Life fell into a regular pattern in the apartment. Sam would wake up first, take a shower and start the coffee before going to wake up Sarah who would then take her shower and start her day. She was doing volunteer work in a local shelter, and she found that getting out of the house and helping others was helping her.
At night either Sarah would make something, the two would order out, or if they felt sociable, they'd go out to eat at a club or something. When the divorce was finalized, Sarah didn't feel much like company, so Sam made her some comfort foods before going out with some of her friends (limited) from work.
After just a short while, the two learned to read each other like a book. When Sarah started digressing back into the depression Sam had helped her out of, the two would go and take a walk around town, the park, even once they went to Charlie's grave. It helped a lot for Sarah to have someone to talk to in that time.
About six months after Jack had returned home, Sam received a call from General Kerigen informing her that she was now going to be transferred back to the Pentagon. Sam did not like that order at all and managed to wheedle her way to serving one week at the Pentagon then one week in Colorado. That way she would still be there for Sarah, but the Pentagon would have their shining star back. Officially, however, she was based full time at the Pentagon.
Usually once every two weeks, Jack would call, asking to see Sam. The first time he did this, Sarah picked up the phone. Sam and Jack were both actually pleasantly surprised at how well she handled the situation.
"Are you sure that me seeing him is okay, Sarah?" Sam asked as she waited for Jack to pick her up for their 'non-date'.
Sarah nodded, "He's a good guy, Sam. But I could tell the first time I met you and saw you with him that there's something more there between the two of you." She met Sam's eyes and smiled, "It's okay for you to be happy, Sam."
Sam snorted, "Now you're sounding like my father."
"He must be a wise man, Samantha Carter."
Sam nodded, "I'm just beginning to find that out. Now, are you sure you'll be all right by yourself?"
Sarah smiled at Sam's mother-henning; it'd been a long time since she'd been looked after and taken care of like Sam did. "I'll be fine, Sam. It's not like…"
She trailed off as someone knocked on the door. Sam looked at the blonde widow with open concern, "I'll get it. Just, remember to breathe, Sarah."
"I'll try. Have fun, Sam."
Jack would either take Sam out to dinner, or they would eat at his house where the two talked about anything and everything that wasn't really important. Both were just enjoying the other's company; Jack happy that he had yet again found the blonde teen that had stolen his heart at first wink; Sam glad to be able to at least listen to the man who had shut her out the previous year.
Sometimes the couple would go for a walk down the street, sometimes to a movie or a 'theatrical presentation' by one of the local acting groups. They never went to the cemetery. Sam could tell that although Jack was trying to get on with his life, he just wasn't ready for that yet. He couldn't admit to himself that it wasn't his fault. Dr. Daniel Jackson had done a lot to repair what little self-worth Jack felt for himself during their time on Abydos, but there was only so much a man could do. A woman on the other hand…
Without either of them really realizing it, the two grew almost inseparable. What surprised Jack was that it was more than just physical, they had an emotional connection that caused such closeness…the two started finishing each others' sentences, as cliché as that sounds; and they couldn't go more than a few days without at least talking to the other. It made Sarah smile that Jack was able to at least start to let go and move on with his life.
Almost a year after Sam and Sarah had moved in together, Jack showed up on their 'doorstep' completely out of the blue.
Sarah opened the door, "Hello, Jack."
Jack forced a small smile, fiddling with a manila envelope in his hands. "Hi, Sarah."
"Did you need, Sam? She's in D.C. this week."
Jack shook his head, "I came to see you." He presented her with the envelope, "This is all the papers for the house and Charlie's trust fund we started when he was a baby. I thought you should have them."
Sarah's eyes went wide in shock. What the hell was her ex-husband saying? "What does all this mean?"
"I want you to have the house, Sarah. I don't care what you do with it, but I can't live there anymore. I've learned that the hard way this past year." Jack closed his eyes to stop the onslaught of tears that threatened to break loose. After almost a year of nightmares reliving his son's death, Jack O'Neill was admitting defeat and giving up.
Sarah nodded, trying to understand. "Where will you live?"
"I've found a secluded house not far from here, just outside of the Springs. It has a great observation deck on the roof."
The childless mother felt tears come to her eyes, this year with Sam had taught her many things – most important being that while she wasn't able to change the past, she could preserve it and move on for the future. That house was her past. "Thank you, Jack."
"Carter."
"Sam, it's Sarah."
"Sarah, what's wrong? I've been trying to reach you all day."
"My father just had a stroke. He's going to need a full time nurse at his side from now on." Sarah paused taking in a big breathe, "Jack came by the apartment two days ago – with the papers for our house. I'm moving back in with my dad so I can take care of him."
Sam felt a little concerned that her friend was moving back into the place that still haunted her sleep, "Are you up for that, Sarah? I'm not deaf, I can hear you at night sometimes, when you're caught up in a nightmare. Can you handle living there again?"
"I need to, Sam. If I don't face the house again, then I'll just spend the rest of my life running away from something that I can't run away from. I need to do this."
Sam nodded, although she knew the other woman couldn't see. She had just been informed herself that her life was about to change drastically. The Stargate had been opened again. This time if there was going to be a team going through – she'd be on it.
"Okay, Sarah. I have something, you need to hear, too, okay?"
"What is it, Sam?"
"You know that project that Jack was working on a year ago up at NORAD?"
"Yeah…the suicide mission."
"They're reopening the project and want me one that team."
"Oh." Sarah was shocked to say the least, but she knew that Sam was a strong woman and she could do anything she wanted. "I'll probably be out of the apartment by the time you get back to Colorado, but we'll still talk, right?"
Sam smiled and Sarah could feel it in her voice, "You're like a sister to me, Sarah. We can talk whenever you need to."
Sarah smiled back, through the thousands of miles that separated them, "Thank you."
A/N: Reviews? Please? I'll stop posting if no one reviews. I WANT TO KNOW WHAT YOU GOT FOR HANUKKAH OR CHRISTMAS OR WHATEVER HOLIDAY YOU CELEBRATE! TELL ME NOW!