Thanks for all of the great comments! Keep 'em up! I didn't realize how much you guys would like it!
Chapter 2Samantha Carter was working feverishly to study the naquadria acquired from Kelowna. Technically, she was still on leave, but she had gotten into a dull, lifeless routine, one of the things that she absolutely hated about being off-duty.
Despite the busyness of the base, Sam felt so lonely. She was the only member of SG-1 on base. Teal'c had requested to temporarily join any team going off world, and General Hammond had complied. Jack was off-base doing who knows what. And Daniel was . . .
Hot tears stung her eyes while a lump formed in her throat.
"Dr. Carter?"
Samantha swallowed and turned around to see Jonas Quinn standing in her doorway.
"Yes?"
"Do you want any help studying the naquadria? I could . . ."
Samantha shook her head, interrupting him. "Thank you for your offer, Jonas, but I'm just running some preliminary tests on its properties. It will be another few days before I'm ready to experiment freely with it."
Jonas nodded, seeing that Sam just wanted more time alone or perhaps more accurately, away from him. "Well, I'm here if you need anything."
As he left, she went and closed the door. Then, she let the tears fall. She thought back to the first time she met Daniel. A slight smile came to her lips. After fully ignoring him in order to look at the DHD, she went over and outstretched her hand in friendship. Daniel's eyes showed his uncertainty about her, and she had tried not to laugh.
"You must be Dr. Jackson. I'm Dr. Samantha Carter."
"I thought you preferred Captain," came Jack's dry response.
Sam had ignored him, unwilling to allow anything to spoil her excitement at being on another planet for the first time.
When Daniel mentioned the Theory of the Expanding Universe, Sam had smiled more broadly than even she thought possible.
"I knew I'd like you. . ."
Sam wiped the tears unceremoniously from her cheeks. Those words had sparked a five-year friendship full of adventure, jest, tenderness, and fun.
She couldn't help but laugh when she remembered when the archaeological and scientific research departments had teamed up to study the apparent time capsule.
The young lieutenant who was documenting the research seemed to lose his focus anytime he got near Sam. She had asked for a recording of the proceedings, and Daniel turned to her. "I think someone has a crush on you."
She had chuckled. However, their laughter was cut short when the blushing lieutenant announced. "We're recording."
She turned a chastising gaze upon Daniel who only shrugged. "Oops!"
Another memory flooded over her. That one was more painful than the first.
It had been when the Tollans had been held in refugee status on the base. Narim had come and declared his love for her. They were about to kiss when Daniel rushed in.
"Whoops!" he said, breaking the moment. "I just needed to do something."
Sam had nodded, accepting with a dull resentment the interruption.
"And I, uh, I need your help." Daniel said, pointing to her.
A sad smile crept over her face. Daniel just had that uncanny habit of showing up at the wrong time, but that was partly due to his almost absent-minded professor personality when he was absorbed in the study of the ancient cultures he so loved.
And who could forget the time that he had been infected by the virus from the Shadows on the opposite side of the Land of Light? Of course, he would not have contracted the disease if he hadn't been so tenderhearted, unable to leave Melosha to the harsh primitives that stalked that part of the planet.
There was a knock on the door. "Carter! It's me! Let me in!"
She sighed, dabbed a tissue across her eyes and cheeks to eliminate the evidence of her tears. "Come in!"
There was a jiggle of the handle. "Carter! It's locked!"
She walked over and opened the door. "Sorry, Sir. The new auto-lock system must be on."
O'Neill walked into the lab. Sam had to restrain a gasp. He looked the way she felt: crappy.
"What brings you here?" She asked.
"I don't know," he said. "I just assumed I'd find you here."
His face was drawn, making him look almost ten years older than he was. His eyes looked bloodshot, evidence of recently being drunk. His hangover was also evidenced in his sensitivity to the fluorescent light.
"I meant what brought you to the base?"
He shrugged. "I don't know."
He rotated his forefinger around his temple, looking down at the ground. "Too many demons there, I guess."
She nodded, understanding completely what he meant.
"So, playing with your new toy as usual, I suppose."
"The naquadria will be an excellent addition to our discoveries."
He began to rifle through the items on and surrounding her desk.
"Carter, when is Teal'c due to return?"
"In about two days, I think."
"Good." Jack stopped fidgeting. "Just enough time to get SG-1 back on active duty."
"Sir, don't you think it's a little early?"
"Carter, I don't want to keep living like this. It's killing me."
Again, tears threatened to spill. Jack looked up and saw her fight to control her emotions. He mentally kicked himself. That was a stupid choice of words, O'Neill, he thought.
Without a second thought, he gathered her into his arms. As he did so, Samantha let the tears unabashedly fall.
"Shh. Sam, it's going to be all right."
Her wrenching sobs required her to gulp and gasp for air. "I hate despising my job, Jack!"
He ran his fingers through her hair, while her head rested on his shoulder, but his thoughts were a million miles away. "So do I, Samantha. So do I."
TBC
Hit the little button and tell me what you think! PLEASE!