He was there when they carried her broken body back through the wormhole, as the medical staff started working on her even as the gurney moved towards the infirmary. He remained outside the surgery until the surgeon emerged, exhausted, to say that she was stable, but had slipped into a coma.

Slowly, day by day, her injuries healed, but the coma continued. He watched and waited at her bedside, hoping that his worst nightmare wasn't coming true, aware of the others who joined his vigil, but lost in his own pain. Daniel, who spent hours reading aloud, or telling her about his latest theories. Teal'c, who stood guard over his fallen teammate. Pete, who chattered away to her about the future he dreamed of for them, shooting glares at her CO from time to time.

He left her only when forced to, and returned as soon as he was allowed. So he was there when she opened her eyes again, finally, blinking vaguely, before focusing on him with confused recognition.

"Jack?" she queried, her voice weak, before succumbing once more to sleep.

The relief was so immense he had to fight back the wave of emotion that threatened to drown him.

"Is it true?"

"Is what true?"

"Are you leaving?"

One look at Jack's face gave Daniel his answer.

"But Jack, I don't understand how you can just walk out on her like that. How can you leave, when she still needs us?"

"Daniel, leave it! My decision is made. I was leaving before this happened, I just postponed it, but now I have to go."

"So you're just going to leave, are you even going to say goodbye? I don't understand you, I really don't. I thought you cared."

"Daniel!" Jack bit out the word, holding onto his control tightly.

"But .."

"Daniel!"

"You .."

"Daniel!!"

Anyone else would have read the expression on Jack's face and backed off, as far away as possible. Daniel, being Daniel, didn't. He pushed and pushed, asking questions, demanding answers, till finally Jack could take no more.

"Just tell me, why?"

"Daniel, don't make me do this. Please. I am sorry, I can't do this any longer. I know you think I'm hard, unfeeling. I put my feelings aside because I have to, to get the job done, but this, this is different. I can't stand by and watch while she chooses someone else, again. If I do, I will break. I'm being torn to shreds as it is. I couldn't leave while she was so badly injured, I had to see her recover, had to know she would be OK, but she is awake now and she has others to rely on.

She deserves everything she ever wanted, and I would do anything in my power to make her happy. That also means accepting her choices. The one thing, the only thing I cannot do, is stay and watch it happen. Nobody, not you, not her, could ask me to do that.

Don't force me to do this, because this time there isn't some strange new technology to be deciphered by a geek, and a mission to Abydos, that could give me a reason for living again after this. This time, I'll be lost forever."

The two men stared at each other, shaken by the emotion that filled that speech, emotion that both knew Jack had never planned on showing. Both suddenly found the floor fascinating, then Jack turned back to place the last few items in the box he had been packing.

"Jack, I'm …"

"Daniel. I don't want to talk about it." Jack's voice cut across what Daniel was planning to say, his tone firm, but tired. "I will say goodbye. I was on my way over there next. Would you, do you, um, would you and Teal'c join me for dinner tonight, our usual place?"