512 Wormhole Xtreme

As the words rolled up the screen O'Neill whined "Star Wars again".

Teal'c was taken aback since it was his favorite. "I find this tale intriguing. Is it not true?"

O'Neill was incredulous. "What...no, it's Science fiction."

Daniel expounded "It's a story, myth if you like..."

O'Neill sighed "Here we go again, another lecture."

Carter failed to see the charm of these films and said "These stories are so out there, so much bad science."

Daniel backed his point. "That's not the point. They're stories of heroes and friendship and courage."

O'Neill looking back at their last mission said "Think about Wormhole X-treme."

Carter actually had watched an episode or two said "I'd rather not."

O'Neill went on "Well for the 5 people that watch it, it tells of travel to other planets, an assortment of other civilizations, some more primitive and some more advanced. And the possibility of intergalactic war."

Daniel failed to understand how the government allowed the show to be aired "Why are we doing this?"

O'Neill responded "We're not doing anything."

Daniel was incensed. "Why are we allowing this, promoting this...second rate absurd travesty of our..."

O'Neill responded "Disinformation"

Daniel was thoroughly annoyed "Lies, feeding gullible people lies."

"You mean bullshit?"

Daniel said "Doesn't it bother you, Jack?"

"You know someday all this will come out, what we do. Maybe this, all these sci-fi stories, will soften the blow." Jack said.

Daniel questioned "Using these modern 'myths', science fiction, to introduce some of the things we now know and can't admit."

Jack nodded.

Carter wondered, "Are we allowing fantasies to be told about aliens wrapped up in errors about basic physics so no one will believe it."

Daniel asked "You think people won't be shocked when this all comes out? Are we going public?"

O'Neill said "Not any time soon as far as I know."

Daniel stated his firm belief. "People should know the truth."

Jack asked "You think they're ready?"

Carter said testily "I just wish they get the science in science fiction right."

O'Neill responded "Touchy, touchy. What about heroes that can never die or fail."

Carter rejoined with "Or the scientist that knows everything in every discipline and can solve any problem in 60 minutes or less."

O'Neill said "You don't want them skirting too close to the truth. Anyway we need a way to debunk things or disavow a leak."

Teal'c was disconcerted. "Star Wars is not true?"

O'Neill eyebrows rose in incredulity and skirted the question. He asked "Refill anyone?"

After Jack left for the kitchen for more drinks and snacks,

Daniel asked "Sam, what do you think about Martin?"

Sam, whose mind had been elsewhere, asked "What do you mean?"

Daniel asked "What would you do if you were stranded on an alien planet?"

Sam gave the standard answer. "Survive as best I could and try to find a way back."

Daniel knew their lives were not so simple. "What if there was no way back?"

Sam didn't want to think about this right now if ever. "Daniel…"

Daniel went on "How long did it take for Jack to go native on…"

Sam did not want to respond, there were too many emotions this topic brought up. She was surprised after all this time she still harbored lingering resentment. This persisting anger she knew was unmerited. She definitely had sympathy for the emotional turmoil he went through, and there was frustration at her failure to help him sooner. But he had turned to that woman. She had expected him to be thrilled to see her, to appreciate the miracle she had wroth and instead he turned to that woman.

And then, too, was their time together stranded on the ice world. There they didn't realize they were trapped, they didn't remember they had a world to return to. There they gravitated toward one another and were free to love one another.

Sam got up and left, using the excuse of helping Jack, and walked to the kitchen. She found him by the sliders to the back deck. He stood there with his hands hanging loose at his side. She was curious what had caught his interest and so stood beside him. The sunset was spectacular, the sun was a ball of blazing fire and the sky was awash with color.

"Never waste a beautiful sunset." he simply said.

"Beautiful" She said. Her fingers found his hand.

"Yes" he replied as she felt his fingers tightened around hers. "Beautiful."

Sam held on tight for a mere nano second and then let go as if it never happened.

They walked back into the living room with arms full of bags of chips and bottles of beer.

A/N: Be well my friends