When Sam first learned of her father's capture she felt sick deep down in her gut as if his capture had been her fault. Aside from the fact that he was a grown man and fully capable of making his own decisions, she knew he became a Tok'ra only because of her. She wasn't ready for him to die from cancer then. And she made damn sure he didn't die in some pit on some moon resembling the depths of hell.

That moment she had heard his voice calling her name a wave of pure relief moved through her. However, the relief was momentary. Enduring four days of torture had left him so physically weak and exhausted he could barely move. And to make matters worse, Selmak was dying leaving Sam's father to his own faculties.

It deeply troubled Sam to think of those four days her father had been alone and possibly without hope. She wondered what toll that had on his mental well being. The team had only been there for a day but Sam quickly learned that Netu was a difficult place even without the torture.

And now that they were finally safely onboard the ship Sam was able to focus all her attention on her father and tend to any of his needs. She was pleasantly surprised when he suggested they take a father daughter vacation. The idea seemed to give him renewed energy. But Sam knew him better than he realized. Always the strong soldier. Selmak hadn't smoothed out that rough edge yet.

So, of course Sam saw right through his front and noticed the anguished looked in his eyes and the tiredness in his already exaggerated movements. For the moment, she decided not to pursue the matter. He was exhausted, so was she. Plus he was safe, resting comfortable next to her. Besides, they would be home soon enough; there she planned on talking with him during their little vacation together.

Jacob was glad for the hot shower and the change of clothes. Not only was it refreshing but it was a chance to get away from Sam's probing eyes. She had kept an almost annoying watchful eye on him during the whole trip home.

He knew she was worried for him. Even his good friend George Hammond was worried. He threatened to not allow Jacob to leave the base until he had a visit to the infirmary.

However, the infirmary was the last place he wanted to be. And as Dr. Fraiser continued to examine him the more he regretted being there. He didn't need a doctor that's what Selmak was for. The little snake knew him better than any doctor possible could. Plus, Jacob already knew even with the medicine Martouf gave him it would take Selmak several days to fully recover from their ordeal and that the best thing he could do for her was to rest.

Add this realization to the fact that Jacob was a stubborn man who disliked doctors and would avoid them whenever possible finally pushed him over the edge. He suddenly yanked the thermometer out of his mouth and shoved it into Dr. Fraiser's hand.

"What good is it going to do to take my temperature? Haven't you poked and prodded me enough to figure out I need rest?" Jacob snapped to an absolutely shocked Dr. Fraiser.

Jacob hopped off the bed forcing the good doctor to either get out of his way or get knocked on her ass. Thankfully she quickly moved. He didn't really want to hurt her. He just had an overwhelming need to get the hell out of there, to be outside in the open with fresh air to breathe.

A few beds over, Jack had been resting comfortably when a loud crash caught his attention. He looked to see Jacob storming out of the infirmary right past Major Carter. In his wake a nurse quickly picked up medical instruments off the floor and a stunned Dr. Fraiser still standing with her mouth wide open.

"Hey Doc!" Jack called to her seeing she was gearing up to drag Jacob back into the infirmary if necessary. Jack believed she could do it too! Under other circumstance he would have like to see it too.

"Not now Colonel," she said fully determined to get her patient.

"Janet...let him go," Jack insisted.

"Sir..."

"Just...let him go. The man's been through hell the past few days. The last thing he needs is a doctor telling him about things he already knows. Trust me...I know."

Janet frowned at him. Jack knew it was against her nature to let one of her patients go so easily. However for some reason, whether he was that convincing or the fact that Major Carter went chasing after her father, Janet didn't go after Jacob.

"Dad!"

He didn't stop so Sam hurried after him.

"Dad!" she said grabbing his arm.

"Oh...sorry Sam. I didn't hear you," he said barely hiding the irritation in his voice. "Can we get the hell out of here yet?"

"Yeah, I was coming to tell you everything's been arranged," she said noticing how anxious he was. "I just have to change my clothes."

