Year Two

The campfire crackled and jumped in the slight breeze. Sam's eyes were pinned to the flickering flames. She pulled her knees up to her chest and wrapped her arms around her legs, ensuring the long skirt she wore covered her. She shivered a little despite the fire.

She should probably get some sleep, Sam mused tiredly. They had a long journey ahead of them. Her blue eyes shifted to the van where the young couple who had offered them a ride were sleeping. They'd had to lie to them earlier to protect the timeline and although Sam knew it was necessary, she hated that they had spun them a tale. Aliens trying to get back home. She snorted softly. Well, at least the trying to get home part of it was true. SG1 couldn't stay in 1969 for any longer than they had to or they risked changing time.

The fire flared again; a shower of sparks spluttering out and hitting the dirt. What if she was wrong about the solar flares, Sam mused. What if General Hammond had an altogether different plan in mind to get them back to the future? What if she screwed up?

She rubbed her nose thoughtfully. It had been a difficult year and her confidence had taken a knock. She rolled her eyes. A difficult year; she guessed that was one way to describe being taken as a host to an unsympathetic Tok'ra symbiote and having to deal with the consequences of that. Her body had changed; the chemistry of it, the feel of it. She could sense Teal'c a few feet away because of what had happened; the naquadah in her blood reacting to the Goa'uld he carried as a Jaffa. Her mind was sometimes filled with memories that weren't her own; faces of strangers. The only good thing to come out of it all was that it had provided a way for her father to beat his cancer. He had become a willing host; a liaison between Earth and the Tok'ra. At least that was one thing that had gone right even if the Colonel remained sceptical about their new ally.

Sam couldn't blame him. She was just lucky Colonel O'Neill still trusted her after what had happened with Jolinar. He could have insisted on her being replaced but he hadn't; he had stood by her and helped her come to terms with what had happened. She knew his trust and confidence in her had helped her rebuild her own. He had even allowed her to try something that had almost killed him. Her mind slid back to the moment months before when the Colonel had been pinned to a wall by a metal sphere they had brought back. Her plan had worked; Earth and the Colonel had been saved but for a few awful minutes she had believed she had killed him, that he was dead.

As though her thoughts had conjured him up, the Colonel suddenly appeared beside her. He was dressed in the uniform of a rebel; blue jeans, white t-shirt, leather jacket. With his greying hair, square jaw and deep chocolate eyes, he looked every inch the alpha male; dangerous; sexy; hot.

So not going there, Sam thought desperately as she averted her eyes hurriedly. He was her CO. She was not developing a crush; she was not. She pulled a face. Maybe if she kept chanting it over and over it would eventually become true.

'You know you're thinking so hard I can hear you.' Jack said dryly as he sat down. His voice was low and she knew he was trying not to disturb the others.

'Sorry, sir.' Sam said automatically, inwardly cringing. She hoped to hell that he couldn't hear her thoughts because that would be seriously mortifying.

'You want to tell me what's wrong?' Jack asked, nudging her with his knee as he warmed his hands on the fire.

'I was just hoping our plan will work, sir.' Sam replied. 'If I'm wrong…'

'Well, we'll find out soon enough.' Jack reassured her.

'And if I am?' Sam worried out loud. 'I can't help thinking that if I am we'll be stuck here forever.'

The Colonel looked at her evenly. 'This wasn't your fault.'

'I made the calculations…' she began to protest.

'And Hammond made the call even though he knew we'd end up on this jaunt to the past.' Jack pointed out.

'But…'

'Ah!' He held up a finger to forestall her argument. 'We'll get home, Carter.'

Sam nodded reluctantly.

Jack leaned back and she couldn't help noticing the way his t-shirt tightened over his broad chest. She diverted her gaze, staring resolutely up at the night sky and the moon.

'Where were you, sir?' Sam asked softly.

'Hmmm?' Jack looked back at her bemused.

'The night of the lunar landing?' Sam expanded. 'You told General Hammond where he was but I was wondering where you were?'

'At a neighbour's house.' Jack explained. 'They had the best TV.'

Sam smiled. 'I wish I could have been there.' Her eyes widened as she realised how her comment could be interpreted. 'I mean, watching it myself for real as it happened.'

'Well, if you're right about this whole time travel thing maybe you'll be able to work out a way to get back and watch it some day.' Jack said.

She didn't argue. Even if she could work out how to time travel through the wormhole it was too dangerous; who knew what damage they could do to the timeline?

'You know it's weird.' Jack commented, gesturing up at the sky.

'Sir?' Sam asked confused.

'Being on Earth and star watching.' Jack explained. 'This time last year we were on that planet with the two moons; remember?'

'I remember.' Sam smiled. She pointed up at a small cluster of stars; so dim and distant that they could barely make them out. 'That's your dog.'

Jack stared at the sky. 'No.' He looked at her; his chocolate eyes warm on hers. 'Really?'

Sam nodded happily at the childlike glee that suffused his face.

'You know from Earth,' Jack said conversationally, 'it really does look like a dog.'

They smiled at each other, remembering their previous banter. Sam looked away and up at the sky. Oh, she was in so much trouble; resisting him when he was in brusque Colonel mode was one thing but when he was being sweet and funny and adorable. Sam sighed. She really had no chance at all.

To be continued in Year Three