"And? He'll be ok again, right? "Sam could not wait to hear the latest updates on her CO's health.

"Sam, calm down. He went through a lot and lost a lot of blood. He will be just fine again without consequential damage. But it will take a while. You can certainly help him with that if. You know him and know what he needs. But right now, he just needs as much rest as possible. He'll get on our nerves soon enough. "Janet told her friend and smiled reassuringly.

"Can I see him again?" Sam began to relax; which Janet has recognized with relief.

"Yes, but only for 5 minutes. The Colonel needs rest." with that the Doctor went to her office.

Sam returned to the darkened room where Jack laid. For a moment she just watched him. He looked different. His face was not so sunken in anymore; now it almost looked peaceful. She could not interpret it exactly, but she liked it.

In her lab, Sam tried to concentrate on her tasks. SG5 had brought a device back from one of the missions and she was asked to find out what it was good for. A smile crossed her face as she pictured the Colonel as he would look at it. Dreamily she saw over her table and could see him standing there. Bored to the bones not knowing what to do with himself, he always referred to their technical devices as Dohickis. The word alone was already so typical Jack. She shook her head and Jack disappeared. She had a task ahead of her and needed to focus on it.

Over the loudspeaker she heard a voice calling for her and summoning her to the general's office. Immediately Sam left everything standing and lying where it was, locked the lab and was on her way. Still so glad for not having to continue working here. Sometimes the lab just became too small for her.

The major knocked on the door of her supervisor and waited for the ok to enter. She did not have to wait long, as usual. "General? You wanted to see me? "She announced with a slightly questioning look.

"Major, yes, have a seat." He waved his outstretched arm into the empty chair in front of her. "I just got a call from the police. It's about another testimony from you. They asked that whenever you got the time to just drive by for a quick statement. "He cleared his throat and before Sam could have said something he continued," Sam, how are you? "His eyes seemed worried as he asked the question. That was something she liked about her General. He was not so hard-boiled, but rather caring for his staff like a father figure.

"I'm fine. I'm just worried about the Colonel. "she answered him with a thin smile. "Would that be all, Sir?" Carter got up and left the office when she saw his nod.

On the way back to her lab she ran into Daniel who had his nose stuck in a report, obviously more interesting than the environment he was in. "Sorry, Sam," he murmured and had gone further. "Daniel, wait." She followed him. "Would you like something to eat for lunch later on?" He looked up from his report and looked at his watch.

"Yeah, how about in 45 minutes then it's 1300. Ok for you? I just have to finish this "and with that he was already gone. Sam watched him go and shook her head slightly. `At least one who can concentrate, 'she thought to herself and went the other way to her lab.

A slight hum woke him up. Eyes still closed; Jack tried to recall where he was. It felt soft under his body, and the smell in his nose smelled of disinfectant and medication. `oy, ` he groaned in his head. The nail he had in there had not disappeared yet, and after a quick check up of his body, he noticed that he had less pain than before.

`Janet must have given me painkillers. How nice. `he thought to himself and decided to open his eyes. This was more difficult than he expected at first. For him, it felt as if someone was holding his eyelids shut. Only after several attempts he finally succeeded. He looked around and was glad of the dim light. Normally it was always so bright, and his sensitive eyes did not like it.

He frowned slightly. `Nobody is sitting by my bed watching over me? What about my team? They always waited by my bed as I do with them. Am I worth so little to them now? `Jack wondered but pushed that thought fast out of his mind. No, there had to be another reason why no one was here. He wondered if he should ring the bell to get someone's attention.

Although it might have been right, Jack decided against pressing the bell. He enjoyed the silence, and no one fumbled around him. Slowly he closed his eyes again. He could not sleep but relaxed a little.

Sam had done a lot in the 45 minutes and waited in the canteen for her friend. He came running shortly after she had arrived. "Any news on Jack?" Daniel asked his teammate and friend without much ado. "Not since this morning. I had talked to Janet and she said that he needs rest but probably gets well very soon. You know the Colonel. He can't stay in bed for too long anyway. I would have loved to stay with him much longer, but he opened his eyes for a moment and there was no reason to stay with him after that. Just like yours, my work does not work on its own. "She gave him a smiling answer.

