Thank you all for your patience. I'm back and will try and update more regularly!

Today was the day he was going to get out of bed and walk. It shouldn't have made him nervous, but it did, which in turn made him grumpy. He'd already bitten the poor nurse's head off when she'd asked him how he felt this morning and then he'd snapped at Janet. She'd simply given him that look that told him she knew what was going on, which made him even grumpier. He hated feeling so weak and out of control.

When Sam knocked and came in he didn't know whether to feel better or worse. Having her near was always a good thing, but right now he was afraid that he might fall flat on his face and he didn't want her to see that. He'd already humiliated himself in front of her once (hell, more than once if he were being honest) and didn't really want to do it again.

"It'll be okay Jack", she smiled. Just like Janet, she knew him too well. "Janet said there might be some muscle weakness so don't expect miracles but you'll do fine once you've had a chance to strengthen your legs and ankles."

He sighed. "I know. I'm afraid I was an ass this morning", he confessed.

She just grinned at that. "We'd be worried if you weren't", she told him.

"Oh great", he rolled his eyes. "Nice to know that it's expected of me."

"It's just your way of dealing Sir", she told him calmly. "We all know that."

"Sir?"

She shrugged. "Habit."

"Right. Well Carter, let's get this show on the road. As much as I love the Infirmary I'm ready to get out of here and see some blue sky."

"Okay. Janet'll be here in a second. Daniel's waiting in the hallway with Teal'c. Did you want them to come in?"

So that everyone could see how frightened he was? Ah hell, they were his team and they'd seen him in worse shape. "Yeah, tell them to come in."

Sam gave him her megawatt smile and patted him on the arm. "It really will be okay you know." With that she went to the door and opened it. "Come on in guys."

"He's not going to bite our heads off is he?" Jack could hear Daniel ask. God, had he been that bad.

"No Daniel, I'm not", he called out. He waited until the two men were in his room and laid his head back on his pillow and regarded the three people who were closer to him then anyone in the world. "Glad to have you", he said simply. He got two big smiles and a head bow in return.

"So, where's the little power -" before he'd had a chance to finish that sentence she walked into the room.

"I'm here Sir", Janet said with a grin. "Now, I want to check out your legs first -"

"Really?" Jack smirked. "I had no idea Janet."

The Doctor snorted. "In your dreams Jack" she told him. She turned to the others. "You might want to wait outside for now. I'll call you back in a minute but first I want to examine the Colonel."

Once everyone had filed out Janet turned back to him with a smile. "How are you doing Sir – really?"

He looked at her seriously, knowing how much he owed this woman, and for once decided to be honest. "Scared", he admitted.

She came up to him and laid her hand on his arm. "Everything looks good."

"I know and I'm – hopeful but -", he shrugged. "I haven't had a lot of luck lately."

"Well then, it's about time you did. There are no guarantees Jack, but even if everything isn't perfect, you are better than you were. You should be able to lead a perfectly normal life from here on in."

"Normal? Doc, I've never led a normal life", he scoffed. "I don't think I'd know how."

She regarded him closely. "Is that why you're afraid?" she asked softly.

He looked down at his hands, which were twisting the covers. After a moment he took a deep breath and lifted his head, his face for once showing his uncertainty and fear. "I want to", he said quietly, "but yeah – I wonder if it's just been too much." He pushed his hands through his hair. "And now I'm just feelin' sorry for myself. Let's get this show on the road!"

Janet knew that the man in front of her had opened himself up to her, but also knew that he needed space so she simply patted his arm and smiled. "Okay then, let me take a look at those legs and then I'll get everyone back in here."

She examined him for the next few minutes, but everything looked fine. A moment later his team was back in the room.

"Alright campers, here goes nothin'." Jack slowly put his legs over the side of the bed and pushed himself off. Teal'c had stepped forward, as had Daniel, both ready to catch him should he fall. Jack had a fleeting thought that that's what his team was all about – they were always there for one another.

