Sam arrived at the control room as the gate deactivated. She cursed her almost healed leg for slowing her down, and followed Jack to the briefing room.

"What's happened?"

"Daniel said that they had some problems with the trial today."

"What kind of problems?" Sam took a seat, as it was still much easier to sit.

"The villagers brought up charges against Vala, from when she was host to Qetesh."

"I can only imagine what kind of things they would bring up."

"Well, Daniel finally had them convinced that Vala shouldn't be responsible for Qetesh's crimes. They're going to take the night to come up with a punishment."

"Punishment?"

"Yeah, Daniel doesn't seem to think that they'll be able to just walk out of there tomorrow."

"What about Cam, and SG-3?"

"They were tried for helping Vala with her little charade, or something like that. Daniel is sure their punishment will be only banishment, which is pretty much what we want."

"And Vala? What's her punishment?"

"If she's guilty, execution."

"Damn. As much as she can be a pain in the ass, I hope Daniel gets her out of there in one piece."

"If anyone can do it, he can."

"Daniel's quite the peacemaker isn't he?"

"You could say that."

"I had an interesting chat with him earlier."

"Really?" Jack's fingers started drumming on the table, an obvious sign of his discomfort.

"Yeah. You?"

"Uh, nope, not that I can remember." Sam knew Jack was lying to her, and she started to become angry again.

"That's funny. He was talking about you."

"He tends to do that. Can't help it if the guy admires me." Jack was wearing one of his cocky smiles that infuriated Sam even more. He was avoiding their discussion.

"Jack, look, that night..."

Sam was interrupted as Walter ran into the briefing room. Jack stood up and exited in a hurry, Walter close behind. Sam chose to wait for Jack's return.

Jack finally walked back up the stairs to his office at 0100. Sgt. Siler had been working on the issue with the manual control on the iris, and found another system that appeared to be out of commission. It hadn't required him to leave Sam in the briefing room, but it had been the perfect excuse. Walter, to his credit, hadn't said anything, but followed him down to Siler in the electrical room, and attempted to explain the problem. After that, Jack had gone to visit Bosco, still in the infirmary, then to the commissary for a small bite to eat. Even he was surprised at the time when he checked his watch. He had to tidy up the desk before heading to bed, and guessed that Sam would've gone to bed long ago.

He wasn't ready to have that kind of conversation with her, and definitely not while at work. He had been surprised that she had brought it up earlier, considering how long she was here as a member of the military. Leave all personal issues at the door. That's what they'd all had drilled into their heads in the first few days of training for the Air Force.

As he walked into the briefing room, he stopped dead in his tracks. She was still sitting there, her arms on the table, her head lying on her arms. He crept up to her, and looked at her peaceful face. About to shake her gently to wake her, he stopped and reconsidered. If he woke her, would she remember what they had been about to discuss earlier? He could always get one of the men in the control room to come up here and wake her up after he left. They'd have a field day with that. Lt. Gen. Jack O'Neill, afraid to wake a scientist sleeping in the briefing room. He placed his hand on her shoulder, and shook her gently, calling her name.

"Sam...Sam. Wake up. You can't spend the night sleeping here."

"Huh?" Her head rose and there were marks on her cheek where she had placed her head on her watch.

"It's 0100."

"Oh."

"I didn't think you'd be that comfortable sleeping here all night."

"Uh, thanks." Sam wiped her eyes and looked around for her crutches. Jack handed them to her, and she rose, remembered their earlier conversation.

"No problem. Now go to bed, and get a decent rest."

"Jack?"

"Yeah." Uh oh, she remembered, he thought.

"About earlier. I'm sorry, I shouldn't have brought that up here."

"Forget about it."

"No. I can't, but I won't talk about it here."

"Oh." Sam could hear the disappointment in his voice. He had been avoiding her.

"What happened?"

"Uh, something with Siler."

"He ok?"

"Yeah, he's fine. Something to do with the electricity."

"Jack, you know if you don't want to discuss something with me, you can tell me that."

"Ok."

"You don't have to go dashing off at the first excuse to get out of a discussion."

"I'll keep that in mind."

"Just be honest with me, that's all I ask."

"Ok. You keep up your end, and I'll keep up mine."

"Jack, what's that supposed to mean?" Sam was angry again.

"I don't want to talk about what we were talking about earlier. There, I'm being honest."

"That doesn't count."

"As what? Honesty?"

"No. I want to discuss that."

"I don't."

"Jack, I think we need to discuss what Daniel said to both of us." Sam followed Jack into his office, and kicked the door closed behind her.

"Carter, not now."

"Jack, your shift ended an hour ago. If you like we can go to the parking lot and discuss this there."

"Do I have a choice?" Jack was trying to keep his anger from his voice, and was only just succeeding.

"That night at Daniel's was a mistake. You know that, I know that."

"A mistake! When I said that to you, you left without a word!"

