(This one is going to be short, sorry, but I promise another one tonight! Maybe 2)

Neither of them made it through the ball game. Jack didn't make it through the 2nd quarter. Sam looked over after what she thought must have been a good play – to judge by the fans reactions – only to find he had fallen asleep, his head tilted to the side with his blanket playing the dual role of blanket and pillow. He was only inches from her, and Sam could clearly see the lines of worry on his face, even while he slept. It made her want to reach out and soothe them. Something she didn't do, since she didn't want to disturb him. She simply turned and went back to watching the game, figuring she could at least tell him who won when he woke up.

She didn't make it through the end of the halftime show. Basketball was boring, even with the crowds cheering like maniacs. Without anything to keep her occupied, Sam's body took the opportunity to catch up on a little much needed rest. She curled up next to the Colonel, not touching him, but close enough that if he reached out to her he'd be able to find her.

When she woke up next, he wasn't beside her. Carter looked around, wondering where he was and what time it was, and was shocked to find that it was mid afternoon. She stood up, looking around for him, but he wasn't in the kitchen or the living room. A quick glance into his bedroom and the open bathroom door told her he wasn't in either of those rooms either. Feeling a little panic, she went to the door that led out to the deck, and breathed a sigh of relief when she saw him out there.

He was sitting in the same chair she'd found him in the first night, but he was wrapped in his blanket, so she wasn't as concerned as she might have been. The blanket proved that he'd at least thought about taking care of himself before going outside, and that was a good sign, Sam thought.

She stepped out the door, closing it behind her and silently walked up to stand next to him.

"Sir? Everything okay?"

"Everything's fine, Carter." His voice told her otherwise, though, and Sam had a feeling he'd been out on the deck brooding. Or blaming himself? That seemed more likely, considering the bleak tone of his voice.

"Are you hungry?"

"Who won the game?" He asked her, changing the subject.

"I don't know, Sir. I fell asleep. The guys in black were ahead when the halftime show came on, so they probably did."

"Yeah..."

"Sir...?" Carter crouched down next to him, looking at him. "Do... do you want to talk about it?"

"The game? No, Carter. If you don't understand basketball, I'll buy you a book on it."

"That's not what I meant, Sir."

"I know, Carter." He stood up and left the blanket sitting in the chair and walked back into the house without another word to her.