A/N: Aaaaaaand... We are back online! Thanks to legiman for their review (here's the next part, and it might take some time but we will eventually finish the story, no worries there!), and a *thumbs up* to all who've favorited/followed/read the story, you guys are great :) And many thanks to Demetra83 for the storyline of course!

Without further ado, here is...

Chapter 3 – Sam

I get back to my translation work as soon as we reach Ben's office once again, and I blissfully immerse myself in the Old Egyptian tablets. The phone ringing brings me out of my work-induced focus, and after a few words with the person at the other end Ben asks me to go see Major Carter and bring her some folders.

An SF is tasked with escorting me to her lab as I'm still not quite sure where everything is; I am quite a bit apprehensive as we make our way there, and the folders I hold are silent witnesses to and participants in the slight tremors that wrack my frame from time to time. The airman stops at a doorframe, salutes me and does a perfect about-face before walking away: I guess I'm where I need to be. I timidly rap my knuckles on the doorframe, but Major Carter doesn't seem to hear me; I knock a bit more forcefully and she turns her head to the doorway.

"Good afternoon, Ma'am – erm… Doctor… – erm… Major Car…" I stutter.

She smiles reassuringly, "Call me Sam, it'll be easier. You're Alex?"

"Erm… yes Ma'a… – erm… Sam," I reply, surprised she already knows my first name as I hadn't known hers before I arrived at her office. It is much more spacious than Ben's, but it is difficult to say if it is because she doesn't store half a museum in it or because her lab is larger than my mentor's.

She holds her hand out to take the folders Ben had her brought, and I am about to make my way out of her office when she calls me back.

"Please wait a moment Alex, I need a second pair of eyes here if you don't mind?" she enquires.

I nod my assent and she gestures for me to take her seat and look into the microscope. When I raise my head, I look into her mischievous cerulean blue gaze.

"Seeing your face, I gather you saw the same thing I did," she smiles.

"I guess so, even though I have no idea how that's possible," I answer.

She laughs and asks me to stay and help her translate the documents on her desk. I agree, and she takes her seat at the microscope back, with a pen and pad by her side, inviting me to do the same. I give her a quick glance as she resets the tool: she is gracious and kind, and smiles quite a bit; she seems very far from the idea people have of a woman in the military, especially one with the rank of Major. I shake my head to stop my musings and get back to work; that's what I'm here for after all.

She asks me to sum up what I've read and understood from the text and I comply, all the while wondering whether she really is listening to me as she continues tinkering with a machine I've never seen before. I suddenly stop talking and she turns to me with a smile.

"Don't worry Alex, I'm listening! Would you please continue?"

I am just about done with my report when Colonel O'Neill comes into the lab. Sam straightens her spine as he looks at her but doesn't get up as he signals for her to remain where she is. I do stand up however, spine straight and eyes forward, and Colonel O'Neill eyes me as if he were looking at an alien.

"Sir, this is Alex Roslin, she's Ben Connors' new intern," Sam swings round on her seat and introduces me.

He nods to me and turns back to Sam, but his eyes suddenly rest on me again.

"Roslin?"

I nod, and Colonel O'Neill looks at Sam as if he's just seen a ghost she hasn't.

"Roslin, as in 'Bill Roslin' Roslin?"

"Yes, Sir. He's my father, Sir."

He arches an eyebrow, and I understand he's pleased with my manners, very soldier-like.

"I like her, Carter, can we keep her?" he quips.

Sam giggles again and replies, "Sorry, Sir, she hasn't been posted to the science labs. That's too bad, she's really gifted and would be a huge help as Daniel's usually late with his translations these days."

A warm feeling spreads over me at Sam's praise.

"I don't understand why we always get the riff-raff of all the interns in the whole world and the eggheads always get the best!" Colonel O'Neill whines.

"Sir!" Sam indignantly interjects, to my utmost surprise. I watch them with interest.

She puts all her tools away on top of the desk as Colonel O'Neill comes closer. If it were me, I would be backing off by now, but she stands her ground. She is holding her breath, and they are looking into each other's eyes, seemingly forgetting the rest of the world around them, namely me.

Colonel O'Neill clears his throat and says softly, "Carter, you're good at spotting the very best. If you're telling me you want her, I'll get her for you…"

I am astonished they're talking of me like this, but even more so by their closeness and the tone they are using to do so. I remember Felger saying at lunch Sam often stands her ground in front of her superiors whenever she deems it necessary – she seems to have nerves of steel, which is, as I very well know, an asset for a woman in the military – but this, this is different…

"Sir…" Sam pleads, as if she doesn't want to answer.

"Carter, everybody around here knows your main gift is to make me do whatever you want… and everybody also knows I can never say 'no' to you…"

"Alright!"

"Yeah!" Jack grins, as if he were a little boy who'd just convinced an adult to give him something he really wanted.

He marches out of the lab, and Sam pensively looks at his retreating back. She turns away as she feels my eyes on her, but I can see she is blushing as we both get back to our respective tasks.

A few minutes later, as I am working on further translations for her, the phone rings and Sam answers absently.

"Carter… Oh, Doctor Connors!"

She is biting her lower lip to refrain from smiling as she listens to Ben.

"I know, I'm sorry. I swear I didn't plan it!" she pleads.

Sam sighs as she puts down the phone after a few more apologies.

"Alright Alex, you're stuck with me now," she says.

"Ben isn't too happy about it, I gather?" I ask timidly.

She turns to me and replies, "Not really, but he'll get over it."

We give each other a small smile before going back to work, and I ponder on everything that has happened since I entered Sam's lab: Sam is needing me to help her, and Colonel O'Neill has arranged for me to be her intern without her really asking for it – I agree with him: she can make him do anything, and he's lucky she's an honest woman, as he could otherwise land in deep waters.

Daniel Jackson drops by later in the afternoon after he learns I will now be working with his teammate and friend, and he brings me some of his own dictionaries to help with my work; he seems as excited as if he were the intern and not me!

Sam and I keep on working throughout the rest of the day without further interruptions.

A/N2: A bit of a filler chapter, but necessary to introduce the dynamics between some of the main characters. Like it? Let us know! See y'all next time :)