Chapter 5

Sam walked into Jack's dining room, rubbing her hair dry with a towel. The guys were gathered around the remains of breakfast.

Daniel was the first to spot her. "Hey!" His greeting was bright. Maybe a bit too cheerful, and he was looking at her intently, trying to gage her mood. "Let me get you some coffee, you look beat."

"Hey. Coffee'd be great, thanks."

Daniel handed her the cup and took his seat next to Teal'c, who was steadily plowing through what looked like one of Jack's famous omelets.

"Got any more of those, Sir?" Sam glanced to Jack, who was in the kitchen making creative use of beer and eggs.

"Sure, Carter. Take a seat. One Beer Omelet, comin' right up." Jack studied Sam covertly as the eggs were cooking. She looked okay. She wasn't forcing cheer into her voice, but she wasn't falling apart any more either. An improvement over last night. She seemed to have pulled herself together – a bit, at least.

Daniel was the first to break the momentary silence. "So what's on the agenda for today?"

"I d'know Daniel, I'm sure Walter will call soon with news that there are requisitions for toothpicks for the commissary that require my immediate attention, what about you? Got any rocks that just can't wait to be translated?"

Daniel sighed. He knew Jack was going for a return to their normal banter to put Sam at ease. The last thing Sam would want right now was three overprotective men hovering over her. A return to normalcy, or whatever passed for normal for them, was in order.

"I've got to finish my preliminary report on P2X-723. There seems to be some indication that the Ancients might once have populated the planet. Sam, how close are you to finishing your study of that gadget we brought back? It might be helpful to my final translations if I knew what it was for."

Sam paused as Jack came in with her omelet. She glanced up at him and gave a silent nod of thanks before returning her attention to Daniel. "I can probably have my prelim studies to you in a day or so. Will that do?"

"Yeah, I can live with that. I've got a few other things I can work on in the meantime." Daniel gave her a smile.

"T, are you heading back to Dakara soon?"

"Indeed, O"Neill. Bra'tac has expressed concern that the newly formed Council requires more direction than he alone can provide. I must return soon, or our newly found freedom may begin to crumble." It was a long speech and the three other members of SG-1 turned their gazes on Teal'c with mild amazement.

"Teal'c, why didn't you say something. You should have gone . . ."

Teal'c forestalled her protest with quiet firmness, "Colonel Carter, you and your father are my friends. My place was here with you in this time of grief. Bra'tac would not have wished my presence knowing my heart is here."

Sam was unbelievably touched and tears swam unshed in her eyes as she got up to give Teal'c a hug. The big man hesitated for a moment, but returned her hug gently. His years with the Tau'ri had taught him much of the human need for tactile comfort. He had been there when O'Neill went missing with Colonel Maybourne, so he accepted Sam's hug with grace. "You are welcome, Colonel Carter."

The mood had become heavy, so O'Neill jumped in, "Okay kids, finish breakfast and then we're off to see the Wizard . . . ."

Jack had contemplated ordering Carter to take a few days off, but he felt it would be better if he let her return to work. She'd always used work as a buffer between her and grief and pain, and as he looked at her, he knew ordering her out of the mountain was the wrong way to go. Carter needed the work to help her center and work through her grief. She'd go nuts if he bared her from work and a crazy, grief stricken Colonel with the brilliance to blow up suns was the last thing he wanted on the loose.

Besides, he and the guys would be better able to keep an eye on her inside the mountain than out. There were breaks and breakfast, breaks and lunch, breaks and dinner. Between the three of them (when T got back from Dakara, Jack mentally amended), they'd be able to watch over her without becoming too oppressive – he hoped.

As they were getting ready to leave the house, Sam stopped Jack with a soft touch on his arm. "Thank you, Sir."

Jack looked down and a small smile quirked his lips, "For what?" Again the echo of previous conversations.

"For last night and for not banning me from work. I really think I'd go crazy if you made me stay home." Sam's hand slid off Jack's arm and returned to her side.

Jack allowed his smile to spread, "Carter, there's no need for thanks and I know better than anyone how impossible it is to keep you from your lab. I could changed the lock on the door, but you'd probably just pick it."

Sam returned his smile and ducked her head. It was the first genuine smile he'd seen from her in weeks and Jack was relieved. Maybe things would work out. They had a lot to talk about, but they had the time to talk now.

"After you, Carter." Jack swept his arms in a grand gesture toward his door, his smile now beaming. "Hi-ho, hi-ho, it's off to work we go . . ."

"Snow White, Sir?"

"Yes, well, I thought I'd mix it up. Can't always quote the Wiz, can I? Besides, according to Wicked, he's not the good guy we though he was."