The temperature was dropping rapidly and they were attempting to stay warm. They decided it would be warmest if they shared one sleeping bag and put the other underneath them with a few blankets on top. They had made the two person tent their 'sleeping quarters'.

"Comfy?" O'Neill asked as he rolled onto his side, propping himself up on his elbow.

"Yes, quite." Carter answered, lying on her back looking up at him.

"What is up with this weather? It was hot today."

"I wonder if this planet has seasons." Carter mused, starting up at the top of the tent.

"Because it feels like winter here?' He said, pulling the blankets up around them.

"Yeah, but there is no snow" She smiled "Do you think there is any other sentient life here besides us?"

"I don't know. It looks like a habitable planet, but there may be a reason that the DHD doesn't work." She paused, "I wonder if someone used the parts to get off this planet?"

"Is that possible?"

"If they already had a ship that needed a power source. There is a small naquada power supply cell in the DHD. This one is missing its. They may have used it to power something."

Jack nodded, "Too bad they were here first."

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"Samantha J. Carter, go lie down…now." Jack said.

Sam coughed and then protested. "I am fine sir."

Jack raised an eyebrow. Sam had been coughing all night, and therefore he hadn't got a lot of sleep. He had felt her forehead while she was sleeping; she had felt feverish. Jack couldn't get her to take her temperature. Probably because she knew she would have a slight fever.

"Sam." Jack said softly. He looked over at her and their eyes met. Some of their best communication had been with their eyes. Sam coughed again; holding her sides. Jack walked over to her and knelt down beside her. He put his hand on her back. He could feel the rattle of her breathing.

"C'mon" He said, poking her in the arm.

"Jack, it is the middle of the afternoon." She said, turning to him.

"Sam, please don't argue with me on this one." He stroked her back gently.

Sam looked to the ground and nodded. Jack helped her to her feet and led her towards the tent. Once inside, Sam crawled under the covers and Jack lay down beside her. He was tired from not sleeping the night before.

"You just wanted to take a nap." Sam accused, pointing a finger at him.

Jack smiled. "Oh yeah, yah got me." He said holding up his hands.

Sam laughed, and broke into a coughing fit. Jack rolled up an extra bedroll and helped Sam get propped up against it. In bed, Sam looked exhausted. She had dark circles under her puffy eyes. She was exhausted, but Jack could tell she was going to fight sleep. He scooted in close to her and began stroking her hair; trying to get her to relax.

Sam cleared her throat and looked up at him.

"What?" Jack asked, still stroking her hair.

"Jack…" She trailed off. He could see her thoughts reflected in her eyes.

"Do you want me to stop?" He asked.

Sam hesitated for a moment and then opened her mouth to speak, but closed it again. She shook her head.

Jack nodded and continued stroking. Sam slowly closed her eyes. Her breathing began to slow as she allowed herself to relax. She coughed. "I wish I had some medicine to give you for that cough." Jack said.

Sam smiled. "I know, I will get over it. It will just take a little longer."

Jack nodded and continued stroking her hair, face, and neck. Sam eventually dropped off to sleep and he decided that he had better do the same.

When Jack woke, Sam was no longer next to him. The tent flaps were closed, but he could see the firelight through the material. He sat up and pushed the tent flaps aside. Sam was writing in her journal by the fire. It was dark outside. She had let him sleep until it was dark. Sam looked up as she heard him exit the tent. She smiled and coughed.

"I see the cough is still hanging on." Jack said.

Sam nodded. "I figured I would let you get some sleep without me in there hacking up a lung."

Jack smiled. "Did you get any sleep?"

"Oh, about an hour or so." Sam said, closing her notebook and clipping her pen to the cover.

"How long was I out?" Jack asked, looking at the entrance to the cave; out into the darkness.

"Probably about three hours, give or take."

Jack shook his head. "I guess I must've been tired."

Sam nodded. "Yeah, I don't think I have given you a chance to get much sleep that last couple of nights."

"It's okay." Jack said, sitting down next to her by the fire.

"It gave you some time alone." Jack said, looking down at the notebook in her lap.

Sam closed her eyes and shook her head.

"Was alone time bad?" Jack asked.

Sam bit her lip. "No, just thinking."

"About?"

"Pete"

"Oh" Jack shifted his weight on the log bench.

