Sorry - this really is a short chapter. I wanted to post something tonight even though I didn't have a lot of time. It's my anniversary today and I went out for a romantic evening with my husband. It's definitely put me in the mood for some soon to happen romance (I mean in the story folks - as for my personal life , well we just won't go there)! I know I said this story wasn't ship but ... I CAN'T HELP IT! It's not in this chapter but ...coming soon to a fanfic site near you.

Sorry guys - I hope you don't hate me.

She could barely believe it was him. He looked so gaunt, so pale, so …. ill! But the eyes – no, she could never mistake those eyes, no matter how dark the circles under them or how sunken they appeared.

For a moment those brown eyes looked at her with complete shock. As the shock began to fade, however, it quickly changed to a fleeting expression of joy, then confusion and finally settled into despair. Without warning Jack limped over to her and fell onto his knees. Leaning towards her he wrapped his arms around her and pulled her to him tightly.

For a long time they stayed there on the ground, locked together, barely moving. Sam realized that Jack did not know she had been injured and that he was hurting her ribs – but she really didn't care. She was so thankful that he was alive – battered and hurt – but alive. She needed the comfort of having him close, of touching him. So, she simply sat and bore the pain while she relished his comfort.

It was after a couple of minutes that she began to realize that something was wrong. She knew he was glad to see her – it must have been a huge relief to have a member of his team find him. She also knew that he was probably angry at her for getting caught. What frightened her, however, was that he had begun to shake. She tried to pull back, to look him in the face, but he just clutched her tighter, not letting her move.

She knew then that he was in real distress. He was totally silent but the shaking grew worse. This was something she had not expected from Jack O'Neill. Even with all the terrible things they had been through she had never seen him broken. Now, she wondered if Frotush and his men had done what no one else had ever been able to do.

"Sir. Sir it's okay. I'm here. Please, talk to me sir. Tell me what's wrong."

A small shake of the head was the only answer she got – he just pulled her tighter.

"Ow!" That last hug had pushed on her cracked rib and had really hurt. At that, Jack finally pulled back and looked at her. He swiftly swept the palms of his hands over his cheeks as if to erase all evidence of his emotional collapse. He still didn't speak but looked at her with an obvious question.

"It's okay, Colonel. My rib's just a little sore." He peered at her intently, as if to ensure himself she was telling the truth. When satisfied he quickly lowered his head and refused to look at her again.

My God, she thought – he was crying. That was certainly something she had never thought to see from this courageous and proud man. Unsure what to do or say she simply reached over and gently touched his face.

"It's okay Sir. I'm glad to see you too. Are you all right?"

The Colonel, clearly embarrassed by his breakdown, only nodded again, but continued to look down.

"Colonel please, tell me what's wrong. Are you okay?"

At that he finally looked up. With unutterable weariness and despair he reached up and pulled down the rag he wore for a shirt. The collar was still around his neck.

"Oh my God sir. The left that on?"

He nodded and grinned – a humorless curling of his lips.

"I'm sorry Colonel, I didn't know. Well, if you'll take me somewhere where we can get more comfortable I'll see if I can't get that damned thing off of you!" Sam rolled over to her knees and pushed herself up to a standing position. It hurt, and she couldn't straighten completely, but fortunately she didn't think her wounds were too bad.

Jack remained kneeling on the ground but looked up at her when she stood. For a moment he continued to stare as if he couldn't still quite believe what was happening. The, his lips again began to curl up – but this time in a real grin. It was small, and didn't quite reach his eyes – but it was a sign of hope. Sam sighed and closed her eyes briefly. When she opened them she reached down with her hand.

"Here Sir" she helped pull him up, saddened by how easy it was.

All the time the two of them had been 'communicating' – for you couldn't call it talking on Jack's part – the other two women had stayed quietly in the background. Eranna sat beside the young woman and had held her as she stopped her crying – more interested for a moment in the scene playing out in front of her than in her own terror.

