Author's Note: Thank you for your kind comments! And look out for some Sam/Jack caring in the third chapter… ;) Please review and tell me what you think.

Spoilers for 'Grace' (although I'm sure if you're a shipper you've seen it by now!). References to 'Abyss' and 'Threads'.

Chapter 2 – The Tok'ra

Jack was on the phone to Major Davis as the flashing red sirens went off the next day.

"Unscheduled offworld activation!" stated the technician's voice, ringing shrilly down the SGC's corridors. "I repeat, unscheduled offworld activation!"

Cursing, he saved the updated document on his laptop, only half-listening to Davis as he continued to talk about the Pentagon's recommended changes. The officer continued talking, despite the alarm.

And… talked some more.

"Major!" Jack interrupted finally. "Stop! Can I call you back in an hour or two?"

Major Davis said something about it being okay because he was 'needed elsewhere', but Jack wasn't really paying attention.

"Thanks." He slammed the phone on its receiver.

Strolling wide-paced out of his office, he collided with Daniel as they both turned the corner. He winced and grabbed his friend's shoulders to keep him upright.

"For cryin' out loud, Daniel, watch where you're goin'."

"Jack!" greeted Daniel, rubbing his arm. "The Tok'ra are here."

"Oh, for cryin' out loud," the General repeated, and strode to the gateroom, pulling Daniel along with him. "What the hell are they doing here now? They're not supposed to be here till tomorrow…"

It was probably wise that Daniel didn't answer.

"Carter!" Jack called to his 2IC, who stood at the control panel, apparently waiting for him.

"The Tok'ra, sir," she said swiftly.

"Yeah, so I've been told."

They made their way down to the gateroom in which two unfamiliar male Tok'ra were steadily walking down the ramp. Jack tried to meld a polite expression onto his face, but the plain truth was that he really, really wasn't looking forward to this. He despised meetings with the Tok'ra. Perhaps he wasn't very successful, because Sam glanced at him sideways and smirked slightly. God, he adored that smile.

"Colonel?" he enquired, suspiciously. "Something wrong?"

"No, no, sir." She smiled at the Tok'ra as they approached. "It's just nice to see your, um… perpetual eagerness regarding your visitors."

Jack would have commented, but the chance was missed as the two heavily-clad figures approached.

"Fellas!" he greeted jovially, and stepped forward to reluctantly grasp their hands. "Good to see ya!"

"O'Neill," acknowledged the darker-haired man, bowing his head. Great, thought Jack, the snakes are talkin' already.

"Yeah, hi." He frowned slightly. "I don't believe we've met… but, there again, since you guys seem keen on changing your identities so often…"

"Major Carter," continued the man-snake. "It is good to see you once again."

"You too, Peltoc," smiled Sam. "But it's actually Colonel Carter now."

"Wait," said Jack. "We've met before?"

"Technically, yes, sir," Sam answered, wincing a little bit.

"Uh…" Jack waved his hands in front of his head. "Memory's gone a little blank here…"

"You were unconscious when we met," Peltoc informed him solemnly. "I assisted in your blending with Kanan, before you left the Tok'ra base and became captured by the system lord Ba'al."

"Ah!" He grimaced at the memory and the concept, then became indignant. "But it was Kanan who ran away with my ass and left me to die a thous—"

Sam cleared her throat politely. "Welcome to Earth, Peltoc."

"Yes, it is a great honour," he said, watching Jack perceptively, and gestured to his silent companion. "This is Yan'kash of the Tok'ra. He is young among us, but is responsible for acquiring the information concerning the attack on Hetora."

"It is indeed a great honour to meet you," said Yan'kash quietly.

What was it with the bowing-the-head thing? The jaffa did that, too.

"Yeah, we've heard." He tried not to glance at Sam who he could sense was smiling at his dry reply. "So, folks, let's go get this over with, shall we?"