With a tray full of snacks and drinks, both sought a table in a quiet corner. "Do you know where Teal`c is gone? Have not seen him for a few days. "Sam stated as she realized that she missed her big Jaffa friend. "After hearing that SG1 is on Downtime he had talked to the General. He went to Chulak with permission to visit his son there. " Daniel let the Major know. Without another word, the two friends finished their lunch and went their own way. Everyone had their own thoughts.

On the way home, the Major stopped by the police and answered a few questions that had arisen over the last few hours.

When she got home it was already quite late. She grinned as she remembered the Colonel's weary but mischievous look after she had seen him before she left. He had assured her that he was fine and that she should not worry about him. `Yeah Jack, as if that was so easy that I would not worry about you. `Sam sighed and wished again that they were not in the direct chain of command and the regulations where not in the way.

`It's like it is. So at least I see him almost every day and his smile. Oh, Gosh such a beautiful smile. Oh, Jack` she was now sitting on her sofa with an open bottle of red wine and saw her superior in her mind's eye, smiling at her. She remembered the time back when they had the short talk in his house, and he told her how much she was worth and told her that she was a national treasure. She wanted to tell him what she felt for him then. But both had been on tiptoe and did not know exactly what to say.

Three weeks later

"Doc, when can I finally get up? I'm bored to death here. If you want to kill me with boredom over the time you would not have to fix me up. "Jack was in one of his moods and shouting as loud as he could in the hope that Janet would hear him. His recovery, over the last few weeks, went without further incident. He had been visited by Daniel and Sam every day and even by Teal`c over the last two days. He would love to go home where he could lie on his couch and at least watch a hockey game or the Simpsons.

Resigned, Jack closed his eyes and tried to shut out his environment. If nobody wanted to send him home, he did not want to see anyone. Yes, the Colonel could sometimes behave like a little stubborn kid.

Only when he felt the presence of a body near him did he blink with one eye. Carter was back. She was still his favorite visit all by herself. He loved to look into her blue eyes and feel her soft skin surrounding her hands. "I hope I did not wake you, Sir," the Major said in an alarming voice as she was about to sit down and was taken aback a little as he looked at her with one eye.

"Nah, I was awake. I'm just bored and that's why I let my thoughts run wild. How are you, Carter? " He grinned at her and wiped the invisible words he had just used with his hand out of his way. She was there and there was no need to talk about him.

"Good, a lot to do. I will not torture you with technobabble. But I figured you're bored now and brought you something. "She grinned at him as wide as she could, and Jack sat up in bed. Curious, he watched as his 2IC pulled out a bag.

He registered with big eyes what she had brought him from home and accepted it. "Where do you have the key to my house, Carter? And how did you come up with the idea? " Receiving his Gameboy in both hands like a little boy who had just found a giant treasure, he grinned from ear to ear.

"Daniel helped me. You once gave him your replacement key for emergencies. That was such an emergency for me. "She shrugged but knew exactly how much she had given him pleasure with his little toy.

"Did the doctor already gave you a date when you can get out of here?" Sam asked as casually as possible.

"Nope, nothing, Nada. Nobody talks to anyone here and they all stay away. No one comes to visit or just look how I am. "Jack replied with a fake pout. Sam grinned and wondered if she should say something or not.

Both officers talked for a while, so time flew by.

Janet entered the room where Colonel O'Neill lay and greeted her most impatient patient she ever had. After reviewing the clipboard, she turned directly to Jack to inquire about his well-being. "How are we today, Colonel?" "Bored to the bone Doc. I tell you; I can go home. I'm fine, "he replied so quickly that he almost interrupted her. "Ok," his values look good enough to set him off "tomorrow, Sir. But as always, I'll give you a list of what you must do and don't do. Understood?" She looked at him penetratingly and said goodbye only when Jack had agreed to their condition.

"Sam, I tell you; she enjoys the power she has here over me. I see it in her eyes, "he turned to the Major, who was only a silent observer the whole time. She smiled at her CO and agreed to make him feel better. She knew just how hard it was for him to be here and not to do anything.

