A/N: Okay, I think we're getting close to the end here. Maybe another chapter or two... we'll see. Sorry this one is a bit short again. And, unfortunately, I'm having major issues with chapter 8 so there might be a bit of a wait for that one. But I promise to try my best not to make the wait too long! Special thanks to MaggieEaton for checking this chapter over for me.

megmeyer: hey, now you've got me curious! Will you let me know at the end if what you think might happen does or not?

janissima: thanks! And that's kinda where I'm heading with this... I think. ; )

And as for Jack's promise... don't worry, he knows what he's doing! ; )

Thanks again for all the reviews... I appreciate every single one of them! Please R&R this chapter too!

Chapter 7:

Stage one of Jack's mission was now complete. That part had been achieved by getting Carter to allow him into her house. But he knew he still had a lot of work ahead of him. He had a lot of walls to break through, but he wasn't going to leave until he got through them all. He wasn't going to leave until she admitted to how she was really doing, to him and to herself.

And as he followed Carter from the entrance hall into the living room, Jack knew that she really wasn't doing well at all. He knew that just by looking at her now. The smile and all traces of cheerfulness that she'd shown on Monday morning were gone now, and Jack hadn't failed to notice the dark rings under her eyes.

He felt a multitude of different emotions battling within him as he thought about how much she was still suffering, but he forced himself to push all those thoughts and feelings aside for the time being. At the moment, Carter needed his help. And whether or not she wanted it, she was going to get it. So, remaining calm and casual, Jack removed his jacket and took a seat on the couch.

He watched as Carter sat down at the opposite end of the couch, about as far away from him as she could get on the same piece of furniture. And he noted that she looked tense. Very tense.

And quiet.

Nope, she really didn't seem to be in the mood for making conversation. So Jack guessed that meant it was up to him.

He gestured generally at the living area around them. "I like what you've done with the place," he commented with approval, effectively breaking what had been a growing silence.

Carter gave him a look. "Sir, it looks exactly the same as the last time you were here."

"Yes," he agreed. "And I liked it then, too."

She rolled her eyes and then fixed them on a random spot on the far wall.

Yep, she was definitely tense. And way more than normal.

Leaning back comfortably, Jack rested one arm along the back of the couch. "So," he started again. "This is... relaxing."

Carter let out a loud sigh and turned to look at him. "Sir, this really isn't necessary."

Jack held up a finger. "Ah, but I disagree, Carter. Relaxation is the key to a healthy lifestyle."

She was clearly struggling not to lose her patience now. "You know what I'm talking about."

"I thought I did."

He gave her his best Confused Colonel look and he was sure that he almost had her smiling there for a second. But that only seemed to annoy her even more and she got to her feet, exasperated.

"Sir, I'm fine! How many times do I have to say it?"

Jack was completely unruffled by her outburst. "Well, you know what they say -- its quality, not quantity."

She stared at him.

"What I mean is, I didn't believe you the first time." He thought about that for a moment. "Or the second time. Or the third time..." He noticed her darkening look and quickly clarified, "If I could believe it when you say it, you'd only have to say it once."

All he got in response was a glare so he decided it was time to change tactics slightly.

"Look, Carter, as long as you're in denial about there being something wrong, it'll just keep eating away at you."

"I'm not in denial!" she protested.

Jack raised his eyebrows. "You're not?"

"No!"

"Oh."

There was a pause and then Jack went on as if they'd just been having a friendly chat about the weather. "So, how've ya been sleeping lately?"

She closed her eyes briefly, clearly struggling to keep her voice even. "Sir, I thought you promised we weren't going to talk about this."

"Ah, but I didn't," Jack corrected her. "If you recall, I promised I wouldn't bring up the subject. And I didn't. You did."

Okay, she was really angry now, and Jack knew he was getting close.

"What is it you want me to say, sir? That I'm falling to pieces? That I'm terrified out of my mind? That I can't stop looking over my shoulder for fear that someone's going to grab me?"

Here we go. Jack got to his feet. "Carter..."

She was practically shaking with anger now. "I'm a Major in the United States Air Force and I can't even go to sleep without the damn light on!"

Silence fell heavily upon the room as they stood staring at each other, Carter breathing rapidly after her outburst. Then, seeming to realize her admission, she abruptly turned away, roughly brushing away an escaped tear.

"Carter." Jack's voice nearly broke with emotion. His heart aching, he took a step toward her.

She moved away without looking at him. "Please don't, sir." Her voice was quiet now. She wrapped her arms around herself in a protective hug. A defensive hug. And still, she kept her back to him.

Even though he didn't think it was possible, the pain in Jack's heart increased. "Carter," he spoke softly. "Don't do this. Don't cut yourself off from the people that care about you. Trust me, it'll just make things worse."

"Worse?" The word of disbelief came out as a sob, and she shut her eyes tightly, still fighting for control.

Jack started toward her again and although she kept her arms tightly around herself, she didn't move away this time. He approached slowly and when he was standing in front of her, he reached out and tentatively touched her shoulder.

At the gentle contact, her body shook with another escaped sob and tears began coursing down her face from her still-shut eyes.

"Come on, Carter," he coaxed in barely more than whisper. "C'mere." And he slipped his arms around her, pulling her into a protective embrace, just as he'd been longing to do since he'd found her in the forest. Just as he'd been needing to do.

She didn't resist, but she didn't unwrap her arms from herself either. She stood stiffly in his arms, her face hidden in his shoulder.

"Sir..." she choked desperately through her tears.

"No, Sam," Jack said firmly. "You don't have to be strong right now. Just let it out. You need to let it out."

She shook her head against his shoulder. "I can't."

The anguish in her voice struck Jack deeply, and he automatically tightened his embrace slightly. "You've got too."

She shook her head again, still struggling, still not giving in.

"Sam..."

"I'll fall."

Her words were so quiet and muffled by her tears and his shirt, that Jack nearly missed them. He was perfectly still for a moment, not sure he understood. But then she was speaking again.

"I'll start falling and I won't be able to stop."

Maybe he did understand now.

She was scared, scared to let go.

His heart aching more than ever, Jack rested his chin on the top her head and closed his eyes. "It's okay," he said quietly. God, he really wanted her to know that.

When she started to shake her head again, Jack stilled the motion with a gentle hand. "Yes, it is," he assured her. He moved his mouth closer to her ear and spoke softly. "Because I'm here to catch you."

There was a single second of silence, a brief moment where Sam was completely still and quiet in his arms. Then his words seemed to sink in and finally, finally all her walls came crashing down.

TBC…