::Dining Room::

The next morning Samantha Carter had come down for breakfast only because her presence was 'requested' though she got the feeling it wasn't really a request. Her mind wasn't really on much including eating, she hadn't slept well last night instead tossing and turning every half hour it seemed like. She'd gone for another run early, early this morning but it hadn't helped.

"Yoo hoo, Sam" Ashley Magnus called waving at her now.

Looking down at her plate not really eating blue eyes focused on the voice as it interrupted, "Uh yeah...yeah Ashley I'm sorry, what?"

Henry was sitting closest to the blonde and tried to offer her a smile, he felt sorry for her but there wasn't much he could do. She just needed to accept what she was but he couldn't make her do that, he would make sure she knew he was there if she wanted to talk.

"What's the name of the martial arts I saw you practicing in the gym this morning" the girl asked cutting up her pancakes?

Setting her fork down and reaching for her coffee, she would need her third cup of that in an hour with the way things were going. "It's called Tal'Sha Raun, a friend taught me the basics several years ago...I have to say it's come in very handy in the past."

The younger woman was impressed, "I have never heard of that, do you think you could show it to me," she asked thinking it would come in handy out in the field every now and then?

Having seen the young girl fight she absently nodded taking a sip of her coffee then swallowed, "Yeah I can show you the basics in just a little while."

Ashley smiled, "That would be great I'll be around all day just let me know when you are ready" she told her not wanting to put her on the spot in any way.

After Sam had acknowledged the girl's statement and returned to pushing her food around Henry leaned over and touched her arm. "You're going to be al right find me if you want to talk," he told her before he got up to leave.

"Thanks Henry" she told him watching as he left.

As it turned out or by design William Zimmerman was the next to last one to leave, leaving the two ladies alone.

It wasn't until a mug was gently sitting in front of her where her almost full plate had been that the blue eyes had focused again on the woman now taking a seat beside her gracefully, "Thank you" figuring it was more coffee.

"Drink" Helen told her she was making this so hard on herself. "Are you always this stubborn and hard on yourself," she asked gently? She was rarely wrong about people and she truly hoped this was not one of those times.

Picking up the mug Carter had to smile, "My best friend used to ask me the same thing all the time, she was a doctor too" and smelled the liquid making a face. "Do I even want to ask what this is?"

"Probably not" easily crossing her legs.

~Yeah probably right~ tentatively taking a sip, "Oh ugh" setting the mug down. "That tastes worse than when the General starts getting creative in the kitchen" making Helen smile a little. "Thanks but I'll stick with the coffee."

"Just drink it down and don't think about the taste, I find holding ones' nose helps a great deal" Helen reassured her as she removed the coffee mug. "What answer would you give your friend the doctor?"

Carter made a face, "The same one I'll give you, yes frequently. I prefer coffee, really" she stated watching as the woman gently put the cup of whatever closer. "Right" getting the impression the woman really didn't care what she preferred. "I'm sorry I wasn't very good company at breakfast, I hope none of the others took it personally."

Gently the older woman rested a hand on her shoulder, "I am sure none of them did, they are all concerned for you. Now come on while its still sort of hot it's really much worse cold."

~I took combat training, this shouldn't be that hard~ the woman thought nodding and took about eight large drinks in short order finally setting the empty cup down, "YUCK" making a face, "No offense."

With a satisfied smile Helen nodded her head, "None taken dear I assure you. Now come along with me." She would walk her back to her room and by then the woman should be ready for sleep.

::Hallway/Elevator/Stairs::

By the time they reached the elevator Samantha Carter yawned tiredly and figured that tea would make her sleep, Janet had always tried to do the same but it had only worked a very few times, "You know...Ashley will be disappointed I'm not...available to show her those moves."

The older woman pressed the button for them, "This is only the start of the day, a few hours sleep and you will be able to show her without injury to you both." With any luck it would also clear the woman's head but she didn't say that, she was not going to bring it up unless Samantha did herself.

"You know what I don't get," the woman finally asked?

"What is that Samantha" escorting her into the elevator?

Leaning back against the wall yawning again, "I've been a military brat all my life, the last assignments I was on were the highest classification this government has and I was watched pretty closely medically, I can't count the number of times I've had blood tests or anything else...why didn't anyone else catch anything about this abnormality I have or gift, whatever you want to call it?"

Helen looked at her t answer was not complicated, "Because I have never publicly published the fact that a broken strain in that position indicates an abnormality. To the normal observer it is of no consequence, I can't risk information like that being public."

