Season: Set in the future approximately around the end of season ten.
Contains Slight Spoilers for Season 9
Beta's Note: irishchick has been kind enough to allow me to Beta her story, and post it here for her. So any and all grammer, spelling, and punctuation errors are my fault alone, while the compelling story and fine writing belong solely to Irish. And since you're obviously the sort of thoughtful, well-mannered person who reads the notes at the top of the page. I'm sure you won't mind if I remind you to REVIEW! Your opinions are much appreciated by the author (and me). Thanks. melpomene-muse of tragedy
Samantha Carter sat in the waiting room. She knew why she was there. She couldn't quite believe she needed to be, but if she was really honest with herself she probably should have been here a long time ago. She could never face going to a military doctor. It was too close to home. She needed someone that didn't have a file with her history, a file that contained every incident that had happened to her in the last ten years in detail on page after page.
The receptionist approached and Sam was brought back to reality by her presence. If she was going to run, now was the time. But she didn't. She allowed the young woman to escort her from the waiting room into another room. It wasn't quite what she'd imagined it to be. It wasn't cold, or clinical. It didn't have the cliché long couch that you would expect to find. Sam sat in the armchair beside the window that overlooked the busy street below. She was so engrossed in the world outside that she didn't notice Doctor Smith enter the room and sit in the chair opposite.
"Ms. Carter" his voice just traveling over the noise from her own thoughts.
She turned to face him and was surprised by how young he looked.
"Ms. Carter, you've come here today because you feel you need to talk to someone, is that correct?"
"Yes it is. I…I've been having some problems lately."
"Okay Ms. Carter"
"Sam please, you can call me Sam."
"Okay Sam, where would you like to start?"
"Well I'm not sure really"
"How about why you've come here Sam?" His voice was calm and Sam began to relax.
"Lately I've been having some feelings" She said almost in a whisper, as if it was a big secret that no one should hear.
"How would you describe this feeling?"
"I don't know, doubt…fear, it's hard to explain."
"Does this feeling appear in a constant form or periodically?"
"I should explain my job is slightly stressful, I work in well…not ordinary circumstances."
"Yes, under 'Occupation' you wrote Air Force."
"Yes, I'm a scientist, and there is also field work involved."
"Do you think this is the reason for these feeling?"
"Maybe……."
"Sam if we're going to get to the root of your issues you'll have to be honest, not only with me but with yourself. I understand that maybe you can't be completely honest about certain aspects of your life, and that fine okay?"
"Okay"
"So when do these feeling occur?"
"Lately…always" The small crack in her voice as she said this didn't go unnoticed by Doctor Smith.
"Why?"
"I've had a lot of time to think lately. I've had a lot of alone time."
"And before you didn't?"
"No, not really. I've always had friends around"
"And what changed this?"
"I burned some bridges." Sam said quietly, turning her attention back toward the street below.