Title: Silver linings-never settle for less
Number of Parts: 1
Setting: Sam's house after Sam has been rescued
Category: romance/bit angsty
Age: any
Pairings: Sam/Pete Jack/Sam
Spoilers: New Order
Synopsis: Pete shows up at Sam's after the traumatic Fifth experiance, he doesn't stick around too long.
Author Notes: Thank you so very much to my Beta readers: Ellen, Phil and Lilly. Love to you allxxx. Okay so both Lilly and Ellen came up with some very great names for this and I couldn’t choose so I combined two. Please feedback.

~~~

Sam slammed the car door and made her way up the path to her porch.

The last couple of weeks had been tortuous; first the Colonel went ancient and got frozen in Antarctica. Then she gets kidnapped by a delusional replicator.

To think that she was living with Pete on a farm, she could never leave the SGC or her team like that. She couldn’t even imagine a life like that, let alone with Pete. Which begged the question...maybe it was time to think about where exactly he fit – or didn’t fit – into her life.

She let herself into her house and locked the door behind her. She walked to the couch and sat down heavily on it letting her exhaustion wash over her.

She had just been released from the infirmary and had been given a couple of days off to rest and recover. She had been offered two weeks but she refused, leaving in a hurry, craving some time alone.

Deciding that bed sounded like a good idea, Sam got up and noticed that her answering machine was flashing.

“Hi Sam, Pete here. I got your message about being away for a while and I have some time off so I thought I’d come over to water your plants if that’s alright, not that you could stop me because you won’t be home. You won’t get this till you get back so I will have already been there and gone. Just so you don’t panic if there’s a book out of place or something. Call me…Pete.”

She scanned the room; nothing had been moved.

The second message came to life.

“Hey Carter! I know you just left but you didn’t say bye, I’m just checking to see that you’re all right after what happened. You’ll never believe this but they’ve offered me a promotion and command of the base. I know its crazy, me in charge? Well I have lots of reading to do before I make up my mind so I better get to it, it’s a shame you’re not here to translate things for me, Daniel will have to do. If you need anything you know my number-I can’t promise words of wisdom but I can at least try. Carter never forget I’m here if and when you need me. O’Neill out.”

Sam smiled as the phone switched itself off.

After changing into her comfy, overly large Snoopy and Woodstock pyjamas Sam heard a car pull up outside the house. Two minutes later the sound of a key in the lock brought her to the front door, which opened to reveal Pete Shanahan.

“Sammy, I didn’t know you were back,” he smiled. “Why didn’t you call? I didn’t wake you did I?”

“I just got home,” she said wrapping her arms around herself.

“Snoopy?” he asked eyeing her pyjamas.

“Birthday present from Daniel,” she said walking into the living room and sitting on the couch.

“So, how are you?” he asked sitting next to her, closer than Sam would have liked.

“I’m okay, want some coffee? Tea?” she asked standing again.

“No thanks. What’s up?”

Avoiding his question she said, “I think I want a coffee,” she walked into the kitchen and put the kettle on.

Pete followed her and leant on the counter.

“Sam?”

“Pete?”

“You’d tell me if something’s up wouldn’t you?” he asked taking her hands in his.

“Yes,” she pulled away to find a cup.

“Sam what is wrong?”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” she grabbed a tin of biscuits and opened it.

“Sam, there is something wrong, you’ve been trying to distance yourself from me ever since I walked in the door.”

“It’s nothing Pete, just leave it,” Sam said flinging the tin down on the counter spilling the biscuits everywhere.

“Not until you tell me what’s wrong.”

The doorbell rang.

“Saved by the bell,” Sam tried a smile.

Pete walked to the door and flung it open.

“Hi Pete,” Daniel said surprised.

“Uh, Daniel right?” Daniel scowled.

“Yes, is Sam here?” he asked impatiently.

“Yes, she’s in the kitchen,” Pete waved him in.

Daniel walked into the kitchen; saw the biscuits everywhere and Sam’s red eyes.

“I’ve come at a bad time.”

