Near Yet Far – Parts 4 - 6

~*~

Part Four

~*~

“ Oh and every time I'm close to you,

There’s too much I can't say,

And you just walk away.”

~ ‘I love you’, Sarah McLachlan.

~*~

Sitting in the centre of the busy room, Gardam tried to contain her interest and mild disgust. She had gathered the women helping to make her presentable were courtesans and she felt uncomfortable knowing these were women who slept with strangers for money.

“ Excuse me,” she spoke up eventually. “ Can I ask you something?”

“ Of course,” Veronica smiled politely down on her. “ You are a guest of the King. You may ask us what you wish.”

Smiling a little smugly at having some power over them, Gardam looked from one pretty face to the next. “ That woman we passed in the hallway, the one I bumped into, who is she? What’s her story?”

Veronica snorted as the others shook their heads, wearing identical expressions of envious annoyance. “ *She* is the King’s favourite. She is the one most want to be with but cannot because the King protects her.” She leaned in conspiratorially. “ She is trouble, you should warn your companions. Some say she has powers over men to make them desire her. I do not know if that is true but there *is* something strange about her so be careful.”

“ You speak nonsense, Veronica,” the slightly older woman from the corner of the room chided sharply. Gardam looked past the others to where Karalynn was sitting in a chair, sewing a dress. “ Do not be swayed by their petty jealousy,” she warned Gardam. “ There is nothing in Samantha that can be threatening to anyone. She is a kind, gentle woman with a good heart. Perhaps she is desired so because she has a sweet nature, something *you* would know little of, Veronica.”

“ You have been as blinded by her as the King has,” Veronica dismissed her claims with the wave of her hand and sat down in the chair beside Gardam. “ Your companions are handsome. Are they married?”

Gardam shook her head. “ They were all married once, I think. I know Doctor Jackson – that’s the one who was wearing glasses – was married but his wife died.”

“ So they’re available?” Veronica’s eyes gleamed.

“ Would it matter if they weren’t?” Gardam shot back evenly. She tilted her head to one side. “ I’m sorry if I sound harsh but I didn’t think that mattered to.. umm.. women like you.”

“ It doesn’t,” Veronica laughed. “ I was wondering if any of them were married to you. It is unusual for a woman to travel with men she is not related to or married.”

A one-shoulder shrug was Gardam’s response. “ We’re not a usual team. SG-1 is a team of explorers and I’m one of them.” She sighed and looked at her hands. “ For now, at least.”

“ Is there a chance you won’t be with them for long?” Veronica question curiously.

“ If my team mates find their friend, a woman named Sa-” Her voice trailed off and her head snapped up. “ Did you say that woman we passed was called Samantha?”

Once again, a shadow crossed over veronica’s face. “ Yes, that is her name. Why?”

“ No reason,” Gardam replied hurriedly, her eyes drifting to the door as it opened. Low and behold, Samantha Carter stepped in, followed by a very young looking woman. Without so much as looking at the other courtesans, the two newcomers crossed the room to where Karalynn was sitting. “ As I was saying,” Gardam continued, raising her voice so Sam could hear. “ They’re looking for a missing friend to take her home but I’m pretty sure I won’t be replaced on the team. We’re all pretty close,” she added, watching as Sam looked up. “ Personally as well as professionally. In fact, I wouldn’t be surprised if Colonel O’Neill and myself get *a lot* closer once he’s able to put finding their former team mate behind him. I think he’ll probably be able to give up searching soon, and get over the guilt of letting her go.”

A small smile tugged at her lips as Sam got up and left the room, her two companions staring confusedly at the door after her. Gardam ignored the tiny tug of remorse at having caused the haunted woman she’d felt pity for earlier even more pain but she quashed it immediately, telling herself that she had to do this, had to use her opponents weakness, to ensure her position. Now all she had to do was keep SG-1 from seeing Sam, who hopefully would remain quiet now she thought her team mates had moved on, and in a few days, they would leave Velenthia and her position on SG-1 would be guaranteed for the future.

“ Can you take me back to my team now?” She asked, smiling sweetly. “ I think I should warn them about the woman.”

“ Of course.” Veronica got to her feet and offered her a hand. “ I will take you back to them immediately.”

Gardam followed, walking as fast as she could with the extra weight of the clothing she was unaccustomed to wearing. She was verging on desperation, wanting to get to her team to make sure they didn’t get the opportunity to discover her lies. She didn’t know why she’d said she was close to Colonel O’Neill when in actual fact she knew he barely tolerated her but, then again, she’d heard the gossip, she’d seen the evidence. Although no one knew for certain that Colonel O’Neill and Major Carter were sleeping together, it was obvious that her disappearance had affected the Colonel greatly. Gardam had gone with her suspicions and said those things in the hopes they would disillusion Sam’s hopes of going home and keep the other woman from letting the others know she was there.

With that thought in mind, Gardam quickened her pace, justifying her actions by telling herself she deserved the place on SG-1 more than some General’s daughter did, telling herself it was all of *her* hard work at stake.

~*~

“ How much longer do you think we’ll be kept waiting?” Jack asked with a heavy sigh, pacing in front of the fireplace. He was nervous, on edge. He just wanted to find out if she was here and leave – hopefully with her.

“ Jack, I’m sure he’ll be here soon. He’s the King, he’s probably very busy,” Daniel tried to placate him.

“ Your companion is right, I am busy.” A tall, elegant-looking greying-haired man stood in the doorway, his handsome face warm and welcoming. “ Yet I still apologise for keeping you waiting so long.”

“ Your Majesty.” Daniel lowered his head for a few seconds. “ I’m sorry for our impatience.. We’re very anxious to see you..”

The King smiled in amusement. “ Do not apologise. It is I who should apologise to you. Please,” he motioned to the chairs with his hand. “ Be seated and we shall talk.” He took the chair at the head of the table, watching as Jack and Daniel each took on at his side and Teal’c sat down next to Daniel. “ You.” The King motioned to Teal’c, his tone one that expressed interest. “ You are not like your companions.”

“ I am not,” Teal’c agreed solemnly. “ I am a Jaffa. The Goa’uld enslaved my people. I was in service to the Goa’uld Apophis before I joined O’Neill and Doctor Jackson in their battle against the Goa’uld,” Teal’c explained, able to do so when he sensed no naquada emanating from the King.

“ Now would be a good time to introduce ourselves,” Daniel put in with a smile. “ I’m Doctor Daniel Jackson, you’ve met Teal’c, and this is Colonel Jack O’Neill. Our.. fourth.. person is Captain Andrea Gardam, she was taken to be properly attired.”

“ Akima told me,” the King answered conversationally. “ I understand you are here looking for trade and a missing friend?”

“ Yes, in a way.” Daniel gave him a nod and folded his hands on the table in front of him. “ We travel through the Stargate looking for new allies and technology to aid us in our fight with the Goa’uld. However, our main reasoning behind coming to Velenthia is to find a missing team mate of ours, a friend who was taken against her will to the planet Belethia where she was traded to someone. We were given a list of places she might have gone to from there and Velenthia was on the list.”

“ I see.” The King rested his chin on his hand and turned unexpectedly to Jack. “ I sense that the mention of your missing friend saddens you deeply.” His voice was low and warm, not at all threatening or intrusive. “ You feel a great deal of pain at her loss, and feel sometimes that the sadness with never leave.” Jack looked up in surprise and opened his mouth to protest but the King merely held up a hand to stop him, smiling serenely. “ Please, I do not mean to intrude. I am merely intrigued about the woman you are looking for. Perhaps if you tell me about her, describe what she looks like, I may be able to find out if she had been purchased by someone in my kingdom.”

Jack nodded and took a deep breath, picturing Sam in his mind. “ She..” He cleared his throat to clear the unexpected lump he found there. “ Her name is Samantha Carter. She’s tall, slender.. She has blond hair, blue eyes.. A great smile.. She’s.. She’s strong, too,” he smiled a little at that. “ You’d know her if you saw her.”

“ She sounds very beautiful,” the King smiled strangely, some kind of respect shining in his eyes.

“ She is.” Jack agreed with a pained smile.

“ Ah,” Daniel slid a picture across the table. “ This is her. Taken a few months before she was taken.”

The King picked up the picture and studied it intently, a wistful smile playing on his lips as he took in the happy faces smiling back up at him. He swallowed the lump in his throat and slid the picture back across the table towards Daniel. Looking at Jack, he smiled sadly. “ I feel the sadness within you may be soon forgotten, even if it is for only a short amount of time.”

The doors to the room opened and they all looked up to see Gardam walk in, looking a little flushed, behind the same woman who had taken her from the room. “ Your Majesty,” Veronica curtseyed.

“ Veronica, thank you for your assistance. You may go.” The King dismissed her with the wave of his hand and stood with the male members of SG-1. “ You must be Captain Gardam,” he turned to her. “ It is a pleasure to meet you.”

“ Likewise, your Majesty.” Gardam smiled sweetly, though no one missed the slightly worried glance she darted in her team mates direction.

“ If you would excuse me,” the King spoke again, addressing Jack. “ I have some business to attend to.” He tilted his head to one side. “ I would be honoured if you would consent to being my guests for the remainder of your stay here in Velenthia. My advisors will answer all and any questions you have on our city and technologies and we would welcome an alliance with you against the Goa’uld. They have not been here in recent life-cycles but there are records that suggest they were here many, many life-cycles ago,” he continued. “ You will all be given comfortable rooms and are most welcome to join me at meal times, if you wish to stay.”

