Authors Note: Thank you so much for all your kind words. The funeral was beautiful and I know my grandad would have been happy with it.

I'm a little unsure about this chapter… but I'm just at a loss as to what to do to fix it right now! So… here goes…

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The Virus

Chapter 24

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Sam woke with a start. It took her a few moments to figure out where she was. She had fallen asleep with the rest of SG-1 in the room but they must have all gotten up before her. Annoyed, she threw on clothes and finger brushed her hair. She hated sleeping in. Jack should have woken her! He of all people knew this.

She headed straight for the upper commissary and on entering found 'her' boys sitting around a table with steaming mugs of what she hoped was coffee.

"I hope that's coffee." She snuck forward and grabbed Jacks mug and quickly took a step back out of reach. His reflexes were fast, but she was faster. She lifted the mug to her nose and inhaled the heavenly scent of coffee.

"Oi! That's mine!" She took a mouthful and lowered the mug, only to give him a teasing smile. Jacks eyes widened and she bit her lip to keep from laughing.

"Get a room," Daniel muttered.

"Indeed," that one came from Teal'c. She rolled her eyes and handed the now mostly empty mug back to Jack.

"There you go Sir," She told him innocently. Before heading to the kitchen to make her own as he had told her to.

"Sam!" She had just reached the kitchen door when she heard Lucy's voice calling her name. She turned to find the teenager dressed in BDU's that were far too big for her tiny frame.

"Good morning Lucy," despite the baggy clothes the girl did look better than she had the day before. She had obviously had a shower and brushed her hair and she had a bit more colour in her cheeks.

"If the rest of the kids want to come and live here… then I want them to be brought back." She had reached Sam and stood a few feet away a serious look on her young face. "But only if they want to. They might not trust you."

"Lucy…" Sam bit her bottom lip. Was it a good idea to say what she was thinking? Probably not… "I saw the way the other kids looked at you. If you tell them it is okay, they will come with you."

"If this all goes to hell, I don't want them blaming me." Lucy heaved a sigh and Sam realized how fast this girl must have had to grow up since the Virus hit.

"I assure you we would do everything in our power to keep you all happy and healthy." She gestured to the kitchen. "I'm going to make a coffee, do you want something?"

"Can I have a coffee too?"

"Uh…" Sam raised an eyebrow. "I suppose you can. How old are you anyway?"

"I'm fifteen." Lucy rolled her eyes. "I've been drinking coffee for years, c'mon…?"

"Okay, okay." She set about making coffee for herself, Lucy and one to replace Jack's since she had gulped down half of his.

"Are you going back to see Simon and the others today?" Lucy pulled herself up onto the bench, her legs dangling over the edge.

"I think that was the plan."

"If you think they will listen to me… can I come with you?" Sam could see that Lucy was trying to keep her expression neutral but she saw the hope sparkling in the girls pretty brown eyes.

"I'll have to ask Jack."

"He's your boyfriend huh?"

"Uh, yes… I guess." Sam felt a blush rise to her cheeks. Boyfriend? Sometimes it felt incredibly strange to think of the man who was once her commanding officer as her boyfriend.

"I had a boyfriend… before… you know…" Lucy said airily. "He got the virus though." Sam handed the girl a mug and felt her heart flutter in her chest. She had hardly scratched the first layer of Lucy's life and already it was sounding horrendous.

"What was his name?" Sam perched on the bench a few feet away, giving Lucy plenty of space.

"Jacob, we all called him Jake though." Lucy took a sip of her coffee and shot Sam a smile. "Thanks, this is good."

"My dad's name is Jacob."

"Your dad still alive?"

"Yeah, he is." Sam contemplated asking Lucy about her own father but decided that having Lucy choose to talk in such a relaxed fashion… well it was best to just leave her to it.

"My dad was a cop for a while." Lucy looked down into her coffee and bit her lip. "He got shot though and lived on disability. He was pretty depressed after that."

"I'm sorry to hear that Lucy," she reached over and gently patted the girls shoulder and was pleased to find she didn't flinch away. They sat in comfortable silence for a bit until Sam remembered SG-1 was still in the commissary and Jack's coffee was getting cold.

"Do you want to go get breakfast now? I need to give Jack his coffee." She could tell Lucy had said all she wanted to anyway, she felt pleased that the girl had said as much as she had. "We can ask him about you coming with us today." Lucy leapt neatly off the bench and moved to stand in front of Sam, surprising her with an openly friendly smile on her face.

"Thanks… for everything… Sam." She held out a hand and Sam cautiously reached out, taking the teenagers hand in her own and giving her a firm handshake.

"You are more than welcome," Sam hopped down too and headed for the kitchen door. It was nice having Lucy open up a little this morning. They had a long way to go… but it was a start for sure.

TBC.