Jack walked back into the living room. Sam was quiet, a little too quiet for Jack's comfort. "I have our food set up if you're ready to eat," he said softly.

"I-" Sam began then she pointed to the mantle. "The pictures," she whispered.

"They're real. Did you remember anything?"

"No, but I think maybe I believe you now. It's just surreal. Everything I thought I knew was a lie."

"The memory stamp did a number on all of us. You'll remember as soon as your hormones normalize. It'll be okay, Sam."

Sam nodded and Jack moved in closer to her. She rested her head on his shoulder and took a deep breath. "Tell me about me."

"You are Major Samantha Carter. You're a brilliant theoretical astrophysicist who works in a top secret base and travels to other planets with me. Teal'c and Daniel tag along, too," Jack added in hopes of lightening the mood a bit.

"We're SG1. That's what Brenna said. Is that all we are?"

"We were close, all of us, before this happened."

"That's not what I was asking."

"We weren't together " Jack said as he rubbed her hand. "The Air Force has a policy about dating in the same chain of command and I was your superior officer."

"Was?"

"Well, the baby kind of changes that. You can't report to me anymore. Hammond will be making some changes when your memory comes back."

Sam nodded. "If we weren't together, was there someone else?"

"I'm pretty sure you weren't seeing anyone if that's what your asking, but Janet would be able to tell you for sure. You two are close."

"You seem close to her, too." Sam went and picked up a picture of Jack, Cassie, Janet, and a dog from the mantle. She placed it in Jack's hands. "I don't know how to ask this and I'm not sure I want to know the answer, but-"

Jack's eyes got wide when he realized what Sam was trying to ask. "You took this picture the day I gave Cassie the dog. Janet wasn't exactly thrilled with me, but Cassie was already in love with the mutt. She's a special little girl. She's special to all of us. She's from another planet, the only survivor. We rescued her then Janet adopted her. Janet and I aren't together. We are just good friends. All of us were friends."

Jack felt Sam visibly relax. "So, you don't have someone special?"

"I do. I have someone very special, someone I care about a lot more than I'm supposed to, as a matter of fact. And, thanks to an ice planet and a memory stamp, I got the chance to finally show her how much I care. I love you, Sam. The feelings were there long before we got to that planet, and they aren't going anywhere."

"Thank God," Sam replied, finally looking Jack in the eye.

"It's going to be okay. We just have to give it time. I know you have a lot of questions and I'll answer them all, but let's move this to the table before the food gets cold."

Once they were eating, Jack tried to wrack his brain for things Sam probably needed to know. He started with what he knew about her childhood and how her dad became host to a tok'ra. He told her about her own experience as a host. He even shared a few funny stories about missions. She wasn't to happy when he told her about the time she took off all her clothes thanks to some alien moonshine. Finally, he got the courage up to talk to her about some of the things he had dreaded discussing since his memories had returned. "I was married before Abydos. Her name was Sarah, and we had a son. Charlie was an incredible kid. He loved baseball and fishing. He liked looking up at the stars with me on clear nights. I'd point out the constellations and we'd joke about what could be out there. We had no idea what was really going on in the cosmos, of course, but he had an active imagination." Jack stopped talking for a moment and tried to build up his courage. "He died. It was my fault. I didn't lock up my firearm, and he was curious. My careless mistake cost me my son and, eventually, my marriage. If knowing that changes how you feel, I understand."

"I don't know what to say. I'm so sorry you lost your son. This baby isn't even here yet, and I already love her so much. I can't imagine losing her."

"Me either," Jack said softly.

Sam reached across the table and took his hand. "It was an accident, an awful accident. We will be careful. She'll be okay."

Jack let out the breath he'd been holding and squeezed Sam's hand tightly. "I promise I'll do everything in my power to keep our daughter safe, Sam."

"We both will," Sam assured him. "How soon do we have to go back to the base?"

"We have some time. Want a tour of your home?" Sam laughed, and Jack led her through the house. He opened a door. "Now, I'll be honest, I haven't exactly seen more than the kitchen and living room. We usually did team nights at my place, but I'd say this is your bedroom."

"This bed is huge."

"It's a queen. You should see mine. It's a king. It's much bigger."

Sam giggled. "It puts our little space at the power plant to shame. It's hard to imagine me having all this space to myself."

"Things are different here."

"Yeah," Sam replied thoughtfully. "Can I see your house?"

"if you want. We can go over now. Who knows? Maybe it'll jog memories of some of Teal'c's Star Wars marathons or Daniel's inability to hold his liquor."

"I was actually thinking I'd like to see this big bed of yours," Sam said seductively.

"I'll give you the tour, but I don't want to push you, Sam. When your memories come back, you might not want what you think you want right now. We should probably try and keep things in perspective."

"In perspective? I thought you said you cared for me before and I'm pretty sure you just told me you love me."

"I did. I do. I just want you to be free t I make your own decision about us."

"Then let me make it. I love you Jonah, I mean, Jack. I love you, Jack."

"And, that would be why we need to take this slow. Before we can be together, I need to know that Sam wants Jack, not that Thera wants Jonah. Whatever happens, whatever you decide, I'll be there for you and our daughter always. But, we can't be together the way we were until you can choose me."

Sam nodded, but Jack couldn't help but see the frustration in her eyes. He knew he was doing the right thing even if she didn't see it, yet. He had to protect them both right now just in case those marines were right and Sam didn't want to be with him. The next few months just needed to pass quickly, and he needed to be ready for the real Sam and whatever decision she might make.