Author's notes: ' ' internal thoughts; " " dialogue

Jack had to get out the infirmary. It was driving him nuts just lying around and doing nothing. He finally got his wish after harassing Dr. Fraiser long enough that she threw her clip board down in frustration and thrust a pair of crutches in his face, ordering him to keep his weight of his leg and to leave...immediately. She even threatened to have him booted out of the Airforce if he returned! Not ready to retire, again, Jack hurried his ass out of there.

Smiling and free, he quickly headed for the locker room to get out of his infirmary pajamas. Since he could handle a pair of crutches easily, from having used them so many times before, and made his way to the locker room at a galloping pace, warning people along the way to either move or get a crutch up the rear.

Of course he might not have need the crutches at all if Jacob hung around long enough to use that hand healing device...thing on Jack's leg. After all, it was Colonel Jack O'Neill's team that rescued 'dad' in the first place. A little gratitude would have been appreciated, at least that's what Jack felt.

Then thinking back to the incident in the infirmary, Jack decided that maybe it wasn't such a good idea after all. Jacob was being rather cranky and didn't look like he could help himself much less anyone else. Yet, even in his weakened condition Jacob was still a formidable man, with that 'don't fuck with me' tone in his voice. Yep, Jack was definitely convinced that he was better off not asking for Jacob's help.

Still, Jack felt for the man he had come to respect. He had gone through hell, much like Jack did in Iraq, and survived. And even though he didn't know Major Carter's father well, Jack did understand him. Jacob was a career military man. He truly loved his daughter. Plus he was General Hammond's good friend, which meant a lot in Jack's mind.

Finally, fully dressed in his green fatigues, Jack headed straight for Daniel's lab wondering what he and Teal'c were up to. Hopefully they would be up to heading off base for a late breakfast, Jack wanted some really food, not that commissary crap. And since it was his right leg that was injured, he couldn't drive.

"Jack! There you are!"

"Yes, Daniel...here I am."

"General Hammond wants to talk with us immediately. Apparently, Sam's father was attacked!"

"What?"

"By soldiers from our government!"

"Is 'dad' ok?" Jack asked as they quickly headed down the hallway towards and into an elevator.

"Yeah, Sam says he's fine," Daniel said pushing a button. "General Hammond's on the phone right now making a few calls."

"What does our government want with Sam's dad?"

"Well...he does have a symbiote inside him...think of the scientific research they could do with a live symbiote."

"Maybourne...that son of a bitch!" Jack seethed as they stepped out of the elevator. "He couldn't get junior so now he goes for Jacob's snake! What an asshole!"

"You've heard," Hammond said as Jack and Daniel joined him and in the briefing room.

"Yes, sir. Daniel was just filling me in on some of the details. This stinks of the NID!"

"You are indeed correct, O'Neill," Teal'c said solemnly.

"I just got off the phone with one of my sources," Hammond explained. "The NID were looking to get a hold of Jacob's symbiote."

"Nothing like kicking a man when he's down...right sir? I mean Jacob hasn't even recovered yet!" Jack exclaimed.

"And yet, Jacob Carter defeated three of them single handed in hand to hand combat," Teal'c added showing his admiration and respect for the General.

"Way to kick some ass Jacob!" Jack said pumping his fist in the air then noticed the serious look on his CO's face. "Sorry sir. I can't help but feel good about the NID getting what they deserve...sir."

"I'm sending a team by chopper to the cabin," Hammond continued.

"We'll go sir!" Jack quickly volunteered.

The two men and jaffa each gave Jack a look...are you nuts?

"What?"

It didn't take long for Jack to convince General Hammond into letting him go. Ten minutes of being annoying was all it took. Any longer and Hammond would have made Jack turn in his letter of resignation.

Jack was on a roll today for pissing people off. He blamed it on the painkillers, they were making him kind of loopy. His argument was sound, he didn't need to lead the search. He could easily wait at the cabin while SG-3 did the investigating.

In fact, while SG-3 was out in the cold investigating, Jack was warming up by the fire. Major Carter was outside with Daniel and Teal'c talking while Jack was casually observing Jacob who was sitting quietly with a full glass of scotch in his hand and a half-empty bottle on the coffee table in front of him.

The alcoholic beverage didn't seem to be doing Jacob any good. The man looked like he had been chewed up, swallowed and shot out of a demon's ass! But Jack didn't mention that Jacob looked like shit instead he made small talk.

"Are you growing a beard?" Jack asked breaking the silence.

"What?"

"Your beard..."

"Oh...that," Jacob sighed scratching his chin. "Selmak usually keeps the hair from growing too fast. But he's still recovering. And I'm on vacation so I didn't see the need to shave."

Jack thought of asking Jacob if Selmak could do something about his hairline too but refrained. Jack has already alienated two officers today; a third would not be a charm. Plus he didn't want Jacob to be cranky again.

"So how often do you have to shave?" he asked instead and was actually curious to know.

"About once every other week."

"Cool!"

"One of the perks of being a Tok'ra," Jacob shrugged before taking a long drink.

"What about alcohol? Can you get drunk?"

"Only if Selmak allows it."

"That probably doesn't happen much."

Jacob suddenly had a devilish grin on his face.

"Do tell..."

"Oh, I was just remembering our, or actually my, first encounter with the Goa'uld's version of rum the Tok'ra keep in stock. No nonblended human can drink it and it make's this stuff seem like water. It will get both you and your symbiote seriously fucked up."

Jack laughed with Jacob. He had to. He wasn't expecting the General to open up like that. It was the first time since Jack arrived that he noticed Jacob finally relax a little. But Jack was more amused by the image he saw of the Tok'ra getting smashed. It was quite different from the image he had been presented of them during his first encounter.

"Another perk, because of the symbiote's healing abilities, we don't have to ever worry about hangovers!"

"Sweet!" Jack smiled just as the front door opened. "Colonel Makepeace?"

"General Carter was right, sir. They're gone. All we found was this tranquilizer dart."

"That was the dart they shot me with," Jacob explained not even bothering to stand up.

"Ok...that will be all," Jack said. "Get the chopper warmed up."

Jack waited until he was alone with Jacob again.

"Hammond asked me to try and convince you to return to the base or at least back into town. He said he would feel better if he could have our people keep an eye on you. But I'm not going to try. I can see you still have some things to work out and I doubt they'll try to kidnap you again so soon."

Jacob nodded and took another drink from his glass, draining the remaining liquid in one gulp. He finally looked up at Jack for the first time since Jack arrived.

"Thank you Jack."

"No problem..."

"No..." Jacob sighed wearily. "I mean thank you for coming to get me and Selmak out of that hell hole. We both appreciated it very much."

"You're welcome...both of you," Jack said then started to head towards the front door but stopped and couldn't help himself when he asked, "Oh...by the way, since you're in such a gracious mood...you wouldn't be able to do something about my leg would you?"

Jacob raised an eyebrow at him. Jack had a quick image flash of Jacob towering over Dr. Fraiser and suddenly felt small himself, even though Jacob was sitting down. If he wanted the man could probably smack Jack from Colonel to Airman.

"Not until Selmak's fully recovered. Then we would be happy to take care of your leg," Jacob said much to Jack's relief.

"And when might that be?" Jack asked, again unable to stop himself.

"Jack...go home."

"Right...I should go."

'Note to self, better quit while ahead next time. Signed Former Colonel of the SGC, Jack O'Neill...that's two L's!' Jack thought as he hurried out the door.