5. “Well, there they go,” sighed Sam, as Daniel swung Vala into his arms for a long and giddy kiss on their way to the car. The wedding was over, and the crowd was dissipating.
“I believe I’m happy for her,” said Tomin by her side, but his face was hardly happy.
“I want to be happy for them both,” said Sam, her face equally without joy. “I just didn’t think it would be this hard to let him go.”
“I understand,” said Tomin, looking to her. “I had placed so much of myself in her care, so much that I was directionless without her—and it is taking so long to reclaim it.”
“Yeah, tell me about it,” said Sam, smiling a little to know she had someone who wasn’t giving blind sympathy. “He never even knew, mostly because I didn’t really know until too late.” She sighed. “And now they can go off into oblivion, while we are left behind, alone.”
Tomin didn’t answer, just stood by her side as the sun dipped down below the horizon, and the reception was being cleared up.
“Is this your first time off base on Earth?” asked Sam suddenly, curiously.
“Yes,” said Tomin. “It’s a strange planet,” he admitted.
“You don’t want to see some of it, do you?” she asked. “It’s just—I don’t know, I feel kind of restless tonight.”
“I would,” said Tomin, more for her sake than for his. He needed the company, though, even though he was not particularly curious about Earth society.
Sam could tell his thoughts by reading his face, so open and kind, and she smiled her silent thanks. How had Vala left such a man anyway? Not that Sam didn’t understand the appeal of Daniel…no, she shouldn’t be thinking about that anymore.
“Come on, I’ll drive,” she said, beckoning to her car. “You haven’t experienced anything until you try Earth beer,” she added, as lightly as she could.
Tomin felt a bit of a smile creep onto his face as he followed her, the sort of smile that had left with Vala. He was not an adventurous man on his own—now he knew what had made Vala so special to him, that she had pushed him into adventure against his will. But she wasn’t the only one. From what he could tell, Sam would be just as good for him.

(Whoops! I accidentally wrote six...)

6. “Drop it, Rodney,” said Sam.
“I just don’t get it,” he continued, ignoring her. “I mean, you’ve always liked space, I know, but aliens?”
“It’s not because he’s an alien, I’ve told you that,” said Sam.
“But really, what else is there to explain it?” protested Rodney. “I mean, there’s plenty of great guys for you on Earth, and I’m not just talking about me though of course I know we’d be great together, but you always go for the aliens.”
“I don’t,” said Sam. “It—it just seems like it.”
“I’ve read the files,” said Rodney. “Martouf, Orlin, various other dashing young things who caught your eye and whose names are unimportant…and of course, now you finally choose this one.”
“He has a name, Rodney,” ground out Sam through clenched teeth. “And I didn’t ask for your comment, I was just giving you the news.”
“I just don’t get it—you didn’t strike me as a love at first sight person,” continued Rodney, oblivious to all but the sound of his voice.
“Rodney!” snapped Sam.
“Samantha?” The quiet, soothing voice calmed her nerves in an instant, even from across the room.
Rodney looked up, uncomfortable. “Ah, uh, hi there,” he said nervously, waving his hand.
“Samantha, is he bothering you?” asked the one whose gentle persistence had finally paid off, when Sam had finally let her heart run free.
“Yes,” said Sam, but without frustration any longer.
Rodney caught the other man’s look, clear in its intent, and swallowed. “Right, I should be leaving.”
“Mm-hmm. Goodbye, Rodney,” said Sam.
“Yeah,” said Rodney, nodding his farewell as he left the two on their own. “Sam, Narim.”