General Hammond had asked to see him in his office, but Jack couldn't help pausing on his way out of the infirmary at Carter's bedside. She lay unmoving, still and on her back. Doc Fraiser had repeatedly assured him Sam was fully conscious now and simply sleeping, but he couldn't tell by looking. She seemed so fragile lying there in the bed.

Since they were alone, Jack let himself watch her - really look at her - for what felt like the first time in ages. Somehow, despite her paleness and the hair matted against her forehead, she was still incredible. Her lips were slightly parted in sleep, and he found even the laugh lines around them beautiful - an echo of her waking smile.

God, he'd missed that smile.

As though sensing his gaze, Sam stirred in her sleep and opened her eyes, looking straight up into his. Completely unsurprised to find him standing there, she said, "Hi, Sir."

"Hi. How ya doin', Carter?"

She paused for a moment as though taking inventory before answering, "Good… I think."

He smiled. "That's what the doc said, too."

"What happened?" she asked.

"Those… Nintendo things?" he began, pausing for a moment.

"Leptons," she corrected. The corner of her mouth twitched upwards in a poorly concealed smile.

Mission complete, he continued, "Yeah, those. I guess there were too many of them… Or something. Anyway, you passed out, and Teal'c and I got you back through the 'gate with us. You've been asleep for nearly a day."

She thought for a minute, trying to remember. "You carried me out, didn't you?"

He'd been hoping she wouldn't remember that. Not that he would ever forget. He didn't get a whole lot of opportunities to get quite that close to his second. "Yeah…." he admitted.

Her smile grew wider. "Then, thanks, Sir."

Maybe her remembering wasn't so bad after all. He shoved his hands deep into his pockets and rocked back on his heels, hoping she wouldn't notice the stupid grin he was trying desperately to control. "Sure. No problem…. I mean, you know…." He shrugged. "Just doing my job." A shadow crossed her features, and just for a second her smile seemed to waver. Jack back-pedaled quickly. "I mean… Not that I wouldn't have…. That is… You know…."

She grinned. "Yeah… I know."

God, he had really missed her. Not even trying to hide his smile anymore, he said, "Good. Then, if you're okay," he waited for her nod before continuing, "I was supposed to be in Hammond's office ten minutes ago."

"Oh," she paused, and he could see her searching her memories, "Daniel! Is he…?"

"No idea. He didn't come back with us. Teal'c returned to search and brought back that skull thing, but…" He shrugged. "So far, the egg heads got nuthin'."

Sam started to sit up in bed. "I should probably --" She winced, and grabbed her head.

"Carter?"

"I… Uh…" She winced again as she tried to move.

He helped her lay back down on the bed. "Maybe you shouldn't…?" he suggested.

She smiled wanly up at him, her eyes glazed with pain. "Yeah, probably not the best idea. Still, I should be doing something. Daniel…"

"Will not be helped by your ending up a heap on the floor," he interrupted. "Trust me, I know. Now, I'm going to go see what General Hammond wants, and you, Major, stay here and get better. That's an order."

"Yes, Sir."

Jack turned and headed for the door. At the threshold, he turned back to take one last long look at her, lying there in bed awake and alert even if still too weak to move. Satisfied that for the moment there wasn't a thing more he could do for her, Jack left the room.