Sam woke the next morning to a headache. Although this time it wasn't splitting her head in two, and this time she felt somewhat human again. She gazed around the room, taking a second or two to remember where she was. She then remembered her CO. She sat bolt upright and immediately regretted it, as the room swung precariously. Clamping her eyes shut, she hung on to the edge of the couch.

"Whoa there. Easy Sam, take it slowly now."

She felt one hand on her arm and another on her forehead. Opening her eyes, she found Loren sat next to her.

"What happened?" Sam asked.

"You passed out last night. You know you really ought to have mentioned that knock to your head."

Sam reached up and grimaced as her fingers touched the egg sized lump on her head.

"Sorry. I guess I was more concerned about Colonel O'Neill," Sam apologised, attempting to get to her feet. "How is he?"

Loren stood up with Sam and hung onto her elbow. "I'm afraid the shoulder has become infected. He developed a pretty high fever during the night, but it has come down a notch or two this morning."

"The lines?" Sam asked hopefully.

Loren shook her head. "Sorry. They're still down."

Sam sighed. "I'd like to see him."

"Sure." The doctor smiled and guided Sam to the bedroom.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The first thing that hit Sam was how still her CO was. The guy was usually a bundle of energy, never sitting still for more than a few moments. Whilst sitting on watch when they were off world, Sam noticed Jack O'Neill never really `rested`. Even when he was asleep, there was always one demon or another waiting for him.

Yet here, other than his slightly laboured breathing, Jack was as still as stone. She also noticed how flushed his face was. A sign that, although it may have dropped, the fever was still present.

As she eased herself onto the edge on the bed, Sam was surprised to see Jack open his eyes. She grinned, as his bleary gaze locked onto hers.

"Hey Carter," he croaked.

"Hey yourself, Sir. How are you feeling?"

"Oh, I've had better days," he said, lifting a shaky hand and scrubbing his face. "Much better days. Are you okay?"

"I'm fine, Sir. Bit of a headache, but okay."

"That's good." He sighed. "So tell me. How in the hell did I end up in Scott Piper's house?"

"With a helping hand from fate and a minor miracle from God, Sir."

"What?"

Well Sir, its like this..."

#####

Jack tried to listen, but was still weak from the effects of infection. By the time Sam had finished her story, he was asleep again.

Loren led Sam through to the kitchen and made her sit whilst she made pancakes and coffee.

"Where are the guys?" Sam asked, settling herself at the table.

"The boys have gone off fishing again, and Scott. Hmm. He's around somewhere. I think he was planning on cleaning out one of the sheds out back."

Taking in the cabin for the first time, Sam was impressed.

"You have a great place here Loren. I'm jealous."

Loren smiled. "Thanks. The cabin was run down when we bought it. Scott and Mike spent a lot of weekends out here, renovating it. It took them almost two years, but they got there. They were pretty proud of themselves, let me
tell you. We spend a lot of free time up here now Scott is retired. Will is Scott's cousin's boy. He lives in the city with his parents." The smile disappeared momentarily. "They're having `problems`, so Scott likes to get him up here whenever he can. It's good for him and the kid seems to enjoy it. Gets his mind off things for a while."

"How far back do Scott and the Colonel go? Judging by how comfortable you are with him, I take it you were great friends."

"Still are. We just haven't seen Jack in a while. Not really since his son died."

Sam looked sadly into her coffee cup.

"I didn't know him then, but from what Daniel tells me, he was in pretty bad shape."

"He was. It was such a bad time. Watching him and Sara falling apart like that, it just about broke Scott's heart. He and Jack went through college together. Joined the Air Force together. Heck, they even hit the rank of Colonel together. Jack and Sara were witnesses at our wedding too. When Charlie was born, I don't think I'd ever seen the man so happy. He had everything he ever wanted." Loren sighed sadly. "Then when *it* happened, there was no getting through to Jack. He blamed himself two hundred percent, for what happened to Charlie. He retired from the Air Force, locked everyone out. Including Sara. He spent most of his time in Charlie's room, doing God knows what. If Sara tried to talk to him, he'd get up and leave the room. Then the Air Force managed to persuade Jack to take some top-secret mission. One that would take him out of the country. By the time he got back, Sara had left. Then Jack disappeared again. Scott was out of his mind, thinking he had done something stupid. Turns out, he'd gone off on another job. The last we heard, he was still with the Forces. That he was living somewhere in Colorado Springs, but was more often than not, away on one secret mission or another."

