They didn't stay outside for long. Jaffer never strayed far from Jack for any length of time when O'Neill needed him, and even though the Colonel was asleep, there was no doubt in the lab's mind that he was needed. He did his business while Sam and Emmett looked on, and Emmett took the opportunity to bring up the interviews, although he wasn't sure this was really the time to do it.

"So... Major O'Neill..."

Sam looked over at him. Jaffer didn't need her watching him, after all. It wasn't like he was going to run off.

"You know... you could call me Sam."

Emmett smiled, and shrugged. He wasn't sure if Jack O'Neill would really appreciate that, but what the heck?

"Sam... I was talking to Colonel O'Neill about the interview I'm supposed to be doing with you – and with him – and he suggested the two of you do yours together."

"He did, huh?"

Bregman smiled.

"I don't think he's looking forward to being interviewed."

"Oh, I'm certain he's not," Sam agreed.

"But if you're there, maybe he'll open up a bit?"

Sam shook her head.

"If I'm there he's not going to say a word."

"You think so?"

"I know so."

"So what do I do?"

"I'll talk to him."

He gave her a grateful look, but before he could thank her, Jaffer came trotting over to them. He was ready to go back inside.

OOOOOOOOO

The black lab led them back to the infirmary, and down the aisle of beds. This time he didn't stop at Janet's bed, where Cassie was still seated on the edge of her mother's bed. He went over and jumped up next to Jack, sniffing him without actually touching him, and then lying down next to him, positioning himself so he was lying in a spot that he could look across Jack and watch the Fraisers sit and talk.

Sam and Emmett followed at a slower pace, and Jaffer was already settled before they'd reached the others. Cassie and Janet looked up as they approached.

"How are you feeling, Janet?" Sam asked, coming over and sitting on the edge of Jack's bed to make room on Janet's for Emmett if he was brave enough to try and sit close.

"I'm fine." Janet said. Then she frowned when she realized that she'd done it again. Fine. There had to be a better word.... "I'm okay." She corrected.

Sam smiled, as if aware of what Janet was thinking.

Emmett wasn't brave enough to sit on the edge of the bed. For one thing, he wasn't sure if Janet wanted him that close. For another, he wasn't sure if Cassie wanted him that close to her mother. They'd had a good talk, but you just never knew with kids – especially teenagers. He stood at the foot of Janet's bed, watching her.

"Cassie's going to stay with me, tonight, Janet," Sam told her, reaching down and taking Jack's hand in hers. She hated the thought of not having him home with her, but Cassie would be good company. Even better, she'd be good company when Jack was home, too. Jack loved having Cassie stay with them.

"Thanks for having her, Sam." Fraiser wasn't worried about Cassie having a place to stay. That was one of the best things about the SGC; there was always a place for one of their own to stay when the need came up. Cassie had told her while Sam and Emmett had been gone that General Hammond himself had offered to open his home for her, and that had been no surprise, either.

"I can use the company." Sam said, resting Jack's hand on her thigh so she didn't have to hold it up.

Janet nodded.

"He'll probably be released tomorrow afternoon. Unless there's sign of an infection."

Jack never had infections, Sam knew. She didn't understand it, exactly, but once he started healing, he healed cleanly. Which meant he'd be released tomorrow. She looked down at him, making sure he was still asleep – which he was – and sighed. She had things she needed to get done, and Jack was in good hands here – how could he not be, with Janet in the bed next to him to make sure he didn't need anything?

"I'd better get some work done while I have the chance. Will you have someone call me when he wakes up?"

They could always have Jaffer find her, but being paged was just as easy – and there was no guarantee that Jaffer would do anything someone else told him to do. He was fairly erratic when it came to other people, and everyone knew it. Jaffer would do anything for Jack, and Jack said he'd do anything for Sam, but everyone else was up in the air.

"I'll come find you," Cassie promised. She didn't really like the infirmary all that much – although she would never admit that to her mother. She had a few bad memories in this place, after all. It was one thing to visit her mother for a while, but she wouldn't mind a reason to leave by then.

"Thanks, honey."

Sam leaned over and brushed a gentle kiss against Jack's cheek – which didn't rouse him – and stood up, running her hand along Jaffer's shoulder, and left.

OOOOOOOO

They watched her leave, and then Janet gave Emmett a pointed look and patted the spot on the other side of her bed from Cassie.

"I'm not going to bite you," She told him.

Cassie grinned, and Bregman blushed slightly as he gingerly sat down.

"I didn't want to intrude..."

"You're not," Cassie told him, her eyes going from Emmett's face to her mother's. It was so easy to see they liked each other! Like a couple of freshmen on a first date, or at a dance together for the first time. She had to hide her smile in her hand.

"How long are you going to be in here?" Emmett asked, his gaze going down Janet's body. A paper gown wasn't the most form-hugging item of clothing, but he couldn't help but think she looked beautiful.

"A few days, most likely." Janet blushed slightly, wishing she were wearing a little make-up, or at least something a little more exciting than a paper gown. "Are we going to have to do my interview in here?"

"No." Emmett smiled, and reached out and touched her hand, but started to move his hand almost immediately. Janet caught it, though, before he could, and held his hand in hers. "I don't want you – or any of the others – to be interviewed when you're not feeling your best. It'll show on the camera."

He squeezed her hand gently, and the two of them smiled at each other, lost in their own little world for just a moment. It was almost embarrassing for Cassie, who liked it, but was still a little uncomfortable. After all, it was her mom they were talking about here.

"Do you want anything to eat, mom?" Cassie asked. "Or to drink?"

Janet flushed, and turned her head back to Cassie, worried that she was going to see a resentful expression on the girl's face. There wasn't, though. Only amusement and approval.

"Uh... yes, honey, please? I could use some coffee."

"Can you have coffee?" Emmett asked.

"Of course I can."

There was no argument, of course. You didn't argue with a doctor in her own infirmary.

"I'll get you some," Cassie said, standing up. "I'll be back in a minute." And they could have some time alone, so she didn't have to feel like a chaperone. She turned and left.

Janet waited until she was out of the room, then squeezed his hand lightly.

"If you don't kiss me, I'm going to think you don't want to."

He blushed, but he leaned over her and pressed a gentle kiss against the side of her mouth.

"I wanted to, but I wasn't sure how she'd react to it - or how you'd react to it."

"She's not a child, Emmett," Janet chided him, reaching up and running her fingers through his hair. "And even better; she likes you and told me she approves."

He gave her a relieved smile, and kissed her once more.

"You have no idea how glad I am to hear that."

"Not as glad as I was." She murmured against his lips.

"If you two are going to make out, you could at least close the curtain - or charge admission."

They both started, guiltily, and looked over at Jack, who'd woken up sometime recently, and was watching them with his hand resting on Jaffer's shoulder, and a definite gleam of amusement in his dark eyes.