Disclaimers in part 1

Jack wished he'd insisted on the cab. At first he thought he was going to be subjected to another warning from Sam's husband, instead there was just intense silence. Neither man seemed sure what to say to the other. Jack found he couldn't even make passing comments on the city they were driving through without sounding ridiculous.

Mercifully, the ride to the motel was short. Jeff pulled up to the entrance, looking over at Jack.

"If you decide to rent a car, just take the road out here until you get to 35E, that's the expressway, then get off on University Avenue. You'll see the hospital from there."

"Thanks for the ride."

"Sure. I guess we'll see you tomorrow, huh?"

"Yeah, probably early. The doc said the tests should be back by then."

"Okay."

Jack didn't know what else to say to him, so he just exited the van, watching him drive off. He wondered how he would handle things if the situation were reversed. Could he be civil if Sam were his wife? Shaking his head, Jack entered the small "lobby" to check-in.

***

Once in his modest room, Jack tossed his small bag on the bed. God, he hated motel rooms. No matter where in the country you were they were the same: semi-antiseptic smelling, generic furnishings with a television displayed prominently in the center of the room. There was just something about them that underscored the fact he was alone.

Picking up the television remote, Jack flopped down on the bed and began flipping channels. Nothing. Not one thing caught his interest. He by-passed the news, not caring what was going on in this section of the country or what the weather was going to be. He was going to be inside a hospital most of the time anyway. What difference did it make if it was going to rain or not?

Jack knew why he kept trying to find something on the TV to distract him. Every time there wasn't something else on his mind, memories of what had happened all those years ago crept in, demanding attention.

Finally, Jack gave up. One way or another he knew the memories of what had happened on P2R-665 were going to haunt him again. Closing his eyes, Jack let the memories wash over him. . . .

***

Jack stepped out of the event horizon of the Stargate, shaking his hands to get the blood flowing. It didn't take long as a warm blast of desert air hit him. This mission was going to be more along the lines of Daniel's expertise, as the UAV had shown them ruins of a long-dead civilization about two kilometers from the gate. It was *not* what he was looking forward to. Sand and Daniel's rocks. What a way to waste a perfectly good trip through the 'gate.

The probes hadn't indicated any hostile activity, but Jack was alert nonetheless. He just wanted to get this mission over with and get home. Something about it just wasn't sitting right with him. He couldn't put his finger on it. There was no sign of recent Goa'uld activity. In fact, the only evidence that there had ever been a Goa'uld presence here, was ancient.

The planet reminded him of Abydos, in a way, except without the people. The ruins in the distance had an Egyptian look to them, and Jack could see Daniel practically salivating.

"Can't you hurry it up a bit, Jack?" Daniel asked, nearly breaking into a jog.

"What's the rush? Doesn't look like those old stones are going anywhere," Jack countered, knowing how much the delay was killing Daniel.

"I'm going to go on ahead. You guys take your time," Daniel said, holding down his hat as he picked up his pace.

"Carter, go with him, okay? Teal'c and I will keep our eyes open if the sand comes alive or somethin'."

"Yes, sir," Sam answered, giving Jack a brief, knowing smile. She too was amused by Daniel's enthusiasm.

"Daniel! Wait up a second!" Sam called, running to catch up with her eager team mate.

Jack just shook his head, adjusting his sunglasses.

"Danieljackson seems most excited by this planet," Teal'c said.

"Ya think? How a bunch of falling down buildings can give the guy a hard-on is beyond me." Teal'c just looked at him, raising an eyebrow at his comment. Boy, Jack hoped the big guy just let the remark drop. He didn't feel like explaining *that* one.

Teal'c and Jack reached the outskirts of what used to be a sizable settlement as Daniel was exiting what might have been a temple.

"Jack! Teal'c! You've got to come and see this! It's another map room!" Daniel ran back into the building as Jack motioned to Teal'c.

"After you."

It took a moment for Jack's eyes to adjust to the dim light in the huge room. He wasn't sure where the light was coming from, but Carter and Daniel had kicked up quite a bit of dust and he felt as if he was viewing the room through a fog.

"Sir, Daniel and I think these are a second set of co-ordinates for the Stargates. We think this might be the other half of the map he found on Abydos."

"The other *half?*" Jack asked incredulously, looking at the hundreds, possibly even thousands of addresses lining the walls of the structure.

"You're sure some of them aren't repeats?" Jack asked.

"I don't think so," Daniel said. "It makes sense, in a way. According to Sam, this planet is directly across the galaxy from Abydos. Half of the cartouches are here, and the other half there."

"That's. . .it's mind boggling!"

"I know," Sam said with a big grin. "Isn't it incredible? And to think we've only scratched the surface with all the worlds we've been to. Even if you went from 'gate to 'gate without looking around, you couldn't visit all the planets in one lifetime."

"Okay," Jack said, holding up his hand to stop her. "*We* couldn't, but the Goa'uld could, right? I mean they live practically forever."

"It's possible," Sam agreed, "but there probably isn't a reason for them to go to all of them. It was just an example, sir."

Jack looked around to see if Daniel or Teal'c had heard their conversation. "I knew that."

Sam smiled her knowing little smile again. How did she do that? How did she always seem to know what he was thinking? He had to admit he could read her pretty well, but not as good as she could him. It didn't seem fair.

"Okay, kids," Jack said louder. "Daniel, you got your recorder so you can get pictures of your little symbol thingies?"

"Glyphs," Daniel said. "They're called 'glyphs,' Jack."

"Whatever. Get what you need so we can get out of here."

"But, Jack! We're not out of time! And I think there's a tomb here. According to this," Daniel said, pointing to an inscription on the wall, "'a powerful Lord greets the afterlife.' I want to see if they buried him like an ancient Egyptian or if there was some Goa'uld practice they followed."

"Daniel! Is it really necessary? This place is starting to give me the creeps."

"Sir, I think Daniel's right. What are the chances we'll be able to come back? I mean another team can always return, but we'll likely be sent somewhere else." Sam lowered her voice. "It would really mean a lot to him, sir."

"Oh, for cryin' out loud!" he muttered, just loud enough for Daniel to hear. "Okay, Danny. Ya got two hours. After that, we're outta here."

"Thanks, Jack. You won't regret this! I know it could be another significant find."

"Carter," he said, jerking his head in the direction Daniel had just left.

"Yes, sir," she smiled, following Daniel once more.

Jack was taking one more look around the map room when he heard shouts and weapons fire. Instantly alert, Jack and Teal'c raced for the entrance, hiding just inside the vestibule trying to ascertain the situation. Surrounding the building that housed Sam and Daniel, were about twenty men, armed with staff weapons. They were shouting one word over and over, firing whenever they saw movement. Sam was firing her gun at the men, aiming towards their feet, at first, hoping to scatter them. When that didn't work, she took deadly aim, wounding and possibly killing two or three men. Daniel was attempting to shoot as well, but his marksmanship had always been lacking. The stress of the situation wasn't improving his aim.

Teal'c and Jack fired into the mob, surprising and distracting them long enough for Sam and Daniel to run the few meters to their location.

"What the hell happened?" Jack demanded.

"Sir, we were just looking around when suddenly we heard shouts outside the tomb. When we came to the entrance, they started shooting."

"Daniel, what are they saying?" Jack asked.

"I'm not sure, but it sounds like 'defilers.' Or 'kill the defilers.' something like that."

"Well, I'd say that's a close enough translation! What did you do?"

"Nothing!" Daniel cried, defensively.

"It must have been somethin'! They look pretty pissed to me!"

"The only thing I can think of is they're some type of royal guard or something." Jack raised his eyebrows at Daniel, silently asking him for more information.

"Well, among some cultures there is a guard left to protect royal tombs against raiders. Their sole function is to make sure no one enters a tomb, or if they do, that they don't leave alive."

"So, these guys hang around here just on the off-chance someone shows up and wants some souvenirs?"

"Something like that," Daniel acknowledged.

"Geeze, and I thought our military wasted manpower," Jack muttered. He watched as the men now gathered in strategic positions outside the building they occupied.

"Daniel, is there any other way out of here? Didn't Egyptians always build all kinds of secret passages and stuff?"

"Well, yeah, but not out of public buildings. There really isn't much need for an escape route from a library."

"Guess we're just going to have to do this the hard way," Jack said. "Carter, you and I'll take point, Teal'c, we'll try to cover you and Daniel. Head straight for the 'gate, we'll be right behind you. If for some reason, we don't make it, I want you to go through. Ya got that?"

"Jack, we're not leaving you here!"

"I didn't say you were, I ain't too keen on the idea of being target practice for these guys, either, but if we have to worry you didn't go through, it's going to make our job a lot harder. So, no arguments, okay?"

Daniel looked like he was going to throw up. "I can shoot the gun, Jack. I don't think we should split up!"

"I concur with Danieljackson," Teal'c said. "I believe you will require my assistance as well."

"Look, guys. I'm not asking you to leave us behind! I'm saying if you get to the 'gate, I want you to go through because we'll be right behind you."

"He's right, Daniel," Sam said. "We can concentrate on the job at hand if we know you're safe."

"It's probably a moot point anyway," Jack said. "Looks like they've called for reinforcements." As he gazed out the entryway, Jack could see the number of soldiers had easily doubled. Where the hell had they all come from? The video from the UAV showed this place to be deserted. Shouldn't *somebody* have shown up on it?

"Okay, here's the plan. We'll try to move from building to building without getting shot. Once we're out of the city, we run like hell."

"That's the plan?" Daniel asked. "I could have come up with a better plan than that!"

"Look, there's no protection here, it's the best we can do. Sam and I will lay down some cover fire. You and Teal'c head for that building over to our left. Then you guys cover us. Got it?"

"I still think it's a stupid plan," Daniel complained.

