I do not own anything. If you recognize it, it is not mine.

I'd like to welcome jag389, I hope you'll keep reading. Thank you for the review. This story is set after SG Atlantis and even SGU, so retirement is in cards for Jack one way or the other. There is also another reason that had only been hinted at.

Garibaldi69, thank you for your reviews as well, sometime your love confuses me :)

If you have the time please comment on the development in the story and how I can make the dialogue part better…

Jeez, this chapter really didn't want to be written. I don't know how else to explain the fact it took so much energy. But we're getting to the interesting bit, people. Hope you are all well. XOXO

When O'Neill returned to the infirmary, he saw Laura standing next to Carter's bed. Before he left for the bathroom, Laura was changing the bandage on Gracie's leg, but not anymore. It made him wonder if Carter had a nightmare or if her health deteriorated.

"What happened to her?" O'Neill said quietly, his eyes fixed on his subordinate. Right then she looked peaceful, snuggled in the blanket so only her head was showing, with some of her long blond hair escaping the ponytail and poking out.

"She yelled a few times. Once something about Hathor and then she screamed for you. But I managed to calm her down without waking her up." Laura explained, checking on Sam's IV that moved a little when Sam was screaming.

"Good." O'Neill said, deep in thought. "Good." He repeated before he continued speaking. "Listen, I need to talk to you."

"Of course." Laura walked over to the other side of the infirmary so they could talk without disturbing Sam.

O'Neill followed her and when she sat down on a hospital bed, he did the same.

Laura saw him searching for words, his brow furrowed. "So what's up?" She asked when he didn't start speaking on his own.

"Why would you suggest to Carter that she might not want to remember? What the hell were you thinking?" He didn't want to come across so forcefully, but the anger brewed in him for a while and once he started he couldn't stop.

"What? I just mentioned it in passing…" Laura said, her confusion obvious.

"Well, it really stuck with her." He interrupted Laura, who seemed really thrown by his antagonism. "And I don't want her to give up."

"You must be aware she has a lot of horrible things to remember. She is having nightmares every single night. She probably have thought about it before I even brought it up."

"Maybe, but it gained weight when you mentioned it too." His stare was cold, the whole face hardened with negative emotions, the jaw clenched and his nostrils wildly flaring.

"I'm sure she won't give up. Why are you getting so angry about this?" His posture, the tone of his voice and what he was saying all evoke fight or flight response in Laura. He seemed really angry or something.

"She's gone through a lot, yes. But she handled it and can do it again. And she doesn't need anyone doubting her." He raised his voice and a little murmur from Carter followed.

"Sssh." Laura shushed him angrily. "I don't doubt her. It was a hypothetical example. Seriously, I don't know what is happening here. It seems like we're each having a different conversation."

"Don't change the subject."

"I am not. If we are to continue this conversation, you need to confess what's going on with you. I want to know what this argument is supposed to distract you from!" Laura raised his eyebrow, holding his cold stare for a change.

"I don't know what you're talking about."

"Then this conversation is over." Laura stopped, looking at O'Neill for a moment. There was sadness in his eyes and for a split second she thought that maybe he'd share something. But the miracle didn't come. So after shrugging her shoulders, she left in a hurry.

She was shaken by the interaction with the general. She hadn't seen him so taken by emotions since… well, ever. She watched him piece by piece uncovering his concern for Sam, but never had she seen such weird mix of consternation and fear. Needing some time to unwind, she considered going to the gym, but her locator beacon showed Teal'c was there and she really needed some time alone.

If it was someone else, she might have reacted differently. But being it O'Neill who was behaving with such enmity, Laura was freaking out. She had hoped they were getting closer, that he finally believed her good intentions and stopped with his tough soldier routine. She understood he worried about Sam and the two other wounded soldiers and was probably still thinking about the teammates they had lost, but his recent behavior made her want to cry her heart out.

Not realizing she made her way to the kitchen, she settled at the table with a cup of warm tea in her hand, trembling with emotions. She had just about gotten used to the idea of having people around and since during all the other confrontations with them she had the upper hand, it never felt so threatening. They admitted they were wrong, apologized, then Daniel apologized thousands of times more and the situation improved. But this time she had no idea what had happened.

Reaching into her pocket she pulled out an old photo. She unfolded it with care, revealing even more how the distressed paper was weakened from the frequent folding and unfolding. It was a headshot of O'Neill, identical to those found in military personnel files, with his full name written at the bottom. Laura ran her fingers lightly across black letters of the name, taking great care not to rip the fragile photo.

Suddenly she heard a stern voice from somewhere behind her.

"What is the purpose of this photograph?"

"Teal'c, what are you doing here?" She turned after that voice as soon as was possible, her eyes wide with shock she was caught.

"I demand an explanation, Laura."