Title: Imminent

Author: DJ Boyd

E-mail: calmpony@hotmail.com

Status: complete

Sequel: none

Rating: PG

Season: 5

Pairings: Jack/Sam

Category: Episode Tag, POV Jack

Spoilers: Fail Safe

Content Warnings: none

Summary: WOM challenge. Timing, yep...it's everything.

File Size: 12KB

Imminent

By DJ Boyd

One minute you're facing imminent death, careening through space on a one-way crash course with the biggest, baddest, meteor, ever. Bigger even, than the one in the movie.

The next...no crash...so you get on with the mission. Blow up this piece of rock before it takes out earth.

Then there's that imminent death thingy again...who would have thought the Goa'uld would use something as innocent as a huge honkin' meteor, to skirt the treaty with the Asgard, and destroy earth. Natural disaster? Yeah, right. So...according to Carter and Daniel...blowing up this rock is no longer an option.

Naquada...so say's Carter...has one hell of a multiplication factor when mixed with your ordinary nuke. Go figure.

Hey, at least the Asgard can help us out now.

Imminent death number three disguises it's self as a very, poorly designed bomb. I've handled explosives for over twenty years in this man's Air Force...and I gotta tell ya when I saw five yellow wires, lets just say NASA almost had to send the suit to the cleaners. But, with nothing more than dumb luck to go on, the bomb's defused. Good thing Carter wasn't clipping the wires...she thinks way too much to have access to any dumb luck. I really am going to have to talk to the guys who made that bomb.

Having left Carter in charge of repairing the radio, and beginning the process of contacting the Asgard for legitimate aid and assistance, I was feeling pretty good; about getting home in time for the game. That is until imminent death number...where are we...oh, yeah, four...raised it's ugly little head.

Apparently...multiplication factors of 'Naquada' aren't extended to radio broadcasts. We were stuck inside a huge...muffler-shielding...thing. Soo...no way to call home, and not enough time to fly off to deliver the message...you know the drill.

Last option; shoot this puppy right through the center of the earth, using the cargo ship's hyperspace field. Sounds...impressive...don't even ask me to explain it, I still don't understand it. What I do understand is, it took every once of power this craft had to accomplish the goal. But, it worked...

....sort of. Yep, the death part just has a hard time shaking us this trip. Well, at least we have a couple of hours. Nothing like a little time on your hands to ponder all you did, wanted to do, or should have done, with your life.

Earth is safe, again. Sg-1? Hey, it's what we get paid for. Only this time we won't be cashing the checks. Where's that pink bunny when you need him.

"Carter?"

"Yes, sir?"

"How much longer?"

"Before life support fails?"

"Yeah."

"One hour and ten minutes, sir, why?"

"Oh...just askin'."

Sitting here on the cool deck of the cargo bay, I have an unobstructed view of each of my team members. Daniel and Teal'c are in the cockpit; Carter...is within arms reach.

An officer couldn't ask for a better team. Why is it we always wait until the life and death moments to tell them? After all we have been through, I'm sure they know how I feel.

Just in case though...I guess it wouldn't hurt to make sure. Getting up I feel that old knee of mine catch, and realize some things won't be missed.

"Well, kids...I just want to take a minute here and thank you all for your dedication, and service to your country...it's been fun." I grasped Daniel's hand.

"It certainly has had it's...moments. I'll grant you that. Thanks, Jack."

I turn to Teal'c and find him staring out the view port. "Teal'c?"

He takes my hand and does that bowing thing...

"It has been an honor fighting by your side, O'Neill."

"Same here, big guy."

I walk back over to Sam, and she begins to stand up. "Hey, stay where you are. I was on my way back down there any way."

"Yes, sir."

"Unless, of course you've come up with one of your 'save us at the last minute' theories?"

"No, sir. I'm sorry."

"It's ok, Carter...I was kidding. I know you have done everything possible...you always do."

I stretch out beside my 2IC, glad to be sharing the same space with her. She looks like something's on her mind.

"Penny for them, Carter?"

"Sir?"

"Your thoughts."

She gives me a smile, not one of her dazzling ones, just a soft, shy smile.

"Sorry sir, classified."

"Excuse me? Classified?"

"Yes, sir."

"Carter, who am I going to tell?"

"I just...really wish things weren't ending this way, sir."

"Me too, so let's do something about it. For starters how about dropping the 'sir'."

She's ignoring me. "Sam." I reach out to touch her, and to my surprise...she doesn't pull away. She just smiles at me. "You know, this isn't exactly how I pictured my last hour with you."

"Really, sir, what did you have in mind?"

I guess we aren't dropping the 'sir'. "Oh, you know...dining, dancing..."

"Dancing...you dance?"

"Carter, you know as well as I do it's one of the most important aspects of officer training. How else are you supposed to navigate the Air Force Ball, or represent your country at state dinners? Yep, ranks right up there with marksmanship, and Para-trooping." I give her a sly wink that's meant to relieve the tension...don't think it worked, she's looking way too serious.

"What next?"

"When?"

"After the dancing. What next?"

Now it's my turn to get serious. "My  place..." Whoa, where am I going with this. "...for some star gazing, maybe watch the sun rise."

"Doesn't your roof deck face west?"

"Yep, what's your point?"

"How can we watch the sun rise?"

She's a study of total confusion...I love doing that to her. "Well...it does come over the top of the house...eventually." Her face lights up then colors with understanding.

"Oh, you really have thought this out haven't you?"

Five questions in a row, without a 'sir', I think we're making progress. "I've run it by once or twice...just to check the viability of course. How about you?"

"Well, to be honest..."

Carter never did finish her sentence. It will be a lifetime before I find out what she was going to be "honest" about. Why? Timing, pure and simple. The Tokra have incredibly lousy timing.

Not that I'm not glad to be cashing another pay check...but one of these days the Tokra are going to push my buttons one too many times. Believe me, it's imminent.

FINIS