Another chapter! How exciting! Things are slowly starting to pick up. And just to be nice, there's some Sam/Jack fluff in this chapter. Enjoy!
Elphie Muse: Is it just me, or are these A/Ns getting shorter?
They're getting shorter. Mostly because I don't have all that much to say...for now...
Elphie Muse:whisper: I've hidden the sugar from the author so that reader's can be spared her insanity.
But insanity is fun...now where's the sugar?
:Elphie Muse runs away:
Still not mine...probably never will be...sigh...
Sam had her eyes closed as the sun shone down on her in through the tops of the trees. A gentle wind was blowing through the forest in Yellowstone. Lakota shoved his head against Sam's leg, eager to run in the forest.
"Ready to go?" Sam asked her friends.
"We're just waiting for one more person," Cameron said.
"Who?" Sam asked.
"Me," a voice answered.
Sam turned and her eyes widened as her heart began thudding rapidly in her chest. "S…sir…" she stammered.
Major General Jack O'Neill grinned at Sam, finally able to believe that she was back and safe. "Carter. Next time you get lost, get lost somewhere where we can find you," he teased.
Sam smiled. "I'll keep that in mind sir."
"Who's your furry friend?" Jack inquired.
"Gray Lakota," Sam said. "Be careful though. Male wolves are a bit… possessive," she warned.
"Well, I did know you first," Jack returned, unable to stop looking at Sam. He couldn't believe that they had finally found Sam after three years of unofficial searching. He let his eyes look Sam over. He immediately saw that she was more tan and toned than she had been when she went missing. She was dressed in a pair of camouflaged pants and a jacket. Several daggers hung from her belt and a long, thing black bag rested diagonally across her chest. Jack had the feeling that there was at least a sword in that bag, if not something else as well.
"So you're the infamous Jack O'Neill," Gamon said.
"Infamous?" Jack repeated, glancing at Sam who was suddenly blushing. He watched as she turned away, a faint smile on his face.
Wolfwalker, I can smell your friend, Lakota sent.
"Where?" Sam asked aloud, earning a stare from Jack.
I will show you, the Gray One replied. Lakota took off into the forest. Sam ran after him, Gamon following several feet behind. The others fell instep behind Gamon.
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Sam halted in a semi-large clearing, the others coming to a stop in the clearing a few moments later. "Carter…" Jack wheezed, "How can you not be out of breath?"
Sam grinned, a twinkle in her eye. "You must be getting old then. Lakota and I are up for another several miles."
"Curse of the wolfwalkers my friend," Gamon said. "Never try to outpace or out-track them." He paused for several moments. "Or challenge one to ride a dnu."
Jack arched a brow while Sam hid a grin. "I take it you lost that challenge," Jack said to Gamon.
The older man nodded. "Damn gray faced mutt," he muttered.
Jack walked over to Sam who had sat down on a rock and was currently picking dirt off of Lakota's gray fur. "So when do you have to go back to Asengard or whatever it's called?" he asked.
Sam shrugged. "Not really sure. Why do you ask?"
Jack rubbed the back of his neck. "I was…I dunno…figuring to go with you…" he murmured.
She looked at him, a brow arched. "Why, if I may ask?"
He glared at her. "You like tormenting me, don't you?"
She giggled. "Maybe." Lakota shoved his head under her hand and she absently began scratching him behind his ears.
"Looks like he has you trained," Jack teased.
As Sam opened her mouth to give him a retort, Lakota's head whipped around, his hackles raised as a low growl issued from his throat. Sam was immediately on her feet, a dagger in hand. Jack was stunned at how fast and fluid Sam moved.
Sam motioned for the others to remain where they were and slipped into the nearby trees with Lakota. She circled around the clearing, barely making a sound. As she rounded a tree, she saw a figure watching her friends through a bush. Next to the figure was a young canine looking animal.
Let them know we're here Gray One, Sam sent to Lakota. The wolf let out a growl, startling the two. "Don't move," Sam ordered, her eyes slightly unfocused. She allowed herself to smell what Lakota smelled from the two.
The figure growled at Sam, a wild look in their brown eyes. The canine looking animal was actually a wolf yearling. Lakota growled at the younger wolf. The younger wolf laid her ears back and got down on her belly while trying to lick the underside of Lakota's muzzle.
"It's all right Janet," Sam said softly, putting the dagger away. "No one's going to hurt you."
The wildness in Janet's eyes slowly faded as recognition dawned on her face. "S…Sam?" she asked, her voice slightly hoarse.
The blonde wolfwalker nodded. "It's me. I'm back."
"You're never going to believe what happened to me," Janet said quietly.
