Hey guys! I'm having so much fun with this story so far. I'm already up to chapter 6, but I'm going to post a chapter a day, so just be patient. Let me know if you have any suggestions. Please keep going with your reviews! :)

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I really am getting paranoid.

Sam glanced in her rear-view mirror for what must have been the hundredth time, eying the black Suburban that she'd noticed behind her not long after she'd left the base. She couldn't imagine any reason why anyone would be having her followed, though being involved with the SGC meant that there was always someone interested in what she was up to. She knew better than to ignore her instincts, so she took a quick turn off the main road, just to be sure. The vehicle kept to the main highway, and Sam felt relieved as she pulled into a parking spot at her favorite café.

Taking a seat at an outside table, she ordered breakfast and some coffee, waiting patiently for Jack to call. The breeze was warm, and she could smell something sweet baking inside. The tables around her were empty, and Sam couldn't imagine why no one else wanted to eat outdoors today.

The phone next to her rang loudly, and she had it to her ear in less than a second.

"Hello?"

"Hey, Sam. Sorry I'm late. I got a little hung up."

She couldn't keep a smile off her face at the sound of his voice, and she rested her elbows on the table in front of her.

"It's fine. I just ordered breakfast." She waited a moment before asking, "Did you get away from work?"

"Yeah, I can talk." There was a pause, and then he added in a teasingly seductive voice, "So, what are you wearing?"

Sam laughed to herself and rolled her eyes. "Nothing you'd be interested in, sir." She winced, forgetting again to use his first name. Hoping he hadn't noticed, she added, "I thought you'd like to know that Daniel heard from Teal'c today."

"Oh, goody. What did he say?"

Sam paused as the waitress brought out her French toast and refilled her coffee before walking back inside.

"He's got a few more things to take care of, but he should be here by Thursday. Daniel said he's taking the whole 'best man' thing pretty seriously."

Jack chuckled a little. "Figures. Does he know he's sharing?"

Sam knew that Jack wanted both of his closest friends to stand beside him at the wedding, and since Cassie had been the only one to object, he went ahead and asked them both to be his best man. Cassie had been doing as much research as she could on Earth weddings, since she had never actually been to one. Most of said research consisted of renting movies from the video store. She was not pleased that they were straying from tradition.

"I'm sure he does." Sam waited as a particularly loud vehicle drove past, and then added quietly, "I miss you, Jack."

There was silence on the other end of the line for a few seconds, and Sam wondered if he was sitting in his truck. She didn't hear any traffic or background noise. Finally, she heard him speak again, and she could tell from the sound of his voice that he was missing her too.

"Yes, well…you'll have your fill of me soon enough."

"I doubt it, sir."

They talked for almost an hour, Sam polishing off her breakfast and sipping her coffee, going over wedding plans and talking about nothing. The playful way he flirted with her made her laugh, and by the time she had to head back to the base, she was practically glowing.

"I'd better get back, sir. I promised I'd help Daniel sort through some of his research this afternoon."

"Yeah, I've got to run too." He hesitated before adding, "Was there anything else?"

He was giving her a chance, and she knew it.

Just say it. Three words. You can do it.

"No, I don't think so."

Coward.

Sam heard a car door open through the phone, and she grinned as she pictured Jack sitting in his truck for an hour, just to talk to her.

"Okay, then. I'll call you tonight."

"Bye, Jack."

She waited until he hung up before she took the phone from her ear, wishing she could talk to him just a little longer.

Just as she reached behind her to slide her phone into her back pocket, Sam noticed a tall, hefty man watching her from across the street. When her eyes met his, he turned and began walking swiftly down the sidewalk.

There is no way this is a coincidence.

Sam dug a ten dollar bill out of her wallet and stuck it underneath her coffee mug, not waiting for the waitress before she started after the mysterious man. She felt for her sidearm under her jacket, keeping one hand close to it as she walked.

The man began to walk faster, and Sam knew she was going to have to do something if she wanted to find out what was going on.

"Hey!" she called out, breaking into a jog. The man darted between two buildings, and by the time Sam had reached them, she saw that he had taken off running. She flew after him, yelling out for him to stop. She couldn't believe how fast he was for such a large man, but she was slowly gaining. He raced across the street when the alley opened up, and Sam had to pause to wait for traffic before she could cross. She watched in frustration as a familiar-looking Suburban screeched to a stop, picking up the large man and peeling out as it drove off. She looked it over for any unusual markings, or heaven forbid, a license plate, but of course there was nothing. Cursing under her breath, Sam turned around and walked back towards her car. She dialed up the base and asked to speak with Daniel.

"I think I was followed into town this morning," she told him, trying not to pant into the phone. She thought of telling him about the strange feeling she had at her house the night before, but decided against it. "Do you have Agent Barrett's number?"

Sam heard Daniel growl in protest. She knew he was not a fan of the NID agent, but she wasn't sure she wanted to be the one to get in touch with him. He did have a bit of a thing for her, and she hated how awkward things tended to get when they worked together.

"Yeah, I can dig it up. Are you okay?"

Assuring him that she was, she explained what had happened.

"It may have been nothing, but I'd just like to be sure that the NID isn't following me around."

Actually, Sam realized that it would be a bit of a relief to know who it was. At least if it was the NID, that mean it wasn't someone worse.

"I'll give him a call. You still coming up here to give me a hand?"

Sam grinned as she reached her car and dug her keys out of her jacket pocket.

"Yes, Daniel. I haven't forgotten. I'm heading there now."

As she slid into the drivers' seat, she nervously checked her rear-view mirror. Traffic continued on as normal, and a young couple walked carelessly down the street, arm in arm and chatting enthusiastically. Sam locked her door and frowned.

Something was going on, and the sooner she found out what it was, the better.