After a long day of fishing Daniel, Samantha and Teal'c where sitting in the living room. The team where all lounging by the fire while they waited for the General to finish cooking dinner.

'Okay guys, lets eat' Jack called from the kitchen.

The others looked at each other apprehensively. They had all offered to help Jack cook but he had rejected any offers claiming that he had a surprise meal planned. This worried Sam more than any one as she knew full well what he used as his 'secret ingredient'.

As they walked into the kitchen they where met by a table full of what looked like delicious food.

'Wow… Jack!' Daniel exclaimed 'this is…. unbelievable' he said looking at the others.

'Hope your hungry guys…' Jack said smiling.

'My god Sir, I didn't know you could cook.' Sam said as the group took their seats.

'Ah Carter, there are a lot of things you do not know about me…' Jack said smiling at her.

'This is indeed a hearty meal O'Neill' Teal'c added. This made the others laugh out loud at the way Teal'c see's things.

'Seriously Jack… how did you do it,' Daniel asked.

'O just a few things I've learnt to cook over the years,' Jack replied, 'and I wanted to make it special for you guys… you know… show my appreciation that you came all this way.'

Everyone smiled at Jacks sudden emotion that was usually so well hidden, but Daniel wasn't going to let this pass.

'O Jack that's so nice' Daniel started 'is this your way of saying that you love us?' he continued giggling to himself.

'Daniel…' Jack said in a warning tone.

'O Daniel, stop teasing him! Thank you Sir, this is amazing.' Sam added

'You're welcome Carter'

'Yea thanks Jack, and not just for this, for getting us to finally come up here together, we needed it' Daniel said gratefully.

'Perhaps a toast would be appropriate' Teal'c suggested

'Yes' started Daniel 'to us and to family' raising his glass. Everyone smiled and followed suit.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

After stuffing themselves full of delicious food it wasn't long before the group had became so tired that they decided to take themselves to bed. Daniel and Teal'c where sharing a room, which left Sam and Jack to have their own rooms. After eating they had enjoyed some time beside the fire, chatting about nothing important at all and each one of them loved the chance to switch their minds off to a certain extent.

As they sat chatting around the fire Sam tried her hardest not to think of all the things currently on her mind; Jack, Pete, her dad, her job. Jack on the other hand had one thing on his mind and that was Sam. Although he didn't want to admit it, he knew it as time for a change not only for him, but for Sam as well.

As everyone slept, Sam lay in bed and jolted up awaking from a deep sleep. Her mind was flooded with images of every mission she had ever been on and it had caused her awake suddenly, most likely from the fear. Breathing heavily Sam tried to calm herself down and thanked god that no-one had been there to witness what had just happened to her. Knowing that there was no way she would be able to get to sleep after this, Sam decided to get some water and some fresh air. Still a little disorientated she dragged her self to the kitchen and slipped out the back door to sit on the decking for awhile.

As it turns out, Sam wasn't the only one not getting any sleep. Jack had been unable to sleep at all and grew concerned when he heard Sam's soft foot steps walking down the hall. After tossing and turning for hours Jack could do nothing but think about Sam. After recent events he had became none too aware of his feelings for her that he had chosen to keep hidden for so long. What annoyed him more than anything, was that in the past he had been able to control his feelings, hide them, and even buried them but Jack just couldn't do it this time, no matter how hard he tried. His last conversation with Kerry seemed to be the reason why. She had gone as far as to give him a way to solve all his problems, well… most of them. But if Jack was to take the leap, he couldn't help but feel that this would be the most selfish thing he had done in a long time.

Getting up to check on Sam, Jack wondered down the corridor past the boys room and through to the kitchen. He stood in front of the window and watched Sam who was sitting with her back to him. Jacob had also been on Jacks mind a lot after his death and Jack thought of the last conversation he had with Sam's dad, and his promise to him.

Jack walked into the observation room to pay his last respects to Jacob. Jack was not only sad that Sam would be losing her father, he had come to truly admire and respect Jacob over the years, as a friend.

'Hey Jack… it's good to see you' Jacob started.

'Hey there Jacob, how you doing?' Jack replied.

'Well all things considered… I could be better Jack' Jacob replied laughing weakly.

'Yea…sorry' Jack said awkwardly.

'Actually Jack,' Jacob started 'I'm glad you came by… there's something I wanted to ask you'

'Oh really?' Jack wondered what this would be, 'straight to the point as always Jacob'

'Yes…well I don't really have time for subtleties now Jack, have a seat,'

Jack suddenly got nervous, 'Good point' he said sitting down by the bed.

