Mark stood outside the hut with Daniel where Pete was being held. His friend—he used the term loosely—had quite a colorful vocabulary. Pete had been screeching most of the night about demanding to see someone named Dolos. If Mark had any doubts about where Pete's loyalties were, they disappeared with each passing hour. It was obvious the man had betrayed them all.
Of course that realization quickly faded into the background as he had watched his sister and her commanding officer sit by the fire. Perhaps, cuddled by the fire would have been a more apt description.
"Tell me the truth, Daniel," Mark had asked without shifting his gaze. "How long has that been going on."
He watched with her peripheral vision as Daniel followed his line of sight, took a deep breadth, and turned to face him. "I told you the truth before, Sam and Jack have never crossed the line. But," he continued when Mark had started to protest. "I've never known two people more perfect for each other."
"So if she's in love with O'Neill, why string Pete along? Why agree to marry him to begin with?"
"I don't think she believed she was stringing Pete along," Daniel said thoughtfully. "She and I had a long talk once after she was stranded aboard the Prometheus. One of our space ships," Daniel had explained. "She finally admitted she was in love with Jack, but also knew it couldn't go anywhere. Neither one of them are willing to put their feelings ahead of the safety of the Earth. So she resolved herself to move on."
"And O'Neill just let her?" He couldn't imagine letting someone you cared about just walk away.
"The idiot respects her enough not to undermine her decisions," Daniel shook his head.
OoooOoooOoooO
Morning came too quickly for Sam as her brain slowly started to engage. Her cheek was pressed against something firm and warm; however, the ground under her was unforgiving. With a small groan, she opened her eyes. It took every ounce of willpower not to gasp as she realized Jack's thigh was her pillow. Carefully, shifting over, she tried not to disturb him. How in the world did she end up in this position? The last thing she remembered was leaning her head against his shoulder. She must have fallen asleep on him.
"Morning Sammy," Mark's cheerful voice drew her attention, causing her slow and careful movements to become jerky. With a jolt, Jack woke up as she sat upright.
"Uh..morning Mark," she replied, feeling like she'd been caught doing the walk of shame after a one night stand. "This isn't what it looks like."
"Oh?" Mark's mouth was hidden behind a cup of coffee, but she had the distinct impression he was amused. "What does it look like?"
"We fell asleep?" She offered, knowing it sounded more like a question than a statement.
"Are you sure about that?" This time Mark's grin was huge. "Don't worry Sammy," he finally told her. "I saw the whole thing. You fell asleep in your CO. He didn't want to wake you, so he shifted you around a bit."
"What the hell are you two talking about?" Jack mumbled as he finally woke up the rest of the way. He scrubbed his hands over his face in a futile attempt to rub away the fatigue.
"Nothing," Sam said quickly. "Stop grinning and give me a hand," she rolled her eyes at Mark who obliged by pulling her to her feet. Behind her Jack mumbled something about annoying siblings.
"Congratulations Sammy, you've found someone grumpier than you in the mornings," Mark laughed as she made her way away from them and to an isolated area to freshen up.
The woods were incredibly peaceful as Sam carefully followed one of the trails Nafrayu had shown her yesterday. It ended at a small creek that provided fresh water to Lya and her family.
Bending down, Sam splashed her face as she tried to control her embarrassment at her brother finding her in a semi-compromising position. If it had been Daniel and Teal'c, she might have been a bit shy, but they'd caught her and Jack in much more compromising positions in the past.
There'd been the night she and Jack had been captured and she'd been drugged with some sort of aphrodisiac. She decided to throw herself at her CO, unwilling to take no for an answer. The following morning, Teal'c had found them. Jack had tied her to the bed and slept in a chair across the room. That had been the most embarrassed she'd ever been.
Then there'd been the time she and Jack had been locked in a closet on P2R-354 by a group of kids. It was 90 degrees that day and the closet was barely big enough for one person, let alone two. Daniel had finally found them, but not before they'd both stripped down to their underwear to avoid heat stroke.
For some reason both of those incidents paled in comparison to her brother finding her sleeping on her CO. Growling, she splashed her hands violently through the water and sprang up. Whipping around, she almost ran over Lya, who was standing serenely on the side of the path.
"I'm so sorry," Sam squeaked, stumbling backwards. "I meant no offense, just..." she paused. "I was just frustrated."
"Please do not worry, Samantha," Lya smiled gently. "I understand your anger at the injustice."
"What...what do you mean?" She watched her Nox friend carefully as Lya smiled knowingly.
"It matters not," she gestured for Sam to follow. "Daniel has told me of the device you must fix to get home."
"Yes, the GDO. It transmits our IDC code," Sam explained and Lya nodded in understanding.
"We do not keep such technology near our home, but it can be found in the city," she pointed toward the North and into the sky.
"We are willing to make the trip," Sam said. "Will you take us?"
"I cannot," Lya shook her head. "My place is in the forest with my family. You and Jack O'Neill must go, along with your brother."
"We really shouldn't split up," Sam said concerned. They still had to interrogate Pete.
"You must," Lya implored gently, "it is your journey to take."
"Okay," Sam agreed, not wanting to insult her friend. "But my brother isn't up for such a long trip; he isn't trained. He should remain here where it's cloaked."
"Your brother must accompany you," Lya said firmly, "it is the only way."
"Only way for what?" Sam was starting to get frustrated.
"Let us join the others," Lya smiled broadly, completely ignoring Sam's question. "You leave on your journey when the sun touches the forest floor. You must prepare."
