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Chapter 17

- P3X-747, City of Largos

Sam was out of bed. She was limping around outside, until she found someone from SG-8.

'Hey, you, Collins, any word from SG-1 yet?'
'No ma'am, I'm sorry. Shouldn't you be in bed, Major?'
'I can't just sit and do nothing, Lieutenant.' She answered, irritated.

Collins looked taken aback by her strong response.

'I'm sorry,' Sam apologized.
'But it's so frustrating…'
'I understand ma'am. When we hear anything, you'll be the first to know.'

-----

Feeling useless, Sam walked around until she found herself by the edge of the lake.
She sat down and enjoyed the view of the grass surrounding the water, as far as the eye could see.

'May I join you?' She heard Lana's voice ask.
'Of course.'

Lana sat down beside her.

'It kills me, not being able to help them. To sit here, feeling useless. Waiting for them to come back…' Sam said.

Lana said nothing.

'I know something went wrong. I know Logan got shot. What if they're not able to get him out? What if something happens to them?'

Lana still didn't reply.

'And he left his damned jacket with me! If he hadn't, if he'd just worn it…'

She sighed. She was wearing Logan's jacket. She had put it on before she'd gone outside.
She buried her head in her hands as the frustration reached its peak.

What is wrong with me? She thought. We have been through worse, and everything always turns out fine. She never worried like she did now.

I don't know him. I've met him only days ago. It's not normal to care so much for him.

Lana placed a hand on her shoulder.

'I'm sure everything will be fine, Samantha.'

Then, Lieutenant Collins called to her over the radio:

'Major Carter? They're back, ma'am…'

-----

Lana and Sam walked back to the houses.

There was a lot of commotion around the care-centre. She could see SG-15 walking outside as members of SG-8 hurried inside.

They looked beat.

'What happened?' She asked the first person she could grab. It was Sergeant Monroe.
'We brought Colonel Evans back, ma'am. He's severely injured.' She responded.

Sam released her and went inside.

Logan was on the bed, lying on his stomach, unconscious. People were working on his back, but she couldn't see what was wrong. And the rest of her team was nowhere to be seen.

Meanwhile, Lana and another woman from Largos began cleaning the wound on Logan's calf.

'Alright, let's wake him up.' Captain Pierce instructed.

Sergeant Talor injected something in Logan's neck.
A moment later, his eyes opened, and he started to rise. Pierce pushed him back gently.

'Relax Colonel. We are giving you an anaesthetic. Lay back, let us do our job.'

Sam moved closer until she saw the burn.

'Oh my God.' She whispered.

Pierce turned around.

'Major, no offence, but you'd better leave.'

Sam turned around and walked outside. There she saw Major Robins.

'Tanya! What happened? Where are Colonel O'Neill and the others?'
'Sam… the Goa'uld tortured Colonel Evans. We got him here as fast as we could. SG-1 stayed behind to evaluate the scene after the explosions. We blew up the ships.'
'When will they get back?'
'I don't know.'

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Sam was still sitting by the lake. It was just about to get dark. SG-1 wasn't back yet.
The camp-fires had been lit. SG's 8 and 15 were sitting with the villagers preparing dinner, but she wasn't hungry.
She heard footsteps behind her and figured it was one of the villagers, telling her she should join them.
She looked up when he sat down beside her.

'Logan.'
'Hi, Sam.'

He looked terrible.
The cut in his forehead. A black eye. Several cuts and bruises in his face.
He was wearing a black t-shirt that hid the mark on his back.
It was tight around his arms and chest, and even in the dark she saw his fit body…

Wait. Don't go there.

'How… how are you?'

He smiled.

'Oh, I'm fine…'

She stared at him.

'Seriously. I'm on painkillers. Don't feel a thing. The world is one big happy place.'

Sam smiled.

'How about you? Aren't you cold?'

She pulled his jacket tighter around her.

'Nope. I'm fine.'
'Wanna go back and get something to eat?'
'I'd rather sit here for a while.'
'Yeah…' he said.
'Me too.'

They were silent for a moment.

'So, guess not how you expected your first off-world mission to be like.'.

Logan started laughing.

'Oh, aw, stop, don't make me laugh.' He coughed.
'No, definitely not.'
'I'm glad you're alright. Sort of.' Sam looked at him.
'I was really worried.'
'Really worried?'
'Yeah.'
'Well, I'm here now. Alive and kicking. Well, not sure about the kicking-part, though.'

They sat there for another while, until Sam stood up.

'You know what; I am starting to get hungry.'
'Good, cause I'm actually starving.'

Logan reached out for her.

'Do you mind? My muscles are pretty much locked in position.'

Sam took his hand and helped him up. When he stood, she placed her arm around his waist to support him. He was close.
His body was against hers, and it was so tempting to press herself against him even closer.

She looked up, into his eyes, and saw him looking back at her.
His arms were around her as well. No longer just for support.

Nothing can come of this...

Despite herself, she moved her arms to his neck and got closer
She pulled him towards her until they were face to face. His grey eyes locked into hers, a questioning look on his face.
She parted her lips slightly and pressed them against his.

By the edge of the lake, with the sky brightly coloured by the approaching sun-set, they kissed.