Chapter 68

Sam's POV

I tuck the bracelet in my pocket as I wait for Jack to finish getting dressed. The inscription on it looks sinister and makes me want to throw it away or bury it. Get it as far away from me as possible.

It's presence seemed to seep into the tent with us, and we laid in each others arms until we heard the others bedding down for the night, almost desperate for each others touch.

Why the hell would anyone want to put that thing on voluntarily?

The guilt I feel at what I'm about to do to Janet with this thing is eating me up inside.

"Sam. Jackson Jr. needs his parents."

"I should stay with her, until she wakes up."

"How are they s'posed to talk it out with you there huh?"

"I swear, I'll leave as soon as Daniel shows up, but she'll be waking up alone for the first time in nine days."

"Maybe it'll provide the butt-kicking he needs."

"Jack."

He sighs. "Fine. But no interfering once they're both awake. Deal?"

"Let's go."

Jack takes hold of my shoulders and stops me. "Sam. Promise me."

I nod my head.

"It'll be over soon Sam. Then we can all get back to our lives. And you and I can return to Minnesota. Might even squeeze in some fishin' this time."

"If you spend any time on that dock Jack O'Neill, it had better be to baby-proof it." I warn with a small smile.

The grin that rewards me is worth it. "Sweet."

We climb out of our tent and Ferretti nods in acknowledgement while Teal'c raises an eyebrow as we slip into our friends tents quietly.

Janet is sleeping. Her left forearm laying on the ground beside her. I bite my lip and reach forward to snap the bracelet closed around her wrist. A moment later, I hear Jack sneaking back in to our tent, his mission accomplished.

I hear a soft moan from the figure in front of me and move forward, intending to wake her. Before I wake her up, Janet sits up with a jerk.

"Janet?"

"Sam? What's going on? Is somebody hurt?"

"No everything's fine."

"What are you doing in here?"

"I…"

"Sam?"

"You're free Janet, if you want to be."

"Free? From what?"

"From Daniel." I point to her wrist and she lifts her forearm, staring at the bracelet, before raising a hand to her temple.

"It's so quiet. I'd almost forgotten what it's like."

I nod, just the thought of being 'blocked' again sending shivers down my spine. "I'm sorry."

"Sorry? Why should you be sorry? I should have thought of this myself. It's a great idea."

"What?"

"I feel so liberated Sam. Thank you."

I shake my head in confusion. This isn't supposed to be freedom. I hear Daniel snoring deeply a few tents over.

"Like you said. I'm free. Maybe I can finally get an uninterrupted nights sleep."

"Janet, you're happy about this?"

"Of course I am. I feel like the weight of the world has been taken off my shoulders. It's the best thing to happen to me in over a week."

"Oh. Okay. I'll just…"

"Sure. Night Sam." Janet chirps at me as I leave and I head back into my tent.

"She awake?" asks Jack as I kick off my shoes and climb into the sleeping bag beside him.

"Yeah."

"Bad?"

"Worse. She thanked me for… liberating her."

"Oh."

"Yeah."

"I always said the Doc was wrong in the head. The obsession with needles is a big give-a-way."

"Jack!"

"What? She sounded happy right? That's what should be important here."

"But she loves him Jack. Otherwise they wouldn't have the mental link. When we put those bracelets on I felt like I wanted to throw up. She puts it on and she's happy?"

"Sam, have you ever wonder what it might be like walking through Danny-boy's mind? All those musty old books on shelves, rocks everywhere. Come on, at least your mind is as beautiful as your body."

"Jack."

"It is. The bubbly fizzing is ordered and structured but you have these little leaps of insanity like a… hey, are you laughing at me?"

"Only because I love you Jack O'Neill."

The smirk is back. "I missed your fizz earlier Major."

"And I missed your warmth."

"My warmth? What am I, a hot water bottle?"

"Yep. Who'da thunk that my Big Bad Colonel has a warm and snuggly feeling brain."

"Warm and snuggly!" his voice is disbelieving and slightly offended.

I can't help the giggle that escapes me as he starts a tickle fight.