Episode tag for Season 7's "Grace," where Sam comes to some different conclusions; it's amazing the difference one word can make.

Thanks, Gen, for the plot idea!

Disclaimer: I don't own Stargate. I just like it :) All publicly recognizable characters, settings, etc. are the property of their respective owners. The original characters and plot are the property of the author. The author is in no way associated with the owners, creators, or producers of any media franchise. No copyright infringement is intended.

Originally published in 2006 as SJAuthor

Chapter 1

Sam opened her eyes, trying to focus on the ceiling. How long had she been asleep this time? Had her plan worked, or was the ship still trapped in the nebula? At least her head no longer seemed like it was trying to split in two, though it continued to throb dully.

"Hey," came a voice.

"Jack?" she called in reply. Fortunately, it seemed her favorite hallucination was still hanging around.

"Excuse me?"

Or, perhaps not. Sam refocused, confusion and relief mixing to delay her completely taking in her surroundings. "Sorry, sir," she said, recognizing her CO - her real CO - sitting on a bed to the left of hers in the infirmary.

Jack stood and came to her side, sliding his hands into his pockets. "Yes, well, a massive concussion will tend to disorient one," he said with a smile that Sam had definitely missed.

Sam decided that the real Jack O'Neill, commanding officer or not, was by far preferable to anything her mind could conjure. She was home! "How long was I out there?" she asked him.

"It's all relative, Carter. That whole time-space continuum thing -"

"Sir," she interrupted.

"Four days," he answered, apparently convinced she wasn't in the mood for games.

"I could have sworn it was weeks," Sam said tiredly.

Jack gave her an understanding smile. "Uh, Teal'c and Daniel say 'hi,'" he informed her. "Um, they're planning a little bit of a shindig for when you're up and around. There's talk of cake."

"A cake?" Sam asked with a grin.

"My idea," Jack answered, with a smirk of his own.

"Can't wait," said Sam, smiling weakly.

Jack seemed to be searching for what else to relate to her, perhaps unwilling to leave her too soon. He shrugged and asked, "Need anything? Magazine? Yo-yo?"

"I'm fine," Sam answered with a slight shake of her head.

"Yes, you are," Jack observed, at last turning to leave her bedside.

"Thank you, sir," she said, hoping to keep him around for just a few moments longer.

"For what?" he asked, staying his withdrawal.

Sam wanted to say, For being there with me on the ship and keeping me sane, but she settled for, "For being here for me."

A bit of Jack's CO facade seemed to slip as he looked her in the eyes and said, "Always."

Sam was a little taken aback to hear him echo her hallucination, and she wondered if she dare repeat the conversation she'd had with Imaginary Jack.

Real Jack looked at her, seeming puzzled by her thoughtful expression. "Carter?" he said, concern in his voice. "You sure you're alright?" he asked, moving closer to the head of her bed, his fingers resting just shy of touching her shoulder.

"What if," she began, then stopped short. Come on, she thought. Now's the time. Just say it. He can blame it on your concussion if he wants to. Sam swallowed and said, "Sir, are we anything more than just friends, really?"

Jack looked completely caught off guard, but his expression told Sam just how unnecessary her question was. He seemed to want to answer her, but nothing was immediately forthcoming.

Sam charged ahead. "What if I quit the Air Force?" she asked. "Would it change anything, or is it just an excuse?"

Jack certainly had an answer to that one: exactly what Sam had predicted he'd say. "I'd never ask you to give this up," he said.

"Because you don't feel anything for me?" Sam asked. She was going to keep pushing. Jack closed his eyes. Sam watched as he sought for the words with which to answer her. To let me down, she thought. She realized she was preparing her next comment based on how her conversation with Imaginary Jack had gone, but she put it from her mind. Now that she'd gone this far, she was determined to find out where this discussion would really lead.

Jack's eyes opened, looking briefly to the ceiling rather than meeting Sam's. A small sigh escaped his lips and he looked down at her. "Sam," he said, leaning slightly on the edge of her mattress. "Do you really want me to answer that?" he asked.

She nodded, bracing herself for whatever he'd say. "Safe bet" and "unattainable" came unbidden to her mind, but she kept focused on Jack's face.

"I feel -" Jack began. "I've never stopped caring for you," he said, hearkening back to their admissions under the Zatarc detector. "It's always been up to you," he concluded, closing his eyes again, and hanging his head slightly.

Sam looked at him, amazed. All this time, she'd been waiting for him. Back when she'd volunteered that none of their confessions had to leave that room, it had just been in case that was the "out" he was looking for. He'd taken her up on it, but now she saw it was because he thought that it was what she'd wanted. The disappointment and the strain had taken their toll over the years since, and she realized now that she'd been ready to give up. That's what she'd almost let Imaginary Jack talk her into. Then, Sam remembered the words of her father's figment on the ship, You deserve to love someone, and be loved in return. The only man she could truly imagine that with was standing in front of her now, telling her, what? That all she has to do is say the word? "I want..." she said.

Jack looked up again as she spoke. "Yeah?" he asked quietly.

"You," Sam answered.

She saw a small grin form on his face. "You want me?" he asked.

"I want to give us a chance," she tried to clarify, "if that's even possible."

Jack smiled. He reached out his right hand to smooth her hair behind her ear. "Oh, I'd say it's more than possible," he said. Then, his face becoming serious, he asked, "This isn't just the concussion talking, is it? 'Cause, you know, I could put a whole lot of things in motion right now that I'd hate for you to regret after Fraiser clears you."

Sam smiled, leaning into the hand that he still had next to her face. "I mean it, Jack."

Jack looked around the room quickly. All Sam could see was a nurse across the way with her back to them, tending to another patient. Jack turned back to Sam and leaned over her, kissing her forehead. "I'll be back in a little while," he said. "Get some rest, Sam."

Sam closed her eyes and smiled, unable to gainsay him. She felt him leave her side and, for the first time in days, let herself drift comfortably into sleep.

To be continued...