"We left things kind of open. I really don't think that he wants to break it off."

"Even after what happened?' Jack asked.

Sam nodded. "Yeah. He was trying so hard to be understanding. But he did ask me some tough questions."

Jack's stomach twisted. "Like?"

Sam sighed and summoned her courage. "He asked if we had ever…if we…" She sighed, frustrated.

Jack looked up at her. "Shacked up?' He said smiling.

Sam smiled and continued. "He asked me if I loved you."

Jack could see that this was hard for her. He touched her hand. "Sam, we don't have to talk about this if you don't want to."

Sam shook her head. "No, I want you to know how I feel." She paused, "There is no one here to interrupt or walk in on us here."

Jack squeezed her hand. "Okay."

"I love you and I have for a long time."

Jack raised an eyebrow. "Did you tell him that?"

Sam looked down at her feet. "No, I just said I didn't know how I felt; which may have been a worse answer."

They sat in silence a moment before Jack spoke. "Y'know, I feel the same way."

Sam smiled. She felt as if a weight had been lifted off of her. She scooted closer to him on the log. He put his arm around her and pulled her close.

"Jack"

"Yes Carter"

"I miss Janet."

"I know me too"

"I am not there for Cassie. She is my responsibility now. And I am not there for her."

"Carter, Sam, she'll be okay. The boys won't let anything happen to her." He paused, "And Janet has got family that she can stay with."

"I know, but she's all alone now. I can't be there for her. This job is my life, but sometimes I wish I had a normal life."

"No you don't. You just wish for pockets of normalness. You would miss it too much, believe me."

She put her head on his shoulder. "I guess so. I don't think I can give Cassie a normal life."

"Normal is so overrated." Jack said smiling.

Sam coughed and smiled faintly. "I hope we get home soon so she doesn't have to be alone." Cassie had come to live with Sam just after the funeral. Cassie had been preparing for graduation and college when Janet was killed. Sam had taken a brief week long leave to help Cassie get settled in.

"It's nice to have someone to come home to at night isn't it?" Jack said.

"Yeah, but I don't think I can be the caregiver that Janet was. It is a lot of work raising a teenager on your own." She paused, "She did a great job with Cassie."

"I am here to help if you need me. Besides, she is pretty well raised now. She just needs some guidance now and then. And I am always willing to help out when it comes to Cassie." He said, stroking her hand.

He put his arm around her and squeezed. "Thanks sir"

"No problem Carter"

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It had taken the Tok'ra high council a week to decide. Jacob had sent word through the gate that the Tok'ra had agreed to let him search with a cargo ship. Daniel and Teal'c had volunteered to go with Jacob and 'keep him company'.

Daniel had brought a list of planets, he had rated them as to which ones he thought Sam and Jack might be on. Hopefully the Prometheus would return soon and the list could be split between the two ships.

Daniel looked out at the line of hyperspace in front of him. "They are out there somewhere." He said aloud.

Jacob was standing at the console behind Daniel. "We'll find them Daniel." He said, coming up to stand behind Daniel.

"I know, I just hope they are safe."

"They are both survivors. As much as I hate to admit it; at least they are together. The odds are better at survival with two." Jacob said, sliding into the pilot's seat.

"I just hope those supplies ended up with them, wherever they are." Daniel said, looking over at Jacob.

"Yeah, that ups the odds of survival a bit."

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Sam was scrubbing clothes in a bucket of hot water with a bar of soap. These pants were particularly dirty due to her falling in a mud puddle the day after a rain storm. Jack had laughed at her as she had tried to brush the mud away. It had been so hot that day that the mud dried almost immediately.

The stain was stubborn, but she was persistent. Jack was washing the few dishes they had in a mesh bag sitting in boiling water. He pulled them out and hung them on a tree branch to drip dry. They had rigged up a clothesline with a piece of rope tied between two trees. It worked well as long as it wasn't too windy.

"There" Sam said, holding the pants up in front of herself. "Much better" she said as she rung them out. She walked over to the clothesline and hung the pants over the line. They had some extra clothes, but they took advantage of nice days to wash so they would have something clean the wear. Sam went back over to the bucket and began washing a T-Shirt. Jack came over to her with his delicates.

"Are you almost finished?" He asked.

She looked up at him and smiled. "Yeah, this is the last shirt."

