Author's Note:

Drama (noun) - an exciting, emotional, or unexpected event or circumstance.

Drama queen (noun) - a person who habitually responds to situations in a melodramatic way. AKA, me. ;)


"That was great, Jack," Daniel said as he dropped his napkin onto the empty plate and relaxed back into his chair.

"Indeed, O'Neill. It was most nutritious," Teal'c added with a satisfied smile.

"It was good," Sam nodded, then grinned, "and not a burned piece of steak in sight."

Jack raised a brow at her comment and she pressed her lips together in an attempt to hide her amusement, but they both missed the look Daniel and Teal'c shared before the archaeologist cleared his throat.

"So – uh – what's with – that?"

When Sam and Jack continued to stare, he gestured towards them. They shared a glance but Jack's expression was blank when he returned his attention to his friend.

"What's with what?"

Daniel's brows puckered. "General Hammond – he – uh – before we –" He pulled a face and looked to Teal'c for help, only for the Jaffa to appear more than happy to let him continue. "Well, you both seem – uh –"

"I believe Daniel Jackson merely wishes to say both yourself and Colonel Carter appear most at ease in each other's company, O'Neill."

"Yeah, that's what I meant," Daniel nodded, a sudden sheepish expression on his face as Teal'c all but rolled his eyes.

"What's that got to do with Hammond?" Jack asked, his interest piqued and Sam glanced at him before she looked to Daniel.

"Hm?"

"Hammond," Jack repeated. "You mentioned George. Why?"

"Well," Daniel started, "he–"

"It's immaterial at this moment in time," Teal'c interrupted as he threw Daniel a pointed look.

Jack narrowed his eyes suspiciously at Daniel before he shared another quick glance with Sam. She nodded slightly, so he shrugged and pushed himself away from the table to start gathering up their dishes.

"Everything's fine, Daniel," he said casually as he lifted the plates. "Carter's just discovered what a vacation actually entails – and realized that she's having fun."

"Fun," Daniel repeated slowly. "With you? Fishing?"

His disbelief could be heard and Jack sent him a glare across the table. "I'm only going to ask you this one more time," he said, "what is wrong with fishing?"

"Your pond has no fish in it," Daniel retorted as Teal'c and Sam shared a long-suffering look. It wasn't the first time they'd heard this argument.

"I'm just saying," Daniel offered as he reached for a drink, "that it would be better if there were fish to actually catch."

"It's not about the fish per se," Jack sighed dramatically, "it's about the act of fishing."

Met with silence, Jack rolled his eyes. "All right, fine," he sighed. "OK, so maybe there used to be fish in the pond but over the years – I don't know – the local wildlife invited themselves to dinner," he quipped. "I always intended to restock it, but since I wasn't here that much, there was no point. Besides," he continued, "it's nice to be able to do absolutely nothing but just sit in a chair and relax for a change."

"So, you have actually caught a fish?"

He turned to look at Sam at her question.

"Why, yes I have, Carter. Don't look so surprised."

Her eyes were wide and innocent. Too innocent. "How big was it?"

His lips twitched. "Oh, it was big."

Happy to leave the conversation there, he lifted the stack of dishes and started to head for the cabin.

"I guess I'll help," Sam smiled as she went to move, only for Daniel to hold up a hand.

"I've got it," he said wryly.

As Daniel stepped into the kitchen, Jack unceremoniously dumped the dishes into the sink and the younger man winced at the noise. He watched as his friend turned on the hot water so he quickly glanced over his shoulder to make sure Sam was still outside.

"So?"

"So?" Jack parroted, not looking up.

"Sam seems to be doing OK?"

A huff of amusement escaped Jack and he shook his head as he switched off the water. He dried his hands and casually threw the cloth on the counter behind him before he leaned back against it, his arms folded across his chest as he met Daniel's eye.

"Not even bothering with the small talk this time?"

Amusement tinged Jack's question and Daniel knew it would be a waste of time to argue otherwise – but it didn't mean he shouldn't.

"Jack," he said with exaggerated enthusiasm. "Enjoying your vacation?"

"Why yes, Daniel," he smiled. "As a matter of fact, I am."

"Good," he nodded. "Good."

"Missing your rocks yet?"

"Jack -"

"What?"

"They're not rocks."

"Yes, they are."

"Are not."

"Are too."

"Whatever," he muttered. "You're avoiding my question."

"What question?"

"About Sam."

"Oh," Jack said, pretending to have caught up with the conversation. He shrugged nonchalantly. "No, I'm not."

"Are too."

"Are not."

"Are too."

"You're avoiding my question."

"What's that?"

"Rocks."

A low growl of frustration escaped Daniel as Jack simply grinned and turned back to the dishes.

"So?"

"So?"

"Is she OK?"

Jack sighed then looked over at his friend. "Yeah, Daniel. She's good; she's – happy."

"That's good to hear," he said honestly.

"Yeah," Jack quietly agreed. "It is."

"Has she – uh – with Jacob –"

"She'll be fine," Jack reassured kindly.

Daniel studied him for a long moment before he was happy with what he saw in Jack's expression. "OK," he nodded.

"Dessert's over there," Jack answered as he nodded to the far counter and ended the conversation.


Sam glanced at the candles that ran along the entire length of the deck. Teal'c had insisted they should be used in order to keep the mosquitoes away. She smiled and let her attention settle on her friend as he applied another layer of bug repellent to his arms.

"How many bottles did you bring?"

Teal'c met her eye. "Twelve."

Sam laughed softly at his answer and the pair fell into a comfortable silence for a few moments before Teal'c spoke.

"Daniel Jackson is correct."

