Author's Note:  Sorry for the delay.  It's the holiday season… I've been busy.  Haven't had time to upload.  Now I do… just need to keep a certain distance ahead of what I've written so I don't drop it.  This story will be finished.

Chapter 8

The team came back from another uneventful mission.  This was getting old for them.  They were tired of going through the gate and finding nothing of any use to them.  This was the third mission in a row that turned up nothing.  They walked into the locker room and got ready for the debriefing.

Sam got in the shower first.  She needed to talk to Janet before the debriefing.  She got in, and in a matter of five minutes, she got right back out.  She dressed herself in her BDUs and went to Janet's office.  She knocked on the door.

"Hey, aren't you supposed to be at a debriefing?"

"Not yet.  I need to talk to you," Sam said as she closed the door and walked over to the set of chairs in front of the desk.  She sat down in one of the chairs before continuing.  "What have you said to him?"

"I told him to relax.  I told him that he should watch his temper for fear that he will regret what he'll do with it.  I have to tell you this.  The argument is between you and him, and before you go any farther into the relationship with Chris, you need to talk to Jack.  Otherwise, things might get ugly.  You'll lose Chris and also lose Jack, and you won't be able to get either of them back."

"Why are you telling me this?  Why, all of a sudden, are you some counselor or like a 'guardian angel' type person?"

"I want to prevent my friends from splitting up.  I don't know.  I'm just afraid that if I don't do something about this, something bad will happen, and I won't be able to do anything about it.  Sam, I am being a counselor, but I'm no 'guardian angel'.  Most importantly, I'm a friend.  If I see a friend in distress, I will do everything I can to make it better.  I won't do the job for them, but I will help them along the way."

"Guess it's better you're a friend, rather than a guardian angel, then."

Janet looked into Sam's bluish-gray eyes before continuing.  "You need to let this go after you talk to him.  Years from now you will be with Chris and you will think about Jack.  Don't have any regrets.  Like you told me before, you have moved on with your life, you said you had to.  It wasn't an excuse.  It was an assurance that you will change your life and make it better.  You wouldn't wait for life to come to you.  You made it happen for you--"

"Stop!  Please!  I get it!"  Sam repeated every phrase she said as the tears welled up in her eyes.  Janet hurried around her desk to Sam and gave her a hug.  She comforted Sam.

"Sh... It's gonna be alright, Sam.  Remember what I said.  It's gonna be alright."

Sam only hoped so as she was held in Janet's embrace.

"You gonna be okay for right now?" Janet asked.

"Yeah, I'll be alright.  I'll remember what you said."  She sniffled as Janet released her.  "Do I look okay?"

Janet went to one of the desk drawers and pulled out a small pocket mirror.  Sam didn't realize how much the events of the day shown on her face, even after taking a shower.  Her face appeared tired and weary.  She looked five years older than she was.

"Wow.  Janet?  You got any make-up?  I'll need eyeshadow and undereye concealer.  Nothing too dark."

"I got dark brown eyeshadow in here.  It's a bit darker than your skin complexion.  I also have the undereye concealer."  She held it up to Sam's face.  "It'll match," Janet said as she smiled.

Sam applied the make-up, but used it sparingly.  She felt as if she was putting on a disguise.  It was like a mask.  The make-up made her look like a new person, but she still felt the emotions of regret and suffering down in the pit of her stomach.  She had to talk to Jack, and soon.  This was the only way to rid herself of the awful feelings she had.

~*~*~*~

TBC...