#brightclam

It’s a rare opportunity that the original members of SG-1 can get together. However, this week despite all Sam’s doubts, everything has come together without a hitch. There wasn’t a cloud in sight for Saturday. Teal’c made it back to earth and will be staying through Monday. Miraculously, Daniel and her have been able to secure leave that started today and goes through Monday. Jack came back to town last week, DD214 in one hand and a duffel in the other, fully ready to start the next chapter of his life.

Sam and Jack had been seeing each other, with a special dispensation, for the past year and it has all led to this weekend. They will be married in the backyard of his home, which Sam has been living in since she was recalled to the SGC and in which they’ve spent countless barbeques, team nights, and sparingly few long weekends together when they both could get away from their respective responsibilities.

Sam surveys the living room. Daniel is gesturing wildly with a beer bottle in hand. Teal’c was looking on in amusement, if you knew him well enough to accurately interpret the slight quirk of his eyebrow. Meanwhile, Jack, her Jack, sat opposite Daniel in his chair egging Daniel on. She shook her head. It’s Thursday night, the first night with them all together for the long weekend.

Jack suddenly looked in her direction and cocked his head to the side in a silent question when he notices the slight misty look in her eyes. She smiles at him, shakes her head, and looking down at the empty bottles in her hands remembers why she left her spot from the couch next to Daniel.

Jack smiles at her and she rolls her eyes back at him as she turns around and heads to the kitchen.

“Jack! Are you even listening to me?”

Jack returns his gaze to his spacemonkey and takes a sip from his bottle.

“Yes Daniel, I’ve already heard your opinion of Indiana Jones a thousand times. I’m sorry if my mind wanders to my soon-to-be-wife from time to time.”

“Aw, that’s extremely sweet, Jack.” Daniel replies.

“And you are extremely drunk, my friend.”

“And I am sufficiently tired.” Teal’c interrupts the retort on Daniel’s lips.

He stands up and heads toward the kitchen, pausing in between the two men, “Goodnight, Gentlemen. Thank you for the enjoyable evening.”

Teal’c walks into the kitchen to find Sam putting the now-rinsed out bottles into the recycling bin.

“Samantha Carter, I am retiring to the guest bedroom.”

“Aww Teal’c!” She says as she moves closer to him.

Teal’c has long since deciphered the effects of alcohol on his friends. Daniel Jackson gets talkative, expressive, and affectionate. Samantha Carter gets reflective, more open with her feelings, and affectionate. Jack O’Neill (as he has been persuaded to call him since General O’Neill no longer fits) gets introspective, and both more observant and more affectionate than usual. As a not-overly affectionate individual, Teal’c has come to love the ease with which his friends show their affection and drink makes them even freer with it. Teal’c knows his friends’ traits, quirks, and aches. Right now, he knows that Samantha Carter wants a hug, so he opens his arms to her.

Her eyes light up as she snuggles into his body. Teal’c hugs are second to only Jack’s. Teal’c’s mass makes her feel 100% enveloped and safe.

“Thank you so much for making it back to earth.” She muffles into his chest.

“I would not miss your nuptials for anything, Samantha.” He replies.

Teal’c lets her start to slowly sway them in time with the music O’Neill put on once Raiders of the Lost Ark finished, though it wasn’t until the credits were fully finished that the four realized it has ended. Why they insist on having something playing, be it music or the television, when they will only ignore it and talk to each other, is something he’s never quite understood, but he accepts as one of their human quirks.

“You’re so good to us, Teal’c.” Sam says swaying a little more noticeably.

“I am exactly as good to you as you deserve.” He says while slowly moving them in a slightly more coordinated way.

Sam chuckles into his chest and allows him to control their movements.

Back in the living room, an inebriated Daniel turns around to look into the kitchen, to see what’s caught Jack’s eyes.

“Aw they’re adorable.” Daniel tries to whisper when he turns around.

Jack smiles and says, “Yeah, they are.”

“Does it bother you how close we all are with Sam?”

“Not at all. We’re all close, Daniel.” Jack replies.

Daniel meets Jack’s eyes and quickly pulls his eyes down to his hands, now free of the empty bottle he’s placed on the table.