"Good, I'll meet you at your car."

"Dad...you ok?"

"I'm fine Samantha. I just need some fresh air."

"Ok," she frowned and watched him walk down the tunnel towards the elevator.

She was really worried about him now as she headed back to the infirmary. There were only a few occasions when he would call her Samantha. The most often being when she was in trouble and had to be sent to her room. However, that wasn't the case here. Sam was an adult that didn't need to be lectured or sent to bed without dinner by her father anymore.

Another occasion was the day he dropped the bomb about getting her into NASA. He was annoyed with her choice of not accepting his offer to make her dreams come true. Of course, at the time, he had no idea about the Stargate and that what she was doing went beyond her dreams.

The only other occasion was when he returned home from one particular mission. She had forgotten about that day until now. It was the one and only time he had ever come home injured or with an injury that she could see. He had picked her up holding her close when she noticed the bruises on his face. When she had asked him about them, he said the same exact words, 'I'm fine Samantha'. He even had that anguished look in his eyes when he said it. She was only three years old at the time but she was already smart enough to know something was troubling her father.

Leaning against the car with his arms folded across his chest, Jacob breathed in the crisp cold air slowly and deeply. Powdered snow covered the ground and the skies were threatening to drop more. At the moment he didn't care as he closed his eyes.

The open space and the cold air felt great. He didn't even care that he wasn't dressed for the cold weather wearing only his green fatigues. Even in Selmak's weakened condition he still had a far superior immune system compared to anyone on his planet and couldn't even catch a cold.

He was worried about Selmak though. This was the first time since their blending that he felt her distance herself from his thoughts to the point where she was almost completely dormant within him.

After they're blending it had taken him a while to get used to having another voice in his mind. There were a few times he wondered if he would have gone through with the blending if he had known beforehand what he was really getting into. With her inside his mind there was no where for him to hide, no where to just be alone. And being a gentleman and a man of honor, he didn't think it appropriate to tell her to shut up. But there were a couple of times he wished he could have turned her off.

Now that there was only silence he truly missed her almost constant chatter and her amusing comments. He even missed her nagging. The one thing he learned to truly enjoy about Selmak was that she always had something to say and never hesitated to say it.

'Selmak?' he called softly in his mind.

For the longest moment all he could hear was his own breathing.

'Selmak?' he called again.

'Yes, Jacob,' came a faint reply.

She sounded so weak to him. He was suddenly frightened for her.

'Do not worry Jacob. I will be fine. Enjoy your time with your daughter. Just don't over exert yourself. And don't get injured...I won't be able to heal you right away.'

Jacob chuckled sensing her usual annoyance towards him getting injured. Ever since becoming a Tok'ra he has been injury prone. He thought it was because he tried going one way and Selmak was trying to make him go another way. The result being him getting injured.

'It's not my fault,' she protested obviously hearing his thoughts. 'You're just too damn stubborn and don't always listen to reason.'

'Ok...Ok, I'll try to be careful...just...just take care of yourself.'

'I always do...for both our sakes.'

Jacob sighed feeling a little better. But there was still an empty feeling when she withdrew again.

Opening his eyes he was startled to see Sam standing in front of him smiling.

"Selmak?"

"Yeah, he cracks me up all the time," he smiled.

"How is he?" she asked unlocking the passenger door.

"Resting."

He saw her frown out of the corner of his eye as he got in the car. Thankfully she didn't question him further after getting in the car and starting it up.

"I thought we could head home first, pack some clothes then get something to eat. All your clothes are there so you can change too."

"I hoped that was the case when I noticed my civilian clothes were missing from my locker."

"I had them cleaned but kept forgetting to return them."

"So, where will we be going?"

"General Hammond gave me the location of a cabin in the mountains a few hours away. I know it's not Alaska but it's cold and secluded, just what you wanted and it's ours for the week. Plus, I didn't think you wanted to sit on some transport plane for hours."

"Sounds perfect," he sighed relaxing into his seat.