Sam grinned. "Let me guess. You've been able to talk with wolves and actually bonded with one?"
Janet looked at her old friend. "How did you…?"
"This is my partner, Gray Lakota," Sam said, nodding towards the large male wolf. "Who's your friend?"
"Gray Mika," Janet said. "How did you…" she began.
"Questions later. Right now we need to let the others know that neither of us are dead," Sam said.
Jack looked up from his position on the rock and watched. Several moments later Sam and Janet emerged from the trees with two wolves trotting beside them. He grinned jauntily at the two women.
"What's up Doc?" he directed at Janet.
The petite doctor glared at him. "If I had a needle sir, you'd be the first to know," she retorted, a smile on her face.
"Napoleonic power monger," he chuckled, hugging her. "Nice to see you though. Next time, leave a forwarding address."
"It is indeed good to see you again Doctor Fraiser," Teal'c said.
"Sorry I left so suddenly, but…I just…" she trailed off, trying to find the right words to say to her friends.
"Felt drawn somewhere else?" Sam supplied.
Janet nodded. "I never meant to be gone for so long though. It just…happened."
"In any case, you're back," Daniel said.
Janet looked at Gamon. "I don't think we've met," she said.
"We haven't wolfwalker," he said. "Gamon neBentar at your service."
Janet frowned. "Wolfwalker?" she repeated.
Sam nodded. "That's what a person is called when they can speak with wolves. I have a lot to fill you in on…and apparently train you to know."
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Several hours later Janet was staring at her blonde friend in amazement. "That's…wow…" Janet finally said.
Sam nodded. "Tell me about it. So you feel up to coming back to the SGC?"
Janet nodded. "I feel like I need to, though…I don't….I don't think I'll be able to stay there." She shrugged, unable to express what she meant.
Sam looked thoughtful. "Maybe you could help out on Asengard," she suggested.
Gamon looked at Sam. "You talking about helping Dion and the wolves?"
The blonde wolfwalker nodded. "Janet's experience in medicine here might help Dion find a cure for the disease the Aiuven gave the wolves."
"Dion?" Janet repeated.
Sam nodded. "She's a Healer on Asengard who taught me about being a wolfwalker," she said. She smiled. "You'd like her."
"Let me guess, she's a Napoleonic power monger too," Jack interjected.
"With a very large wolf," Sam said. "But she's pretty passionate about what she does and everything."
"So, we crash here for the night then we head back to the SGC," Jack said, clapping his hands together.
Lakota let out a small whine and rested his head on Sam's leg. "What's with him?" Janet asked.
"Oh, he doesn't like being underground," Sam replied, rubbing the top of the wolf's head. "He's still a big pup."
"So…what's for dinner?" Vala asked. "More of your horrible dried out military food?" she inquired.
Sam grinned. "Not if I have anything to say about it."
"Uh Carter, this is a National Park. No hunting," Jack said.
"I know," Sam said. She dug through her pack and pulled out dried out vegetables. "Anyone got a pot for soup?" The others grinned and they started to set up for a better dinner than just MREs.
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Sam leaned against a tree, the cool night air blowing through her face. Her eyes were closed and a peaceful smile was on her face. She didn't even jump in surprise when Jack walked up to her, barely making a sound.
"Jack," Sam said softly.
Jack was surprised that Sam knew he was there, but did his best not to let it show. "Jack now, huh?" he asked.
Sam shrugged. "Well…even if I am still in the military, we are in different chains of commands now. So there's no reason for us to not be together."
Jack smiled. "True. But in any case, I am retiring."
She turned and looked at him. "Is that wise?" she asked.
He shrugged. "Hammond can always come back and fill the spot. Besides, I lost you once. I'll be damned if I let it happen again."
Sam felt his strong arms wrap around her and she leaned into him, resting her head on his chest. "I missed you," she murmured.
"So did I," he replied.
She looked up into his soft brown eyes and smiled. "So…when were you going to tell me you could hear the wolves?" she asked.
He arched a brow at her. "What?"
She rolled her blue eyes. "Lakota told me that if he concentrates, he can faintly hear your voice in the packsong."
Jack smiled. "So…I guess I'll have to be careful in what I think then, won't I?"
Sam grinned mischievously. "I guess you will…Jack." She leaned up and kissed him passionately, preventing him from saying anything else.
So? Enjoyable? Review to let me know. I hope everyone reviews. Those who continue to review will get more pudding and Jell-O...but not blue because that belongs to Sam...and depriving Sam of blue Jell-O is dangerous...for those around her...
Elphie Muse: You could compare it to depriving Daniel of coffee...
Or Sam of coffee...moving on...please review. It'll make me happy.