And five minutes later, along with Daniel and Teal'c, they were sat around the briefing table in a detailed discussion of what needed to be discussed. Being the commander of the base, Jack had, for once, thoroughly listened and had made notes, but he hadn't contributed much. And neither, he noticed, had Sam. On the other hand, Daniel seemed to be covering everything as the Tok'ra provided their information – no-one else even had the chance to even speak.

"OK, so… two months tomorrow, right?" he said eventually to check the date.

"In your measurements of time," said Peltoc, "that is correct."

"You are sure, aren't you?"

"Yes. If we discover otherwise, we shall contact you."

"Thank you," said Jack. "And this system lord's called… what… Geb?"

"Yes."

"What kind of name is that?" muttered Jack, adding to his notes.

Daniel regarded Jack exasperatedly, giving the impression that he'd already explained the meaning of the name. "God of the earth," he provided helpfully. "In Ancient Egypt—"

The General screwed up his face. "All right, I get it!"

For one of the Tok'ra, Peltoc looked mildly uncertain. "Are the Tauri perfectly able to manage relocation in this time?" he asked on the second occasion.

"Yep," Jack grinned arrogantly. "It's not a problem."

"Well, assuming they'll comply, that is," Daniel reminded him.

"Then your offer has not yet been made to them?"

Jack looked to Sam. "Colonel?" he pressed, raising his eyebrows.

"Last time we visited Hetora, we told them of the attack but we didn't say we could do anything about it," Sam explained quickly. "We merely stayed there for a while to learn as much about them as we could."

"I see," Peltoc acknowledged, eyes narrowed in thought.

"If they comply," added Jack with a pointed look at Daniel, "and hopefully they will, we'll begin right away."

"May I enquire as to why the Tauri have been so complacent to aid the Hetorians?" Yan'kash questioned, hands resting on top of one other on the table, and Jack abruptly wrenched his apart as he realised that he mimicked the other's position.

"We believe the Hetorians have the potential to be valuable allies," Sam offered simply. "Their developments in medicine are far beyond our own. We'd really like to learn from them."

"Also," said Teal'c, "limited access to hosts and servants will decrease the power of the remaining system lords."

"So Geb won't become stronger than he already is," cleared Daniel, before sneezing unexpectedly. Yan'kash grimaced slightly at the action. "Ah… excuse me."

"Bless you," said Jack, and turned to the Tok'ra pair and smiled falsely. "Generally, we're just a kind, warm-hearted and helpful race!"

"Indeed." Peltoc rose from his seat slowly. "Yan'kash and I must now return to the Tok'ra base. We will contact you if we receive further details."

"Uh, yeah… just one more thing. Can we depend on the Tok'ra to help us, if this whole mess results in a battle? 'Cause, you know, it might come to that if they don't wanna budge off their planet."

"You can," clarified Peltoc gravely. "Although do not expect great numbers – there are little of us remaining nowadays." He turned to Yan'kash. "Come. We must return."

"Yeah… well, I guess it's see you soon. Daniel, would you escort them to the gateroom?"

Daniel stood and they began to move away, before Peltoc turned back and looked to Sam.

"Colonel Carter," he began, "I offer belated condolences concerning the death of your father. Selmak was close to me. Jacob was also an excellent contribution to the Tok'ra… I only wish some things were not fated to be." He paused. "Alas, it is not so. He must have been a great loss to you."

Sam just nodded, wide eyed. "Yeah," she said quietly. "Thanks."

Peltoc lowered his head and then he and Yan'kash were gone. Jack watched Sam discreetly as she shuffled the notes in her file. She looked pale and miserable, and he was concernedly interested because she hadn't spoken about Jacob to anyone recently. Finally she sighed and got up.

"Carter," he ventured, but she turned round and gave him a look that pleaded with him not to ask if she was all right… not here, in the middle of the base, where she'd hate for all her emotions to be out in the open. With an inward sigh of his own, he lowered his eyes and changed his question. "Can you have the report on the Hetorians done for me by today?"

Her face relaxed with relief. "Yes, sir. I'll get onto it."

"Thanks, Carter."

