AN: This isn't the end, but I promise it's coming shortly. All will be cleared up. Sort of. Please R&R!

Chapter Three

He would have thought, after all those years, that it would be gone. He would have expected the memories to have faded enough that he would recall her only with pleasant associations. Instead, he's shocked to learn that upon seeing her face, for the first time since he crept out of her house after making love to her, the pain is as real and as sharp as if he'd been stabbed. He can't even be mad at her because he did it to himself.

Daniel's still grinning and he breaks the silence, seemingly unaware of the foul mood of his companions. "I imagine she'll always be Carter to you, Jack."

Jack smiles weakly, certain his face looks much like Carter's still stricken face. She looks upset. "So it was a good lecture. Nice seeing you guys again." Jack has never been much for uncomfortable small talk; he's always much preferred simply walking away. He takes a step toward the door, wondering if his arthritic joints will cooperate just long enough for him to run out of sight.

Daniel laughs. "Oh, come on, Jack. You never understood her lectures. Hell, I never understood her lectures."

Jack looks back, wanting to be insulted. But he can't. Because he spent ten years thoroughly convincing everyone that he was an idiot. Almost everyone, at least.

Just like old times, Carter jumps to his defense. "You'd be surprised, Daniel. He's smarter than he acts."

"I'm not so sure about that." Daniel looks at his wife and Jack knows neither of them is talking about the lecture anymore.

"Keep in touch, Danny." He turns for the door again, knowing full well Daniel doesn't have his number.

"You can't leave! We have to get some dinner, hang out for a while." The excitement in Daniel's voice makes him sound much younger than his sixty years.

Jack knows better than to argue. Daniel is probably still quite skilled at getting other people wrapped up in his enthusiasm. Jack smiles at his friend and lies through his teeth. "Yeah, I'll give you a call next week."

"Great!"

Daniel's smile is so real that Jack feels a twinge of guilt, but he says nothing, makes no attempt to get their phone number. Carter has turned away and is packing papers from her presentation into her briefcase. Jack realizes that Carter has yet to actually say a word to him, but he can't blame her since he's barely addressed her either. But that's ok as long as Daniel's around. He's perfectly able to talk enough for three people.

Daniel's face falls before Jack can leave. "I just remembered, we're going to visit a dig in Crete. We're leaving first thing tomorrow and we'll be gone for several weeks."

She's not looking at him, but Jack catches the way Sam rolls her eyes. She doesn't want to go anymore than Jack wants to have dinner with them. He finds himself gloating. He thinks she should have thought of that before she married him.

Jack shrugs. "We'll make plans when you get back."

Daniel looks crestfallen and Jack wonders why. Daniel, unknowingly or not, has chosen a side. And he hadn't exactly tried to contact Jack more than a handful of times before Jack changed his number. Daniel's face lights up again. "You can come over tonight for dinner. It'll be great!"

Jack stares, dumbfounded. He has to say something, but it takes him a long time to come up with something besides 'take a damn hint.' He grimaces as he forces out words. "I don't want to intrude. You probably have to pack or something."

"No, no, that's all done."

Jack thinks wryly that of course it's all done. This is Carter and Daniel here. No way they'd leave packing until the night before. But he can't bring himself to tease them. He's just not in the mood. So he says nothing.

"It's fine, Jack. Come on, we're all set."

It occurs to Jack finally that Daniel isn't clueless. He just knows that Jack has no intention of calling and he's not about to give up. Jack sighs quietly. He doesn't know what to do. His gut is suspiciously silent.

Daniel takes the silence as acceptance and smiles at Carter. "So, great, ok, do you need a ride or-"

"I'll follow you." There's no chance in hell Jack is going to allow himself to be at their mercy. At least with his car, he can always run away.

Jack assumes he's supposed to wait for them since he has no idea what type of car they have, so he leans on the wall by the door while Daniel helps Carter get the rest of her stuff together. He picks up snippets of conversation that he's obviously not supposed to hear. He wonders if he can sneak out or if Daniel will actually chase him all the way home.

He feels like the third wheel, which is a painfully accurate description of the situation, made even more so by the fight that Carter and Daniel are having under their breaths. He's horrified, but his ears strain to hear more nonetheless.

"Daniel, he doesn't want to come over. Just let him go home." Carter is taking way too much time shifting her folders around, a move designed to buy her more time.

"It's too late now."

"Just tell him there's something you forgot you have to do." Carter glares at Daniel. "Or I will."

Daniel smiles. "That would involve actually saying something to him, wouldn't it?"

"Why don't you give him your number and you can hang out sometime when I'm not around." Carter shuffles more papers around before shooting a fleeting glance at Jack. He feels a familiar sensation ripple through him. Suddenly recalling their years of working together, Jack realizes what she's doing. She's not stalling to argue with Daniel privately. She's giving Jack a chance to slip out. It's exactly what Jack wants - Daniel is too distracted by the discussion to give chase.

But his feet feel like lead when he hears Daniel's answer.

"I want him to meet Carter."

Jack watches as Carter throws her papers, which she's spent twenty minutes organizing, into her briefcase. Jack has no desire whatsoever to meet their kid, but his legs won't respond to his commands. Maybe it's because they still seem like the old Carter and Daniel, not like a married couple. Maybe it's because she can't possibly ignore him through an entire meal, certainly not if he's interacting with her child. Maybe because seeing them together, in their house, with their child, will finally make him relinquish any nonsense in his heart about still having feelings for her.