A/N- Sorry about the delay...I have been living on the Lisa Marie Presley forum the last couple of days! I have NO idea where I am going with this as I have no idea how Threads will end (here's hoping for some S/J nookie!) so I am going to see what my mind produces.

"So my lease runs out on the 16th of this month, and I can stay here with you until we are able to move in. This place should sell in no time though." Pete said between mouthfuls of pasta. Sam sat staring at her food, unable to eat.

It had been 12 hours since she had lost it in the meeting. When Daniel had found her, she had rattled of some story about having a touch of the stomach flu, knowing full well Daniel did not believe her. Jack had sent her home, although she tried to convince him otherwise, he simply ordered her to take the rest of the day off.

Now she sat in front of Pete, listening to him prattle on about the houses and she was finding it hard to not reach over and choke him until he shut up.

"Sam, hey Sam." Pete said reaching out touching her hand.

Sam looked up at him and for a second time that day, she found everything becoming clear.

"Have you heard a single word I have said?" Pete asked angrily. Sam just continued to gaze at him, suddenly finding the strength to tell him everything she should have said before things went so far.

"I can't do this." Sam whispered looking down at her plate.

"Sorry?" Pete asked.

"I can't do this." Sam said louder looking him in the eye once again.

"Can't do what?" Pete asked sitting back, a confused expression on his face, but the fact he new what was coming clearly visible in his eyes.

"This Pete," Sam said gesturing between them "I can't do this."

"I don't understand." Pete replied reaching out to touch her hand. Sam pulled away quickly and stood up. "Sam! What's wrong with you?" Pete yelled.

"Don't yell at me." Sam said, her voice monotonous. She knew if she showed one ounce of emotion, there would be no stopping it.

"Well what is wrong with you? You don't say two words and when you do it sounds kind of like the beginning of a break up speech." Pete said.

"Because it is." Sam said looking away.

"You could at least do me the courtesy of looking at me when you say that." Pete said grabbing her arm violently and pulling her to face him. The grip on her felt like a steel clamp on her soft flesh, she tried to pull away but that only made Pete tighten his grip.

"Pete let go of me." Sam said taking a step away. Pete just stepped closer to her, not letting go.

"Not until you tell me what the hell is going on."

"I'm trying to break up with you like an adult but you are making it really hard." Sam said moving her arm in a quick small circle, helping the laws of physics to cause Pete to let go of her. She jumped back so he could not touch her again.

"Get out Pete, you can get as pissed off as you want but if you touch me again I will hurt you." Sam said moving to out even more distance between them. Pete stormed off to the bedroom.

For the next half an hour Sam could hear him packing things, slamming things loudly, occasionally she would here him scream a curse out to no one.

Soon enough, he had the things he had left at Sam's place in his car. He came back in one last time to put his key to her house on the small table near the front door. As he placed it down, he saw the ring he had given Sam on the edge of the table. It mocked him; he could almost hear the thing telling him it was inevitable, that he was a fool. Deep down he knew that he was not the man for Samantha Carter.

"I guess this is it." Pete said picking it up.

"Yeah." Sam said standing up to face him.

"I don't know what you're looking for Sam, but I hope when you find it, it was worth it." Pete said. He put the ring back down and walked out the door without another word.

"It will be." Sam said to the empty room.

Jack could hear the loud tapping on the door form the kitchen. She put down the beer he was drinking and went to answer it. He pulled it open to see a slightly disheveled Sam standing there.

"Carter." Jack said in surprise.

"Sir, is this a bad time?" Sam asked, a hopeful tone to her voice.

Jack smiled as Sam used those same words she had used only months ago when she arrived announced to check on him after he had interfaced with the ancient knowledge library.

"Not at all." Jack said stepping aside. "Do you want a beer?" He asked.

"Ah no thanks." Sam was pacing back and fourth. Jack watched her, shocked to see her so unsettled.

"Carter, I like my carpet, I don't want to have to get new stuff because you wore a whole in it." He teased.

"Sorry Sir." Sam said stopping dead in her tracks.

"Sit." Jack said pointing to the other side of the couch he was sitting on.

Sam said down beside him. She had planned it all. She had planned to tell him she was leaving, that she was done with SG 1, tell him to reassign her as a civilian, and beg him for a place in his heart. But as she sat next to him, she realised something. They weren't like that. This was not some fairy tale where she had to find the meaning of true love and her prince and her would live happily ever after. This was Jack and her, the most sexually charged, mind bending, intense, un-romance, non-relationship she had ever known.

"How are you feeling?" Jack asked.

"Huh?" Real articulate Sam, she thought.

"You're stomach flu." Jack clarified.

"Oh, I feel a lot better now Sir, thanks." They sat in silence for a few minutes after her response, neither of them sure what to say next. After a moment Jack couldn't take it anymore.

"Carter, you know I always love to see you, but is there a reason you came by? Keeping in mind if you just came buy by...that's fine." Jack said trying to get a smile out of her. It worked. He hated it when she looked upset, and tonight was no exception.

"How's Kerry?" Sam asked suddenly.

"Good."

"How's P..." Jack started but was cut off.

"Is that new?" Sam asked pointing to the flat stereo mounted to the wall.

"Yeah. So you and P..." Jack tried again and failed.

"I was thinking about what Daniel said. If we were to try and lure Baal into a trap..." This time Jack took the chance and cut her off.

"CARTER!" He said standing up. Sam

"Sir?"

"Would you let me get a word in?" He asked sitting down again.

"Sorry Sir."

"Pete, how is he?"

"He's gone." Sam said looking down at her hands folded in her lap.

"Oh." Good one dick head he thought. "Do you want to talk about it?"

"No Sir." Sam replied still not looking at him.

Jack was about to say something when a knock at the door drew his attention.

"I'll get rid of them, then get the tequila." Jack said moving to the door. Sam laughed softly, secretly glad he wanted to be a 'girlfriend' to her. Sam listened hard to the muffled voices.

"Oh god is that the time?" She heard Jack say.

"Yeah, you've forgotten me already! I'm surprised you don't a have another" Sam looked up just as Kerry walked into the living room and stood up. "...woman here." Kerry locked eyes with Jack. "Am I interrupting anything?" She asked. Sam responded before Jack could.