Title: Northern Star

Author: Tu

Rating/Disclaimer: see Chapter One

Author's Notes: Okay, no throwing things. Jack's side of the story is told in this chapter. Song Closer is from Melanie C's Northern Star. Reviews welcome.

More Author's Note's: THANK YOU!!!, To everyone who reviewed.


Loving you madly will be forever

I see the ocean in your eyes when we're together

There are no boundaries

There are no limits

My hearts has been embraced now that you're in it

Hold me closer to your dreams

Closer to your fears

Close to hear your laughter

Hold me when your close to tears

Jack sat on his couch downing his fourth beer of the night. His thoughts were driving him crazy. What the hell was I thinking? I'm surprised I'm still alive.

Jack could have bet that after Sam and Jacob had talked on the planet, Jacob would have kicked his ass up one side of the Tok'ra base and down the other, getting Teal'c to help him out. Hell, he thought Sam would have joined in. Actually, if Sam had kicked his ass, she would have had to talk to him. Something, that didn't happen now. One month. It had been one month, since Sam had talked to him. She answered hi only in short, monotone answers now Sam only spoke to him when given an order.

"Face it, Jack, you are screwed." He said downing the rest of his beer. Getting up he let his mind wonder back to THAT night. The night, he had let his dick do the thinking and ignored his heart and mind. The night he had made everyone he cared about hate him.

Jack laughed. Sam was sending Janet 'you are dead' glares. It was almost worth the pain he would suffer at Janet's hands come his next exam. He had convinced Janet to get Sam to sit next to him. Jack sat waiting for Sam to say something about his desire to see a kid's movie. In his defence, it WAS computer animate. And if it were half as good as the first, it would be worth the jokes. Hell, it better be good. Jack sighed, he was going to be out a couple hundred bucks thanks to this movie. Cassie had promised everyone present that Jack would spring for the beer after the movie, if they left Sg1's military members alone.

Jack stared at Sam sitting beside him. God, she looks great, he thought, she should wear jeans more often. Nice, tight jeans, with a sweet tank top. Shit, she's looking at me and saying something. Nod, Jack, nod.

Jack opened the door to the bar, letting Janet and Sam in before him.

"Oddballz, what kind of name for a bar is…..Oh My God!! Danny, how the hell did you're office get in here? Quick someone, get them flowers; they stole all the crap in Dr. Jackson office. We'll be able to walk into, and the people will rejoice." Jack said laughing.

"Fun, Jack. Real funny." Daniel said pushing past him.

Sam covered her mouth to smother her laughs as she passed.

"Carter thought it was. So, HAA." Jack said, sticking his tongue out at Daniel.

"How old are we, O'Neill?" Feretti said pushing him inside.

Jack pushed him back and walked over to the table. Everyone migrated to tables beside them. Jack watched Cassie Shepard everyone away from them. Thankful, it seemed Sam hadn't noticed. And thus, began the best night of my life, tell I royal fucked it up. Sam and I talked about everything under the sun and suns of other planets.

"Major Carter, would you like to dance?"

Jack looked up at Teal'c. "Do it Sam," he said leaning in, "show Teal'c what fun is."

Sam pushed his arm as she left. Jack watched them dancing for what seemed like forever.

"Could you help me?" a pleasant voice said.

Jack turned toward the voice. "Look, I'm…"

"Hi, I'm Candy." She said sticking out her hand.

"Jack O'Neill."

"Look, I usually don't do this, but my car won't start. Do you think you could take a look for me?" she said looking at Jack.

Jack looked out at the dance floor, then at Candy and shrugged. It would only take a minute. "Sure, why not."

Little did he know, his whole world was about to crumble down. That he would loose his best friend, who was the love of his life, trust.

Time passes by seconds into minutes

Every field and flowers fades but love is infinite

There are no boundaries

There are no limits

My heart is a bigger place now that your in it

Jack grabbed two beers out of the fridge and walked back to the couch. It was Friday night. He knew Daniel and Teal'c had taken Sam out somewhere. He hadn't asked where. He had over heard them making plans in the locker room. Jack thought it best to just leave well enough alone. Daniel had snapped on him when they had returned from the Tok'ra base. Jack winced as her thought of their fight.

"Daniel, wait up." Jack said jogging down the hall to him, "what's p with Carter?"