"Yeah, well, when you take over command of this unit you can call the shots, all right?" Jack nodded at Sam and they started firing at the guards surrounding the map building.

"Go, go, go!" Jack shouted, pushing Daniel out the doorway of the building. Teal'c was firing as they ran until they were in the entrance of the next building. Firing their guns, and with Teal'c's help, Sam and Jack made it to their friend's location.

"And that's how it's done, Camper's," Jack said with a cocky grin. "Four more like that and we're home free."

Surprisingly, the tomb guards didn't pick up on their tactics and they all made it to the last building, just before the village's gateway.

"This is the big one, guys," Jack said, replacing a clip in his gun. He noticed Sam doing the same. He only had one round left after this one. Hopefully Sam still had some ammunition left.

"Jack, there's no guarantee they won't follow us out into the desert," Daniel pointed out.

"I know. That's where the running part comes in. Now Daniel, I don't want to hear any more arguments from you. Carter and I will be right behind you, now go!"

Jack watched as Teal'c and Daniel took off at a dead run. He knew Teal'c wanted to stay and help cover them, but he also understood Jack's need to see Daniel protected as well. Jack and Sam looked at each other and started firing. They were about to make a break for it when suddenly their escape route was cut off. Apparently this time the guards caught onto their strategies.

"Carter! Fall back!" Jack called, dragging her deeper into the crumbling structure.

Sam was breathing hard, her eyes wide. "Looks like we're out numbered, sir."

Jack ran a hand through his short, sand-encrusted hair. "Shit! We were almost there!"

"I haven't heard any weapons fire in the distance, sir. I think maybe Teal'c and Daniel might still get away."

"If they follow my orders and go through the 'gate," he said. "Daniel won't want to, but I think Teal'c understands why they need to go. If we don't make it, I'm sure they'll come back with reinforcements."

Actually, Jack wasn't sure they would. It would all depend on what Hammond thought their chances of survival were. Even he and Sam were expendable if the risk was too great.

"Sir, I know what the probability of General Hammond mounting a rescue is. You don't have to sound confident for me."

"Who said I was doing it for you?" Jack smiled at her. "I gotta keep my own spirits up here!"

Sam smiled at him, then ventured towards the opening of the building, only to be rewarded with a staff blast erupting just above her head.

"Carter! What the hell ya think you're doin'?" Jack cried, dragging her back by her vest.

"Just wanted to see if they were still out there. Looks like they've called for even more reserves," she said, sitting on the ground opposite him, her back against the wall. Just as she'd settled, another shot hit the ceiling above her head, showering Sam with dust and debris.

"Carter, how much ammo you got left?" Jack asked.

"Besides what's left in my gun? One round."

"Shit. Me too."

Jack peeked out a crack in the wall, watching as the number of guards gathering around their building increased. From the looks of things, they were now surrounded. Why didn't they just attack and get it over with? Jack wondered. Surely they realized it was only the two of them. Why the wait? Other than the knowledge he and Sam were going nowhere, and they decided to toy with them before killing them. Given the solitary nature of the planet, this was probably the most excitement they'd had in ages. They probably didn't want to kill off the only source of entertainment many of them were likely to see in a lifetime.

As if to emphasize the point, the guards took another pot shot at them, clearly intent on hassling rather than killing. His suspicions were confirmed when he heard talking amongst them, then laughter breaking out. Jack wished they could see him gesturing with his middle finger, but he figured the meaning of the hand movement would be lost on them anyway.

"It's not looking too good, is it, sir?"

"Now don't go getting all pessimistic on me," Jack said, turning to look at her, taking a small swig from his canteen. "I don't want to spend what could be my last hours with Lt. Colonel Samuels."

Sam stifled a laugh, then sobered. "Do you really think these could be our last hours?"

Jack sighed. He'd faced a lot of last hours. Too many instances when he thought he'd never live to see the light of day. This situation had the same feel to it.

"You want the truth, or some hope-filled platitudes?"

"I can take the truth," she said.

"Well, we've each got about enough ammunition to *maybe* make it to the outside wall. That's if they're feelin' generous. The way I see it, the only way we're getting out of here is if the calvary comes riding over the hill, and at the moment, I don't see that happenin'."

"Is it too late for that hope-filled platitude?" Sam asked.

"Of course, Daniel and Teal'c could show up with two or three SG units and enough firepower to blast these guys into a tomb of their own." he said.

"Nice try, sir."

It always seemed surreal when he realized hope was all he had left. He'd gotten by on the skin of his teeth so many times, he was beginning to feel invincible. Of course someone would show up at the last minute and rescue his sorry ass. Hadn't they always?

Any minute now he'd start thinking about his regrets. It was always about this stage of the game they started crowding his mind. He'd think of Charlie, which led to thoughts of Sara. Sure, he wished things hadn't ended with her. Or at least had ended more amicably, but that isn't what he really regretted. What was bothering him now was how he and Sam never had "the talk" after the events that happened with Freya/Anise and the whole zaytarc episode.

When Sam offered to "keep it in the room," Jack had taken the opportunity to avoid talking to her about it. His emotions were too raw, his embarrassment too acute to talk about it at the time. Not only was the way they acknowledged their feelings for each other painful, the fact it was too a room full of people didn't help either. Before they could even think about the possibility of discussion, Martouf had been killed--by Sam no less--pushing any thoughts about where they went from there from both their minds.

After that, there just never seemed to be the right time. He couldn't see himself bringing up the subject any more than he could see her stating, "so, got a thing for me, huh?"

Jack still didn't know how to broach the subject, so he started out with what he thought was a safe topic. "Sam, I don't think you know what it's meant to me to have you as my second-in-command."

"Sir, isn't it a little early to be having 'it's been an honor to have served with you' speeches? I mean we aren't making our move yet."

"I know, but before we do, I just wanted you to know. Every time I'm in a situation like this, I start to think about things I should have said and done, and, well, I didn't want to regret not having told you what a great second and asset to the team you are."

Sam looked at her boots, self-consciously scuffing the dirt. "Thank you, sir. That means a lot. I've learned a lot from you, too, sir. Not just about the military, although that's a big part of it. But life in general. That kind of surprised me."

"Really?" he asked, his tone slightly offended.

"Well, when I met you, you were still pretty bitter. You've changed a lot since then. I admire your strength, sir. And I don't mean physical. It takes a lot to give life a second chance."

Damn, if he wasn't getting misty! "Thanks, Carter," he said, clearing his throat. He wanted to say more. Tell her about how special she was to him. How a day didn't go by where he hadn't thought about *not* keeping things in that room, but he was afraid. No doubt she'd find that humorous. He didn't see himself as a coward, but in emotional situations, he was as yellow as they came.

"Ya know," he started out, fiddling with the cap of his canteen, "we never really talked about what happened that day we found out we weren't zaytarcs."

Jack couldn't see Sam in the dark, but he heard her intake of breath.

"Well, sir, I don't know that there's anything *to* say. I mean given our ranks and positions, I guess I thought it best if we tried to ignore what was said in that room."

"And you've been able to do that?" he asked, wondering how she did, because he'd sure like to know how it was done.

"Not really," she said. Jack could see her smile from the scant starlight filtering through what used to be a window.

"Me neither," he confessed quietly.

"Sir? How come you want to talk about this now? I mean I thought you were happy we hadn't discussed it."

Jack looked at his hands lying in his lap. "Well, I suppose it *was* easier for me not to not talk about. I'm not exactly known for 'gettin' in touch with my inner feelings.'"

Sam laughed, and Jack found himself smiling as well, dispelling a portion of his discomfort.

"That's one thing you'll never be accused of, sir."

"Sam? Ya think you could drop the 'sir?' After all, it's just us."

"You're right. . .Jack."

He couldn't help his grin from becoming wider. Only one or two times could he recall having heard Sam refer to him by his name, and he liked the way she said it. Sam spoke it with a warmth no one else did.

"So," he said, clearing his throat.

"So," she repeated, equally nervous. "Things must be pretty bad if we're really going to talk about this."

"Well, it never hurts to clear the air," he said, trying to avoid directly answering her. "When you told Freya or Anise, whoever it was doin' the testing, that you didn't care about dying, all you wanted was for me to get out alive, ya must have known I wouldn't leave you."

Sam waited a moment before she spoke. "I guess I knew you wouldn't. I think you would have stayed for any of us, though." There was another pause before she continued. "It wasn't until I looked into your eyes that I saw there was something more, at least I *thought* that's what I saw. And what I hoped," she added practically whispering.

Jack scooted across the hard-packed dirt of the floor to sit next to her. "Well, thanks to that nifty little Tok'ra device, you and a whole room full of people know there was something more." In the dim light he could see her nodding her head. "Sam? What if things were different? If it wasn't against the regs? Would you, ah, would you have considered seeing me, you know, like outside of work?"

"Of course I would!" she answered immediately. "But that's really not an option, is it?"

Jack sighed. "No, I guess not. Especially not anymore," he said, as another shot winged the building.

"Jack? It's not that I didn't want to. . .I mean sometimes it's so hard not to touch you, or tell you what you mean to me. But it's not just about us. I think about what it could do to the team if we became involved. Not that we'd be less professional, but I know I'm having a hard time maintaining my objectivity now, I think it would only be worse if we were. . .involved," she repeated.

Jack just nodded, realizing, as per usual, she'd targeted his greatest fear.

"So, ya think we should try gettin' outta here?" he asked, gesturing toward the entrance, hoping to change the subject.

"I'm thinking maybe dawn would be a better time to try to make a break for it. Since the suns went down, it's pretty black out there."

"The darkness would give us some cover," he pointed out.

"But what are the chances we'd find the Stargate? It's not like we can hide out anywhere until there's more light. This is it for concealment."