He nodded, "Okay, then I can wash these next?"

"Yeah, I just changed the water after my muddy pants."

They usually did their own undergarments, but otherwise everything else went together. They had settled into a routine, a daily regimen. They cleaned up camp, washed dishes/clothes when needed, and inventoried supplies. Truthfully, they didn't have much else to do. Carter had asked O'Neill one of the times they were checking supplies what would happen if they ran out of soap. He answered simply, "We will be dirty."

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"Well, that's ten planets down…" Jacob said, sitting down in the pilot's seat.

"Yeah" Daniel said, walking up behind him.

"Shall we contact General Hammond?" Teal'c asked.

"Do we have anything to tell him? We've got nothing so far." Jacob said, studying the monitor in front of him.

Teal'c nodded.

"What is next on the list Daniel?' Jacob asked.

"P2X4170" Daniel answered.

Jacob raised his eyebrows after he fed the information into the flight computer. He sighed and shook his head.

"That is a Goa'uld occupied world."

"Oh great." Daniel said. "Now what do we do?"

"We search it very carefully."

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Being together 24 hours a day for weeks was started to wear on him. They were together a lot when working, but at least there was downtime that he could regroup and collect his thoughts. She was always there, always on his mind. She had gone for a walk to give them each some time alone. But all he could think about while she was gone was her. "I'm losing it." He said to himself. He cleaned up the dishes from breakfast. He boiled the water and submerged their glasses. He put the trash in a sack and went to set it outside. He pulled the dishes out of the water and dried them with a towel. Jack had been collecting small logs to fashion a door. At the moment they were next to the cave's entrance in a pile. 'That's my next project.' He thought. Jack was grateful that included in the supplies were two shovels, a mallet, and a hatchet. Sam had been gone for an hour now and was due back soon. He was just getting dishes put away when he heard her approaching.

"Hey" he said as soon as he saw her. "Did you have a good walk?"

"Yeah, it's a beautiful day." She said sitting down next to him.

"Yeah" He stared blankly ahead, trying to think about something or someone else.

"Are you okay?" She said, looking at him with those beautiful blue eyes.

He smiled. "Just distracted."

She nodded. "Do you want to go to the lake today?"

"Naw" he said shaking his head. "Let's stay around here today, go through supplies or something." Anything to keep his mind occupied, and off Carter.

"Okay"

They spent the day checking supplies and cleaning up camp. They had gathered all the garbage and burned as much as they could; putting the ashes in the latrine. They reorganized the supplies and fashioned the 'door' for the cave. Jack cut and shaped the logs with the hatchet and banded them together with rope. They slid it across the opening and then parked FRED up against it. Trouble was it made it very dark in the cave. Night had just fallen and they were just finishing their evening meal, when O'Neill broke the silence.

"So" O'Neill said as he took the last bite of his meal.

"So" Carter repeated.

"It's getting colder the longer we are here."

"Yeah" Carter said, a chill running though her. She shivered visibly.

"C'mere" he said as he motioned to her with his arm.

She scooted over next to him and he put his arm around her. Feeling her warm body against his was not helping his restraint. She put her head on his shoulder. That was it; he touched her hand and then squeezed it.

She lifted her head from his shoulder and looked over at him. He met her gaze. He leaned forward and gently brushed her lips with his. She didn't pull away. He kissed her lips harder, passionately. She pulled back.

"Sir"

"Carter," he whispered, "Don't call me sir." He held her face in his hands and kissed her until he shifted his weight and they fell backward off the log they were sitting on.

"Holy Hannah"

"Yeah"

They laid there for a moment on their backs, processing what had just happened.

"What was that?" She asked

"That Carter was a kiss." He said, still in awe of what he had done.

"I know that." She said, sitting up. "What happened to the rules, the regs?"

He turned his head towards her. "I think I just broke them." He had a wide grin that he could not seem to wipe from his face.

"Sir" She said quietly.

"I know Carter" He said looking up at her.

"So now what do we do?" She asked

"Well Crap, I don't know." He paused, "Maybe we should just go to bed."

Carter's eyes widened. He caught her expression.

"To sleep Carter, to sleep."

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The next morning was sunny, but cold. Sam and Jack were in each others arms. Sam woke first. She put her forehead up to Jack's.