Daniel stop in his tracks and stared at him. "What's up with Carter? Jack are you really that dumb or just a jack-ass?"

"Did I miss something? I mean okay, I should have told you guys I was leaving the other nigh, but crap, Sam's freezing me out." Jack said leaning back against the wall.

"Freezing you out! FREEZING YOU OUT!! JACK you are with out, hands down, the biggest…DICKHEAD in the world. No, in the universe, any universe." Daniels voice got louder with each word.

Jack looked around. Personnel had stopped what they were doing and were watching the two of them. Jack saw a few running to phones and down halls; no doubt telling everyone on base what was going on.

"Daniel, lets take this conversation elsewhere." Jack said.

"Why, Jack. Everyone, and I do mean EVERYONE knows what we're talking about. Hell, people who weren't there knew about it by the next morning." Daniel said

"Daniel,,…"
"No, Jack, not this time. Figure out what the hell you did on your own." Daniel turned and walked away.

Jack downed the rest of the beer. His life sucked. Daniel had been right. Everyone in the Mountain knew about the 'O'Neill Fuck Up'. Jack grabbed the remote to his stereo. Hitting play he nearly spit out the beer he was drinking, when Sam's favorite song played. She had left the Cd here that night. Jack dropped the remote and grabbed his head.

Christ, I can't..What have I done, he thought. Candy was just a, a what, an itch? A fling? An attempt to forget what he couldn't have, because he was chicken shit. Jack knew Sam had to hate him. He grabbed and empty beer bottle and threw it with all his might at the wall. The sound of shattering glass only made him feel worse.

BEEP,BEEP, BEEP

Jack rolled over, reaching for the phone. His head was killing him. He'd stop counting the beers and shots after he realized what an ass he was. Glancing at the clock, he saw he had fallen into bed only three hours before.

"Heellloo.." he mumbled into the phone.

"Jack, it's Daniel."

"Not so loud. I have marching band practicing in my head." Jack moaned.

"Jack, we have a problem."

"Daniel, not being able to find your glasses is not a problem." Jack mumbled into the phone.

"Jack, it's Sam."

At Sam's name, Jack sat up in bed. "What's wrong?"

"Sam meet this guy, and well she's in the hospital."

"Where?" Jack said jumping out of bed. He hung up after Daniel told him where she was. Grabbing his keys he raced out the door.

Hold me

Closer to your dreams

Closer to your fears

Close to hear your laughter

Hold me when you're close to tears

I wanna be the one you tell your secrets to

All I want is to be closed

Closer to you

Jack cursed as he ran down the hall to Sam's room. He had run every light getting here. He didn't really even know how he had gotten to the hospital. Just that Sam was hurt.

Why wasn't someone there, he thought, why didn't someone stop her, protect her. That's your job, a voice inside him replied. That voice had been getting louder and louder the last few months. Jack skid to a halt when he saw Daniel and Teal'c

"What happened?" jack said grinding out each word.

"Sam was drink, a lot." Daniel said " She went to get a new drink at the bar. Some guys there started hitting on her. One grabbed her ass. Sam smacked him. Next thing we knew, the guy is wailing on Sam. And Sam was hitting him back."

"Where the fuck were the two of you? " Jack asked glaring at them.

"DanielJackson and myself were attempting to get to Major Carter." Teal'c said.

"Dr. Jackson, we'll just need you to stop by the station later and finish your statement." An officer said walking up to them." We're taking him in now."

Jack saw red, as the man who had hit his Sam was lead by. Jack tried to lunge at the man, to rip his throat out, but a pare of strong arms held him back.

Jack sat in Sam's room, watching her sleep. She was just lying there. With the machines and bandages, she looked, small, helpless even. Jack had wanted to take her back to the SGC, but Janet had stopped him.

"She said it was the only way to forget. Getting drunk, I mean"

Jack looked up at his friend. Daniel looked like he was ready to drop.

"Forget?"

Daniel stared at him with a sad look in his eyes.

"Forget what, Daniel?" jack asked dreading the answer.

"You, Jack. How she felt, what you did, everything." Daniel said turning to leave. "Are you staying?"

Jack just nodded. Jack felt the tears sliding down his checks.

Hold me closer to your dreams

Closer to your fears

Close to hear your laughter

Hold me when you're close to tears

I wanna be the one you tell your secrets to

All I want is to be closer

Closer to you