Samantha Carter's head snapped back from the unexpected blow as her brain registered the pain and shock.

"Oh my God, Sam," Pete cried out, grabbing her upper arm. "I didn't mean to hit you!"

Jerking her arm away from him, Sam ran her tongue over the freshly split lip. The distinct coppery taste made her blood boil as she glared at the man who had dared to touch her violently.

"Tell me," she said too calmly, unable to keep the venom from her voice, "how do you not mean to hit someone."

"Please, Sam," he begged, looking completely helpless. "You gotta know I'd never hurt you on purpose. It was—I was surprised, you shouldn't have just blurted it out like that!"

"So it's my fault?" Sam's carefully guarded control was starting to slip. How the hell could Pete have fooled her so easily? She'd thought he was one of the good guys. Obviously, she was mistaken.

She had just told him she wanted to postpone the wedding for a few months. After being abducted by Fifth on the last mission, which he hadn't even given her time to tell him about, she needed to regain her internal bearings before committing to someone forever.

Pete had immediately jumped down her throat, screaming about her inappropriate feelings for her team—one member in particular—and accused her of cheating. She'd called him an insecure ass, which immediately preceded the backhand across her face.

"No, it's not your fault, but you shouldn't provoke me like that, baby," he reached for her. Sam sidestepped his hand and glared. If Pete thought she'd just forgive and forget, he had another thing coming. The asshole was lucky he was still standing.

A knock at the door drew their attention as Sam moved to answer it.

"Leave it," Pete ordered, his voice belying his tender playacting. He might want her to think he was ashamed of his behavior, but it was obvious he wasn't.

"It's my guys," she said simply, watching his face contort with anger. Her wording 'my guys' had been specific for a reason.

"You mean it's him," Pete snarled as he stalked forward to block her path.

"Pete," Sam said firmly, "move."

"We're not done with our conversation yet," he ordered and Sam couldn't help the scoff that emerged from her.

"We are so done," Sam said darting around him to open the door for her commanding officer, Daniel, and Teal'c.