Chapter 13: Apologizing To Dad

Sam drove her dad to the SGC in silence. They hadn't talked at all yesterday on the plane… Or last night at dinner… Or over a hasty breakfast at her house. No easy banter. No sage advice. Nope. Jacob Carter was giving her the silent treatment.

If Sam had still been 16, it might have bothered her. But not now. Her father had lost the ability to intimidate her when she turned 21. Sure, he had still tried to bully her career, all the way up until he had been diagnosed with cancer. But he wasn't very effective at it, especially since he was the one to teach her how to be independent.

Sam could be honest with herself. She did deserve it, his righteous anger. But she was still a bit pissed at him, so she was steadfast in her refusal to apologize. After all, he had invited himself along on a girls' night out. He should have expected that 'things' were going to happen that he didn't really want to know.

That first night out with Jenn, Sam had gotten hammered on a steady supply of Long Island Iced Teas. They talked and bitched about their men all night long and Sam had felt just a bit of her frustration slip. Of course, that night she had learned the disturbing fact that her brother had a toe fetish. Ew! TMI. After tossing her cookies, Sam and Jenn had returned home in a taxi, singing too loudly.

The second night out with Jenn, Sam had gotten plastered on Lynchburg Lemonades. They had run out of things to bitch about halfway through the evening. So they had turned their attention to the flocks of horny men that had swarmed around them all night. After several wild dances, Sam nearly brained her dance partner when he grabbed her ass. Not satisfied with physical abuse, she verbally tore into the unsuspecting sap by listing all his physical and mental failings as an adult, a man, and a human being. Sometime around then Jenn decided that they should probably head home. One taxi ride later, once more singing too loudly, they were greeted by her father's angry face.

But it was the third night that Sam was still angry about. Jacob had not been satisfied that the girls could 'take care of themselves.' Jenn hadn't helped by describing how Sam and nearly killed her dance partner the night before. Jacob insisted on them staying home. When that plot failed because Mark refused to take sides, he insisted on joining them. Perversely, Sam decided on going to the all-male dance review. And that's when the fun really began.

Sam fortified her anger with double shots of Jack Daniels whiskey and proceeded to make life hell for her father. She insisted on sitting right up next to the stage and tipped the strippers frequently to ensure that their table received LOTS of attention. Every time her dad 'suggested' that she slow down on her drinking, she ordered another double shot. Then, in a brilliant flash of insight, she and Jenn started the ABC's of sex with men.

At that point, Sam was sure that her dad had retreated behind Selmak because he actually offered a few suggestions that Sam was sure didn't come from her straight-laced father. Of course, she was so drunk at that point that her memory was just a bit fuzzy. She didn't remember the ride home at all.

Now, approaching the SGC Sam was trying to decide if she should keep her anger or go with her guilt. Her dad was leaving again and she really didn't want to say good-bye angry. It felt too much like tempting fate.

Sam finally split the difference and sighed in resignation, "Fine. I screwed up. Are you happy now?"

"No," Jacob replied quietly. Too quietly. Sam snuck a glance at her father and was surprised to see how tired he looked. Shit!

"Well… I'm sorry. I was out of control," Sam added, her attention no longer totally on the road.

Jacob gave a tired sigh, "No. You weren't. Even blind drunk, you knew exactly what you were doing." He turned towards her in the seat, "I'm sorry I didn't trust you."

Sam's anger dissipated in a rush. He was apologizing? What? "Dad?"

Jacob gave her a sad smile, "I shouldn't have interfered. You needed to grieve in your own way. I pushed you and I was wrong. I'm sorry. Can you ever forgive me?"

"Dad, of course you're forgiven. I… I'm sorry, too. I was just so angry and frustrated. Please don't be mad," Sam pleaded.

"I'm not upset, Sam. I found the evening… 'enlightening.' Of course, now I feel just a bit sorry for all those goa'uld out there. I had no idea that women could be so vicious," Jacob chuckled. "Besides, I'm really mad at Selmak."

Sam grinned, happy for the first time in days, "For the ABC's?"

Jacob's eyes took on an angry glint, "Oh yeah. That and more."

"More?" Sam asked.

"Yeah, she had a running commentary on the strippers," Jacob replied blandly.

Sam giggled, "Enlightening, huh?"

"Oh, yeah," Jacob sighed.

Later, when Sam hugged her dad good-bye, she knew that her anger at him was gone and she would once again miss him. Fate wasn't tempted and she had no regrets. Now, if she could just focus on her work.

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