Disclaimer: No offense, but if you think I own the rights to Stargate, or that I'm making any money off of this, you need to have your head examined…

Alright, so yet again, this didn't go exactly where I had planned, but I think I like it better than what I came up with originally. :-)

"Samantha…"

No way in hell am I opening my eyes, she told herself as she fought to bury her mind deeper into the darkness. It hurts too much.

"Sam, c'mon. Wake up."

This time she could feel his hands, they were cold but tender as they traced her forehead, brushing away stray tendrils of hair – his touch soothing away her fear. Was she dead? She began to wonder if Juliet's wish been granted her – that she too could die from lingering traces of poison on Romeo's lips. But that was when she noticed what must have been a sharp rock under her left shoulder. She began to squirm, trying to dislodge the offending piece of nature, when she felt herself being propped up in his arms.

"Samantha," his voice said, softer than she had thought possible. "I need you to wake up."

She opened her eyes –

– And found herself face to face with a very much alive Colonel Jack O'Neill. Her brow furrowed in confusion as he smiled. She didn't have much time to wonder how their roles had become reversed (hadn't she been holding him?) as he pressed his lips to hers in a searing kiss. She answered his passion with her own, reaching up to run her hands through his hair and down his back, as if trying to reassure herself that this was real. When they broke apart, gasping, he helped her to sit up. She winced, and one hand flew to her head. Talk about a galactic hangover.

Looking around the forest clearing, she was shocked to see that they were back at the dais – the Stargate stood stoic and silent above them. She groaned in confusion, and Jack rested a hand on her neck, gently massaging it. "How did we get back here?" She turned to look in his eyes. "And how did you…" Her breath caught at the painful memory. "You were dead." Her eyes misted over, but she vowed she would not cry. Jack's face seemed to darken at her words, and he frowned.

"Sam," he began, unable or unwilling to go back to following protocol as he kept one arm clamped around her shoulders, "you're the one who died. I watched you get hit with a spear and bleed to death." Now it was her turn to be confused.

"What?"

We are pleased to see that you have both awakened.

Sam looked around quickly and spotted the chief of the natives walking toward them. "Ardain? What's going on?"

You have both passed through the ritual of the Marim. Vreshnac concluded that it would be the best way to understand your species. His head tilted slightly to the left. You are indeed a curious race.

Jack gestured to Daniel and Teal'c lying motionless nearby. "Will they be alright?"

Yes, they will wake up soon.

Sam's brow furrowed as her mind tried to catch up with reality. "When did this 'ritual' begin?" she asked.

When each of you came through the circle.

The whole thing had been a dream, Sam realized. Their captivity, the feast, Jack's death… She looked up at him again. What was it he had said – that she had died too? Ardain answered her question before she thought to ask it.

The ritual involves the searching of one's soul. Vreshnac finds the most hidden, seemingly unattainable desires of your heart and shows you that they are possible.

Sam was reminded of the Gamekeeper they had met on another planet and pushed down a surge of anger – until she realized that Ardain's purpose had been quite different. His goal had been to break down her own erected barriers, not to watch her struggle with the past for his own amusement. Glancing at the hand that gripped her upper arm, Sam pushed down the unease caused by the knowledge that it had taken their supposed deaths to make them both see how much they truly cared about each other. She swallowed heavily. Where would they go from here?

Daniel groaned, and Jack hurriedly dropped his hold on Sam as the archeologist began to stir. I guess I have my answer, she thought sadly. Ardain took advantage of Daniel's slow revival to address them both once more.

Vreshnac has showed me of your feelings, and the reasons why you cannot share in your love. Sam may have been imagining it, but she could have sworn he was about to cry. For the sacrifice you continue to make in fighting a dangerous enemy, our people will forever honor you, JackandSam. At the sound of their names spoken together, almost as if they were one, Sam's vision blurred with tears, and Jack bowed his head.

"Thank you," he replied, his voice reverent. Without looking in her eyes, almost as if it would be unbearable, Jack offered her his hand, and they both stood, walking over to their teammates. Had they looked down, they would have noticed that their hands remained clasped – but it went unnoticed, so natural and comforting was the pressure and feel of each other's skin. Ardain stared at Daniel silently for a moment, then addressed Teal'c in the same manner. Sam didn't doubt that he was offering them words of advice or congratulations as well. Finally there came an unspoken agreement that it was time to go. The team nodded to each other, then at Ardain, in gratitude for all they had learned.

As Jack and Sam approached the wormhole, they reluctantly released each other and glanced back one final time at the chief.

May you find the peace you so valiantly fight for, JackandSam.

They both smiled sadly and stepped through the Stargate.

xXx

Ten years later, Sam stood at the kitchen sink, washing the breakfast dishes as she watched her young daughter playing in the backyard, and sighed in contentment. Strong arms wrapped around her waist from behind, and she leaned into her husband's embrace. Taking a deep breath of his scent, she turned to plant a soft kiss on his cheek, and shot him a playful grimace.

"You didn't shave this morning."

"It's Saturday," he answered roguishly, "I don't have to." He nuzzled his grizzly face into her neck and she fought to push him away, showering him with water and bubbles in the process.

His eyes widened. "Samantha O'Neill, you are sooo going to pay for that!" She wound one hand into Jack's already damp hair and pulled his head down to hers, smiling mischievously.

"I hope so," she murmured, just before she kissed him.

The End

See, you can trust me! Hope nobody choked on the fluff.

I can't stop smiling at the moment, and I think I like it that way!

:-D