A/N: Special thank you to ProudAthena and Keenan Paige for answering my questions, I really appreciate it! Here's the next installment, enjoy!

Chapter 11

Jack O'Neill lay on his back on the bed in the VIP room staring at the ceiling. When he had gotten in last night he had thrown his suitcase open, quickly changed into shorts and a t-shirt, and gotten into the bed. He had hoped that after the long day he had sleep would come easy. Now it was 0600, and he had barely managed three fitful hours of sleep throughout the entire night.

Shifting his gaze from the ceiling to the clock, he pondered what to do. He could continue trying to sleep, but it was unlikely he would be unsuccessful. If he wasn't going to be able to sleep, the last thing he wanted was to be alone with his thoughts. With that in mind, he swung his legs over to the end of the bed and searched for suitable clothes to wander about the base in.

He decided to search out Teal'c because he knew the jaffa was staying at the base and didn't sleep much. As an added bonus, Daniel and Sam didn't usually come in for at least another hour, so he didn't have to worry about inadvertently running into either of them. As he closed the door behind him he tried to push thoughts of those two out of his mind and headed towards the commissary.

Sure enough, Teal'c was eating alone in the commissary. Jack grabbed coffee and food and headed over to join his old friend.

He nodded at Teal'c as he sat down. "How's it going buddy?"

Teal'c looked at O'Neill. "I am well, O'Neill, how are you?"

Jack shrugged, not really wanted to get into his personal issues at the moment. "Eh. How's Ry'ac doing?"

"He is completing his training even as we speak."

"That kid is a chip off the old block." Jack smiled quickly as he remembered what a good kid Ry'ac was. "Are you glad that you went to Dakara?"

Teal'c raised one eyebrow slightly in a gesture that only SG-1 knew. "It is good to spend time with my son and my mentor, however, I have found myself missing the strange manners of the Tauri."

Jack nearly choked on his coffee. "Really?" he sputtered.

"Are you alright O'Neill?"

"Yeah, of course. I never expected you to miss us crazy earthlings, that's all. If that is how you feel buddy, why don't you stay? We'd sure love to have you on this planet."

"I am considering that very idea O'Neill."

This time Jack smiled broadly and clapped Teal'c on the shoulder. "That's great T!" The two men lapsed into a comfortable silence. Teal'c, surprisingly, was the one to break it.

"Do you not miss Colorado, O'Neill?"

Jack looked up from his breakfast, startled at the question. "Nah, there's nothing to miss," he lied, staring back at his food.

"Then you are happy in D.C.?"

Jack shook his head. He didn't think he liked where this was going, but he respected Teal'c too much to get up and leave. "I'm fine there. I get up, go to work, go home, and sleep. During the day I usually deal with a lot of stupid people and have too much paperwork, but at least I have something to do."

"Are you not found of saying that there is more to life than working, O'Neill?"

Jack sighed. He caught me there. "There just is not much time for other stuff Teal'c, that's all."

"So you do not have acquaintances for company in D.C." Teal'c observed matter of factly.

"I didn't say that! I can make friends if I want to. I just don't know anyone over there real well yet," Jack insisted indignantly.

"Do you not miss your friends here?"

"I've talked to Hammond and Landry a couple of times." Jack waited, he knew it was coming, and groaned inwardly…

"What about Daniel Jackson and Major Carter?"

Anger was slowly rising in Jack's gut at those two names. Since it wasn't directed at Teal'c, he held it in. "What about them?"

"Are they not your friends?"

"It's just…"

"Have you not told Major Carter how you feel about her?" Teal'c sat back in his chair, smug in his own way. Although he knew he was provoking Jack, he honestly felt like someone needed to smack some sense into the man.

Jack's jaw dropped. Where did that come from? "How I feel? I worked with her. That's it. Nothing more there." His eyes showed fire now, but still he held himself in check.

"Your reaction indicates that you feel very strongly for her O'Neill. There are no longer regulations that impact you two. Why have you not pursued Major Carter?"

Jack shoved away from the table. "One – I said there was nothing more. Two – If there was, it would be nobody else's business. Three – I live halfway across the goddamn country. Four – She's… Got… A… Boyfriend!" He nearly shouted last part. "I need to go." Jack stomped back to his quarters.

Sam had just gotten in when she saw Jack stomping towards her down the hall. She correctly guessed that he hadn't seen her yet. Although she considered turning and running before he saw her, she was desperate to try to talk to him.

"Sir? Is everything ok?"

Jack's eyes snapped up at that voice. How dare she act all concerned. It was her fault that he was pissed. The voice inside him argued with him – no, it's your fault for overreacting. You should have told her when you had the chance. He shook his head to clear the voice. "What do you want Carter." It was more of a statement than a question.

Sam took a step back, starting to regret approaching him. "Well, uh, I was hoping we could talk sir, you know catch up a bit?"

Although that voice in Jack's head begged him to calm down and have that talk with her, Jack was beyond reasoning at the moment. "What do we have to talk about Carter." Again, a statement rather than a question.

His attitude was starting to stir anger within Sam as well. She almost asked him what his problem was, but held herself back. Her tone was colder and sarcastic when she did speak though. "I don't know sir. Life? Work? Anything? Or maybe it hasn't bothered you that we haven't spoken in six weeks?" Unconsciously she widened her stance in a defensive posture and glared at him.

She is sexy when she gets mad. SHUT UP! Jack's internal war continued. "Let's see. Yup, I live and I work. There you go. Get out of my way Carter."

Although Carter moved to the side, this time she couldn't hold her tongue back. "What is your problem with me Jack! I haven't even talked to you, so how in world could I have pissed you off!"

Jack began to walk by her, willing himself to ignore her, but he couldn't. When he looked at her, all he could see were Daniel's hands on her neck, touching her. It was driving him crazy. "Doesn't matter Carter. I'm leaving tonight and you can go back to forgetting all about me."

That left Sam speechless as he slammed the door behind him. Finally, she turned and methodically walked back to her lab. She locked the door behind her and began pacing. Thoughts whipped through her mind.

That jerk! He has not right to be angry at me! I did nothing wrong!

He did look hot all fired up.

How dare he react like that! I'm not his property, I was never even his girlfriend!

I miss him so much.

If that's how he is now, I don't want to be around him.

Then there was the one thought that kept running through her mind. For him to be that mad, he must care more than you ever thought he did – and now you've lost him.

Sam sank down, and finally let herself cry.

lllll

A/N: Alright, I know it was emotional, but I promise, this is the lowest point. It is about time things started looking up! Please R & R!