"Jack"

His eyes opened and he jumped slightly. "Extreme close up."

She smiled. "Well, last night was…interesting." She said, pulling back.

"Yes, yes it was." He said, propping himself up on his elbow.

"So, is that a line we plan on crossing again; or was it a one time deal" Sam asked.

"That is up to you."

"Me?"

"Yes, I have already realized what I want." He grinned with satisfaction.

"Obviously" She shook her head. "So does this mean that you don't think we will be rescued?"

"I still like to believe we will be rescued. I haven't completely lost hope, but I am also trying to be realistic." Jack said, rolling onto his back.

"We have been here nearly three months now." Sam said.

"I know" He said "This place is looking more and more like home all the time."

"We may have to make it home. I am starting to realize that possibility now." Sam said, rolling over onto her back.

"I can think of no better person to be stranded with." Jack said.

Sam smiled. It had been nice to 'play house' with the man she loved. "So now what?" She said, focusing on a spot on the top of the tent.

"Now we do our best to be happy with what we have got. We may never get home." He paused, "Despite the fact that we are stranded light years from home, I am satisfied with the way things have turned out." Jack said, sitting up.

Sam smiled and nodded.

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Sam was yelling in her sleep. "No, you can't, they will find us! Martouf!" She was writhing next to Jack in her sleep. Anguish filled her features. She rolled towards him and grabbed his sleeve.

"Samantha" Jack said sternly. "Samantha" he repeated.

She sat straight up and opened her eyes. She was short of breath. It took her a moment to realize where she was. She looked down at him. "Sorry sir," she said, trying to catch her breath.

He sat up and put his hand on the small of her back. She stiffened to his touch. He took his hand away and turned Sam to face him. "Are you okay?"

Sam put her hands over her face.

"C'mere" he said as she leaned into him, her face against his neck. He felt her face moist with tears. His heart sank. He hated it when she cried.

"Bad dreams?" He asked softly.

"Bad Jolinar memories." She said into his neck.

He patted her back. "I have memories like that too, only they are mine."

She lifted her head from his neck. She wrapped her arms around him and squeezed him tightly. He returned the embrace and lowered them to the ground.

"Let's try to get some more sleep shall we?" Jack said.

Sam nodded. She felt the memories start to fade as she thought of new memories. Her own memories. She lay on his chest, felt the even rhythm of his breathing.

"Jack"

"Yeah"

"Tell me about Charlie."

She felt him take a deep breath and then let it out into a sigh.

"He loved to play just about anything. And he was stubborn, like me I guess."

Jack continued on about Charlie, about Sarah, about his life before the stargate. Sam just listened. She had grabbed a hold of his hand, when he was talking about Charlie and hadn't let go. He told her about some of his black ops missions; the ones that weren't 'classified', the friends he had lost; including Kowalski.

"Do you still love her?" Sam asked about Sarah.

"Yes" he said simply. "But I always will to some extent."

"She was your wife. I wouldn't expect you to feel any different."

He really hadn't talked to Sarah in years. Not since the alien impersonated him and they met up at the hospital. He had talked to her father a few times. Her dad said that she was going to sell the house and leave town. Jack had told him to wish her well for him.

"It just can't work with us. There is too much pain there. When I see her, I think of Charlie. I just can't…" He paused. "That day plays over and over in my head."

Sam lifted her head to look at him. She put her face close to his, cheek to cheek. She rolled him onto his side and he put his head in her chest. She held him tightly. He had not disclosed this much to one person in a very long time. They slowly drifted off to sleep in each other's arms.

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Sam awoke with the morning sunlight. She was spooned up to Jack with her arm draped over him. She rolled onto her back, and stroked his back with her hand. He stirred. "Good morning Jack"

He groaned and turned over onto his back. His eyes still closed, "Morning already?"

They lay side by side there for a moment before sitting up.

"How are you feeling this morning?" Sam asked.

"Pretty good, and you?"

"Good"

"Carter"

"Yes"

"Thanks for last night. I…"

Sam grabbed his hand and squeezed. She nodded, looking into his brown eyes. He brought his hand to her face and stroked it lightly.

"You are so beautiful"

Sam blushed, "Thanks, you are pretty cute yourself."

Jack smiled. "This is always good way to wake up."

A grin spread across Sam's face. "C'mon, let's get the day started."

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