I told him too. I mean it Sam. I’m not giving you up.”

Jack gathered her, pulled her to him and kissed her sitting in his truck in front of General Hammond’s house as if to make a point.