A.N.: I will warn you ahead of time that I have made Sam older in this story than wikipedia suggested her to be. I also have to warn you that this part of the story is a period of Sam's life where she still mistrusted both her father and the military. However, that will change. Jack plays a vital role in that.
The year was 1981. It was January in Minnesota. A cold chill had settled in on the area. Samantha Carter had graduated early from high school. Turning 18 a little over a month ago, this was her first trip out into the world on her own. Her mother had passed away two years ago, and her father had been tied up with his work in the military. Samantha and her brother Mark had been self-sufficient for quite some time now. This trip only seemed natural. She had plans to rent a cabin by a secluded lake for two weeks. The scenery was beautiful, the quiet refreshing. It had been something she had been looking forward to for some time now. That was, however, until her car broke down on a secluded section of county road miles before reaching the rental. It was only natural, under Murphy's Law, that at the exact moment she began trying to fix the car, the skies opened up and started to pile down snow.
He was walking back to his cabin from his ice shanty when he saw the car stalled out on the road. The snow had started falling. The forecast hadn't predicted the storm to come until much later into the evening. The chill in the air was worsening. The owner of that car would surely need assistance and/or shelter before the cold became unbearable. He grabbed his toolbox from inside the house and made his way out to the road.
"Well, howdy, Ma'am. I couldn't help but notice that you are in a little bit of a jam out here."
"For you information, I am fully capable of fixing this car by myself. I might look helpless, but I assure you that I am not."
"Hey, now. There's no reason to be getting feisty. I never said you were helpless, but if you hadn't noticed, the snow's getting pretty heavy. I just thought that you would be able to fix the car faster with some help."
She sunk back in embarrassment. He extended her hand to accept his help. Within minutes of popping the hood, he had found her problem.
"Well, I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but your engine block is cracked. You aren't going to be able to fix this without a new engine block. Is this car yours?"
"No. It's a rental. I'm on vacation out here."
"Well, why don't you come inside? You can call a tow truck from in there."
She just nodded, knowing she really didn't have any other choice at the moment. The cabin was of nice size, and she welcomed the warmth. She took a moment to look around as he retrieved a telephone book and the cordless phone. However, Murphy's Law did not seem to be on her side at that moment. She looked grim as she went to go find him in the kitchen.
"No luck?"
"No. They said because of the storm, they won't be able to get someone out here until at least tomorrow morning."
"Well, then I had better get the guest room ready."
"Um, no offense, but I don't know if it would be wise to stay alone in a house with a stranger."
"Um, well, no offense, but you really don't have any options. Your heater won't work in the car, and the next house is a mile away. You'd freeze to death out there."
"True. Well, since we were never fully introduced, I'm Samantha. Samantha Carter."
"Jack. Jack O'Neill, and for the record, I'm very trust worthy. I'm a captain in the US Air Force."
"Oh, I don't know about that. My father is in the Air Force, and I wouldn't trust him with a ten foot pole."
"Ah. Well then, you'll just have to take me at my word, Sam."
"It's Samantha."
"I'll try to remember that, Sam. Make yourself at home. I'll go get new sheets for the guest room."
She just smiled. His bullheadedness was sure to make this a long evening, but at least she was out of the storm which was getting worse by the minute. Plus, this cabin had a nice rustic charm to it, and as much as she was looking forward to solitude, she was kind of happy to have the company.
He walked away with a grin on his face. Already, he could tell he would enjoy her spunky behavior. He was 28 years old. He had been to Vietnam and back and seen many beautiful women. There was something intriguing about this girl, though. He could already tell that she was as stubborn as he was…and passionate, too. He was normally a sort of recluse when on leave, but something told him that the company would be very welcoming.