It was late afternoon when the thirty-second knock sounded on Jack's office door. Oh, yes, he'd been counting. He hadn't been able to concentrate on anything today. And truth be told, beside the obvious boredom he experienced every single day being crammed up in this tiny room with only his laptop for company, he was worried. About Carter. The distinct impression bouncing back from each corner of his mind like an unstoppable rubber ball was clear, and it corresponded with the sensible idea that the arrival of the Tok'ra had stirred up Sam's emotion to its peak once again. Which was understandable. She was still grieving, after all.

First-hand experience with the father and daughter in the same room had made Jack aware of their close relationship, enhanced since the time Jacob had blended with Selmak, and he also knew, too well, perhaps, the lowest depth of misery someone could reach when they lost someone they cared about. It was not a pleasant place to dwell in. And that was putting it mildly. Okay, a lot of people lost their parents – Jack's own mother had died over ten years ago – but because it was Carter a subtle sadness had lain in his heart since Jacob's death, and it made him angry with himself.

God, he needed to get her out of his head! But that was the main problem – he couldn't. Kerry had split up with him because of the very fact he was distracted by his feelings for Sam, and what annoyed him even more was that he hadn't even cared when she had, because Sam had visited him at his house and tried to explain herself to him – to Jack. She still felt something for him, that much was clear. God only knew why they were so drawn to each other. All he knew was that recently his own feelings had soared significantly. There had been so many times when he'd wanted to simply tell her. He could tell her that he was going to retire with the full intention for them to start a relationship. But, frankly, he was scared of rejection.

He admired Sam's courage for visiting him at his house that day, but she'd thought he was single. The plain truth, no matter how much he hated it, was that she was engaged to the Shanahan guy. Pete. How would she react to a late confession of unrequited love when she was preparing to be married in a few months? And in all honesty, he had no idea he could face watching her walk down that isle. She would look beautiful, he knew. But not for him. Not beautiful for him. The very thought made him sick to his stomach with remorse and regret.

He should have told her years ago.

"Jack?"

Blinking and swivelling his chair round from where he'd been staring blankly at the wall, Jack found Daniel standing in the doorway with his knuckles pressed to the door. Restraining a heavy sign, the General frowned, more to break his misty trance than to show his annoyance at Daniel for interrupting. Daniel accepted that as an invitation and lowered himself to the chair in front of the desk.

Jack's frown turned to a scowl, as he picked up a pen to make it look as though he'd been doing something constructive, and he raised his eyebrows, unenthusiastically asking, "I take it something on my base is amiss?"

"No." Daniel leaned back in the chair, folding his arms over his chest which gave Jack the feeling that he was being thoroughly X-rayed, doing nothing to improve his mood or his patience.

"Okay, well in case you haven't noticed, the commander of the SGC has a heavy workload… so, if you'll excuse him, he'll get on with it in peace." He didn't care that he was being rude, not at the moment when the great Carter-Shanahan wedding played over and over in his mind. Daniel could take it all in his stride, anyway.

When Jack looked up the archaeologist was still sat there. "Daniel, look—" he began.

"Jack, have you seen Sam today? Since the debriefing, I mean."

With a calm gaze disguising the way his fingers twitched the pen nervously, Jack thought for a moment. If this was about Sam, he could use that to his advantage and find out if she was all right, without flaunting his anxiety.

"No, I haven't." He voice was serene and allowed only mild interest. "You?"

"Uh… no." Daniel pushed his glasses up his nose and added, "That's why I'm here."

"Right," Jack agreed, chewing his bottom lip.

There was a short silence.

"Yes…" drawled Jack slowly, acknowledging the conversation break. And then before he could stop himself, words of concern came out of his mouth. "Daniel, d'you get the feeling something's been a little off? I mean, she hasn't exactly been very…" Daniel glanced up at him in surprise and he searched for the right description – "oh, you know… Carter-like, recently."

"Jacob only died three weeks ago," Daniel reminded him quietly. "The memorial service hasn't even happened yet."

"Yeah, I know." He paused. "But if you weren't worried about her, you wouldn't be sat here, would you?"

