Major Samantha Carter and Colonel Jack O'Neill sat topside on a patch of grass under the shade of some trees. It was a hot day, something which just seemed to heighten the emotion that both were feeling over recent events. They didn't know how long they had been sitting there, neither had said one word to the other. All they knew is that each found the others presence comforting in a way that they couldn't explain.

"It's been a weird couple of days huh." Jack O'Neill commented looking at Sam uncomfortably, trying to break the silence.

"Oh yeah." She replied quietly.

"I ever told you Alternate universes give me a headache?" he asked.

Sam smiled.

"Yeah a few times." She replied grateful for the change of mood. "God Sir, I just can't believe this has happened. I mean she was fine...she was doing something good and then to catch a virus like that...I can't imagine what Daniel must be feeling." Sam told him.

"Yeah especially after Shauri. He was so cut up after she died...and then to just start being a couple with the woman you've just realized you love and face losing her already...that must be like ten times worse."

"And poor Cass." Sam replied remembering the look on the young womans face in the infirmary..A look of fear and sadness.

"What about you?" Jack asked concerned.

"What about me?"

"How are you feeling? I mean you gotta be feeling something."

"Sir this isn't about me..."

"Sure it is Carter she's our friend...you're allowed to feel. You don't have to hold it all in just because I'm you Commanding Officer...I wouldn't expect you to." He told her. "So spill." He commented with a small smile as he elbowed her softly.

"I feel helpless. I feel angry...Damn it Sir, Janet's my best friend and there isn't a thing any one of us can do to help her. This sucks."

"I know it sucks Carter." He told her softly. "But we have to stay strong for Janet, and Danny and Cass. They must be going through hell right now. And I don't suppose they're the only ones." He added looking at Sam's grief-stricken face.

Sam closed her eyes, trying to prevent the tears that were burning them from falling, especially in front of Jack.

"Sam?" he called softly cupping her cheek in his.

She opened her eyes to see his brown ones, eyes that held so much depth, shining in concern for her.

"Sweetheart it's okay to cry." He told her tenderly.

A tear ran down her cheek.

"Come here." He soothed shuffling over to her and taking her into his arms, rocking her gently. "It's okay, shush."

Sam couldn't hold it in any more and cried. She cried so hard she felt as if her heart was going to break. It wasn't just because of Janet, or the grief of not being able to help her though that did hurt. Mostly it was because of Jack. He had called her sweetheart...he had proved to her how much he cared, and here in his arms she felt so safe that to know they could never be a couple made her feel ten times worse. She loved this man, she had done ever since they had first set eyes on each other and she knew he felt the same. That had been proved when Anise had to retest them to see if they were Zaytarc's and he had admitted he cared about her...a lot more than he should. Now here she was feeling so loved, and so safe in his arms never had she felt as sad.

Sam took a deep breath, then pulled away slowly wiping her eyes. She smiled softly at Jack whose hands were still on her shoulders.

"Better?" he asked.

Sam nodded.

"Jack...thank you. I guess I needed that." She told him.

"Sam you don't have to worry about crying in front of me. It doesn't make me think you're weak or anything. Nothing could ever make me think any less of you." He told her sincerely.

Sam looked at the floor.

"Honestly Sir...I think you're the only one who I really feel comfortable crying in front of except Janet. I can't explain it...it's just... I don't know."

"Sam we both know why." He told her. "And it kills me that nothing can ever come of it." He replied.

"Me too." She agreed softly wiping her cheeks again as fresh tears fell.

Jack cupped her face in his hands and wiped away her tears with his thumbs.

"Don't cry." He told her softly.

"I can't help it." She whispered with a slight smile. "You don't know how much it meant to me your saying that..."

Jack stroked a bit of stray hair off her face.

"I'm glad it meant so much." He told her.

Sam just looked at him, her blue eyes shining with unshed tears and a passion so strong that she didn't know how she had been able to fight it for so long. Slowly Jack leaned in towards her, his hand still on her soft cheek and kissed her, a kiss so sweet it sent shivers down her spine. At that time they were the only two people that existed and it was a moment that both wished could last forever however both know that nothing, no matter how beautiful could truly last for an eternity. Slowly and unwillingly they pulled away from each other.

"Sam I'm so sorry. I shouldn't have done that." Jack told her apologetically.

"Jack..." she tried to cut in.

"You were upset and I took advantage. I'm sorry."

"Jack stop...I..."

"I'll go." He told her getting up. "If you need to talk, you know where I am." He then told her hurrying off. "Idiot." He whispered to himself as he walked off.

Sam shook her head and smiled.

"You could've at least let me finish." She said softly to herself. "I wanted that just as much as you did. You really are an idiot if you couldn't see that." She added smiling before getting up herself and making her way back to the base.