I awakened to see Colonel O'Neill standing over me. The relief was evident in his eyes; I felt it coming off him in waves. The feeling was more than mutual.

"Hey Carter, Where've been?" Were the words he spoke to me while trying to hide his overjoyed smile.

Our eyes locked, "I was calling out for you to hear me." I felt like emphasizing the 'you' more than I did. Being trapped in the SGC computer system...all I could think about was my regrets about our relationship. I was afraid I'd never see him again, never be able to tell him how I really feel about him.

"We all heard you." I answered, wanting so much more to say that I heard her. That I never gave up hope of getting her back. The alternative has become unthinkable for me. I wonder if she knew I waited by her bedside since she was taken over by that alien virus thing. For crying out loud, in the last year I've come so close to losing her...more times than I want to admit. Damn the regulations, I've got another chance to tell her how I feel and I won't let it pass me by, not again.
Next Day:

SG-1 has been given a two week leave period. Danny boy is all excited about some new rocks SG-11 brought back for him. He'll probably stay on base the whole two weeks trying to figure everything out about them. Teal'C already left for Chulak to see his wife and son, god knows he deserves to see his family, even if the rest of us don't have any one to go home to. Ah... and then there's Sam. She's just been released from the infirmary under strict orders to take it easy and get lots of sleep. She's probably on her way out, hope I can catch her before my second in command leaves the building.

There she is. "Hey Major." I grinned at her as I stopped her by the elevator.

"Sir." She managed a tired smile for me. Carter always had a smile for me, it's one of the things I love about her...

"Listen, Carter I wanted to talk..." I swallowed my mouth suddenly as dry as Abydos. "...about..." I trailed off not knowing how to finish. Words weren't my strong point.

She looked up at me, her eyes holding understanding. I couldn't over look the dark circles under her eyes or the way she slumped up against the wall.

She closed her eyes and took a breath. "Take me home Jack..." she asked me quietly. Our eyes locked, hers pleading with me to just do as she asked. I gave in. There was no way I could say no to that beautiful, albeit tired face. I placed my hand on the small of her back and gently led the way to the surface, then my car.

As soon as I got in Jack's car I basically slumped against the window and dosed off. A loud horn just now roused me from my slumber. I don't understand what has gotten into me, telling 'Jack' not Colonel O'Neill to take me home. Got that sounded so suggestive even to my ears. I was too tired, too past the point of caring to seriously worry about my actions. I knew the Colonel wouldn't let anything happen to me and would never take advantage of me, I was safe with him. I drifted back to sleep, knowing he would get me home safely.
The more I look at Carter the more I hate the idea of leaving her alone tonight. I finally decide to take her to my place instead, it's closer than her apartment anyway. I've also noticed that she's still got that goopy stuff they used to stick the electrode thingys to her on her face, some of it's even in her hair. I better get her cleaned up for she goes to bed, otherwise she'll really be cringing tomorrow morning.

I pull into my driveway and shut off the car. I spend a moment just gazing at her, she looks so young and innocent when she's asleep, and you'd never know how much weight is resting on her shoulders by looking at that face. I got out and went around to the passenger door, I opened it slowly and caught her as she fell towards me.

"Carter? Wakey wakey sunshine, time to rise and shine." I smiled at my own words, sunshine, what a great nickname for her that would be. Hell her smile alone lights up my life. All the response I got was a soft moan into my shoulder, looks like it's up to me to get her inside. I picked her up in my arms, holding her close so she wouldn't get chilled in the cold mountain air. As I walked up my steps and opened the door I couldn't help but notice how indescribably right it felt to have her in my arms.

Gently, I placed her on the couch and gave another try at waking her. "Carter?" I brushed a lock of hair from her eyes and she stirred slightly. "Wake up sleeping beauty." I whispered in her ear, leaning back to see her reaction. That got her, tired eyes took in my living room and me.

"My apartment doesn't have a fire place..." she mumbled and I couldn't help but smile. Apparently the intellectual scientist in her gets shut down for the day when she's this tired. I made a mental note of that, knowing it would come in handy at some point.

"I'm going to run you a bath Carter and when you get all cleaned up you can have my bed for the night and I'll take the couch. Okay?"

She nodded slowly and leaned back against the couch. I took that as a yes and took off to run her a bath, hoping I had something that would turn into bubbles. As luck would have it I had some bath beads kicking around from a get well basket I got a while ago. Soon the Major's bath was over flowing with scented bubbles and warm water.

When I got back to her I couldn't help but smile at the sight before me. My tough as nails second in command was curled up on my couch wrapped up in my favorite blanket. She looked about twelve years old, trying to wait up for Santa or something. She probably did that as a kid, I chuckled at the thought, I wonder if she was able to prove his existence or not.

