Mckay sat and stared at his computer screen. He should be sorting through the streams of data in front of him but all he could think about was Samantha Carter.

Since she had arrived at Atlantis, he couldn't get her out of his head. He thought he had gotten over his feelings but evidently he was still very much attracted to her. He knew they would never be more than friends but his heart had other ideas.

Samantha Carter would always have a special place in his heart, she was a unique woman and he couldn't see that ever changing. Rodney had figured out a long time ago, though he remained somewhat hopeful, that he would never fall under the category of men that Sam dated. According to the SGC grapevine, Sam hadn't been in a serious relationship for at least a year and a half and he believed it would take one hell of a man to sweep Sam completely off her feet. To say that he wouldn't be envious or jealous of this man would be telling a lie but nonetheless he was curious as to whom Sam would finally choose to spend the rest of her life with.

His feelings aside, he was concerned about her. He had never known Sam to be moody and emotional but over the past few days he had seen it all. She hardly said more than a few words to him in all the time they had spent together. She was hardly eating and appeared to be constantly tired. Just yesterday morning he saw unshed tears sparkling in her eyes; though she tried to hide it and then late last night, when he bumped into her outside the cafeteria, she looked like she had been crying, her face was all red and puffy.

He got the feeling that Sam was running from something, nothing extraterrestrial related; otherwise SG1 wouldn't let her out of their sights, but something closer to home more personal. It was probably something she needed to work through herself and she more than likely just wanted to be left alone but it wouldn't hurt for her to know she had friends here, that she had him and that he would be there for her should she need him.

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In the past three days, Cam had experienced every emotion a man was capable of feeling when a woman was involved. He felt as if he was pushing his way through a dense fog without the faintest idea of how he got there or how to get out. Instead of providing him with a way out, every direction he took only seemed to pull him deeper into the haze. He hated feeling like this, but what angered and frustrated him the most was that instead of staying and facing what was happening between them, Sam had opted to run and leave him hanging. But in fairness, he realised that she was more than likely going through the exact same emotional wringer that he was because he could say with 100 certainty that Sam didn't just kiss any man the way she had kissed him, he meant something to her.

Wondering aimlessly through the corridors of the Apollo, Cameron let out an infuriated yell. It was taking too long and he was sick to death of the waiting. He needed to get to Atlantis and talk to Sam. He needed to know what was happening between them because from the moment she gave him that scorching hot kiss, she had set off a fire in him that was engulfing him physically, mentally and emotionally. He felt like he would, in any given second, literally burst into flames, she had him so hot and bothered.

Cam found himself laughing at the weirdness of the whole situation, a couple of days ago he wouldn't have even thought of Sam in that way and now that was all he did. She was his best friend, he felt comfortable and at ease around her. She had know him the longest, she had been with him through some of the worst moments of his life, she had held his hand and encouraged him when all he wanted to do was give up. Her smile had the power to light up his darkest days and the closeness he felt when he was with her was unlike any he had experienced before. He had called this intimate connection friendship but maybe it was something more, much more than either of them could have ever considered possible.

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Rodney found Sam, alone, looking out at the crashing waves of the stormy Atlantean ocean. Over the last couple of weeks these freak storms had come and gone, he wasn't overly concerned as they only lasted a few hours and the shields protected the city.

Not wanting to disturb her, he joined her on the balcony and the two of them watched the turbulent waters. Sneaking a quick look at her face, Mckay noticed that she seemed much happier and lighter.

"What is it Mckay?"

Rodney fidgeted as he tried to figure out what to say.

"I just wanted to make sure you were okay."

Sam smiled at him, appreciating his concern, "I'm fine Rodney, I'm glad you're here it gives me the chance to apologise."

"Apologise?"

"Yeah, I know I haven't been the best company or the easiest to work with these past few days…"

Mckay interrupted her, "It's forgotten, you were going through some personal stuff," Rodney cautiously approached the subject as he reached for the hand that was holding the railing and patted it awkwardly, "about that Sam, I just wanted you to know that I consider you a friend and if you need anyone to talk to or a shoulder…" Mckay cleared his throat, "What I'm trying to say is that I'm here if you need me…and that I hope what ever it is that's had you worried and upset works out ok."

Sam looked at him surprised, "Thanks Rodney, that's really nice of you."

Before Rodney could respond, he spotted the Apollo descending from within the dark clouds. They watched the ship approach the landing bay, and just as it began to implement the landing procedures they helplessly watched as lightening bolts struck the Apollo from out of nowhere causing cascading explosions. For a second the ship hovered before beginning its disastrous plunge towards Atlantis.

Please R&R!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!