“No Daniel,” Sam said holding onto his arm. “Please stay.”

“Want some help?” he smiled picking up a broken chocolate covered biscuit.

“So why are you here Daniel?” Pete asked grabbing a handful of crumbs.

“Well, Sam left in a hurry and we were all wondering if she was alright. Jack wanted to come but he’s been forced to sit and read some files or something, so he asked if I would come,” he poured the freshly boiled kettle. “Of course I said yes. He’s really uh, concerned about you Sam, we all are.”

“I’m fine,” she said turning away from him to put the biscuits in the bin.

“Sam, you don’t have to hide from us. Especially from me, we all know I am not one to hold my feeling back. You’re like my sister, my best friend, and I don’t want you to hurt because it breaks our hearts to see you like this,” Daniel put his hand on her shoulder.

Sam turned into him and cried onto his chest, he pulled her into a tight hug and kissed her head.

“What happened on that mission?” Pete asked.

“It’s a long story, it’s also classified,” Daniel said as Sam wept.

“So…shorten it,” he glared at Daniel.

Sam sniffed then pulled away, her eyes were red and her cheeks tear-stained. Daniel’s shirt was wet.

“Tell him,” she whispered.

“I think we better sit down.”

Pete was sitting in the armchair; Sam and Daniel were on the couch with cups of coffee.

“Sam was kidnapped, she and Teal’c were on a mission to try and contact some people when Fifth, err a guy took her and tortured her, he then made her believe that she was living with you on a farm in Montana, it was actually Fifth impersonating you,” Daniel took a sip of his coffee. “He told her he would kill us if she didn’t do as he said.”

“That’s why you’ve been acting weird?”

“Pete, I only realised it wasn’t real because I couldn’t see myself leaving the SGC for some farm in Montana or having a future like that…with you. I’m sorry,” she said quietly.

“It’s because of Jack isn’t it?” Pete asked angrily.

“What?”

“You are in love with Jack aren’t you? The only future you want is something you can’t have,” Pete grabbed his jacket from the back of the chair and stood up.

“Pete, I’m sorry.”

“I know; I can accept that. I understand why you don’t want to be with me; I can’t compete with a guy you’ve been working with for the last what, eight years? I hope you do get what you want Sam-or at least what you think you want,” Pete said, he walked over to Sam, planted a kiss on her head and walked out.

“I'm a terrible person aren’t I? I used him,” Sam said leaning on Daniel.

“Nothing is ever easy Sam, think of what you had to go through to get here.”

“I’d rather not,” she smiled. “Thanks Daniel.”

“Anytime. You do realise that a part of Jack doesn’t want to accept this new job offer?”

“Is he mad? Think of all the things he can do, things he can change. We don’t want to be stuck with some civilian who doesn’t have a clue about hostile aliens or some pompous old General that couldn’t give a damn about scientific finds…or worse, a government representative who is being bribed by Kinsey,” Sam said.

“Time to tell Jack of all the pro’s of the job?”

“Oh yes, if he doesn’t accept we will have to break in a new person who won’t do anything we want,” Sam stood up and yawned. “Maybe in the morning, I’m pooped.”

“Okay, have a good sleep Sam,” Daniel hugged her and went to leave. “Um, there is something Jack wants that he can’t have if he accepts this job.”

“Daniel, this isn’t about me and him, this is about the fate of the world.”

“Are you sure you are okay with that?”

“We’ll find a way, don’t you worry about it. Besides, we work at a highly classified base under a highly secure Mountain. There isn’t much they can do if word spreads if they want to keep it that way.”

Daniel smiled.

“Thank you Daniel, for coming round like this.”

“Like I said, anytime, day or night. Preferably day though. Love the PJ’s Sammy,” he winked and closed the door behind him.

Sam walked to the phone and dialled a number.

“Hey, I thought I’d save you from the reading and the thinking, which I know you hate… it means you are entitled to change certain things about the base and rules etc to comply with the secretiveness of the base… yes Sir… Jack… seven… sure, I’ll see you then… bye.”

~finis~