Eranna had looked on as well – disturbed and frightened by what she had seen. Merced was hers – she had found him, she had saved him. He had brought hope and light back into her world. Now this fair-haired woman threatened that new sense of hope. She had looked at the two of them together and recognized there was something there – something deep and abiding. The woman had called him different things – Jak and Kernel – and even Sir – but he was not those things – he was Merced, and he belonged to her!

As Merced and the woman rose to their feet, Eranna also got up, pulling the young woman with her. She decided it was time to take charge.

"Come we will go to the cave. Night is coming and it will get cold. We will then find you both a place to stay. There are empty caves that you can share and where you can settle."

Jack stopped at Eranna's words and looked at her questioningly. With a frown and shake of his head he pointed to the woman and then to himself and Eranna. He then grasped his hands – trying to show he wanted them to stay together.

"Merced – there is no room for all of us. The women must find their own way. We will help them for now but we cannot provide for them. What about the children?"

At this Merced/Jack became angry and shook his head. Turning, and holding Sam's hand, he began to limp towards the cave. Sam followed but glanced back at the woman who had spoken and realized she had a new enemy.

As they neared one of the caves Sam could see an old woman, hunched and with long, gray hair, standing outside. She looked angry and Sam wondered who she was.

"You think it's okay to just walk down to the valley like that Merced? What are you thinking – you are not well enough to be walking so much. Look at you, you're limping worse than ever. Do you want to lose those feet."

My goodness, thought Sam, who in the world is this? She sounds like she thinks she's Jack's mother – or maybe Janet Fraser, she laughed softly to herself.

Just then Jack looked at her and grinned. He then mouthed the name 'Janet' – which sent her into a fit of the giggles. Jack grinned even wider and shook his finger at her.

"I get it Sir – no giggling!" Happier than she'd been in a while she entered the cave with Jack - and was promptly met by the joyful screaming of two young children who threw themselves at Jack.

"Dada, Dada!" they both cried. Getting down on his haunches he hugged them both. Picking them up – for they were tiny – he turned and faced Carter. She could see that he was frustrated, that he wanted to explain. Finally, he turned to the old woman and raised his eyebrows.

"Yes I know Merced – you want me to explain. I will – just sit down and rest before you fall down. I will see to this young woman. You have been hurt – let me look at your wounds and bind them. Come now children, let your father relax." Jack headed over with the two children to where a small fire was burning. Up against the back wall of the cave were three pallets – obviously used for sleeping. On top were a few meager blankets. There were a few piles of rags, some wooden dishes and what looked like crude toys scattered around. All in all it was a pathetic collection of goods Sam realized.

After Sam had been looked at – and had her ribs bound up, she seated herself beside her CO and instantly saw three pairs of brown eyes studying her carefully. The two younger ones were clearly unsure as to what to make of these strange women who had entered their lives.

Eranna and Fulanna settled the young girl they had rescued with Sam on one of the pallets and covered her with a blanket. Terrified and exhausted at the day's events, she quickly fell asleep. The others sat down around the fire – Eranna sitting close to Jack on his other side. Sam noticed that he smiled at the young woman and acted as if her nearness was normal.

"All right then", the old woman said, turning to Sam. "you probably want to know who we are. Well, my name is Fulanna and this young woman is Eranna", the young woman gave Sam a short and very curt nod. Fulanna raised her eyebrows, wondering what was up.

"This man holding these children is Merced … what?" she asked as both Jack and Sam made a motion at these words.

"We know each other", answered Sam. "We have worked together for many years. We are on the same team. His name isn't Merced – it's Jack, Jack O'Neill."

Fulanna looked surprised and immediately swung her gaze on Mer … no, on to Jak. So that was the problem! She quickly glanced over at Eranna and saw the sadness and fear in the young woman's eyes. Oh no, thought Fulanna. Trouble is brewing.

"Jak – that is a strange name." Looking over at the man they had saved she asked, "Is that true? Is your name 'Jak'.

He looked at the old woman and smiled – the biggest she had seen on his face. Yes, it must feel wonderful to have his name back, she realized – also to have a friend here. It must feel like his life was beginning to return to him.

"So, you know Jak. Please tell us as much as you can about him and about how you both came to be here. It will answer many questions." At that she looked over at him, asking permission to hear the story he could not tell. He nodded, looking at both the fair-haired woman and at her, giving them permission to continue.

