"What is it with you and Daniel always stopping the damn lift to have a chat!"

"I know you don't like Pete."

"I never said I don't like him" Jack said hurriedly.

"But he and I...what did you say?"

"I said I didn't say I don't like him."

"You like him?" said asked, mistrusting.

"Well..." he looked over at her, then turned to face her, only the merest trace of a smile on his face.

"I think he's charming." Jack said. "In fact, I think you have exquisite taste in men."

"Exquisite?" she asked, not bothering to suppress the grin. Jack relaxed. If he could still make Sam smile, everything was ok.

"Exquisite. Why, the bloom's not wearing off, is it?"

"No!" Sam said hurriedly, facing the front of the lift again, as Jack finally figured out how to restart it. "No, no, no, we're both very happy."

"Four no's." said Jack, quietly. "That's extremely happy."

"Hey, he's got one good point at least."

"Just one?" Jack asked, frowning.

"I've been with him two weeks and he's still alive." She said, smiling to show she was only joking, that all those deaths hadn't really hurt her that much, but Jack didn't smile back.

"I've been with you seven years and I'm still alive too." He said softly.

The lift stopped, the doors opened, and Jack stepped out, but before he could walk away, Sam stopped the lift doors closing.

"Sir!" she called. He turned around, hands rammed in his pockets, and walked back to her, questioning. "Your favourite movie...It's Life of Brian."

He smiled, and nodded, then glancing around admitted,

"I was humming about a woman"

Sam tried to keep smiling, but she was aware her smile had frozen, and there was a sick feeling in the pit of her stomach.

"Really? I'm very happy for you."

"Yeah." He said, still smiling, and leaning in closer, whispered to her. "Her name's Samantha.".

He span on his heels, and walked away, humming 'Always look on the bright side of life'. Laughing, suddenly light-hearted, Sam let the lift doors close.

THE END