"I know," Jack sighed. "I just hate sitting here doin' nothing."

"I know. It's not my choice either."

Jack reached into his vest and pulled out a meal bar. "Want one? They make a great last supper."

"No thanks, I've got my own," she said. "Besides, I'm really not hungry."

"Me? I like to die on a full stomach."

Jack could barely see Sam try to smile then turned abruptly away, staring at the entrance of the building, trying to hide her tears.

Jack stopped mid-chew, suddenly losing his appetite himself, placing his arm around her shoulders.

"I'm sorry, Sam. I guess my sick humor is just sick right now."

"I'm sorry, too," she said, allowing her head to rest on his shoulder. "I keep thinking about things I should have said or done, too. I should have called Mark and his kids more often. Talked to Dad one more time. Should have done more work on the naquada reactor. The list seems endless."

"Well, like you said, we haven't tried to make a break for it. You might get a chance to do all those things yet." They sat, silent, staring into the black, moonless night. He could just make out her features, and he wondered if they should talk more. It didn't seem as if they'd resolved much, but he didn't know what else to say.

Jack shifted to get more comfortable, when his movement prompted a blast from a staff weapon. Automatically reacting, he grabbed Sam, pulling her beneath him, using his body to shield her from the debris falling from the ceiling. He'd knocked the wind out of her with his sudden movement, and she lay beneath him, gulping air. His heart was beating erratically with the sudden adrenaline surge, and he found his breath coming in short gasps as well. Sam's eyes were luminous in the low light, and without thinking, he lowered his mouth to hers, kissing her deeply, desperately.

Their chances of survival weren't good. He knew it and so did she. Suddenly regulations didn't seem to matter. All he wanted was to take this one last opportunity to show Sam how much he'd come to care for her. How much she meant to him.

Neither spoke as they frantically clutched at the other, running hands under clothing, touching flesh they'd been told was forbidden. And for a few moments, the world, the armed men, everything but the other went away.

Even though Jack wished he could see more of Sam's face as she moaned his name, he was thankful for the lack of light. There was something liberating about coupling in the dark. He doubted either of them would have acted with such abandon had they been able to witness the other.

As quickly as their desire flared between them, it was over, and Sam was pulling away from him, reaching for clothing that was never fully removed.

"Don't," was all he said, whispering in the dark, pulling her back into his arms. She didn't fight, moving quickly back into his warm embrace.

He should feel some remorse, Jack thought. Feel the need to apologize. Not only for the haste of the act, but for allowing it even to take place. But he didn't want to. Because he *didn't* regret it. This wasn't how he'd envisioned them coming together, and he'd had visions of it. Daydreams that one day they would be together. That possibility was ending, now. All they had was tonight. One last night to discover each other and live a lifetime.

*********

Jack sat up, scrubbing his face with his hands. Of course, that wasn't exactly how things ended. They were rescued, just as he had predicted, by SG-3 and two other SG units. Saved by the bell. The calvary came charging over the proverbial hill. As he'd made love to Sam a second time, slowly, reverently, he truly thought it was his last chance to express to her how he felt. He hadn't told her he loved her. Their union was too new for that, even though he knew in his heart it was what he felt for her. Maybe if he'd told her, either that night or at some point after that, he wouldn't be lying in some poorly air-conditioned room having flash-backs. Maybe he'd have her. And their son.

There had been such tension between them, Jack couldn't seem to bring up the subject. He figured she was as embarrassed by her behavior, as he was his. What happened to just *telling* her he cared about her and how she'd helped him with his recovery from the darkest period of his life? Why did he have to pounce on her, expecting sex to say what he couldn't?

Well, he wasn't entirely blameless on that score. She, too, seemed more than eager to let actions speak louder than words. At least she'd made the effort to talk to him about it afterwards. He chose to run from any confirmation there was more to their encounter than eleventh-hour lust.

Jack got up and paced the confines of the small room. He didn't know why he was so agitated. It wasn't like he hadn't gone over that mission in his mind a hundred times since it'd happened. But now he knew *why* she left. Why she gave up trying to get him to talk about what happened. He'd been blaming her all these years when he'd been just as much at fault. If he'd just had the nerve to hear her out, none of this would have happened. Well, Jon would've most likely still gotten sick, but he'd have been there to see him grow up. Watch him take his first steps. Say his first words. No amount of "catching up" was going to replace those lost moments, and he had no one to blame but himself.

Lying back down on the bed, Jack closed his eyes, silently praying to whomever would listen he'd be a compatible donor. At least that way there was something he could do for his son, and hopefully make some amends to his mother.

*********

Sam and Jeff were waiting in Dr. Bellanca's office when Jack walked in. Looking up, Sam smiled tentatively at him, unsure what his reaction to her was going to be this morning. It seemed as though he'd gotten over his initial anger towards her, but that didn't mean they were going to slip back into any old patterns, as if nothing had happened. There were too many years and too many concealed truths for that.

Jack smiled back at her, and nodded to Jeff. "Sorry I'm late. I kinda got lost."

"Inside or outside?" Sam asked.

"Both. I missed the exit, then that parking lot! Things didn't improve once I was inside, either."

Sam nodded in agreement. "Yeah, it's quite the maze. You're not late, though. Dr. Bellanca hasn't shown up yet."

"Wasn't he supposed to be here at 0800?" Jack asked, looking at his watch.

A small smile played on Sam's lips. There was still too much of the military in him. Even after all this time, he couldn't say 'eight o'clock' like a civilian.

"I think there's a course in med school about creative stalling. If so, Dr. Bellanca excelled at it." Sam's gaze connected with Jack's and she saw him smiling at her little joke. Maybe she was wrong about the ease of slipping into old patterns. She felt the same jolt she'd always experienced when they were on the same wavelength. Turning to look at Jeff, she saw he hadn't missed their small exchange either. He wasn't exactly glaring at her, but she could see it wasn't sitting well with him.

There were only two chairs in the small office, which Sam and Jeff occupied, so Jack leaned against the bookcase, suddenly finding his key chain fascinating. The tension in the room was thick, but Sam didn't know how to expel it. Talking to Jeff emphasized that Jack was the outsider in the group. If she talked to Jack, then Jeff felt ostracized. Thankfully, the doctor entered moments later.

"Good morning!" he greeted brightly as he entered the room. "Oh, it seems we're one chair short," he commented as he pulled his desk chair around for Jack.

"I'm Dr. Anthony Bellanca," the said, transferring a manila folder to his left hand and extending his right towards Jack. "You must be Mr. O'Neill?"

"Yes," Jack acknowledged, firmly shaking the man's hand.

"Please, have a seat," he gestured to his chair.

Sam noticed the doctor's jovial air and hoped it was a good sign. He hadn't seemed this positive the last time they'd met. She just wished he'd get on with it!

With a wide grin, Dr. Bellanca told them, "congratulations, Mr. and Mrs. Greenfield. You've got a match."

Sam's sigh of relief was audible as she allowed Jeff to embrace her. Tears were starting to gather in her eyes, and she had to close them to get a grip on her emotions so she could pay attention to the rest of what the doctor was telling them.

Turning to Jack, Dr. Bellanca said, "are you aware of what the donation procedure entails?"

"Sam told me some of it," Jack said. "Something about being put under and taking bone marrow from my hip?"

"Those are the basics," Dr. Bellanca agreed.

"Well, you better be puttin' me out," Jack grumbled, ". . .or I don't know that I can do this."

"Jack has a thing about needles," Sam clarified.

Dr. Bellanca smiled. "Most people do. And yes, it will be a general anesthesia."

"What happens after you have the bone marrow?" Jeff asked.

"It's administered to Jon via I.V. where it moves itself into his bones. Quite miraculous, actually. Bodies seem to *want* to heal themselves and have some pretty amazing capabilities."

"Is it done here?" Sam asked.

"Yes, we have a section of the hospital that specializes in the transplants and the recovery of the patients. Infection is a particular risk, so it's best to keep the patients isolated. You'll be allowed to visit, providing you have no infections such as colds, etc., but I'm afraid your daughter won't be allowed to visit."

"That's going to kill Kelsey," Jeff said, looking at Sam.

"They're very close," Sam told the doctor.

"I understand, but it's really important that he be exposed to as little infectious agents as possible. She can call him," Dr. Bellanca suggested.

"How long is he going to be in this special unit?" Jack asked.

The doctor sighed. "About four to six weeks. And that's if there's no complications."

"Six weeks!" Jack cried.

"What about after? He can come home then, right?" Sam asked, casting a glance at Jack for his outburst.

"Yes, but there will still be a period of convalescence. It could be up to six months before he feels like himself again. And then there might be some restrictions on his physical activity. I can't predict that at this point, though."

"What about school?" Jeff asked.

"I would say not for at least three months, but again, it's an assessment we'll have to make later."

"I can keep him up to date at home," Sam said, looking over at Jeff. "He's ahead of everybody else in his class anyway."

"But what about you, Sam? We both can't take that much time off work. This is my busiest season."

"I've already talked to Mr. Petersen about taking a leave of absence. They don't want to lose me. He'll grant this. We can talk about this more later." Sam felt Jack and Dr. Bellanca's gaze on them; this wasn't the time or the place to discuss who would or who wouldn't be taking time off work.

"I can help out too, ya know," Jack said, causing Sam and Jeff to stare at him.

"What, ya think I let them suck some bone marrow out of me and I'm outta here? He's my kid too and I'm not going to just abandon him now." Jack was looking at Sam, as if challenging her to deny him his rights. Actually, she was grateful he was willing to stick around. Maybe it meant they could work out some of their differences.

Looking over at Jeff, Sam wondered if Jack's continued presence was a good idea. It was clear he saw him as a threat to his relationship with his son.