“ That’s a very generous offer, thank you.” Jack didn’t have to think twice about accepting, especially as both Daniel and Teal’c gave him nods of encouragement even though Gardam seemed a little put out. “ We accept.”

“ Excellent,” the King beamed at them. “ I will send someone to take care of you at once. You may wish to change your attire to feel comfortable about my people - clothing will be supplied.”

“ Thank you.” Daniel and Jack said in unison as Teal’c nodded his thanks. The King smiled at them one last time and left the room. “ He wasn’t what I was expecting,” Jack murmured to Daniel.

“ What? You were expecting the fur-trimmed robe and heavy crown, too?” Daniel looked at him curiously.

A small smile graced Jack’s lips. “ I was expecting someone a little.. rounder.. Most Kings.. they eat *a lot*.”

The two men looked at each other and grinned, the thought hitting them at the same time that their conversation was completely pointless. It was good, though. Even Teal’c smiled a little. For the first time in months, it seemed like the old SG-1 was back and they were all acting like themselves.

“ We’re staying here?” The voice was an unwanted reminder that things weren’t what classed as ‘normal’ for them and they all turned to stare at her. “ I mean, I was just taken to see some courtesans.. You know what they are, right?” Her disgust was evident.

“ They’re women earning a living,” Daniel responded coolly. “ It’s part of their culture, who are we to judge?”

Gardam scowled and folded her arms across her chest. “ Fine, but don’t say I didn’t warn you.”

“ Warn us about what?” Jack asked with an impatient sigh.

“ There’s a particular courtesan, apparently she’s the King’s favourite.” She lowered her voice for dramatic effect. “ According to the others, she’s dangerous. It’s like she has all of the men under her spell.”

Jack stared at her and rolled his eyes. “ Consider us warned, Gardam.”

“ Sirs?” There was a timid voice at the door. A timid, familiar voice. “ Ma’am?”

Daniel was the first to turn and see who it was. “ Hi Nicholi.”

“ Daniel Jackson,” Nicholi bowed his head. “ I have been sent to act as a guide. If you follow me, I will show you to your rooms and then I will give you a tour of the palace and it’s grounds. The King said you are to join him tonight for supper.”

“ Thank you,” Daniel smiled kindly at him. “ And you can call us by our names, you know. It’s just Daniel, Jack, Teal’c and.. Captain.”

Gardam bristled as Jack struggled to keep the grin off his face. He casually sauntered out of the room after Daniel and Nicholi, clapping his friend on the back as he caught up. Teal’c inclined his head to one side and waited for her to leave first, partly as it was what he did. Partly to hide the small smile on his face

~*~

A smile curled up the corners of her mouth even though her mood was dark. She couldn’t help it as she stood near the fountain in the centre of Velenthia’s market. All around her, people were living. Even those who didn’t have much, they were happy with what they had. Two children played a game on they understood on one side. On another, an elderly woman bartered good-naturedly for the lowest price she could get on some fabric, laughing and joking with the seller.

Sam sat down on the stonewall surrounding the fountain and watched the lives around her go on. She remembered what she’d over-heard and shook her head to dismiss the sour thoughts the memory brought with it.

After bumping into that woman in the hallway, Sam’s mind had been racing. It had taken a few minutes for it to penetrate through her thoughts that the woman had been wearing a SGC uniform. Once it had sunk in, Sam had turned to go back the way she’d come to find Evelyn coming towards her with tears in her eyes. Comforting the young woman had taken priority over all else and Sam had led Evelyn back to the main chamber to see if Karalynn was there, knowing the slightly older woman was more likely to have some words of wisdom to impart.

It was there she’d lay eyes on the woman for the second time, and there she had heard what she feared – that her team had moved on and forgotten about her, that they were looking for her purely because they felt responsible.

She’d expected – and hoped – that they wouldn’t dwell on her disappearance. That they would do all they could but eventually find peace – like she’d wanted them to do if she ever died on a mission. She wanted them to move on and get on with their lives but she hadn’t anticipated how much it would hurt and how hard it would be. Sam told herself she was being selfish, but that didn’t make it easier. Not at all.

She decided, sitting there by the fountain, that she’d lay low until they left. They would give up eventually and move on completely. She didn’t want to stir things up again by suddenly reappearing and confusing everything and everyone.

It was better this way, that was what her head said.

Eventually, her heart would agree.

Sam didn’t know how long she’d been sitting there, just watching, but she figured it was quite a while given that the children she’d been watching had gone home and the crowds swarming the market had thinned out. She was too distracted to notice the people looking curiously at her, wondering what she was doing outside alone. Her mind was focused on the people she would never see again; her father, her brother, her nephew and niece, Janet, Cassandra, General Hammond, Daniel, Teal’c, Colonel O’Neil.. It was then her eyes would sting and she’d have to close them to keep the tears from escaping.

“ There is an element of mystery about you, almost an aura, that no one can explain and that, coupled with your beauty, is why they are so taken with you.” The voice, although a surprise, was not completely unexpected. The King sat down beside her and took her hand, bringing it to his lips so he could press a kiss to her knuckles. “ It is an enchanting combination, my dear.”

“ I thought you were going to be involved in business all day?” Sam asked with a smile, entwined her fingers with his, feeling nothing but affection for the man who had taken such good care of her and given her more that she could have wanted.

“ I was,” he answered simply. “ But I changed my plans so I could spend some uninterrupted time with my favourite girl.”

“ Favourite girl,” she repeated with a soft sigh. “ You have no idea how much trouble I could get into if you said that in front of the wrong people.”

The King was immediately concerned. “ Is there a problem, Samantha? Are you being harassed by someone because of me?”

“ No.” She forced a weak smile and gave his fingers a squeeze. “ No more than usual. I can handle it.”

He, however, wouldn’t let it drop. “ Something is bothering you, Samantha. Please, tell me. Perhaps I can help ease your troubles?”

“ This is out of even your control,” she told him honestly, feeling a swell of appreciation at his sincere offer to solve her problems for her. “ But thank you for offering to try.”

They sat in silence for a while, enjoying each others company as they watched life pass them by, oblivious to the looks and stares and whispers. As the air around them cooled and the people in the market packed up to return home, the King realised he couldn’t’ put if of any longer and got to his feet, still clutching her hand in his. “ Walk with me, Samantha?”

“ Sure.” She let him help her to her feet, smiling a little when his arm slipped around her waist, keeping her close. They walked a short distance through the city, eventually coming to where the forest on the other side of the city opposite where the Stargate was began. “ There’s something wrong, isn’t there?”

For his part, he didn’t try to deny it. “ I have a.. request.. to put to you.”

“ Go ahead.” Sensing his discomfort, she knew it was something she wasn’t going to like.

He hesitated, wondering how to word it. In the beginning, because he had been so taken with her, refreshed by her independent spirit, they had reached an agreement. He would make as few appointments for her with other men in exchange for companionship. It made her the most wanted courtesan because she wasn’t so readily available and it gave them the chance to spend hours talking by the fire in his study or reading books by the fire in the library. It was an arrangement both enjoyed and were grateful for, a platonic relationship that went that went beyond mere friendship. It was also one of the reasons it was always difficult to assign her appointments and ask her to do something he knew she didn’t want to do.

“ I hate to have to ask this of you, Samantha, but I need you to do this.” He stopped walking and withdrew his arm, twisting to face her as he took both of her hands in his. “ I need you to tend to someone tonight, the leader of some travellers. I know I told you there would be no more occasions where your.. skills.. would be required in this moon-cycle but things have changed. We have the possibility of making a strong new ally against the Goa’uld, should they ever return here.” The King gazed pleadingly into her blue eyes. “ After hearing your stories of the Goa’uld, I feel the need to strengthen the chances of my people against them.”

Sam was silent for a few moments, then an unreadable expression crossed over her face and she inclined her head to one side. “ Who is he? I mean, where’s this man you want me to see to from?”

“ A place called Gythel,” the King lied, immediately feeling bad for it but knowing what her reaction would be if she knew the truth, knowing she would refuse. “ You look surprised. Were you expecting him and his followers to be of somewhere else?”

“ I.. I thought I saw someone from Earth earlier.. Wearing an SG-uniform,” she answered softly, lowering her eyes so he couldn’t see what she was feeling in them.

He reached out and tilted her face up towards him.” If I heard your friends were here, I would send for you immediately if that was what you desired.”

“ It isn’t.” Sam murmured decisively. “ Not anymore.” A sad smile curved up her lips. “ My home is here on Velenthia now. I just have to learn to accept that.”

“ I will do all I can to help you,” the King promised her earnestly, tenderly cupping her cheek. “ Your happiness is one of my top priorities, Samantha. I may never be able to let you go but I will do all I can to help you adjust to your new life here with me.”

“ Thank you.” She turned her head into his palm and pressed a kiss against her skin there. “ And in answer to your request, yes. I will tend to who ever you want me to if it’s what you need.”

“ Then it is I who should be thanking you.” He smiled down on her and dropped his hand from her face, reaching to find her hand. “ I should also be thanking whatever forces brought you to me.”

The hairs on the back of her neck stood on end as her skin tingled. Sam felt eyes burning into her back and turned away from the King to see who was there, finding nothing but the path they’d walked along. Still feeling as though they were being watched, her eyes canned the tree line around them, searching for something or someone well hidden.

“ Samantha? My dear?” The King’s voice brought her attention back to him. “ Is something wrong? Are you not feeling well?”

His concern was touching but she was too preoccupied to notice it. “ I think we should go back,” she answered slowly, eyes still searching. “ It’s getting late and I need to prepare myself.”

“ Very well.” The King nodded, unconvinced by her answer but let her begin to lead him back to the palace.

