Monday

"Ok, here she comes, guys. Get into full supportive mode." Daniel and Teal'c both gave slight nods and Jack waved Sam towards their table. It was unnecessary move since they usually sat at the same table but he did it anyway. Maybe if Jack kept looking he would see SG-1 written on the table somewhere.

Sam sat down. Jack approved of her breakfast choices, orange juice, yogurt, and a muffin. He wasn't surprised by the lack of coffee. Daniel had given her a coffee machine for her office a long time ago. He had even convinced her to start drinking those sissy coffees. Not him! No way! If anybody ever found the stash of gourmet coffees in his house he could say he kept them around for when Danny-boy visited. It's a good thing Daniel came back; Jack wasn't sure how he would have explained that coffee during the time of Daniel's ascension.

Jack realized he had gotten lost in his own head when he felt Daniel's foot nudge his leg. That might have been too hard to classify as a nudge. He would have to speak to Daniel about that later. Jack realized that he was spiraling down again. He finally tore his eyes away from Sam's orange juice.

"So, Sam, how was your weekend?"

"Good. Did you guys do anything?"

"They came over to my place for pizza, television, and beer. Not necessarily in that order, of course."

"Of course, sir." Silence reigned for a moment as everyone chewed.

"Pete has an interview for a detective's position her in Colorado Springs next week. It's not a great move in terms of his career but it will give us a better chance to get to know each other." Sam smiled, it was a wistful kind of look.

"Did you know he was doing this?" Sam looked over at Daniel.

"No. He knew I wasn't going to leave the SGC so he kept his eyes open for opportunities to move here."

"Is he going to move in with you?" Sam glanced over at her CO hoping to see something in his face that could tell her what answer he hoped to hear. She wasn't surprised to see his well trained face of neutrality.

"No. We decided that was adding too much pressure too soon. We don't even know if he'll get the job yet."

"Of course he'll get the job, Carter. It's about time life went in your favor."

"Thank-you, sir." Jack stood up and stretched.

"Don't forget you have an appointment with General Hammond in twenty minutes to discuss our last mission." Sam rolled her eyes.

"I won't, sir." She sighed. She wasn't looking forward to this meeting.

*

"Major Carter, reporting as ordered, sir."

"At ease, Major." General Hammond motioned for Sam to take a seat. She sat up her back remained straight and her hands were clasped in her lap. She did not look like she was at ease.

"Major, could you please explain what you think happened that would have caused the natives to believe they should not be associated with the SGC or Earth."

"Yes, sir. I have thought a lot about my encounter this weekend and I have a theory." General Hammond had to work hard to suppress a grin at her comment. It reminded him of all the times the Colonel accused her of thinking too much. Sam noticed his lapse of attention.

"Sir?"

"Yes? Oh, sorry Major. Please continue."

"Yes, sir. I think the older gentleman misread my relationship with Daniel, Teal'c, and Colonel O'Neill. We have gotten very close, as a team, over the years. It isn't possible for me to know Pete that well yet. I think he saw the difference in the relationships and assumed that since I was having a physical relationship with the one person I knew the least well that I was deceiving myself and all of them."

"That is very interesting. With your permission, I would like to inform the diplomatic team I plan to send on a follow-up mission of you experience and your theory. Perhaps they will be able to explain what happened to everyone's satisfaction."

"I hope so, sir."

"Please write up your report as it happened and include your theory as an explanation. I would appreciate it if you made sure the rest of SG-1 knew that they were free to include what happened without any alterations. You are all very protective of each other and I don't want to see any discrepancies as a result of loyalty."

"Yes, sir."

"Is there anything else we need to discuss about this mission, Major?"

"No, sir."

"Then you are dismissed. Thank-you."

"Thank-you, sir." Sam exited his office and breathed a sigh of relief. That wasn't as bad as she had been expecting. At least he hadn't blamed her for screwing up any chance at getting access to one of the best potential sources of naquada they had encountered in years. She was sure as the reports made it higher in the chain of command she would be blamed but their opinions didn't matter as much to her as General Hammonds opinion.

*

"Hey, Sam."

"Daniel, hi."

"Time for lunch. Hungry?"

"Yeah, just give me a minute to shut this down."

"Whatcha doing?"

"Trying to finish up the adjustments on this naquada reactor so I don't have to come back in this weekend."

"Sam Carter wants top leave the SGC on a Friday night?"

"Yes, do have a problem with that?"

"No. What time does Pete get to town?"

"He has to finish his shift before he can drive down, so he won't be here until late. It's alright though, since he's staying through Tuesday for his interview."

"I'm glad things are working out for you, Sam."

"Thanks, Daniel. That means a lot. I was afraid you guys would freak on me after what that old guy said about deceiving myself. It's great knowing you still support my choices."

"That's what friends are for Sam. How much longer? I'm starving!"

"Don't whine, Daniel. It isn't becoming."

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