"Well…"

"There you go," triumphed Jack, grimly. For a moment he played with his fingers on the surface of his desk, wondering why he felt so awkward. Then he took a deep breath. "I mean, when have you ever known Carter not to be in her lab when you need her?"

"Sam? Id say… probably never."

"Mmm."

Daniel frowned. "So you went to see her?"

"Yeah, she wasn't there."

"I gathered," muttered Daniel under his breath. Jack took no notice. "Did you try her quarters?"

"Uh… no!" Jack answered straight away, speaking as though he'd been scalded by the insanity of Daniel's words. "Why would I do that? Obviously she wants to be alone."

"Yes, but being alone isn't exactly the best way to be, even if she thinks it is."

"Did you?" the General countered.

Looking puzzled, Daniel asked, "Did I what?"

"Try her quarters?"

"No, I didn't, but that's not really the point…" He sighed, quickly. "Jack, maybe you should go and see her – just this once."

For a moment Jack merely sat and stared at Daniel with a strange expression written across his face. Always, he'd thought his feelings for Sam had been fairly discreet around the base; but despite how well they knew him, when either Daniel or Teal'c made subtle hints like this, a slight panic wiped every sensible reply from his mind. A memory from the time Sam had been trapped on the Prometheus instantaneously returned to haunt him – the time when Teal'c had hinted that she cared for him as much as he did for her – and oddly, it reminded him of the current situation.

"All right, what?"

"When Colonel Maybourne and yourself were trapped beyond the gateway, Major Carter felt a similar sense of frustration. She despaired at the thought of never seeing you again."

Jack's heart soared with that news, raising tiny butterflies of thrill amidst his worry. He was about to ask Teal'c what else she'd said, if anything, when something different proceeded from his mouth instead…

"Not you?"

The past conversation in the locker room still made him cringe, even now. Both Teal'c and Daniel were evidently aware of his and Sam's attraction to one another, and he couldn't help but feel downright uncomfortable. Maybe it was because he knew he wasn't a very respectable man in many aspects; the only thing he truly prided himself on was his dedication to the Air Force. And the fact that he cared for his 2IC in ways he shouldn't, in his eyes, contradicted that.

"I think sometimes she just needs to know you care, Jack," Daniel was saying firmly. "She needs to know we all care, especially now Jacob's gone…"

Ha! Jack thought to himself… well, he'd already done that.

"Hey, hey, hey!" he interrupted. "It's a little difficult, Daniel – she's my 2IC."

"And?"

"And," he emphasised, "I can't exactly wrap her up in my arms and promise her I'll always be there."

Well, he could – in fact, thinking back to when they'd sat together in the observatory room, he already had wrapped her up in his arms and assured her he'd "always" be there – but such knowledge was too personal and private for Daniel's ears, who was nevertheless regarding him as if to say 'why not?'.

Jack returned his gaze sharply.

"She's also your friend," the archaeologist pointed out after a moment. "Don't play stupid, Jack, I know you care about her."

"I—" Jack shook his head. "I don't even know why I'm having this conversation with you. Carter'll be fine. But if you're really that worried, I'll pop by her quarters now and check for you…"

And with that Jack stood, threw his pen down and swiftly crossed to the door, mainly to leave an annoying Daniel and a dangerous conversation behind than to do anything else. But as he stepped out of his office his body seemed to freeze and he abruptly stopped, swirling around and looking nervous.

He pointed his finger at Daniel and with an uncertain, bitter grin, growled, "I cannot believe you coaxed that out of me!"

Daniel smiled nonchalantly. "Coaxed what out of you?"

"Danny," started Jack, "are you sure Sam wouldn't prefer someone—?"

"Nope," replied Daniel, firmly. "It's your call."

With another growl of frustration Jack turned on his heel and strode away.

"Good luck!" called a satisfied voice behind him, and he curled his fists into balls as he thought of all the gruesome things he'd love to do to Daniel right now.

But those thoughts rapidly diminished as his worry for Sam returned, and with a sigh, he ploughed on towards essential-personnel quarters, wishing he knew what he was about to say.