The door slammed shut behind him, damn he was pissed. Another god damn mission, he felt like he had just got back from the last one, barely.

"Another fine way to serve my country, desert them" Jack mumbled under his breath

"What was that Jack?" Daniel stuck his head out from round the corner of the corridor leading away from the apartment door

"Nothing, didn't know you were here"

"Only just got in"

Jack walked along the corridor and squeezed past Daniel leading into the main room, off to each side were the two rooms to the apartment with a small kitchen at the back.

"Going somewhere?" Jack said as he noticed the frantic look on Daniels face and the fact his cloths were all over the room

"Janet's coming round later"

"Ahh"

"No"

"What?" Jack gave a mock expression

"You know what, don't start Jack"

"I didn't start anything"

"You know what I mean can you just not say anything, I've already had it off Robert"

"Rothman! What's he doing here"

"He is in the hospital"

"He's worse than you are"

Daniel glared at Jack, he was fed up with Jacks comments about his injuries.

'Better get this over with' Jack thinks as he racks his brain for what to say next, How do you tell your best friend your going away on a secret mission where you might not come back and everyone is going to think you're a traitor. When you can't tell him any of that.

"Daniel look… I've got to go away for a while"

"Jack…"

"I don't know for how long"

"Jack…"

"Wait let me finish"

"I can't really say anything more, Hammond is either going to reassign someone or you will get command until I come back, and I am coming back Danny"

Jack stepped closer to Daniel and placed his hand on his shoulder

"Please don't make this more difficult, I can't tell you anything and you can't tell anyone about this conversation"

(AN: I know this is out of Character for Jack but it will tie in later)

"Jack why are you even telling me this much then"

"I just felt that you needed to know, in case I don't… just don't believe anything"

"What do you mean?"

"You know what its like when someone disappears rumours fly around, just don't listen to them ok?"

"Alright Jack, whatever is going on just be careful"

"Always" Jack gave a small grin which quickly faded

Jack stepped back and let the silence linger uncomfortably,

"I better go" he muttered under his breath

Nothing was said as Jack turned and left the apartment. Daniel just stood there, He knew Jack would tell him if he could, he knew Jack would never do anything to hurt him but right now he was hurting, he felt like his best friend, his only family just walked out the door and he wasn't coming back.

'Better get ready for Janet' Daniel thought and went about sorting his clothes and cleaning the apartment all done in a state of shock.

"Well private you are in perfect condition; I will sign these off and get them sent to command"

"Thanks Doc"

"Call me Janet"

"Ok, Janet call me Sam"

"Of course Samuel"

The girls shared a grin

"I don't mean to pry but are you and Daniel…"

Janet saw this coming and quickly cut her off "No"

"Why not you two are obviously crazy about each other"

"He is still getting over his wife, I rarely have any free time and there is a war on"

"And you two are you in love"

"That isn't the issue"

"So you're not excited about seeing him tonight"

"I'm always happy to see Daniel, it's just complicated"

"Well don't worry me and the Colonel will leave you two alone tonight" Sam gave Janet a knowing smile which only made Janet look down at the chart in her hands.

"Go on, get out of here private before I find a reason to give you more injections and use really big needles"

"Yes ma'am" Sam gave a salute and walked out of the room leaving Janet to ponder in her thoughts about a young Corporal

Sam decided instead of going to the apartment she would wander around for a while get a feel for what was going on, She knew it was dangerous but she figured with this cold weather no one would think anything of a private walking around with a scarf around their face, and considering the sheer size and pace of the operation no one was going to stop and check every private walking around.

The sheer amount of activity was unimaginable, hundreds of people moving around, Jeeps, Trucks, and Tanks rolling off the boats and heading in different directions.

Sam found herself wandering the corridors of the US command centre, it was interesting for her to hear the conversations and watch the higher ups at work. She casually wandered into the Army Air Core section of command without realising where she was until it was to late.

A tall balding man in a blue uniform was walking along the corridor towards her, talking with a Sergeant who was walking along side him frantically writing things down on a clipboard. Sam froze; it was her father, Jacob Carter. He was going to walk right past her. She couldn't turn around; she had to keep walking toward him. She moved to the opposite side of the corridor to him hoping he would be too distracted to notice her. As they got closer she could hear what he was saying.

"I want those P-51s moved to the southern air fields, and get Bomber command to inform us of when they plan to do their night time raids, I want our guys to help escort them"

"Yes, sir" The Sergeant scribbled on the clipboard and hurried to keep pace with his commander

"Good now…"

Sam turned her back to her father as she walked past him and the sergeant to make it appear as if she had to squeeze past them, hoping to hide her face. Sam noticed her father had stopped talking and fear spread through her entire body. He knew it was her, she could feel his eyes on her back.

"You Private, wait there!"