A/N: So sorry for the delay, guys. Writer's block is a b**ch. Thank you for the encouraging reviews and special thanks to KEF for her input :) Please don't hate me for this chapter; I promise Sam/ Pete makes me as sick as the next shipper lol.

CHAPTER 13

Sam quickly ran a hand through her hair to tame a few fly-aways and glanced into her bathroom mirror one last time as the doorbell rang. She had applied light makeup and was dressed casually with jeans and a v-necked red top. 'Not bad for an almost ex-wife,' thought Sam.

Why she should be nervous, Sam didn't know. It wasn't as if this was a date; it wasn't as if she wanted this to be a date. It was just that she'd changed so much since the last time Pete had seen her, and Sam really didn't want to be reminded of the things she had lost.

Things such as how she had given up her military career to play housewife for the last six years. Sure, she still worked in the labs and went on the occasional mission, and she was most of the time content with this arrangement. But sometimes, when Jack or Daniel talked about an exceptionally amazing mission or when SG-1 came tumbling down the ramp in bad shape, Sam really wished that she was still out there with her team. She missed that feeling of being a part of something bigger, of being a team.

Sighing, Sam slipped on her coat and yelled to the sitter that she would be right down and to let himself in. Smiling, she pulled out a dry ball of Play Dough from her pocket. Emily must have been playing hide-and-seek with the dog again. Shaking her head, Sam realized that she would never trade the time she spent with her daughter for the excitement of going off-world.

She made her way down the stairs and greeted Danny. "Thanks for coming on such short notice. Em's in the living room playing with Homer and she's very excited to see you."

He smiled teasingly at his friend, "No problem, Sam. You know I love hanging out with my little troublemaker."

Sam grinned back, "Be careful, Uncle Danny, she could say the same about you."

Daniel rolled his eyes and called, "Emily, come say goodbye to your mother before I have to strangle her."

She playfully nudged him in the shoulder. "Ow! I was only kidding!"

"I know," Sam returned mischievously, "but watch your language, Dr. Jackson."

Daniel's smile suddenly faded, "Sam, I'm glad to see you going out with friends tonight. I was worried-"

She cut him off, not wanting to have this particular conversation now. Daniel had been hovering around her since she'd told him about the separation, and Sam felt as though she barely had breathing room. He meant well, she knew, but she wasn't ready to talk about this yet. And though he'd never admit it, she suspected Daniel was dealing with the feelings he had for Janet. "Thanks, Daniel, but I'm fine, really."

She saw him hesitate, debating whether or not to push her, but Emily walked in before he could say anything. The little girl flung herself into the archeologist's arms. "Uncle Danny!"

"Hey there, princess," he gently set her down on the ground. "Ready to have some fun tonight? I brought a documentary about how bubble gum is made!"

Emily smiled sweetly, "Alright! Can we watch the Simpsons afterward and have some candy?"

Daniel and Emily both looked at Sam with pleading eyes, "Well, okay, but don't stay up too late. And you may have only one piece of candy. You didn't have a very good dinner, young lady."

"Thanks, mom. I love you," Emily hugged her mother and then trotted back to the living room.

Sam addressed Daniel, "Okay, pushover, no matter how adorable she is, no more than three pieces tonight."

He looked mock insulted, "Why, me, a pushover? Never."

They shared a mirthful look and then said goodbye. "I'll be home in a couple of hours. Remember that bedtime's at 9:30."

"I know," he assured. "Have fun."

***

As Sam entered the bar, she was struck by the smell of alcohol, smoke, and fried food that inhabited the place. 'Good ol' O'Malley's,' she thought fondly, 'Same as always.' She quickly spotted Pete and joined him at a booth in the corner.

He rose to meet her, "You look…amazing."

"Uh, thank you," Sam blushed, not a little uncomfortable at the compliment. Pete motioned for her to take a seat, and then he took his. The waitress soon came and jotted down their drink orders.

"So how have you been, Sam? We have a lot of catching up to do."

"Um, pretty good. You?"

"Well, as you know, I received a promotion. I just moved into an apartment not too far from here, actually. Are you still working at the Mountain? Doing-" Pete glanced at her conspiratorially, "deep space radar telemetry?"

Sam giggled, "When Emily was born, I started working just in the labs. Recently, I've taken some time off to be with her, but in a few weeks I'll return part-time."

His eyebrows rose, "Emily? You have a daughter?"

"Oh!" Sam covered her mouth. "I just assumed you knew…"

He smiled encouragingly, "No, that's great! I'm happy for you. How old is she?"

"Just turned six," her face glowed with motherly pride.

"She's-" Pete looked uncomfortable and swallowed, "Uh, she's O'Neill's?"