Loren walked to the sink and put her coffee cup in the washing up bowl. She stood for a moment with her back to Sam. Finally she turned, smile back in place.

"Who's Daniel?" She asked.

Sam smiled. "Someone who was in the right place, at the right time."

"Okay," Loren replied, not wanting to push. She quickly dried the dishes and put them away. "It's good to see Jack. Even if the circumstances aren't how I would have liked them."

"I know," Sam agreed. "But *what* circumstances! I mean what are the odds of us being found, let alone by someone the Colonel hasn't seen in years."

Loren laughed. "As I said last night, he still has the luck of the Irish with him."

#####

It was early evening before Jack came fully awake again. He was still too hot, but the pain in his shoulder seemed better. Hearing the door creak, he turned his head to see Loren come into the room with a tray. On seeing Jack awake, she gave him a bright smile.

"Hey. Look who's back," she said, setting the tray down on the dresser. "How are feeling, Hun?"

Jack couldn't stop the grin that spread across his face. Loren hadn't changed a bit. She was still the same bright and breezy, loving and caring woman she had always been. Scott was a lucky guy, he reckoned.

"Hey Doc. Better," he confessed. "I feel better."

"That's good to hear, Jack." She smiled. "I need to take another look at that shoulder and change the dressing again. Okay?"

"Knock yourself out."

Loren carefully peeled back the old dressing, happily noting that at least the wound didn't appear to be getting any worse.

"Looks like the drugs are kicking in," she told Jack, quickly replacing the dressing.

She reached up and placed a hand to his forehead. "Still some fever there, but it's coming down. You think you could eat something?"

"As long as Scotty didn't make it." Jack grinned.

"Hey, I'm hurt," Scott complained as he came into the room, carrying a food tray.

Loren laughed, and picking up her own tray, headed for the door.

"I'll leave you guys to it" she said disappearing.

Scott set the tray down and helping Jack sit forward, he piled a couple of extra pillows to support his friend. He then set the tray carefully in Jacks lap and handed him a spoon.

"Chicken broth," he told Jack. "Pipers original."

Jack took a mouthful and pulled a mock grimace. "Just like old times."

Scott laughed.

"What did you do with my 2IC?" Jack asked, after taking another mouthful of broth.

"I haven't done anything with her. Sam still has a sore head and Loren insisted she lie down. Last time Loren looked, she was sleeping. She's a stubborn lady. Stubborn like her CO."

Jack just grunted.

Scott watched as his friend tried and failed to finish the broth. "So, Jack. It's been a while. How've you been?"

"I've been good Scotty. Right as rain."

"That's good to hear. Seeing as the last time I saw you, you were anything but."

"That was a long time ago. Things change, I moved on. Water under bridges and all that."

Scott sat down in a chair next to Jack's bed.

"So. What happened, Jack? Where'd you go? I heard old Uncle Sam managed to get his hands on you again."

"Yeah. I was made an offer that, at the time I couldn't refuse. Still working with the Air Force now."

"How's Sara?" Scott asked, without meeting Jack's eye.

Jack sighed. "She's fine. As much as I can tell."

"You guys don't see each other so much then?"

"That's what happens when folks divorce Scotty." Jack let his eyes shut. "We really only meet up on certain dates."

Scott didn't need a further explanation, he knew Jack meant `Charlie` dates.

"I never did get to say it Jack, but I'm sorry about what happened to Charlie. He was a great kid."

Keeping his eyes closed, Jack replied quietly. "The best."

Silence filled the room for long moments. Scott could see Jack weariness, could hear his breathing begin to change. Neither did he miss the way Jack hugged into the blankets. Climbing to his feet, he picked up the tray of half eaten broth.

