When Monica Ray was escorted back to the infirmary by Daniel, Janet and General Hammond, she wasn't at all surprised to see that Jack O'Neill was stretched out on the examination table next to Jaffer, his hand running along the black fur tenderly. She was a bit surprised to see the black lab was awake and responsive, though. His tail was wagging gently, and it was a good thing to see, even if the motion was tired-looking and weak. He was also licking Jack's hand every time it came anywhere near his mouth, which was also a very good sign. She smiled when she came over, and Jack rolled off the bed when he saw her, making room so she could give Jaffer a check-up.

"Hey, Doc," Jack said, giving her a smile. "Fancy seeing you here."

"Jack," Monica returned the smile – it was an infectious one and she couldn't have ignored it if she tried. "You're dog's been eating things he shouldn't be."

"My puppy? Eat something bad for him?" Jack's look of mock surprise only lasted a moment, but it was long enough for the others to know that he was okay, and if O'Neill was okay, then that meant he was certain that Jaffer was.

"Was he awake when you got here?" Monica asked.

Jack looked fondly down at the black lab, who had rolled over onto his back, baring his belly for Jack to scratch for him.

"Nah, he was sleeping on the job... letting Sam get all worried about him." Now his look was only for her, and she gave him a slight smile, still feeling guilty for what had happened, no matter what Jack said. But she felt better. Seeing him here, and having Jaffer awake were potent medicines.

"How did he look when he woke up?" Monica asked, running her hands along Jaffer's body, checking for any fever, and watching the lab for any reaction that might be caused by tenderness. "Was he grumpy?"

"Nope. Looked a little tired, maybe."

"He's had a rough day."

Jack nodded, looking over at Carter and thinking that she'd had a rough day, too.

"Can I take him home?"

"Not just yet."

Jack scowled, and Monica grinned and put her hand over his on Jaffer's belly.

"Just let me do another round of tests on him, to make sure everything's all right. If they come back clear, you can take him home."

Fraiser called one of her med-techs over, and the doctor and the vet shooed everyone out of the room. Jack didn't want to leave, but unlike Fraiser, he rarely argued with Monica, since he could gripe when it came to his own health, but would never take a chance with Jaffer's. He followed Daniel out the door, and practically ran into Jacob, who was just coming into the infirmary.

"How's he doing?" The Tok'ra asked, seeing the crowd of people entering the hallway.

"He's going to be okay," Jack said.

"I'm glad to hear that, Jack." Jacob handed O'Neill his keys, and Jack looked down at himself. He was dirty, and sweaty, and needed to get out of his flight suit.

"Me, too, Jacob."

Sam was looking at her dad, curiously. He was wearing a flight suit as well, and why was he handing Jack his keys? The scientist in her rarely missed such obvious clues, and the suspicious daughter in her started adding those clues together.

"Where have you been, dad?" Sam asked.

Jack and Jacob looked at each other, and Jacob realized what she was seeing. Jack caught it, too. He only looked dumb.

"I think I'm going to go change," O'Neill said. "Coming, Jacob?"

"Yes."

The two beat a hasty retreat before Sam could ask again, leaving Carter, Daniel and Hammond standing in the hallway alone. Daniel looked as perplexed as Sam, but Hammond looked extremely uncomfortable, and she saw that. Just as she was opening her mouth to ask him the same question she'd asked her father, Hammond looked at his watch.

"Wow, would you look at the time? I need to go... wash my hair."

He turned and headed down the hall as well, relying on the fact that he was a General and she was only a Major, and she wasn't going to come rushing down the hall to confront him.

Sam looked at Daniel, who was watching Hammond.

"Do you ever get the feeling you don't know exactly what's going on around you, Daniel?" she asked him.

"Here?" Daniel smiled, and took her hand, and headed towards the commissary, taking her with him. She looked like she could use a cup of coffee. "All the time, Sam."

..................

"I'm going to have to tell her," Jacob said as he pulled off his flight suit, revealing a badly sweat-stained uniform. An outfit designed to keep you warm and comfortable at high elevations and Mach plus speed was not so well designed to keep you comfortable when you were walking around base, and both of the men were drenched.

"Yeah, she's probably figured it out." Jack agreed. "I don't know that you need to bring Hammond into it, though..."

"I wouldn't. Innocent bystander and all that."

"Uh huh." Jack didn't really believe that for a moment, but he did know none of this was Hammond's fault, either. He didn't really care. His baby was fine, and Sam was looking a little rough, but that could be remedied with a little time. She was just worried, and who understood that better than Jack?

"You want to have dinner?" Jacob asked, looking over at Jack, who was leaned against his locker, looking a little tired.

Jack shook his head.

"I'm beat, Jacob. When Doctor Ray clears Jaffer, I'm going to take him home, and I think the two of us are going to take a long nap. You should spend some time with Sam. It's not like you're going to be here all that long, after all, and she should have some quality time with you."

"So, you're saying you're going to leave the two of us alone so I can admit to her all I've done, and she can yell at me without you having to hear it?"

Jack nodded. "Pretty much, yes."

Of course, he'd stop and see her before he took Jaffer home, just to make sure she was okay. And to remind her that he loved her. Then he'd go home and avoid her yelling at Jacob. Everyone said Jack had a temper – and yeah, he did – but when Sam's was roused it wasn't a pretty thing, and he didn't mind having an excuse to be away from it this time.

"Thanks a lot."

Jacob's scowl only made Jack grin. He headed for a much- needed shower, leaving the Tok'ra sitting there trying to figure out how he was going to admit to Sam what he'd done.