Fic: If you leave me now
Author: Major_Sam
Email: funky_chicken88@hotmail.com
Date: 14/10/07
Pairing: Sam/Shelley
Fandom: Stargate SG1 Pt 1, Stargate Atlantis in part 2
Rating: PG13
Part: 1/2 WIP
Word Count: 2, 317
Authors Notes: The 1st part of my 'Moving to Atlantis fics' More will follow.
Summary: Will Sam's decision to leave, change her life forever
It was out of the blue! A request Sam Carter believed she would never get. Being the leader of Atlantis. But leaving the SGC brought up more problems. Leaving Earth was proving to be harder than she thought.
Now all she had to do was to tell her partner, Shelley that the IOA wanted her to take over from Elizabeth Weir since her capture by the human form replicators. It wasn't going to be easy. But with everything they had gone through lately, Sam hoped that Shelley would consider leaving with her.
Sam had made it home earlier than normal. She and Shelley had wanted to give Mia a normal a life as possible, especially with the revelation they had gone through several weeks ago. Mia was almost 6 now and getting more like her mother every day. Shelley was a little relieved that her daughter had taken after her and not her father. It was too painful for her to look at her everyday and see Daniel. They had talked about having a child of their own, but since the demise of the Asgard it was becoming more and more less likely.
Mia sat at the table in the kitchen, in her world of her own, happily colouring in a colouring book.
"Hey sweet pea. Sam said, kissing the top of Mias head.
The youngster smiled, carrying on with her colouring! Sam stood behind Shelley who was just finishing serving dinner. The redhead turned, seeing Sam behind her and smiled.
Mia, sweety, take those things off the table and go and wash your hands before dinner,
Mia nodded and skipped off to the bathroom to wash her hands.
"Youre home early. Did you find out about who the IOA are gonna put in charge of Atlantis. I still cant believe it, poor Elizabeth.
Yes I did. Thats why I came home early. I need to talk to you.
Can it wait till after dinner? Shelley asked.
Sam nodded.
Of course.
Sam was a little relieved. At least now she had a little bit more time to rehearse what she was going to say. It had been a few hours since she'd found out, but she still didn't know how she was going to tell Shelley.
During dinner, the conversation switched to Mia. About how she was liking school and what cool things she did during the day, finger painting and play time. Over the last few weeks, Shelley had put Mia's finger paintings in pride of place on the refrigerator and several on the wall in her office. For 6 years old, she was quite talented. Having two genius's for parent's, it was obvious that she was going to be another genius. It didn't matter that both her parents were women, she was loved and cared for. They hadn't encountered any problems at the school. It was a very liberal place. One little girl had two male parents. Shelley was lucky. Some schools were very strict.
After dinner, Mia went to play in her room, whilst her parents talked.
Shelley sat on the couch, relaxing whilst Sam washed up the dishes. For the last 5 years, she had become quite the domestic goddess. Wowing Shelley with her flare for soufflι's. Shelley smiled, patting the couch next to her, urging Sam to join her whilst there was a bit of piece.
The Colonel put the last plate in the dish rack and dried her hands.
"You wanted to talk to me about something? Shelley asked.
Sam became nervous all of a sudden! Why was this bothering her so much. It wasn't that big a deal. She sat besides Shelley, patting the redhead's knee.
"I did,
Shelley reached up her hand, brushing Sam's hair from her face, letting her fingers linger for a moment. It was getting harder and harder for her to come out and just say it.
"You found out about Atlantis? Shelley asked.
The Colonel nodded slowly.
"It's me Shell, they want to me take over as the leader of Atlantis.
There was a long silence as Shelley stood up.
"And you said yes?
Sam nodded again.
"Yes. It's an unbelievable opportunity Shell. I couldn't turn it down.
"I see. So there's nothing else to talk about is there, you're leaving me.
Sam stood up, shaking her head and reaching out for Shelley.
"No baby, no. I'm not leaving you, I love you. I want you to come with me.
There was another pause.
"Go with you to Atlantis . Are you crazy? I can't. I've got my work here, I've got Mia, I can't take her to another galaxy!
Sam looked away. The thought of taking Mia with her had been the furthest thing from her mind but couldn't tell Shelley that.
"I want you to come with me Shell. Can you imagine what this could do for you career. Not to mention for us. We need a new start, after what we've been through.
Shelley turned her back.
"Is that what this is about? Getting me away from here in case Daniel comes back, again.
Sam had to admit that she had considered it.
"No yes. I don't know. I just know that this could be good for us.
"It's too big Sam. If it was somewhere else on this planet then yes, but another galaxy ..
Sam reached out, pulling Shelley closer to her.
"If you don't come with me, Shell, I'm not sure if we can survive a long distance relationship.
"Thanks for not pressuring me, Sam, Shelley said, angrily, pulling away from Sam's arms.
The redhead moved out of the living room towards the front door, picking up her jacket, leaving the house. Sam stood on her own, stunned by Shelley's reaction. Of course in an ideal world Mia would go with them, but having a 6 year old in a strange galaxy filled with enemy's at every turn, she just couldn't put her through that. Or even put Shelley through it. They'd both be constantly worried about if the youngster was okay. But Sam knew that Shelley couldn't go with out her daughter. Now she felt selfish of wanting to have her to herself.
2 hours later.
Shelley sat at the bar, nursing her second drink. All she could think about was what Sam had asked her, to leave her family, her friends, her job and her daughter to go and go and work in Atlantis. It wasn't that Sam had asked her it was the fact that Shelley was considering it. How could she do that? How could she even contemplate leaving her daughter with god-knows who whilst she stayed with the woman she loved!
