Her face fell and he noticed she had paled completely, all the blood draining from her face. Thinking she might faint, he grabbed onto her forearms and walked her back towards the bed, forcing her to sit down. Sam was in utter shock. She was trying to process what he had said, the words "oncologist," and "cancer" ringing in her ears.

"What?" Her eyes squinted at him.

"Together with the tests from 2 weeks ago and today's, they were able to confirm… Sam I…Ther…" He was wobbly himself, and decided to sit beside her. Sighing, he rested his elbows on his knees and clasped his hands in between his legs.

"Confirm what?" Sam asked, looking at him, reaching for his clasped hands.

"Cancer." Her gasp was loud. Too loud. He looked up at her. Her eyes were beginning to sheen. He hated this. Facing off Anubis again might be a more comfortable activity.

"Lymphoma," he went on. "Hodgkin's Lymphoma. Stage Four. I'm sorry I lied to you." His voice sounded emotionless, but it was the only way he could get actual words out without breaking down.

"How did you… what made you…" She couldn't get her mind around the right words.

"I've been having some back pain. A lot of back pain. I went in for some stronger pain pills." She knew if he had gone in to be seen for something, the pain had to be significant, Jack wasn't soft when it came to enduring. She was having a hard time processing. He threw her another bomb.

"I start chemo Monday." Her eyes were wide, huge. Tears were falling freely now, though she made no sound. "Six treatments to start off, then more testing."

The silence was long.

"Will that… will it…" She couldn't actually say the words. Will that save you? Will you live? How long do we have?

"Dr. Braye is really good. He's the specialist for Lymphoma. He's seen this before and has seen patients overcome this beast. He thinks if the cancer doesn't spread, then the chemo will get it all. We just have to see." He knew the fact that it was Lymphoma had immediately connected her to her father. Why did they have to have the same kind of cancer? And she knew exactly what Jacob's Lymphoma almost led to…

And then here it was. The reason he had behaved like a jerk. The reason he had declined her company this morning, the reason he stayed away from home until past midnight, though his last appointment with Dr. Braye was at 1400. He didn't want her to have to go through this with him. She was young. So young. She deserved a long, full life. Not a few more years with an old, medically retired Air Force General, moody as hell and way past his prime.

"Look Sam—"

"Don't," she cut him off, getting up from the bed, and starting to pace the floor. "Don't you dare shut me out of this."

"You don't deserve this. You should—"

"Jack, no! Don't even say it! I told you I loved you. We decided to make a go of this, to see where it would lead… I know we barely see each other… I know the arrangement sucks. But…" She faltered, closed her eyes and sighed. "This is the happiest I've been in… forever." Her face was wet with tears, and he was beginning to crumble with her words. "Every time we're together it's right. It's what I've wanted for years. Every night when we talk on the phone… I can't walk away now. I won't."

He scooped down and reached for her, pulling her up into his lap, and she went willingly, settling in like a child. He wrapped his arms around her and the sob in her throat finally escaped, shattering his façade and causing his tears to spill too. They sat there, tangled together, embracing and crying for an indefinite amount of time. Finally, her crying subsided and she lifted her head to look at him, and he looked straight back into her blue eyes, the eyes he loved. He loved this woman. Their silent conversation was clear. We'll do this together. I'm here for you. I love you. He pulled them both back and they lay down in bed, neither knew who started the kiss, neither needed to know.