When Sam met Sara
Chapter 1
Author's Note: Welcome to my new longish story. It is an AU of SG-1 from the episode COLD LAZERUS in Season 1 when a fake Jack comes back through the gate and goes to meet Jack's wife Sara. During the episode the fake Jack lets slip some things he shouldn't and allows Jack and Sara to see Charlie, their son, again. Also Sara briefly meets SG-1 and this idea goes from there. Although it is AU for life outside the mountain please assume that the episodes all happen as they do in the show, well at least until I tell you otherwise.
Obviously I don't own these characters - I am simply enjoying putting them in interesting situations!
Some would call it unlikely, others would insist it was unworkable. Many would assume it was a passing thing, while others would be concerned about national security. But Sam Carter and Sara O'Neill were slowly becoming the best of friends.
It had started outside the hospital on the Miracle Day, as Sara had named it. She had received an insight into Jack's mind and had been given the chance to say goodbye to her little boy. That day had also introduced her to one other person, someone very like herself: a lonely person who struggled to fit in. This person clearly had an exceptional mind and a good future but, like Sara, wanted more in her life than a job could give, even a job with the Air Force. Sara had met Sam.
There had not been much said between them on that day but it had led to a meeting a week later at one of the large gyms in town. Sara had been walking out of the main door when she had collided with Sam. Unable to place the young blonde woman, she'd just stared at her for a few seconds
"Hello, Mrs O'Neill. I'm Sam... Captain Carter... we met last week," Sam introduced herself.
"Yes… Sam... you work with Jack, right?" Sara had clarified.
"Yes, Ma'am. The Colonel's my boss."
Sara had continued to stare at Sam; she'd hoped deep down for just such an opportunity.
Feeling a little uncomfortable, Sam had tried to politely extricate herself from the meeting. "Uh… it was nice to see you," she said, moving past the other woman.
"Wait, Sam! If you don't mind, can we talk for a bit?"
Sam looked at the woman in front of her and could see no problem with having a conversation with her CO's ex-wife, even though it did seem a bit odd that she'd want to talk to her. "Sure. Um..." She looked around at the crowded gym, spotting a free table at the coffee bar. "How about we grab a coffee?"
Sara nodded and the two moved to the coffee bar. No one really understood why it was there as it didn't really make a huge effort to be healthy, but it did get a large number of customers.
The two women sat with their coffees, both unwilling to start the conversation.
"Captain, can I ask you something?" Sara finally started.
Sam nodded, hoping she wasn't going to have to lie too much during the conversation.
"Is Jack's new job dangerous? I mean, I know you can't give me details, and I'd never ask... but is it risky?"
Sam thought for a minute. "Before I answer can I ask you what the Colonel's told you?"
"Who, Mr Tell All?" Sara laughed sadly. "Nothing... not really. He came over the night after he took Charlie away. Told me some crap about cloning and secret experiments and the like. I told him to stop lying to me and we left it there. I just want to know if I should still worry about him."
Sam could see a woman in front of her who had lived much of her life being given the official line from the Air Force and she understood how frustrating that could be. She'd often found her mom searching the newspapers for anything that her father could be involved in. How could she answer tactfully without lying to this woman? "Well, we're involved in something that can occasionally go… well… wrong." She smiled wryly, knowing that Sara O'Neill could put two and two together.
"Did you know Charlie Kawalsky?" Sara asked, a little out of left field.
"Yes, briefly."
"The last time I saw Jack before… you know… was at his funeral. I'd known him from way back. He was a member of Jack's team. Jack tried to tell me it was a training mission but I didn't believe him. However, that's not the point. Charlie and the others, they were Jack's team, his protectors, so I didn't need to worry about him all the time because I knew his team. Of course we all worried, all the wives, and it didn't always go well, but at least I knew his team. I knew they'd look out for each other, for Jack. Do you understand?"
Sam took a breath; at least this she could help Sara with. "Mrs O'Neill, the Colonel has a great team behind him and we do look out for each other. You met them at the hospital, too. I can't promise you that nothing will ever happen to him... but I can promise you that I'll do everything in my power to help him. And I know our team mates would say the same," Sam stated with sincerity and conviction, and tried to convey that through her eyes as she looked at the other woman.
"Thank you, that's all I needed to hear... and you can call me Sara."
"Call me Sam."
They both took a sip of coffee and Sara began to talk again. "So, Sam, tell me a little about yourself. I exercise here every couple of days and no one ever speaks to anyone. I'd like to change that... if you were willing. It sure would be nice to see a friendly face around here."
Sam looked at the other woman; she seemed very earnest and, if she were honest, she'd felt the same loneliness while exercising here. She knew her team and a few other people at the base but had no friends outside. Sure it would be a little odd – the woman was the Colonel's ex-wife – but she wasn't able to say anything about the SGC, anyway.
"Well, I'm an Air Force brat. Dad's a Major General, although he's retired now. I'm an astrophysicist and, until recently, I wanted to join NASA but they stopped hiring so here I am. I worked in D.C. for a bit, flew in Iraq, and totally love my job."
"Wow! A national hero and a smart scientist!"
Sam blushed, not knowing how to respond to that. "Yes, well, the Colonel wasn't too thrilled about the scientist bit." Sam chuckled, then suddenly realised what she'd just said and to whom she'd said it and blushed even more. "Oh, I'm sorry, I shouldn't have said that," she quickly apologised, mortified.
"Don't be sorry. So, Jack hassled you for being smart? Don't let him fool you; he likes people who know what they're talking about."
"Yeah, it's fine now, and the Colonel's tame compared to some of the COs I've had. Some of the comments I've been faced with would shock the general public," Sam said, wincing.
"I imagine it hasn't been easy. My dad's ex-Army and Jack and I were around Air Force personnel for over 15 years. I got heaps of comments about a 'woman's place' when I started working after Charlie went to school." Sara looked away, lost in thought.
Sam wasn't sure how to respond but there was an uncomfortable lull in the conversation and she felt the need to fill it, so tentatively began, "Um... I'm sorry about Charlie. I didn't know until last week. The Colonel plays his cards close to his chest."
Sara nodded, looking back at Sam. "He always did. He refused to take a picture of us with him on missions, said he'd be compromised if it fell into the wrong hands. I was angry at first but then he was captured in Iraq and I was glad. They couldn't use us against him if they didn't know."
"That explains a lot." Sam glanced down at her watch. "Listen, I have to go and do a workout before I go back to the base but I've enjoyed chatting with you. Maybe we could meet again?" Sam asked tentatively.
"I think that sounds like a great idea. Here's my card. It has all my numbers on it," Sara said as she pulled a small card from her purse.
"Great, I'll call you soon. It was good to meet you again."
Sam started to walk away but Sara took hold of her arm. "Sam, take care of him, please?"
"I promise."
AN: So where will this new world lead? The story is almost complete so updates should be quick. As always it would be great to know what you think. Thanks for reading. Oh and a special thanks to my beta who has been driven up the wall by this and done a wonderful job to make it better.