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Disclaimer: It aint mine, ya know! What a shocker!

Rating: 15, purely because of the subject matter, which will be revealed a little later on.

*CHAPTER 2 – Regrets and Resignations*

With her arms laidened with the open telephone book, Sam reached for the phone and dialed the operator. "Locksmiths, please."

"Yes, we can do that Miss Carter, would 4pm be convenient?"

"Yes that would be great." Sam replied before remembering they were due to go off world. "Oh, no sorry, it's not good for me.  Can you do tomorrow morning?"

"I'm sorry, but we're booked all day tomorrow. It's only because we've had a cancellation today that we could do it this afternoon…I'm sorry. The only day I can do it now, would be… Saturday." He replied checking his schedule.

Damn! That was two days away, but she had no alternative, she'd called everyone else and he had been her last hope. Pondering on what to do, she decided that she could stay on the base for a few days.  She was sure the General wouldn't mind.  All she had to do was say she had a burst pipe and he would be none the wiser.

"Fine, Saturday it is then. Thanks." Sam replied before hanging up. Crap, that would mean she'd have to go home and get her stuff.  Something she didn't relish.

***

This had to be the worst day of her life! Sam thought as she dropped down in the dirt for the umpteenth time. The seemingly peaceful planet hadn't been so 'peaceful' and they had been met by some very angry natives, who were intent on trying to kill them at each and every opportunity.

"I thought you said this planet was friendly, Daniel!" Sam hissed.

"Yeah, sorry about that." Daniel replied returning fire as the bullets ricochet off the rocks besides them.

"Will you two stop yapping and get your asses back to the gate!" Jack shouted above the noise. "We can all blame Daniel later.  Now get moving.  Teal'c and I will cover your six." 

Nodding an affirmative, Sam and Daniel, got up slowly crouching behind anything that would give them some protection. Sam winced as her ribs began to protest. This didn't go un-notice by Daniel.

"Sam, are you hurt?"

"Daniel! Now is not the time."

"Sam."

"You heard the Colonel, we need to get the gate active."

Shaking his head, he knew he should've had that talk with Jack.  Mentally kicking himself he knew that there was nothing he could do about it now, but when they got back he was going to make damn sure that he heard about *this*.

***

Emerging from the other side, they barely reached the gate in time, and were thankful when the iris closed behind them.

"Well, that was fun!" Jack replied to no one in particular.

"What in Gods name happened? You couldn't have been gone for more than a couple of hours."

"Thank Daniel for that one, General. It's seems the 'friendlies' weren't so… 'Friendly'." Jack advised wiping the mud from his face.

"Everyone, okay?" General Hammond enquired.

"Yes, sir.  Once again, we've defied death, foiled our foes, eluded our enemies…" Jack answered on behalf of SG-1 and gathering momentum after each word in typical O'Neill style.

"Actually General, Sam's hurt." Daniel replied.

"Daniel." Jack replied with complete surprise. Then looking directly at Sam, he wondered why he hadn't noticed or why she hadn't said anything the minute they got back.  She certainly didn't appear to be injured.

"Jack." Daniel replied indicating that he should ask, Sam.

"Carter?"

"I'm fine, sir.  I simply pulled a muscle. That's all. Daniel is being a mother hen. It's nothing, honest." Sam replied through clenched teeth, she couldn't believe he'd snitched on her.

"What is this, pick on Daniel day or something?" Daniel retorted with a touch of bitterness.  Sam was never like this and to hear her being so off hand with his feelings, hurt him slightly.

"Maybe you should go to the infirmary, Major."

Rolling her eyes, she certainly didn't want to go to the infirmary.  That was the last place she wanted to be. "Really General, I don't need to go."

"Carter." Jack admonished, making her realise that this was not open for debate.

"I'm on my way, sir."

"I'll come by to check on you in a few minutes." He shouted after her as she began walking away with General Hammond, Daniel and Teal'c just behind her.

Stopping dead in her tracks, she let the others go ahead of her before turning back on her heels "Really sir, there's no need.  I'm fine."  Sam replied. The last thing she wanted was to have her CO there when they found out her secret.

"I'm sure you are Carter, but *I* want to make certain."

"Don't you trust me?" Sam asked bordering on the lines of subordination.

Standing face to face, their bodies only inches apart, he looked intently into her eyes. "I don't know these days, Carter.  I really don't." Jack replied honestly. Standing in total silence neither of them said a word; each trying to sense what the other was thinking.  The gate room was now deserted, leaving them alone. Momentarily betraying his feelings for her he continued. "You're not the same person that I… I've worked with for the last 7 years."

Sam looked at the intensity of his expression and the emotions that filled his eyes. She knew he'd been about to say something else, but given their current standing she watched as he stumbled - covering his tracks. *And* Sam felt guilty for not confiding in him earlier. Ever since Pete had come on the scene, she always hesitated about telling him what Pete was really like. She didn't want him to see her as 'some helpless female' who needed a man to fight her battles.  It was something she had to do on her own. Closing her eyes briefly, she tried to collect her thoughts. Trouble was, she didn't know where to start.

"I know I've not been myself these last few weeks, and I'm sorry. But, I would hope that with everything we've been through together, you'd have more faith in me… I guess I was wrong." Sam finished sadly. As far as she was concerned the day just couldn't get any worse. Glancing up at him one last time, tears burned in her eyes, at the thought that she had lost his respect and friendship.  This was her life, and she couldn't imagine not being able to work beside him everyday, but now that he didn't trust her anymore… there didn't seem to be any point in her staying in the SGC. Struggling inwardly at the decision she was about to make, she didn't want things to end like this, but she wasn't prepared to stay in a place where they didn't trust her. She knew it was of her own making, but… it didn't make it any easier.  "I'll have my resignation letter on your desk first thing in the morning, Sir." She advised him solemnly, her head hung low with sadness. Her chest felt heavy with emotion at her decision. Unable to cope with anything else at the moment she tore a look at him.

Jack couldn't believe it. She was resigning? Her statement knocked him sideways, and for the first time in his life, he didn't know what to say. Watching silently as she backed away from him, the only thing he could do was watch as she turned on her heels and walked quickly towards the doorway. "Sam! Sam wait!"

End of part 2.

Hope you're still enjoying it, lots more angst and tension to come :o)