A/N: Welcome back to Threads, Integrated. It's been a while since my last post, sorry for the wait. I was thinking of writing a chapter on Sam and Pete's breakup, but nothing seems to come to me, and seeing as I've had this chapter written for a while now, I thought I'd post it. If I think of anything substantial for a chapter on 'the breakup' I may add it later. Also, this story ends in a fairly open manner - it has no clear conclusion. This is purposeful as it leaves the episode Threads, for the most part, unchanged.

Thanks very much for your reviews, they are greatly appreciated. If you're reading this story and haven't yet reviewed, please do - it brings warmth to a tired author's heart! Thank you all for taking the time to read this story

Chapter 4

Sam re-baited the small silver hook and threw her line back into the pond. An easy breeze brushed past, causing her hair to fluff lightly in the wind. She took in a deep breath and her lungs filled with fresh air. It certainly was nice out here.

She was amazed that she could feel so peaceful after so many days of anxiety and restlessness. She liked to think that it was all because of Daniel's return, but a small part of her knew that a completely different weight had also lifted off her chest, one that was most commonly referred to as Pete Shanahan. Sam peered down at her now naked ring-finger and sighed. Another door closed. She looked over to her co and wondered if it would ever be possible to open that window.

Jack obviously noticed her stare because he turned around on his seat to face her.

"Having fun?" he asked.

"Yes sir," she replied with genuine and fairly surprised smile. She had imagined herself hating this experience; too many flies, not nearly enough to do, and of course the ever-uncomfortable presence of Jack O'Neill out of uniform. But none of those things seemed to matter. She was quite used to the flies by now, for once she was grateful for the relaxation the cabin had thrust upon her, and while apprehensive, she wasn't nearly as uncomfortable around Jack as she had thought she'd be - a thought which made her smile widen. Jack smiled back; he hadn't seen that smile surface in quite some time. He took a few moments just to look at her. She seemed so at peace out here; so much so that he shook his head in disbelief that she had always refused his offers to come here. But, why dwell in the past?

"So I was thinking of getting a dog," he said, once he had realised just how long he had been looking at her.

"Oh?" asked Sam, curiously.

"Well, I'm not going off-world anymore and I gotta have something to do." He said with a shrug.

"Game boy wearing thin on you, sir?" Sam asked, eyes wide with mock innocence.

"Well, a man's gotta grow up sometime," Jack answered, his voice layered with bravado.

"I'll believe that when I see it," Sam replied in jest, rolling her eyes towards her co, who looked as though he was thoroughly enjoying this moment of banter. His grin turned into a frown that Sam had always understood to be an insubordination warning and she giggled. "Sir," she added cheekily and he flashed her a grin.

"So what kind of dog are you going to get?" Sam asked, steering back to the topic at hand.

"Well, I was thinking a Labrador," Jack replied. "Yappy dogs annoy the crap out of me," he added, to which Sam nodded in agreement. "Yeah, female Labrador. Jess, I'd call her."

Sam snapped her towards him, insides buzzing with anticipation. She couldn't believe it.

"Jess?" she asked incredulously.

"Yeah," said Jack, a proud smile on his face. "I've always liked that name."

Sam continued to stare at him in disbelief. This was far too much of a coincidence. How on earth could her subconscious have known that? Realising that her dumbstruck appearance had not gone unnoticed, she cleared her throat and attained a more conversational expression.

"Not Toto?" she asked, silently applauding her self for such an appropriate comeback.

Jack looked back at her thoughtfully. "You know, I hadn't thought of that," he said. "You don't like Jess?" he asked, concerned.

Sam had to laugh to herself. "No, I love Jess, believe me," she said, turning back to face the pond, "But maybe you should…hold onto it for a while." She could feel her face going slightly red and consumed herself with her fishing line, no longer able to control the grin that was spreading across her face.

Jack looked at her, both puzzled and amused. She looked very embarrassed by what she had said, and yet quite satisfied as well. He returned his attention back to his fishing line with an overwhelming feeling that something had just gone very right.

fin