Daniel come by early the next morning to check on Sam and thought Pete would be there but didn't see his car. He knocked a few times but she didn't answer. He didn't know why, but he began to get a bad feeling that something was wrong. Several years ago, he, Sam, Jack and Teal'c had exchanged house keys in case of an emergency, but before trying to find her key on his key ring, he tried the door knob to see if the door might be open. It was. He knew that Sam was very safety conscious and would not usually leave the front door unlocked.

He took two steps inside, looked around and called her name. When she didn't answer he walked down the hall and looked in the kitchen and living room. He peeked around the door to her bedroom to see her sitting on the side of the bed, staring at the wall. He sat down beside her and gently touched her hand as she slowly turned her head and he took a close look at her.

She was very pale. Her clothes were rumpled, her hair was a mess and there were tears in her eyes. She stared at him for a few seconds then began to sob. Daniel pulled her to him as she laid her forehead on his chest. The sobbing increased so much that she could hardly breathe.

"Sam, what happened?"

Daniel rocked her back and forth. She finally caught her breath as she began to speak.

"I broke off the engagement with Pete and he got mad and shoved me to the floor and I told him to leave. Jack came by and wanted me to report what happened but when I told him I would handle it, he got upset. He didn't give me a chance to tell him that I was breaking the engagement because of him. He said he loved me, but now he doesn't want me any more. The best thing to ever happen to me and I pushed him away. And for what? So I could end up with someone who abused me? I knew all these years that he cared about me and I never did anything about it. We could have been together, and when I finally realize how much I love him, he pushes me away and now he hates me. I hurt him so badly. I've lost him for good and he'll never forgive me. I could have had him and I missed the chance. God help me, I've been such a fool!"

She clung to him as she sobbed.

He held her until she was just sniffling and she slumped against him. He pushed her back from him and she curled up on her side as she tried to stop crying. There was a blanket on the chair next to the bed, so he picked it up and put it over her.

She wiped her eyes, then closed them. Daniel thought he would just let her rest instead of trying to talk to her.

He started to wonder if Jack was okay but he didn't want to leave Sam alone to go find out. He went into the kitchen, pulled out his cell phone and punched a number.

"Hello."

"Teal'c, it's Daniel."

"What can I do for you Daniel Jackson?"

"I'm at Sam's house and I need you to come here immediately."

Teal'c knew by the tone of Daniel's voice that something was wrong. "I will come at once."

Daniel went back to stay with Sam. He wished at this moment that Janet was still alive. She had been Sam's best friend and doctor and would know what to do better than he did.

He sat down beside her and held her hand.

Teal'c soon arrived and didn't bother to knock but entered the house to find Daniel with Sam in her bedroom. "What has transpired?"

They went into the hall and Daniel whispered as he told him what Sam had said.

"Should we call O'Neill?" Teal'c asked.

"I'm not so sure that's a good idea."

"Should we take her to the infirmary?"

"I don't think that's a good idea either. Too much gossip."

"So what action should we take?"

Daniel tried to think. "I need to go see if Jack's okay. Can you stay with her?"

"Indeed."

Daniel ran to his car, quickly drove to Jack's house and was relieved to see that his truck was there. He ran up the sidewalk and knocked several times, then checked to see if the door was locked. It was so he knocked louder. The door finally opened and there stood Jack.

"Oh dear God" Daniel mumbled as he stared at his friend. He looked as bad as Sam. Daniel entered, closed the door and put his arms around him. In all the years he had known Jack, he had never seen him cry but now his eyes were red and he looked haggard. Daniel was very certain he hadn't slept and he smelled of alcohol.

Daniel led him to the sofa and they sat down. "I found Sam a little while ago. She's a mess, Jack. I've never seen her so upset."

Jack leaned over and rested his elbows on his knees as he ran his hands through his hair. Tears ran down his face and Daniel put his arm around his shoulder.

"Talk to me."

Jack stared at the floor. When Daniel saw that he wasn't going to say anything, he continued.

"When I found Sam, she was sitting on the side of the bed just staring into space as if she were in shock. She was very pale. Her eyes were swollen and bloodshot from crying. Her hair was messy. She started sobbing, saying that she was such a fool and that she had lost you for good, just when she realized how much she loves you. You didn't give her a chance to tell you that she broke the engagement because of you."

Jack stood up, walked over to the window, and stuck his hands in his pockets.

"It's too late for us, Daniel. Too much water under the bridge." Jack wiped his eyes. "She never gave us a chance. All these years I kept hoping . . ."

Daniel waited to see if he would continue. Jack stood there for a few moments, then sat back down on the sofa and Daniel placed his hand on Jack's shoulder.

"You two are desperately in love with each other; you've got to work this out. You're both miserable. If there are two people in this whole world who should be together, it's you and Sam. She doesn't love Pete, Jack, she never did. She just wanted to have a normal life and when she couldn't have that life with you, she turned to the first man outside the Air Force who paid attention to her. Unfortunately it was Pete, but it made Sam realize how important you really are to her. She realizes how much she loves you and she's truly sorry that she hurt you."

