Sam did arrive at the café and found a seat at the bar/counter before Jack and Tyler arrived. She hadn't yet received her order when they sauntered over to what was apparently their regular table. Sam couldn't help smiling as she saw the casual banter she knew was taking place between Jack and their waitress. Even though his back was facing her, she could just picture the look on his face as she watched the waitress chuckle and interact. Tyler's grin was not unlike his father's, but he had yet to learn how to hide the embarrassment his father's comments could elicit.
She picked at her food as she tried not to stare at the handsome duo. She, of course, was not nearly finished with her dinner when she decided it was time to go. Tyler had noticed. He was smiling and pointing in her direction right now. Or he had been before she'd started moving toward the cashier's station. Her heart was pounding rapidly again. Where was that cashier?!
She knew they were behind her without looking. Oh sure, now the cashier comes. She paid for her dinner without turning around and tried to slip out. Her plans were thwarted when Tyler stepped in front of her just before she reached the door.
"Excuse me, ma'am, but I couldn't help noticing you watching as we ate," he said.
"I'm sorry," she said. She tried to think of something else to say but was interrupted.
"Oh, don't be," he said and grinned. "Tyler O'Neill," he said and offered his hand for shaking.
"Uh…Amanda Anderson," she said as she shook his hand. What is he up to?
"Yes, my father is single and no, I won't be hanging around much longer." She had difficulty suppressing a chuckle and she got the feeling he wanted to say more, but she heard Jack's growled, under-his-breath admonishment as he approached from behind.
By way of introduction, Tyler gestured first toward his father, then toward her while saying, "Jack O'Neill…Amanda Anderson."
Sam waited as long as she dared before turning to face him. She saw the flash of recognition in his eyes immediately, but was impressed by how quickly he covered. Obviously, he didn't want to get into this with Tyler present. She felt herself smiling in spite of the situation and reached out to shake his hand.
"Nice to meet you," she said.
"You'll have to excuse my overly exuberant offspring," he said. "He's headed off to school soon and trying to make sure the old man won't be lonely." The glare he gave Tyler would have stopped one of his men dead in their tracks.
"Don't apologize," she said. She started to say more, but then thought better of it. An awkward silence fell over the trio and it was with some effort that she tore her eyes away from his. "Well, it was nice to meet you," she said as she reached out to shake his hand again.
She turned and this time Tyler did not impede her progress toward the door. Then her heart leapt into her throat as she heard Tyler remark, "You know, Dad…she reminds me of Sam."
Sam? Had they known Samantha Carter, hero astronaut? If so, her research had not revealed that. But who else could he be referring to? There couldn't possibly be a third Sam Carter in this reality.
She moved to her car as quickly as possible without actually breaking into a jog. She knew he'd be watching, would get the license number, might even follow her. Where was she going to go to throw him off the trail? And did she want to?
She kept looking in the rear-view mirror as she drove down the street, not sure if she was hoping he would follow or afraid he would follow. She didn't have to worry about it. She never saw his truck in the mirror. So, she went straight to her room and collapsed on the bed. The minor adrenalin surge she'd felt when she left the café had completely drained away.
When her stomach started growling, she cursed herself again for being so stupid at the café. Deciding she really needed something to quiet her stomach if she had any hope of getting sleep that night, she walked toward the door and opened it, intending to go find some food. But she was stopped dead in her tracks as she nearly ran into Jack O'Neill standing just outside.
"Why are you here?" he asked and she could hear the controlled anger in his tone.
"I, wuh, uh…" she stammered. Form a sentence, Carter! "I don't know…really." Yep, that's good.
"Where are you going?" he asked and she noticed that both his expression and his voice had softened.
"To find some food," she said and gave him a sheepish grin.
He looked at her with his patented scrutinizing glare. "I know a place," he said.