"No, you used the 'I was drunk' excuse, which doesn't fly with me."

"Ok. Fine. It was a mistake."

"We are friends, nothing more."

"Is that what you want?" Jack lowered his voice, and his tone changed to one of sadness.

"Yes."

Sam opened the door, and Jack sank into his chair. What had Daniel said to Sam? It couldn't possibly be the same speech he had received, not with that reaction. How could two people be on completely different pages like they were? Could he stop his renewed feelings before it was too late? He stacked the scattered papers into a neat pile, and glanced at the calendar on the desk. He would be home in two days. There he would be able to think, and get his feelings in line with his mind, if he could.

Jack ended the conversation, feeling nothing but pure relief. Daniel, Cam, Vala, and SG-3 had made it to the Alpha site, injured, but alive. After they had been checked out at the infirmary there, they would gate home. Jack picked up the phone to call Carter, then had second thoughts. If she was still in the mood she had been the previous night, it was probably best he stay away. He spotted Scott in the gateroom, and wandered towards him.

"Hi."

"Hi General."

"Checking up on the system?"

"Yeah. Sam's still not convinced this delivery system is as efficient as it could be. She sent me down here to take some more measurements."

"Ah."

"What can I do for you?"

"If you could pass a message along to Sam?"

"Sure, I'm almost done here."

"Let her know that Daniel should be back within the hour."

"Sure, will do."

"Thanks."

Jack stopped to talk to several airmen on the way back to the office, and had barely sat down, when the gate activated again. Dashing down the control room he just heard Walter announce it was Teal'c's IDC. He gave the order to open the iris, and once again, headed to the gateroom. He greeted Teal'c and Bra'tac and walked with them to the infirmary, going through the pleasantries along the way. Jack barely made it into the infirmary when the klaxons sounded again. He excused himself, and bolted to the gateroom.

"Daniel."

"Hi Jack."

"SG's 1 and 3, welcome back." Jack scanned them and noticed several cuts, bruises, and one of the members of SG-3 with his arm in a sling. "We'll debrief after you go the infirmary."

"Yes Sir." All the military members answered, and trooped off. Daniel and Vala remained behind.

"What happened to you guys?"

"Bosco, is he alright?" Vala looked more upset than he thought she could possibly be.

"He's healing. You guys ok?"

"Yeah, Jack. Just a few bumps. Nothing I haven't had before."

"I still want you to check in with Lam." Jack started walking, and was relieved when Daniel and Vala followed with no comments.

"Jack, I suggest we lock that address from the dialing computer."

"Already done."

"We were waiting for the verdict, when we heard ships close by. We heard screaming, and people panicking."

"They're dead. Most of my people are dead." Vala's usually spunky voice was void of all emotion, and Jack turned to take a close look at her. Her eyes were red, her face pale, and she was visibly shaking.

"It's not your fault, Vala." Daniel slung an arm around her shoulder and ushered her into the infirmary. Once she was seated, Jack pulled Daniel aside.

"Jaffa?"

"Yes. More than 50 of them. I can't believe we all made it out alive."

"Vala?"

"The doctor at the Alpha site said it's shock."

"Should she be at the briefing?"

"I don't think she'll be able to. I bet Dr. Lam will keep her here for a while."

"I need you at the briefing."

"I can't leave her alone right now. She's thinks this is her fault somehow."

"I'll get Sam to take her up to her lab. Keep her preoccupied for a while."

"Sure. Thanks Jack."

Jack had completely forgotten his argument with Sam, until he knocked on her closed door. He entered when she called out, and watched as her expression changed from one of deep thought, to one of confusion. She hadn't expected to see him anytime soon, especially after her harsh words the previous night.

"Oh, it's you." He didn't hear anger in her voice, only a hint of curiosity, at what he was doing there.

"The last time I checked, yes, it's me."

"That's generally a good thing. What can I do for you, Jack?"

"Well, it's something for Daniel."

"He's back already? When did he arrive?"

"A few minutes ago. Didn't you get my message?"

"No. Is he ok?"

"Yeah, just a few knocks and scrapes. He'll live."

"Then what's wrong?"

"Vala's not so good. I need Daniel to be at the briefing, and he wondered if you could stay with Vala while he was busy."

"Is she ok?" Sam started shuffling papers into some kind of order, and turned off her computer.

"She's in shock. I don't know what happened yet, other than they ran into some Jaffa."

"Damn."

"Just talk to her, and remember what she tells you. We could need the information."

"Sure."

Sam was halfway down the corridor to the elevator before Jack commented on her lack of crutches. He ran back to get them from her, earning him a slight smile. They continued down the elevator in silence, only speaking when Sam left on the floor for the infirmary. Jack continued down to the gateroom to prepare for the briefing.

AN: Sorry it's just a short one... don't hurt me for leaving it here as I won't be able to post the next chapter...lol.