The next day came and Daniel had offered Jack to accompany him home. According to Doctor Fraiser, the Colonel was not yet allowed to drive himself, so he accepted Daniel's help with thanks.

When he got home, Jack went first to his answering machine. Three messages were there from the police telling him to get in touch with them. Jack whistled through his teeth and shook his head. These law enforcers also have no idea how he felt the last few weeks.

"Daniel? Coffee? "O'Neill asked his friend, already knowing the answer. Before he got a response, he had already started the machine and got two cups from the cupboard. He did recognize how neat and tidy it looked here. Someone had cleaned up for him. Someone who knew how much he hated disorder when he came home after such a long time. Jack knew that he had the best friends one could wish for.

His friend had taken some stuff out of his car and put them on the kitchen table. Gratefully, he took the cup of black fragrant brew and sat on a stool Jack offered him. A casual informal conversation ensued, and Jack realized that Daniel did not seem in a hurry to get back to the lab to his rocks. He did not mind that his young friend still gave him company and so he omitted a stupid comment about it. Instead, he just enjoyed the conversation.

After Daniel finally left, he phoned the police to make an appointment and get it over and done with. He had a polite lady on the phone who had given him an appointment for the next morning. When he hung up, he went upstairs with the little bag Daniel had left in the kitchen and stowed his things away. Most of them were in the bathroom ready for cleaning.

Back in the living room, in his well-worn favorite sweater and sloppy pants, he lay down on the couch and turned on the TV. Daniel had proudly told him that he had recorded every episode of Simpson and every hockey game for him.

It was already dark outside, and it was not long before Jack fell asleep. Restless dreams returned. Every night, when he slept, he was back in the cave where he had been chained. The day when he was awake, he repressed it and pretended to be the happy and sarcastic Colonel he was. He did not want to and could not talk to somebody about what had gotten so deep in his head.

Jack would handle it like anything he had experienced before. Drawer up, experience inside, drawer closed and forgotten. That had worked very well with him so far and he was thankful for having that ability. He did not want to burden anyone with his problems. Not even himself.

He woke up in the middle of the night. Sweat bathing, his breathing was fast, and his pulse was as if he wanted to win a race. Jack sat up after he had registered where he was, and wiped his face with his right hand. A look at the clock told him that it was just around 0300 in the morning.

He still had six hours till he had to attend his appointment. Slowly his pulse and breathing calmed down again and for a moment Jack wondered if he should get a beer from his fridge or not. He knew that Janet had forbidden him and so he decided against it. The thought of a cool blonde was still so tempting.

His alarm clock awoke him at 0800 and when Jack arrived back in the land of the living, he realized that he had fallen asleep at some point. He looked down at himself, only to find that he had slept with nothing around his upper body on his sofa only with a thin blanket over it. Irritated, he looked around and when he discovered his still damp sweater in a corner, he remembered the nocturnal interruption.

Jack turned off the engine and looked at the main entrance to the police station. After a quick breakfast consisting of fruit loops and coffee he had shaved and made his way. Taking a deep breath, O'Neill got out and made his way to the reception desk in long strides. He was immediately provided with an official who took in everything the Colonel had to record. Every now and then questions were asked and now and then little breaks were taken. Jack could not finish that task quickly enough and was ever so happy when he could leave.

He preferred to drive to work, just to not stay home alone. But it was not good to turn up at the mountain just after he was released. So, he drove to a nearby park, sat on a park bench and enjoyed the warm temperatures. The fresh air and the birds twittering conveyed a perfect world and that was exactly what Jack needed right now. He watched children playing and people doing their fitness exercises.

Sam worked in her office. She still had a lot to do to cope with her current project but had firmly planned to drive past her CO's house in the evening. She knew that he would be pleased about company even if she already knew that he never admitted it. She grinned when she saw Jack in her mind's eye, grumpy and addressing her with Carter. It was still worth a shot.

