Chapter 3: UHaul moves you to… Dakara?

Sam looked around the gate room. Her life on earth was packed into 10 boxes. She had sifted through all the stuff at her house very carefully. Although she had only been to Dakara a few times she knew basically what the living style and how to pack for it, basically. In the end she had just packed her underwear in one box, picture frames, photo albums, and loose pictures in another. She had also grabbed some of her favorite books and stuffed animals for the baby. Sam surveyed the mess of boxes that were being piled up on a MALP-type thing. One box had her favorite sweaters; another contained the quilts she, her mother and other women in their family had made, a few boxes had throw rugs and blankets mixed with pillows. She hadn't packed much more than that. What else do you need or can you bring to a planet that doesn't have electricity. It wasn't like she could bring her frying pan or TV. Behind her someone put their hand on the small of her back. "All set?"

She turned and smiled. "Yep, although I was just thinking. No more ordering Chinese food."

Cam smiled back. "That's right; you're actually going to have to learn how to cook." She surprised him by pulling him for a hard hug.

"I'm making the right decision right?" He could barely hear her whispering. Cam pulled her chin so they were at eye level with each other.

"I have no idea." He placed an arm around her waist and walked her up the ramp. "Let me know in six months." Satisfied that a smile was now on her face he pushed her through the wormhole. As the stargate closed he said a short prayer that she had.

000

An airman sifted through the officer's mess looking for Dr. Jackson. Finally after an almost twenty minute search the Lieutenant found him and tapped him on the shoulder. "Excuse me sir. General Landry wishes to see you." Daniel was a little startled. Jack, who was visiting from Washington, was slightly annoyed.

"Is it an emergency Lieutenant?" Biting his lip the airman wished he were anywhere but here. He didn't want to lie to superior officer but it was obvious that they didn't know about Colonel Carter's transfer. He had no idea how the General had managed that, everyone else knew and had given her a little something to take unto her new life.

"Not an emergency no sir but the General is insistent that you meet him sooner rather than later and preferably right now. I believe it has something to do with a last request of Colonel Carter's." As distant as they had all been lately that got their attention and soon they were walking briskly down the halls. Suddenly someone came running past them. Daniel recognized it has Lt. Colonel Cameron Mitchell his new CO.

"Hey Cameron." He called to the blurry figure. Cam slowed as he heard his name.

"Hey Jackson." Sparing a glance at his watch he frowned. "Sorry man I would love to stay and chat but I have to see a friend off. Sir." He threw a sloppy salute to Jack and continued running towards the gate room. Daniel shrugged and continued the small talk he and Jack had been making.

They reached the control room a few minutes later; looking out the glass panel they saw Cam pushing someone through the gate. As the wormhole shut down Jack chuckled and turned to Walter. "A team needed a little help through?" Walter looked up nervously.

"No team sir." Jack cocks an eyebrow. "Just an individual traveler sir." Both men's curiosity is fully piqued when Cam walks back down with his forehead in his hand.

"Who was it?" Daniel cuts in. Walter looked like he had swallowed a pineapple. Thankfully for Walter Hank chose that moment to enter.

"General O'Neill, Dr. Jackson if you'll both follow me please." He waved them up the stairs to his office. Looking uncertainly at each other the men made their way slowly across the briefing room to the General's office. "Please have a seat." Doing as they were told a certain worry crept over them. Cam's head followed a knock at the door.

"She's off without a hitch sir."

Hank nodded. "Thank you Colonel." Cam smiled and left with a nod.

By this time Jack was just getting angry. "Hank what is going on here?"

"Jack calm down. If you'll sit down I can explain it to you." Daniel pulled Jack back into his seat and nodded for Landry to continue. Sighing Hank leaned back in his nice leather chair and recounting the day's events. "This morning Colonel Carter came to me and asked for a transfer. For personal reasons." Daniel's eyebrows did a very good impression of Teal'c and Jack just looked like he's about to get angry again. "After speaking with the president we agreed and gave her transfer orders. That was her wormhole leaving." Jack rubbed a hand through his hair and Daniel pinched the bridge of his nose. Jack composed himself first.

"What are we really talking about here Hank?" Shaking his head Landry leaned forward.

"She felt out Jack. With Teal's spending more and more time with the Jaffa Council, you in Washington, Daniel on SG28, and a daughter on the way she was drowning. Cam tried to help her as much as he could, give her the support she needed but he's CO of SG1 now and this was evitable."

"Where did she go?" His voice just sounded heavy and tired now.

Hank took a deep breath. "Dakara. Teal'c and Bra'tac are house shopping as we speak."

