Winter Of A Heart

Disclaimer: I do not own these characters, but I do own the story.

Ramble: Just so you all know, I despise Pete. I totally support Sam and Jack. But we'll have to see... evil smirk

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No. This could not be happening. He would not accept that his worst fears had become real.

Jack paced around his office, the door closed and locked so that no one could disturb him. He could feel tears burning tie back of his eyes, and a lump rising in his throat, but he refused to cry. He was a grown man, and he would not cry over losing a girl to some other guy. Especially at work.

He had just come back from his 2IC's office, where she had the weight of a proposal on her mind. Not that she hadn't been proposed to by numourous different alien men - and a few women - but this time it was different. This had been the guy she'd been going out with. And now, she was going to say yes.

Jack was torn away from his thoughts of Sam getting married to someone other than himself, when the door knob was tried and there was a loud bashing on the door.

"Jack... Jack, it's Daniel. Open up."

"Coming, Danny-boy. Keep calm."

Jack unlocked the door, and Daniel almost fell on top of him. He was excited, and Jack knew why. He dreaded the next words to come out of Daniel's mouth.

"Hey Spacemonkey. What's up?"

"Hi! Well, in a matter of months, we will be attending the wedding of, drumroll please...," Daniel was in a stupid mood, but Jack managed a lame drumroll on his desk, "Our very own SAMANTHA CARTER! Isn't it great? She's gone to phone Pete now!"

"Oh... That's so great. I bet she's really happy," Jack said flatly. He tried to be excited, but his heart was being torn to shreds, and he couldn't manage anything right then.

"Are you okay?" Daniel said, noticing the drastic difference in his friend.

"Yeah, fine. Just kinda... sleepy. I took some pills earlier for a headache."

Lie.

"Okay. Well, I'll leave you in peace so I don't make it worse. Call if you need me. I have my cell phone. Teal'c and I have downtime for a few weeks, so you know where I am." Daniel said, with concern as he walked out into the hall, shutting the door soundlessly behind him.

Jack just stared at the papers on his desk. He couldn't work like this. He felt sick. And dizzy. And then the tears came. And the rage, and pain, confusion, loss. It was all too much, and he blacked out.

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"Jack.... Jack..... Are you awake? Jack?"

"Eh..." Everything was coming so slowly. The words he heard didn't make sence in his head, which was pounding terribly. He tried to open his eyes, but the damn lights were so bright. Finally, he got used to the light, and could see almost normally, ignoring the fuzzy outline that everything now possesed.

"Good. You're up. How are you?" Janet asked.

"Ow."

"That doesn't help Colonel."

"Wha- what happened?" Jack slurred his words.

"No one's really sure. An airman heard a thud from your office, and went in to see if everything was okay, and found you on the floor, out cold. You've got a nasty cut on the back of your head, so you've got a few stitches."

"Great. Just what I needed." Jack said, folding his arms across his chest in the "grumpy-colonel way" as Sam called it.

Sam.

He remembered what happened. All the emotions, all the pain, the memories, it all came back, everything. It was too much, too soon. He cried out loud, startling Janet. When she looked down at him, he was gone again. She telephoned Hammond and got him down there fast.

As Hammond got down, he rushed to Janet.

"What's wrong with him Doctor?"

"I'm not exaclty sure. I've been getting readings of increased heartbeat, and I think he's been having nightmares. He keeps blacking out. It might've been that bump on the head. I want him to be driven home and have someone look after him."

Hammond walked over to Jack's bed. He got him to wake up from his nightmare in a matter of seconds. This was so unlike Jack. Hammond knew the perfect person to help heal his best team leader.

"Colonel, you're to be taken home and rest there for as long as Doctor Frasier says. And then take another week downtime. And that's an order. I can't have my people blacking out at random times."

"General, thank you, but... I was..." How was he going to explain this. He couldn't go telling Hammond that he had feelings for Sam, and he had, well, an emotional breakdown over her.

