A/N: Ok, I'm soooo evil. I could have written in what happened to Sam in the last chapter, but just couldn't help myself lol. So this chapter is also a little on the short side, since it was supposed to be part of the previous one. As for the poll, something happened to it unfortunately and the numbers reset. When I'd looked before it had 15 votes, 1 yes (I suppose you know who YOU are lol) 8 votes no, and 6 to turn Jack into a moose. Lol. When I checked the poll again later, there were only 2 votes, one yes and one no, so I don't know if those votes are leftovers or new votes. Sorry if you couldn't get the link to work, you had to follow the instructions I left exactly, or you would get an error message. FanFic eats urls so I couldn't just post it as a hyperlink, which would have been so nice! As for the sequel... I don't know about that, but maybe if I did one, I could call it Northern Exposure? (Does anyone else remember that show or am I just acting my age?)

Sinking to the floor, Sam wished she could cry. Why couldn't her life be normal for once?

Chapter 58

Eventually, Sam had no choice but to force herself to get up off of the cold hard concrete floor. The house had emptied out long ago, and late morning sunlight streamed in from behind the stack of boxes in the back of the garage, a soft breeze of fresh air noticeable from an open window. Wait a sec... an open window?

Berating herself for giving into self-pity and not exploring her surroundings, Sam moved to investigate, and couldn't believe her eyes. In the back of the garage, a window, the kind where the panes slid from side to side rather than up and down, stood partially open. Sam stood; nose turned slightly upwards, eyes closed momentarily while she let the gentle breeze ruffle her fur.

Giving herself a little shake, Sam told herself she better get moving, there was no telling how long it would take her to get out the window, or even if she'd be able to get out of it. The slit looked too small for even her small size to squeeze out of, not to mention the window was very much out of reach from her position on the floor.

Sam examined the nearby shelves and boxes. Some of the stacks looked a little rickety, but she had little choice in the matter, its not like she could move boxes or a ladder around. Sam snorted in amusement at the thought.

After carefully plotting her course, which moved in a zigzag type pattern through various boxes, covered items and shelves that seemed to be the safest route, Sam started up her chosen pathway. Despite her feeling of urgency, Sam forced herself to move carefully, considering each leap or jump. It would do her no good to topple the stack and make the window inaccessible.

Finally, Sam stood on the last pile, directly under the window. From up close, the slit looked barely wide enough for her, so at least she wouldn't have to worry about opening the window further. She did however; have to worry about the screen.

Gingerly, feeling the stack of boxes shift under her slightly, Sam stood on her back legs and stretched out her front legs, hooking her claws into the material of the screen. Sam was surprised when the screen parted easily, the obviously old and worn material splitting as she pulled, adding her slight weight to enhance the tear. It was almost too easy.

As soon as the thought formed, Sam felt the boxes under her back legs shift again, causing her to slide rapidly down to the windowsill, hind legs kicking reflexively. That sudden movement was all it took to send the stack of boxes toppling with a loud CRASH! Sam was left clinging desperately onto the narrow windowsill; her hold slipping while her back legs scrabbled for purchase.

As her front claws gouged into the old rotted wood of the windowsill, sliding closer and closer to the edge, Sam would not give up. With the boxes gone, there would be no way for her to reach the high set window. On sheer willpower alone, she found purchase for her right hind leg, and then her left hind leg. Next, she was able to hook her claws over the edge of the window outside, and twisting got one of her back legs up onto the sill. Front legs trembling with exhaustion, Sam pushed her head and shoulders through the screen, and wasn't too surprised when she toppled forward, head first out of the window.

Sam fell, her fall cushioned by just about the largest rose busy she'd ever seen. Growling a stream of profanities, Sam forced tired, wobbly, scratched limbs into motion, and trotted away from the house as fast as she could, never once looking back.

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It was late in the evening before Jack found time to get back to his office, and the review he was trying to finish. His head was pounding again, thought not with the mild hangover he'd woken up with thanks to his late night out with Teal'c and Daniel, where he'd had just a little too much to drink. Good thing Daniel had been driving.

Jack waited for the computer to boot up while he reflected on the events of the day. Early on, things had gone to hell it seemed, when SG-5 had gotten them selves pinned near the stargate by a troop of Jaffa. Jack and Teal'c had taken SG-3 and rescued them, returning in time for a late lunch at the commissary, before yet another crisis had presented itself. Seems SG-13 had brought back an artifact, which had previously shown no indication of a power source or technology, and had just been placed in a crate ready to go to storage, when it had started to glow and vibrate.

Worried that the device was some sort of weapon or bomb, Jack had had to oversee the probing and examination of the devices, which had taken several hours. Just as they had been about to chuck the thing through an open wormhole, and wish for the best, the device had emitted a somewhat musical sound, and just as mysteriously shut itself off. Daniel had finally translated the runes on the object, and discovered that the item, which had seemed so sinister before, was just a child's toy. For some reason, the scientists were overjoyed, and went running off to study their new toy, literally.

And now Jack settled in his office, a plate of cake beside him. He planned to finish the review, and go home. As Jack started up the program he needed, he noted absently he had an email. Wondering if Daniel had sent him a message about the toy, he clicked it open, and was surprised when he didn't recognize the address. Jack frowned, this address wasn't one he normally gave out, in fact, and only people at work had it. Now curious, he clicked to open the message, his eyes widening in shock as he read the short message in disbelief, and then read it again.

Jack hit the print button, impatiently waiting for the paper to print. He noted that the message had been received last night, while he'd been out enjoying himself, and had likely sat around all day, unread. He could kick himself later, right now, he had to find the rest of SG-1, and tell Hammond. Jack grabbed the printout and ran from the room. Carter had to be ok, or he'd never forgive himself.

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A/N: Anyway... Another couple chapters will see Sam home. Like I said, she's got another 100 ish miles to go, and I really don't think its fair to make her get all that way, being on the road alone for almost a month, just to get rescued when she had just a little bit more to go. We need to score for cat power, hear me? So apologies to everyone that kept hoping that Jack would come dashing in wearing his ehm, olive drab armor, and rescue our poor beleaguered female feline. This is Sam we're talking about here. There will be some bit of ship though, when they are reunited, but you'll just have to bear with me on the next few chapters, and I'll try and make the last thirty something chapters of them being apart up to you with what I have planned lol. (No more cookies, that's it, now behave, and patience :P)