OMG! Two chapters in one day. Now these aren't the happiest, but they are essential to the big payoff, so enjoy the angst, and hang in there...Christine

The party was in full swing. Everyone from the SGC was there. There was lots of food, and lots of cake, and everyone seemed to be having a great time.

There had been toasts and hugs and expressions of thanks. The whole thing, while great, was a huge stress on Sam and Jack, who tried to keep their mood light for the sake of the guests. Both of them knew this was their last night together, and as much as they loved having their friends around they both found themselves separately checking the time, wishing everyone would just leave so it would be the two of them alone.

Around 10:00, Jack noticed Sam yawning and started to get things cleaned up. Her friends too saw how tired she was, and they all pitched in to get things tidied up so she didn't have to. Teal'c was the last to go, with a nod and and as she closed the door, Sam leaned back against it and closed her eyes.

"Someone a little tired?" asked Jack from the kitchen. He was wiping the last of the dishes and putting them away.

"A little," said Sam, turning to look at him, "Hey, I thought I told you to leave those. I can take care of them tomorrow." She went to sit on the couch in the living room, "I won't have anything else to do anyway."

Jack looked down at the towel in his hands. He threw it on the counter and sat down next to Sam on the couch. "What're you talking about?"

Sam stared down at her hands, "Wonder if there's any more beer left?" and she quickly got up off the couch. Jack stopped her, catching her hand as she got up.

"Sam," said Jack. "Look at me."

Sam just stared straight ahead, tears threatening to spill onto her cheeks. She held his hand tightly, and then pulled it away, walking into the kitchen.

"Sam?" Jack said again, "Hey, maybe we need to talk."

"About what?" said Sam, raiding the refrigerator for a beer. "Dammit, we're out of beer." She slammed the refrigerator door closed, her emotions getting the best of her. She leaned her head on the door and the tears began to fall.

Jack could hear her from the living room. He waited a moment, trying to decide whether or to comfort her or give her space. But he couldn't bear to hear her cry and he got up and went to the doorway of the kitchen.

"I'm sorry," said Sam, "I've tried all night to rationalize, yet again, why we can never be anything more than good friends." Her voice was beginning to break, "I've spent the last 9 years rationalizing why we can never be, Jack. But that was before I got hurt. That was before you took care of me." She turned to look at him, "That was before I called you Jack." She wiped her cheeks and continued softly, "I don't think I can ever go back to 'sir', and I damn well don't know what to do about it. I feel like my heart is being torn in two, and we aren't even a couple. We've never even kissed." She stared at him, his expression mirroring her own, "I need some air." She went out the back door onto the deck and sat in a chair.

Jack didn't know what to say to her. He felt the same way. He looked down at his feet, and shook his head. What the hell did they do now? He looked towards the door and took a deep breath before going outside. He went into the cooler on the deck and took out two beers. He pulled a chair up beside her and handed her one of the beers. "Here."

She sat there sniffling. "Thanks." She said, taking the bottle from his hand.

"By the way, we have kissed." Said Jack, taking a sip of beer.

Sam's head quickly turned towards him, "We did? When?"

"Never mind," said Jack waving it off.

"No, no, no. You said it, now spill it. When did we kiss? I think I would have remembered it." Said Sam.

Jack started to tear off the label on his beer bottle, "Well, you wouldn't have remembered it. Only I do."

Sam looked perplexed, "Ok, how would you remember it and not me?"

"Ok, remember the time loop thing?" She nodded, "Remember after all was said and done Daniel asked me if I had done anything crazy knowing there would be no consequences?" She nodded again, and then it dawned on her

"We kissed in one of the loops?" she asked incredulously.

"Yup," said Jack, "I waited til the last 10 seconds before the loop was about to begin again, handed Hammond my resignation, and proceeded to kiss you just as the loop ended."

Sam looked out at her backyard, grateful for the darkness hiding the blush that was definitely appearing on her cheeks, "Uh was it...good?"

Jack looked squarely at Sam, "Very."

She nodded, "Oh, well, lord knows that won't be happening again in our universe now will it?" She said sarcastically, taking another sip of her beer, "Did you ever notice how in all the alternate realities we've come across, where there was another 'us', we were always together? This is the only reality where we're just friends."

Jack thought a moment, "You're right. I never thought of it like that."

Sam shook her head, "I don't see how that could be a coincidence. I mean, how could we be more than friends everywhere else but here. It doesn't make sense." She finished her beer, "Any more of these left?"

"You sure? You had a few during the party." Said Jack.

"What? Now you're my babysitter?" she got up and got a beer from the cooler. She sat back down in her chair.

"Ouch." Said Jack.

"I'm sorry. I'm not handling you leaving as well as I had hoped. I know you have to leave. Rationally I know that." She looked right at him, "But that doesn't mean I want you to go. I...just, I just wish things were different, ya know?"

Jack reached for her hand, "Yeah, I know. Me too."

They sat out there for the next hour, just holding hands and enjoying each other's company amongst the crickets chirping in the distance. Eventually they went into the living room and popped in a movie. As they sat together on the couch, Sam leaned her head against Jack's shoulder and they both fell asleep.