A/N: I should have said this previously but I want to give a big thanks to everyone who stuck with me during my long absence from this story. I've always intended to finish. I just never thought it would take THIS long. As I told some of the reviewers there is no real excuse just real life getting in the way.

Again, this story is not beta'd so any and all mistakes are mine.

Since I haven't done this in a while...I am only borrowing the characters from Stargate. I promise to return them when I'm done.

Chapter 22:

"I'm sorry." He left without another word. The last time Sam had heard those words, her father had just told her about her mother's death. It hurt almost as much. Almost. It wasn't exactly the response she was expecting. What was she expecting him to say? It wasn't like she was asking him to stay with her. They did not get into the specifics. Colonel O'Neill did not give Sam the chance.

What the hell was she thinking? Maybe for the first time in her life she wasn't thinking.

When Sam finally returned to her room, she was miserable and it was late. Too late she thought to keep beating herself up over her stupid decision. She tried to sleep; churning in her small bed, tossing and turning more than the ocean outside. It was too quiet. It was too loud. It was too empty. She gave up sometime around three. She grabbed her refurbished telescope, a blanket, and coffee and headed to the one place that she currently found solace.

Even though it was winter and the wind blowing off the ocean sometimes cut through her like a knife, Sam found the beach at night peaceful. She could take her telescope and immerse herself in the night sky. She could forget. Tonight, as much as she tried, as much as she craved the intimacy of the stars, there was no comfort, only memories. It wasn't Colonel O'Neill's fault. Seeing him brought back the memories she had spent the last six months trying to forget- the scars that now marred her body, the aches in her shoulders, nightmares that still haunted her sleep, the six months of her life taken away from her, that damn planet. Him.

To say that she was surprised when Colonel O'Neill plopped down beside her some interminable amount of time later was an understatement. She was sure he had left for good and she asked him as much. The quintessential Colonel O'Neill response put her at ease and even brought a rare smile to her face.

Even though she had her blanket, he eventually took off his jacket and wrapped it around her shoulders followed by his arm and she laid her head on his. They sat huddled together in companionable silence save for the hypnotic sound of the ocean waves crashing and receding on the beach until the first tendrils of the sun's rays began to stretch across the horizon. It was the most beautiful sun rise she had ever seen. Maybe it was the company. Maybe it was the relief she felt that he hadn't left for good.

"Thanks for coming back, Jack."

"Always, Sam."

And then the moment was broken. "Are you ready to go back?"

His words caused her demeanor to change instantly. She shot him a look that would have even made Apophis tremble. "I told you, I'm not going back" she spit back. With those words she jerked out of the comfort of Colonel O'Neill's arms and headed down the beach.

He realized almost immediately the mistake he'd made. "Idiot," he admonished himself as he jumped up from the sand and hurried after her. He caught her in just a few long strides. Carter wasn't really running just walking quickly trying to give herself some space. "Stop pushing me away," Jack said grabbing her by the arm and turning her to face him. "Yes, as much as I want you back, Carter," more than want need he thought. "I meant back to Pop's." He could see her start to deflate when she realized what he meant. "Look, it's been a hell of a night. I'm tired, cold, and my knees are killing me." He let go of her arm and held his hand out as a peace offering. "Truce."

She didn't reply immediately which made Jack sweat- a little, but she eventually relented. "Fine. Truce." She grabbed the proffered hand but added, "I'm still not going back."

"I'm still not asking," he replied. "Remember, I'm on vacation." With the stalemate, they walked hand-in-hand slowly back to Pop's.

Jack did not wait to be asked to stay this time. He wasn't going to take the chance. He followed Carter into her room as if he had been there a thousand times before. He frowned slightly at the size or lack thereof of her new home and winced when he saw her bed. He would definitely regret the decision later but he was too tired to suggest his beach house- his really big and spacious with beds to die for beach house- just down the road. He shrugged slightly and casually dropped down on the bed surely no bigger than a sleeping bag.

"Come on, Carter," he said as he patted the cot and moved over to give her some space although not much. "It's just like sleeping off world and I promise not to snore."

Sorry, I know this chapter was short. The end is near. One more chapter to go.