„So you fell in love with NASA at the age of … four?"

„Yes."

„Still that could have been just a crush…" He tried to reason with her. But her raised eyebrow made him think again... did she really learn it from Teal'c? Well... they all did, huh?

"Okay okay, you loved the stars and you were fascinated by space shuttles. But look at you, you're among all, one brilliant astrophysicist."

Yes, he was flattering her, yes, he was grinning at her to make her smile, but in the same time he was telling her much more by that simple sentence. And he knew that she was smart enough to figure it out... She smiled at him again, took the cloth back and then gave it to him once more, all nice and cold again.

"So… why physics?" She asked gently. She thought he would say yes and that she would need to find a way how to explain. Oh, she was mistaken.

"Let me guess, Carter. You witnessed some nice experiment, probably some school project Mark had as his homework and so in combination with stars and space program it just sorta happened, huh?"

"Yes."

And that simple question threw him off-balance. Did he really know her that much? Really? It was hard to believe that. But on the other hand… that was hell of a smug smile on his face. And how proud he was suddenly! And how happy... geeez he had it bad it was almost ridiculous. But well... this was Carter, nothing was ridiculous, right?

However, Jack was feeling like crap. His head kept on hurting, the constant pounding was really uncomfortable, it was more and more difficult for him to ignore it. Besides he was getting really cold. He knew that he was just tired and his body was still trying to adjust to all the changes and that he would be as good as new in few hours but still… he didn't like the situation.

"You're cold…"

"Yeah, I'm cold… and tired and the headache is no fun either."

"I'll go talk to my father about the trip back to Earth, okay?"

"No, that's not necessary, Carter."

"You sure, Sir? Maybe we can figure out some way how to make the ship cooperate sooner…"

"I'm sure."

"Okay… what can I do?"

"Give me back at least my socks and jacket, please."

"All right…"

"Don't sound that worried, Carter. You have my permission to do whatever you think is necessary to keep me awake. I just really don't like being so cold…"

She could understand that, so she nodded and helped him with his socks, boots and jacket. It made him feel better, much better.

"I really need to lie down…"

"Okay…"

She knew that it could help with the headache. She had her own stories to tell about dealing with those. It was easier to handle a headache while lying. So she moved closer to him and found a comfortable place where to sit. Then she helped him to lie down. He had to be really tired and feeling like hell because he was not struggling with the offered help. And so soon he found himself lying on the ground, her jacket underneath him so he wouldn't get cold although he had tried to protest in this issue, with his head resting in her lap. He was looking up at her.

Sam knew that this would be really difficult to explain but she was hoping that at least Daniel would give her some head-ups about being close to Earth so they would get a chance to keep these… rather intense and compromising hours here on the ship. No way they would let other people see them vulnerable.

She had her hand placed on his chest. He had his eyes closed but he was awake. She would know the moment his breathing would change so she would wake him up… or better she wouldn't let him fall asleep at all. She was feeling tired herself so she decided to talk to him some more.

"The first experiment was Mark's homework. I was so excited. My big brother was doing something messy in mom's kitchen and it looked so interesting…"

"Instead of learning the funny things you were fascinated by science project."

"You make it sound like something wrong, Sir…"

"Not my intention, Carter. "

"Sir…?"

"I'd like to explain but can we take a rain-check at that? I'm really not up to it…" And he really looked pale and exhausted so she just smiled gently. Once more in that hour. What was going on with her?

"Sure, Sir."

"So… what was your first science project?"

"I was supposed to make a model of our Solar System."

"You had to love it…"

"Actually I was really nervous. I was worried that I wouldn't make it. So I made my mom to take me to the library and she had to help me find all the books so I would know everything about the positions and sizes of the planets and all the other objects."

"That's really sweet, Carter…"

"No, sweet was my dad. He took pity on my mom and took me to the Planetarium."

"So you would have your data and then you could start working on your project."

"Something like that, yes…" She had amusement and something deep in her voice. Yes, powerful memories could do that. And so they were looking at each other, being silent and feeling comfortable.

"Thanks for sharing, Sam."

"You're welcome."

And they both noticed that she left out the sir that was supposed to be there in the end. It was her way of small overstepping the line, little scratch at the rules. And she did it just for him, just to let him know… and she did it for herself as well, of course. She needed him to know, to understand.

It was tempting, having him there so close to her. His face was just simply calling for her fingers. For some time she was actually able to manage but soon all her rationality walked away from her. So she started to caress his hair, she was playing with it. And it was making him smile. Well, grin actually.

Jack knew he should have stopped her. But why? It was innocent. Just a friendly gesture, nothing more, nothing less. He was a happy man actually. There was no place better than this one right then. All was good as long as she was there with him. Especially so close.

"Can I ask you something… a bit more personal?"

"Sure, Sir. Although I cannot guarantee that I will answer."

"Fair enough."

"So?" She was curious…

"Since when do you have the little plush bear with the insignia of Apollo 11?"

"How do you know about that?" She asked, surprised. Maybe shocked a bit. How did he know?

Jack opened his eyes and looked deep into hers. He was trying to reassure her that it was all okay but that was very difficult in this particular situation.

"Cassie mentioned it, Carter."

"Oh… she did?"

"Yes."

"How so?"

Jack didn't want to tell her but even he could tell when she needed to hear something before being able to talk. And after all she managed to share with him, it felt only natural to share something with her. Besides, he knew he would feel better after telling her. He had discovered that a long ago. What a surprise, huh?

