September 15, 1995

Jack drove up to the apartment building in Washington, D.C. He took a deep breath. The last couple of weeks had been harder than he thought they would be. Then again, he wasn't sure what he had expected. Maybe to come home to his wife, apologize and begin trying for reconciliation. Unfortunately, by the time he had arrived back, she had left. Nothing but a handwritten note explaining her apologies was left by her.

He reached into his pocket and retrieved the wrinkled envelope. There was no name, just an address. He got out of the rental car and walked up to the door. He selected the button for apartment 6B and pressed it.

"Yes?" The male voice asked.

"My name is Colonel Jack O'Neill with the United States Air Force. I have a message from Daniel Jackson."

"Who's that?"

"He's an archaeologist. He asked me to deliver a letter here on his behalf."

"What's the Air Force want with an archaeologist?'

"That's classified."

"Sorry…don't know anybody by that name."

Jack took a deep breath. It just was not going to be his day. "Thank you."

He walked away, passing a blond woman in a blue jogging suit as he did so.

"Hey!" She called.

He turned. She outstretched her hand. "I'm Samantha Carter. You new?"

He shook his head. "Nope. Just…trying to find somebody."

She nodded. "Well, if I can help…"

"I'm not sure that you can."

"Okay. I guess I'll see you around?"

"Not likely." He said, putting his sunglasses on as he got into the car.

Determining not to let his dreary mood affect her own contentedness, she hurried up to the her apartment.

When she opened the door, she smelled spaghetti and garlic bread. She heard footsteps, and so she reached for the semi-automatic pistol that she kept with her at all times. Before she could cock it, Jonas peeked over from the kitchen. "Hey, babe! Thought I'd bring dinner."

She looked at him, anger starting to boil inside her. "How did you get in here?" She asked, her teeth clenching.

"The doorman. Even helped me with the groceries."

She closed her eyes in frustration. She would inform the doorman that Jonas Hansen was no longer allowed inside the building. Ever. "What are you trying to do, Jonas?"

"Fix dinner."

"Jonas, I gave you your ring back. I don't want to get back together."

"But Sam…baby…"

"I want you to go. Take your spaghetti, your garlic bread, your wine, and whatever…wants…you have and go."

He sauntered up to her, his eyes flashing in anger. "Are you suggesting I only want you back to satisfy my physical desires?"

She took a step away from him, somewhat frightened by the look in his eye. She had seen glimpses of it, but now…

"I loved you and you repay me with this…filth?"

He raised his arm to strike her, but anticipating his move, she blocked his fist from beating her face. He moved in to attack a few more times, each time receiving blocking blows from her. Finally, she saw that the only way this fight was going to end was with a swift and decisive end. She was going to have to stop making defensive strikes, and start making offensive strikes. She hit him in the stomach and as he bent over, the wind knocked out of him, she let her fist sail into his nose. The blood started to drip onto the carpet, but she was breathing so hard that she couldn't have cared less.

"Get out of my house." She said, deathly silently.

Within a minute, he was gone, and she allowed herself to collapse to the ground in tears.