This is something that just popped into my head at 1 in the morning while I was listening to a CD, trying to sleep...hopefully it's not too awful! The italics are lyrics to the song "Breathless" by Better Than Ezra.

Here you are now

Fresh from your walls

Back from the edge of time.

And all that you were

Stripped to the bone

I thought you'd want to know

When you feel the world

Is crashing all around your feet

Come running headlong into my arms

Breathless

I'll never judge you

I can only love you

Come now, running headlong into my arms

Breathless

Sam Carter stood, flowers in hand, looking down at her father's tombstone. Fresh tears threatened to again overwhelm her already shaken defenses. She still felt raw and exposed, even after 4 months. She had never been one to cry, but Jacob's death had hit her much harder than she'd anticipated. Even now it was hard to believe he was really gone. She didn't know how many nights she had gone to his house and stayed up all night, looking at the old photo albums and remembering the good times they had shared.

The cemetary was peaceful at this time of day and she had chosen to come now so she would be able to alone to be with her father.

"I thought I'd find you here." a familiar voice said from behind her.

She closed her eyes. It was Jack O'Neill.

"Jack." she said simply.

He came forward silently and stood beside her, staring down at the name in front of him.

"We may have had our MANY differences, but Jacob was a good man." he offered softly.

She looked sideways at him. His face also held traces of sadness, and there was a hint of weariness as well that caught her attention.

"Jack, are you okay?"

He chuckled.

"Sam, I'm fine...it's you that I'm worried about."

She cast her eyes back down at the ground and was frustrated to find that there were more tears in her eyes.

A hand appeared at the edge of her blurred vision, a white handkerchief held out. She took gratefully and dabbed her eyes.

"I'm sorry..." she muttered.

"Sam, you have nothing to be sorry for! He was your father-if you didn't cry for him, I would have Janet lock you up in a heartbeat!" Jack said. "I'm not here to pass judgment on you or make you feel like you have to be brave about this. It's hard to lose somebody you love..."

His voice trailed off and she knew he was thinking about Charlie.

Lay down your ghost

Too weak to run

Nothing can harm you here

Your precious rock

Broken and scared

Somehow you made it through

I only ask that you won't go again

When you feel the world

Is crashing all around your feet

Come running headlong into my arms

Breathless

I'll never judge you

I can only love you

Come now, running headlong into my arms

Breathless.

Breathless

Sam moved closer to him, and slid her hand into his. He squeezed it briefly, and they both stood there lost in the memories of yesterday.

"Here we are...the two toughest people on our base and we're both crying." Jack stated matter of factly.

She looked up at him to find tears running unashamedly down his face. Wanting to ease his pain somehow, Sam cautiously wrapped an arm around his waist. He responded, pulling her against him.

They remained there for several more moments, taking comfort from the other's presence.

"It feels like..." Sam began, her voice trailing off.

"Like everything is wrong, somehow. The world should be crashing and burning around you, but everything still goes on just like it did before." Jack supplied.

"How do you get through it? Sometimes I think I've got a handle on it, and then I'll see something that reminds me of him and I'll lose it again." Sam said in frustration.

"One day at a time, Sam. You can't run forever and carry the weight of the dead on your shoulders. Eventually, you have to lay them down and remember to only take personal responsibility for the things you have the power to control. That was the hardest lesson for me to learn."

Letting go of her hand, Jack wrapped his other arm around her in a comfortable hug.

She allowed her head to rest on his shoulder and had to chuckle. Jacob would have been very amused to see her and Jack in their present position.

So glad to see you smiling

So good to hear you laugh

I think that you've found

You've even missed yourself.

I'm only asking this cuz

I think that you've returned.

Oh, you'll never go again

Again.

When you feel the world

Is crashing all around your feet

Come running headlong into my arms

Breathless

I'll never judge you

I can only love you

Come now, running headlong into my arms

Breathless.

Breathless

Breathless

Jack pulled back a little and smiled down at her.

"It's nice to hear even a little laugh from you." he said.

"I think it was time." Sam replied.

Looking back up at Jack, she asked, "Why didn't you come after me right away?"

Jack tilted his head to one side.

"Sam, I know you too well and I knew that you didn't want to be surrounded by a huge group of people bringing the usual green bean casseroles to your house and telling you a pile of bull that you and I both know isn't true. I figured I would give you some time and space, THEN I would come after you."

"I really thought I didn't want to be found...but I was wrong." Sam said.

Jack smiled at her, his eyes drying.

"You can always come to me when you feel like all is wrong with the world...I don't care how silly you might think it is. If it bothers you, it's important to me."

He gave her a wry grin.

"I'm not exactly what you'd call Mr. Eloquence, but please believe me when I say that my old arms are here for you to run into anytime you need them, and...all I can do is love you the best I can."

"That's good enough for me."

Sam stretched up and kissed Jack lightly. The brilliant sunlight broke through the trees and both of them were finally whole...And breathless.