Bad Day

Jack sat in Sam's house, well technically their house, in the spring late in the evening. He was nursing his fourth scotch. He had just finished getting the house ready to be shutdown, turning off the water and gas, winterizing the soon to be empty home. He knew he had no reason to come back to the Springs, not for a very long time at least. Jack was going over the day, it was a bad one. Maybe even a top ten.

This morning, Sam left for Atlantis. The gang had a party for her the night before and it was quite the shindig. There were lots of laughter, shouts of "Congratulations" and hugs. This morning however, had been very morose. He hated to say goodbye, but this was such a great opportunity for her. He could never hold her back; as a matter of fact he had even floated her to the IOA.

They both knew they couldn't say goodbye at the mountain. The relationship was still a secret and only a few knew about their marriage. They both knew they wouldn't have been able to keep their emotions in check, so they had decided to say goodbye at home. Daniel had picked her up.

Good ole Danny.

There had been tears from both of them as she walked out the door. Jack had felt a hole enter his heart, like a vacuum, as the taillights of Daniel's car vanished into the distance. When and would he ever see her again entered his mind, and not for the first or last time.

Is this how Sara felt all those times he left? Not knowing if and when he would return? At least with Sam, he was at the top and privy to all the going ons. In a few days when he felt stronger, he will call Sara and apologize for what he put her through.

Better late than never, right?

But, it's not just Sam leaving for Atlantis that makes this one of the top ten worse days.

Daniel and Teal'c, being his best friends and all, knew how he was feeling and took him to dinner earlier in the evening, also aware Jack was heading back to DC in the morning. The three always took every opportunity to hang out together when he was in town. They were having a nice dinner and it did help to stave off the sucking vacuum in his chest.

Despite it all, Jack noticed Teal'c was acting quiet, at least a lot quieter than normal.

Of course being the kind friend that Jack was asked him, "So, T, you feeling alright? You're looking a little down."

Teal'c just looked down and was turning his drink in his hands, looking like he was contemplating something. It was beyond his normal stoic state and radiated an unusual vibe to Jack.

"Seriously Teal'c, what's going on?"

"I too will miss Colonel Carter greatly."

"Of course you will, Teal'c. You two have been fighting side by side for ten years. I would be concerned if you didn't."

"O'Neill, I have a heavy burden. I do believe I should share it with you, but am hesitant. It has been on my conscience to talk to you for quite awhile."

That peaks Jack's and even Daniel's interest. Jack had a sinking feeling that whatever Teal'c had to say wasn't going to be good. He figured humor and sarcasm would not be appropriate, so he clasps his hands on the table and simply asks, "What is it?"

What Teal'c said next would start to send Jack into a spiral, so much that he wished he never asked Teal'c the question. He was better off not knowing.

"You recall the 50 year time dilatation on the Odyssey?"

"Yeah? You didn't divulge what happened on that ship other than what was mission relevant and you aged 50 years."

Daniel next to Jack sat up straighter, he also wondering what Teal'c was going to say. Even though he had been aboard the Odyssey, he was also in the dark to the events of those lost years.

"We were stuck in that time dilation field and Colonel Carter was becoming more and more frustrated over not being able to free us. Over time, I noticed she was becoming depressed. I often found her crying when she thought she was alone. She was most distressed by the fact that she thought she would never see you again O'Neill. It had been a great many years. I often went to comfort her and things progressed. O'Neill, we had a sexual relationship."

Jack couldn't believe what he was hearing. Not in a million years would he think that Teal'c could betray him. He could feel the anger growing and the tears at the back of his eyes. Jack looked over at Daniel and saw the shock on his face too. Daniel hadn't known. Jack didn't know what to say he was so flabbergasted.

All he could get out was, "You had a relationship with my wife?"

"O'Neill, you must know that you are my brother and I have the utmost respect. Our friendship means everything."

Jack's temper was escalating, but he tried to rein it in since they were in public. If they had been in a private location, Jack felt he would have tried to kill the Jaffa. He was mad and it showed clearly in his face so he replied in the most controlled yelling whisper he could muster, "What?! Brothers? Do you know that brothers are loyal right, Teal'c? They don't have affairs with each other's wives. I don't care how long it's been. At some point, she could have figured it out and what then, Teal'c? You both would have returned, a little older, but together. You of all people know what Sam means to me. How could you…?"

Jack couldn't go on. The anger and hurt was becoming too much. He felt Daniel's hand on his shoulder in solidarity. That sucking vacuum that he felt earlier was now tenfold. His best friend, the man who had stood by him at his wedding, betrayed him on that ship. He couldn't breathe. He was starting to hyperventilate.

He got up quickly and exclaimed, "I need some air!"

Jack left the building in a hurry. He was unaware of the tears forming in Teal'c's eyes.

Jack could hear Daniel calling to him, "Jack."

He just kept going though. When he exited the restaurant, he spotted to a dark area out of the way of people, and made for it quickly. His chest felt like it was caving in and he couldn't get enough air. He sat down on the ground and put his head between his knees. Not long after, Jack felt Daniel kneel beside him. Daniel was telling him to take deep breaths.

Breathless, "Daniel call me a cab, please."

"Jack, I can take you home."

"No, I want to be alone. You'll just hang around."

"Okay." Daniel patted him on the back and stood up. Jack heard him call a cab for him. Daniel returned and sat down next to him. Neither man said a word.

When the cab pulled up, and just before Jack got in, Daniel quietly spoke, "Jack, Sam doesn't remember, I don't remember. The time reset and in our memories, it never happened." After a moment he added, "Please tell me you're not going to do anything rash?"

"No Danny, I'll live, somehow. She may not remember, but, I now can't help wonder if there is something deep down in her for him now. I mean he didn't act alone here." Running his hand through his hair he let out a deep breath and finished, "Even if she doesn't, he does. He knows her intimately, Daniel. I'm just not sure how to deal with any of this."

"Jack, I don't know what to say. Just…be okay. Call me if you need anything."

Jack didn't respond, he just got into the cab and gave the cab driver the address for home.

Coming back from his thoughts of the events of the day, Jack finished off the last of the scotch in his glass. He sat there contemplating whether or not to pour another, but knew he shouldn't because of his early flight back to DC. He doesn't need to be completely hung over. That, plus his sure to be foul mood, would get him in a lot of trouble. Putting the lid back on the bottle and lying down on the couch, he felt empty and didn't want to expend the energy to move to the bed.

Jack stared at the ceiling with a numb heavy heart, contemplating the words Daniel said about Sam. There really isn't anything for him to forgive with her but this whole time dilation thing is just so damn complicated. His heart couldn't really decipher this. It's not a normal human heart paradox. How was he going to keep his feelings in check when he talks to her over coms?

Then there was T. Jack just wasn't sure how he was going to forgive Teal'c. He knew if he didn't, Sam will figure it out and start to ask questions. Jack knew she couldn't ever find out about what was revealed. Maybe before Sam returns, he could find it in his heart to at least act cordial enough with Teal'c to not to alert her. For Jack, that thought seemed nearly impossible however.

What he did know was he was going to bury himself with the new Icarus project that has just been green lighted. Hopefully that will get him though all of this. Keep busy, box the problem away somewhere and try to move on. After all, he thought glumly, that's how he has gotten through pretty much every crappy thing in his life.

Author's note

Personally, I did not see this happening. Watching the episode I saw Teal'c comforting Sam, but not crossing the line. After reading that fans and actors were pushing for this scenario in the last episode, I just don't see Teal'c doing this, but IF it happened his honor system would eat at him until he confessed to Jack.