Dr. Bellanca cleared his throat. "Well, these are matters that can be settled later. Now we have to set up a time for the aspiration and administration." He looked over a surgical schedule on his computer, pointing out that it could be done early the next morning. Everyone agreed the sooner the better, and the doctor typed in his request for 7:00 a.m.

"Mr. O'Neill, here's a list of instructions for you," he said, handing Jack a detailed sheet. "The most important thing is no food or water after midnight."

"Gotcha."

"Mr. and Mrs. Greenfield? The nursing staff will prepare Jon, although there's not as much involved with him. We'll be moving him to the BMT wing later today, so if you want your daughter to have some time with him, I would suggest you do it this morning. Any other questions? Dr. Wendel will be performing the aspiration. She's one of the best," Dr. Bellanca assured them.

"I can't think of anything else right now, can you?" Jeff asked.

"Will you continue to be Jon's doctor?" Sam asked.

"I'll be consulting with Dr. Wendel, but while he's in the Bone Marrow Unit, she'll be his primary physician."

"It was nice to meet you," Dr. Bellanca said, shaking Jack's hand once more. "Mr. and Mrs. Greenfield, I'm sure I'll see you again. Good luck tomorrow."

With that he was out the door, leaving Jack, Sam and Jeff staring at each other.

"Well, that was fast." Jack commented. "And I thought *my* briefings were quick and to the point."

Sam looked over at Jack. "I still can't see you as a General. Uh, Daniel told me," she stated, feeling herself blush.

"I was a damn good one," he said, trying not to smile. "I just couldn't stand being a desk jockey."

Sam didn't realize she was staring at Jack until Jeff touched her arm. "We should go see Jon."

"You're right," Sam said. They exited the doctor's office, leaving Jack standing in the middle of the room. Turning to face him, an impish grin spread across her face.

"Coming, sir?"

She was rewarded with his one of Jack's grins. God, she never realized how much she missed his little smiles and sarcasm. Even this small exchange made her feel almost light-headed.

*********

Jeff had left to pick up Kelsey at his mother's, as Sam prepared to tell Jon what was going to take place tomorrow. Jack joined her for a moment, to say hello to Jon, but left soon after, allowing her time alone with her son.

"Honey, you know how Dr. Bellanca's been looking for a bone marrow donor for you? Well, he found one."

"Really?" he asked, trying to sit up further, but he was having difficulty in his weakened state. Sam helped him up, then continued to explain.

"Yes. Jack's going to donate some of his bone marrow for you tomorrow. That's why I asked him to come here. To see if he might be a match for you."

"I thought that might be why he was here. You never really talk about him."

Sam looked away for a moment. "I know, Honey. Jack. . .Jack and I had a fight before I left and we haven't talked much since then." It wasn't the complete truth, but close enough for his young mind to comprehend.

"But you seem like everything is okay now."

"It's better. There are some things you wouldn't understand, but I think seeing you has helped him be my friend once more," she smiled at him.

Jon was quiet for a bit, as if he were contemplating how to ask her a question. She could tell by his furrowed brow he wanted to ask, but didn't know how or if he should.

"Jon? What is it? You know you can ask me anything."

"Mom," he hesitated, "how come Jack looks so much like me? Or I look so much like him?"

Sam was caught completely off guard. She knew her son was observant, but she didn't think he'd spot the physical similarities between himself and Jack. At least not so quickly.

Sam stood, crossing to Jon's bed, taking his hand. She wasn't about to lie to him. Not on top of everything else. But how did she tell him the man he'd known as his father all these years wasn't the man who gave him life?

"Jon, I don't know if you're going to understand this," Sam started, smoothing her fingers over her son's. "Do you know what the term 'biological father' means? I know it's kind of a big term."

"I know," Jon said. "There's a kid in my class, Steve, who just got a new step-dad. He says his real dad is his biological father. It's kind of like how the neighbor's dog was the father of Misty's pups but Bear helped raise them."

Sam smiled at her son's explanation. She hadn't thought of using their pet black Labradors and the mixed breed puppies as an example, but it was quite an accurate analogy.

"That's right," Sam said. Taking a deep breath, she plunged forward. "Well, you know I was working with Jack before I met your dad."

"Yeah, you were in the Air Force together."

Sam nodded, hoping Jon would come to the obvious conclusion on his own, but apparently he wasn't making the connection. "Jon, Jack is your biological father. That's why you look so much like him. And why he's a match for you as a donor."

"Jack's my real father?" he asked, eyes wide as he absorbed the information.

"I don't like the term 'real father,'" Sam said. "Your dad is your father in every way that matters. He's the one who raised you, loves you and has cared about you for all these years."

Jon thought for a moment. "But what about Jack? How come he never came to see me before this?"

Sam hesitated. "He didn't know about you. I never told him about you."

"How come?"

The question was so simple. If only the answer was just as simple.

"Jack was my Commanding Officer, and because of that we weren't supposed to be. . . ." Sam let her voice trail off as she tried to put it in a context a ten year-old would grasp. "We weren't supposed to be boyfriend and girlfriend. Jack and I were always friends, but we liked each other as more than friends too. Kind of like how you like Casey."

"Mom!" Jon cried, his face turning red. "I don't like her like that!" Sam just smiled, knowing her son wasn't ready to discuss his first crush.

"Well, anyway," she continued, trying to take some of the pressure off Jon, "when I found out I was going to have you, I left the Air Force, so I didn't get Jack in trouble." Sam knew she was leaving out a great deal of information, but she didn't think she needed to tell him *everything.*

"Jack was mad that I left and didn't want to talk to me, so I never had the chance to tell him about you. Then, when I moved here, I met your dad, and we decided to get married. He knew I was going to have you, and he said he wanted to be your dad, so I thought it was just for the best that Jack didn't know about you. Can you understand why I didn't tell him?"

Jon was clearly analyzing the information he'd just received. "I guess so. Does he know now that I'm his son? Is that why he said he'd give me the bone marrow?"

"Honey, Jack's a generous man. If he'd been a match for you, he would have given you the marrow whether you were his son or not."

"So, he doesn't think of me as his son."

"I didn't say that. I just meant because he's your. . .father isn't the only reason he's doing this."

Jon was silent for a few minutes, then looked up at Sam. "Is he still here? Can I talk to him again?"

"Yeah, he's just outside. I'll go get him."

"Mom? Can I talk to him alone?"

Sam was taken aback. She was a little apprehensive at first, but then she realized Jack wouldn't take out his frustration with her on Jon. Even in the short time he'd known Jon, Sam could see Jack cared about him. Sam nodded then said,

"I'll go get him."

*********

Jack glanced up as Sam exited Jon's room, tossing an out-dated magazine onto the table in front of him.

"That was quick. Everything okay?"

"He wants to talk to you. Alone."

"Oooookay. Why?"

"I told him you were his father."

Jack did a double-take. "Isn't that kind of a big thing to spring on a kid at a time like this?"

"He asked me. He wanted to know why you look so much alike."

Jack raked a hand through his short hair. "Boy, he doesn't miss much, does he?"

"He's our son," she shrugged. Sam froze, staring into Jack's eyes. That was the first time he'd heard her refer to Jon as "their" son. It had always been *her* son, as if he didn't have a right to him. Sam must have realized the same thing as she became flustered.

"He's waiting for you."

Jack didn't know what to say to her, so he simply nodded, and entered the room. He didn't realize how nervous he was until he saw Jon turn and look at him. What was he going to say to him?

"Hey, Kiddo."

"Hi, Jack."

"Your mom said you wanted to talk to me?"

"Yeah." There was a bit of silence, then Jon added, "she told me you were my biological father."

Jack's eyebrows raised. "And you understood what that meant?"

"Yeah. Why not?"

"Oh, no reason. Just that it's obvious you got your mom's brains."

Jon smiled. "Thanks. Mom's really smart. Most of the time."

"What do you mean by that?" Jack asked, pulling a chair closer to the bed and taking a seat.

"It's just that sometimes she thinks by not telling me something she's going to keep me from getting hurt, or something."

"Yeah, she used to do that to me, too."

They sat there for a moment, neither sure what to say. Finally Jon spoke. "You must have liked my mom a lot."

"I still like your mom a lot."

"But you're not friends with her right now."

"Jon, it's not that simple. I'm mad she didn't tell me about you. You can understand that, can't you?"

"I guess. But she told you now, so you guys can be friends again, right?"

Jack shook his head. If only it *were* that simple. But he couldn't just will away the resentment he felt, even if he was starting to empathize with Sam's situation.

"You must have loved my mom to make a baby with her," Jon said. Jack's head snapped up. Where the hell did this kid come up with stuff like this? And how did he explain to an idealistic boy something even he didn't understand?

Jack cleared his throat, "Well, yeah, I guess I did, but it wasn't that simple. She tell you what happened?"

"No, she didn't talk much about that."

Jack released his breath. *One thing to be thankful for,* he thought to himself.

"Jack, if you had known about me, would you have come to see me?"

"Hell, yes! I mean, sure, of course I would have!" Jack cried. "I wouldn't have tried to take your dad's place, but I would have liked to have been part of your life. I'd still like to be."

"I'd like that, too" Jon said.

"Ya know, I think your mom *did* want to tell me about you. Actually, she did in a round about way."

"What do you mean?"

"Well, she named you after me."

"But your name is 'Jack,'" he said, giving him with a confused look that echoed Charlie so much, Jack felt his throat catch.

"My full name is 'Jonathan.' Jack's just a nickname."

"Really? That's kind of weird."

"Yeah, but kinda nice, though, too. Don'tcha think?"

Jon thought about it for a minute then said. "Yeah, it is kind of nice. It's like we've got a part of each other."

"Well," Jack said, standing and patting him on the arm. "After tomorrow, you'll have another part of me. You've got a big day tomorrow and I know your mom wants to talk to you again, so I'm gonna go, okay? See ya tomorrow."