"Don't want to here it Colonel. I'll get Major Carter to drive you home, seeing as Daniel and Teal'c are off base," Hammond sighed, "This is exactly what I don't need."

And he set off to find Carter. Of course, he wouldn't tell Jack of Carter being in charge of taking care of him. He'd leave that to Janet.

"Now, Jack, I'm giving you four weeks off. I'm not happy with what's happened and I want you fully and properly recovered. Plus you get an extra week downtime. I don't want you to do any heavy lifting for the next two weeks. Might strain yourself. I want you to rest and stay in bed. I don't-- Jack! Are you listening to me?!"

"Err... Wha- Yeah! I'm listening Doc. I heard every word."

Janet grinned. At least he was the same old Jack. He probably would end up killing himself. But that was just him.

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"Major Carter. A moment please?" General Hammond knocked on the door frame to Sam's office.

"Sure thing, Sir," Sam said, standing up in respect for her Commanding Officer.

"I'm sure you've heard of Jack's accident by now--"

"He had an accident? Is he okay?" Fear now replaced the warmth in her eyes.

"Well, he's been better. Anyway, he's got about 5 weeks to recover, and he can't drive himself home. He also needs a "babysitter", if you will. I would like you to do it. I would have asked Daniel or Teal'c, but they're on downtime for a couple weeks. And Jack will cooperate with you," Hammond said, "And, this once, don't worry about reports or anything. I heard your good news. I'm sure you'll have plenty of work planning your wedding as well as taking care of Jack."

"Yes Sir. Thank you Sir," Sam said, almost looking forward to a break. And planning her wedding.

"Well, we'd better get Jack home. You know what he's like when he's pissed," General Hammond smiled.

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Sam pulled into the driveway of her CO's home. It was only 6:30pm, but it was already getting dark. She looked over to the passanger seat and the man sitting in it. Fast asleep. She smiled. He looked so innocent, and vulnerable. And hurt. Or was that just her. Sam hung her head. Yes, she was thrilled about her engagment to Pete, but there had always been that spark between her and Jack. She did love him, but it wasn't worth it. It would ruin both their jobs and friendship. When she had a husband, she would forget about the love that had always been there. She would forget those times when they had admitted their true feelings and kissed-- No! Don't go there.

She looked back up at the sleeping man beside her, and knew that she would always love him, no matter what.

He stirred. Murmurd something. Whimpered. Spoke aloud, "No... why him? Why him? You know I love..." and he faded back into his dream. Sam was taken aback. No, he didn't really feel that way. He was just disoriented from this afternoon. And anyway, it could've been a dream about anyone, not nessicarialy her. But in the back of her mind, she hoped it was her that he was dreaming.

She eventually woke him some ten minutes later, after calling Pete and telling him that she would be caring for Jack for the next few weeks. Jack reluctantly opened his eyes and Sam helped him out of the car. She helped him into his room and put him safely under the covers. The moment Jack's head hit the pillow, he was asleep. Sam listened to his rythmic, soft snoring. She had the overwhelming urge to cradle him in her arms. And then she remembered Pete, and the regulations. She walked out of his room and went into the kitchen and started making coffee. She just needed to relax and sort herself out.

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Jack woke up very slowly. His head was throbbing uncomfortably, and his body ached. His eyelids didn't seem to want to open, but he finally got himself sitting up in bed. He looked at his clock. 9:00am. He was late for work! And then he remembered.

"God, I must have really hit my head. But it does feel nice to know you have 5 weeks with no work." He grinned to himself. "Wait a second. I'm at home. How'd I get here... Oh no. THEY GOT ME A BABYSITTER! Oh God. It's going to be someone I hate." Jack swung his legs out of bed, and slowly pulled himself up. Swaying a little, and grimacing at the pain in his body, he made it to the door and through the kitchen. He saw Sam curled up and asleep on the sofa. He smiled to himself, glad to have her near him.

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A/N: Okay, well that's it for this chapter. Obviously. Hoped you enjoyed it. Please review. Will post another chapter soon.