I know its been forever since I updated this but I'm not too good at this writing thing so I have to wait for some inspiration to hit! Please let me know what you think and if you would like more. Thanks.

Chapter 10

Sam breathlessly collapsed into the chair on her back porch. She had gone for an early morning run to clear her head. There were so many thoughts whirling around her head. She felt much better for the run, if not a little bit sweaty. Once she had her breath back she headed inside to get a glass of water. Just as she drained the glass she heard a knock on the front door.

Sam sighed and headed towards the front door. She had a horrible feeling she knew who would be behind the door. And she really didn't have the energy for this right now. But she knew it would have to happen eventually.

Sam opened the door and gave a small smile to the man on the other side. She was surprised to see him grin back at her, and even more surprised that he was holding a bunch of roses.

"Hey, come in Pete" Sam stood aside to let him enter.

"I know you might not want to see me right now Sam but I had to see you. I had to apologise. I really am sorry Sammie, I was a bit insensitive yesterday and I should have just stopped to think about what you're going through right now. I mean, you've just found out your dads really ill. Course you'd be upset." Pete was pacing back and forwards across the lounge not gesturing wildly with the flowers.

Sam had a sinking feeling she knew where this was going. She knew she shouldn't have told him about her dad, but it didn't seem fair to lie.

"I mean you probably feel like your worlds just been turned upside down. I know I would. I completely understand why you're doing this. You're scared. I mean you're about to loose one thing you care about so…"

"Alright Pete let me stop you right there!" Sam interrupted loudly, "I told you yesterday that this had nothing to do with my dad. Yes, I'm upset, but you have to admit Pete, something's not right here! With us. It's not right. I know we kept pretending all was fine but it's not!"

Pete let the hand holding the flowers fall to his side. A 'lost puppy' look crossed over his face. "Are you saying that you don't love me?"

Sam sighed, they had been through this last night. "Not as much as you love me Pete. I care about you, a lot. But it'll never be enough."

"Is there someone else?"

Sam groaned inwardly, this, they had managed to avoid last night. "No, Pete, it's been like this for a while now. You can't keep pretending you haven't noticed."

Pete almost looked like he hadn't heard her. "So if it has noting to do with your dad, you still love me and there's no one else then what's the problem? I mean, we could just postpone the wedding. Let you spend time with your dad, you know…" He looked at Sam expectantly, the puppy dog expression was back.

She felt a wave of pity for him, part of her even wanted to say, 'yeah, ok, lets do that'. But she knew that was wrong. It wasn't what she really wanted, and neither would Pete, if he had been thinking rationally. "Pete, I'm sorry. It just wouldn't work. I'll never feel the same about you, neither of us would be happy knowing that."

Pete let out a loud sigh and sat down on the couch, placing the flowers not-so-delicately on the coffee table and his face in his hands. "I'm sorry too Sam. And I'm sorry but I have to ask, does this have anything to do with Jack O'Neill?" He asked in a low voice.

Sam briefly closed her eyes, trying to summon strength from somewhere. "Why would you say that?" she asked in an even voice.

"I've seen the way he looks at you. I've seen the way you are with him. I'm not accusing you of cheating or anything Sam, I just, I dunno, I get the impression there's something between the two of you. Something more than you admit to." Pete wasn't angry, his tone was that of a man who knew he was right. He just needed to be told that.

"Please Sam, just tell me the truth, you can't marry me because I'm not him." It was more of a statement than a question. "You can't marry me because I'm not Jack O'Neill."

He turned and looked Sam in the eyes then. Sam bit her lip, a single tear escaping down her cheek. The look on her face was all Pete needed for confirmation he was right. Sam knew there was no point trying to deny it. She looked down, unable to keep eye contact. She didn't want to see his heart break again.

Pete just nodded slowly. He took a deep breath, "that's all I needed to know Sam. The truth." With that he turned and walked to the front door. Sam watched him go, the tears now freely flowing. He paused when he got to the door. "Take care of yourself" he said without turning round. And then he was gone.

Sam stood still for a few minutes taking deep, shaky breaths, trying to regain her composure. When she had, she turned back to the kitchen to get more water and stopped dead in her tracks. There, standing like deer caught in headlights, was Cassie, and behind her, a stunned Jack O'Neill.

A/N: Yeah I know its quite short and the ending was pretty obvious but hope you like anyway!