'It's about Sam,' Jacob started.

'Sam? I don't know…' but Jack was stopped mid sentence.

'About you and Sam' Jacob interrupted.

'Ah' Jack said suddenly speechless, 'I don't know what you think is going on with us… but I can assure you…'

Again Jack was interrupted.

'Don't worry Jack, I'm not going to shout at you or anything, I just want to ask a few questions'

'Eh... okay, I'll try to answer them' Jack said unsure of what was coming.

'Are you in love with my daughter?' Jacob said suddenly.

'Eh… I… look Jacob'

'Please Jack… I don't have much time'

'I know that Jacob but it's a little hard for me to admit something to you… that I haven't even admitted to myself yet' Jack said sighing.

'O… I see' Jacob replied.

'I'm trying Jacob… I am'

'Jack…let me tell you something…you know how long I waited before I plucked up the courage to ask Sam's mother out? Four months. I just couldn't do it. She was this confident, attractive women and she didn't look twice at me. And she intimidated the hell out of me!' Jacob laughed, coughing slightly. 'After a while I knew if I didn't do it soon I would never do it. So I go over to her…all nervous and fidgety and I just ask her out right. And you know what she says…she says 'finally…I thought you'd never ask' and that was that.'

Both men laughed softly and Jack rested his hand on Jacobs shoulder while he coughed a little.

'I'm okay…I'm okay' Jacob replied. 'Do you understand what I'm saying Jack?'

'You're saying that if I don't get my act together I'm going to miss my chance, eh Jacob' Jack replied.

'More than that Jack, you'll not only be ruining the rest of your life, you'll be ruining the rest of hers. And I can't have that for my daughter Jack, she's too special.'

'I know that Jacob I just…I mean how do you even know she feels the same way. She's engaged Jacob!'

'I know my daughter Jack, and I've seen the way you two look at each other. You have to trust me on this, that engagement is never going to last. It's you she wants and it is you she needs'

Jack sighed and rubbed his face with his hands. This was too much for him.

'I don't know Jacob…'

'Jack I know you'll figure it out in time, I have faith in you… just promise me now that you'll take care of her. Make sure she figures it out will you?'

'Of course Jacob, of course'

'If not, I will be back to haunt you O'Neill.'

Jack laughed 'O I know Jacob, I know'

As Jack stood by the window looking out at Sam he remembered his last conversation with Jacob and how much it meant to him. Not only did he get a little confirmation that Sam had the same feelings he suspected she had in the past he also got the blessing of the man who was most important in her life, and this meant a lot to him. He respected Jacob enormously not only as a person but as a father.

As Sam sat in her own thoughts she was brought out of them when she heard the door go behind her. Looking round she was greeted with Jacks sympathetic face looking back at her. Jack walked towards her and took the seat beside her on the edge of the decking.

'Hey…you okay?' Jack started.

'Yeah I'm okay, I just couldn't sleep, I hope I didn't wake you' Sam replied.

'No no you didn't, I was actually having trouble sleeping myself' Jack sighed

'Ahh' Sam said softly

'You want to talk about it?' Jack asked in an attempt to help Sam

'Not yet,' Sam replied simply

This led to a brief silence between the two. Each sat thinking about a variety of things but both were glad the other was there. Although Sam liked the quietness and needed it after being awoken so abruptly she knew that Jack was the only one who could made her come close to feeling better. He just had that way about him, the power to help people and make them feel better without even saying a word. Jack was also enjoying the alone time with Sam. He had been worried about her, knowing she was not sleeping and although she was not ready to talk about it, just being with her reassured him that she was safe.

'What about you?' Sam said somewhat randomly

'Huh?'

'You want to talk about it?' Sam asked, knowing full well there was a reason he was also awake.

'O…eh, not really' Jack said simply. He wasn't fully lying. He did want to say so much to Sam, but he found all too hard. After previous experiences in his life

They both smiled at each other, knowing that the other was hiding something but neither had the energy to address it at this moment in time.

'C'mere' said Jack calling for Sam, and lifting his arm up for her. Sam immediately moved towards him and rested her head on his shoulder. As Jack wrapped his arm around her Sam sighed outwardly enjoying the closeness.

'Everything's changing …isn't it?' asked Sam unsurely, and not at all wanting the answer.

'More than you know Carter…' Jack sighed in reply. 'More than you know'.

They both sat in silence knowing that from now on things would be very different and worried at the thought that they would not be moving on together.