"Oh god." Daniel took off his glasses he couldn't think, not really.

Jack just asked. "What's her official mission?" Hank shrugged and leaned back again.

"To scoop out alien technology that they Jaffa are using. But that's really just bunk, the president just created a b.s. mission to keep the Joint Chiefs off her back. This is a reward for all of her hard work through the years, she promised to send pictures of the baby and as long as she does that it's good enough for him. Eventually she thinks she might come back but this is her first child and with her father gone she needs all the support and love she can get. If she feels she'll be better able to get it on Dakara, the more power to her."

Jack nodded and stood up. "Thanks Hank."

The General nodded. "It's my job." He watched the two men leave his office.

000

That was the last time I saw Jack for a long while. Knowing that we had consciously and willing failed Sam ate at him I think. That was the beginning, when I did talk to him later on he was just angry with her and him-self and the rest of us. He threw himself into the work in Washington and I threw myself into the work that SG-28 provided. General Landry was right with the Tok'ra alliance practically flushed down the toilet Sam did need someone. I guess she did need to go to Dakara to get it.

000

Sam stumbled out of the wormhole; a hand reached out to steady her looking up she recognized Tel'mank from the transmission. "Hey there Tel'mank."

He smiled. "Samantha Carter, it is an honor to meet you again." She nodded and looked around; as if he read her mind Tel'mank spoke. "Master Teal'c was called away to a Council meeting however Bra'tac and Kal'el will be here soon." As good as his word her guides appeared as soon as the silence had set in.

"Colonel Carter!" Bra'tac called out and waved in greeting.

Sam approached them quickly. "Please Bray'tac, call me Sam." He bowed his head slowly in acquiesce.

Kal'el reached out her hand. "Samantha." Sam shook the woman's hand.

"Teal'c wishes he could be here to greet you himself but"

Sam shook her head. "I have come to him. I don't wish him to change his life." The couple across from her nodded apparently pleasantly surprised with her answer. "On that note though, if I could ask a favor?" Silently they nodded, eyebrows raised. "I would like to … blend as much as possible. I mean"

Kal'el cut her off. "I will help you Samantha, fear not." Sam smiled thankfully. Seeing as she was still in BDU's Kal'el stepped forward. "Shall we begin now?"

Sam eyed her things. "Could we drop these off first?"

Bra'tac stepped forward. "I will arrange for these to be delivered to your house. Kal'el will take you now to town, yes?" As it all seemed agreeable they spilt into their separate ways.

When they finally reached the edge of town Kal'el stopped. "As you have not yet seen your new home may I suggest that today we hold off on buying décor and focus on clothes? Then maybe you could go home and make of list of things you need or want to purchase and we can take care of those things later this week." Kal'el raised an eyebrow in question. Breathing a sigh of relief Sam smiled.

"Yes thank you so much Kal'el. I don't know what I would do with out you."

Smiling in gratitude said woman just inclined her head slightly. "I have much to show you yes but I do hope that we may become good friends." Kal'el entered the town and headed straight like an arrow to the dress shop. She opened the door and waved Sam in after her. "Marisol! I have a young woman for you to clothe." A middle-aged woman entered from the back of the store and approached Kal'el, kissing her on the cheek.

"You are too good to me." She gestured Sam over to stand on a pedestal. Looking her over the woman, Marisol commented. "I believe that we shall be making lots of blues and grays for you." Measuring her height, in seam, bust and everything else imaginable she sat back on her heels. "What's your name darling?"

Kal'el answered for her. "Samantha se Teal'c." Joy spread over Marisol's face.

"I will begin these right away then and have them delivered to your home as soon as they are finished." She handed Sam a bag with a dress and pair of shoes that would do, temporarily anyway. As Kal'el walked Sam home she appraised her. She defiantly seemed like a nice woman who loved Teal'c very much. Stopping out side a lovely garden home that reminded Sam of something from out of the Mediterranean Kal'el finally spoke.

"Tomorrow I shall come for you two hours before midday and we shall find everything you may need." Sam impulsively pulled her into a tight hug.

"Thank you, for everything."

Kal'el returned the hug and smiled. "It is nothing."

Sam entered her new home; dusk was rapidly closing out the light, and found her way into the kitchen. Grabbing a piece of bread and some fruit she wandered until she found the bedroom. Opening the French doors unto her balcony Sam smiled. She could see every star. Leaving the doors open for the night air to float in she stripped down to her underwear and climbed into bed. Within minutes she was asleep, the days activates and drama toughly wearing her out.