Jack exited Jon's room to see Sam, Jeff and Kelsey in the waiting room.

"Everything go okay?" Sam asked, standing when she saw him.

"Everything was fine. You've done a great job with him. Both of you," he said, giving Jeff a half smile. "I really should get going. I've got a few things to take care of before tomorrow.

"'Bye, Jack," Sam said. "We'll see you tomorrow morning. Thanks again. For everything."

"Don't be thanking me yet. After you've sucked the stuff out of my bones, then you can thank me."

*********

Jack returned to his motel room, carrying several bags. God, he hated shopping! But there was a little matter of not having more than one change of clothes with him. When he'd left Colorado Springs, he had no idea he wouldn't be returning for several weeks. At the earliest.

Tossing the bags on the bed, he called home to cancel his daily paper and then the post office to request they hold his mail. Next he called Daniel. He told himself it was to keep his old friend informed, but he knew the real reason. He needed someone to talk to. Someone who knew both himself and Sam.

It took about four rings, but Daniel managed to answer before his machine picked it up.

"Hello?" Came the breathless reply.

"Hey, Danny."

"Jack?"

"Yeah, it's me. Thought you might like a little update on what's goin' on around here."

"Yeah! Janet and I, well, we've been going nuts wondering how things were going! She tried to call Sam, but she keeps getting the machine."

"I'm not surprised, they're practically living at the hospital now."

"They?"

"Sam, her husband, and her daughter Kelsey. Cute kid. Looks just like Sam," Jack said, quickly glossing over Jeff without mentioning him by name.

"And Jon? How's he doing?"

"Not so hot. Daniel, I know you and Janet have been to visit Sam. Were you ever going to tell me about my son?"

There was a distinct lack of response on the other end of the line. "Well, Jack, it really wasn't our place, and Sam asked us. . ."

"Asked you not to tell me, right?"

"Not in so many words," Daniel said. Even without seeing the other man, Jack knew he was nervously pushing his glasses up his nose with his index finger.

"What kind of words did she use?"

"Um, you see, we never actually discussed it. I mean it was obvious who Jon's father was by looking at him, I guess we just never felt the need to articulate it. Besides, Sam seemed a little embarrassed when we'd get close to the subject. You probably know more about the whole situation than we do. At least you were there. For part of it, anyway."

Jack cleared his throat, "Ah, yeah. But I've always been in the dark over the whole thing. At least you knew Jon existed, I didn't even know that!"

"I hope you're not being too hard on her, Jack. She did what she thought was best."

"Whose side are you on, anyway? I'd think as a father you could understand my position!"

"I'm not on anyone's side. And yes, being a father I can certainly understand how you must feel. But you have to think of this from her perspective, too. Think of all she gave up to have your son."

"I'm not following you."

"Jack, she gave up the best job on the face of this planet for you! You know how she felt about being at the SGC!"

"Don't yell at me! It's not like I told her not to let the door slam her in the ass on the way out!"

Daniel sighed, lowering his voice. "I'm just saying that if you'd been a little more understanding, a little more willing to talk about what happened, she might not have felt leaving was her only option."

Jack sat down on the bed, suddenly contrite. "You're right. I've been going over it all in my head, and I know I'm the one that pushed her away. But did she have to keep Jon a secret?"

"I guess she felt it was for the best. You know Sam. She doesn't do anything without thinking through all the angles."

"Ain't that the truth," Jack chuckled.

"How's she holding up?"

"Okay, I guess. She tell you what's wrong with Jon?"

"Yeah. I take it you're a compatible donor?"

"We do the transplant tomorrow. Sounds like it's a bigger deal on my end, than his. I'm glad. He's already been through a lot."

"What was it like? When you met him, I mean," Daniel asked.

"Scary, actually. God, he looks so much like Charlie! He really knocked me for a loop when I first saw him, ya know? I have to admit, I wasn't very nice to Sam about the whole thing."

"What do you mean?"

"Oh, I yelled at her about keeping him a secret from me, the whole nine yards. I'm still not happy about that, but I can see now I was a little rough on her."

"You could apologize. I'm sure she understands why you're angry. If it's any consolation, I think calling you after all this time was one of the hardest things she's ever had to do."

"Well, she knew I'd be pissed!" Jack said, resuming his pacing about the motel room.

"It wasn't just that you'd be mad at her," Daniel confided. "I think she was a little afraid you'd refuse to talk to her. And she's missed you."

"She tell you that?"

"Well, not me exactly, but she said something to that effect to Janet. She tried to get Sam to call you, but she didn't know how to after all the time that'd gone by. We got the impression she doesn't have much of a marriage."

"Really?" Jack asked, suddenly perking up.

"Not that she's ever said anything directly to us," Daniel told him, "but the last time we were out there, she just wasn't herself, you know? Some of the life had gone out of her. Oh, it's obvious she's crazy about the kids, and she and Jeff get along okay, it's that he's kind of just. . .'there,' you know what I mean? I think she had more in common with some of the people she worked with on the base than she does him."

"That's not what I saw," Jack said, trying not to let the news get his hopes up. "He seemed pretty attentive to me, and she seemed pretty willing to accept it."

"Well, it's only natural Jon's illness would have that affect. It's something they have in common. Probably the only thing. And the truly ironic part is Jon isn't his."

"Might be why he dotes on Kelsey so much," Jack observed.

"Could be, but then I think father's have a soft spot for their little girls. As much as I love Sean and Ian, Kendra's got me wrapped around her finger. Bad part is, she knows it." Jack could hear the proud smile in his voice, but he had a right to be proud. He and Janet had great kids.

"So, you're sayin' things aren't that great with them?" Jack questioned again.

"Look, Jack, I may be way off base here. It was two years ago that we were out there, and I think we've had one or two phone conversations since then. It's not the sort of thing you talk about casually. If they were having problems I don't know if she'd tell me anyway, and Janet hasn't mentioned anything specific. We've just commented we didn't think Sam seemed very happy. That's all."

Again Jack tried to quell the bubble of hope that kept rising, filling his chest. What was he getting excited for anyway? He was supposed to be mad at her, not thinking he had a shot at possibly recapturing what they once had. Whatever *that* was.

To be honest, he missed her friendship, her laughter at his stupid jokes, knowing he was going to see her at work everyday, even though it had been years. Okay, so the last month or so of her time at the SGC he'd tried to avoid her, but he was trying to avoid seeing her alone. Not all together. And if he was honest with himself, his third and final retirement wasn't so much that he couldn't stand not going out on missions, as much as the SGC seemed to be haunted by Sam's spirit. Everywhere he looked, he seemed to find remnants of her. The sound of her laughter, her explaining a theory, joking with Daniel and Teal'c. There wasn't a place on the base that didn't hold some resonance of her.

At first the promotion to General was enough to hold his interest in the program, but once it became routine, memories of Sam crept back in, taunting him with her absence. If she was still at the SGC, he'd probably *still* be in command there, with no thoughts of retirement. Desk job or no desk job, it would be worth it just to be near her.

"Jack? You there?" Daniel asked.

"Yeah, I'm still here. Sorry, Buddy. Just thinkin'."

"About. . . .?"

"Oh, nothin'. Just about 'what ifs,' I suppose."

"Jack you aren't thinking. . . . Look, just because Janet and I thought she didn't seem happy, doesn't mean it has to do with Jeff. Maybe it's her job, maybe her dad, it could have been anything!"

"I'm not going to try to bust them up, if that's what you're thinkin'," Jack said. "I'm just thinking maybe I'm not so mad at her anymore. I've missed her, too, Danny."

"Well, those are words I never thought I'd hear you say," Daniel said.

"Older and wiser?"

"Maybe just older," Daniel teased. His next words were serious. "Jack? Just don't get all wound up with the emotions of seeing her again and do something stupid, okay? I mean all this life and death stuff has a way of pushing common sense aside. Try to keep some perspective, all right?"

"Advice from the man who becomes speechless at the sight of ancient rocks," Jack teased back.

"Cute, Jack. I think I should let my students have a crack at you. They'd make short work of that attitude."

"A room full of geeks and an old man? I'd still kick their asses."

Daniel laughed but didn't comment.

A slightly uncomfortable silence fell over both of them. "Well, I should get goin' here. Ya know, Sam's not the only one I miss from the old days. We'll have to get together when this is all over."

Daniel's voice sounded thicker than a moment ago. "Sure, Jack. Wish them all good luck from all of us."

"Will do." Jack hung up the phone, staring at it for a few minutes. When had he become so sentimental? *Must be another one of those age things they warn you about,* he thought to himself, shaking his head.

*********

Sam arrived at the hospital early, surprised to find Jack in the waiting area. "Jack? You're here already? I thought *I* was early."

"Well, I couldn't sleep, and I didn't want to be late. How 'bout you? You sleep at all?"

Sam sighed and took a seat next to him. "A little, I guess. They *made* me go home."

"Looks like it did you some good. You still look tired, but better than yesterday."

"I'll be doing much better once the transplant has taken place and Jon starts to show some improvement." Sam looked over at Jack who was staring at his hands, nodding his head in silent agreement. Reaching over to place her hand on top of his, she said,

"I can't thank you enough for all you're doing. How great you've been about all this."

Jack slowly turned his hand over, weaving his fingers with hers. "That was never in question. Of course I'm going to help him, even if he wasn't mine."

Sam looked down at their grasped hands, surprised he'd initiated further contact. Was he starting to forgive her? The way he could claim Jon as his son without the bitterness he had directed at her yesterday, suggested something had happened. Even if it shattered the fragile rapport they were experiencing, she had to ask.

"Jack? Did something happen? Yesterday you were still ready to write me off, and today you seem to be, well, more understanding."

