Chapter 12

'I really don't think that...' They heard Janet's voice as she opened the door.

'And I need to see my daughter!'

Sam sighed loudly and buried her face in Jack's chest. He kissed her temple.

'Doc,' he called. 'I don't think this is going to get any easier.'

Janet eyed the couple carefully but Jacob barged in before they could come to any agreement, he stopped short at the sight of them almost naked curled intimately together beneath the sheets. His head dropped in a tell tale way as his skin threatened to turn from a healthy pink to a disturbing shade of purple.

'I'll leave you three alone for a minute.' Janet said closing the door behind her, giving them some privacy to try and work this out.

'Hi Selmak.' Jack sighed softly.

'Colonel O'Neill, Major Carter.' the Tok'ra acknowledged them calmly.

'Is my Dad okay?' Sam asked gently as she sat up, careful to keep the sheets clutched at her chest and her leg pressed to Jack's.

'He is... struggling.' Selmak answered in a measured tone. 'This is not a situation that the Tok'ra have encountered before, however after witnessing the effects of your separation I do have a suggestion.'

'Really?' Jack asked sceptically, sitting up beside Sam, raising his knees and resting his elbows on them.

Sam curled against his side almost instinctively, her arm wrapping around his and her head resting on his shoulder.

'Yes. I would like the opportunity to try to use a healing device on you when you are parted. Major Carter, you could attempt to heal Colonel O'Neill whilst I use another device on you.'

Jack looked over at Sam watching the wheels turning. Sam glanced at him.

'So do you think it could work?' Jack murmured softly.

She sighed and shrugged. 'Given that we don't actually know what's wrong with us I think it's worth a shot. I don't think it could do us any harm.'

'Being separated... again.' he said with obvious apprehension.

'We were okay for a little while in the bathroom, that felt...' she shivered against him remembering the delicious tension and apprehension as they hoovered just millimetres from each other ready to embrace and kiss each other passionately. '… okay, didn't it?'

'More than okay.' he replied pressing a soft kiss to her temple. 'Don't think Dad would be too pleased though.'

'I'm not pleased with any of this.' Jacob answered, the voice issued from the body indicating that Sam's dad was in control.

'Dad.' Sam said softly, her gaze pulling back to her father.

'Hey kiddo.' he said his eyes focusing on hers, determinedly avoiding looking at Jack at all costs.

'Dad I... I'm...' her voice cracked and she ducked her head into the crook of Jack's neck quickly wetting it with silent tears.

'Hey, hey.' Jack whispered putting his arms around her. 'It's gonna be okay.'

She nodded silently.

Jacob frowned. 'Janet explained all this. I felt... that white light, I was waiting for you and I felt it. Somewhere in me I'm happy for you, Sam. Really. Love like that...' he sighed loudly. 'This is all just a lot for me to take in.'

Sam looked up at her father, a smile on her lips despite her still moist eyes. 'I'm sorry you had to find out like this.'

'Yeah, me too.' he replied, then smiled. 'Still, you picked Jack, no matter how I found out that was never going to be easy on me.'

'Hey!' Jack exclaimed.

Sam giggled lightly.

Jacob smirked. 'You're a good man, Jack, but you have a way of pissing me off like few other people can.'

'Part of my charm.' he responded pulling Sam closer.

'Don't test me, Jack.' Jacob warned gently.

Jack grinned, 'Selmak will keep you in check, I'm sure.'

'One of the other benefits to having symbiote is that I can kick your ass without breaking a sweat.' he said with a glimmer of mirth in his eyes.

'Enough!' Sam squeaked, laughter filling her body, making her shake at Jack's side.

Jack grinned and held her tightly, happy to see her smiling though her tears were still drying on his skin. 'Okay, okay.' he agreed smoothing his hand over her hip.

Jacob gave a single nod of agreement. 'So what is it about you two being separated that I'm not going to like?' he asked steering them back to their previous conversation. 'Cause from my perspective it's seems like a great idea so long as you don't pass out again.'

'As near as I can figure we need to be connected physically and emotionally.' Sam said softly. 'It seems like we can be separated physically for longer without too many complications if our emotional connection is at it's strongest.'

'You were right, I don't like the sound of that at all.' Jacob said having some idea what that might entail. 'Still it's worth a shot. I'll come back in in 15 minutes. Think that's enough time for you to have breakfast and get dressed?'

Jack shivered at the idea of putting on clothes but nodded none the less.

'Okay.' Sam murmured in a small voice.

'Alright.' He said with a nod before taking his leave.

Sam and Jack could hear him sharing a few brief words with the doctor before Janet bustled in breakfast tray in hand. She set it at the end of the bed before gathering their clothes from the where she'd set them on the dresser and bringing those over too.

'Janet... do you think it'll work?' Sam asked timidly as she began wolfing down a fruit salad.

'I really don't know.'

Jack glanced between two of the smartest women he knew more than a little disturbed at the feeling of unease that spread through his body. He just wanted her, plain and simple, anything else just seemed like an attempt to delay the inevitable. On some level he was disappointed that their first time would be whilst they were under the influence of alien technology but he couldn't deny that he enjoyed this connection that they shared.

He could feel her body, her soul calling out to him. All he wanted to do was answer.