Chapter 6 - Jack's POV

Do not even ask my why I thought it would be a good idea to expose myself to Janet. Jesus. Just don't ask. On the list of the most stupid things I have ever done in the presence of a woman, that might be near the top.

I can't help but laugh because a) thats the first time a woman has seen me naked since she saw me a few years ago, b) the look on her face was just too damned priceless, and c) she still hasn't joined me in the living room yet. I suppose the whole charade was worth the look on her face, you would have thought it was the first time she ever saw me naked. It was either surprise or disgust on her face. I'm banking on surprise.

And now I'm playing the waiting game.

When I woke up and saw her looking through the pictures in my wallet, I tried to think of a way I could get back at her for going through my things, not that I blamed her. I'm not mad, I would have done it if I were in her position too. I still felt like she had invaded my privacy, though, mainly because I am embarrassed that she discovered the pictures I still have in my wallet of her. It's one thing to admit to myself that I am still in love with her but I sure as hell don't want her to know that.

Why, though, I'm not so sure.

Seeing her again has brought so many old feelings to light - feelings I knew still existed but that I was able to suppress. It's easy to forget about something if you never see it.

"Amusing yourself, I'm sure?" Hammond takes a seat next to me on the couch. I'd be lying if I said I was disappointed that it wasn't Janet, though he is definitely number two on the list.

"Sir," I say, throwing my legs over the side of the couch. "Didn't hear you come in."

"A lot on your mind?" He wipes a thin layer of sweat off of his head. His color is sickly and pale, laborious breathing.

"Apparently. You okay?" I begin to stand but he motions for me to sit.

"Stairs get hard to accomplish when you're my age. I'm fine."

I nod, skeptically, noticing he doesn't blame it on the cancer, but I sit back down. "Need me to get the Doc?"

He shakes his head and leans back into the leather couch. "Hopefully your retirement is going more smoothly than mine."

I snort. "Loads better. Cancer free." He nods thoughtfully. "And I don't have to live with the doc. That's always a plus."

George laughs. It's definitely clear that I'm kidding. "She's a delight." I feel his eyes on me.

"You're right." The response leaves my lips immediately. He is right. Not sure how to proceed next, I bring up a pretty safe subject. "How is Cassie? I haven't gotten the chance to ask her about her yet."

"In college already, can you believe it? I remember when she was just a little girl and came through the stargate. Now she's at UCLA studying to be a doctor."

"I knew she'd follow in her mom's footsteps. Crazy how alike they are." Janet had always been a fantastic mother to Cassie. For someone who just got thrown into the situation like she did, not once had I ever seen her neglect her parenting duties. It also helped to have Sam around when Cassie was feeling particularly rebellious but don't let Janet hear me say that.

George points to a picture hanging above the fireplace in front of us. "That's the most recent photograph of her. Taken two months ago when she visited." The picture is large enough that I don't have to get up to appreciate it. It's of Janet sitting in a kitchen table chair and Cassie is behind her with her hands on her mother's shoulders. Normally I'd think this pose looked forced but they look completely at ease. It's nice. Cassie looks so damned grown up that it makes me feel ancient. She looks great, though.

"You should think about contacting her, Jack. She'd love to hear from you." Janet chimes in. I look at her long enough just to see her backside round a corner into the kitchen. I really hope she isn't avoiding me.

"She's right, you know." George says and puts her large hand on my shoulder. I look over my shoulder at him and he nods towards the kitchen, clearly indicating that he wants me to go see Janet. I squint my eyes and shake my head. He insistently shakes his head and uses his hand to push me forward.

I stand and sigh. Looks like I have no choice. I mean, it is his house. His rules.

I timidly peak around the corner of the archway into the kitchen. She's at the stove, making some soup for I'm assuming George. She doesn't look back even though I'm sure she can feel me staring at the back of her head. I take the time to appreciate how light her hair is now, much different than when she first started at the SGC. She always looks beautiful.

"So, about earlier…" I trail off, taking a seat at the island.

"What about earlier?" She says, her voice tight.

Judging by the degree of uncomfortableness already hanging in the air, I decide not to allude to my like naked stunt. "Saw you looking through my wallet."

She visibly stiffens and sighs. "I was trying to put your things away and your wallet dropped and I'mreallysorry -" She says all in one breath, peaking shyly over her shoulder to see how I'm reacting. She rolls her eyes and comes over to hit me on the shoulder. I don't think she was expecting me to be smiling.

I laugh. "I'm only joking, didn't mean to scare you."

She crosses her arms over her chest and gives me her best doctor stare down, the one she was famous for in the Air Force. "Why do you still have those anyways? Those pictures?" Her bluntness surprises me.

I choose my words carefully. "They mean a lot to me."

She arches an eyebrow. "Oh, uh huh. I'm sure." She says. I can hear the skepticism in her voice. She stirs the soup on the stove.

"I mean it." I know she still doesn't believe me. I watch her pour the soup into a bowl and grab a glass of water from inside of the fridge.

"Are you hungry?" She asks on her way out of the room as a second thought. I shake my head.

"Go do your thing."

As I watch her leave I think about what is in store for my future in regards to Janet. After this short stay, are we going to cease all contact and not talk to each other for a few more years? Will she want to become friends again, and that's all? Will she for some unknown reason to me decide to pick back up where we left off a couple years ago? I, for one, would love to have her in my life again, even if it were just as a friend. I would take her friendship over nothing any time even though I know I never stopped loving her. In situations like these, I know the only way I can know how she is feeling is if I ask her upfront about what she's feeling. Another conversation I am not very keen on having. By now you would think that I'd be used to rejection. Either way it will be hard to hear if she never wants to see me again.

Well, I know what we are going to be doing tonight. Now I just have to find the time to ask her. If there was one thing the Stargate program taught me, it's that timing is everything.