DISCLAIMER: Yeah, the SG-1 guys are all property of MGM, World 
Gekko Corp and Double Secret productions. This is all in fun, no 
infringement on copyrights or trademarks was intended. All other 
characters, ideas, etc., herein are copyrighted to the author. 
TITLE: CONTENTMENT 
AUTHOR: Rowan Darkstar 
EMAIL: rowan_d1@yahoo.com 
RATING: All Ages 
CATEGORIES: Angst 
ARCHIVE: Yes, just let me know. 

Written for the GateShip Wednesday Shorts "Singularity" Challenge
300 words

"Contentment" 
by 
Rowan Darkstar (rowan_d1@yahoo.com) 



**"Samantha Jane, you're soaked.  Mud all over you...don't you 
know little girls are supposed to be clean?"

The smile belies the reprimand.  And Allison Carter is soon as 
muddy as her daughter and high-fiving little fingers, because 
Samantha climbed the MacKenzie's willow tree higher than Mark and 
even higher than Ed Barnaby who held the record for the whole 
block last year.**

Sam tries not to smell the dandelions on her skin or feel the 
rubber of the park swings sticking to the backs of her thighs.

Janet's smile was so wide when she took Cassie's hand and lead 
her home.  The brass are still looking for a suitable home, but 
Sam would bet her life Cassie's already found one.

**"A mother's instinct, perhaps."**  So easy to smile and joke.  
She would never take a child home.  Her career is taking her 
everywhere she never dreamt she could be.  She's a field soldier.  
Not a mother.

Sam sits on the floor in front of her couch, looking around the 
apartment she hasn't fully decorated.  She doesn't notice the 
packing boxes in the corner; they have become part of the decor.

She didn't sit in her lab the last two nights and think about her 
second bedroom housing only spare computer parts.  She didn't 
think about the landlord showing her this apartment and asking if 
she had children because this was such an excellent school 
district.  She didn't think about popsicles and oil paints and 
plastic hearts on shoelaces and soft arms holding onto her neck 
with a fierceness beyond their tender years.

**"I love you, Samantha Jane."

"Always?"

"Always, always, always, little girl."**

Sam hugs her knees to her chest and doesn't think.

Because Sam Carter is all about her career, these days.

And she's okay like this.

She's okay.

*****

rowan_d1@yahoo.com