She felt rather than heard him standing in the doorway of her lab. He was so silent.
"What?" she finally asked, turning to look up at the big Jaffa. After several long moments staring at each other, his eyebrow raised nearly imperceptively. She gave up. "Fine. Yes, I know. I haven't eaten." She glanced up at the clock feeling oddly victorious as she noted the late hour. "But it's 2130. The commissary's closed."
This time she couldn't miss Teal'c's slight smile. "The commissary is not closed. General Landry ordered it to remain open this evening. It would appear you are not the only person unable to leave."
Of course. With the Daedulus due to reach Atlantis at anytime, all available quarters at the SGC were filled with SGC and former Atlantis personnel who had found it as impossible as she had to leave for home until they had learned the fate of their friends. With a tired sigh, she gave up. "Okay, Teal'c. You win. Let's go eat."
Sam couldn't remember the last time the SGC's commissary had been this crowded, especially so late at night. In fact, she had been certain she and Teal'c would never find a table and was about to suggest that they take their trays back to her lab when she noticed Cameron Mitchell waving to them from a table in the corner.
As they approached, Sam realized General Landry was sitting at the table with Cam and Vala. By the food on their trays they had obviously just arrived themselves, and she glanced up at Teal'c who smiled enigmatically. Yup. She had been set-up. Which was okay, really. Spending the night brooding in her lab wouldn't have been healthy, anyway.
The others stood up as she approached. With a fresh wave of sadness, she realized they were, for the first time, giving her the respect due not to her rank as a Lieutenant Colonel but to her position as a General's wife. She refused to even consider the possibility it might be one of the last times as well.
Everyone resumed their seats. For several long, silent moments she picked at her jello. Finally, General Landry broke the silence. "I'm sorry."
She looked up, startled, but was relieved to see from his expression that there was no guilt behind his words. He was apologizing for the entire situation, not for any sense of personal responsibility. Sam smiled sadly at him, grateful at least for the attempt. "They were his orders. He knew this was a possibility when he went. We both did. Besides, it ain't over yet. We've gotten out of worse situations than this."
Sam noticed Vala watching her intently, and she tried to smile for the younger woman, knowing her thoughts were with Daniel, wherever he was. She was pleased to see Vala's own smile widen in response. She had understood.
Still, despite her brave words, Sam couldn't help wishing she were there on Atlantis with Jack. Anything was better than this waiting, of knowing she might be losing him right now, millions of light-years away, and she wouldn't even know it until it was too late. Damn…
Her spoon dropped onto her tray, the clatter sharp to her ears despite the noise in the room. She wiped in frustration at the tears forming in her eyes. The concern on the faces of her tablemates didn't help. "Look, guys. I know you're just trying to help, but I'm pretty rotten company right now." She gestured towards the door. "I should probably just go back to my quarters and try to get some –"
Her words were interrupted by the harsh blare of the overhead speakers. "Unscheduled Wormhole Activation. Unscheduled Wormhole Activation." General Landry, with SG-1 close on his heels, was already half-way out the door before the announcement had concluded.