Password: Fishing

Set shortly after "Heroes" and again sometime after "The Quest part 2" but before "Line in the Sand."

Samantha Carter stared at the print out in front of her. Tears blurred her eyes and smeared her mascara. Janet had picked up that mascara the last time she went shopping, and since Sam was running low, she had picked up a tube for her friend, not realizing it wasn't the heavy-duty waterproof brand they usually used. Janet. Janet wasn't here. Instead, Sam held a letter she never wanted to read.

Dear Sam, she knew it read, if you are reading this… A letter she knew was written years ago, shortly after they had received their commendations for the Hathor invasion. She and Janet had written "just in case" letters together in the commissary; each feeling the need for silent companionship and coffee.

And now, here she was again sitting in the darkened commissary with her now-cold coffee staring at the page in front of her.

Dear Sam, if you are reading this… and once again the words blurred. She laid her head down on the table and sobbed for the friend that was gone, the daughter who lost two mothers, the institution that could not replace the cornerstone of its infirmary. Then there was a presence. A hand on her shoulder. A squeeze. A gentle soothing hand rubbing her back. A cup of hot coffee.

-SG1-

"Sam." For once, the pig-tailed alien looked serious. "I want to write out something, in case, and well…you know." And Sam did know. Adria. Daniel. Death seemed to be everywhere.

"Meet you in commissary in say, ten?" And there they sat, coffee and laptops and pink-inked pens. Finally, Vala had sealed the last of her lacey pink envelopes and Sam completed editing her previous letters and written new ones. "So I've written to Cameron and Muscles, of course, and Carolyn and General Landry. The little bald guy who dials the 'gate, the devilishly handsome major on Atlantis…Daniel…we'll find him someday."

Sam smiled, "Ohhh, Sgt. Davis and Major Lorne. Vala, you wrote Major Lorne?"

"Sure, why not?"

"Never mind," Sam groaned.

"I…I wrote Adria too. I guess, a mother never completely gives up hope," she stacked and restacked her envelopes. "So, we should tell each other where we're storing these!" Vala smiled brightly.

"Why?" hedged Sam knowing Vala was grabbing for a diversion.

"Well, you know. In case something happens to one of us."

"Ah."

"I'm putting mine under my bed."

"Personal file on my laptop." They blurted out their hiding places at the same time and smiled.

"Well, goodnight Sam. I think I'll read a bit before I retire."

"Sleep well, Vala." Sam waved at her friend as she stood up to refill her coffee. If anything happened to her she knew Vala would hack into her files, and would wonder, loudly, why Sam's password was 'Fishing'. She hoped—knew—that would mean more to the General than the letter it protected.