"I'll let you get some rest," he said. As he turned to leave the room, Jack's voice stopped him.

"Scotty?"

"Yeah?"

"Sorry I didn't stay in touch--," Jack mumbled, voice barely audible. "I missed you guys."

Scott smiled sadly, as his friend drifted off once more.

"We missed you too, Bud."

#####

Jack's fever rose again as the night went on.

Scott watched from the doorway, powerless to help as his friend was over taken by chills so severe, he could hear Jacks teeth chattering.

He also saw for the first time, the sense of loss and remorse that filled Jack, as the nightmares came to haunt him. Sam insisted on sitting with her CO, offering comfort and support, despite the fact Jack had no idea she was there.

Loren came to stand behind Scott. Wrapping her arms round his waist, she rested her face against his shoulder.

"Things aren't going to plan, Colonel," she said, quietly. "I don't like the way his fever keeps spiking. I think Jack's going to need some help real soon. I was thinking, maybe it would be wise to head out for the Richmond's
place tomorrow? The lines may be down, but I they have a car. Maybe they would get Jack to a hospital?"

"Okay. If that's what you think, Doc. I'll set out at dawn, should reach the place by early afternoon."

#####

True to his word, the first rays of sun saw Scott and the boys getting ready to head off in search of help.

"You guys be careful out there. I don't mind you taking short cuts, so long as you don't end up at the bottom of some cliff. Okay?"

Scott grinned and kissed his wife.

"We'll be as quick as we can. You just worry about Jack."

Loren reached out and pulled his jacket zipper a little higher.

"Oh, Sam's doing enough worrying for the both of us." She smiled.

Standing on the porch in the dawn, watching the tree men walk away, Loren wrapped her arms around herself.

"Hurry back, guys," she whispered, before going back inside and closing the door on the cold morning air.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

She walked back into the bedroom. Sam was curled up asleep in the chair beside the bed. Smiling, she gently shook the younger woman's shoulder.

"Sam? Sam wake up."

"Hmm?" Sam mumbled, before coming fully awake. "What? What is it?" She asked, her eyes going immediately to Jack's still form.

"It's okay. He's sleeping. I want you to do the same. Go lie down and get some rest. There's that nice big comfy bed next door, why don't you go use it? I can watch Jack for now."

"I'm okay," Sam insisted.

Loren wasn't having any of it. "Just a couple of hours then. Come on Sam, humour me. What do you say?"

Sam grinned wearily. "Okay." Climbing to her feet, she looked at her sleeping CO. "You'll call me if there's a change?"

Loren nodded. "I'll call you," She promised.

As Sam sloped off, Loren took up her place in the chair. Although his fever had dropped a little, his breathing was becoming more laboured. Aware that Jack was becoming weaker; Loren took his limp hand in hers and unconsciously began to rub her thumb in circles.

"Hang on just a while longer, Jack. Okay?" she said softly. "Just a little while longer."

#####

Sam wandered aimlessly around the cabin. She found herself clock watching. Grousing at herself, she wandered back along the hallway to the bedroom.

Loren looked up from her magazine and offered a smile.

"Hi. How are you doing?" she asked.

"I'm okay. I just wish Scott was back, that's all."

"I know. Me too, but the Richmond's place is a good hike. They're probably over half way there now."

"I know," Sam replied, dejectedly. She wandered over and sat down on the edge of the bed.

Loren watched Sam watching Jack and a smile spread across her lips.

"How long have you two known each other?" she asked.

"About four years," Sam replied. "We were assigned together for an out of town mission. Given the results of that mission, we've stayed on the same team since."

"So, it won't have been long after Charlie died?"

"About a year. Not long after the Colonel and his wife had signed their divorce papers."

Loren grinned. "Sounds to me like Daniel isn't the only one with timing."

Sam looked up. "Hmm. How do you mean?"

"I mean, you were in the right place to help Jack when he needed it."

Sam laughed. "Noooo, it was the job that got the Colonel back on track."

"Nothing to do with you, huh?"

Sam looked puzzled. "You've lost me."

Putting the magazine down, Loren turned to face her.

