Title: Third Ring's the Charm

Author: Secret Art

Date: 12^th April 2005

Category: romance

Pairings: Sam/Pete, Sam/Jack

Spoilers: Affinity

Summary: Jack calls Sam

Feedback: can only make me better

Disclaimer: Stargate SG-1 and its characters are the property of Stargate (II) Productions, Showtime/Viacom, MGM/UA, Double Secret Productions, and Gekko Productions. This story is for entertainment purposes only and no money exchanged hands. No copyright infringement is intended. The original characters, situations, and story are the property of the author.

Author’s note: Just a little ficlet to get me writing again.

You pick up the phone, the two or three (four?) drinks you've had giving you enough courage to dial the number.

The phone rings, each ring causing the nervous tapping of your fingers on the side table to become louder, more frantic.

"Hello?"

You slam the phone down, panting heavily. It was him again, him, the man that had stolen your girl.

You collapse onto the sofa, reaching out for the bottle. It's just out of reach, and you could lean forward to grab it but you don't have the energy, you'd much rather wallow in pity in your half drunk state.

It had taken you weeks to work up the courage to call her, and then a few more before you worked out what it was you wanted to say. You wanted to tell her not to marry him, not to leave you alone, lost without the light of your life.

You sigh, running your trembling fingers between your greying hair. You consider how pathetic you must look, a grown man in love with someone too young to even notice him.

The phone ringing startles you, and you watch it ringing, trying to decide whether to pick it up or not. Figuring that it would have to be an emergency for anyone to call you, you pick it up, glad that you didn't have that extra drink.

"Hello?"

"You just called me and hung up?" the annoyed voice on the other end asks, and you instantly recognise its owner.

"Yes Carter."

"Why?"

You want to tell her, blurt out all the secrets you've been carrying around since leaving it all in that room, but you can't, every time you try a lump forms in your throat. You think of her in her house, curled up on the sofa, Pete by her side, and you can't break her illusion. She thinks she's happy, and you want her to be, you just know he isn't the man to make her happy.

"Sir?"

You roll your eyes, annoyed at her for disturbing your thought process. "What?"

"Why did you call me?"

"Why did he have to answer?" You freeze hearing her gasp; realising that you said it out loud.

"That's why you put the phone down, because my fiancé happened to be nearest the phone when you rang!"

You don't reply, knowing that nothing you say could explain your actions. You can hear movement through the phone and wonder where she has gone, if she's just left you there to suffer.

"Do you really hate him that much?" She whispers and you smile, she moved so that he couldn't hear her.

"I don't hate him Carter, I just don't think he's right for you."

"Why not?"

"You deserve a lot more than he can give you."

"He's the only one that wants me." She sounds so lonely, so lost that the words slip out before you can stop them.

"I want you Carter, always have, always will."

"So why did you let me say yes?" She's annoyed now, but you're not sure if she's annoyed at you for not stopping her, or annoyed at herself for letting it get this far.

"Because I don't want you to miss out on life waiting for us."

"I won't."

You hear her moving again and panic, suddenly wondering if you're doing the right thing. "It might never work out Carter."

"I don't care, marrying Pete wouldn't even give us the chance, and I'd rather know what it was like to love you for one day then live my whole life with a sure bet."