Sam sat alone in the dark her food untouched. The corridors around the mess hall were empty; except for a few security personnel making routine nightly sweeps she wasn't disturbed.

It had been three days since she'd arrived at Atlantis, whether or not she made the right decision in coming here was still up for debate but what she was certain of was that she was absolutely miserable. She wanted to curl up and cry she missed him so much, she had never felt as hollow and so spiritless as she did now. She knew she had made it worse for herself by running away, if she had stayed she would have known one or another, it was her own fault. So many 'what if' scenarios had played in her mind, what if she had stayed? What if he felt the same way? What if he didn't? What if…? What if…? What if…?

Dr Kate Heightmeyer walked through the dimly lit corridors enjoying the peace and quiet. After spending most of the day and early evenings caring for the psychological needs of the Atlantis Expedition members, it was nice to, at the end of the evening before going to bed, just to be in the company of her own thoughts. She always found it soothing and relaxing taking a walk around the sleeping city.

Her last stop, before heading to her room, was always the mess hall. She would take a couple of minutes to stand on the balcony and enjoy the spectacular view whilst sipping her herbal tea.

Kate wouldn't have noticed the lone figure, hidden in the shadows on her way out, if her keen ear hadn't picked up the sound of someone quietly crying.

" Are you okay?" She asked approaching the figure.

Spooked, Sam looked up, embarrassed at having been caught crying. Wiping her tears away, roughly, she tried to smile, "Yeah I'm fine."

Not in the least bit convinced, Kate pulled up a chair and sat opposite her, waiting for her to speak in her own time. She watched as Col. Carter wrung her hands together, trying to put her at ease she reached over and put her hands over hers, "Sam, tell me what's wrong."

Too deflated to pretend nothing was wrong, Sam poured her heart out, grateful to be able to finally talk to someone about everything.

Dr Heightmeyer listened, making only an occasional comment for moral support.

Exhausted under the weight of her emotions Sam slumped in her chair, wrapping her arms around herself against the sudden chill that hit her, she looked at Dr Heightmeyer dejected.

Leaning forward Kate asked her the question she knew would hit the mark, "What are you so afraid of?"

"I don't know."

"Look Sam, you have to be honest with yourself. If you want answers you need to stop deceiving yourself."

Sam wasn't the least bit offended by her directness, because she knew she was right. Closing her eyes Sam didn't have to dig deep to find the answer, she knew what it was all along she just didn't want to admit it. She had always pulled away from getting to close to someone, not giving him the opportunity to mean something to her, partly because of her job but also because of her own self. The truth was she hadn't met anyone with whom she wanted that connection with or met someone she could trust her heart with because no matter how much she had fought it, the little girl in her still held on, determinedly, to the dream of finding her Prince Charming, and then Cameron entered her life.

" I'm scared that if I allow myself to love him the way I do and let him become such a huge part of me, of my life, what would happen to me if, god forbid, something happened to him? There are so many things out there that could go wrong and I won't be able to stop them from happening to him. I won't be able to protect him…"

"Is he military?"

When Sam didn't answer, Kate was quick to address her concern, " This conversation is between friends and colleagues, and the military has nothing to do with it."

"Yes, his name's Cameron Mitchell."

"Is he part of SG1?"

Sam nodded in response.

" And how does he feel?"

Sam shrugged.

"Tell me about him." Dr Heightmeyer asked, changing the direction of the conversation.

Sam's face lit up with pride at the thought of Cameron, "He's gorgeous and funny. He's always making me laugh, he's my best friend and I know that I can count on him. I could tell you stories of all the stupid and brilliant things he's done, I can spend the entire night telling you of all the wonderful and kind things he's done for complete strangers, of how he would put his life on the line if it meant he had the chance to save someone else's…"

Kate Heightmeyer grinned at the change in her, "Is he worth risking your life for?"

"In a heartbeat."

"Then why isn't he worth risking your heart for?"

Sam had no answer to give.

"Look Sam, love gives us the most joy and the most pain but believe me it's worth it. No matter how much we wish we could protect those we loved from harm we can't. I know that your job is not an easy one, by any stretch of the imagination, but do you think denying yourselves will make it any easier, can you honestly say that the pain would be any less. To have people in our lives who enrich our experiences of life is a blessing and to be a part of theirs is a gift. It's a once in a lifetime thing don't throw it away; he sounds like a great guy. Trust yourself and trust him."

Not realising she had echoed the very words Sam's dream Cameron had spoken, Kate Heightmeyer said goodnight and left Sam feeling a whole lot better.

Sam went to her quarters with a spring in her step, she wasn't going to hold back any longer she loved him and the next time she saw him she would tell him as much.

Please r&r, the next chapter will be a juicy one!!! So the more reviews I get the quicker you find out what happens next!!! Lol.