It wasn’t until they were inside the walls surrounding the palace that the sensation faded. Sam stopped at the doorway, looking over her shoulder but seeing only the guards on duty at the gate, she allowed the King to usher her inside.

Someone had been watching them, she was almost one hundred percent sure. The questions foremost in her mind were who and, more importantly, why someone was doing that.

~*~

The King dined with the members of SG-1, all who had changed into clothes that were more suitable for blending in to life on Velenthia. Their meal was the equivalent of a feast, and as well as the King, they were joined by several of his advisors and introduced to some of the Lords and Ladies of Velenthia.

After what seemed like hours, the last guest departed, leaving the King and the team mates alone. They adjourned to the King’s private dining area as the King said he felt more comfortable in there and spent another hour listening to the King’s stories about the city and his family. When Gardam asked about his wife, the King went silent, his expression distant as his eyes shone suspiciously. That was the end of the conversation as he excused himself shortly after that, telling them he would see them at breakfast tomorrow.

“ What?” Gardam asked defensively as her team mates glared at her. “ I was just asking a question!”

“ A stupid question,” Daniel corrected harshly, his thoughts automatically going back to his own wife and the pain he felt at loosing her. “ It’s none of our business how she died and wouldn’t have achieved anything.”

“ How do you know?” Gardam argued. “ Maybe he killed her, maybe our lives are in danger here with some crazed courtesan and a King who might have killed his wife to be with her!”

“ Shut up,” Jack ordered sharply. “ It’s his business, not ours. And will you *please* stop going on about that damn courtesan! It’s all you’ve been talking about all day!”

Gardam scowled but remained silent. The door to the chamber opened and Nicholi stepped in, looking nervous, having heard the argument from outside.

“ Are you ready to adjourn to your rooms now?” He asked timidly.

“ More than ready.” Daniel stood up first, followed by Teal’c, casting a disgruntled look in Gardam’s direction. As they left, Gardam stormed after them, obviously annoyed her warnings had gone unheeded and Jack followed slowly, wondering what had got into her. He trailed behind them just enough so he could hear the conversation without being dragged into it. “ Why are you still here, Nicholi? Isn’t it a little late for you to be going home?”

A dark blush stained the young boy’s cheeks. “ I.. I am staying here tonight,” he stammered nervously. “ With a friend,” he added softly. Both Daniel and Jack grinned at the admission as Gardam narrowed her eyes in disgust. Teal’c didn’t react either way.

They reached Gardam’s room first and no one was particularly bothered when she went into it and locked the door without saying goodnight. Next it was Teal’c who left, then Daniel. Finally, Jack and Nicholi reached his room and said goodnight before going their own separate ways.

Pushing open the door, Jack watched until Nicholi was out of sight before stepping in fully and closing the door behind him, reaching for the light switch seconds before remembering there wasn’t one there.

“ Damn.”

It was then he turned away from the door and realised the need for a light switch was an unnecessary one. The fire had been lit in the fireplace and there was an oil lamp on the bedside table that was glowing. There were also some candles on the windowsill, their flames flickering in a breeze he couldn’t feel.

Sighing to himself, he walked over to the bed and sat down. He was halfway through pulling off his boots when he noticed her. The silhouette of someone standing by the other window in the room, the woman with her back to him, gazing out of the window at the stars, looking as though she had no idea he was there.

“ What the..” He stood up as though the bed were on fire and narrowed his eyes as he stared at her. Blond hair cascaded halfway down her back, coming to rest where the laces of dress’s bodice were tied neatly. He remembered telling the King about Sam, and realised what he’d done – he’d all but described the type of woman he went for. Daniel had warned him, when they’d be walking with their guides, that it was common in 15^th century Europe for women to be used to strengthen trade agreements and alliances, sent to entertain the leader of the party with whom the King wished to make an agreement with. Out of SG-1, that was him.

Taking a step forward, he noticed the tense line of her shoulders and realised she was probably as uncomfortable as he was. “ I.. I think there’s been some kind of mistake,” he spoke up, his voice seeming even louder than it was in the quiet room. “ You’ve.. You’ve been called unnecessarily.. I know.. Erm.” It was one of the few times he wished he could talk his way out of problems like Daniel. Then he stopped wishing for that, picturing the bumbling archaeologist try to talk himself out of a situation like this, realising he probably stood a better chance at being able to. “ If you have to be here, we can.. You don’t have to do anything. We’ll just pretend in the morning.”

The woman stayed statue-still, failing to react at all to his words. Just as Jack was about to say something else, she spoke softly, her accent an unusual one, sounding half Velenthian as well as something else. “ You do not wish me to stay?”

“ I.. It’s not that you’re not pretty.. I’m sure you are,” he stuttered nervously. “ I’m sort of.. involved with someone.”

“ Your female companion?” She pressed in the same quiet tone.

Intrigued, he took a step closer but as she was standing in the shadows and facing away from him, he couldn’t see her face or reflection in the glass pane. “ No. Not her,” he admitted softly, unable to tear his eyes away from her. “ Someone else. Someone special.. Someone I’m looking for. It’s kind of a quest,” he continued weakly, unsure what it was about this woman that had him confessing all to her. “ You see, she.. she went missing a while ago, and the only reason I’m here is to find her. The only reason I do this anymore is so I can find her, and take her home. Where she belongs.” He swallowed the lump in his throat. “ With me.”

“ Then consider your search over,” the woman told him simply as a tear slid down her cheek at his confession, her voice losing its Velenthian edge and sounding more like the accent he was used to. Jack frowned and opened his mouth to speak but found he couldn’t as she turned to face him, lifting her head so she could look him in the eyes. “ You’ve found her, but your quest is a futile one. I can’t go back. Not anymore. Velenthia is my home now.”

Jack moved his mouth but no words came out. He just stared at her, into those blue eyes he’d feared he’d never see again, taking in every detail of her face, taking note of all the differences in her appearance and filing them away in his memory.

Standing before him, with eyes that glistened in the moonlight, was Samantha Carter, not the one he remembered but a version of her.

The search was finally over. So why did it feel like something was still missing?

~*~

“ Like a star that guides a ship across the ocean,

That’s how your love can take me home back to you,

And if I wish upon that star – someday I’ll be back where you are,

I know that day is coming soon - yeah I’m coming back to you.”

~ ‘Back to You’, Brian Adams.

~*~

Part Five

~*~

“I am here to tell you we can never meet again

Simple really, isn't it, a word or two and then

A lifetime of not knowing where or how or why or when

You think of me or speak of me or wonder what befell

The someone you once loved so long ago so well.”

~ ‘Written in the Stars’, Elton John & LeAnn Rimes

~*~

The sense of peace he’d been expecting when he found her was absent. The joyful, happy reunion he pictured was shattered. It just wasn’t to be.

Sam stood in front of him, her heart pounding so loudly in her chest she was sure he could hear it. He hadn’t said anything, not since she’d turned round and revealed who she was. From the way he was staring at her with eyes that were wide with shock, she wasn’t sure if that was a good thing or not. He was looking at her as though he were seeing a ghost. In a way, she reasoned, he was.

A ghost of a person he never thought he’d see again. A woman who was a shadow of her former self, reduced to this because of circumstance.

She lowered her eyes again, afraid of what she’d see when he realised she was still the woman he’d first thought she was, a courtesan sent to please him, afraid to stare into the eyes she’d been dreaming off and seeing disgust, ashamed for the first time in a long time for what she had done to survive.

Turning back to the window, she waited for him to speak, closing her eyes tightly to keep the tears she felt forming at bay. Her mind was spinning. The King had lied to her and she couldn’t understand why. She had trusted him, yet as soon as the door had opened, she’d known he’d lied. She didn’t know what it was exactly that had made her think it was Jack. Maybe it was the sound of his boots on the floor, but as soon as she’d heard his voice, she knew without a doubt who the King had sent her to tend to: the last person she had ever wanted to see her like this.

She wondered if there was a way she could leave without anyone spotting her. The last thing she wanted was someone causing trouble by telling the King she was shirking her duty but she didn’t think she could spend all night here, feeling his eyes on her back, feeling disgusted and ashamed of herself and knowing he would be feeling the same.

“ Sam?” His voice was tinged with disbelief and took her by surprise, as did the hand on her shoulder, which is why she jumped. “ Hey,” he spoke softly, taking a step closer as he felt her tense under his touch. “ I’m not going to hurt you, Carter.”

“ I know.” She didn’t sound too convinced so he gently turned her to face him, putting a hand under her chin to tilt her face up to his. What she saw in his eyes was unreadable, although it looked similar to what she saw in the eyes of the other men she’d been sent to but she couldn’t bring herself to believe it was the same thing. “ Sir?”

“ Jesus.” He let out the breath he’d been holding, searching her eyes deeply. “ It really is you, isn’t it?”

“ Yes, Sir.” She lowered her eyes again. “ I know this is probably the last place you thought you’d find me but it *is* me. I’m just.. different.”

“ Jesus,” he repeated again, his hand moving from her shoulder to her waist as he pulled her towards him, closing his eyes as she went into his embrace and eventually relaxed in his arms. “ It’s you. It’s really you.” She was different, though. He knew that. He had seen something in her eyes, something akin to fear, which told him she’d changed. “ I can’t.. Wow.”

A smile flickered across her lips in spite of herself. He was still the same Colonel O’Neill she remembered, the one she knew and --. She abruptly ended that line of thought and pulled away to study him, seeing new lines on his face and the relief in his eyes. No shame or revulsion, not yet anyway. “ You’ve been looking for me?” She asked with a shy smile, unable to think of anything else to say.