The mere fact that she hadn't thought or realized that proved to Samantha Carter how tired she was squeezing the bridge of her nose, "I'm sorry, I don't mean to question I'm just trying to understand I suppose...put it in a context I can understand."

She watched as Sam sort of lumped against the wall, "It is very understandable, I know it was a shock, but you must realize that we are all here to help and that you are not alone in anyway. When you leave you can walk away and pretend this place and what you learned never happened. Or you can know you have friends here who know and accept you without question."

*A Few Hours Later*

::H. Magnus Study::

"I'm telling you Magnus" William Zimmerman stated from his spot in front of her desk shaking his head. "I really don't think Sam was ready to handle this, she barely speaks, hardly eats and you had to get her to sleep...maybe this was all too much. I just wish I could get a look at her file from the military, whatever she's been doing has impacted her and I feel like my hands are being tied to prevent us from helping her. What about having Henry bust into the records" he asked hopefully?

As a doctor she understood his problem, "Will I understand your frustration and I have had Henry look but whatever is behind the file we can't get at is protected better then any government secret in a long time. You will simply have to do your best and deal with the current situation. Maybe after her sleep she will be more willing to talk."

"Or" came a voice from the doorway, "You could simply ask me" Samantha Carter stated.

Both looked over surprised she was up only a few hours later.

"Mind if I come in Doctor Magnus" the woman asked?

Waving her forward, "Not at all please come join us," offering her the other chair on the other side of her desk.

"How are you feeling Sam," Will asked as he stood up to hold the chair for her?

~He really is a lot like Daniel~ the blonde woman thought taking a seat, "A little better Will, thank you" and offered him a smile. "I didn't mean to eavesdrop, I started to knock but didn't want to interrupt your conversation."

Helen smiled a little, "Not to worry, if it had been really private we would have closed the door something I rarely do" she explained.

"So I understand you were in the middle of a discussion about me I believe" the woman began again.

Will cleared his throat, "I was just telling Dr. Magnus that I was concerned about you and felt that I did not have what I needed to help you come to terms with this new information," he said honestly.

Surprising him she nodded, "That's very true you don't but you will" she explained. "But you should also know that if anyone ever finds out I told you what I'm about to tell you that I could be executed for treason without a trial...all right?"

"Very well" Helen stated easily, she was more than accustomed to keeping secrets.

Getting up Zimmerman went and closed the door the fewer people that knew the better he figured, it would also keep her from being overheard. "Treason without a trial, that is pretty serious. I assure you neither of us will share what we hear."

Samantha Carter nodded, "I know that or I wouldn't be telling you, believe me. Back in 1937 at an archaeological dig in Giza..." she began.

*Epilogue*

[Two Years Later]

::Dining Room::

Carrying the daily mail Ashley Magnus stopped to kiss her mother hello, they were still waiting on Henry and Will to get down for breakfast and she took her seat, "I picked up the mail on the way in mom...mostly junk, bills that I'll dump in your office" offering her a knowing smile. "Here's a package for you" holding out a shoe sized box to her, "The return address is..."

Just then Bigfoot appeared, "Will requests that you both bring Henry and meet him in your study Doctor, he says it's urgent."

::H. Magnus Study::

As the four people came into the study, Helen making a comment about breakfast being cold William Zimmerman was standing in front of the television and entertainment area that Henry had set up for use though Helen rarely ever used it preferring a good book and held up his finger for them to be silent, "Look" and nodded toward the television.

On the set it was a live coverage of a news conference from a new firm opening up in Washington, D.C. and already they were one of the top 1,000 firms in the world in only a year and a half in unofficial operation.

"As you can see we are waiting for the CEO and owner of the new Innovations Technology, a subsidiary yet independent entity of Greenfield Technologies Worldwide Enterprises to arrive. Samantha Carter came onto the scene almost two years ago like a world wind with innovations on existing technology after a remarkable career in the US Air Force. The CEO of Greenfield Technologies said he gave her the start up money as a challenge and she surpassed even his ideals coordinating release of upgrades from technology worked on by several international military organizations. If this works as it's advertised ladies and gentlemen we could be looking at the first stepping-stone to what may one day unite this planet together in ways we have never thought of. Miss Carter, her daughter and friends should be arriving at the site momentarily and we hope to have an interview with her after the ribbon cutting. In other news..."

"Well would you look at that," Henry said with a smile?

Ashley shook her head, "That woman is something else I can tell you that."

Will and Helen looked at each other and smiled.

"Yes and this is just the beginning of her adventure," Magnus stated as she looked at the television proudly. Now that Sam understood and realized how to use her gift she was going to be unstoppable.