Sam then proceeded to tell the story, right from their arrival at Lyconia and their meeting with Frotush. The only thing she left out was that they were from a different planet. No one was to be told that detail. At the end of her story Sam sat back and asked to hear what had happened to bring the women here – but more importantly, to hear what had happened to Jack.

This time Fulanna spoke, telling a little about herself and Eranna – but mostly speaking of Jak. As the story progressed, there were times Sam had difficulty holding back the tears. Jack had been through so much – she didn't know how he had remained sane.

When the gray-haired woman got to the part about the children, Sam's only reaction was 'of course' – that sounds just like Jack. At some point in the narrative the little boy had snuggled down and was now lying, fast asleep, with his head in Jack's lap but the rest of his body lying on Sam. As she looked over at him she saw him gently rocking the baby girl in his arms, looking down at her with real love. The scene made her throat tighten up and tears begin to gather in her eyes. Not wanting him to notice, she took a deep breath and focused back on Fulanna.

The old woman had noticed, however. Like Eranna, she saw that there was something between these two – some feeling, some emotion that was not expressed but that lay deep in both of them. She was sure they loved each other – but neither was admitting to it.

Poor Eranna – she doesn't stand a chance.

"The children are called Hanrah and Jovan" suddenly she stopped and Sam couldn't figure out why until she turned and saw that Jack was shaking his head vigorously.

"What is it Sir?"

He continued to shake his head but the women couldn't figure out what he meant. He finally looked at each of the children very intently, obviously trying to get something about them across to the women.

"Yes – the children are Hanrah and Jovan" at that Jack shook his head again.

"They're not Hanrah and Jovan?" Looking relieved, Jack nodded at Sam.

"What do you mean Merced – uh Jak – that is what we have always called them?"

Here Jack sighed and shook his head, more slowly this time. He looked over at Sam with entreaty in his eyes. Suddenly, as if remembering something important, he started to look on the ground for something. Catching sight of what he wanted he turned to Eranna and motioned with his head. Immediately understanding what he wanted, but not why, she crawled over and brought his 'signaling stones'. Taking them in his one free hand, he smiled and nodded his thanks to the young woman who immediately blushed and smiled in return.

Putting one rock on the ground he began to hit it with the other. Soon, it became apparent that there was a pattern to the hits. Neither of the two native women understood but Sam suddenly looked up.

"Morse code Sir?"

He smiled at her. Thank God, he thought. At least now I can communicate.

Slowly he tapped out what he wanted to say. It took awhile as it had been a long time since either of them had used Morse code and they both had to remember.

Sam finally got what he was writing and smiled at him. Once all the explanations were done she'd take a look at the collar and see if she could get it off of him. It must really be torture, she thought - not just the physical torture he received if he spoke - but the emotional torture of not being able to communicate.

Turning to the two women she repeated what Jack had 'said' to her.

"He wants me to tell you that he calls the children by names common to our village. The girl he calls Hannah, the boy Jon. He says he is sorry but he wants them to be known by these names."

"Everyone is changing their name today! How can you expect an old woman to remember all these names?" Looking over towards Jak, and seeing how much more relaxed he appeared, Fulanna knew that she couldn't really object.

"It will be hard for them", said Eranna, angrily. These were the first words she'd spoken in a while. "They are used to the names we gave them."

"I'm sure they'll adjust quickly. We just tell them that those are the names the Colonel picked out. From the looks of them they'll accept anything from him." Carter answered the younger woman.

"Why do you call him this 'Kernal'?" asked the younger woman.

"It is a term of respect. He is my commanding officer and that is how I refer to him."

"He is your commanding officer – you are not friends?" the woman asked with hope in her voice.

Before Sam had a chance to respond she felt a hand grab and hold her wrist gently. When she looked up at Jack she saw him smiling down at her, a soft expression in his eyes, one which she couldn't read, but which made the breath catch in her throat. He simply nodded. Amazed that he could convey so much with such a small gesture, she smiled in return. Turning to Eranna she simply said.

"Yes, we are friends."