Title: No Greater Love
Author: Lia
Rating: PG-13
Classification: A, R
Pairing: Jack/Sam, mentions of Daniel/Janet
Spoilers: Yes. Meridian, Frozen, Paradise Lost, Fallen, Grace, Chimera, Heroes II, The Lost City I and II. I think that´s all.
Summary: It should have been easy. Life, love. But it wasn´t. Never to them it seemed. Of course they were happy at times, but too much was lost, too much was sacrificed in the end.
Disclaimers: Stargate SG-1 and its characters are the property of Showtime/Viacom, MGM/UA, Double Secret Productions, and Gekko Productions. No copyright infringement is intended.
Author´s Note: Thank you Pat for beta--great job as always my friend. This is my first story with more than one chapter so feel free to tell me how am I doing. That means feedback´s much wanted and appreciated. Thought you should know English is not my first language. This is something I couldn´t get out of my head, it just needed to be written. Hope you like it. Enjoy!
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From the beginning they had kept their relationship as a secret. It was easier that way, they told themselves, both knowing it was a lie. But still, they hadn´t revealed their secret lives to their friends. He wanted to keep their life simple, without explanations, and she only wanted him.
But people around them knew. Daniel understood it first, then Teal´c. But neither said anything. They would simply exchange glances as they saw the small gestures between the lovers.
They were careful first, afraid of being caught by someone who would not understand their need for each other, their love for each other. They sat by the fire, close to each other, shoulders touching, and in the cover of darkness, she reached for his hand, and a soft sigh left his lips as he relaxed.
He felt better when she was close.
Sometimes it was easier when they were off-world. When it was only the four of them. Not always, but sometimes they shared tents; it was warmer like that, safer. She shared her tent with Teal´c. She didn´t know why, only that if she needed to make a choice, it was him.
Maybe, she often thought, it was because it was simpler that way. They didn´t need to lie if someone asked. She didn´t want to be too obvious. And maybe it was because from the beginning, the jaffa had been a safe choice for her.
The silent jaffa didn´t need sleep like the humans did, and he often stood outside in guard, allowing his friends to have the rest their bodies and minds needed.
Maybe that was her reason too.
Those nights she waited him to come to her, and he did. The man she had loved since the first days would lie down next to her, fully clothed, and they slept. Together. It was enough.
And neither Daniel nor Teal´c said anything. They were happy for them.
She had hardly spent one night alone since their first night together. She couldn´t sleep without him anymore. She did try. A few times she asked him to not to come, and he just nodded, understanding, and with a soft kiss of goodnight he walked away. But then sleep would not come. Never when she was alone.
And those nights, hours before sunrise he found himself standing behind her door and she smiled as she saw him and she let him into her bedroom. And the sleep came to them.
Sometimes, mostly after long and exhausting missions, they would have a day off. And those were the mornings she liked the most.
They slept late, made love and whispered sweet nothingness to each other. One day, the light rain was tapping against the window and he hugged her closer, and she sighed happily.
"I love you." He told her softly.
"I know." She grinned to herself. "From the day one."
"I wouldn´t say 'from the day one', Sam. But close."
He chuckled as she punched him lightly. "Come on, Sam, you annoyed the shit out of me back then."
"I know."
Suddenly she found herself lying under him, his dark eyes searching for her blue ones, his face serious. "I love you." He told her again, and she reached to touch his cheek with her fingers, caressing the rough skin gently.
"I love you." She said softly. "So much that it hurts sometimes."
He leaned down to kiss her, pressing his lips against hers so softly, so lovingly that she felt the aching pain in her heart. She loved him more than the life itself.
And it was that very afternoon when Janet and Cassandra Frasier found out the secret relationship.
The mother and daughter stood behind the door, holding an umbrella to cover them from the falling rain.
"Hey." They greeted grinning at the sight in front of them.
And Jack O´Neill sighed, wishing he would have put more clothes than a tee shirt and boxer shorts. Without a word from him he let the women inside the house. He closed the door, the crash of closing thunder breaking the silence, and he knew they expected him to say something.
"Sam´s in the shower." He started slowly.
And to his surprise, it seemed to be enough; Cassandra nodded before heading into the kitchen, still steaming pizza box in her other hand, sodas and rented movies in the other. Janet patted his shoulder lightly as she followed her daughter. And he was left alone, amazed.
It was still raining when he left her house. She kissed him softly before he walked to his car, and for a moment she ignored the cold wind that wrapped around her as she leaned against the doorframe and watched him drive away.
A small chuckle left her lips as she heard the demands to close the door coming from the living room where the two other women had found comfortable seats in front of the fireplace.
End of part 1