AN: I'm actually updating?! It's a miracle! Seriously though, I'm soooooooo sorry about the incredibly long delay. 2 years?! Is that a record? Even now, I really should be working on other things. ...But I'm sitting in a bus depot at 3:00 in the morning and I just don't want to...so, here ya go. Hope it's okay and I haven't lost the feel of the story. It's been so long, I read it through twice just to pick up the tone of it again. I'll try to finish this story out in the next few weeks if school doesn't kill me first. Please review!

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Chapter 20: Stupefied

Jack and Sam quickly made their way to the elevators. Things were so different today than they were the day before. It was hard to believe it had been less than 24 hours since they were last standing here. Jack stabbed at the elevator button again but this time it was out of a happy anxiousness and not a worried confusion. However, some things were the still same. Although he wasn't too worried, Jack was very confused.

"Did that just happen?"

Sam looked up at him and smiled tentatively. "I think so."

Jack grinned at her. After a pause he spoke. "So, whatcha wanna do?"

Sam felt awkwardness overcome her. That was a good question. What in the world were they supposed to do now? Last night they had agreed that they had a lot of getting to know each other to do. She certainly didn't want them to make any mistakes along the way.

"Well, first of all, I think I need to find Pete and talk to him." Sam's eyes reflected regret at the hurt she knew she had caused.

Jack's face fell a little but he nodded. He understood her need for closure and, knowing her as he did, he understood her drive to try and make amends with the man who ended up being an innocent bystander caught in their crazy, winding path to each other.

"Okay, well, give me a call when you're ready. I'll probably just be at home or something."

"Thank you, Jack."

They reached the surface and made their way to the parking lot. When they reached his truck, he smiled at her tenderly and shook his head then nodded in the direction of her car. "Go on. Do what you have to do."

After casting a furtive glance around, she brushed a kiss to his lips and said, "I'll call you later."

Jack stood dumbfounded, frozen in the same spot for a few minutes, gazing after her as she got in her car and drove away. He still couldn't quite believe that he had gone from miserable to the happiest man alive in a matter of less than 48 hours. He began to grin again. If he kept this up, it was going to be bad for his reputation.

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Sam called Pete and asked him to meet her at a little café she knew. He said he'd be there in half and hour.

About 20 minutes later, Sam pulled up to the café and got a table for two outside. It was a beautiful day and a perfect setting… Just not for what she was about to do. She took a deep breath and sighed tumultuously. She hated this. She couldn't help but feel that she had just been stringing Pete along this entire time. She closed her eyes and shook her head at herself.

"This seat taken?"

She started at the sound of his voice. She looked up at him and he smiled at her, though it wasn't that flirty smile he wore the last time he had uttered those words. No, it was the smile of a man who knew his fate, wasn't happy with it, but was resigned to it, and ultimately knew that a greater good would come from it.

"Hi Sam."

"Hi Pete."

She smiled awkwardly. "Pete, I-"

"Sam-"

They both started at the same time and stopped abruptly. They both smiled kind of self-consciously.

Pete gestured for her to go first.

"Pete…" Sam took a deep breath. "I'm so sorry…" she trailed off, not knowing exactly how much to tell him. She cursed herself for not thinking through this more. "I didn't mean for this to happen. I really thought I…"

"Sam." Pete spoke gently. "I know. You don't need to be sorry for anything. You would never intentionally hurt me. I know that. You wouldn't lead me on intentionally. When you said yes, I knew there was a chance you would change your mind, but you wouldn't intentionally lie about what you felt. That's why we're here now. The only thing you would need to be sorry for is letting this drag on when you knew it wouldn't work or that your heart wasn't in it. Sam, the only people you mean to hurt are the bad guys." He grinned briefly before returning to a more serious look. "I consider myself lucky to have you for the time that I did. We both made mistakes in this relationship and honestly, I'm surprised it lasted this long. I know I made some mistakes that should have ended it before it even began. So, thank you for giving me a chance. …But if you're not happy with me, then you don't belong with me. Everything I've learned being with you tells me that you deserve all the happiness in the world…" Pete took a deep breath. It was going to be tough to speak the next words, but he pressed on. "And if he can give that to you, then you need to be with him."

Sam looked at him wide-eyed. "Oh, Pete…"

"It's okay, Sam. I understand. I really do. I hope he makes you happy." He paused for a moment. "If he doesn't, you just give me a call and I'll come straighten him out. I'm sure I'll have to wait in line to do it, but I will." He grinned at her.

He stood and she followed suit. "I'm serious, Sam. Be happy. You deserve it. More than anyone I know." He kissed her on the cheek. "I'll see you around." He turned and had taken a few steps before he paused and turned slightly. "Don't worry. I'll explain it to Mark. I know how he can be."

As he turned and walked away, Sam stared after him in amazement. That was too easy. Of everything she was expecting, that was certainly not it. It almost made her feel even worse. She knew she had hurt a very good man and what made him an even better man was the fact that he could get past that hurt and honestly wish her happiness with the man that she had left him for…that she was in love with even when she started her relationship with Pete and he somehow knew it. She shook herself out of her stupor and sat back down to gather herself. He had thought of everything. He had taken everything that she was going to say, everything she was beating herself up over and turned it around on her and said that he understood. He had known about Jack and he didn't fly off in a fit of jealous rage. He didn't accuse her of playing him, of using him, or even of being careless. All the things she was thinking about herself, he diffused. He had even thought of her in telling Mark, something she had totally forgotten about but it could have turned into a huge issue. She shed a few silent tears as she sat at the table. She still hadn't forgiven herself for what she had done, but Pete had helped her along in the process just like Jack had. What had she done to deserve so many people who cared about her so deeply? She wiped her eyes and took a deep breath to focus herself once more before she stood. She made her way to her car and just began to drive aimlessly. She drove for about 30 minutes just thinking about her life and all of the changes that had occurred in the last 48 hours. Everything was happening so fast. She was beginning to get overwhelmed. The last two days had found her not feeling like the genius she supposedly was. She didn't even feel like a scientist. She realized that for the first time in a long time she found herself thinking with her heart…and that she liked it. She wasn't about to give up her identity as a scientist but she made the decision to no longer let that part of her rule her entire life. It was a surprisingly peaceful Samantha Carter that found herself parked outside the house of one, Colonel Jack O'Neill.

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AN2: I know, I know! What's with Pete? I don't know… I will say that this is not how I see the actual character of Pete Shanahan on the show, but this is my universe where apparently everyone is either sappy and sweet or really annoying and I chose for Pete to be sappy and sweet. I like my Pete. I don't really care so much for "show Pete." I don't hate him but I'm really glad he's gone. He just didn't fit. I think my Pete would be a more realistic fit into Sam's life. He more closely resembles the other men that care about her. But that's just my humble opinion. Anyway, I'm actually pretty pleased with this chapter. (Certainly pleased considering it's been years since the last chapter I wrote of this story.) Again, hopefully I'll get this story done in the next few weeks…or months even would be an improvement on years… Right?

Again, review, pretty please?