Chapter 2 - What Now?

Some time earlier :

Sunday morning, Sam had just finished the paper and was now packing her stuff to go to the swimming-pool.

Some minutes later she started her car and got on her way, but she would not quite reach her destination.

Sam stopped the car, from the corner of her eye she had seen a strange movement and it felt to her as if somebody was following her on purpose. She pulled into a near parking space and got out. And as she had expected it, she was having company:

Agent Barret got out of one of the cars parked behind hers; he was there all in civilians and somehow Sam was not at all surprised to see him.

"Hello", he greeted her, "what about a little walk?"

She nodded and joined him walking along the sidewalk. After some quiet moments she finally spoke up asking, "What do you want?"

"Well", he replied solemnly, "I'm here to tell you that the NID needs your help."

"Mine?" she raised an eyebrow, "what's the matter with you guys?"

"Thing is: The rogue element has not been destroyed, yet. And this is why we need someone to get into it to do some disclosing work for us", he explained.

"And you're thinking about me on this one?" she frowned, "And what if I'd say no?"

"You should think about it very well. In any way you don't need to report to work tomorrow, since you're no longer a member of the SGC."

Sam spun around at him, "What have you done?"

"Me, nothing, but my colleagues have managed to charge an espionage affair on you ."

Sam merely glared at him.

"Don't worry, General Hammond is aware of what's going on and Colonel O'Neill as well, but we could not afford it to inform anyone else."

"How nice of you", Sam rolled her eyes, "and what do I do now?"

"Nothing for the next days", Barret said, "It won't take long till someone comes to recruit you. They've always been itchy on getting a chance like that."

"I see. So, that I haven't got another chance we've got a deal. But you owe me one, then."

He nodded, "See you soon, Sam." Then he walked away into the opposite direction.

She let out a long groan thinking, 'Strange guy. What they hell have I gotten into, here?"

"What the hell have you gotten into there, Sam?" Jack sat down two bottles of beer on the table and took a seat next to her.

"I'm not quite sure", she bit her lip, "All I know is that it won't do any good for my opinion on stupid agent movies."

"These your Pete used to take you to?" he inquired with a smirk.

"No, those were cop movies", Sam rolled her eyes, "and he's not my Pete and he's never been. Could we leave that subject?"

"I'm sorry, I wasn't exactly thinking."

"Never mind, I can't get him out of my head, either", finally she changed the subject, "What do you suggest I should do, now?"

"Just don't get yourself too deep into that crap and do what you're told to as long as possible. Otherwise you'd get into huge trouble there", he suggested.

"Yeah", she agreed, "but it just doesn't feel too well to me."

"Sure", he became silent for a long moment.

Sam slowly rose from her chair, "Maybe it's better when I go now before our good-bye becomes too tearful. We can't meet for a long time, now."

"Yeah", he stood up as well, "and surely they'll shadow you. That's exactly how the game works, I know."

They stood there for a while only looking at each other quietly until Jack could not help it any longer and finally he embraced her, "Take good care of you, Sam, hear?"

Sam nodded slowly, "Don't worry, Jack. You'll get me back in one peace", she lay her head on his shoulder letting out a long sigh.

Then she let go of him and turned away waving at him for a last time before she left his life, at least for some time.