Jack continued to stare at their entwined hands. "I called Danny. He kinda played Devil's advocate for you, pointing out how I wasn't the only one who'd lost something when you left."

"I don't understand."

"Gotta be the first time," he joked, then he was serious. "He just reminded me how much you gave up leaving the SGC. How maybe you wouldn't have left if I'd given you another option. Thinking about what he said is probably why I didn't sleep so good last night," he confessed.

Sam was taken aback. He was starting to understand the actions she'd taken? Jack didn't apologize. She'd known him to once or twice, but it took a lot for him to do it. For Jack to even give her a sideways apology spoke volumes.

"I still have a problem with you not telling me about him, though," he said, looking up to meet her gaze.

Sam nodded. "It was a mistake, and I'm *so* sorry, Jack. If I could do things over, I'd never have kept him from you." Jack squeezed her fingers, silently telling her he accepted her apology as well.

Just then Jeff walked up, causing Sam to quickly release Jack's hand, hoping she didn't have a guilty look on her face. Nothing was going on, but Jeff wouldn't interpret it that way. It wouldn't do to have the two men get into a fight before Jack had to undergo his procedure.

"Morning, Jack," Jeff said, casting a glance in Sam's direction. "Kelsey's at Mom's. I had to explain to her again why she couldn't see Jon. This is going to be rough on her too. We'll have to be sure we make some time for her as well."

"You're right. Once Jon is settled after the transplant, there won't be much more we can do. We'll do something with her."

"She could really use some time with you," Jeff said. "Mom keeps commenting on how you seem to have forgotten you have *two* children."

Sam clenched her teeth. Ellen always had a way of pointing out she thought Sam favored Jon. It wasn't true, but then Ellen had never accepted that her son had married a pregnant woman. In fact, if anyone played favorites, it was Ellen. Practically ignoring Jon all his life, then lavishing attention on Kelsey. Jon hadn't been ignorant of his grandmother's attentions. He'd even asked her why Grandma liked Kelsey better when he'd tried to be good at her house. She'd attempted to explain to Jon it wasn't him, that Ellen's attitude was directed towards herself and not him, but he wasn't convinced. It wasn't an easy concept for a child to understand.

Sam was shaken from her musing by a nurse approaching them.

"Mr. O'Neill?" She asked, looking between the two men.

"That would be me," Jack said, raising his hand.

"It's time to get you prepped. If you'll follow me?" Jack stood, starting to follow the nurse down the hallway. He turned, looked at Jeff for a second, then smiled at Sam, causing her to smile back at him. Jack had disappeared into a room when Jeff turned on her.

"Well, *that* was a cozy little scene! What was the smile for?"

Sam leaned back in her chair, rubbing a hand over her forehead. "Please, Jeff, do we have to get into this now?"

"When do you think we should get into it? Yesterday he was at your throat and today he's giving you secret little smiles? Seems like kind of a radical change, don't you think?"

"Jeff, he's had a chance to calm down. To think about things. He said he talked to Daniel and maybe he helped shed some light on why I never told him about Jon. That's all!"

"Oh, great! Daniel! He's never approved of me, Sam. Never thought I was good enough for you. He's probably telling his old boss he should make a play for you again."

"Stop it!" Sam shouted. "Jeff, I *really* don't need this right now! There's *nothing* going on between Jack and I! He's here to give *our* son--yours and mine-- a chance at life. Can't you set your jealousy aside long enough to be grateful for that?"

Jeff walked away, running a hand through his hair. Sam could tell by the slump of his shoulders her words had hit home. Coming back to sit beside her, he apologized.

"I'm sorry, Sam. You're right. It's just really hard not to feel threatened when your old boyfriend shows up to be our son's savior."

"He's not my 'old boyfriend.' You know what happened with Jack and I. I'm surprised you could even call him that. At best he could be considered an old friend."

Jeff let the subject drop, but Sam could see it wasn't closed. This wasn't the last of the fights they were sure to have about Jack. Sam noticed the nurse heading in their direction once more. Standing, she waited to see if there was a problem.

"Mrs. Greenfield? Mr. O'Neill asked to see you before he was taken to surgery."

"Is there something wrong?" Sam asked.

"No, I'm not sure what it's about."

Sam cast a glance at Jeff. "I'll be right back." She saw he wasn't happy about this latest request of Jack's, but there was little he could do.

Entering his room, Sam saw Jack stretched out on a gurney. He was hooked up to an I.V., looking drowsy.

"Hey," she said. "This brings back memories," she smiled. "You stretched out on a gurney."

"Yeah, except the decor is better here," he smiled back at her. "And the nurses are too nice. I miss Janet."

Sam's smile widened. It had been a running joke with all of them that Janet loved using SG-1 as her own personal research project. And none too gently when she did.

"Yeah, I miss her too, but not for the same reasons. Was there something you wanted, Jack? I think they need to take you to surgery."

"Well," he hesitated, fidgeting under the lightweight blanket draped over him, "I was hoping I could get a kiss, ya know, for good luck."

Sam's face suffused with color. He was just a friend, right? Isn't that what she'd just told Jeff? If Daniel had made the request, she wouldn't have thought twice. But this wasn't Daniel, or Teal'c, or 'just one of the guys.' This was Jack. A man who continued to make her unsure of her feelings.

Sam leaned down, lightly brushing her lips against his. She started to pull back when she felt Jack's hand threading through her hair, pulling her back to him. He kissed her again, not deeply passionate, but definitely longer than a "send off" kiss.

Sam was embarrassed by her reaction to the kiss. Quickly pulling out of his reach she smiled briefly.

"Good luck, Jack."

He gave her a cocky grin, lightly touching her cheek. "See ya in a few hours."

Sam nodded, not quite trusting her voice. Watching the orderlies wheel Jack out of the room, she didn't see the man standing in the doorway.

*********

Sitting in the small cafeteria, toying with a cup of long-cold coffee, Sam ran her hands through her hair. It'd been two hours since the operation had started, and she still couldn't stop her mind from going over the events prior to Jack being taken into surgery.

What the hell was up with him? What on Earth had prompted him to kiss her? Granted it wasn't erotic, but it'd certainly had that effect on her. Was she that depraved one little kiss could send such a shock through her? Okay, so she and Jeff hadn't had sex recently, even before Jon got sick, but it wasn't *that* long ago! At least not to warrant the reaction she'd had to Jack! Unwillingly, thoughts of the night she'd spent with him years ago came to mind. How she didn't even care they were sure to die in the morning because Jack was with her.

God, she really thought she was over him! At least she'd convinced herself she was over him because there was no chance at a reconciliation. Yesterday he was yelling at her for lying to him and today he's kissing her? Daniel must be more persuasive than she thought!

Could it be he missed her as well? That he didn't know how to bridge the chasm that had developed between them any more than she did? Was this his attempt to rectify that? There were so many questions swimming around in her head, Sam didn't hear Jeff approach. She jumped when he touched her arm, trying to get her attention.

"Geeze! You scared the living daylights out of me!" she cried, placing her hand over her racing heart.

"They're done with Jack, I just thought you'd like to know."

Sam stood. "So what's next?"

"I spoke to Dr. Wendel for a moment and she said after the marrow is filtered, they're going to be administering it to Jon. They want him to rest, so after we say 'hello,' they've requested he doesn't have any visitors until tomorrow morning."

"I guess that'll give us some time to catch up on a few things, huh?" Sam said.

"Yeah, like maybe some sleep for all of us," Jeff smiled weakly. Sam could tell there was something wrong. Normally he wouldn't be this complacent. She expected him to feel as elated as she did that things were progressing without any complications.

"Jeff, what's wrong? You're so quiet. Is there something you're not telling me?"

He turned his gaze on her, his eyes now steely. "You're the one who doesn't seem to want to tell *me* what's going on."

"What are you talking about?"

Jeff turned to walk away, but Sam stopped him. "What did you mean by that?"

Turning to face her, Sam could see the repressed rage in his features. "You keep telling me nothing is going on with you and O'Neill, and yet, every time I see you together he's either got his arm around you, holding your hand, or kissing you! What the hell am I supposed to think?"

"You *saw* that?"

"Yeah, I saw that! I was coming to thank him again for what he was doing, instead I find the two of you making out! In a hospital room!"

"Jeff, he asked me for a good luck kiss! That's all it was!"

"Well, with as long as it went on, he should have enough luck for years!"

"How can you honestly say there's something going on between us? You saw how he was with me yesterday!"

"Yeah, and I saw how he was today! He must have had one hell of a revelation after talking with Daniel! It couldn't be that your good friends told him how you've never gotten over him, could it?"

"Jeff," she said, trying to calm him down, "I'm over Jack. It ended when I left the Air Force."

"You can tell yourself that, try to convince yourself, Sam, but I've got eyes. It doesn't take a rocket scientist to see what's going on with the two of you."

"There's nothing going on! I'm just as surprised as you are at his change of heart! Can we please just go see Jon, now?"

"Okay, Sam. We can drop it, but this isn't over. And as soon as he's able, I want him out of here. Back to Colorado where he belongs."

Sam looked up at Jeff. Hadn't he heard Jack say he was going to stick around? At least until Jon was out of the hospital? Suddenly, a feeling of loss swept through her. What if Jack did leave now? How difficult would it be for her to see Jack on holidays and birthdays? Now that he knew about Jon, what was there to keep him fighting for custody? She'd never stopped to think he'd want his time with their son as well. How could she bear it if Jon ended up in Colorado Springs a portion of the year?

There were so many questions that were irrelevant at the moment, Sam had to mentally push them aside. Jon was what mattered. Not any questionable feelings she had for Jack. Not any petty arguments with Jeff. Her son was whom she needed to concentrate on.