Again, I took her in my arms, a feeling a guy could get used to and made my way towards my large claw foot tub. I set her down and was able to wake her up once again.

"Okay here's your bath, go ahead and climb in, I'll check on you in a little while."

He actually ran me a bath, god that man is sweet. I couldn't help but smile as he ruffled my hair on his way out; it's something I've always wanted to do to him. I stripped down and stank into his bathtub. It had been so long since I'd indulged in this pleasure, it was heaven. The smell of peaches all around me, the warm water soothing my tired aching muscles, life could not get better than this...

Or so I thought until I heard Jack hesitantly knocking on the door, "Come on in, Colonel." I called to him.

"I like Jack better off hours you know..." he started saying as he walked in but lost his sentence when he caught sight of me.

I thought I had prepared myself enough before I went in to see Sam, god was I wrong. I tried to tell her to use my first name but I completely lost my thought when I saw her. She was a vision; bubbles foaming up all around her, blue eyes so calm and open with the most beautiful smile on her face. Heaven help me...

After I'd regained some of my brain power I indicated the clothes I had in my hand, "I brought you these, they'll be a little big but..." I shrugged not really sure how to finish the sentence. I quickly tried to make a retreat into a safer room when she called to me.

"Jack?" I called after him, sitting in a tub full of bubbles was nice but I wanted company.

"Uh yeah?" He answered, not sounding very sure of himself. I waved him over, motioning towards the side of the tub. He moved sluggishly but constantly as he plopped down beside me. He sat with his back against the tub, head slightly turned toward me.

I crossed my arms on the side of the tub, resting my chin on them. "Tell me a story." I whispered in his ear, it was something I missed as a child, I was hoping he could fill the void where those happy childhood memories should have been in my heart.

A story... she wants to hear a story...I frantically searched through thoughts and memories in my head hoping something would pop out at me...but nothing. No wait! I got an idea.

"Sure thing...Uh...Once upon a time there was a man, a broken and defeated man. He had worked very hard at his job, but was always away from his family. He eventually lost them and retired from his job. He figured his life was over, that he would spend the rest of his years fishing. Not long after he was recruited back to his work, he agreed to return but figured he would go back to retirement within a month. Sure the work was fun but his heart just wasn't in it anymore. Then his boss gave him someone new to work with. She was so beautiful, he figured she'd just do as he asked and they'd get along fine. But not only was she beautiful but smart and tough as nails to boot. She didn't take crap from anyone, even him. He liked her right away. She had the most radiant smile, it would light up the whole room, his broken heart included. But she also had this sparkle in her eyes, her enthusiasm for the job was contagious. Soon he realized that he wasn't just going through the motions of day to day life anymore, he was living again. She helped him see through the haze and pain of his past, leading him to focus on her and his new life..."

I couldn't believe I just said that...god I hope she fell asleep or this is gonna get weird.

As I listened to Jack's 'story' I started crying, his words struck deep. I never knew I had helped him that way, that he started living again all because of me. I didn't know what to say to him, how to tell him all that I was feeling for him at that moment.

So instead I just said, "Help me out of the tub will you." He nodded holding up a towel as I stood and stepped out of the bathtub. He wrapped the towel around me, then embraced me and took me in his arms.

All of a sudden I had my arms wrapped around her, I didn't know how it happened only that I needed it too. I felt her smile and sigh against my shoulder. This was heaven I thought, and I have an angel in my arms.

"That was the best bedtime story I've ever heard." She told me, looking up into my eyes. It was then that I noticed we were both crying. I led her into my bedroom, not giving a damn about the soapy water in the bathtub or the puddles of water on the floor.

I handed her the clothes I had brought for her and reluctantly turned away to give her the privacy she deserved.

Always the gentleman I noticed as he turned away so I could change. I found my underwear amongst the pile he gave me and slipped them on. I finally decided on his Avalanche jersey, it had short sleeves and was longer than the other shirts, even so it landed mid thigh around my legs. I looked back at him, he seemed unaware that I had finished so I announced, "Ta da!"

He groaned when he saw me, "You look better in that than I do Carter." I grinned at him as I stood patiently by his bed.

"Well let's get you tucked in and settled for the night" I said walking up beside her and pulling back the covers. She climbed in and I pulled the covers up around her.

"Sleep well, Sam." I told her as I kissed her cheek and turned out the light. As I made my way to the door her voice stopped me dead in my tracks.

"Jack...stay with me for a while please...I don't want to be alone...after..." I trailed off, hoping he knew what I meant without me having to explain it.

"I understand." Was all he said, I heard a rustle of clothing and soon found out he had removed his jeans and T-shirt. He slipped under the covers and pulled me into his arms. I curled up against him happily, my head finding a cozy nook between his neck and shoulder.

As I was drifting off to sleep I remember hearing him say, "You're not alone Sam, you won't ever be alone again."