"Trying To Fathom" By Galen

TITLE: Trying to fathom

DISCLAIMER: Stargate SG-1 and its characters are the property of Showtime/Viacom, MGM/UA, Double Secret Productions, and Gekko Productions. I don't own them, Just borrowing them for bit... I'll put them back... promise. Infringement is intended. The story concept, however is mine. ALL MINE I tell you.

CATEGORY: Sam/Jack friendship/UST

WARNINGS: none

SPOILERS: Seth

SEASON / SEQUEL: Season 3- Seth

ARCHIVE: S&J relationship archive

DATE: 07/04/99

SUMMARY: Captain Carter struggles with the abilities she apparently retained due to her joining.

AUTHOR'S NOTES: Just a little something that popped into my head today after watching the episode "Seth."

xxxxx

"Damn." Sam grumbled to herself as she held a finger to her mouth and sucked the blood resulting from a paper-cut. It had been a week since her she and Jacob had taken a long weekend and visited with her brother and his family. Many wounds had been healed, now, and things seemed more right... with family.

But not with friends.

And not with herself.

She turned back to her work, and rubbed the bridge of her nose. Jack and Daniel has been keeping their distance the past couple of days. Tealc only near-by just at those moments when she might need something, or to walk her casually out to the car. He never asked questions and seemed to easily accept what the other's and she herself couldn't assimilate.

{{You have the will.}} her father had said.

Yeah, right. The will to decimate a Go'auld with it's own weapons. An ability she's received from a joining... So much for being normal.

Sam pushed her paper work away with a disgusted grunt and gave up on trying to get ay work done. Picking up her satchel, she closed up the lab, and stalked down to her quarters. The muffled footsteps from her boots the only shuffling noises in the vacant halls.

Having picked up her laundry from her bunk, she moved top-side found her car and drove absently home.

She wasn't prepared for anything, certainly not the Jack perched on the steps of her house waiting for her.

Sam parked he car, and -grabbing her bag- leaned against the now closed car door to look at him.

"Hi."

"Hi yourself." she raised an eyebrow at him, and then pushing herself off her car, walked forward. "Something wrong? Things seemed quiet at the base--I just left, Sir..." She trailed off uncomfortably.

"Nah." Jack swallowed. "I just wanted to see how you were doing." He rose as she reached the steps. Her keys dangling loosely in hand.

{{Now what}} she thought. {{Oh, Jack. I don't have the energy to battle you now.}} Her mind filled already with the recriminations and the hurt of distance put between herself and friends since the last mission.

"So." Jack uttered breaking into her thoughts as he took the dangling keys out of her hands, inserted the correct one into the lock, and twisting the nob to open the door slightly, before returning the keys back to Sams lax hand and closing her fingers around them. "How are ya doing?"

She laughed a little and moved again, motioning him into the house after turning on the foyer light, and dropping her bags at the door.

"I'm fine, come on in."

"I wondered. You've been... quiet lately."

"You've been avoiding me." She snapped, immediately wishing she'd bitten her tongue. Normally she had tighter reign on her thought and mouth.

"Yes." His voice quieted some. "I guess I have."

Same turned from the living room door. "Why."

"Scared I guess." the mask had dropped leaving a very vunerable expression that she wasn't certain she dared read. "Damnit Sam, his eyes, did you see his eyes?! HE was going to kill you, and instead of being careful, you walk right up to a System Lord and wave your hand at him?" Jack waved his own hand gesturing off to the side as he paced then turned to her. "I was worried. And maybe a little confused. You weren't supposed to be able to do that."

"I know." She stood before him stunned, but listening. "I have the will for it."

"Okay."

"Thanks for asking."

"No problem."

"So."

"Sam?"

"Yes, Sir."

She looked up at him in time to see him coming at her and she was suddenly pushed gently up against the side wall of the stairs in the foyer, and kissed as if his life depended on her knowing everything on his mind. As quickly as it began, he separated from her, walked to the door, and opened it.

"See you tomorrow, Captain."

"Yes, Sir, See you tomorrow." She replied still leaning against the wall and staring after him minutes beyond the shutting of her front door.

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The End.

(Yes... there might be an entire Story Arc here.... depends on the feedback :)) Galen

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"A writer talking to herself is no madder than a writer not talking not to herself... or just as mad... so there you are... START RAVING SANE..."
-- derivative of Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead