"Jack!" Exclaimed Jacob as the younger man walked through the door. He didn't need to say anything, Jacob could tell just by the relief on Jack's face that he had found his daughter safe and well.

"She's OK, Jake." Even so, it was a huge relief to hear those words. "She has a leg wound and concussion but otherwise she's all right."

"Thank God!" Jacob muttered under his breath before turning to O'Neill. "Thank you, Jack," he said sincerely.

Jack just stared at his boots and rocked back on his heels.

"Just doing my job, Sir. No one gets left behind, right?" He briefly raised his head to look Jacob in the eye, his own eyes betraying his emotionless tone, and then began shuffling his feet awkwardly and heading for the door. Jacob didn't need Jack to say any more, he knew that the Colonel would be dead before he gave up on finding Sam. At first that realisation had troubled him but after five years, Jacob was sure that Jack O'Neill was the only man he would ever trust with his daughter's life and in more ways than one, so it seemed.

…………………………………………………………………

Slowly Sam opened her eyes and took in her surroundings. After a few moments she noticed the man who was sitting vigil by her bedside.

"Jack?"

His eyebrows arched in mild surprise.

"Developing quite a habit there, Carter!" He said cheerfully. It took a moment for her brain to process that thought.

"Sorry, Sir."

"That's quite all right, Major. A four letter word is obviously easier to recall than a seven letter one!"

Sam looked confused.

"Sir?"

"Oh, for cryin' out loud, Carter, J.A.C.K, C.O.L.O.N.E.L…." he gestured emphatically with his hands and Sam smiled weakly as she nodded in comprehension.

"Ah! Yes, Sir."

O'Neill stood and moved closer to her face and began tapping an awkward rhythm on the bed rail.

"I should go and inform Dad that you're awake." He announced.

"My father's still here?"

"Yep! Been driving us all crazy these past few days. You know how tetchy those snakeheads can be!" Jack grinned, "Or maybe it's just dads!" His hands dropped to his sides. "You need anything? Gameboy? Yo-yo? Blue Jell-O?"

Sam smiled at him.

"No thank you, Sir. I'm fine."

"Yes, you are." He announced before his brain could process that thought. Sam froze. Jack mentally kicked himself. He so hadn't meant to say that out loud! He cleared his throat.

"Well, I'll just…" he said pointing to the Infirmary door as he walked backwards. "Try to get some rest, Major."

Sam relaxed a little.

"Yes, Sir. Thank you, Sir." Jack gave her one last smile and left. Sam sighed. Why was her life so damn complicated?

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Thank you to all of my reviewers so far. Reviews make muses happy:D Next chapter will be posted soon.