Chapter XI: Hush-a by Lady
They sat together, Skaara leaning fully into the Colonel's chest while Sam wrapped one arm around her, leaning on the girl's back as she sobbed quietly. Her heart broke in a way she at first tried to pass of as empathy for a lost child, like with Cassandra. A rueful smile stole over her face. Empathy, right. Hearts didn't break like hers was for Skaara out of general humanity. They broke in mothers unable to console their children.
A part of Sam had acknowledged, from the moment Skaara had revealed her parentage, that she wanted to be around for her. Wanted a family. Wanted Jack O'Neill in a way that was entirely inappropriate for a subordinate officer. If she were to be honest, something had sparked in the moment he grinned at her sarcastic offer to arm wrestle.
She gently rubbed Skaara's back, memories of her childhood telling her that it would calm Skaara's tears. After a few more loud, messy sobs, it seemed to work, and Skaara hid her face in Jack's shoulder.
Sam stole a look up, meeting her CO's eyes. There was pain there, but the love she saw flash across his gaze was startling. She gave him a defeated smile, which he returned.
So much for the strength of air force officers. They were supposed to know how to keep themselves distanced yet understanding, sincere yet not invested emotionally. In five minutes, one girl had torn all that down and dragged forth every flirt, every ounce of attraction out into the open. Then again, what training could ever have prepared them for the Stargate or the Quantum Mirror?
"'M sorry," a little voice muttered into Jack's shoulder.
"Hey now," he replied, pulling away enough so that Skaara was looking at him," nothin to be sorry about."
"He's right," Sam added, pulling the girl a little closer," you've survived...Skaara just look at what you've survived. The fall of Earth, the deaths of your parents, ten years in exile from home, living a life you know could end in heartbeat, and not even knowing where half your loved ones are," she gently brushed some of Skaara's dusty blond hair from her face," that's a lot to go through and not cry. My dad used to tell me that even Achilles cried more than once in his lifetime. You've earned some tears."
Skaara turned to look up at her, eyes red rimmed and so very blue. A trembling smile crossed her face, and she brought her free arm over to hug Sam. Sam accepted, gently petting her hair. It felt so right to be comforting her that she didn't think twice when Jack leaned in and brought them both into the circle of his arms.
Title from chapter Nine of Through the Looking Glass titled 'Queen Alice' Sorry for the shortness. Will upload the next chapter in a few.
