another day had passed and there was no sign of Jack

Sam finally got out of her room, she had been wearing the same clothes the last few days, but Dr. Frasier got her a change.

"Carter. How are you?" the Colonel asked as she entered the control room.

"Fine" she answered casually.

"Any news?" Sam asked as she sat next to the assistant.

"Not yet" the Colonel answered.

"I'm sure he's fine" the Colonel reassured her.

the day went by slow, almost everyone had gone home as Carter sat in the control room

"What are you doing here still?" the Colonel asked as Carter jumped.

"You scared me" she said as she relaxed.

"Sorry. You know you should get some sleep." He warned her.

"I want to be here just in case" she told him as she looked out toward the Stargate.

"I'll stay here. You go get some sleep" he told her.

"Sir, I would rather stay here" she told him.

"That wasn't a suggestion, it was an order" he told her- it was the only way he could get her to get some sleep. She nodded.

"Yes sir" she said as she stood sadly. She made it half way to her room when she couldn't take it. She leaned against the wall and cried. She tried her best to keep it quiet, the halls echoed more when it was quiet. She slid down against the wall. Her knees up against her chest, and her head buried between the two.

another day had passed, making it two days upon no return of Jack O'Neil

Sam was sitting in her room holding on to Jack's tags as Daniel came in.

"Hey" he simply said as he came in.

"Hey" she smiled a little as he sat on the end of the bed. Daniel really didn't know what to say, so he just sat there, staring at the ground.

"So, any word?" Sam asked knowing there wasn't.

"No. I uh- just came to ask your advice" he said looking up at her slowly.

"What?" she was curious.

"Hypothetically, if you love someone- and you know they love you, and you would go to the ends of the earth for them, and they would for you…" He stopped.

"It's ok, continue" she reassured him.

"How do you show someone you love how much you really love them?" he looked her straight in the eyes. She took in a deep breath and thought for a second.

"I think there's only one true way- and it's as simple as just saying 'I love you'" Carter told him.

"Would you say that to Jack?" Daniel asked.

"No."

"No because you don't love him, or no because you don't know if he loves you?" Daniel wondered.

"Because I don't know what would happen if I let myself be open to someone- like that" she admitted. Daniel nodded, understanding. He stood up after a second and headed for the door.

"Thank you Sam" he looked back over in her direction.

"No, thank you" she admitted as he left. He started down the hallway when he spotted Dr. Frasier.

"Janet" he said interrupting her and someone else.

"What is it?" she asked distracted.

"We need to talk" he grabbed her arm and pulled her into one of the rooms. Sam on the other hand sat on the bed. She wanted Jack back so much it hurt. She didn't want to, she didn't want to open the letter. If she opened the letter he had left behind for her she would be admitting that he was gone. She couldn't admit that to herself. But on the other hand she knew Jack would want her to read the letter. She reached for it slowly as sat on the edge of her bed. She turned away from the door and leaned in next to the lamp a little, as she read the letter.

Dear Sam,

Words have never been easy for me, but you know that. We've had a lot of good times together- along with some not so good, and very dangerous. Working with the Stargate program, it has changed my view of things. Things I was sure of when I was a kid, are gone. I doubt a lot of our Earth's ways now. Now that I've seen so many different types of worlds, and cultures, and technology. But the one thing that I have been sure of, the one thing I always believed in was my team. Daniel, Teal'c, and you. I love you Sam, and if I return I wont let a day go by without you knowing how much of in impact you've been on me. I love you, and I always will.

Jack O'Neil

Sam finished reading the letter in tears. He couldn't be gone. She had loved him so much, but never told him. And now she found out the same had been with Jack. If he didn't come back she wouldn't know what to do. She sat on the edge of the bed crying, balling, holding her sides it hurt so much. She couldn't stop though- she couldn't help but miss him.