Hi everyone. I'm sorry that it's taken me so long to update. I'm in the middle of a huge move from Canada to Boston for a new job. Moving the house and family is keeping me swamped! I have wanted to get back to the story and can hopefully finish it off in my spare (!) time. Tonight is a little, itsy, bitsy tidbit just to keep you going. I'll definitely update this weekend.

As they rode back to the forest village both Sam and Jack sat quietly in the back of the wagon. The initial tears had dried and the pain had turned to numbness and shock. In a sense it was a relief – a cessation of the agony of the parting – but both of them knew it was only temporary. Lurking under the shock was a deep wound which would soon come back to cause great pain.

For now, however, the two soldiers realized they each had to put away their personal feelings, like they had done so often in their lives. They had a job to do, a task to complete before they could once again turn back to their lives, their emotions and their future.

As Jack sat, his arms tightly holding the woman he loved, he thought of what had to be done. He tried to put away the feelings, to box them up as he so often did. But this time it was harder than usual. Instead, he couldn't help but ponder over his life. Why was it, he thought, that everything good always seemed to be ripped from him? Anytime he glimpsed a bit of paradise it was taken away and smashed. The pain of that spiked through the numbness and he tightened his grip on Sam. Looking up, he swore to the heavens – there was no way he was going to lose her on top of everything!

Feeling Jack's arms grasp her more tightly, Sam also looked up, but at him. She saw mirrored in his face all her own thoughts and feelings. The one thought that had kept running through her mind was why. The word kept circling around and around – not accompanied by sorrow at this point – but simply the numbing rhythm of the word, which wouldn't stop.

When she saw Jack's face, however, it snapped her out of the mental treadmill. Oh God, she thought, what he must be feeling! This loss on top of everything else might just be too much for him to bear. Knowing that she couldn't lose him too, she turned in his arms and put her own around him, returning his tight hug with one of her own.

"It will be okay Jack. They'll be okay. I'm here and I'm not leaving you - ever! You're stuck with me." She kept repeating the words over and over, aware that he needed to hear them, even if they weren't sinking in as yet.

He rested his head on top of hers, hearing her words and letting them bring him some comfort. Little did she know that they were exactly what he needed – the assurance that she would be with him always, that she wouldn't leave him as everyone else important in his life had. In reality, he knew she couldn't promise that. Life was too uncertain – but he also knew, that if it were humanly possible – heck even if it was beyond humanly possible – she would do all in her power to keep that promise.

"I love you Sam", he whispered. "And I'm afraid you're stuck with me too."

She sighed and leaned into him – thankful that at least they had each other.

The wagon continued on for a few more minutes, bumping over the rough ground. She watched the trees and scenery slowly drift past. Seeing the surroundings made her smile slightly, thinking about Jack and his professed aversion to all things 'tree'. She recalled all the times she had heard him sniping and complaining as they arrived on another tree-filled planet. Thinking about hearing Jack …. Yikes! She suddenly sat up.

"Jack – you spoke! You spoke out loud." It had only taken her about 10 minutes to realize it.

"What?" he whispered again, looking down at her.

"You're talking, actually talking out loud."

He cleared his throat, and, looking rather nervous, he opened his mouth and again tried to speak. At first, he could feel his throat tightening and the words didn't come. Closing his eyes, he took a deep breath and tried again.

"I love you." Hey, it had worked the first time!

"I love you too Jack!" She looked up at him and smiled. Looking down at her in wonder, he slowly started to grin. Yup – it was coming back.

He would like to have suddenly just started talking as if nothing had happened. But, he knew that wasn't going to be. He still found it difficult to speak. His voice was faint and scratchy. His throat continually wanted to tighten and close and he could often feel himself begin to sweat when he thought about talking – but at least it was a start. Knowing the realities of PTSD – and the effects of prolonged captivity and torture – he knew his problems were far from over. He expected talking would be a difficult task for a long time to come. However, at least it was getting better – and at least he could now tell Sam how he felt about her.

As the wagon drew nearer their destination, the two friends, lovers and comrades discussed their plans for the upcoming battle they knew was coming. They had to figure out the Ancient 'weapon' or whatever it was, and fast!

"I think we should go back to the cave tomorrow and I can spend some time looking at it. Maybe the uh – things – there can give us some more information."

He nodded and spoke – silently – to her. "Yeah, I guess so. It kind of creeps me out though. I kind of feel like those are some kind of metal 'triffid' that are going to attack us humans."

"Triffids?", she laughed. "Jack – you watch too much science fiction."

"Hey – I don't watch science fiction – that's Teal'c. I just live it!" he thought to her.

"I guess you're right. Well, we can only hope that tomorrow won't be a Triffid Day!", she smirked. "I think they actually like you Jack. They see you as one of theirs!"

"Great – just what I've always wanted - to be a "man-eating" plant!"

They continued to joke back and forth, trying to keep things light so they didn't start thinking about the children. As they spoke to each other – Jack sometimes even managing a few spoken words – they drew nearer the village. Finally, in the early evening they arrived. The first person they saw was Daniel who had obviously been watching for them.

"Hi guys. Everything okay?", he asked with concern.

"Yeah – the children are with their grand parents and aunt." Sam jumped out of the wagon but wouldn't look at Daniel.

"How were they? Were they glad to have the children?" Daniel asked quietly.

"Not now, Daniel", Jack interjected, also very quietly.

"My God! Jack – you're talking!"

"He can say a few words Daniel – but please, don't say too much to anyone. It's going to take some time before his voice is back to full speed. He can't say much at a time."

"No – I understand. But still, that's great Jack. You must be thrilled."

Jack looked at his friend and shrugged. It didn't seem to really matter right now. Nothing did after losing the children. Turning towards the house where they were staying, Jack motioned to Sam and walked towards the door.

Just as Sam turned to follow him, Daniel grabbed her arm.

"Is he okay Sam?"

"No Daniel – he's not. He's just lost two more children. I don't think he'll ever be totally okay – and neither am I. But, he'll survive – he always does."

"How about you?"

"Yeah – me too. We have each other – and that means a helluva lot. We also have our good friends", and here she reached out and gave him a quick hug. "We need you guys, Jack needs you. Just don't let him push you away, okay?"

"Hey, when have I even let Jack do that? Okay, okay, a couple of times – but you know me. I'm pretty pushy and insistent when I need to be."

Sam smiled at him. Yes, he could be pushy and sometimes downright irritating, but a truer friend you couldn't find anywhere. And Sam knew that sometimes, Daniel was just the person Jack needed.

"Thank you Daniel. Tomorrow we're heading back to the cave so I think it's time for me to get some sleep. We'll see you in the morning."

"Night Sam. Take care and remember if you need anything ….!"

"I know Daniel. Thank you."

With that she turned and walked into the house. Jack was sitting on the edge of the bed, looking at her with a question on his face.

"Daniel", she said simply. "He was worried about you."

Jack raised his eyebrows at that.

"Okay, he was worried about both of us. He just wanted us to know that he's there for us. He's a good man."

Jack grinned his lopsided grin and nodded. He didn't often let Daniel – or anyone else for that matter – see how he felt, but the truth was, he relied on the younger man in many ways. He was a friend, a brother, a sometimes shoulder to cry on (figuratively of course!) and sometimes a kick in the butt. Looking again at Sam, he thanked God for her, for Daniel and for Teal'c. Yes, they'd get through this – together.