A shadow passed over Sam's face, but it swiftly past, "Yes."

He realized his mistake and laid a comforting hand over hers, "Oh, gosh, Sam. I'm sorry…I didn't mean to bring him up."

"It's okay; I know you didn't mean anything by it," Her other hand squeezed his reassuringly. "I- I should be able to talk about it."

Pete paused as the waitress returned with their drinks, and then responded as she left.

"Don't rush yourself; you'll talk when you are ready. I know how hard it was for me after my divorce, and there wasn't a child to think about."

Gazing into Pete's sympathetic face, she was reminded of another pair of brown eyes. He had been ecstatic on the day Emily was born; alternately kissing his wife and his daughter. A wistful smile turned the corners of Sam's lips up slightly. That had without a doubt been the happiest day of her entire life. Jack was a wonderful father, and had attempted to make Sam laugh every chance he could while she was in the infirmary.

He had been so patient and kind to her even as she screamed and swore bloody murder on him. She shuddered slightly, reminded of the intense pain that childbirth brought. She had almost broken Jack's hand that day! It had all been worth it, though, when Janet had handed Jack his daughter and Sam saw the look on his face. Fatherly pride and unguarded emotions had swept across his features as he finally placed their new baby on Sam's chest. That was the only time Sam could remember actually crying tears out of utter joy and peace.

"Sam? Earth to Sam!" Pete snapped her out of her daydream and back to reality.

"Sorry," she physically shook her head to disengage from her thoughts, "I was just thinking about Emily. She misses her father deeply."

"I can imagine. I'm sorry things turned out badly for you, Sam. O'Neill's a fool for letting you get away."

She shifted uneasily, wondering if what she was going to say next was wise, "H-he-," Sam struggled to say the words, "he cheated on me. With Janet."

"Janet? As in Janet Fraiser, the doctor?" Sam nodded and gulped a mouthful of her drink. "Jesus, Sam, I'm sorry. I knew that bastard never deserved you."

She gently placed a hand on Pete's arm to calm his anger, even as she silently mulled over his words and discovered, to her amazement, that she didn't feel that way at all, "The funny thing was that after years of working with him and then of marriage, I was sure I knew Jack inside and out. I never would have thought he was capable of having an affair, ya know?"

"People can surprise you, Sam. That's what I thought about my ex-wife, too," Pete felt the need to lighten the mood. "How about we play some pool and drown our sorrows?"

"Ours sorrows? I thought everything was going great for you?"

Pete sucked in a deep breath, "Professionally, everything is. But personally, I just broke up with my girlfriend when I moved here and it really sucks."

Sam determinedly set her empty glass on the table and grabbed the detective's hand. "Alright, Pete. Let's order some real drinks and then I'll beat your ass at pool."

Pete grinned, "Whatever you say, Sam."

***

Jack writhed in agony. His energy was zapped from controlling the machine for too long, but he couldn't disconnect himself. As hard as he tried, the machine would not respond to that one command. If anything, it trudged on and the power continued to grow, forcing Jack to take on new abilities that he wasn't sure he could handle.

Vaguely, he sensed that Janet was concerned for someone and had moved from her position in the corner. 'Is she worried for me?' Jack could not tell, but then he picked up on another set of emotions emanating from somebody else. Pain, hatred, and desperation invaded Jack's mind.

He fought to focus on something else, lest- what he now identified as Ed's- negativity broke him. Instinctively, his thoughts drifted to Sam. She was his angel, his savior, his world. And he had hurt her.

'No,' he reprimanded, 'focus on cheerful thoughts.'

The way she always hogged the covers, despite the fact that by morning they would end up on the floor, while she cuddled into him for warmth. Her shoulder-length blonde hair spread across the pillow and her lazy-morning smile. How her blue eyes lit up every time she techno-babbled.

Automatically, his abilities took over and carried his consciousness to her. Jack could see Sam sitting at O'Malley's, talking with someone he couldn't quite make out. She looked upset for a moment, but then quickly recovered with a smile. Surges of emotion coursed through his whole being as he peaked into Sam's mind. He sensed her contentment and peace laced with…love and bliss?

'This is wrong. How is she so…so happy…without me?'

As if sensing that he was there, she shut off her mind to him. Jack was momentarily puzzled when he caught an overwhelming melancholy envelope Sam before she mentally put a lock on her emotions. Then, he clearly saw with whom she was conversing- Pete.

Jack's face contorted with rage as the machine sensed his displeasure and pulled him back to his body. He sucked in deep breaths and counted to ten, but neither helped to calm him. How 'wonder-cop' had weaseled his way back into Sam's life, he didn't know, but Jack was certainly not pleased about it.