Shelley picked up the glass in front of her, taking another swig and putting it back down on the bar, suggesting to the bar tender that she required another. Then she got the strangest sensation, that someone was sitting next to her. She turned her head slowly, seeing a familiar face next to her.
"Cameron, what are you doing here?
"Sam called, said you'd had a fight.
Shelley shook her head.
"I wouldn't say fight! She tell you why?
Mitchell nodded. Sam had told him that she had been on the shortlist but didn't think that the IOA would give it to her.
"Yeah. It couldn't have been easy for her to tell you.
"She wants me to go with her, leave my daughter and my friends, my family. How can she expect me to do that?
Cam signalled to the bar tender who put down a bottle of beer in front of him.
"I think what she's thinking is how can you not want to go with her?
Cameron Mitchell had summed it up! Something that Shelley had failed to realise!
"I do want to go with her. Of course I do, but I can't leave everything behind I've worked for, for the last 7 years.
"And you don't think it's hard for her too? How long have you two been together?
"Just over 5 years? Shelley said.
"And I know for a fact that she's been in love with you for over 6. Doesn't that tell you something?
Shelley stood up from her stool, taking the last gulp of vodka.
"I have to talk to her!
"You do that . Glad I could help.
Cam picked up the beer bottle, giving a little toast to Shelley as she left the bar. His eyes wandered around the bar, seeing someone who took his eye and walked over to her.
Sam paced the kitchen and the rest of the house, looking at her watch every few minutes. Cameron had phoned her, telling her that Shelley was on her way back home. Sam pulled out her cell phone, checking to see if the redhead had called her. But she hadn't. She flipped it shut and placed it back in her pocket.
Her head looked up quickly as she heard the front door open and close and a set of keys dropped on the cupboard next to the door.
They met half way between the front room and the kitchen.
"Is Mia..?
"Asleep. I told her you'd go and kiss her goodnight when you came home! Are you okay? Sam asked.
"I don't know. I've been thinking a lot of what you told me. I'm so pleased for you. This is an amazing opportunity. But I can't go with you! I can't leave Mia, Sam You have to understand that?
Sam nodded, fighting back the tears that were forming in her eyes.
"I do, I do understand. She's my daughter too, Shell.
Shelley began to move closer towards her. She wanted to hold her, wipe the tears from her eyes and tell her that everything was going to be okay. But she didn't know!
"I know and she loves you. And she's gonna miss you so much.
The thought of Sam not being around anymore brought tears to Shelley's eyes, and she let them fall.
"I'll talk to her tomorrow! Try and explain.
"When do you leave? Shelley asked.
Sam paused.
"Tomorrow,
"It's not enough time, Shelley sobbed.
Sam ran her hand across Shelley's face, softly.
"I know baby, I know.
Shelley let herself be pulled into Sam's arms, running her hands up and down the blondes back.
"What am I gonna do without you? Sam asked.
"At least you won't be worrying about me.
Sam pulled away, half smiling and half in floods of tears.
"I'll be worrying about you where ever you are Shell.
Both of them stood, in floods of tears, sobbing.
"Do you need to pack or ? Shelley couldn't think of anything else to say.
"Only some clothes. My lab at the base has already been packed up. Just personal things I guess.
The redhead nodded, agreeing.
"I could pack some things for you, clothes, photo's and things. You could take a few of Mia's paintings.
Shelley pulled back, trying to head off into the bedroom. Sam stopped her, pulling her back.
"Please Shell, it's okay calm down. We can sort it out in the morning. Sam said.
"But
"Stop. I want us to I need.
Sam smiled through her tears. Tomorrow she was leaving Earth, the SGC, her friends and her daughter. But for her last night, wanted to be with the woman she loved. Deep down, Sam knew that Shelley would choose to stay behind.
"I love you, Sam whispered.
Shelley smiled. She took Sam's hand, leading her towards their bedroom. Sam
Closed the door behind her.
The next day
The IOA had planned a small ceremony, handing over the reigns of Atlantis to Sam.
Sam and Shelley stood in her office. Shelley buttoning Sam's jacket, smiling.
"I always thought you looked hot in your uniform, the redhead said.
"I know you do.
Shelley looked at her watch.
"Time to go, she said.
Sam nodded. Shelley looked up at her, her heart breaking inside. A few hours ago, they had sat Mia down, explaining that Sam was going away for a while, and that she would love her wherever she was. That she'd come back if the youngster or her mother ever needed her. Unfortunately Mia had to say goodbye at home, not being allowed to be on the base.
Shelley had left Sam in her lab whilst she attended to her own work for a moment, giving Sam a chance to say goodbye to Teal'c.
They met outside Shelley's lab, the two of them walked together down the corridors of the SGC towards the gate room.
As the doors opened, they saw SG1, General Landry and most SGC teams waiting for her. Shelley knew that they had been planning to send her off in style. Shelley let go of her hand, letting Sam goodbye to her friends.
It wasn't easy, but Sam managed to say goodbye without crying. But knew that the last goodbye was going to be a heartbreaker.
Sam stood in front of Shelley, holding her hand, trying not to cry.
"I'm going to miss you so much! she said.
"I know. But you're only 2 gate trips away and another galaxy.
Sam looked around, hoping that no one would mind her soon to be display of affection. She pulled Shelley tightly towards her for a hug, running her hand on the back of her head. Shelley didn't want her to let go. But as she heard the last chevron lock, they parted slowly.
The Colonel looked into her eyes, moving closer to her lips. She kissed her softly, touching her forehead with hers.
"I love you so much. Don't forget that! she said.
"I Won't.
Sam moved back towards the edge of the ramp, turning around the smile at her friends, one last time. She moved up the ramp, turning one last time
"I love you, Shelley mouthed.
"Always, Sam mouthed back.
Then she was gone!
To be continued