Sam smiled at the mailman as he approached her apartment building. He was probably a few years younger than her father had been before he died, and was a friendly and pleasant man. The day she had arrived home with a new TV stand, struggling to get it in the door, he had picked up the one end of the box and helped her up three flights of stairs. Ever since, she always made a point to chat with him when she saw him. Which she admitted, wasn't very often. He only stopped for a quick hello and she strolled leisurely towards the local coffee shop before heading to the garage. Her car had been broken into and she'd had to get the window fixed. Fortunately, there was a good mechanic less than half an hour away from her house, and the walk would do her good. While still healthy, she was not as physically fit as she had been when she was on SG-1. She wanted to get back into peak condition, but had buried herself in her work instead. After thanking and paying the mechanic, she drove to work, glad the weekend started tomorrow. This week had been hectic with a new assistant to train, and all the papers to sign for her lawyer. Her plans for her days off included some shopping, cleaning, and plenty of sleeping. She walked into her lab feeling a bounce in her step.

"Hey. You get your car back?" A tall redheaded man in a ridiculously small lab coat, turned to greet her.

"Yes."

"You fill out a police report?"

"Nah. They didn't take anything, so why bother."

"Where's Vikki? I thought she was supposed to be training with you today?"

"She's got an appointment this morning. She'll be in later. Why do you ask Scott?"

She loved to tease this man. He was even tempered, yet blushed at the slightest embarrassing comment, gesture or sight. Just as he was doing now. Sam grinned. Scott was on loan for the day to help her with the final tests, and now she couldn't wait for her new assistant to arrive. Making the most of her time before Vikki arrived, she pulled on her lab coat and joined Scott at the workbench.

"She's single you know."

"Oh."

"You should invite her out to the summer BBQ."

"Yeah, maybe."

"If you don't, someone else will."

"What about you? Bringing anyone?"

"No."

"No one special?"

"No."

"Really? I find that hard to believe."

"There was someone once."

"What happened?"

"Shit."

"There's something wrong?"

"No, shit happened."

"Ah."

Scott got the hint and dropped the subject. Had he been a few years older, he wouldn't mind going out with her. Several of the guys already had asked and received a thank you for asking, yet firm no. He glanced at Sam who had returned to her work, concentrating deeply. The conversation changed to a discussion over the formula they were testing and the previous conversation was forgotten.

Sitting in front of her TV, a glass of wine in her hand, Sam's mind wandered down memory lane. She remembered the look on Pete's face when she had told him to leave. At first he had looked shocked, then the expression had quickly turned to one of fury. She had been out of her bed for only a day, and had known immediately what she had to do. Pete hadn't denied it, but turned the blame onto her. He accused her of loving another and driving him into the arms of a new woman. When she had laughed at him, he pulled out the envelope addressed to O'Neill. She could see clearly that it had been opened, and knew he had read it. He had taunted her about the death of her former friend, and team mate. When he commented that if she hadn't seen that letter, she wouldn't have lost their baby, she had lost it. Before she registered what she was doing, her fist landed on his face. Pete, too shocked to react, had fallen back onto the wall, knocking their wedding picture onto the floor, and smashing the glass. He had left that night. Her lawyer advised her to expect some sort of police investigation, but nothing happened. The house and belongings were sold and she had moved to Washington D.C. to start anew. She had changed her name back to Carter as soon as she could. She wanted everyone in D.C. to know her as Dr. Carter. The divorce had finalized that week, and she felt incredibly relieved. The only other time she had seen her ex-husband without lawyers around, he had come to her apartment in Trenton, begging forgiveness. She knew she had to leave the city then and never wanted to see him again. A friend at the university had told her about a job in D.C. doing research with chemicals. Not being a chemist, she hadn't expected to get it, but the chemicals were being developed for so many uses, so a physicist on board never hurt. Or so they told her when they hired her. Now she oversaw one of the projects and had a small team working with her. The current project was a new kind of fuel for planes the government wanted. Not ever seeing the official request, she couldn't help but wonder if this new fuel was being designed for an alien/ human invented craft. Sighing, she wandered over to her computer and checked her email. There was one from Mark, inviting her to stay with him and the kids for a week during their summer vacation. Mark had been angry that she had left Pete until he heard her side of the story. After that, he had cut off all contact with him and she had spent several weeks with him before accepting her current job. After moving several times, changing her name, and email, she had lost contact with Daniel. He had never replied to her last email, the one she sent before she lost her child, and tried not to ponder what had happened. She could always take a trip to Colorado Springs, but always found a reason not to go. The phone interrupted her thoughts and she rushed to answer it. One of the women from work invited her out for drinks at a lounge and she eagerly accepted. Anything to keep her mind off it's current path.

AN: If Sam were to see someone who works at the SGC, would I be right in assuming they wouldn't be allowed to tell her anything as she doesn't have clearence anymore?