The next time the Major looked at the clock, it was nearly 1800. She packed everything and was just about to leave the lab and base when Daniel came around the corner with Teal'c in tow. "Sam, hey, what are your plans tonight? Not that it really concerns me, but we wanted to pass by Jack so that he is not alone. Teal'c also picked out a movie. Will you come with me?" Without waiting for an answer, it gushed out of Daniel and in his typical boyish manner as he waits impatiently until his team colleague and friend answered.

"Great Daniel, I also had the idea and just wanted to go to your lab. That's how it works out. Great. I will just change my clothes and we can go. "

They met about 15 minutes later in the parking lot of the secret base as agreed. Teal`c drove with Daniel and Sam took her car so that she could drive home from Jack to her home.

Daniel pressed the bell once, twice, three times. Nothing happened. There was no sound and no movement. Teal`c noticed O'Neill's truck was not there and Sam started to worry. Just as the three remaining team members of SG1 had figured out a plan on how and where to look for their friend, he slowly rolled in front of his house.

Slowly, Jack got out of his vehicle and looked at his friends in surprise. "What are you doing here?" He asked puzzled and fished his house key out of his trouser pocket. Sam noticed how tired he looked but decided not to say anything. "Daniel had suggested a team evening and Teal'c picked out a movie. I'm just here for the pizza. "Sam explained grinning broadly.

Jack unlocked the door, shook his head slightly, and invited his friends in. Sam put the pizza down on the kitchen table and asked casually. "Sir, how was your day today?" "Carter, we're not on duty, loose the Sir and the day was ok. I was out in the fresh air a lot. Doc said it is good for me. So, nothing exciting. How was your day? "He opened the fridge and got out a couple of bottles of beer.

In the living room, Daniel and Teal'c had already made themselves comfortable. Sam brought the pizza and Jack the bottles. Everything was distributed and the movie started. Jack grinned from one ear to the other, knowing whoever of the three selected the DVD had meant well. The screen now featured in Big Comic letters `The Simpsons - The Movie`.

Sam watched her friend now and then. It was good to see him laughing like that, even if his whole appearance looked tired. She knew that Janet told him he was not allowed pizza and beer but she had deliberately ignored it for his sake. Mission `make Jack better` was on the way and so far, it went quite well.

Jack woke up the next morning. He had slept on the sofa again. It took a few seconds for him to sort out his thoughts but after he had done this, he went into the kitchen making a coffee and grinned as he saw the note in Carter's handwriting on the counter. `Sir, have a nice day. `That was all that was on it but for him it was more like a love letter. He would keep this note well. After all, it had her signature on it. She had written it.

Jack looked out of the kitchen window and wondered what he should do with himself today. His friends were all at work. Should he drive by and see how everything went? Or should he drive back to the park? Watching TV? He was not sure what he should do. The watch on his wrist let him know that it was after 0900. Jack knew he normally never sleeps that long. Must have been the beer and the pizza. He grinned when he realized now how neatly everything was cleaned up.

The phone rang and he had to search for it as usual. When he finally found it, there was a friendly voice from the police on the phone to let him know that he was about to get a letter in the mail. He was one of the main witnesses in the case of `State of Colorado against the three remaining men of the bank robbery with subsequent hostage taking`. Jack sighed.

That was not really what he needed and when the phone call was over, he decided to drive to Cheyenne Mountain. He was fine and bored to death. Better that he was then among friends and maybe he would manage to write one or two of the reports on his desk. His CO had been waiting so long for these and Jack knew it.

Jack parked his truck and walked through the sharp security check. He stood in front of his supervisor's office for a moment before he knocked on the door. It was rare that the door was closed as it is today. When the command to enter reached his ears, he put on his winning smile and enthusiastically greeted the General, who was sitting behind his desk staring at him in astonishment.

"Jack, what can I do for you, son? Should you not be at home and still resting? "He began after a few long seconds

"Morning General, maybe I should still be home. But I was bored and I'm fine. Thought I'll come over and get some paperwork done that's still lying on my desk. Just wanted to say Hello" the Colonel replied with a slight grin.

"Ok but take it easy. Otherwise Doctor Fraiser will be back immediately and on your case. Nice to see you and to know that you are fine. "Hammond was still looking at his 2IC as if he could not believe that he was standing in front of him again, although he could have thought something like that.