Fortunately he didn't need either of them this time. He did have to hold onto the bed, because the muscles in his legs were stiff and somewhat weak – but in actual fact worked better than he thought they would. The best part of all was that there was no pain.

After a moment of silence, while everyone watched him closely, he lifted his head and grinned. There was a collective sigh of relief, and then everyone began to speak at once.

He laughed and held up his hand. "I'm fine", he acknowledged. "A bit stiff and I'm not going to win any races – not yet at least – but my legs feel good." He glanced over at Janet and then at Sam – "Thanks. And thank you Jacob, wherever you are."

"And Thor", Daniel reminded him.

"Of course. I'll have to take the little guy out for a drink the next time he's in town."

"Does he drink?" Janet asked.

Jack shrugged and grinned. "I don't know." He looked down and took a step and then another one. His grin got bigger as he walked. Even after a few steps he could feel his muscles start to relax and to work better. It was also the first time in months he'd felt no pain.

"Don't go too hard Sir", Janet warned.

"I won't", he agreed. "So, anyone want to go dancing?"

"I do not O'Neill", Teal'c said seriously.

"Yeah, I think I'll pass", Daniel said, smiling.

"I may take you up on that Jack", Sam said, "but maybe we should wait a while?"

"Sure." He bent his knees slightly and went to stand up but stumbled. This time Teal'c reached out and grabbed his arm.

"You are attempting too much too soon O'Neill", the big guy said. "You must be cautious."

"Right. But it feels great." He laughed and hobbled his way back to bed, Teal'c's hand still helping to steady him. "So Janet, when do I start therapy?"

She shook her head at that, but the smile on her face showed that she was happy for the Colonel. "You can get started this afternoon. I expect it won't take you long before you can dance. I'm amazed at how well you're doing already."

"Have we examined the device to see how it actually works?" Daniel asked. "The results are pretty spectacular."

"No, although I know Dr. Lee is itching to get his hands on it. But we promised Jacob that we wouldn't touch it after we were finished using it. I don't think he trusts us to not break it."

"And he'd be right", Jack said, pushing himself up and sitting on the side of the bed. He looked tired but happy. "We do have a tendency to wreck things and I for one don't want that thing destroyed. It may come in handy again sometime."

"I expect it will only work on someone with the Ancient gene", Daniel theorized. "You're lucky Jack."

Jack snorted. "Yeah, real lucky. Hey, is there anything to eat? I'm hungry."

Later that afternoon, after a small celebratory lunch, Jack was released from the Infirmary. Janet figured he was well enough to leave, although he had to stay close by to meet with the physical therapist. For the next few days he was going to stay with Daniel, before heading back to Denver.

"So, do you know what you're going to do now?" Daniel asked him as he drove them to his apartment.

"Nope", Jack replied, looking out of the window.

"Really? You have no idea?"

"Nope."

"Uh – what would you like to do?"

"Mmm – have a beer and watch a game."

"Jack!"

"Daniel!" Jack mimicked. "Can you just let me enjoy my new found health? I don't want to think of anything for a little while. I know I have to make some decisions, but for now I'd just like to relax."

"Okay – sorry." Silence reined in the car for the next few moments as Daniel drove. They were almost at his place before he spoke again. "Uh, what about Sam?"

Jack sighed and let his head fall back on the headrest. "You really aren't going to let me relax, are you?"

"Of course I will", his friend answered indignantly. "I just wondered – I mean – things seem to be going well and I thought – you know, maybe that now –"

"I don't know Daniel", the older man interrupted impatiently. "I don't KNOW okay? Can we please not do this right now?"

"Sorry", the nosey linguist, archaeologist and friend said again. "I'm not trying to bug you."

"No, but you're doing a pretty damn good job of it."

Daniel sighed and pulled into his parking spot. "I bought Guinness", he said after a few seconds of tense silence.

Jack turned and looked at him, his eyes crinkling slightly. "Okay then – you're forgiven!"

