A/N: This chapter has a TW for domestic violence.
Sam waited as Jack and Teal'c cleared her house. Daniel sat in the back of Jack's crew cab, quietly watching for their friends to reappear.
All clear. Jack gave the hand signal from the front porch a few minutes later. Could it really be this simple, Sam hoped as she accepted Daniel's help to exit the truck. This would all be so much easier if she could use crutches, but with her wrist being sprained, they'd proved impossible to use.
Jack met them halfway to the door; his face pinched in frustration. "Shanahan didn't go quietly," Jack sighed. "The kitchen's a mess."
Sam nodded, hoping he couldn't see how much that news affected her.
"Teal'c and I will clean it up," Daniel gave her shoulders a light squeeze. "Don't worry."
"Thanks," she sighed and squared her shoulders. Time to get this over with.
"You all right?" Jack asked, helping her up onto the porch.
"Yes," she answered, forcing a smile she knew he didn't believe.
"There's some water damage on the floor in the bedroom," he warned her. "Not much, but there'll always be a dark spot until we sand down the wood."
"Okay," she said quietly. She hated that he knew what had happened and had seen the evidence. It made her feel fragile and weak in the eyes of someone she'd always strived to impress.
Entering the bedroom was surreal. It looked…normal. Except for the water stain by the bed, it seemed as if nothing of consequence had even transpired.
"You made the bed?" She asked, seeing her bright blue comforter.
"You're going to need a new mattress," Jack hedged. "I'll take you shopping for one as soon as you feel up to it."
Sam nodded stiffly. Yes, the water would have ruined it. She hadn't thought of that.
"Sam. Jack," Daniel called from the kitchen. "We're gonna need some more trash bags. It's a mess in here.
"I'm out," Sam called back with a sigh. She'd planned to go shopping, but then the Super Soldier attacked and, well, she hadn't gone in over two weeks.
"No problem," Daniel popped his head into the bedroom, unaware of the turmoil rolling through Sam. "I'll pop down to the Dollar General. Keys?" He caught the truck keys that Jack tossed his way.
"You want me to ask T to pack your bag?" Jack offered once Daniel had taken off.
"Do you think he'd mind?" Sam asked, feeling completely useless. "I hate asking, but…" she trailed off.
"You should be off that leg anyway," Jack filled in the silence.
After sending Teal'c to complete the task Sam was too rattled to do, Jack settled her on the couch. He handed her the TV remote with the order to call if she needed anything, then went to change the locks. Since the November air was beyond cold, he headed toward the backdoor, not wanting to needlessly freeze Sam.
After flipping through a couple of channels, she finally settled for a nature documentary on PBS. As she listened to the narrator's monotone voice, the effects from her latest pain pill kicked in, making her eyelids grow heavy. At the sound of the front door opening, she rallied enough to call to Daniel without opening her eyes.
"Babe, I was so worried," Pete's voice made Sam's eyes snap open. He stood in front of the television looking at her with fake concern through a pair of mirrored sunglasses.
"Get out," Sam's voice was low, hoarse from the anger and panic filling her.
"Come on, Babe, you don't mean that," Pete knelt down, reaching for one of her hands.
"Don't touch me," Sam jerked away. A dark scowl formed on his face, making her anger surge. How dare he come at her in her own space. At the same time, she fought against the alarm caused by her vulnerable position. With a damaged leg and wrist, her defense options were limited.
"Carter?" Jack's voice called from the back of the house, the sound of his footsteps sending a wave of relief through Sam.
"I want you to leave," She ordered. "Now!"
"What is he doing here?" Pete grasped her injured wrist tightly, causing her to grunt at the pain.
"Let go of me," Sam growled. Using her good leg, she shoved him backward but he held onto her wrist to maintain his balance. The sharp tug made her grimace.
"Let her go," Jack ordered, stalking right up to Pete and grasping him by the back of the neck. Jack twisted the hand holding onto Sam, causing Pete to yelp in pain. The man had no choice except to release her as Jack jerked him toward the front door.
With more effort than necessary, Jack shoved the man from the house. Daniel jumped out of the way, barely managing to avoid Pete's lumbering body staggering down the steps.
"You've just assaulted a police officer!" Pete bellowed, barely staying on his feet.
Jack crossed his arms over his chest and said nothing.
"And you attacked an Air Force officer! You no good, rotten son of a—"
"Daniel!" Jack barked, cutting off the archeologist's tirade before focusing on Pete. "Leave, Shanahan. Now."
"Not until I talk to Sam," Pete growled. "Baby, please!" He tried to yell around Jack.
"Do you require assistance, O'Neill?" Teal'c asked as he joined them outside. Standing shoulder-to-shoulder, the three men of SG-1 formed an impenetrable wall of muscle separating Pete from the house.
"No, T. Just taking out the trash," Jack said, glaring at the man below.
"Come on, Babe," Pete whined, trying a different tactic. "I love you! Don't let them do this to us!"
Sam hobbled to the door and wedged herself between Daniel and Teal'c. Both men automatically moved to make room for her as all four members of SG-1 stared down at Pete from the porch. Daniel's arm wrapped around her waist, taking as much weight off of her injured leg as possible.
"You need to leave," she ordered. "Or I will call the cops." She glared at him, daring him to call her bluff.
"You bitch! After everything I gave up for you," Pete sneered. "I'll ruin you! I'll make sure everyone knows you're spreading your legs for—"
Jack moved with lightning speed. One second he was beside Daniel and the next he had Pete by the throat. The man's eyes bulged behind his sunglasses as Jack walked him backwards and pinned him against his car.
"You are going to leave, Shanahan," Jack said with deceptive calmness. "You are going to get in your car and never look back." He released him suddenly, stepping back as Pete crumpled into a heap at his feet.
"This isn't over," Pete gasped, staggering upright. Wrenching the car door open he scrambled inside. As soon as his car was out of sight, Sam's leg crumpled. Throwing her arm around Teal'c, she allowed him and Daniel to help her back inside.
"I'm sorry, Carter," Jack let out a deep sigh once she was back on the couch. "I never should have left you alone."
"I was sitting on my own couch," she snapped. "You didn't know Pete would show up like that. Besides, I wasn't alone." She looked at each of her teammates, thankful for their support. Unfortunately, each one wore the same tense and guilty expression. Them feeling responsible for what had just happened was unacceptable to her.
"Well?" She arched an eyebrow at them. "My house isn't going to fix and clean itself, is it?"
Daniel chuckled while Teal'c simply smiled and bowed his head. Jack, however, continued to frown.
"Jack, stop," she reached forward and grasped his hand. "Pete's gone. I'm fine."
"You're right," he gave her a forced half-smile, but she could tell he wasn't going to let it go that easily.
Post Note: I believe I forgot to give the chapter count for this story. It's 32 total chapters in length and just over 50k words.