“ What do you think?” He rolled his eyes at her, unwilling to let her leave his arms fully just yet. “ You think we’d just let you disappear and leave it at that?”

“ No,” she admitted with a smile, easing herself out of his arms, liking the feeling too much. “ I just thought you’d have given up by now, moved on..”

“ Not a chance in hell of that happening,” Jack murmured, keeping his eyes on her as she moved to sit on the edge of the bed, grinning at the way she fidgeted with her hands. “ You know we’d never give up.”

She looked up, a strange expression on her face. “ Funny you should say that. I heard today you were on the verge of giving up and moving on with your lives. That’s why I was kind of hoping you’d leave without finding out I was here.”

Once again, the shocked expression was back on his face, quickly replaced by one of anger. “ Who said that?” He moved to the bed and sat down beside her, his voice confused. “ You were going to let us leave without finding you?”

Sam chose to answer the first question, deciding that was the one with the easiest answer. “ The Captain who’s on SG-1. I don’t know her name. I passed her in the hallway, then heard her telling the others she was my replacement, both on the team.. and off.” She looked down at her hands. “ She seemed pretty confident her position was a permanent one, both in your professional life and personal one.”

“ I can barely stand her,” Jack assured her, covering her hands with one of his, tracing patterns on her skin with his thumb. “ None of us can stand her. Captain Gardam.. She’s got nothing on you, Carter. I promise.” He watched her face carefully as he spoke. “ There’s no chance of her or anyone else taking your place in our lives, professional or otherwise.” He lifted his other hand to catch the tear that fell from her eye and onto her cheek. “ What’s wrong?”

Closing her eyes tightly, Sam shook her head, her hair falling about her face. “ I.. I wanted to hear that.. but I didn’t.” She opened her eyes to look at him, letting him see how much this was hurting her. “ I can’t go back with you, Colonel. I can’t go home.” She sighed heavily. “ It would have been better if you hadn’t seen me here. Your Captain had the right idea by not telling you she’d seen me.”

“ She’s not my Captain and she *didn’t* have the right idea at all!” He protested, his voice rising in volume as his anger and confused increased. “ And what the hell are you talking about? Of course you’re coming home with us!”

“ No, I’m not.” She raised her eyes defiantly to his. “ I can’t. I have obligations here. This *is* my home now. I have to accept that and so do you.”

“ If you’re worried about the King not letting you go.. We can work something out, include you in our trade agreement or something.” He continued, trying to put her at ease and convince her she could leave.

“ It’s not that simple,” Sam protested, shaking her head. “ There are so many things you don’t understand.. The King might want to let me go but he can’t.” A sad smile briefly graced her lips. “ I won’t let him.”

Jack stopped drawing pictures on her hand and stared. “ You care for him,” he stated bluntly.

“ Not in the way you’re thinking,” was all Sam said in reply.

They stared at each other in silence, trying to read what the other was thinking but failing to do so through their own confusion and misunderstanding. Sam sighed heavily and got to her feet, smoothing down the full skirt of the blue silk dress she wore.

“ I should go,” she told him softly, walking purposely towards the door. “ If you know what’s good for you, you’ll forget you ever saw me.”

“ How do I do that?” He murmured, getting to his feet quickly so he could get between her and the door. “ How do I forget I found the one thing that’s kept me with the SGC for the last eight months?”

Her head lowered as she found the floor to be more interesting than his face. “ I wish you hadn’t said that.”

“ Well I don’t regret saying it,” he answered simply. “ Because it’s true.” He took a step closer, making her take a step back and unwittingly cornering her against the door. “ And I won’t accept this as being goodbye. I won’t let you slip away again, Carter. I promised your father I’d bring you home. I promised General Hammond I’d do all I could. I promised Cassie and Doc. Fraiser that I would never give up. I promised myself I wouldn’t let you go again once I found you.” He put a hand on her shoulder, seeing her bottom lip quiver, knowing he was getting through to her. “ I promised Daniel and Teal’c we’d do whatever it took to take you back with us when we found you, no matter what it was. I’m not going to pretend this never happened, that I never saw you. I’m going to tell Teal’c and Daniel tomorrow when I see them and you can bet your life on them supporting my side on this one.” His hand travelled up her shoulder to cup her face. “ We’re not letting you go, Sam. None of us are.”

“ You *have* to!” Sam whispered brokenly, a few more tears working their way down her face. “ You have no say in the matter. You have to let me go.”

“ Not gonna happen.” He responded firmly. “ Not in this lifetime.”

The tears ran freely down her face as she cried, she’d tried not to but he was making it so hard. Why was he being so damn persistent? Why wouldn’t he just let her go? It had hurt to think they had moved on with their lives but at the same time, it had been a relief to know they had been able to and were doing okay without her. Now she was hurting more, hating the fact she had to be the one to hurt her friends and family, the people she loved, by telling them she couldn’t come home like she wanted to.

Jack pulled her into his arms again, holding her close as she cried, trying and failing to understand why she was so upset and why she was so adamant she couldn’t go home with him. He couldn’t believe it. After all those months of searching, here he was with her in his arms and she was telling him to forget about her!

The only thing he found comfort in was that the thought of her staying on Velethia was obviously hurting her as much as it hurt him, which meant it wasn’t what she really wanted to do.

Careful not to disturb her, he led her over to the bed and sat her down, holding her in his arms, soothing her hair from her face as she tried to stop crying into his chest. He wasn’t used to seeing her cry, the Samantha Carter he had known would have never let anyone see her cry, but that was one of the differences between the woman she had been and the woman she had become. That woman had been a Major in the US Air Force, striving to prove herself to be as strong as any of her male colleagues, tears a sign of weakness she couldn’t afford if she wanted to win their respect. The one in his arms was unable to hold hers back, no doubt having been trying to for a lot longer that she would admit. The person holding him as tightly as he was holding her was Samantha Carter the woman, not the solider. The one who had been through the unimaginable over the last eight months and who was still being denied the chance to go home by something he couldn’t see.

~*~

He didn’t know how long they’d been holding each other but he knew it had been long after she’d stopped crying. Still no words had been spoken, neither of them willing to break the comforting silence that had them wrapped in its embrace. Sooner or later, he knew, one of them would have to. It was getting late and they both needed to sleep. Sitting up in each other’s arms was not the most comfortable position he could imagine.

“ Sam?” For some reason, it was easier to say her first name than call her by anything else. It was like he needed to use it to reassure himself she was there, to assure himself he was able to call her by the name he’d rarely used before she’d disappeared, assuring himself he’d been given a second chance. Besides, Carter did seem to suit her anymore. Carter was the name of the solider that went into wars with him at her side day after day after day. The woman he was holding didn’t seem to fit into that mental image, she was too.. feminine, soft.

“ Hmm?” She was already half asleep, her eyes swollen and drowsy when she lifted her head to look at him.

“ I’m not an expert,” he started with a tender smile, brushing a strand of hair from her face with a gentle hand. “ But I think you’d probably be more comfortable sleeping lying down.”

Nodding, Sam raised a hand to her mouth to stifle a yawn as she got to her feet, blinking to clear her eyes. She turned back to face him, appearing shy and uncertain as she bit her lip. “ Ah.. Maybe I should go back to my room..”

“ Won’t you get into trouble if someone sees you?” He didn’t want her to leave.

“ True..” She agreed with a nod. “ But it might be better if..”

“ You can stay here, we’re both adults,” he offered quickly. “ There’s plenty of room and I promise I don’t bite.”

“ Okay.” She smiled coyly and started moving away again only to stop. “ You don’t have something I can lend to sleep in, do you?” She shifted nervously from one foot to the other. “ This dress isn’t the most comfortable thing I’ve ever worn.” She chose not to mention the fact all she was wearing underneath was two thin slips of silk that revealed more than they hid.

Given what he guessed she did for a living, he found her shyness endearing.. as well as a little disappointing. Was she really more comfortable letting strangers see her in a state of undress than him? “ I’ve got a T shirt you can borrow in my pack,” he answered instead, rising to his feet to fetch it. “ Just promise you’ll give me it back.”

“ Promise,” Sam smiled at him, hiding her crossed fingers behind her. She took the proffered black T-shirt and gave him a smile of thanks that spread into a grin as he turned her back to let her change in privacy. Her fingers made deft work of undoing the laces at the back of her dress and she stepped out of it at the same time as pulling the T shirt over her head and over the silk underwear, relieved when she found the T shirt was quite long. “ All done,” she announced quietly, picking up the dress and folding it carefully, laying it on the dressing table that stood in the corner of the room.

Jack quickly shed the shirt he was wearing and finished taking off his boots and socks, deciding the wisest thing to do was the sleep in the trousers Nicholi had given him to wear. Awkwardly blowing out the candles and turning the oil lamp down, they both got into bed, lying on their sides and careful not to touch. After five minutes of deliberately trying not to touch her, Jack gave up trying and put an arm over her waist lightly, letting her know he’d move it if it made her uncomfortable. Instead, Sam smiled in the darkness and shifted backwards until they were lying back to front, putting her arm over his as she closed her eyes.

She knew nothing could happen between them, she would never let it knowing that it couldn’t go anywhere, and she knew tonight was nothing more than a brief trip into denial, a temporary escape from reality. But it was all they had, all they would ever have, and she wasn’t about to let it end sooner than it had to.

“ Night, Sam.” His breath was warm on her neck and she had to fight to stop herself from shivering.

“ Goodnight, Jack,” she whispered back, twining their hands together on her stomach.