"Okay, you want me to spell it out?"

Sam's eyebrows knitted together as she tried to work it out. Finally the penny dropped, her eyes widened and to her horror, her face flushed to epic proportions.

Knowing her reaction had just given away the biggest secret of possibly her whole life, barring the gate, she stammered: "H how did ~?"

Grinning like a Cheshire cat, Loren stood up and taking her by the arm, led her into the kitchen.

"Don't be so surprised, Sam. It's written all over your face. A blind man could see there's more to Jack O'Neill than him being your CO," she said, pouring a cup of coffee and placing it down on the table. "Does Jack know?"

Sam hesitated at first, and then thought ` What's the difference now? `

"Yes, but we avoid talking about it ~ at least I do. I think Jack feels awkward too." She confessed.

"Whatever for?" Loren asked, genuinely taken aback, but not enough to miss Sam using his first name.

Sam shrugged her shoulders. "Where's the point in trying when nothing could ever come of it?"

Loren thought for a moment, then her eyes widened. "The Military? You're avoiding each other because of the *military*?"

"You're a Colonel's wife, Loren. You know the rules as well as I do."

"I do. And they made no sort of difference to Scott and me."

Sam was stunned. "You mean.?"

"I had just past all my final exams and got a commission at Hurlburt, when I met Scott. He was already a Lieutenant and was making an impression with the boys upstairs. We went unnoticed for just over two years, before I decided I loved my man too much to let my career get in the way. I came out of the forces and took up private practice. We were married within three months. Best career move I ever made." Loren laughed.

Sam shook her head in disbelief. "Two *years*?"

Serious now, Loren met Sam's gaze. "Some things you have to grab while you can, Honey. You may never get a second chance, and God knows if anyone deserves a chance, Jack does."

#####

For the next hour, Loren busied herself between keeping a careful eye on Jack and doing housework.

Sam on the other hand, continued to wander, having more to think about now than Jack's physical condition. Sitting on the porch steps now, her mind was doing cartwheels. She knew Jack felt the same way about her. He had admitted it to Anise's stupid machine. But she hadn't even dared to think that maybe it *could* happen ~ until now. How would Jack feel about it? Did he feel enough for her, to risk his career by sneaking around like school kids? Did she feel enough for him to do the same? Scott and Loren had managed to keep it secret all that time. God knows if they could keep something as huge and exciting as the Stargate a secret, surely they could handle a little affair?

Without realising it, she began to chuckle to herself. The idea of she and Jack stealing kisses in a storage cupboard, playing footsie under the briefing table or sending confidential memo's to each other and signing with a bunch of xxx's, appealed to her sense of humour.

She was still chuckling a moment later, when the cabin door creaked open behind her.

"Sam?" Loren's voice shook.

She turned to see her pale, shocked face.

"Oh God. What? What happened? Is it Jack?" Sam asked jumping to her feet.

"No. Jack's okay."

"Then what? Tell me what's wrong?"

Loren slowly held out her hands. Sam looked, and for a moment it didn't register what she was looking at. Then her jaw dropped and her eyes widened.

In her hands, Loren held a cell phone and a watch. Sam's cell phone and Jack's watch.

"Oh my God." Sam breathed. "How? Where?

"I found them in Will's drawers," Loren explained. "I was putting his clothes back."

Sam eyes fell on the phone lines on the wall behind Loren. She followed the line, along the top of the windows, along the wall to the corner of the cabin. As the wire went up to the roof, Sam saw the wire had been severed.

"He cut the wires," Sam spat. "The little runt cut the wires."

Loren was still in a daze. "God, Sam. What do I do?"

Anger now replacing the shock, Sam took her cell phone from Loren's hand. "I know what *I'm* going to do."

#####

Scott breathed as sigh of relief, as Ray Richmond pulled off the highway and onto his driveway.

"Loren's going to be happy to see you, Ray," he told his neighbour, as he unbuckled his seat belt. "She'll be itching to get the guy to the hospital."

Ray peered through the trees toward the house.

"Looks like someone beat us to it," he said.