Sam looked bemused at his statement before he continued, "you and O'Neill appear to be enjoying this time together."

She bit the inside of her cheek as she tried not to smile, and settled for a nod instead. "Yeah, I guess we are."

"I am glad," he said with a slight smile.

Sam held his gaze for a moment longer when something passed between them and she knew the moment Teal'c had received the answer he was looking for. He inclined his head and softly added, "I am most happy for you, Samantha Carter."

She swallowed at the sudden wave of emotion rising inside her and she wanted to say something to him but she didn't get the chance when Jack and Daniel stepped onto the deck.

"Who wants pie?" Jack asked as he set a cherry pie onto the table.

He let Sam divide the dessert into segments while Daniel passed around the cartons of ice-cream. Between the four of them, they soon finished the entire pie and Jack had just returned to the table with another round of drinks when he sat down and his knee nudged Sam's. It was just an innocent touch, but she glanced at him and they held a conversation with their eyes. Daniel, as he took one of the beers Jack offered, noticed the interaction. He took a sip and then leaned back in his chair.

"Is everything OK?"

Neither of his friends answered straightaway but then, under the table, Sam reached over and intertwined her fingers with Jack's. She gave them a light squeeze and he nodded before he turned to face Daniel and Teal'c.

"Everything's fine," he said, then cleared his throat, "but there's something we need to talk about."

It was Sam who spoke into the silence that followed Jack's words. "This is the end, isn't it?"

All three men shared a look at her question before they nodded in agreement. They were all preparing to say goodbye and go their separate ways.

"I intend to return to Dakara as soon as possible to help the newly free Jaffa," Teal'c confirmed solemnly from Sam's right. "I shall miss you all greatly, but I will endeavour to maintain regular contact with the SGC," he added.

Sam's hand was still firmly in Jack's underneath the table but with her free hand she reached out and rested it on Teal'c's arm.

"I'm going to miss you Teal'c," she said quietly, her voice thick with emotion.

"Uh, yeah," Daniel piped up after a moment. He pushed his glasses up his nose before furrowing his brow. "I'm, uh, finally heading to Atlantis," he said.

The lump in Sam's throat grew larger at Daniel's admission.

"I'm going to miss you too, Daniel," she said with a sad smile.

"Same here, Sam," he said. "I know I won't be able to visit as much as I'd like to but –" He trailed off as a wistful smile crossed his face, "just think of all the technology I'll be able to bring you back when I do eventually visit."

She appreciated his attempt to lighten the mood and she couldn't help but chuckle, but then the silence appeared again and when Daniel took a deep breath before he looked to Teal'c, Sam knew what was coming.

"What about you two?"

She glanced at Jack and he gave her fingers a squeeze.

"Hammond's retiring," he said as he met his friends' gazes, "and I'm heading to Washington to replace him as Head of Homeworld Security."

Daniel's eyes widened at Jack's declaration, while Teal'c also looked surprised by the news.

"Oh," the younger man said. "Congratulations."

"Indeed, O'Neill. This is a most worthy appointment."

"Thanks," he murmured but his enthusiasm wasn't entirely there.

"You don't seem surprised by Jack's news," Daniel said carefully as he glanced at Sam.

"I'm not," she admitted. "We, ah, discussed our new roles before you arrived."

"Oh." Daniel started to nod and then frowned. "Our new roles? So, you're both leaving?"

"Yeah," Jack answered. "I'm for Washington; Sam's headed to Nevada."

"I'm being reassigned to Area 51," Sam explained. "I'll be overseeing their R&D department – and I'm going to spend some time with Cass while I'm there,"

Her teammates appeared equally as surprised by her news, which was understandable, but then Daniel and Teal'c shared a look she couldn't interpret and she frowned.

"What's wrong?"

"You're honestly both leaving?"

Sam tensed at Daniel's tone, especially when Jack's hold on her hand also tightened.

"Yeah," Jack said.

"But –" Daniel looked to each of them in turn, "you're going to be on opposite sides of the country?"

Sam took a deep breath. "We don't have a choice, Daniel," she started, "but it's –"

"Yes, you do," he interrupted.

"Daniel –" Jack warned.

"Oh, come on Jack," he said as he set down his drink and gestured to him and Sam, his earlier intrigue now replaced with frustration. "We're on vacation, so we can talk freely, right?"

Daniel didn't wait for an answer before he added: "After everything you've been through – and this is how it's going to be?"

"Daniel," Jack repeated, his voice low.

"You can't –"

"Daniel," Sam quietly pleaded. "We aren't –"

"This is probably the best chance you'll ever have to –"

"Daniel," Jack finally snapped, "will you shut up for just one minute?"

A tense silence fell and Jack pulled his hand free from Sam's and ran it across his face in frustration.

"Look, it sucks," he admitted. "We have our orders but –"

A laugh void of amusement escaped Daniel. "Your orders? You know," the archaeologist said, and Jack threw a hand in the air at the interruption, "I don't get it. Why –"

"Daniel Jackson," Teal'c interjected. "Perhaps we should let O'Neill finish."

"Thank you," Jack said before he stared pointedly at Daniel.

He then turned to look at Sam, but she couldn't meet Jack's eye. She had the chain of her necklace twisted around her fingers but it wasn't enough to keep her grounded and stop her emotions from spilling over. She exhaled a shaky breath before she pushed away from the table.

"If you'll excuse me for a minute," she said.

She refused to look at any of them as she left and instead focused on placing one foot in front of the other as she headed for the cabin. Just before she stepped into the kitchen, she heard Jack's clipped voice.

"Way to go, Daniel."