Steadying Forces
Sam's first week back, she is quiet, pensive. Her team surrounds her, almost hovering, but instead of throwing up walls and backing off, she revels in their presence.
Daniel's absence is that much more painful, and to Sam it is so wrong that even in such a twisted universe as the one she just escaped from, Daniel still fell into Adria's hands.
She spends more time with Vala, enjoying the other woman's energy. They talk about a lot of things, but Sam never speaks of of the alternate universe. Vala might understand why she'd be a prisoner in a parallel world, but then, she might not. Anyway, the majority of that universe Sam would prefer to forget, and talking about it doesn't feel like letting it go.
When Teal'c and Cam play basketball, Sam watches. Seeing Mitchell on his feet, running, laughing, with color in his face and his hair cut and clean is all the fresh air she needs to breathe to ground her in this reality, to remind her that this is her normal.
Her team steadies her in ways she could never convey, or sometimes even understand. It is great to be home.