Scott looked up and followed Ray's gaze.

"What the hell?" he exclaimed, when he saw a military ambulance and police jeep parked outside the cabin. "How in tarnation did they know?"

Will squirmed in his seat. Knowing someone must have found the stash, he cursed himself for being so careless.

"Dad?" Mike spoke up. "What gives? I can understand the military ambulance, but why the police?"

"I have no idea, son, but I guess we're going to find out," Scott replied, as two military police officers met the car as it came to a halt behind the jeep.

"Colonel Piper?" The Sergeant asked.

Scott nodded his head, dumbfounded. "What's all this about, Sgt?"

"Sir, we're here to talk to William Piper."

"Will? What for? How the did you people know to get an ambulance out here?"

"Major Carter will explain, Sir. In the mean time, we need to speak to Mr Piper," the Sergeant said, opening the rear door of Ray Richmond's Taurus. As he did so, Will scrambled over his stunned cousin, trying to make a run for it. Only to be caught by another officer who was waiting at the other side of the car. He was quickly restrained and led, protesting to the police jeep.

"Hey, would you take it easy?" Scott cried angrily, as Will was bundled into the jeep.

Unsure whether to stay with Will or go into the house to find out what had happened; he turned to see Loren standing on the porch, close to tears.

"What hell is going on?" he asked, climbing the steps to the cabin.

"I found some things hidden in Will's draw, Scott."

"What things? How did you get an ambulance up here?"

Sam appeared in the doorway.

"With this," She said, holding up her cell phone.

It took a second, but Scott finally got the connection.

"Oh God, you have *got* to be kidding me? He wouldn't ~ not Will. There has to be some mistake."

"We found all the missing valuables. Cells, watches, cards and cash. Scott, I'm sorry. I know you don't want to hear this, but everything points at Will."

"How?" Scott asked, frustration and anger building. "How can he have done it? He was with either me or Mike all the time ~ tell me how he had time to do it? Jesus, why would he *want* to do something like that? It makes no sense?"

"Dad?"

Scott spun, as Mike climbed the steps to the porch.

"Will wasn't with me all the time," Mike said. "While you were fishing further down river, he wandered off. He was gone a while."

Before he had a chance to answer, the cabin door swung open. Two orderlies made their way out of the cabin, carrying a very pale and still unconscious Jack between them. Janet Fraiser was right on their tails, keeping an eye on the proceedings.

"How's he doing?" Scott asked, attention shifting to his friend.

"Not so good." Janet told him. "But it could have been worse. If your wife hadn't given him the anti-biotic she had, he would have been in serious trouble. They haven't cleared the infection, but they helped buy time. Right now we need to get him started on stronger medication, so if you'll excuse me, Colonel O'Neill has a date with an IV line."

Sam, Loren and Scott stood back as the entourage made their way down the steps, and watched as Jack was loaded into ambulance. Whilst Janet fussed, Sam turned back to the Pipers.

"Forensics will be out here soon. They'll need to run a check on your guns, to see if they match the bullet in the car seat. The results should come back quickly, one way or the other."

"Where are they taking Will?" Loren asked.

"The nearest police department. I'm really sorry, guys. I wish there was someway I could undo all this," she said, sadly.

Loren wrapped her arms around Sam. "Me too, honey. You take care of Jack, okay? Tell him we'll be down to see him real soon."

Sam nodded her head.

"Sam, we have to go," Janet called from the ambulance.

"Okay," she called back, uncurling herself from Loren's embrace. "You guys let me know if there's anything I can do, okay?"

Loren nodded. Scott struggled to think straight, no longer sure what to do or say.

Sam trotted down the steps and to the waiting ambulance. Settling herself into seat next to the driver, she glanced at the Pipers one last time as they pulled away from the cabin.

"God, Janet." She sighed. "Those poor people."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Utterly despondent, Scott sank down onto the cabin steps. After a moment, Loren sat down beside him. She snaked her arms around his chest, rested her head his shoulder and silently offered her support as, first the ambulance carrying his friend rolled away to the end of the driveway. It then turned right, heading for Colorado Springs and Cheyenne Mountain.

