Well, it's not like this is the only Sam-crisis in this episode, right? Here goes crisis 2.

Thanks for y'all who reviewed! I'm glad I'm not the only one who thinks she needs a hug. And that it's ironic that her support system are the ones dropping out from under her.

Really? Was the universe just out to get her? Where was anybody when she needed them? Teal'c was offworld, Daniel...she didn't want to think about Daniel. And Dad? Oh, he was dying in front of her. Right in front of her, and there was nothing she could do. No science, no magic, no random left-overs from Jolinar's visit, nothing. She felt helpless, and trapped, and scared. And small. Just like she did when Mom had died. And just like then, she was blaming Dad again, only this time he was the one dying. What was she supposed to do, sit here and cry like the baby she felt like? Why wasn't there something she could try?

What was up with this?

She sighed, and a memory sprang to life..

"Oh, honey, I'm sorry. Sometimes things happen."

The 6 year old Sammy had won a gold-fish at a carnival, and had awoken 2 weeks later to find him belly-up. "But Mommy! I miss my fishy already! What am I supposed to do?" she had whined, swiping the back of her hand across her face, only smearing the snot and tears further. Her mother had smiled softly. "Just count your blessings, dear one. Remember the good, and the bad will heal."

Sam sighed again. Well, that's how she got through her mother's death. And her father's estrangement. And everything else she'd had to deal with. She snorted. Not that much had helped when Daniel had ascended. Everything good she could think of was another reason for her to miss him. The backfire of the plan had hurt even more considering the person who had given her the advice could not give any more.

Her Dad had made a good point, though. She had had her father for 4 extra years, 4 years she hadn't thought she would have in the first place. It really was a blessing.

Someone sat down beside her.

"How ya doin'?"-- It was the General. Her insides smiled. Family.

She told him about her blessings, and he gave her a hug. It was all so familiar, so normal, so comforting. Then it hit her.

This time, her family wasn't going to abandon her, like they did when Mom died. Teal'c might be far away, and Daniel might be…well, she wasn't going there, but anyway…they might be gone, but part of the team, the family, was still here, and there was now way in heck he wasn't going to be there for her.

But inside the comfort, there was still worry. For Teal'c, fighting his people's battles far away, and for Daniel, who may or may not have needed it any longer. She looked up at the man she called her Commanding Officer and suddenly, she understood. He smiled a sad, understanding smile back.

They were going through the same thing. The rest of the family was missing, and neither could get them back for themselves, or for each other. That hurt -- it hurt a lot.

"Thank you, Sir."

"For what?"

"For being here for me." His eyes softened.

"Always."

She turned back to her father, dying on a hospital bed behind the glass. This was bad, this was absolutely horrible, but as long as part of her family was still here, she would be alright.

It would all be alright.

Note: 'tis not the end, friends! I just thought she could use a hug now, instead of after all that crap with the almost getting destroyed stuffs happens. Plus, the original writers put one in, so I figured I would too :D I just love this scene, although I actually would be happier if Teal'c had been there.

Next chapter Teal'c comes home! (unless I think of some other transitional stuffs I need to put in before I get it posted tomorrow---this is hopeful, mind you!) Thanks! ~Jackson