Wow, what an almost OOC episode all the way around. I mean none of our favorite characters' reactions made sense to me the first watch through. Or the second. I have to assume that something happened between this episode and the last that we don't know about. Regardless, I like to imagine Sam giving them hell as a way to put her more in character.
Jack found her curled up in the corner of the alien temple, her head on her knees. It was obvious she'd been crying and that tore through him most of all. The alien had died saving her; he wouldn't have had to if Jack had been doing his damn job.
Not knowing what to say, Jack sat down next to her, telling Daniel and Teal'c with a quick nod to give them a minute alone. Both men had an inkling that there was something going on between the two officers, but knew better than to ask.
Once Jack made sure he and Sam were alone, he gently touched her shoulder. She surprised him by turning into his body and burying her head against his arm. Unwilling to watch her grief without offering comfort, he wrapped her in his arms and pulled her into his chest.
"I'm so sorry, Sam," he whispered softly, unsure what else to say. If he had only listened to her instead of pushing her away. "I know he meant a lot to you," he offered, trying to absorb some of her pain.
"What?" She pulled back, wiping at her eyes.
"The alien—Orlin? I'm sorry you lost him," he said sincerely.
"I am too, but honestly, that's only part of why I'm so upset," she fought back the rest of her tears and moved away from him, her control returning. "You didn't believe me," she said, her tone sharp and accusatory.
"No, I didn't," he said helplessly. "I should have."
"Yes, you should have," Sam stood up, all traces of her emotional breakdown gone. "So should have Daniel and Teal'c, but once you declared me tense," she seethed the word. "No one dared contradict you. You turned everyone against me!"
"I didn't mean—" he bit off his words. She was right, he'd done exactly what she accused. His failure to not recognize it at the time wasn't an excuse.
"We deal with aliens every single day! Teal'c is one! Daniel's involved with them every damn time we turn around. You've slept with two of them! But me?" She scoffed and threw her hands in the air, "Oh no, good ol' Carter must just be overworked and tense."
Jack cringed with the realization that she spoke the truth, but he was at a loss for words.
"Uh, Sam, Jack," Daniel's voice was tentative as he poked his head into the building.
"What?!" Sam turned on him, not done being angry.
"Sorry to interrupt, but um, SG-16 is coming back to pack up the device. Thought you might want to know," Daniel sent Jack a sympathetic look before leaving them alone again.
"We need to go," she growled, stomping past him and through the building's doorway. She didn't even bother to glance at Daniel or Teal'c, leaving Jack staring after her and wondering how the hell was he supposed to fix this.