Well, I'm still trying to find the right ending for Jack and Sam, and nothing seems right. So here I am, writing another fic. I'll try to put an actual plot in this one, and not just mush. We'll see how this one turns out. Please leave me a review if you like where it's heading. Ideas are always welcome!

(Obviously, these characters aren't mine, and are the property of MGM)

Thanks for reading!

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"Well, I guess this was too good to be true."

Daniel's words broke the silence that had settled over the three friends resting on the grass next to General O'Neill's Minnesota cabin. Daniel's crestfallen expression reflected Sam's own disappointment, and she ripped a few pieces of grass out of the earth beside her, tearing them into little pieces to allay her frustration. Teal'c sat next to her with his legs crossed, watching General O'Neill as he talked on his cell phone, just out of earshot. The few words they had caught before he stepped aside and the sober look on his face plainly told Sam that their vacation was over. Whatever was going on was serious. She pulled up more grass to shred. Things were definitely not going her way today.

"Poor Jack," Daniel sighed. "He really needed this."

We all needed this.

The stress of the last two weeks had taken its toll on all of them. Sam hadn't realized how tired she was until it all was over. The moment they stepped back through the stargate after the memorial service the Tok'ra had held for Selmak, Sam had practically collapsed right there in the gateroom. It had been embarrassing to have General O'Neill hold her up and walk her to the infirmary, but she had needed his strength. There wasn't really anything wrong with her, though she knew from experience that exhaustion could be a dangerous thing if ignored. After the doc had suggested she take some time off to recuperate, O'Neill had invited all three of his friends to join him at his cabin for the weekend. None of them had hesitated to agree. They had been so relieved to have some time for themselves. Sam sighed and thought of her unpacked suitcase resting against the couch inside. She hadn't even unpacked her toothbrush.

Teal'c tilted his head sideways and laid a hand on Sam's shoulder.

"I am certain that O'Neill will allow you as much time as you require before returning to duty, Colonel Carter."

Sam squeezed his hand briefly, but took little comfort in his words. She knew he meant well, probably supposing she needed time to come to terms with her father's death. The last thing she needed, though, was to be sitting at home alone, nothing but the TV to distract her from her grief. Sam reminded herself that her friends were still under the assumption that she had a fiancé to keep her company, and she knew that she probably had better find a way to tell them that the wedding was off. It wouldn't be hard to tell Daniel and Teal'c. They would be understanding and console her in the kind way she had come to expect from them both. The problem wasn't how she would tell them. She glanced over at O'Neill and held back a sigh. Her eyes settled easily on the black t-shirt that clung to his broad shoulders. He had pushed up the long sleeves, one hand in his pocket as he spoke into the phone. She allowed herself a few moments to let her imagination have free reign of her thoughts. It was easy to envision the warmth of his skin beneath her fingers as she ran them up his bare arms. She thought of how he might taste if she were allowed to press her lips to his neck, the low moan he was sure to let out at her touch.

Letting out the sigh she had tried to contain, Sam tried to push the thoughts from her mind. As always, what she really needed was just out of reach. Jack O'Neill had someone else in his life, and as far as he knew, she was engaged to another man. Sam cringed as she thought of the mess she had made of things. She had hoped that this weekend would give her a chance to explain, to straighten things out, but obviously, that wasn't going to happen now.

O'Neill was walking back to where his friends sat waiting, and they caught the tail-end of his conversation.

"Don't worry about it Colonel…No, I'll take care of it…Yeah, just tell Bra'tac we'll be back on base in the morning...Thanks, bye."

He closed the phone and slid it into his pocket, squinting in the late afternoon sun and looking down at his companions. Sam had seen Teal'c tense up when he heard the name of his friend and mentor, but he waited patiently for O'Neill to speak.

"What's up?" Daniel asked, raising himself up onto his knees and standing, brushing the grass from his jeans. The General looked down at Teal'c for a moment before responding.

"Oh, it looks like Kar'yn got herself into a little trouble. Bra'tac wants us to help him get her out of it." He spoke the words casually, but Sam knew him well enough to see the worry in his eyes. Teal'c stood quickly, concern flashing across his features.

"What has happened to her?" he asked anxiously. While Teal'c had been far from happy when his young son, Rya'c, had decided to marry Kar'yn, he had quickly grown fond of her, and Sam knew it would hit him hard if she came to harm. O'Neill stepped past them onto the dock and started gathering up his fishing gear, speaking over his shoulder.

"I don't know much, T. Looks like she disappeared a couple of days ago. Bra'tac thinks she went looking for some Ancient device that she'd been obsessed with finding." Jack turned and gave Teal'c a meaningful look. "Don't worry, Teal'c. I'm sure she's fine. We'll head back to the SGC and go find her."

Teal'c looked less than convinced, but he bowed slightly and turned to walk briskly back up to the cabin. Daniel glanced from Teal'c to Jack, and then pointed his thumb back toward his retreating friend.

"I'll go help him pack up our stuff."

Jack nodded and picked up his tackle-box. "I want to be out of here in ten," he said, careful to keep his voice low so that Teal'c didn't hear. He kept his eyes on Sam as he spoke the words. She nodded and started after Daniel, but stopped when she heard O'Neill speak her name.

"Hey, Carter," he said quietly. "Wait a second, will you?" Sam turned back and stepped closer to him, letting Daniel walk off alone.

"Yes, sir?"

He set the tackle box down on one of the lawn chairs sitting on the dock and put his hands in his pockets. Sam wished suddenly that she had a picture of him just like that, his sleeves rolled up carelessly, hands deep in the pockets of his loose fitting jeans, his worn cap pulled over his eyes. Anyone who had seen him in combat would have a hard time conjuring up the image of the man who stood so casually before her. It was her favorite side of him, and the one she most rarely got to see.

"Look, Carter," he began, his eyes meeting hers only for a moment before he turned his gaze away. "I know this was supposed to be your chance to get some rest…"

"Please don't worry about me, sir," she interrupted, suddenly finding herself afraid that he might make her go home. "I'm fine, really." He looked skeptically at her, and she knew she'd have to find another way to convince him. He could read her like a book, and what he read now was "tired".

"Don't send me home, sir," she pleaded. "I don't think I could stand it right now. I just want to be with…" She stopped herself just before the word "you" popped out of her mouth. Hoping he didn't notice the pause, she finished with, "…the team. I'm fit for duty, sir. Honest."

Jack shrugged and picked the toolbox back up. "Alright, Carter. I won't pretend we don't need you. But I expect you to let me know immediately if you're not up to this." His tone was commanding, and she nodded obediently.

"Yes, sir. I will. Thank you, sir." She smiled broadly at him and pretended not to notice the way the General held her gaze just a bit longer than necessary before blinking and turning away. He handed her the two fishing poles that were lying across the second lawn chair and headed up to the cabin.

It was only then that Sam realized she had just missed what may have been their last chance to be alone for a long time, and what was probably the best opportunity to tell him about her breakup with Pete. She shook her head as she followed him up to the porch. No, things were not going her way today.