They fell asleep within minutes, the warmth of the fire soothing them as much as the sensation of the other in their arms. As the fire died and the first signs of sunlight streamed in through the windows, Sam carefully detangled herself from Jack’s arms and slid from the bed. She changed out of the t-shirt and into her dress quickly and quietly, picking up the discarded t-shirt and walking over to the door. She cast one last glance at him over her shoulder, a fond, wistful smile for what might have been in place on her lips as she slipped out unnoticed.

Two hours later, Jack woke up. He reached out, certain there had been someone else in the bed beside him when he’d gone to sleep, disappointed but not surprised to find nothing but an empty bed.

He got up and walked to the window, glancing out over the expanse of the city, wondering if it was possible he’d lost her to this place for good.

~*~

There was no sign of Sam ever being there as he got dressed. She had been, though, he was sure he hadn’t dreamt it. More than sure, unless all the pillows in the palace were fragrant and Sam-scented.

Whistling to himself, he opened the door to his room just as Nicholi was about to knock on it. “ Good morning, Nicholi,” he greeted the young man with a broad smile. “ Sleep well?”

“ Yes, thank you,” Nicholi answered, bewildered by the grin on the Colonel’s face. He had been under the impression Jack rarely grinned, and never with such enthusiasm. “ The King sent me to take you to breakfast. He may be late in joining you but he assured me he would be there.”

“ Then lets go.” Jack started whistling again as they walked down the hallway, collecting his team as they walked past the separate rooms. Daniel and Teal’c were as bewildered as Nicholi at the shift in his mood but they went along with it without asking, pleased that something had cheered him up. Gardam, however, was another story. She frowned at the change in him, telling herself over and over it had nothing to do with Samantha Carter. If he’d seen her, she would have heard something, wouldn’t she?

They made it to the dining room and had sat down to eat before Daniel found he couldn’t contain his curiosity. He put down the knife he’d been using to butter some bread and gave his friend a quizzical ‘lets have it’ look.

“ What?” Jack grinned, his brow creasing as he noticed he had the attention of his whole team. “ What did I do?”

“ You tell us,” Daniel frowned. “ You’re acting like you’re on cloud nine.”

“ Cloud nine? Me?” He started to protest but his lazy grin suggested otherwise. “ I’m not..”

“ I believe Daniel Jackson is correct, O’Neill,” Teal’c interrupted. “ You do seem in high spirits this morning.”

Jack just grinned like the cat that got the cream and drank a mouthful of fruit juice. He put the silver goblet down and decided to put them out of their misery. “ Okay, I give. There is a reason I’m in ‘high spirits’ as Teal’c put it.” He almost laughed at Daniel’s ‘I knew it!’ expression. “ When I got to my room last night, I found someone waiting for me.”

“ A courtesan?” Daniel cut in as Gardam choked on her juice. Daniel looked appalled. “ Oh, God. Jack, tell me you didn’t.”

“ I didn’t what?” Jack tried to act oblivious.

“ Tell me you didn’t sleep with someone else when we’re supposed to be trying to find Sam,” Daniel pleaded with a sigh.

Jack grinned but also managed to look offended at the same time. “ I didn’t. Geez, give me a little more credit.”

Daniel had the grace to look apologetic. “ Sorry.. I just assumed..” His voice trailed off and he lapsed into a remorseful silence.

“ Well you shouldn’t,” Jack told him, trying to sound annoyed but failing. “ Anyway, as I said. I got to my room to find someone waiting for me. And yes, she is a courtesan, I think. And yes, she spent the night in my room but we just talked and slept. Nothing else.” He threw a genuinely annoyed look in Gardam’s direction. “ In fact, I believe you met her yesterday, Captain. I assume she’s the one you were warning us against meeting?”

“ Sir, I can explain..” Gardam started feebly, stopping when Jack waved his hand to cut her off.

“ You’ll get the chance to do that in your report to General Hammond when we get home.” He retorted sharply, having no time or patience to deal with her now. He had never particularly got along with her, there had always been something about her he didn’t like. At first he had thought it was as Teal’c had said, because she reminded them that Sam wasn’t there. Now he knew better and his suspicions had been justified.

Daniel frowned again, totally lost. “ Is someone going to enlighten us on what’s going on?”

“ It was Carter, Daniel,” Jack replied, the grin coming back to his face. “ As in Sam Carter. Our Carter.”

Daniel spat fruit juice all over the table, spluttering. “ Sam?!” He demanded as soon as he could. “ You saw Sam?”

“ Yes.” Jack grinned and nodded. “ I saw her and I talked to her. We’ve found her.”

Daniel stared at him with his mouth agape. Teal’c looked at him with what Jack assumed was a shocked but happy face – it was hard to tell exactly. Gardam stared down at her food, her appetite lost.

Before any of them could react, the door opened to admit the King. He smiled warmly at them all, his eyes resting on Jack as he took his seat at the head of the table. “ I hope you all slept well?” He asked politely as he helped himself to some cold ham and bread.

“ Yes, very well, thank you,” Daniel regained his voice in time to answer, nodding enthusiastically.

“ I slept peacefully, thank you,” Teal’c bowed his head.

The King glanced to Gardam. “ Captain? I trust you slept as well as your companions?”

Gardam’s eyes rose to meet his, the scowl still present on her face. “ Yes, thanks. I slept fine.”

“ And you, Colonel?” The King apparently decided to ignore her scowl and turned to Jack, his eyes smiling. “ Did you sleep well?”

Jack grinned and nodded. “ Better than I have in a long time, thank you.”

“ I am pleased to hear that,” the King looked genuinely relieved. “ Now, shall we eat?”

The meal was eaten and the dishes were cleared away as they made small talk, with Daniel once again asking questions about the city and its history. The King answered each one in turn, patiently going into detail about the struggles his people had faced and how they had developed technology over the years to help them ease the burden of heavy-duty work whilst at the same time managing to abide by many of the city’s traditions. It amazed Daniel that there had been very little conflict throughout the city and the rest of the planet, especially when he learnt the kingdom stretched beyond the city of Velenthia to other cities across the planets surface.

“ If you would like, I can have someone show you to the library where you can study our history in great detail,” the King offered kindly. “ We have many records about the history of my people, spreading back to when Velenthia was discovered by my great ancestors.”

“ You would really let me see those records?” Daniel was amazed at the generosity, his eyes wide with excitement. “ That would be great!” He turned to Jack. “ Do you know how much we could learn with this information? How much we could learn about our history and how civilisations in Europe developed in the early centuries? Oh.” He realised the King probably had no idea what he was talking about. “ You see, we believe that..”

“ That Earth is the planet our kind came from originally,” the King finished for him with a smile. “ The Goa’uld took humans from Earth and to other planets to enslave them.”

“ How did you..?” Daniel’s voice trailed off as light dawned in his eyes. “ I’m guessing Sam told you that.”

The King smiled. “ Samantha has taught me a great deal about the Goa’uld, which is why I am so interested in Velenthia becoming one of Earth’s allies.” His smile grew a little. “ She is confident you will one day be strong enough to beat the Goa’uld for good.”

“ The Tau’ri are strong and wise,” Teal’c noted. “ Major Carter’s confidence is well placed.”

“ Speaking of Carter,” Jack started. “ I kinda need to talk to you about that.”

“ Yes.” The King didn’t seem fazed. “ I was expecting you to request a private audience with me. I’ve taken the liberty of arranging for Doctor Jackson, Teal’c and Captain Gardam to be shown around by three guides so they can each go wherever they want.” He stood and smiled again, seeming a little less at ease than he had before as he moved to the door. “ Colonel? If you would join me, we can continue this discussion in my study.”

“ Of course.” Jack gave Daniel and Teal’c their orders in one look and let the King lead him from the room. The two men walked in silence down a long corridor, turning onto yet another one and finally ending up in a small, cosy room with a big wooden desk and bookshelf lined with books.

Sitting down in one of the chairs by the fire, the King motioned for Jack to join him. He waited until Jack was sitting comfortable before motioning to a picture above the fireplace, a painting of a beautiful woman with inky black hair and green smiling eyes. “ The portrait is of my wife.”

“ She’s very beautiful,” Jack murmured, unsure of what he was supposed to say or where this was going.

“ Yes, she was.” The King smiled sadly. “ She was more than just beautiful, though. She was a good person. She was a kind and generous woman. Beautiful on the inside.” He took a deep breath and sighed. “ It’s the same quality I recognised in Samantha when she came here. I saw through her attempts at being brave, I saw she was scared and I brought her here, away from the others, so I could talk to her alone.” He smiled again. “ She is like no woman I have ever met yet she reminds me so much of my wife.”

“ I don’t see where this is going,” Jack responded honestly. “ What does this have to do with Carter?”

“ I find it strange you call her by her surname when she obviously means a great deal to you,” the King commented quietly. “ This has everything to do with Samantha, Colonel.” He tore his eyes from the smiling face of his wife. “ You are part of the family she spoke so fondly of, aren’t you?”

“ If you mean SG-1, then yeah. I am.”

“ SG-1,” the King repeated. “ It is the designation for your team, Samantha explained that to me. She also told me how much she cares for you all. You are like family to her, which is why I sent her to you last night.”

Jack frowned. “ Why do I get the feeling you’re going to tell me something I don’t want to hear now?”

“ Samantha has already been to see me this morning,” the King didn’t sound as happy about that as Jack had expected. “ She was angry with me for lying to her about whom she was being sent to, yet I noticed she was both pleased and discontent.” He threw a sidelong glance in Jack’s direction. “ Just as I noticed there was a change in your demeanour this morning.” He sighed heavily. “ I think I made a mistake in sending her to you. Samantha, although she is more at peace now than I have seen her, was also greatly distressed about something.”

