Stargate SG1 Fan Fiction ❯ The Secret Life of a Major General ❯ Chapter 37 ( Chapter 37 )

Chapter 37

Backyard, O’Neill’s Residence, Alexandria, VA
July 1, 2005
Evening

“Th-that’s great—congratulations,” Jacob stuttered taking the hint from Selmak.

“Really?” Sam asked hesitantly, clearly further worried by her father’s response.

Jacob took a step forward as he gave Sam a reassuring look. “Yes Sam. All any father really wants is for their daughter to be happy. And Sam,” he reached out and gave her upper arm a reassuring squeeze, “you really seem happy. Happy in a way you never did with Jonas or Pete.”

“Thank you Dad,” Sam smiled brilliantly as she stepped away from Jack to throw her arms around her father.

“I’m glad you’ve finally found your happiness,” Jacob murmured into his daughter’s ear as he fiercely returned the hug. After some time Jacob reluctantly ended the hug and took half a step back as he reached a hand out to Jack. “Congratulations Jack.”

Jack reached out a hand and gravely shook Jacob’s. “Thank you Jacob.”

The two men exchanged looks, Jacob questioning if Jack would do everything in his power for his daughter and Jack promising he would. Jacob gave one last shake of their linked hands before ending the handshake.

“I give my congratulations to you as well,” Selmak rumbled before intoning a Tok’ra benediction. “May your time together be blessed with great joy and sorrows never darken your lives.”

“Thank you Selmak,” Sam said solemnly as her memory faintly recognised the ancient words.

Jack nodded in acknowledgement before turning his attention to the food on the barbecue. “Jacob is there anything we can get you to drink?”

Jacob nodded. “A red wine if you have some.”

Jack and Sam exchanged looks, and Sam nodded that she would be the one to fetch her father’s request as Jack began placing the steaks onto the grill.

“So, Jack,” Jacob began as he stepped up beside the barbecue after Sam disappeared into the house. “Last thing I knew she was marrying a cop. What really happened to change your relationship so quickly?”

Jack’s hand paused, tongs and steak held over the grill as he looked at the older man. “Just things Jacob. But are you really okay with it, or are you just putting on a face for Sam?”

Jacob sighed. “I know why you can think a thing like that. Let’s be honest here, you are sixteen years older than her, she’s ten times brighter, and you two have nothing in common unlike her and Daniel—”

Jack’s mouth drew into a hard line. “So you think someone like Daniel would be a better husband than me.”

“Jack, most fathers want men like Daniel for their daughters,” Jacob stated frankly. “And yes, he’s intelligent, curious about the universe, honest and sensitive. They both are. But Daniel is even worse for Sam.”

Jack placed the last of the steaks on the barbecue and closed the lid as he gave Jacob a questioning look.

“Their intelligence is directed in two different areas, science and social. When some technology is discovered, Daniel wants to know what, why, and who about the people that made the device and Sam just wants to know how it works. Also, Daniel doesn’t have the strength to be Sam’s husband.”

Jack’s brow drew into a puzzled frown. “What do you mean?”

“I’m not saying that Daniel is weak or that you’d dominate her, but that you have the strength that Sam would need in a husband. Particularly the strength needed to know when to step back, something Daniel’s curiosity wouldn’t let him.” Jacob said seriously. “Also, Daniel doesn’t really understand the military and that’s a core part of who Sam is.”

Jack nodded his own understanding of what Jacob was saying. He knew Jacob was right, as much as Daniel had improved on things military, he would never have the military mindset that Sam and he possessed.

“And really Jack I can’t judge because your situation isn’t all that different from the one I was in with my wife—our differences weren’t that much different than yours and Sam’s are. So it isn’t a matter of opposites attract or like-to-like, but two unique people finding themselves bound by love.” Jacob sighed again as he looked down at the ground. “And if it was anyone else I would think it was the pretty intense situations that you found yourselves in contriving a false relationship… but, I’ve watched you too much, Selmak’s watched you too much… and if what we’ve seen isn’t an example of love, then what is?”

“Thank you Jacob. For your honesty,” Jack said sincerely when it became evident that Jacob was done speaking.

Jacob spread his hands out in the Tok’ra version of a shrug. “Just, don’t tell Sam any of that, okay? I figure you two have already talked about that sort of stuff and she doesn’t really need to know what her old man thinks. Don’t want her getting any ideas that I’m not happy with the wedding and everything.”

Nodding Jack opened the barbecue lid to turn the corn and steaks.

“So, who else will be attending?”

“Hammond and Mark’s family and Jonas are expected and that’s about it.” Jack lifted his left shoulder in a half shrug. “The President sent a card, as did Jumper, but they’ve got other commitments ’cause it’s the 4th so they won’t be attending.”

Jacob gave a chuckle as he shook his head. “Only you Jack, only you would say something like that so casually. I guess I should be asking, who else knows about the wedding?”

Jack considered the matter. “Bra’tac, Landry, Colonel Masiello, Thor….”

“Impressive list when you think about it,” Jacob interrupted Jack’s musings.

“Really? What do you mean?”

“That the people that know about your wedding are: the US president, three generals—one of which is a four-star—a full bird colonel, an alien politician, an alien president, and an alien five-star general.”

“When you put it like that, it is pretty impressive,” Jack was forced to agree.

Jacob and Selmak shared a moment of private amusement over Jack’s abashed expression. Selmak in particular who was able to more objectively see the former SG-1 team leader as the legendary individual he was. Even knowing all of SG-1’s feats and the man’s integrity, Jacob still tended to think more of Jack as the CO that could potentially lead his daughter to ruin through the frat regs. And still had some un-voiced reservations about how the marriage would affect Sam’s career—he was all too familiar with the insidious nature of whispers that wrecked careers from his own time in the service.

“So,” Jacob looked back through the patio doors. “What do you think happened to Sam? I didn’t think she’d leave me alone with you for so long.”

“Neither did I,” Jack muttered as he too looked at the house. “Maybe one of them cornered her for something. Besides last Saturday she hasn’t seen Daniel—only been talking to him on the phone—and with Teal’c, she’s been exchanging messages sent with the regular communications with the Free Jaffa on Dakara—so brief and non-confidential.”