I wrote this at approximately 2:00 AM. I think I was dreaming about it or something after watching Meridian and this just...wanted to be written. It woke me up, actually. Anyhow, my apologies if the narrative "voice" doesn't sound quite like Jack. In my defense, I was half asleep.

-SGK

Disclaimer: Stargate SG-1 does not, in fact, belong to me. Aha! I had you fooled there for a moment, didn't I? Nope.

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I need time to think. It's late, getting dangerously close to being early, but there's no way I think I'll be sleeping tonight. I pace the nearly empty halls. No one offworld at the moment, no one attacking... the silence and inactivity are coming to the point of being painful.

I step into the equally empty briefing room and shut the door.

This is really where it all began. Here, in this room.

The moment he walked in here, the fate of the planet was torn off of its roots and tossed straight into the stew pot of chaos without so much as a rinse. Maybe that's why people like me, hands still covered in dirt and blood to last more than a single lifetime, managed to get in on the confusion.

Those who I think of as friends may believe they know me, but they don't know what a disgusting place some parts of my mind are. I plan to keep it that way. But Daniel?

I don't quite understand how, but it seems he always knew, and never believed it could be true. Another product of his damned persistant naïveté. Thank God he never lost that.

I remember the meeting that took place here before that first time through the Gate. Back then, he could see that darkness too, but he was the geek and I was the colonel, and neither had the other figured anywhere into our plans for the future.

Right now I don't know whether planet Earth can survive without him.

And sometimes I wonder the same thing about myself.

More dark thoughts sneak up into my consciousness, burning away at the locks I've turned so tight. The uncanny silence of the SGC at this time of night does nothing to stave off the heaviness in my heart.

Speaking of which...

With a sigh to no one, I wearily stand and exit the deserted briefing room. It's nearly time to get up, but somehow I don't think I would have been sleeping tonight anyhow. Carter's probably fallen asleep in her lab again, as she's been doing far too often of late.

I change directions and set course for her lab.

The lights are still on, but there's not a sound inside. I put my hand on the door, and freeze. Shaking off the nagging feeling of being watched, I move inside.

Take care of her. My eyes flicker back to the door, and I swear for a moment that a glint of blue peeks out from the shadows. Rubbing my eyes and cursing my tiredness, I step towards the desk where Carter is slumped. She's drooling, I note, letting a smile briefly cross my face.

One hand goes out to tap her shoulder.

"Carter..."

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A pair of blue eyes watches her come around and blink sleepily at the time. A slow, sad smile crosses the familiar watcher's face as the two of them leave the lab.

Jack suddenly stops and turns around, eyes searching the shadows..

"Sir?" Sam questions with a yawn. He frowns, then turns falls into step beside her.

"Nothing."

The blue eyes follow them for a moment before disappearing into nothingness.

And take care of yourself, Jack.