Jack sat down in the chair he had been sitting in all night, seemingly unaware of Daniel, Janet and Nina's absence. Sam stared confused as Daniel was dragged out.

"So how're you feeling?" Jack asked as he played with the edges of the brown paper bag he was holding.

"Never better" she spoke with intense sarcasm in her tone

"One too many drinks huh?" Jack joked and Sam let a small smile creep into place.

"Have you been up all night sir?" she asked as she recognized the mild sent of the Irish whisky. Jack thought about denying his lack of rest but caught a disapproving glance from Sam that reminded him to watch what he thought.

"I dosed off a couple of times" he smiled and then there was a familiar silence between them which Jack broke by holding up the bag

"I have a present for you" Jack said and Sam grinned as she heard his thoughts of the book. Jack pulled out the comic book 'blankets' and flipped it open to the page he'd bookmarked. Sam's legs were numb but she managed to turn on her side and rest her head on her hand as she comfortably lay watching him and listening to him read. She smiled at every minute reaction and he smiled knowing she was happy.

------------------------------------------------------------

Jack frowned at the book after reading the last page. He was obviously unhappy with the ending.

"That's it!" he scowled "no big happy, romantic ending. They just slept together then broke up" he grumbled "they don't even get back together, they just move on and forget each other" Jack was obviously very annoyed with the ending

"It was the authors actual experience sir" Sam explained "he couldn't fictionalize it by adding a happy ending where there was none" she told him but Jack just sighed thinking that it was depressing.

"Do you think there will be a happy ending for us?" Jack asked

"Sir?" Sam asked confused

"I stand by what I said last night, I'm going back into retirement" he stated

"Sir, leaving the SGC? You love your work too much, I can't let you…"

"It hurts too much Carter!" Jack snapped "I've made my decision" he told her in a calmer tone. Sam went silent and Jack watched her curiously. He gently placed his hand on hers and she almost jumped

"I don't expect you to leave the SGC Sam; I just wanted you to know first" he explained. Sam smiled and Jack could see tears forming in her blue eyes at the use of her name.

"What's wrong?" he asked wiping a tear off her cheek and Sam let out a small laugh

"I just never expected you to take the first step" she smiled

"Oh don't worry, you took the first step. You took it the day you walked in that briefing and kicked my ass with words" he joked about the first time they met and Sam laughed wiping her eyes.

"I'm gonna miss this place" Jack yawned and Sam squeezed his hand

"You should get some sleep" she suggested "I'll be fine"

"You sure?" he asked standing up from his chair and she nodded. Jack slid his arms around her, hugging her.

"You know this is still technically against regulations" Sam reminded him cheekily

"Wont be for long" he grinned "Night Sam" he muttered kissing her forehead.

"Jack" she said stopping him from leaving. "I love you"

Jack smiled and kissed her intimately. She then lay down and closed her eyes to sleep. Jack tucked her in, still smiling. "I love you Sam" he said as he left the room.

Walking down the corridor, Jack bumped into Janet.

"Whoa, hello Colonel. How is she?" Janet asked as she tapped a file in her hands.

"She's sleeping" he nodded, stuffing his hands in his pockets.

"Hmm, I was just coming to check up on her" Janet added

"Do we know what's wrong with her yet?" Jack asked cautiously and Janet sighed

"Every test I've run has come up with nothing. She should be perfectly healthy, yet her body is fighting off some form of infection. The fever is just the body's way of helping fight illnesses. These other symptoms however, I can't explain." She explained

"So that's a no" Jack asked leaning against the wall behind him

"Yeah" she sighed

"Well on another topic, why the hell did you have Dr Smith watching us?" Jack asked impatiently.

"Nina's a good friend of mine Colonel, we go way back. I was worried about Sam and I simply asked her to keep an eye on you two while you were in Salt Lake City. Sam had made a full recovery but I just wanted to be careful and from the looks of how things turned out, I'd say I made the right decision" Janet explained

"You could have told me! I thought she was the enemy for crying out loud" Jack raised his voice

"Colonel, calm down" Janet ordered, snapping Jack out of his anger.

"I'm sorry. I'm just tired, pretty hectic night" he smiled

"Get some rest Colonel, I'll call you if…" Janet was cut off by the gut wrenching sound of Sam flat-lining; followed by the sound of a nurse calling her in.

Something was very wrong with Sam.

----------------------------------

AN: sorry this chapter is so much shorter than the last chapters. i'll have more up soon, i promise.