Jack felt his own concern build up. “ Is she okay?”

With a small nod, the King ran a hand through his hair. “ I asked her what was troubling her. She told me she believes that I have made your departure harder on you both.” He stared evenly into Jack’s eyes, his anguish obvious. “ I cannot let her return with you, Colonel. I wish I could, but I cannot.”

“ Why not?” Jack stood and towered over the King. “ If you care about her as much as you say you do, let her go and be happy?”

“ I care greatly for Samantha, Colonel,” the King murmured. “ I wish I could set her free but it is not my decision.”

“ Of course it’s your decision!” Jack exploded. “ You *own* her! You can let her leave with us! We’ll trade you for her! Whatever the Hell you want, you can have!” His eyes narrowed suspiciously. “ Unless you want her for yourself. Unless you’re just acting like you want to let her go so she feels sorry for you and trusts you.”

“ Enough!” The King’s eyes were blazing as he stood and glared at Jack. “ I will not have you belittle my feelings for Samantha! I would *never* use her in that manner! I love Samantha as I would love a daughter,” the King clarified. “ She is the child my wife and I never had, the daughter I longed for instead of the son I got.”

“ Then why can’t you let her go?” Jack persisted. “ It would make her happy if she could come with us.”

“ I know it would.” The King let his chair support his weight once more. “ But it does not change the complications that forbid me from doing so. However,” he continued with yet another sigh. “ I have arranged it so Samantha is free to spend as much time with you and your team as possible throughout your stay on Velenthia. And you are more than welcome to return to visit her whenever you desire. I encouraged Samantha to spend time with you and your companions, I know it would mean a lot to her. One of the things she misses greatly about your world is being able to spend time with those whom she loves. And she does love you, Colonel. I am sure of it, we have discussed you many nights in this very room. I hope you do choose to come and visit her even after your business here is done.” He looked up, pleading for understanding. “ This is the best I can do, Colonel. I am sorry, for Samantha’s sake as well as your own. I know it must be as hard for you as it will be for her to let go.”

Jack stared down on him, seeing the grief that lined the King’s face, somehow knowing how hard it was for him to admit that he couldn’t help them. “ Well, thank you. For all you’ve done for her,” Jack murmured. “ And thank you for letting her see us if she wants to.” He crossed the room to the door, looking back to see the older man raise a hand to his face. “ I don’t intend on letting her stay here but if she does.. Take care of her for me.”

“ I will,” the King promised as the door closed with a gentle click. “ I will protect her with my life.” He buried his head in his hands and let the tears fall, silently praying to his wife to forgive him for being weak and choosing popularity over the happiness of another woman he loved.

~*~

“ Sometimes I just forget

Say things I might regret

It breaks my heart to see you crying

I don't wanna lose you

I could never make it alone.”

~ ‘Glory of Love’, Peter Cetera

~*~

Part Six

~*~

“ This perfect romance that I've created in my mind

I'd live a thousand lives

Each one with you right by my side

But yet we find ourselves in a less than perfect circumstance

And so it seems like we'll never have the chance.”

~ ‘Ain’t It Funny’, Jennifer Lopez

~*~

He didn’t see Sam again for the rest of the day. Jack rejoined his team, finding them all in the library with Gardam silently occupying herself by reading something and Teal’c helping Daniel get through the stack of books on the desk, making notes on everything they learnt.

“ What’s wrong?” Daniel looked up when Jack sat down, his shoulders slumped. Concern and worry shone in his eyes as he immediately started thinking the worst, all sorts of scenarios racing at lightening speed through his head. “ It’s not Sam, is it? She’s okay?”

“ She’s fine,” Jack grumbled uncooperatively. “ But she can’t leave with us. The King wants to let her but said he can’t.”

Blinking, Daniel closed the book he’d been reading, forgetting to care about book marking his place “ Why not?”

Jack shrugged. “ I don’t know, he didn’t say. Carter pretty much told me the same thing last night. There must be a reason, maybe she’s signed a contract or something. I don’t know.”

“ Could we not trade for Major Carter’s freedom? We have done so before.” Teal’c questioned, as fond of the thought of leaving Sam behind for a second time as Daniel and Jack were.

“ The King said there was nothing we could do,” Jack sighed and rested his head in his hands. “ He said she’s free to spend as much time as she wants with us while we’re here but she can’t leave. We’re welcome to come back and visit anytime we want.”

“ That’s not good enough,” Daniel protested, voicing Jack’s thoughts. “ We haven’t spent eight months searching for her just to be told we can’t take her back with us.” He leaned across the table, searching Jack’s face for any signs of a plan. “ What are we going to do?”

“ I don’t know,” Jack admitted, ending the young man’s hope that he had a plan. “ I got the impression Carter doesn’t *want* to leave. We can’t force her to come with us if she really doesn’t want to. I don’t think I’d be able to try and make her do something she wasn’t happy with.”

“ No.” Daniel agreed, getting to his feet. “ But we can try and talk her into it.”

“ Daniel, where are you going?” Jack called after him as Daniel approached Nicholi, the young man a constant presence. It was his new assignment, wherever SG-1 went, Nicholi had to be there to.

“ Going to see a courtesan,” Daniel called back over his shoulder, giving Nicholi a nod. “ I want you to take me to Samantha. You know who she is, right?”

Nicholi nodded. “ Of course. Samantha is a friend.” He looked nervously at the other two guides, debating mentally what he should do as he made up his mind. “ I will take you to her because the King said to do as you wished.”

“ Thank you.” Daniel gave him a grateful smile. “ See you later, Jack.” Before the Colonel could protest, Daniel had left the library, leaving Jack staring after him and hoping he would help the situation instead of making it worse.

~*~

Nicholi led Daniel to a side of the palace he hadn’t been before – the courtesan’s wing. Daniel guessed immediately where he was being taken, passing many women along the way who blatantly stared at him and a few men who looked.. satisfied.

“ The main chamber is that way,” Nicholi whispered, pointing down the hallway into a brightly coloured room. Instead of taking Daniel down towards the room, he took a sharp left, leading the archaeologist up a spiral staircase. “ Most of the courtesans rooms lead into the chamber where they prepare themselves daily.”

“ Then why aren’t we going there?” Daniel frowned, looking back the way they’d come. “ I thought you were taking me to see Sam?”

“ I am.” Nicholi grinned. “ Samantha was given a private room, away from the others. She is important to the King, therefore she gets special privileges.”

“ Right.” Daniel didn’t know what to think of Sam getting ‘special privileges’ and he didn’t *want* to think of what she’d done to deserve them. “ So how do you know the way to her room?”

Nicholi blushed deeply. “ Samantha is a friend,” he mumbled. “ She.. She helps me.”

“ Helps you what?” Daniel wasn’t sure he liked where this was going.

As if sensing this, Nicholi stopped walking and turned to face him, his cheeks pink and his eyes wide. “ I am in love with a courtesan,” he confided quietly. “ My Evelyn, she is close to Samantha. Samantha takes care of her for me when I am not able to and often arranges for Evelyn and I to meet here when I am unable to pay.”

“ Ahh.” Daniel nodded, relieved beyond words at the answer. “ She’s like that,” he commented as they started talking again, needing to fill the silence with something so he wasn’t left to concentrate on his nerves. “ Sam’s the kind of person you can go to with your problems and she’ll do her best to help you solve them.”

“ She is a very kind woman,” Nicholi concurred. “ When she first came here, she was very sad. She barely spoke to anyone and only ate when the King was there to make sure she did. Then Evelyn was injured.. She was beaten by one of her *lovers*,” Nicholi spoke the word with disgust and Daniel understood perfectly. The thought of Sha’re being with Apophis bothered him a lot so he could empathise with what Nicholi was feeling. He also thought he could identify with what Jack must have felt when he’d learned of Sam’s new profession but he hadn’t said anything about it to the Colonel. Jack had been in a rare good mood; he wasn’t about to risk changing that by bringing up images Jack didn’t need to dwell on. “ Samantha helped her,” Nicholi continued. “ She defended her against the man and took her to her room to help treat her wounds.” Nicholi smiled. “ From then onwards, Samantha has been a great friend to us both.”

“ That sounds like the Sam I know,” Daniel smiled in return, taking the last few steps of the staircase, finding himself in another corridor. “ So where do we go from here?”

Nicholi pointed to a big door just ahead of them. “ That is Samantha’s room.” He covered the distance between them and the room, knocking on the door softly.

Daniel followed quickly, his heart pounding, eager to see his friend again. Within a matter of moments, the door was opened by a young woman, whose face lit up on seeing Nicholi. Daniel hid a smile behind his hand, guessing accurately that this was Evelyn.

“ Nicholi,” Evelyn smiled coyly, looking up at him through her eyelashes. She noticed Daniel for the first time and blushed slightly. “ You have brought a friend.”

“ This is Daniel,” Nicholi told her quietly, obviously unable to take his eyes off her, smiling softly. “ I have brought him to see Samantha.”

“ Of course.” Evelyn stepped aside. “ Please come in.” She turned away from them, tearing her eyes away from Nicholi with some difficulty and Daniel smiled again at the two, having seen the same thing a thousand times between Sam and Jack. “ There is someone here to see you, Samantha.”

Daniel caught sight of her before she saw him. His breath caught in his throat as she seemed to look up from the book she was writing in in slow motion. He watched as she pushed a strand of hair from her face, her eyes widening in shock when she saw him. He grinned, unable to stop himself, and lifted an arm to wave. A smile spread across her face as she put the book to one side and pushed herself off the bed.

