Letting go of her and getting in that truck was the hardest thing. She stood watching him, a sad smile on her face, fingers caressing her lips, and something shining in her eyes he was still trying to place.
He loved her. There was no doubt about that. He needed her—like he needed to breathe. He wanted her. Well, that certainly was never the problem. He trusted her…in the field, with his life. But to not hurt his friends? To make good decisions? To not abuse her power over him? He wasn't sure. He couldn't trust her judgment like he once had—and for him, that was something that wasn't easily remedied.
He felt like an ass, but he needed to do this for himself. He needed to know. If he could make it through this month, then if she ever decided to leave—maybe he could survive that. Maybe.
-- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- --
The next month was the slowest of her life. Einstein must have been right with that whole time being relative—She just didn't realize it was meant for social situations as well.
He'd left on the 2nd. That meant she had 31 days without him. After about 15, she gave up trying to not find out anything and went to ask Daniel if he'd talked to him. Finding a nonchalant way to bring him up however, was not an easy task.
Daniel was in his lab translating text and muttering curses at the woman lying across his lab table. She looked to be asleep—not that Sam could blame her, watching Daniel wasn't the most riveting of activities.
-- -- -- -- -- --
It had only taken him a day to forgive her. After her two week seclusion, he showed up on her doorstep and asked to know what happened.
After hearing her explanation he felt pity for her, but needed to let her know what she had done to him.
They embraced after a ten minute rant that allowed Daniel to get out all his issues, and she apologized profusely. Then they worked on falling back into that brother and sister role that had always been special to them.
"Hey, Daniel."
His head popped up from the artifact, and a smile came to his face "Sam, how are you?"
"Good, I just needed to ask you something."
"Shoot."
She hesitated long enough to make him look back up at her from the tablet. When he saw tears in her eyes he knew what this was about.
"How is he Daniel?"
Silence greeted her as he looked back down at the tablet.
"Sam, you know I can't tell you that. Please don't ask me."
-- -- -- -- -- -- - -- -- -
Washington sucked. It beyond sucked.
He was alone. All he thought about everyday was Carter, and to top it all off his secretary—twenty-two year old secretary—was shameless.
Not a good combination for a man trying to get over a woman.
This month was long. It was the thirty-first, and in two days his self-imposed Carter ban would be over.
He didn't know what to do about it. He couldn't just call her. He felt horrible about putting her through this, guilty about it really, and how to get her back was something he had been pondering the past week.
The only thing he'd learned was that a month without Carter was a month he'd rather have to do over. He couldn't live without her, that was apparent, so he had no choice but to trust her. Something that came easier to him everyday they were apart.
He started to formulate a plan.
A/N A plan! Yay, Jack! Ok, hoped you liked it...Conclusion coming in the next chapter or two…