Two Days Before

Samantha Carter was walking down the grey halls of the SGC dreading the event that was about to take place. Pete was coming to the base to see her but she hadn't told him that he would in fact be meeting her father Jacob. 6 years ago General Jacob Carter had been diagnosed with cancer and was due to die, however, because of his daughters work he was saved and blended with a Tok'Ra symbiote. However, symbiote or no symbiote Jacob was an intimidating person to meet hence why she was nervous.

She turned the last corner and was greeted by the smiling face of her fiancée 's Pete Shanahan. They said their usual greetings and set off down the corridors of the SGC, Pete acting somewhat like an over excited child. "This is so exciting, so what's the big surprise?" he asked eager to find out where he was being lead. "You'll see" was the only answer she could really give him still apprehensive about the meeting that would be taking place any minute. " Are we going through the stargate? I mean what planet are we going to?" this made Sam smile at the sheer naivety of this last statement. Obviously they weren't going through the stargate, I mean does he think we let just anyone go through? Does he not think about the fact that this is a 'TOP SECRET' government operation? She answers chuckling slightly " No you don't get to go through the stargate." At first Pete looks slightly disappointed but then retaliates "Ok – I'm a little disappointed. Still full security clearance and an all access pass to the SGC? This must be big!" They're almost there. "Oh yeh its big" she manages to reply then she takes a deep breath in and opens the door to the VIP quarters.

Jacob Carter turns round and is faced with his daughter and what must be his future son-in-law. He could see earlier that Sam was nervous as she was fidgeting as he spoke to her but it looked as if those nerves where reaching breaking point. Sam took another deep breath and said as clearly as she could. "Pete Shanahan – Jacob Carter. Dad this is Pete". Jacob could see the nerves slightly lessen as she finished the introduction. Pete just stares at Jacob and finally says "Dad!", 'Oh not yet sonny' Jacob thought to himself. Jacob is known for speaking his mind so he adds in "Not quite yet. You actually have to marry my daughter before you can call me that." Sam shoots her dad a warning look and he looks at Pete his eyebrow slightly raised. "I was just…I meant duh, stammer, stammer! Its an honour to met you sir" Pete finally manages to say and takes Jacobs hand to shake.

Pete looks at Sam and asks smiling "Why didn't you tell me?" Sam replies "I didn't want you to be nervous". "D…I wouldn't, I, I've been dying to meet you" he stumbles looking at Jacob with such polite sincerity. " I think it was Sam that was nervous" Jacob interjects smiling at Sam who grimaces and returns with a tight smile. Pete kept the conversation alive by adding "How did not telling me help?" a puzzled smile on his slightly chubby face. "It didn't" she replied honestly her tight smile still playing on her lips, it was then replaced by a slightly nervous one.

Jacob was, however, loving the situation and found his daughters behaviour and reactions rather amusing. They stood there smiling at each other for some time till Pete started talking again. "This is great!" he had a huge smile on his face, Sam's smile had thawed a bit into a more natural one but it quickly changed when Pete turned to her father and said "So do you really have one of those things in your head?". Sam wanted to put her face in her hands but she resisted the urge the tight smile back on her face after bowing her head in shame for a few seconds. Jacob replied, however, "If by "one of those things" you mean a two thousand year old Tok'Ra symbiote, yes". And like a total idiot Pete grinned like the cheshire cat and replied rather loudly "Seriously! Go on!" he even started laughing "that has to freak you right out sometimes! Its weird!" Sam just wanted to curl into a ball and die!

Jacob cocked his head slightly and looked at his daughter as if to say 'You've got to be kidding me!' which then turned into 'Are you sure you want to marry this? Look. All Sam could do was smile back nervously.

After some slightly more animated conversations about the wedding Pete left much to the relief of Major Carter and to the delight of her father. They head down to the commissary. Sam has noticed something isn't right Pete left two hours ago and her dad hasn't said a word since, so she asks and points this out. "I have so" he replies back to this accusation. Sam gives her dad an exasperated look and then looks at him and says, "He seems nice!" and as usual he steps in "I believe that's three words". She knows what he's thinking so she looks at him and replies with total sincerity and seriousness in her voice "I'm gonna mary him".

It takes a while for Jacob to reply and Sam can see quite clearly he is carefully thinking about how to respond. " I know. I just met him – what do you want me to say?" Usually at this point he would tell his daughter exactly what he thought of him. Tell her that he isn't anywhere near good enough for her, but he doesn't, because he understands. "I know how happy he makes you – that's all that matters to me". He put as much emphasis on that last sentence as he could because it was true. That's all he had ever wanted, for her to be happy. But in his head he still wasn't convinced…not yet.

Sam presses the matter saying that that can't just be it but Jacob claims he is only tired and heads off to bed leaving Sam alone in the Commissary. Carter stays just staring at her coffee mug swirling around the dregs of the liquid that had filled it

Jack was feeling hungry so he made his way to the commissary. He hadn't been able to get away from his office all day. As he walked in he automatically noticed Sam sitting there alone. He smiled to himself, she had that frown on her face that meant she was thinking about something hard. He approached her and said "Carter" in a sing-song voice.

That voice brought her out of her trance and she looked up into the eyes of Jack, and for the first time that day a sincere smile appeared on her face.

A/N : LuSo thank you for the review. Don't worry that isn't it yet there are chapters.

Enjoy!