The telephone rang, and I kicked myself for being so stupid…it was two o'clock in the morning, I'd just written a journal entry, and I was calling my commanding officer because I was scared to go to sleep in my own HOUSE!

"O'Neill…" He answered groggily.

"Hi, Sir. It's…me, Carter."

"Uh…hi."

"I'm sorry, sir…I just…I couldn't sleep." I managed.

"Happen a lot?"

"Not…well, pretty much anytime I'm on-leave." I answered honestly.

"That's too bad…is there anything particular you needed?" He asked.

"Well…no, I just, uh…sorry, this is stupid. I'm gonna hang up and then…"

"Carter, you wouldn't call me if there wasn't something important bothering you." He replied. "You want me to come over?"

I just sat there. Of course I wanted him to come over, but…we weren't allowed.

I sound like a teenager whose father won't allow any men in the house. I thought. Probably because that was the kind of father I had when I was in high school, I mused.

"I don't want to be a burden, sir."

He chuckled. "Carter, you called me at two o'clock in the morning. Damage has already been done. I'll be there in fifteen minutes."

"Thank you, sir."

He mumbled something and hung up.

Tears came to my eyes. Something that happened frequently since Janet…

He was my commanding officer, and I was getting weepy because he was coming over in the middle of the night at my beck and call. At least now, I'd get some sleep.

Sure enough, fifteen minutes later, he was there.

"Carter…so, you can't sleep. Didn't MacKenzie give you sleeping pills or something?"

I nodded. "But, I'm…well, I don't want to find myself in an unsavory situation because…"

"You're scared to take them when you're alone." He supplemented.

I nodded. "It's stupid, isn't it?"

"Nah…I should have thought of it. Look, tonight, I'll be here. I sleep lighter than…well, I sleep really lightly, and so if anything happens, and I doubt it will, I'll be here. Tomorrow night we'll get Teal'c to stay, and Danny if he wants, but he won't be much use." The twinkle in his eye came back.

"Thank you, sir." I said after I chuckled.

"No problem, Carter."

"There's a guest room."

"I'll just take the couch."

I nodded. I knew what might happen if we got too close…

I craved that, but…I wouldn't jeopardize his career for my desire.

"'Night, sir."

"'Night, Carter."