POORER
After reading the note that Daniel had left on the computer, Sam sat down to put the past week into perspective. A week that, even though no one had been injured or dying, the mental injuries had become just as worrisome. She sat down on the stool in front of her computer, replaying the week over in her mind…
Sam had attempted again to work on the latest experiment to peak her interest. The problem was, that it had peaked last week…this week she was just peeked.
There was that horrific argument in the gate room between Daniel and the Colonel. Then, she and the Colonel had words. Then she had spoken to the General about the original debriefing that had taken place between the Colonel and the General and came forth with her input. Then she and General Hammond had a discussion. It just kept going and going. Then, to make matters worse, she and Teal'c had almost resorted to a screaming match over the Daniel and Colonel. It seemed that everyone had taken sides in the matter.
Getting up, she went to Daniel's lab to get some coffee. Daniel always had a secret stash of the good beans and Sam sat deep in thought, enjoying the rich aroma while it brewed. Sitting on the chair in his office, she felt more alone that she had in a while. Her *boys* had left her. Daniel was no longer seeking her counsel and had run away to Abydos, and the Colonel had grabbed Teal'c and had run away to the opposite end of the universe from Daniel, even though the word he used was 'vacation'.
Sam filled two mugs with coffee and went to find Janet, eventually locating the doctor buried under a barrage of paperwork in her office.
"Break, Janet?" Sam inquired, waving a mug of coffee in front of her.
"Oh yes, definitely," Janet answered gratefully, grabbing at the proffered mug like someone drowning to a life preserver.
Sam took the chair opposite Janet and the two women savored the quiet moment of friendship.
"Daniel's stash?"
"Janet, do you honestly believe that the commissary has coffee of Daniel's caliber?"
"Of course…how stupid of me. Think he found the survival kit?" the doctor asked, smiling.
"I'm not only hoping he did, but I hope he put it use. He's lucky to be able to run to some place that will take care of him."
"Do I detect a hint of jealousy?" Janet questioned.
Sam put the cup down, thinking how right Janet was. "Honestly, Janet, yes. A place to go where he is accepted unconditionally. Not too many of us have that."
"Sam, honey…that's called family. You have family Sam. Your dad…"
"Janet, let's really think about that. I've become closer to my father since he became a tok'ra. There's something not so right about that."
"But he loves you Sam."
"Of course, the best way he knows how. But it's not like I can pick up the phone and call him when something new and exciting comes into my life without the SGC and the tok'ra base becoming aware of it."
"Like Orlin?"
"Orlin, Narim, Martouf…."
"Getting your point."
"Your team."
"Janet, what team? I'm afraid Daniel isn't coming back. That he is looking for a part of his life that he lost. He's an archeologist, we've made him a soldier. That is never what he wanted." Sam paused for a moment to sip her coffee. "The Colonel and Teal'c left, too," she added quietly.
Janet smiled and nodded her head, aware that Sam was feeling deserted and abandoned and was well on her way to being the sole participant in a pity party of grand proportions. "Sam, no one left…they just needed time. In my professional opinion and in the opinion of your best friend…so do you."
And, with that, Sam unwittingly repeated the same words that Daniel had told Kasuf. "I'm lost, without my team, I'm lost."
"Honey…I wouldn't call it lost…you have 'empty nest syndrome'. Your boys have all left home and there is nothing for you to do."
"Janet…I have my research, my science …."
"Go ahead, I'm waiting for you to make the connection, Sam."
"But my family is missing…I mean no offense, Janet, but."
Janet leaned forward and touched Sam's hand gently. "None taken. You got left behind, girl, simple as that. Poor little Sam got left at home, while the boys went on their grand adventures."
A hint of a smile appeared on Sam's face. "Janet…Abydos is 120 in the shade, Vegas with Teal'c and the Colonel?…Come on."
With a laugh Janet replied, "You know what I mean. But they will be back. And maybe the time away will have done them all some good…and things can go back to …you know what I mean."
"I know. Janet."
Back in the present, Sam leaned forward and reread the message that Daniel had left for her, glad that "poor" Sam had all her boys back home with her.