Chapter 1

When Jack awoke he looked around slightly disoriented from the sedatives he guessed were being administered through the IV stuck in his arm. His gaze took in the infirmary room, including the clock - 0220 hours - and settled on the figure sitting on the chair next to his bed. Sam was in exactly the same position as she had been when he had fallen asleep, and she gave him a small smile when their eyes met "Hey" she whispered.

"How long have I been asleep?" Jack asked, consulting her watch Sam replied "Only about 3 hours sir, you should try to go back to sleep"

"You should be asleep too Carter." He murmured groggily. She really should he thought, even with a fogged brain and in the dim light, the darkness under her eyes and weariness of her features and body was obvious to him. Sam had dropped her eyes and was looking sheepish; she knew she had been caught out,

"I'm OK, sir" she tried to reassure him.

"Carter you look exhausted, please go get some sleep". The desperate look in her eyes made him add softly "I'll still be here in the morning". He couldn't be sure but he thought he could see tears welling up at that.

"I...uh..." Sam didn't know what she wanted to say, she was having a hard time believing that he was really back and the guilt of what had happened to him was almost overwhelming. They made eye contact and as was usual for them more was communicated in that look than in any words they could have found. He saw her guilt, her pain, her relief and disbelief that he was really back. She saw the pain, the relief, the gratefulness and the concern in his but not the blame she had been expecting.

Trying to lighten the mood he said "I could make it an order" in an obviously mock stern tone. Coughing to try and breach the lump in her throat Sam could only manage a defeated "Yes sir". Sam got up from the chair and began to make her way out of the room with her arms tightly wrapped around her as if trying to protect herself.

Jack knew she was in pain and he hated to see her hurting so decided to try and find some words "Sam?" he whispered as she approached the door, she turned back to him the use of her first name surprising and soothing her in equal measure "Uh…thanks… for, you know…being here"

"Anytime" Sam quietly replied "See you tomorrow"

Satisfied that Sam was on her way to her own quarters to sleep, Jack gave in to the pull of the sedatives once more and fell back to sleep.

xxxx

Sleep was not so easily coming to Sam. She had gotten ready for bed and gotten in but despite being painfully tired she just couldn't settle. She couldn't get her mind to switch off and the thought of Jack lying alone in the infirmary after everything he had been through - because of her - was tormenting her.

Close to tears Sam got out of bed and put her BDU trousers back on. He hadn't technically ordered her to her quarters; he had just said he could. Her decision made Sam felt a little stronger and headed back to the infirmary and Jack's side.