*********

Jon was groggy when they were finally admitted to his room. If it was possible, he was hooked up to even more monitors than before. Sam looked at Jeff, hoping their previous argument didn't show in their behavior towards their son. The last thing Jon needed was to sense the growing tension between them. She was sure he'd picked up on some of it before he ended up in the hospital. Jon even made some off-handed comment about how come she and Jeff didn't smile anymore. It was then Sam realized things had really started going down hill for them. Even though Jon was a sensitive boy, he was still a child, and if he could sense the uneasiness between them, it must be more obvious than she'd thought.

It really wasn't Jeff's fault, she thought. He'd tried. He'd romanced her as no woman in her tenth year of marriage was courted, which only made her feel all the more uncomfortable. How did you tell a man who still seemed to love you as much as the day you married, that things just weren't the same?

Jack's arrival hadn't improved the situation. Even as Jon's illness had served to bring herself and Jeff closer due to a common goal, that same goal was tearing them apart, and Sam was caught in the middle. Jack's presence was a constant reminder to both of them that Jon wasn't Jeff's son. Her husband felt threatened and she remembered what it was like to love a man so much she was willing to give up everything for him. The kind of love she'd never felt for Jeff.

Jon opened his eyes. "Mom, Dad. Hi."

"Hi yourself, Kiddo, " Sam said, stroking the hair from his brow. It was a familiar gesture, and she could see the action comforted him. "How are you feeling?"

"Kinda tired yet."

"The doctor gave you something to make you sleepy so you can rest. We can't stay long; Dr. Wendel told us we could just say 'hi' because you need to sleep, okay?"

"Okay."

Jeff took his place on the other side of the bed, ruffling the hair Sam had just smoothed back. "You're doing good, there Slugger. You've made your mom and I very proud."

"Thanks, Dad. Where's Jack?"

Sam looked up at Jeff, noticing the slight tightness in his jaw. "He's across the hall, honey. He's still sleeping from the anesthesia."

"When he wakes up, tell him 'thanks,' okay?"

"You bet we will," Jeff answered before Sam had the chance.

"We should probably get going," Sam said. "Can we bring you anything?"

"Yeah, I want some ice cream," he smiled. It had been his request every day since he'd been in the hospital, but until they knew what was wrong with him, the doctors wouldn't allow any outside food.

"I'll see what I can do," Sam smiled. "Oh, Kelsey said you better hurry up and get well because she's not going to take care of your garden forever."

Jon smiled weakly. "Tell her she's too little to take care of it anyway." It was a running joke with her children, Jon teasing her she was too little to do something and his stubborn sister declaring she could do anything he could do.

"We'll tell her," Jeff said. "See you tomorrow, Jon"

"Bye, Dad. Bye Mom."

Sam squeezed his hand, wishing she could give her son a kiss good-bye, but it was one of the things the doctors asked them not do because of the possibility of spreading a disease.

Upon leaving, Sam spotted a nurse, whom she asked about Jack. According to her, they were keeping Jack overnight to make sure there were no complications from the anesthesia or the aspiration, and he could have visitors in the morning. Sam nodded, then smiled at Jeff.

"Well, looks like we'll have the rest of the day with Kelsey. Maybe we can make up for lost time."

*********

The following morning found Sam in the waiting area of the hospital once more. She'd finally convinced Jeff to go back to work, at least part time, since there wasn't much for them to do but wait now, anyway. To be honest, she was relieved to have some of the pressure of Jeff's jealousy off her shoulders. It wasn't like she *had* spent any time with Jack. But the possibility existed, and that seemed to be enough to make Jeff wary.

He hadn't wanted to return to work, for that very reason, but Sam convinced him it was for the best. Both of them couldn't take time off work indefinitely and still keep up with their financial obligations. Even one of them being gone was putting a strain on their money situation. But Jeff had his business to think of. If he started to let it slide, there was every chance he wouldn't be able to rebuild it up to it's current level.

So, surprisingly, without a fight, they agreed he should go back to work. Sam had made arrangements with Ellen to help out with watching Kelsey, knowing the woman lived to care for the little girl. She also knew Kelsey was her "spy" into the goings on in their household. On more than one occasion Kelsey asked why Grandma always wanted to know if mommy and daddy had fights. It was a trade off. Sam knew Kelsey was well cared for, but the cost was her privacy.

Sam checked her watch again. It was already eight a.m. and neither Jon nor Jack were awake. She could have used the extra sleep herself, she sighed. As she waited for the nursing staff to allow her access to either room, she paged through the book she brought. It was Jon's baby book. At first she wondered at the wisdom of bringing the book to show Jack. Her thoughts were to give him a glimpse into his son's past, as an attempt at compensation for the missing years. But what if it had the opposite effect? Underscoring the fact he hadn't been there for Jon's milestones?

As she turned the pages, Sam smiled at the happy baby in the pictures, and how she too was beaming. She felt like she hadn't smiled like that in ages. It probably *had* been ages. She came across a picture of Jon, Jeff and herself and wondered if she should remove it. It wasn't like she could deny the fact that Jeff had raised Jon. Jack would have to accept the fact Jeff was essentially Jon's father, and as painful as such pictures might be, she couldn't hide them.

"Mrs. O'Neill?" a nurse asked, breaking Sam's train of thought.

"Uh, no, I'm Mrs. Greenfield. I'm a friend of Jack O'Neill's."

"I'm sorry, I just assumed. . . ."

"It's okay. It used to happen all the time," she smiled. And it did. How many missions had they gone on where the natives assumed she and Jack were "joined?"

"Well, he's awake now. You can see him if you like."

"What about my son? He's across the hall?"

"I'll check and let you know."

Sam nodded her thanks, as she pushed the heavy door into Jack's room. He was lying on the bed, staring at the ceiling, hands across his stomach. He didn't look up to see her, but must have known it was her when he said,

"I liked the ceiling in the infirmary much better. It was gray, but it had all those nifty conduits and thingies to look at." Jack turned slightly and smiled at her. "Morning."

"Hi." she grinned. "How are you feeling?"

"Groggy, sore, bored, sick of being in this bed. Did I mention bored?"

"Jack, you just woke up, how can you be bored already?"

"Easy. I've been in a hospital bed too many times. I know the routine. I thought I'd get a jump on the boredom part."

Sam smiled again. He hadn't changed, and for that, she was grateful.

"Whatcha got there?" he asked, nodding towards the book in Sam's hands.

"Um, well, I got to thinking about how you said you'd missed so much of Jon's life, and I knew I could never give you those years back, but I thought I could share something of them with you. It's Jon's baby book."

Jack looked at her with wide eyes. "Really? Would you show them to me?"

Sam knew he was perfectly capable of looking at the pictures himself. What he was asking for was her to explain them, share the moments behind the pictures.

"Sure," she said, pulling a chair closer to the bed. Jack pushed a button on the side of the bed, raising him into more of a sitting position as Sam opened the book.

"This was at the hospital," Sam said, pointing out a photo with her holding a squalling, red, wrinkled, newborn.

"God! He was so tiny!" Jack exclaimed, pulling the book towards himself for a closer look.

"He sure didn't feel like it! I was in labor for 36 hours!"

"What can I say? O'Neill men are stubborn."

"Really? I hadn't noticed that about you," she teased.

"This one is about two weeks later. At least he was starting to look like a baby by then and not an alien."

Jack looked at the picture, comparing it to the one in the hospital. "Yeah, if I didn't know better, I would have said Thor was this guy's father."

Sam stifled a laugh. "I never noticed that, but you're right."

They continued to peruse the pictures, Jack making smart comments, Sam rebuking them.

"Sam?" Jack asked. "Would you mind sitting up on the bed? This angle is killing my hip." She hadn't noticed what an odd position he held himself in to see the pictures, and without thinking, she slid onto the edge of the bed he vacated for her. She continued her explanation of a picture from Jon's first birthday, unaware Jack's head had dropped down onto her shoulder to get a closer look. It wasn't until she turned to him to say something, she noticed the position they were in.

"Comfy?" She asked, trying to joke her way through the fact her heart was racing.

"Just peachy," Jack said, purposely snuggling down further along her side.

Sam cleared her throat. "Um, this is one of Jon with Sean, when he was first born. The two of them hit it off from day one, even though they were both essentially babies when they met," she commented. Sam could feel Jack's breath stirring the hair by her ear as he breathed, sending shivers down her spine.

*Okay!* she thought. *Enough of him trying to see what kind of reaction he's going to get out of me! This is getting a little too weird!*

Sam practically jumped off the bed. "Jack, I think I'd better go see if Jon's awake. You can look at the rest of the pictures and ask me questions later."

"Okay," he said sounding a bit hurt and confused. It was eerie, but it was the same tone her son used, and Jon had never been exposed to Jack's moods. It was amazing how much genetics played in a person's development.

"I'll stop back later for the book," she said, then she was gone.

*********

*Well, *that* was smooth, Jack,* he admonished himself. So maybe he was toying with her a bit, but they'd been joking around, and the whole head-on-the-shoulder thing started out being funny. Even when he moved closer, he was still kidding her. Wasn't he?

Jack shook his head. When was he going to admit to himself that he wasn't over her? That maybe what happened on P2R-665 was a mistake, but only in the sense that it was bad timing. That they hadn't come to a mutual decision to move their relationship onto a more personal level. Oh, the reaction was definitely mutual, but they'd given no thought to their actions. Chances were, under normal circumstances, they wouldn't had sex a few minutes after their first real kiss. They would have at least made some mention of where things were headed.

So, where did that leave him? Still attracted to Sam after all these years, that much was certain. Still wishing he'd had the chance to find out what it was like to love her, and be in love with her. There was only one problem. Jeff. And the small matter of their marriage. She was just as forbidden now as she'd been as his 2IC, maybe even more so. Regardless of how rocky her relationship with Jeff was, Sam was above all else, true to her word. And if her words were "'till death do us part," she intended to keep them. So, where did that leave him? Pining away for her? Using Jon as a connection? A way to hold on to some portion of her? The one part Jeff truly couldn't have?

