"What do you mean?" Dr. Smith asked.

"We're getting married in a few months, that's why I'm here in Washington. He finishes his term in his current position today and we're having a double celebration." A genuine smile appeared on her face for the first time that afternoon.

"Will Daniel be there? You said Daniel and…"

"Jack" Sam supplied.

"Daniel and Jack, they work together?"

"Yes. That's one of the main reasons I'm here. I need you to tell me what to say." Sam shifted forward in her chair, almost pleading with him for an answer. Something, anything that would help her right things with Daniel.

"Sam, I can't tell you that. But why don't you try just talking to him?"

"I can't." She slumped back in her chair. "I…"

"I thought you were good friends, you said you'd been through a lot together. Couldn't you have picked up the phone?"

"You think I didn't try?" Sam asked. "But every time I did I'd panic and hang up the phone. And now that I have to face him, I'm afraid I've left it too long to retrieve what we had. He's very important to me and I miss him. I want to tell him how sorry I am, how stupid I've been…"

"Then why don't you?"

"What?"

"Tell him what you've told me. If he's truly your friend then he'll understand."

"Maybe your right, but it can't be that easy." Sam said disbelieving.

"The doctors always right Sam."

Sam smiled at his comment and let it sink in. They had been through so much in the last ten years. Been to hell and back quite literally sometimes. Had been each other's rock in times of need. Their passion forthe work they didhad made them respect each other when they first met, but it was something else that made them true friends. Something she didn't quite know or understand herself.

They sat in silence for a while, talking some things through. Eventually it was time for her to leave and Dr. Smith walked her to his office door.

"Thank you" Sam said gratefully.

"All I did was listen Sam; you did all the hard work."

Sam gave the receptionist a smile as she left the waiting area for the busy street below. Standing outside the door and looking across the road she could almost make out people standing in the busy bar through its large glass window. Sam took a deep breath and made her way across the road. As she entered she scanned the room for Jack and spotted him standing at the bar next to Daniel. Daniel had his back to her and didn't see her approach.

"And here is the main reason I'm looking forward to leaving this town." Jack said, looking over Daniel's shoulder, which caused him to turn around.

"Hey, how'd it go?" Jack asked Sam, putting his arm around her.

"Fine. It went fine." She replied nervously, looking at him. She wasn't quite ready to make eye contact with Daniel.

"I'd better go say hello to George. You know how irate he gets if no one pays attention to him." Jack nodded in the direction of his former CO and gently placed a kiss on Sam's forehead before heading off.

And then shefinally looked at Daniel, only to discover he was already looking at her. There was a brief silence as they held eye contact and Sam wished she could just disappear.

The next thing she knew he had reached in between them and took her hand.

"Cold?" He asked quietly.

"Yeah, a little" His warm steady hand was a sharp contrast to her cold shaking one.

"I hear it's about to get warmer." a small smile crept onto his face.

"I hope so" Sam said, and truly meant it.

Jack walked back toward them. "Everything okay guys?" he asked as nonchalantly as he could manage.

"Yeah, everything's just fine." Sam replied.

Maybe things weren't as bad as they'd seemed after all.

---Finito---