“Daniel,” Jack pauses with a deep breath.

Sam’s laugh reverberates and breaks the slight tension between the two men. They hear her say her goodnight to Teal’c and start to throw the remaining few empty bottles into the bin. After a few moments, they hear the door to the guest room shut. And then there were three.

“I should probably start to make up the couch.” Daniel says slapping his hands onto his knees.

“I’ll get the stuff for you.” Jack says standing, albeit a little slowly which is owed to the bottles that Sam has been taking into the kitchen all evening.

Daniel starts to get up as well, even less steady on his feet and stumbles a bit. Jack easily catches him in his arms helping him retain his balance. Without a though, he pulls Daniel in for a hug.

Daniel has missed Jack’s hugs since he moved to Washington. Even after everything, Jack has always been free with his affectionate pats, shoulder squeezes and his hugs. It’s like he puts all that he is into his hugs, fully embracing and eventually tucking his face into the other person’s neck, as if he wants to breath the essence of the person and take away all the hurt or pain they have.

“Jack, I’m happy for you two.”

Daniel can feel Jack take a deep breath before he slowly pulls back. Jack looks him in the eye and with a completely knowing gaze says “I know you are, Daniel.”

“Guys, I’ve got the stuff for the couch.” Sam says walking into the living room.

“Awesome!” Daniel jumps, trying to move out of Jack’s light hold on his shoulders. When Jack’s hold tightens, Daniel looks at him with a question in his eyes.

“Everything is fine, Daniel.” Jack says as he pulls him back into a hug. Daniel almost falls back into the hug with relief.

Sam smiles at her fiancé and Daniel as she moves behind them to start putting a sheet over the couch.

“Daniel, I know you’re not trying to steal my fiancé, you have to stop worrying.” She tosses back over her shoulder.

Daniel jerks out of the hug, taking a few steps away from Jack, and looks fervently back and forth between the soon-to-be-married couple.

Jack’s hand goes to the back of his neck, as Sam finishes making up the couch.

Daniel’s eyes finally settled on Jack with a question in them.

“I won’t get married with any secrets.” Jack shrugs.

Sam turns around and looks between the two men. Finally, realization dawns. She turns a hard, if slightly unfocused, gaze on Jack.

“You didn’t tell him you told me.”

Jack turns to Sam and gives a shrug.

“Oh my god, Jack.” She shakes her head as she walks up to an almost statuesque Daniel. She wraps him in a hug.

“Daniel, I’ve known about you two for months now.”

Daniel finally moving again, puts his arms around Sam but remains silent.

Sam pulls back from the hug and slowly maneuvers them to the couch and sits them both down. Jack grabs the last two remaining empty bottles, his and Daniel’s, and takes them into the kitchen, giving his two favorite geeks some time.

“Sam, I’m sorry.”

“Whatever for?” Sam exclaims.

“I want you to know there’s nothing there anymore, we tried, it didn’t work, we didn’t want it to interfere with work or-“ Sam cuts him off with a soft hand to his cheek.

“Daniel, I know.” She says softly. “It’s okay.”

“Does Jack know?”

Sam doesn’t even try to look confused by his question. However, before she can answer, Jack replies from the steps leading down into the living room.

“That we’re a weird little incestuous family. Yes, Daniel I know.” He walks up to Daniel and Sam handing them each a glass of water.

“Thank you.” Daniel says softly.

“Thanks.” Sam tells him with love in her eyes.

Jack sits back down in his chair.

Daniel turns his gaze to Sam, “So it doesn’t bother you that Jack and I were together years ago?”

Sam smiles at him, “I’m a little upset that you think it would bother me but no, not at all.”

Daniel smiles at her and then turns to Jack, “And it doesn’t bother you that Sam and I have slept together?”

“Multiple times.” Sam adds.

Jack laughs. “A little upset I didn’t get to witness the two most attractive people I’ve even met get it on, but no I’m not bothered by it.”

Sam grabs Daniel’s hand which pulls his gaze back to her.

“Does it bother you that Jack and I are together and getting married?” She asks sincerely.