“ Daniel?” She took a hesitant step closer, trying to tell herself she wasn’t dreaming, that he was really here which meant she had really spent the previous night sleeping in the arms of her ex-Commanding Officer.

“ Sam.” He covered the gap between them and swept her into an enthusiastic hug, holding her as tightly as he dared. “ You really *are* here.”

“ Yes, I am.” She pulled away, smiling, her eyes damp. “ And so are you.”

“ You look.. You look great,” he murmured, motioning the figure-fitting dark green dress she wore, taking in everything from her head to her toes, bringing his eyes back up to meet hers. “ You look amazing.”

Sam, as he’d expected, blushed prettily at the compliment. “ You look well,” she returned. “ Someone’s been taking care of you.”

“ We’ve kinda been taking care of each other,” Daniel replied in explanation. “ We had to, you know, pull together. So we could find you.”

“ Well you did, find me that is.”

“ Yeah, but Jack said you can’t or won’t come home with us.”

All of a sudden, Sam understood the reasoning behind his surprise visit. She shook her head and turned her attention to Evelyn and Nicholi who were standing close enough to be holding hands and were watching the reunion with interest in between sneaking glances at each other. “ Nicholi,” she addressed the young man first, giving him a warm smile. “ Thank you for bringing Daniel here. I think we should speak alone for a little while. Why don’t you two go for a walk?” The two young lovers nodded their heads enthusiastically at the idea. “ And if anyone asks,” Sam added before they left. “ Tell them it was my idea and I have the King’s permission.”

“ You can do that?” Daniel asked when they were alone.

“ Not really,” Sam admitted with a mischievous smile. “ But no one around here’s going to argue with me. Not to my face, anyway.”

“ Because you’re close to the King,” he guessed correctly.

“ He’s like a father to me,” Sam supplied. “ He’s taken care of me and given me more chances than anyone else would have done.”

“ Is that why you won’t leave him?” Daniel asked carefully, sitting down on the edge of the bed. “ Because you feel like you owe him something?”

Sam smiled and fought the urge to roll her eyes. “ Still as subtle as ever, I see.” She sat down beside him and tilted her head to one side. “ But no, that’s not why I’m staying. I’m staying because I have to, because Velenthia is my home now. Because my leaving would cost him too much.”

“ What do you mean?” Daniel frowned. “ What would he lose aside from you?”

“ It’s complicated,” was all she would say on the matter before changing the subject to something she felt more comfortable with. “ So how are things on Earth? Is everyone okay?”

The next twenty minutes were filled with his stories about how everyone back home was, telling Sam about Cassandra’s grades and new boyfriend, about Janet disapproving of her daughter dating already, about General Hammond going through a brief mid-life crisis and being caught on more than one occasion contemplating a toupee. Then he got serious and told her how they’d heard her father was going on more and more dangerous missions because he couldn’t accept that she was gone and how the team had come close to falling apart because they stopped talking to each other and started believing they were individually to blame for her going missing. It was Janet and Cassandra who had interfered and got them back on track, inviting them all round to their house and spending the evening telling their favourite ‘Sam’ stories.

“ Please.” Sam interrupted him in a harsh whisper. “ Don’t say anymore. This is hard enough as it is, Daniel. I don’t need you making it worse. Please, don’t make me feel worse than I do.”

“ As worse as it’s going to be for us having to go home and say ‘yeah, we found her but she decided not to come back with us’? Do you have any idea how much Jack’s been blaming himself? How’d you think he’s going to cope if he lets you go again?” Daniel demanded.

Standing and walking away from him, Sam put her hands to her ears. “ I said stop! I don’t want to hear *any* of this! I *can’t* go home, Daniel. I want to, I *really* do but I just can’t! So leave it at that!”

“ For now I will,” he conceded after a lengthy pause. “ But don’t think we’re going to go without a fight.”

“ The thought had never crossed my mind,” she muttered sarcastically. She looked back at him when she heard him get to his feet. “ You should go soon. I hear there’s a ball we’re all expected to go to tonight. I have to get ready for it.”

“ First I’ve heard,” Daniel responded with an arched eyebrow, unable to stop himself from being suspicious. From looking at her, he couldn’t tell if she was using it as an excuse to get him to leave or if she was telling him the truth.

Sam smiled depreciatively. “ The King organised it in honour of your new alliance. He wants to introduce you to the Lords and Ladies. He likes springing surprises on people so you probably won’t know till an hour before it starts.”

“ Oh.” He shifted from one foot to the other. “ Guess I should find the others then, huh?”

“ I’ll show you the way if you want,” she offered, knowing he had a tendency to lose his way, as someone knocked on the door and opened it without waiting for some sort of acknowledgement.

“ That won’t be necessary.” The King appeared with a small nod of acknowledgement to Daniel. “ I would be quite happy to walk Doctor Jackson back to the library where I believe the rest of his team is awaiting him.”

“ Thanks.” Daniel barely nodded, his arms crossed over his chest as he glanced to Sam, not wanting to leave her. “ I.. umm. Guess I’ll see you later?”

Sam approached him and gave him a quick hug. “ You can count on it.” She stepped back smiling though her eyes were bright. “ Now go leave me alone. I’ve got a party to get ready for.”

Reluctantly, Daniel moved away from her and out into the hallway. He heard the King say something but the words were too muffled for him to understand. When the King left the room and shut the door behind him, it was impossible to see what kind of response Sam had had to the news as the King’s face was impassive.

Silently, feeling no need to talk, Daniel let the King take him back to his friends, fighting the feeling that he had somehow failed in his aim to convince her to come home.

~*~

As Sam had predicted, all of SG-1 but Daniel were oblivious to the King’s plans until barely an hour before the ball started. They ate lightly and were quickly ushered to their rooms to change into the clothes waiting there for them. Once again, Gardam found herself with Veronica as an assistant although the courtesan was less forthcoming with information this time, speaking only when spoken to.

This didn’t help the sour mood Gardam was in and by the time the team managed to be ready to attend the ball, it was in full swing. The amazing ballroom Daniel had ‘oohed’ and ‘ahhed’ over in their initial tour of the palace was well lit with candle-scattered chandeliers and strategically hung oil lamps. There were dozens of people there, all dressed in the same way as SG-1. The men were in dark trousers and smart shirts and jackets; the women were all in multicoloured gowns of expensive-looking material.

The King immediately walked over to them, with no other than Sam on his arm, smiling broadly as he sipped from a goblet. He escorted Sam to them, who smiled self-consciously at the appreciation in Jack and Daniel’s eyes as they took in the curves and folds of the deep red gown she was adorned in, a dress with a tightly-fitted, low-cut bodice and a long, flowing yet flattering skirt.

“ Gentlemen, Captain,” the King bowed to them. “ Welcome to the.. ah.. What did you call it, my dear?” He frowned, searching his mind for the word.

Sam bit her cheek in attempt at keeping a smile at bay but failed. “ Party,” she supplied softly, looking anywhere but at Jack.

“ Yes, party!” The King beamed. “ That was it! Welcome to the party! Please, help yourself to food and nourishment. We have the finest musicians in all of Velenthia here tonight to entertain our esteemed guests. Now if you’d excuse me,” he released Sam’s hand from his arm and brought it to his lips to kiss her knuckles. “ I see someone I must talk to. Samantha, I’m sure you can help them with any questions they may have?”

“ I’m sure,” Sam repeated, shaking her head a little at him as he sauntered away. She lifted her eyes to the people before her with an apologetic smile. “ You’ll have to excuse him. I’m afraid he started celebrating before everyone else.”

“ Any particular reason?” Gardam asked mildly, her animosity towards Sam visible in the air between them.

Sam gave the woman a cold smile, unable to forgive her for her earlier lies. “ He’s a little upset,” she answered distractedly. “ He always gets like this when there’s a problem he can’t figure out.” She turned her eyes to Teal’c, the only one of her former team mates she hadn’t seen previously. “ Teal’c,” she gave him a genuinely warm smile. “ You look.. good.”

“ As do you, Major Carter.” Teal’c smiled a smile that was big by his standards and reached out to take her hand. Raising it to his lips, he kissed it softly. “ It is a joy to see you again.”

“ You, too.” Sam stood on her tiptoes and kissed his cheek softly, stifling a giggle at both his blush and Gardam’s pointed glare. She looked like she was about to say more when something over their shoulders caught her eye and she frowned.

Jack turned to see what she was frowning at and saw a young woman being hassled by an older looking man. He turned back to Sam with concern in his eyes. “ Carter?”

“ If you’ll excuse me,” Sam gave him a dazzling smile that he knew was forced and brushed past him, heading over to the couple so she could intervene in what was happening.

“ What was that about?” Jack asked nobody in particular as he watched Sam manoeuvre herself so she was in between the young woman and the man who had been holding her arm so roughly.

“ That’s Evelyn,” Daniel supplied helpfully. “ Nicholi’s.. girlfriend. She’s a courtesan and apparently Sam’s taken her under her wing.”

From a distance, they watched as Sam said a few choice words to the man in question, all three men recognising the dangerous expression on her face as she met the stranger’s heated glared with a steely stare of her own. Jack tensed when it looked like the man was going to strike her but he relaxed when the stranger seemed to realise where he was and backed off. “ Same old Carter,” he whistled. “ Glad to see that hasn’t changed.” Daniel and Teal’c didn’t have to say anything but he knew they agreed.