Then the police jeep carrying Will, rolled to the end of the driveway and turned left, heading for Devastation and Heartbreak.

#####

Within three hours, Jack had had every test run, had been pumped full of the strongest anti-biotic and was sleeping peacefully under Janet's watchful eye.

Sometime later, Sam wandered into the infirmary, having showered and (after Janet's insistence) grabbing a few hours of quality sleep. She pulled up a chair and sat down next to Jack. Janet looked up from the chart she was looking at.

"Hey," she said, shooting Sam a bright smile. "Feeling better?"

"Much, thanks."

"How's the wrist holding out?"

"It's okay," Sam replied, holding up her plastered arm as if to prove it. Then asked pointedly. "How's *he* doing?"

"He's doing okay. The drugs kicked in pretty quickly, thanks to Dr Piper's help. X-ray shots revealed no fractures, other than that shoulder blade. A concussion and plenty of cuts and bruises to show off, but that's about it. From what they tell me of the car wreck, I really don't know how you guys got out with so little damage. You were both seriously lucky."

Sam laughed. "Yeah, well. Apparently, it's a well known fact Jack has the luck of the Irish running with him."

Janet eyed Sam. ` Jack? ` She thought to herself, a small smile pulling at her lips.

#####

At that same time, Scott Piper sat across from his cousins' son.

Forensics had done their tests and, like Sam had said, they had been quick to get results. The bullet in the back of Jacks car seat matched the gun being used by Will. The boy's fingerprints were found to on all of the retrieved goods, as well as in the car itself.

There was no denying it now, and the idea weighed heavily on Scott's mind. He had spoken to the boy's parents and was incensed by their response. Both had refused to come out to Colorado to see him. His mother had told Scott, she could do nothing with him and that was always in trouble. His father hadmerely said, the kid wasn't worth getting upset over and that he wanted nothing more to do with him. He had washed his hands of him.

On hearing that, Scott exploded. He told his cousin, under no uncertain terms, that he was complete jerk and maybe the kid was better off without idiots for parents.

Scott was also ashamed of himself. He should have known something was wrong. He had visited on several occasions. How could he have not seen the life Will had been leading? He told himself he should have been more aware of what was happening in that household.

Loren had argued with him, insisting that there was no way he could have guessed the boy was slowly turning into a hood. They only saw him some weekends. Away from the city. Away from his parents. Will had seemed a perfectly happy, well-adjusted kid who got on with everyone he met. Why would they suspect anything was wrong?

And it was that which was itching at Scott now, as he met Will's gaze.

"Why, Will?" he asked, simply. "Why would you do something like this?"

The kid shrugged his shoulders and continued to meet Scott's eye.

"Oh come on. You *must* have a reason?"

Silence.

"So, what? You just got up that morning and thought, `I'm going to shoot someone today `?"

"No."

"Then what? What *were* you thinking?"

Once again, Will lapsed into silence.

Not prepared to let it go, he asked. "Does this have anything to do with what's been happening at home?"

Scott was shocked by Will's reaction.

The boy's calm exterior disappeared, as he shot to his feet and screamed.

"What the hell would *you* know about it? You live up here in your perfect house, with your perfect wife and your perfect son." Will spat the words out like they were poison to him. "Don't even *begin* to think you know me or what I want. Yes!! I shot the guy and yes I robbed him too. You wanna know why? I'll tell you why. So I can get the hell away from one set of morons who hate me and who I am, and to get away from *another* set of morons who think they can make the crap go away, by taking me away on weekly romps through the damn woods! I don't need your charity, what I *need* is for you and your picture perfect family to leave me the hell alone!"

Scott sat stunned for a moment, and then a fury ran through him like a hot wind across a desert. Before he knew it, he had Will pinned to the wall by his chest.

"You ass." He growled. "You blind, stupid ass. You almost killed my best friend because you think we look at you as some *charity* case? You think we want you around because we felt sorry for you? We have you around because we
care for and *love* you." Abruptly letting Will go, Scott walked to the door and knocked for the guard.