“Not at all! I’m so happy for you two and it’s clear you’re meant to be together.”

“Then why would you think it would matter that you and Jack tried it, realized it didn’t work-“ Sam was interrupted by Jack’s snort and turned to glare at him.

“What? It worked!” he said while suggestively wiggling his eyebrows, “We just realized that we didn’t necessary work as a couple.”

“I didn’t mean the sex didn’t work, Jack.” She shook her head with a chuckle and turned back to Daniel, who had an amazed smile on his face.

“See Daniel, we both love you and would never hold anything you’ve done with either of us against you or the other person.”

Daniel nodded and replied, “I think I followed that.”  

“Great, now that we’re all aware that we all know that we’ve all slept together, want to actually sleep together?”

“Jack!” Sam exclaimed.

“I’m kidding! Maybe…” he drawled out.

“Thanks for the offer Jack, but I’m good.” Daniel said with a smile.

“Well if you change you mind,” Sam said as she stood up from the couch.

“I knew it!” Jack exclaimed as he rose to meet his soon-to-be-bride.

Jack wrapped his arm around Sam and placed a lovingly soft kiss on her lips. Pulling back from her, he looked to Daniel.

“You good?”

Daniel wasn’t sure if Jack meant if he was good with the matter, good with the situation, or just good and ready for bed. It didn’t matter. The answer was the same.

“Yeah Jack, I’m good.”

They shared a smile and Jack motioned to Sam, almost asleep on her feet with her head on his chest.

“We’ll see you in the morning.” Jack said as he slowly started to coax Sam into moving towards their bedroom.

“Goodnight guys.” Daniel said to their retreating forms.

“Goodnight Danny.”

“Goodnight Daniel. Love ya.” Came Sam’s muffled reply, already barely audible from the hallway.

Daniel chuckled to himself and was once again amazed and thankful for the friendship shared between all those under this roof. As he settled down, onto the couch he thought this is going to be great weekend.

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I

Jack arrived at the cabin with some supplies and a weird feeling of finality. While he was unpacking the dust that had accumulated while the cabin stood empty seemed to gather in his lungs, and as the time for his first guest’s arrival came closer it got progressively harder and harder to breathe. He stepped out on the porch for some fresh forest air just as the sun started to set, and time seemed endless and not long enough at the same time. He had so much future that needed actual plans but all he could think of was tomorrow.

II

Sam arrived the next day and he Jack suddenly felt angry. Not at her, of course, but at himself, for as he watched her car driving up the path to the cabin, he realised he didn’t know how to greet her. This was Sam for crying out loud! After all this time, after everything it should be easy, and here he were settling for a safe “how was the trip?” and a cowardly retreat. “Would you like a beer?” he asked and hoped she wouldn’t notice how his breath was shaking. There didn’t seem to be enough air inside anymore.

III

The cabin was not overly remarkable, but the surroundings were incredible. Still Sam felt like crawling out of her own skin. He had asked her to come up early and she had agreed, knowing what she hoped he had meant by that, but she felt unsure in a way she had become used to over the years. She hoped that the safeguards she had so carefully placed around her heart had crumbled, but she didn’t dare examine them too closely. What if they had not? When their fingers brushed as he handed her a bottle of beer, she stopped breathing. 

IV

They spent the rest of the day doing cabin things like fishing and dinner and it was all nice and cordial, and neither of them mentioned the elephant in the room that just seemed to grow as the night progressed. By the time the fire in the fireplace had become a soft ember and they both started to make non-committal “let’s go to bed”-noises, only the elephant was left of what little air the cabin once had contained. It wasn’t until her head hit her pillow in her own room that it occurred to her how stupid it all was.

V

She rushed out and nearly ran into Jack. For a moment time stood still, then everything was his hands in her hair and her mouth on his and her hands in his t-shirt and when she let go to breathe it felt like her lungs got oxygen for the first time in a decade. How she had lived without this she didn’t know but now she clung to him as if every part of her not touching him were atrophying.

“We need to talk about this,” she whispered and he nodded.

“We will, tomorrow. Please come to bed with me.”

Epilogue