AN: And the plot thickens. Mwahahaha.

"Would anyone like some dessert?"

Sam turned to glance at the waiter. "None for me, thanks," she said. "I'm stuffed."

"Me too," Jack said.

"I'm not hungry," Dad said, pushing his plate forward an inch.

Sam glanced at his plate as the waiter deposited the check. "You sure, Dad?"

"Yeah, I'm fine," Dad said.

"You left an awful lot on your plate." She frowned. "I don't know if I've ever seen you not finish a good steak before. You feeling okay?"

"I said I'm fine, Samantha." That was more of a growl than he usually used on her. Stung, Sam sat back.

"Well, if we're all done, what say we go home? I know I've got an early day at work tomorrow." Jack made a face, and Sam could have kissed him for the way he interrupted. "Training new recruits. Gotta love it."

"Oh, I know what you mean," Dad said. He still didn't seem to like Jack, but at least he wasn't constantly sniping at him. "Never ceases to amaze me, the stunts some kids pull." He reached for the check.

"I could take care of it," Jack said.

Dad shot him a look Sam wasn't quite sure how to interpret; she thought it might have something to do with caveman male dominance rituals regarding providing for the family. "No, I got it," he said firmly.

Jack shrugged, standing up. He held Sam's chair as she got up, grabbing her coat for her. Sam would have been more impressed by his courtliness if she wasn't sure it was due to her father's presence. Also, it kind of annoyed her. She was perfectly capable of doing it herself and she knew he'd never have bothered if it weren't for the baby. She ignored the annoyance. Jack was doing it to be nice.

By the time they were collected and ready to go, Dad was almost done at the register. Jack put his arm around Sam as they waited for him, and Sam leaned into him. She was tired. She'd been planning to go over some of the Stargate's power consumption figures, but worn out as she was, she didn't think she'd get much accomplished.

Dad finished and turned around. He gave a slight frown when he saw them standing together, but didn't say anything. Instead, he gestured to the door. "Shall we?"

As they walked out into the parking lot, something occurred to Sam. "Dad?"

"Yeah, Sammy?"

"Is there anything going on in your life that you haven't told me about? I mean," she hurried to explain, "you seemed kind of tired, all night, and when you agreed to back off I kind of got the feeling there was something you weren't saying."

He shrugged, getting out the keys to his rental car. "It's nothing. Don't worry about it."

"You sure?" She snuggled in to Jack's side, using his body as a wind block.

Having gotten the driver's door open, Dad leaned against the car. He appraised her for a few seconds. "I have cancer, Sam."

"What?" It felt like the bottom was dropping out of her world. Jack's hold on her tightened.

"Lymphoma." Dad shrugged, his feelings hidden behind an impenetrable façade as always.

"That's bad," Sam said, biting her lip.

"Well, it's not good." Dad gave her a small smirk. "But it's not the worst. Don't you worry. I'll be around for a while."

"Oh, God, Dad."

He shook his head. "There's still a few more treatments the docs want to try. And if worst comes to worst, I was hoping to at least stick around long enough to see you become an astronaut." He paused. "Sweetheart, I don't care what it is you do in that mountain, nothing in the world can live up to the chance to actually go into space. Not for you—it's something you're wanted your whole life. And I admit it, I want to see you fulfill your life's dreams before I die."

"It's my dream, doesn't that make it up to me?" She blinked back tears, trying to keep her voice steady.

"Fathers have dreams too, Sam."

She could feel Jack tensing, and knew he was about to break in with some defense of her that could only make the situation worse.

Fortunately, Dad went on before he could say anything. "Like I said, even in the very worst-case scenario this thing's going to go on for at least a year, so you don't have to check up on me daily or anything. The next round of chemo doesn't start for a few weeks, and I'll be in the Springs until then, at least. I may even get an apartment here and have the chemo at the Academy hospital. We can get together for lunch on Sundays, or something." He slipped into his car and closed the door.

Sam stood there in shock, watching him drive away.

"C'mere," Jack said, turning her towards him and wrapping his arms around her. She buried her face in his shoulder and cried.

"Don't you have any warmer coats?" Jack asked as they got ready to leave the next morning. "This is the Rockies. It gets cold in the winter."

"I know," Sam said, swinging her briefcase to her shoulder and heading out the door. "But my last posting was DC, and Texas before that, so I didn't exactly need a good winter coat, and I haven't gotten around to getting one yet." She started digging for her keys.

"I got it," Jack said, closing the door behind them and sliding the key into the deadbolt. "Well, I'm sure you and Janet will have a fun shopping … outing, some time soon."

"Janet and I, huh. Sure you don't want to come with?" She didn't feel much like joking, but Jack was so worried about her after last night's news.

Jack shot her a filthy look. "Not on your life."

As they got into his truck, they didn't hear the phone start to ring. After several rings, the answering machine kicked in. "Hi, this is Michael. Again. Jack, if you're there, pick up." Pause. "Okay, guess not. I was hoping to catch you before you left in the morning. Anyway, I'm going to be in your area this week, which is why I've been trying to reach you. If you don't return my call, I'm gonna try swinging by your house when I'm in the Springs; I've got the address from Sarah. Hopefully, I'll see you."