Jack rubbed his hands over his face. The whole situation was ridiculous. He was here because Jon needed him, not Sam. The sooner he resigned himself to that fact, the better off they'd all be.

*********

Sam had a hard time concentrating on what Jon was saying as she thought about what just transpired in Jack's room. She was embarrassed by her reaction to him. He wasn't supposed to be having this kind of effect on her after all this time! And how come he was still single? Maybe if there was another woman in the picture she wouldn't be entertaining the idea he might care for her. Surely there'd been women in his life since she'd left, but she couldn't remember Daniel or Janet ever mentioning one. Whether it was to "protect" her, or if there'd never been anyone serious, Sam didn't know.

The worst of it was, even after their ten year separation, she still didn't know how he'd felt about her when she left the SGC. Was all the anger just because he lost his second-in-command and the program lost their resident "brain?" Or was there something more?

Sam was stirred from her thoughts by Jon asking, "Mom? I asked you if Dad was here."

"Sorry, Honey, guess I was on another planet." It was something she'd always joked about with her children. If only they knew the truth of the statement! There were so many times she wanted to tell Jon and Kelsey of the wonders she'd seen in her years at the SGC, but she had to be content with stories of her time during Dessert Storm. Jon in particular would have been fascinated by what Sam had seen in her varied career. If only she could give him just a glimpse of that life.

"No, your Dad's not here. He had to go back to work, but he's going to stop by tonight."

Jon nodded. "What about Jack? Is he still in the hospital?"

"Yeah, just across the hall, as a matter of fact."

"Do you think I could see him?" he asked.

"I'm sure when Jack's up and about he'll come to see you. I'm not sure how long the doctor's are going to want him to rest."

"Not long enough," came a reply from the door way. Jack was leaning against the door frame, wincing in pain.

"Jack! Should you be up?" Sam cried, moving to help support him.

"That's what I said! But that witch of a doctor said the faster I start movin' around, the better off I'd be. And I take back everything I said about these guys being too nice! They could give Janet a run for her money!"

Sam slid her arm around Jack's waist as his arm draped heavily across her shoulders. She helped him to the chair next to Jon's bed, slowly easing him into it. Jack grimaced with discomfort, but said nothing.

Once he had the pain under control, he smiled at Jon. "Hey, how's it goin', Sport?"

"I'm okay. You look like you hurt though."

"This? It's nothin'," Jack said waving his hand dismissively. "How do you feel today?"

"Not really any different."

"Honey, the doctors said it's going to take a while for you to build up some new red blood cells. That's why you have to stay in the hospital," Sam said.

"I know, Mom," Jon sighed. "It's just that I haven't been here all that long and I'm already bored!"

Sam tried to hide her grin as she looked at Jack. "Deja vu!"

Jack shrugged. "What can I say? The apple doesn't fall far from the tree."

"What's that mean?" Jon asked, looking between them.

Sam was about to answer but Jack cut in. "It just means you've got more of me in you than just my bone marrow."

Jon looked even more confused before Sam clarified, "He means you have a lot in common."

"Oh." Jon seemed to let the subject drop. "How long do you have to stay in the hospital, Jack? Maybe we could play a game or something."

"Well, they haven't said, but I'm hoping I'll be outta here by tonight. But we can still play a game. Ya got any cards?"

Jon looked at Sam. "Do I?"

"Yeah, I think I tossed some in your bag when I was packing it." Sam started rifling through the bag of games and toys she'd packed to entertain Jon. She extracted a deck of worn cards bound by a rubber band.

"You want to play, too?" Jon asked his mother.

"I guess it depends on what you're going to play."

Jack undid the rubber band, expertly shuffling the cards, earning him a look of awe from Jon. He smiled at the boy's appreciation and said,

"The name of the game is five card stud, boys and girls."

"Jack! You're not going to teach my son poker!"

"Don't be such a spoilsport, Carter! He's gotta learn sometime!"

"Yeah, Mom! I gotta learn sometime!" Sam smiled at how Jon was even picking up Jack's speech inflections.

"Okay! I'm out gunned! Deal me in!" she said, pulling Jon's tray table over so they could all play.

"All right!" Jon cried, giving Jack a high-five, grinning from ear to ear. Sam couldn't help her own smile from forming on her face. The two of them together was just too cute. It was a scene she never thought she'd see--Jack and his son sitting side-by-side, ganging up on her.

"So, what are we playin' for?" Jack asked.

"Do we have to play for something? Can't we just do it for fun?" Sam asked.

"Carter! What fun is it if there aren't some stakes? Pennies, M and M's, anything will work. He's gotta learn how to bet!"

Sam searched through her purse. "Tic Tacs work?"

"Whatever, just so we all have something to bet."

Sam doled out the candies, a little dismayed none of them had very many. Well, it would make for a short game, she thought. They probably shouldn't tire Jon too much anyway. Jack dealt the cards and explained to Jon what he was looking for. "Okay, Carter, ante up," he said, tossing a Tic Tac into the center of the small table.

"How come you keep calling my mom 'Carter?'" Jon asked.

Jack looked up, meeting Sam's gaze. "I dunno. Guess it's just a habit."

Sam felt the beginning of a smile tugging at her lips. He didn't say her name with the same exasperation he used to. The tone was what? Almost affectionate?

"You used to call her that?" Jon pressed.

"Yeah, when she was my 2IC. She tell you she was my second-in-command?"

"You were?" Jon said, turning to look at his mother with new respect. "How come you never told me that?"

"Well, Jon, a lot of what Jack and I did was classified. You know, secret stuff, so I just don't talk about any of it."

"But you could have told me you were his second-in-command! That's so cool!" he cried. Sam felt herself starting to blush at her son's unabashed praise.

"Oh, yeah," Jack added. "Very cool. She was the best I ever had."

Sam looked over at Jack, feeling for a moment he wasn't just referring to her career. "Okay, you guys, you're starting to embarrass me. Are we going to play cards or what? Can anyone open?"

*********

Their poker game was interrupted by a drill sergeant of a nurse who insisted Jack needed to walk. He tried not to grimace as he stood, but the sharp pain in his hip was impossible to ignore. Sam was at his side in an instant, helping him to stand, and that almost made up for the fact he felt he was about to embarrass himself and cry out. *Some tough guy,* he thought to himself. *Don't think I'd do too well in that Iraqi prison at this stage of the game.* Now there's a story that would impress Jon! On second thought, even the glossed over version might be a little too much for a kid his age.

"Are you okay, Jack?" Sam asked. "You're white as a sheet."

"It's getting better," he said. I guess they're right about sitting in one position too long. Think you can give me a hand?"

"Of course," she replied, winding one arm around his waist, placing the other on his chest, as if the slight pressure would hold him up. He didn't mind, though, he was even beginning to forget the pain as he concentrated how good it felt for her to be close.

Once they were clear of Jon's room, Jack said, "Are you sure you never showed him how to play poker? That kid's a natural! I can't believe he cleaned me out!"

"He does seem to have a knack for it," Sam smiled. "I didn't expect to lose to him either. Of course I *did* throw away some pretty good hands."

"You too?" he grinned. "I thought I was the only one who was letting him win."

"Well, it was nice of you to make him feel like he was winning. Thanks, Jack."

He stopped shuffling forward, turning to look at her. "What for?"

"For being so nice to him. I can see you've impressed him. I think he's got a slight case of hero worship going already."

"Naturally," he smiled.

"I'm serious, Jack. And it might be a problem."

"What do you mean?" he asked, clearly not seeing what harm there could be in a little ego boost from the kid.

"Jeff already has a problem with you being here. Even though I've told him he shouldn't feel threatened by you, he is. I know Jon. He's excited about getting to know you, and I know he's going to talk about it. It's not going to be easy for Jeff to hear."

"And do you think it's easy for me to see how much Jon loves Jeff? How he considers him as his father and I'm just a friend? Don't get me wrong, I'd love to be his friend, but it's not easy for me to see another man in what should be my place."

Sam's arm seemed to tighten around his waist. "I know. This isn't easy for either of you. But there's no reason Jon can't love both of you. He's got a lot of love to give." She hesitated for a moment before looking into his eyes. "Just like his father."

Jack stared back at her. Could she see how much he still cared for her? How much he wished he could tell her of the times he'd thought of her over the years? How he'd envisioned sharing a life with her? And now, when he'd finally come to the realization, she was off-limits. Again. Bad timing had always been their fate. And it sucked.

"Sam, I'm not here to come between you and your family. I just want the chance to get to know Jon. To make sure he's going to be okay. You can understand that, can't you?"

"Of course I can," she said, looking him in the eyes once more. "I'm just saying this isn't going to be easy. For any of us, and the less we provoke Jeff, the better."

"I'm sure he's a reasonable guy. Hell, I might even come to like him. Stranger things have been known to happen."

"Well, I wouldn't be buying any tickets to hang out at hockey games just yet," she said. "I just wanted you to understand that sometimes it's going to seem like I'm siding with Jeff, and I didn't want you to think that means I'm denying you your rights."

Jack turned, placing his hands on her shoulders. "I know you'll do what you think is best. For all of us."

God! The way she was looking up at him made him want to kiss her! It was probably a good thing they were standing in the middle of a hospital corridor, or he might have leaned in, pressing his lips against hers. Mentally giving himself a shake, he said,

"I think maybe I should get back to my room. I'm starting to feel a little tired." Sam nodded, helping to support him again, but not holding him quite as closely this time. Apparently she hadn't missed the tension between them either.

On to Part 3

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