Shaking with anger and keeping his back to Will, he said very, very quietly. "You got your wish, kid."

With that, he left the room.

He didn't see the shock on Will's face and he didn't see the angry tears that fell, as the kid curled himself into the corner of the room.

#####

Two days later, Sam walked into the infirmary intending on finding Janet to ask her something.

She glanced in Jacks direction, to find him alone for the first time since they got home. Daniel, satisfied his friend would be okay, had been temporarily posted with SG5 and had left that morning for PK2 717. Teal'c, also happy that Jack was making a `satisfactory recovery`, was helping Siler out with something.

Sam smiled, as she noted Jack was sprawled out on top of the blankets, as sound as a top. One leg stretched out to capacity, the other tucked up. His good arm was extended on the pillow above his head, the bad one strapped to his chest.

As she stood grinning, Janet approached her.

"What's missing from this picture?" Sam asked.

Janet laughed. "A kilt and sporran. He looks like he could do one mean Highland Fling."

Both women cracked up, as Janet pushed Sam into her office, closing the door behind them.

"What can I do for you, Sam?" Janet asked, wiping her eyes.

Still giggling, Sam sat down in a battered chair.

"I wondered if you'd let me take a look at a batch of my latest blood works. I'm working on a project and need a sample of something organic to use as a comparison."

Janet nodded her agreement. "Before I get you them, would you do me a favour?"

"Shoot."

"Keep an eye on *that*," she said pointing to something behind Sam. "While I go have a word with the General."

Sam spun round to find Cassie sitting on the floor behind Janet's desk.

"*That*?" Sam exclaimed. "What a way to describe this poor little girl!"

"That *poor* little girl, is a monster." Janet retorted, with a grin. "She almost had Teal'c break a leg this morning."

"What?"

"I'll let Cassandra explain herself," Janet said, picking up a file and heading for the door. "I won't be long."

Sam went behind the desk and sat down on the floor next to Cassie.

"Sooo ~ tell Sam. What happened with Teal'c?"

Cassie looked up at her with a grin. Shy or sly, she couldn't decide.

"He stood on something," she said.

"What?"

"He stood on something and it made him lose his balance. He fell over."

Sam was perplexed. "What did he stand on?"

Cassie didn't answer, but after a second she opened her hand and showed Sam four brightly coloured marbles.

"Oooh." Sam said, trying desperately to stop the grin that threatened to spread across her face. "Marbles, huh? Well, standing on one of those ought to do it."

"I didn't mean to hurt Teal'c. They just kinda ~ got away from me."

"Oh, yeah." Sam giggled, taking a blue marble out of Cassie's hand. "They can do that to you sometimes."

She examined the marble closely, as memories of a lost childhood suddenly began to resurface.

"I used to love playing with these when I was a little girl. I had the biggest collection. I think I may still have them packed away somewhere. I' ll take a look, next time I go home. Maybe you can make use of them?"

Cassie's face lit up. "Thanks Sam, that'd be neat."

Sam was still examining the blue marble. "You know, this is a very pretty marble. Do you mind if I borrow it for a while?"

Cassie shook her head.

"Thanks," she said absent-mindedly, as she looked at the marble one last time, before putting it in her pocket.

#####

"Carter!" Jack exclaimed. "Where've ya been? Don't you know a guy could *die* in here with no one to talk to, week in, week out?"

"Sir, it's only been three days."

"Yeah? Well it *feels* like weeks. Endless tests, mountains of pills and *honkin* great needles. That woman thinks I'm a damn pin cushion." Jack waved a hand in Janet's direction. "Do you also know Carter, it's against regulations to watch T.V. in this hellhole? They won't let me see any of the hockey games on the sports channel."

"Colonel. We don't *have* the sports channel down here." Janet joined in with Jack's game.

"Even if we did, you won't let me watch."

"No Sir, I wouldn't. Not at three am. You'd disturb the other patients."

"There *are* no other patients, *doctor*!"

"Okay. So you'd disturb *me*."

Jack threw Janet a `look`. "And they call it the `caring profession`."

Janet threw the `look` right back and without a word, turned on her heel and went into her office, closing the door behind her.

