A/N: sigh Well, the time has come, I have to admit, there were so many possibilities as to what happened to Sam and Jack -and I was so enjoying wondering where they were- that I was reluctant to decide on anything. I guess I've read too many stories that are great all though the mystery and dissolve into boring when you start to learn what happend. Well it can't be helped, it's time to continue with Sam and Jack. But don't worry, I'm not revealing everything at once...

Friday-Night

They lay together in the dark room, sleeping soundly in each others arms. the blood and sweat had dried around them quickly in the heat and they'd slept as they were, only covering themselves with the top sheet when the night had finally cooled a little. Her head lay on his shoulder as he cradled her form against his body, his face in her hair, her arm around his torso holding him close. The room was silent but for the sound of thier breathing, and a faint chirping of crickets outside the window.

Sam jerked up with a start when she heard the bedroom door slam against the wall. Her heart slammed against her chest as she sat speachless in the dark looking at the figure in the doorway.

In the same moment Jack felt Sam rip from his arms and sat up, simulataneously opening his eyes and reaching for her to make sure she was still there.

Sam feltJack's hand on her waist and started breathing again. "Pete" she whispered, her eyes settling on the gun in his hands. She knew Jack was thinking about his own gun and felt an urgent need to defuse the situation. "Pete" she acted on instinct, unable to believe this was happening. "Drop the gun."

Jack felt like he was in the middle of a badly written soap opera. The jealous lover catches them in the act? What idiot wrote that in? Pete had no way of knowing she was there, no reason to think she might be there. And even if he had, what in the name of heaven or earth could possess him to come charging in in the middle of the night with a gun? Jack heard Sam's voice, soft, almost patronizing and wondered if the man would go for it. Right now he was standing in the doorway gun at ready, looking like he'd been sucker punched. And Jack tensed, ready to do whatever he had to do if Sam failed.

"Pete, put the gun down." Sam pleaded now, hoping to appeal to his emotions as logic was clearly not working right now. "Please" she pleaded, willing him to lower the barrel of the gun from it's bead on her. Slowly she saw the sights lowering as the barrel descended.

"Here" Pete said hoarsely, "Take it" he tossed the gun onto the bed at her feet and turned to leave, pausing in the doorway. "I didn't come here to hurt you Sam." His back remained to her ashe spoke. "I came to warn you." the irony was clear in his voice. "He called to say you were in danger and I" he said bitterly"I thought you might need me."

Jack waited for Sam to ask the question, but she just sat there staring at Pete's back, eyes wide and looking guilty. "Who called?" Jack asked finally.

When Pete didn't answer Samrepeated the question. "Who said I was in danger?"

"He justsaid his name was Barrett and they were coming for you." Pete answered, wanting nothing more than to leave and never come back. But he answered her questions, because he was a cop, because it was what he was supposed to do, and because as much as he hated her just then, he didn't want anything to happen to her.

"Who's 'they'?" Sam asked, wanting to shut up and let him leave, but needing one more question answered.

"He didn't say. He said they knew where you were and they were coming. He wouldn't tell me any more. Apparently I'm not on your 'trusted friends' list." He said cuttingly.

"Thank you Pete." Sam said, quietly telling him he could go now.

Pete hesitated a fraction of a second as if he was considering speaking, and walked out.

"Oh god" Sam moaned and fell back on the bed.

"We have to get out of here." Jack got up and pulled his jeans on.

"Jackthat message could mean anything. Agent Barrett saying they know where I am, it probably means they know we're together and they're coming after us to ruin us."

"I'm not taking that chance" Jack pulled his shirt on. "Come on" he urged her. "I know you're tired but you can sleep on the way."

"On the way where?" Sam asked, getting dressed.

"I'm thinking." Jack answered, picking up the gun off the foot of the bed.

"That's Pete's gun." Sam told him.

"Exactly, we might need it." Jack tucked it into the back of his jeans.

"Jack" Sam objected, knowing exactly what he was thinking. The weapon was registered in Pete's name, so if they had to use it on anyone...

"Sam he's a cop." Jack told her. "He can always report it stolen, all that matters right nowis it's not one of ours."

"Okay" Sam agreed.

Jack grabbed his own gun and his wallet. "Let's get out of here."