Jack leaned back against the wall, watching Doc Fraiser work. She shone her light first into Sam's right eye and then her left. Sam's ears were next, followed by a reflex check. Only he was finding it hard to take his eyes off Carter's face. He hadn't yet fully recovered; the terror was still too real, a part of him still certain that if he looked away even for an instant, she'd be gone.

There were some wounds which wouldn't show up on any test.

"Well," Fraiser said to Sam, "I'm going to have to wait for the blood work to be absolutely certain, but the armbands seem to have left no ill effects. It looks like you'll be just fine." She looked over her shoulder to where Jack waited by the door. "That goes for you too, Sir."

He nodded, "Thanks, Doc. Does that mean…" He hitched his thumb towards the door.

"As far as I'm concerned. Just, remember, Hammond ordered you to stay on base until tomorrow when I'll have had a chance to check over the blood tests."

Sam nodded and slid off the exam table as Doctor Fraiser headed across the room to check on another patient "So, Carter. Looks like we're stuck here for another night," he said once they were alone.

"Seems so, Sir."

"I'm headed down to the commissary. Care to join me?"

"I…," she hesitated for a minute, vaguely uncomfortable, and he tried not to let his desperation show. Her expression softened as she looked at him, and he knew that he had failed. "Yes, Sir. I'd like that."

"Good, then…" he gestured towards the door, and she moved towards it. Jack fell in beside her and together they left the room.

-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-

Carter's temporary quarters weren't between the commissary and his quarters. They were, in fact, in the opposite direction. He knew that. He also knew that she knew that and he was certain that she knew that he knew that, too. It still didn't stop him, as they were getting up from the table after eating, from offering to walk her back to her quarters. "After all, they're on the way…."

She gazed at him for a long moment, her eyes searching his. Finally, she answered with a nod and a gentle smile, "Sure."

They walked in silence to her quarters. At her door, she slipped her keycard through the lock and pushed it open. She paused on the threshold, turning to look up at him. "Well, I'm home. I guess."

He tried to smile. "Yeah."

"See you tomorrow?"

"Yeah… Well…," Try as hard as he might, he couldn't think of any reason to keep her from disappearing into her room. 'Night then."

A wave of sadness washed over her features, gone almost as quickly as it had come. "'Night, Sir." She paused, then continued, "And, Sir… Thanks."

"For…?"

She smiled, though there was as much regret as joy in the expression. "Seeing me 'home'."

He returned her smile with a matching one of his own. "Any time, Carter."

And then, after another long look, Sam stepped quickly into the room, closed the door behind her, and was gone. Leaving Jack standing there, alone, in front of her door.

"Evening, Sir."

Jack had no idea how long he'd been standing there; he hadn't heard the other man's approach. Trying to hide his surprise, he returned the greeting. "Evening, Airman."

The man continued down the hall without pausing. Turning away from the door, Jack followed after him.