Sam pottered about her house tidying and clearing away any signs of the drinking bout she had undergone the evening before, before Janet arrived. Thankfully she hadn't woken with a hangover but a rather hazy demeanour, which was slowly ebbing away as the morning, wore on.

Surprisingly enough she had had a fitful sleep, possibly due to the alcohol, and hadn't awoke until her alarm clock radio had flickered to life at nine thirty. Janet had called at ten thirty to say she was going to be stopping by after dropping Cassandra at a friends for the afternoon, she would arrive at around one in the afternoon.

Glancing up at the wall clock, which read twelve forty, Sam started to prepare a small lunch. It was a beautiful summer's day and they could sit out on the back porch and eat. She was now looking forward to her friend's arrival, to have some company. She prepared a salad, with some cold meat, and as she was boiling some potatoes, the doorbell ran. Sam opened the door to reveal a smiling Janet Frasier, who bounded past her friend before waiting for an invitation in, set her handbag on the hall dresser and walked into the kitchen.

Sam followed her through to find Janet already delving into the salad helping herself to a cherry tomato with the concerned look in her eyes Sam usually found looking at her when she woke up in the infirmary.

"Want a drink?"

"Please, something cold, its warm out there"

Sam poured them both some fresh lemonade with plenty of ice cubes setting a glass in front of Janet who had helped herself to another tomato.

"Can't you wait a few minutes, the potatoes are nearly done and I thought we could eat outside seeing as it's a gorgeous day"

"Sorry Sam, but I skipped breakfast, we slept in"

"Late night?"

"Sort of. Actually, I was still deliberating coming over here late last night. Scared you may drink yourself into an early grave considering the news you got yesterday"

Sam felt a slight flush touch her cheeks and bent her head over the stove to check the potatoes.

"So you did have a few drinks," said Janet.

"Can't put anything past you Jan"

"I don't blame you. Probably would have done the same myself"

Sam set the food onto trays which she and Janet carried onto the porch. She had heated some rolls as well and they started to dig in, friendly banter arising between them.

"So Cassie's out with friends?"

"Yeah she's been asked if she wants to go on a vacation with them and I said yes so they are now deciding what they should pack"

"When are they going away?"

"The summer holidays"

"That's not for another two months"

"They're seventeen Sam, they have a lot to plan. Tans, wardrobe, bikinis, how to spend parents money on summer clothes"

"Ah those were the days"

"Sure were, except when I was asked to go away for a vacation, it was camping and I took one bag. Cassie isn't happy unless she has at least one large suitcase, a small one and of course a vanity case"

"How things have changed. Well think of it this way, she's only got a few more years like that before the working world takes away all privileges of vacations longer than a few weeks when you have to pay for them yourself"

Silence descended for a few moments. Janet did not want to push Sam on the subject but it was obvious lack of enthusiasm on the conversation that the matter was still weighing heavy on her mind.

"So....?"

"Huh?"

"Come on Sam, there's only so much of Cassie, work and how the food tastes I can talk about with a mostly one sided conversation"

"I'm sorry Janet"

"No problem, now are you going to talk about it or do I have to bring up a different subject"

"What's there to say? I didn't get it, everybody knows. Nobody, including myself, exactly understands why but"

"But it happens all the time"

"Yeah"

"Well that's nice Sam, but quit with the act. Everyone including me thought you were going, hell we'd packed your bags and had you standing ready at the gate about the same time we found out your name had been put forward for the job"

"Is that your way of saying you would have been glad to see me offworld almost permanently"

"Sam!"

"I'm sorry Janet, but like I said, I still don't get it myself. You know the worst thing; the decisions were made a week ago. He knew a week and didn't give me any clue, just acted like everything was normal. Hell he acted like everything was normal when I walked out of the Generals office after being told the news."

"You know he couldn't have told you anything Sam before yesterday"

"Yes he could Janet. We have worked together for eight years, he knew, he knew how much the promotion would have meant to me. I've tried to go through it my mind. What the hell kind of explanation is they find my presence is more needed at the SGC? Instead, they chose two unknown people, who haven't even heard about the Stargate program to lead the two field units. They have no idea what they're facing out there, meanwhile I've have to sit back and wait until maybe, maybe an option come forward for me at the SGC. I was told I may be considered to lead another team when the option becomes available MAYBE"

Sam sighed and looked over at her friend who quietly sipped her lemonade at let her rant on. It was nice to tell Janet things in total confidence, It wasn't a doctor patient confidentiality, it was a best friend shoulder to cry on, problems to offload upon and hopefully get some encouragement to face the day ahead.

"I'm not looking forward to tomorrow"

"Suck it up Major"

"It's not just having to face. It's everyone else, when I left yesterday everyone was looking or rather avoiding. Looking out the corner of their eyes, I was a little pissed off. Major Larson's locker has a nice dent in it, which I must apologise about. How does news pass round that place so fast?"

"I have no idea, I see that's the effect of your episode with the Major's locker then?" asked Janet nodding towards Sam's bruised knuckles.

"Yeah" replied Sam smiling "Be thankful the locker was there and not a certain Colonel, or you may not be visiting me at home but rather a prison cell"

"It'll be ok Sam"

"Of course it will. It's not the end of the world, and at least I'll be considered for a position when one presents itself. I've lost out to promotions before. This should be no more different than them"

"So why is it?"

"I guess because he made the decision"

"He's your commanding officer"

"He knows me more than I know myself. Same with Daniel and Tealc. And I know he will have more of an explanation than the command needing me more than the Alpha site. He also knows I would be pretty pissed at him for a day or two because I lost out"

"So why are you worried about facing him tomorrow?"

"Because Janet, on Friday night I punched a locker wishing it was his face, I drank myself into a depressive state, cursed him a hundred times over, and he knows it"

"How would he know"

"I think the look I gave him when I left the Generals office left nothing to the imagination"

"Hmm?"

"Well let's just say if looks could kill"

"I'd now be looking at the new CO of SG1"

Sam grinned, Janet repaid the smile and they cleared the now empty plates from the back porch in friendly silence.

Sam felt like she'd managed to shift the heavy weight from her shoulders, Janet thought that she looked more relaxed. They spent the rest of the afternoon catching the rays in the back yard.