"She had my heart years ago, Daniel, and she knew it."

Daniel nodded his head. "The zatarc test."

Jack sighed as he wiped his eyes again.

"Jack, you should have set her down after the zatarc test and told her how you feel. I know that she was the one who thought your confessions should stay in the room. She thought it would lead to court martial if word got out. She thought she was protecting your career, Jack. But maybe if you had made the effort to just talk to her and tell her how much you love her, you could have found a way around the regulations years ago. As valuable as both of you are to the stargate program, General Hammond and the President would probably have worked with you to come to some kind of arrangement. General Hammond hasn't been blind to your feelings for each other all these years, he realized a long time ago the attraction between you."

Jack stared at the floor.

"Neither you or Sam is very open with your feelings, you don't communicate very well with each other in circumstances like this. You can talk to each other all day long when it concerns your jobs, but when it comes to the two of you, you're very shy around each other. You both need to get over that shyness. I also think that part of it is your years of black ops and that stiff upper lip mentality that the military drilled into you and Sam; always putting your careers first and never dealing with your emotions. You have to get beyond these feelings of anger and hurt and really talk to each other. Do you really want to be miserable and live the rest of your life without her?"

Jack hesitated a moment, then shook his head.

"And she doesn't want to live without you."

Daniel decided to stop talking and give Jack a chance to vent. He watched as Jack walked over to the window again and stood with his shoulders slumped. He looked so defeated.

"I can't take much more, Daniel. All by myself, I've tried to deal with Charlie's death, Sara leaving, the time I was imprisoned and tortured in Iraq, being snaked by Kanan, being tortured by Ba'al, and all those other times I've been sick or injured. You, Sam and Teal'c became my family and Sam was always the bright spot in my life. So many times, she is what kept me going. I kept hoping that she would say or do something to let me know if she felt anything for me."

"She did. The zatarc test proved it. You should have discussed it that day. Yes, I know Martouf had just died and Sam was upset. He was her friend and she was the one that took his life."

Jack turned around to face him. "I know that. That's why I didn't mention the zatarc test to her the day it happened; I thought I'd give her some space. But then I kept putting it off and nothing was done. You don't know how many times I've regretted not saying something."

"Now is your chance. Talk to her. Tell her it isn't too late. If Pete has any sense, he'll never come near Sam again. He'll stay as far away from her, and you, as he can."

Daniel paused as he watched Jack rub his fingers over his eyes.

"I'm not making light of how much you've been hurt by their engagement, or everything else you've been through. Speaking from experience, you have to let go of the past and not let all this hurt eat you alive. I could have stayed mad at Teal'c when he killed Sha're, but I chose to forgive him and now he's a very close friend. Jack, I know you're not a person who forgives easily and I'm not saying it's going to be easy, but you and Sam can still work this out and have a great future together. She knows it's over with Pete and you aren't with Kerry any more."

Daniel stood, came to Jack and put his hands on his shoulders. He turned him so he had to look at him. "I will never get another chance with Sha're" he said as tears came to his eyes. "But you and Sam have this chance and now is the perfect opportunity. Eight years is long enough, don't you think? Don't put this off any longer."

Jack ran his hand over the back of his neck as Daniel waited patiently for him to decide what he wanted to do.

"I need to shower and change. Then we'll go check on Sam, but I'm not promising anything. She hurt me, Daniel, and I'm not sure if there is anything left to salvage."

Daniel nodded his head. "I understand."

§§§

Teal'c entered Sam's bedroom and clasped his hands behind him. "Colonel Carter, may I get you anything?"

She set up and looked at him. "A glass of water please. My leg hurts and I need to take my medicine."

Teal'c returned with a glass of water and handed it to her. She took the pill and drank half the water, then set the glass down on the nightstand. She pushed herself back and put a pillow behind her so she could lean against the headboard.

Teal'c sat down in the chair beside her and paused for a few moments. "Matters of the heart are most difficult."

Tears came to Sam's eyes.

"It has been my observation in many instances over the years, that O'Neill cares deeply for you and you for him. It is my hope that the two of you will find a way to put aside your past disappointments and search for a way to be together. You both deserve a chance at happiness."

"I don't know if it's possible. I really hurt him" she whispered as she wiped her eyes.

Teal'c sat up on the edge of the chair and gently took Sam's hand between both of his. "If being together is what you both truly want, you will find a way."

§§§

After Jack showered and changed clothes, he and Daniel got into the car. Daniel glanced at Jack several times as he looked out the window.

"Jack?"

Jack turned his head and looked at him.

"I know you're not big on talking, but any time you need someone to talk to, I'm always available. Whether it's about Charlie, or Sara, or Sam, or work or whatever, you don't have to face life alone. I'm always here for you."

Jack grinned. "Thanks. I'll try to remember that."

When they arrived, Daniel turned off the ignition. Jack sat there, working up the courage to go inside.

"Come on" Daniel said as he stepped out of the car.

They walked into the house to see Teal'c making coffee.

"How is she?" Daniel asked.

"A small amount of improvement."

Daniel and Teal'c watched as Jack entered Sam's bedroom and closed the door.

TBC