Jack needed some help getting up to Daniel's apartment – his muscles were still stiff and weak – but he didn't mind since he knew it was only temporary. After the last few months of true disability this was nothing and he didn't resent the help.

When he finally sat down on the couch he breathed a sigh of relief. It felt so good to just relax. A moment later Daniel handled him an ice cold bottle of his favorite beverage. Yup – life was good.

The next few days were made up of physical therapy, TV and lots of good food and friends. Teal'c, Sam and even Janet visited him when they could and he reveled in the feeling of camaraderie and friendship. He'd called Kurt a few times and finally had invited the young man to come down and visit. He was surprised at how much he missed his young friend.

He was also finding that he missed the young men and women from the youth center. He'd gotten permission for his idea and needed to see if he could make it happen. He'd spoken to Barry, who'd assured him that he'd told the kids about Jack's treatment and that he would be back. They both knew how important it was to be committed to these kids and for their to be continuity in their relationships with mentors. They needed to know that someone cared and would continue to be there for them. And Jack was going to make sure he didn't disappear from their lives, as so many had done before.

As soon as he was up to it he was going to go and see how many of the kids were up for what he'd arranged. And there were a couple of the kids especially he was hoping would sign up.

"Janet says you're almost 100% now." Sam was walking beside him as they strolled down by the lake. They'd all decided to go on a picnic since it was such a beautiful day and she'd asked him to go for a short walk, leaving the others to get the barbeque going.

He smiled when he thought of the fact that now he could go for walks. In fact he was pretty sure his legs were in better shape than they had been in years. He bent his knees slightly. Yup – they felt great.

"Uh what Carter?" he asked, just realizing that she'd said something.

"Janet says you're doing really well."

"Yup. In fact the therapist says I'm pretty much done."

"It must feel good."

"You have no idea Sam", he said softly. "I – yeah, I feel great."

"I'm so glad. It's been – well, I'm sorry you had to go through everything you have."

He shrugged and kept walking. He really didn't want to think about anything right now other than the fact that it was a beautiful day.

"So, what are you planning on doing now?" she asked after a few moments of silence.

Damn! Why did everyone need to know his plans? Couldn't they give him a few days to just enjoy? "I don't know", he sighed. "I haven't made any decisions yet. I'm just enjoying feeling good."

"I'm sorry. I shouldn't bug you, should I? I guess it's just that we're all so happy for you."

He sighed. "No, I'm sorry. I don't mean to be a grouch – I just – I really don't know what I want to do. I know I have to make some decisions, but for now I just want to enjoy life for a change."

"I understand", she nodded. "I hope -" she stopped, pressing her lips together.

"You hope?" He glanced down at her, his eyebrows raised in inquiry.

"Nothing."

"Uh uh – none of that Major", he commanded, although with a twinkle in his eye. They both knew he could no longer tell her what to do.

"I just – I hope that whatever you decide – you'll allow me to be there with you."

Everything stopped – at least that's what it felt like to him. He knew he stopped walking and breathing, but he was pretty sure that all the insects and birds and trees and everything also stopped moving. It took a moment before he was able to respond.

"Sam I -" He closed his eyes. "I don't know", he told her gently. "You know – how much you mean to me and I don't want to lose you in my life, but I don't know where I'm going or what I'm doing. I can't answer anything right now. I'm sorry – I don't want to hurt you, but I just don't know."

She nodded. "I understand. There's just one thing I need you to know Jack."

"What?" By this time he was stopped and was looking directly at her.

"I'm not about to let you run away from me – from us – again. I'll give you time to figure things out, but I'll be here waiting." She watched him for a few more seconds and then started to walk once more. A moment later he moved until he was walking beside her.

"Okay", he nodded, a slight smile on his face. "Noted Sam, and -"

"And?" Again she stopped and looked at him.

His smile widened and he leaned over and gave her a soft, quick kiss on the lips. "I'm glad." With that he started walking again. She fell in beside him and nothing more was said.