"When she was over at my place she noticed little plush dinosaur. She asked about it. I told her that it used to belong to Charlie… I found it at my cabin and just couldn't make myself to throw it away. So I kept it. And that day she found it in my bedroom."

"How?"

"I have that thing in my closet. And that day she was just wandering through the house and noticed the opened doors… so she peeked inside and found it."

"You didn't give her a hard time, did you?"

"Maybe a bit… but I think she understood."

"And you told her the story… and so she told you hers… well, mine."

"Sort of."

Cassie was sitting on the couch, hugging one big pillow to her chest. She knew Jack was mad. She knew she shouldn't have even peeked inside. But she also knew he was just worried about her so she was trying to do her best to be okay with the situation. She was living on Earth just for a few months, yes, but there were things she should have learned a long ago. Like taking a look into a closet was a bad thing to be done. She knew but she wanted to know what was that bright blue thing...

It took Jack some time before being able to talk to her. And when he could, he told her the story about buying this creature. He told her it belonged to Charlie and that he just couldn't throw it away. He needed to keep it.

"Sam has a plush bear, you know?"

"She does?"

"Yes, he's brown and he looks really old. He has this funny t-shirt with some logo… there's something about Apollo 11 written on it."

"Really? And you know that because…?"

"We were going through some of her things one day. She was trying to find me something girly to wear…" And she blushed with that cute childish color after admitting that.

"And you found the bear?" He asked, smiling.

"Yes, we did. Sam's dad gave it to her when she was a baby. She told me she would always keep it close."

"Did she tell you something else?" He felt bad for asking. He knew he had no right to do so. But he couldn't help it. He didn't want to compromise Cassie and the bond she was slowly creating between herself and Sam but he just had to know.

"She told me a story… one her mom used to say… about little star named Cassandra. But I think that in her mom's version the star was named Samantha."

"Why?"

"It just makes sense, huh?" And how could he argue with this logic...?

"It was a story about little star falling down from the sky and finding some people. She wanted to get back up to the sky but she didn't know how. She was afraid to talk, she was wet from the morning grass she had fallen into. She smelled like spring and sometimes she would smell more like Christmas. She used to be the light that guided the Little Prince. I don't know who that is but that doesn't matter, does it?"

"No, it doesn't'. The story is nice… do you know how it ends?"

"Yes. The star started to sing and she was wishing for a miracle to happen. She wanted to get back… and some good people helped her because they knew that she had just stumbled and fallen down. And you know, that happens to all of us from time to time."

"That's really pretty."

"I know. I like it a lot. And I like it more when the star is named Samantha."

Jack had to smile at that. The girl obviously cared for his 2IC a lot. And that was good. They both needed it. And he needed it as well, somehow.

"So… I was just curious, Carter."

The open honesty made her heart ache. She could feel tears in her eyes and she was sure that her heart was ready to burst out from her chest. But all in a good way. She was just overwhelmed.

"My dad gave me the bear the first day I stood up in my crib."

"Oh Sam… that's just…"

"I know."

"So this all really is your whole life's dream, isn't it?"

Instead of answering she just smiled at him genuinely. He could read her like an open book sometimes… so he could as well try now, huh?

"Well of course … that and being pastry-cook."

And then she giggled again. And he could feel her whole body trembling with the later laughter. It made him grin as well. What a pair they were, right?

"Are you going to ask me?"

"No. Not now. It's not something I can ask about."

"You really think so…?"

"Yes. If you want to tell me, one day I'll be delighted to be told."

"Not now?"

"Not now…"

"Why?"

"Because, Sam, hearing that part of the story would … make me want things, make me want to do things… I'm not allowed to even think about right now."

And she nodded. Of course he would ask her one day why she hadn't joined the NASA. She was sure that he hadn't fallen for the simplest possible explanation. Well, she really had thought it all through and through again after the Challenger crash but there was more into it. And he knew it. He really knew her that well.

It warmed her hear that he would actually want to be there for her and to hug her and comfort her. It was so nice. And like many other things, it was forbidden.

In the meantime Jacob had to let Daniel know that the ship was okay. He wanted to go back and tell his daughter in person but something warned him that he actually had never wanted to go there. And so he told Daniel and he went back there to tell Sam and Jack. They were about to start the engines and go back home and they would do it in a minute so they should be back shortly.

"Danny… shortly?"

"Yeah, Jack, shortly. Why?"

"Carter won't lemme sleep..."

"Doctor's orders, Sir."

"Ha…"

And so with a joke and smile he ended the conversation in typical Jack O'Neill way. They would get to Earth soon and all of this would be kept forever just in their memories and this ship.

Before they arrived Sam had helped him to put back the rest of his clothes. They tried to look a bit better but it was pointless. They were all tired and wanted just a hot shower and bed, comfy or horrible, that didn't matter anymore.

Jacob couldn't stay so he had to say his goodbyes. He wanted to tell Sam something, he wanted to explain and he wanted to make sure that things were just fine… he had heard her after all... but he couldn't do it. It was enough for him to hold her in his arms once again and knowing that her crazy team would always be there to take care of her. And although it was really hard and difficult to admit it, Jacob knew that with Jack being there his girl would be in constant danger and on the other hand the safest person on the whole planet, well, in the whole universe.

A/N: Thanks for all your PMs and reviews and alerts! I'm glad you like this story! It's fun to write :o) One more chapter to go and then the promised lyrics... :o) Enjoy!