TITLE: Tears

AUTHOR: caz

EMAIL: caz_gobby@hotmail.com

SPOILERS: Meridian is the main one but it relates to a lot other episodes as well.

SEASON/ SEQUEL: It's set kinda a few months after meridian so.

RATING: PG (to be on the safe side)

SUMMARY: Sam is suffering from an illness that threatens everything. (and I hate writing summaries!)

AUTHOR'S NOTES: It starts boring and I reckon it's too long but. please review.



Jack whistled as he walked down the corridor to Sam's lab. He turned the corner to see Sam swallow some painkillers. He stopped whistling abruptly and looked at her with a curious frown.

"Just a headache sir." Sam explained, "I seem to be getting a lot of them recently."

"Maybe you should get Doc Fraser to give you a once over." Jack suggested as he walked around the lab looking at the assorted science equipment.

"I think I'm just a little tired." Sam said as she carefully removed the device that Jack was now shaking to see if it rattled. "We have been working flat out over the past couple of months."

"No Carter, YOU have been working flat out, the rest of us realise the meaning of "leave" is to leave, as in the premises." Jack said as he pointed at the door. "You need to let your hair down," he gazed up at her short blond hair "so to speak. You need to have a little fun..."

"But sir, this IS fun!" Carter exclaimed as she pointed at the prototype naquata refiner. "I love what I do."

Jack looked unconvinced at Carter who averted his gaze, saying, "I'm sorry sir but I had better get on, I want to get this finished before SG-6 return with the naquata compound from P3X-171."

"How's that coming on anyway?" Jack walked over to the bench and started examining its contents.

"Well the naquata compound from P3X-171 is contained in certain rocks which SG-6 can find easily due to their extraordinary weight. Getting the compound out of the rocks is easy enough, its just trying to get the pure naquata separated from the other impurities that's the difficult as it is so reactive. Once we have worked out how to do it though we will be able to acquire naquata much more easily and we can develop the defence shields that started with the naquadria that Jonas brought us."

Jack looked at her, bored. "A 'not so good sir' would have done."

"Sorry sir but I just can't seem to be able to find a safe way to separate the pure naquata..."

"Carter!" Jack shot her a warning shot.

"I really need to get on." Carter took the palm pilot Jack had found to play with out of his hand and looked meaningfully at him.

"Ok, ok I can take a hint!" He said with mock offence, a cheeky smile playing on his lips. Carter smiled. "Don't work too hard." he said in a light playful voice as he slowly walked out of the door. Carter turned back to her work and started to input some data into the palm pilot. Jack paused at the doorframe and looked at Carter.

"We all miss him Carter." She looked up surprised as Jack walked down the corridor.

**********

The all-too-familiar siren started as General Hammond closed the mission report he was reading and hurried down the spiral staircase to the Gate Room.

"It's a transmission from SG-6, sir." Said Sergeant Davis, "Visual coming through."

"Major Bright, is there a problem?" Hammond enquired of the recently appointed leader of SG-6.

"No sir." Bright looked excited; "We found some alien technology that Sharp thinks Major Carter will want to look at. He thinks it is a naquata processor that will help Major Carter with the naquata refiner that she is working on. We found it in one of the disused mine shafts while we were looking for some more of the naquata compound."

"Ok Major, I'll send SG-1 through shortly."

"Thank you sir."

The wormhole closed. Hammond turned to look at Major Davis.

"Please send SG-1 to the briefing room."

"Yes sir"

**********

"That's all the information we have." said Hammond in conclusion to the mission briefing.

"So what are me and Teal'c gonna do while Carter is playing with her new toy?" asked Jack looking playfully at Sam who smiled.

"Well Colonel, since you asked, SG-6 could do with some help removing the naquata compound from the mine."

"You know sir, I've always wanted to be a miner... oh wait, we did that already, TWICE!"

Hammond chuckled, "You leave in half an hour. Dismissed."

"Well Grumpy," said Jack standing up and looking at Teal'c, "while Sleepy here plays with her toy its off to work we go, hi-ho, hi-ho..." Jack walked off singing, Carter laughed and Teal'c raised an eyebrow looking mildly amused.

**********

"Sorry sir." Carter looked flustered as she hurried along the corridor to the Gate Room walking right into Jack.

"Its ok Carter, I have another foot for you to stand on!" he said playfully. Carter still looked serious. Jack turned serious as he said, "When we get back you are taking some well earned leave."

"But sir..."

"That's an order Major."

"Yes sir." Carter mumbled as they stood at the foot of the gate.

"Seventh chevron, locked." Major Davis informed them. The wormhole opened with its usual kawoosh.

"C'mon kids." Jack beckoned them forwards with a wave of his arm as he started to walk up the ramp.

"Have fun Colonel." Hammond played along with Jack's humour.

"I'll let you know if we find Snow White." Jack's sarcasm was as sharp as always as they disappeared through the gate.