While the whole charade was taking place, Sam had sat down at the foot of the bed. Now, as Jack turned to look at her, she was sitting there with a huge grin covering her face.

"What's so funny?" he asked.

"Oh, you."

"Me?"

"Yes, you. You can't help yourself, can you?"

"What?"

"It's the same old same old. You get hurt. Janet fixes you up. You get better. You bitch." Sam grinned, quickly adding "Sir." As an afterthought.

"I do not bitch." Jack responded with mock indignation.

"Oh, you do."

"I do not."

"Yes. Yes, you do."

"Do not."

"Do too."

"Not."

"Do."

"Okay. Okay, I bitch! But you know she loves it."

Sam shook her head and laughed vivaciously.

Jacks grin soften to an amused smile.

"You should do that more often" he said quietly.

"Do what, Sir?"

"Laugh like that. It makes your face light up."

Sam allowed herself a small grin, as Jack looked away in embarrassment and quickly asked. "Have you heard any more about the Piper kid?"

The moment gone, Sam fiddled with a click in the blanket.

"Just that the forensic evidence came out overwhelmingly against him," she said, her face changing to one of anger. "I just can't believe he did it. I mean I know he did, but why?"

"Who the hell knows, Carter?" Jack replied. "I remember that kid being around when Charlie was born. He was like the Piper's own son, for crying out loud."

Both were silent for a long moment.

"Scotty will hate this. Having no control over what's happening," Jack said, eventually. "He's going to need some help to get past this. Luckily for him, he has Loren."

"It looks to me Sir, they're lucky to have each other," Sam stated.

"Scotty always was one for luck." Jack laughed. "As my Grandmother used to say, `that boy could fall face first into a cow pat, and come up smelling of roses`."

Sam smiled. "They seem like really nice people."

"Two of the best," Jack stated, solemnly. "They don't deserve this crap."

"None of us did, Sir," Sam said. "Not Scott and Loren, Mike, you or me. When I woke up on the roadside and remembered what had happened, I was so scared. I thought that there was no way you could have survived the crash. I can't remember the last time I felt so helpless. I really thought I'd lost you."

Shocked by her own outburst, Sam blinked at her CO, her cheeks glowing bright pink.

"Did I say that out loud?" She asked, fiddling once more with the blanket.

Jack looked just as surprised, and then he laughed.

"I reckon you might have." He caught and stilled Sam's busy hands with his one.

"I'm not going anywhere, Sam," he told her earnestly. "Not for a very long time."

Sam's face broke into a dazzling smile.

"Just as well, Sir," She said, her eyes sparkling. "Because I would have had to hunt you down like a *dog*."

Jack laughed so hard, he began to cough. On hearing the commotion, Janet came out of her office.

"What's going on out here?" she asked, surprised to find Sam doubled with laughter too. "Sam?"

Sam couldn't stop giggling long enough to answer her, so in the end Janet walked away, shaking her head.

The laughing died down after a few minutes, leaving Jack heaving to get his breath.

"You think you could help an invalid and get me some water?" he gasped at Sam.

Grinning madly, Sam picked up Jack's cup and turning toward the table, began to fill it.

Handing the cup to Jack, she said, "I have to run, but I'll be back in a while. Okay?"

"Sure. I understand. You have better things to do than humour an old man."

"Something like that," she said, as she left the infirmary.

Once outside in the corridor, she sank against the wall, a huge grin on her face.

~~~~~~~~~~~

Jack sighed happily. He knew he and Sam were going to have to talk. Putting it off was only postponing the truth. And the truth was he loved Sam and she loved him.

He lifted his cup to take a drink, when something caught his eye. Something small and round and blue, in the bottom of the cup was winking back at him.

~~~~~~~~

Still standing outside the infirmary, Sam looked up to find General Hammond walking toward her

"Major? Is everything okay?" the old man asked.

"Yes, Sir." She smiled.

Just then, a bellow ripped through the quiet air.

"CARTER!!!"

Sam laughed hard.

"Everything's fine, Sir," she said and wandered off down the corridor.