Sam murmured a few words to the shaken Evelyn before wrapping an arm around her waist and leading her back to where they stood. “ I’m sorry about that,” she apologised with a strained smile. “ One thing you should be aware of is that these people get pretty.. barbaric when drunk. And no one usually remembers anything in the morning.”

“ Good stuff then,” Jack teased, feeling the need to see a genuine smile shape her lips. His comment achieved the desired effect and he couldn’t resist seeing if he could put her completely at ease like he used to be able to do. “ Almost as good as that stuff on P3X595?” He grinned when she blushed and threw him a look of mock-annoyance.

“ You’re never going to let me forget that, are you?” Sam asked, sharing a secret smile with him that annoyed Gardam to no end. She blushed again after a few moments, realising that she hadn’t been doing or saying anything, just staring at Jack. She felt slightly better on seeing the blush stain his cheeks, realising he’d been doing the same. Clearing her voice, she gave Evelyn’s arm a quick squeeze to assure the young woman she hadn’t forgotten she was there. “ This is Evelyn, by the way. Evie, you met Daniel already. This is Colonel O’Neill, Teal’c and Captain..?” Her voice trailed off as she realised she didn’t know the other woman’s name, only her rank.

“ Gardam,” Gardam supplied coolly. “ Captain Andrea Gardam.”

“ Nice to meet you.” Evelyn smiled shyly at them all, shuffling a little closer to Sam when they smiled back.

The music started up and they all turned to watch as several couples got up and moved to the centre of the room, smiling as they began to dance. There didn’t seem to be a set routine, some were waltzing, others were swaying, others were seemingly making up routines as the music played. Sam shook her head in amusement as the King moved to dance with Lady Hillcross, his sister-in-law, both of them swaying unintentionally as they tried to dance whilst sipping wine simultaneously.

“ Samantha.” Evelyn’s gasp was quiet but fearful. Sam looked away from the dancing and saw Lord Jalen, the man from earlier, approaching them.

“ Daniel,” she spoke up quickly. “ Would you mind dancing with Evelyn? Please?”

Daniel darted a glance in the direction Sam had looked and immediately understood. He turned to Evelyn and held out his hand. “ It would be my pleasure. I’m not a great dancer but from the looks of it, no one out there is.”

“ You’ll be in good company,” Sam assured him with a wink as Evelyn let go of her arm. “ Thank you.”

His response was an answering wink as he whisked Evelyn away and passed Lord Jalen on their way to the dance floor. Unfortunately, the man kept advancing on the group and Sam felt the first signs of panic sweep over her. Jalen was a man she knew mainly by reputation, the King had kept her as far away from him at all times. She knew he was married and regularly beat his wife and she also knew he suspected in the death of a courtesan many years or life cycles ago.

“ Carter?” Jack’s voice jolted her from her thoughts and she looked up to find him standing at her elbow. “ You want to go out there?” He motioned to the dancers casually, though his heart was beating a mile a minute at the possibility of rejection.

To his immense relief, she smiled gratefully and took his proffered arm, letting him lead her away from the approaching Lord. “ Thank you,” she murmured as they settled themselves on the dance floor, both deciding silently that they weren’t going to try anything more challenging than swaying gently in time to the music.

“ Anytime,” Jack said, meaning it with every fibre of his being. He watched with a large amount of satisfaction as Jalen stopped walking and glared at them before turning on his heel and marching out of the ballroom. “ So what’s the story with that guy?” He felt her shudder against him and pulled her closer. “ Sam?”

“ He’s just got a violent temper,” she explained, nestling her head against his shoulder, fighting the temptation to close her eyes. “ He’s the main suspect in the death of one of Velenthia’s most popular and famed courtesans.”

“ Has he ever..? Have you ever..?” Jack impulsively clasped her fingers to his heart, relieved beyond measures as he felt her shake his head against him. He lowered his head to hear her answer, his lips unintentionally brushing the bare skin of her neck.

“ The King does his best to keep me away from those he thinks will hurt me,” she answered softly. “ We made an agreement, when I first came here, that he’d make me as few.. appointments.. as possible if I agreed to spend most of my time with him.” She lifted her head to look into his eyes. “ And before you ask, no. My relationship with the King isn’t like that, contrary to popular belief. When I came here, he was still very vulnerable after his wife’s death. He was lonely and couldn’t really talk to anyone without fearing they were trying to get close to him for some ulterior purpose. For some reason, he trusted me not to do that. He trusted me to be a friend.”

“ You’re a friendly person,” Jack quipped, surprised when he felt her wince, realising his mistake when he saw the hurt in her eyes. “ Shit, Sam, I didn’t mean it like that. I wasn’t referring to you.. you know.”

“ Sleeping with men because I’m told to? Sleeping with them so they pay the King for the privilege?” She murmured, lowering her head back to his shoulder. “ You can’t be as ashamed of me for what I have to do than I am, Colonel.”

Once again, he tightened his grip on her, pulling her as close as he could. “ I’m not ashamed of you, Sam. You did what you had to do.”

“ Sure,” was all she said, closing her eyes tightly, willing the tears away until she was somewhere she could cry in private. They continued to dance in silence, unaware they were being watched by two pairs of disdainful eyes.

“ So the rumours are true,” Gardam muttered to herself, forgetting Teal’c was still there. She watched through thinly veiled jealousy as Colonel O’Neill pulled away ever so slightly and tipped up Major Carter’s face with a finger under her chin. There was no way she could hear what was being said but from the small, accepting smile on Major Carter’s face she gathered he wasn’t making a comment about the décor.

“ Which rumours are they?” The deep, monotone voice took her by surprise and she jumped, clasping a hand to her heart as she glared at Teal’c. “ Captain Gardam?”

“ Nothing,” she snapped. “ It’s none of your business.”

“ On the contrary,” Teal’c responded calmly. “ If you were referring to rumours regarding either Colonel O’Neill or Major Carter then it is my business. They are my friends and that makes it so.”

Gardam chose to remain silent, her scowl deepening in place of words.

“ Might I remind you,” Teal’c continued, “ that they are both your superior officers. I know it to be fact that General Hammond does not tolerate the spreading of harmful rumours amongst his staff. Were he to learn of your involvement in such a matter you would be severely reprimanded.”

“ And how would General Hammond hear about it?” Gardam questioned matter-of-factly. “ Besides, who do you think he would trust? Me? Or an alien who turned against his own people at the drop of a hat?”

Teal’c stared at her for a minute, seemingly contemplating her question. Finally he turned to her, his face betraying nothing of how he felt. “ I do not believe I have ever heard the expression ‘the drop of a hat’. Perhaps you would explain it to me?”

Gardam growled in frustration and twirled away from him, her face set in a dark expression of anger.

“ Captain?” The use of her rank was a question and she knew it.

“ I’m going to get a drink!” She snapped callously. “ I’ll need one if I’m going to have to put up with you all night!”

With that, she stormed away towards the line of wine-filled goblets, the skirt of her dress swaying behind her. And if she’d chosen to look around, she would have been treated to a rare sight. The sight of a smugly beaming Jaffa.

Several minutes later, Teal’c was joined by both Jack and Daniel as the song ended. The two men reached their friend at the same time, both having been relieved of the women they had been dancing with; Sam had been whisked away by the King, Evelyn by Torin Kavise.

“ Where did Captain Gardam go?” Daniel looked puzzled on seeing the end of a smile play out on the normally stoic face.

“ I believe she went for nourishment.” Teal’c answered, barely managing to restrain another smile. “ Where are Major Carter and Evelyn?”

Daniel looked out on the dance floor and smiled. “ Evelyn was taken by Torin. He seems quite fond of her, looks like she’s perfect daughter-in-law material.” He looked to Jack, expecting the other man to answer and somewhat amused to find Jack’s attention was well and truly focused elsewhere. “ Earth to Jack, come in Jack.” He grinned when Jack, startled, managed to tear his eyes away from whatever or whomever he’d been staring at. “ Where’s Sam?”

“ Oh, the King wanted to dance with her,” Jack replied, making a face. “ You can’t really turn down a King, can you?”

“ Not at his own party,” Daniel added, his eyes scouring the crowd for their friend. He smiled when he saw her standing comfortably in the King’s embrace, noting with some pleasure that there was more distance between Sam and the King than there had been between Sam and Jack. A considerable distance. “ She looks good, doesn’t she?”

“ She looks beautiful,” Jack murmured, distracted by her once more.

“ It appears she has been well looked after,” Teal’c put in. “ She does not seem harmed due to her time here.”

“ No,” Jack sighed softly. “ And maybe that’s half the problem.” He looked at his friends and noticed their confusion, seeing he had to explain a little more. “ Think about it. She’s been hurt countless times back home, through working at the SGC. She’s found somewhere here where someone can protect her from almost all of that. If that were one of you, would you be so willing to give it up?”

Neither Daniel nor Teal’c had an answer. He wasn’t expecting them to. He sighed again and turned his attention back to Sam and the way she smiled at something the King had said.

It would take time to convince her leaving was the best thing for her, time to convince her they wouldn’t let this happen again, time to find a way to get round whatever was preventing the King from letting her go.

It was time worth spending, in Jack’s opinion. All it had taken was holding her in his arms again to bring home what he had been on the verge of realising the night before. That Sam was a woman who was worth waiting for, she was *definitely* worth waiting for, and definitely worth whatever pains they had to go to in order to bring her home.

~*~

“ I'm waiting for you, biding my time

Keeping my heart from crossing over the line

Counting the days until my dream comes true

I'm waiting for you.”

~ ‘Waiting for You’, Alecia Elliot

~*~

Continued in Part Three

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