He arrived in the commissary to find Jacob talking with Daniel and Teal'c. Daniel turned to him as he entered, making it impossible to simply ignore the three of them as he had hoped. "Jack!"
Reluctantly joining the group, Jack asked, "Yes?"
"Jacob just came from the infirmary. Sam's awake."
"Is she okay?" Jack asked before he could think better of it.
"As well as can be expected," the older man answered. "She's asking for you… For all of you," he added, including Teal'c and Daniel in a gesture.
"Oh…. I….Uh… just came down here to grab something to take back to my office. Hammond needs my report…" He'd been avoiding the infirmary all morning. He wasn't about to stop now.
Daniel and Teal'c looked surprised. He tried to ignore Jacob's look. "O…kay," Daniel finally answered. "Well, we'll see you later, then?"
"Oh… Yeah. Sure. I'll stop by when I can," he promised, knowing it for a lie even as he said it. But it wasn't like she'd really want him there any more, anyway.
As Daniel and Teal'c hurried off, Jack turned towards the commissary line. Jacob caught his elbow before he could move. "Jack? I wanted to get a chance to talk to you."
"Yes?"
"Maybe you heard? I'm not going to be around for awhile."
"Yeah. I heard. We're gonna miss you. Selmak too… believe it or not." He tried to smile.
Jacob was clearly not buying it. His eyes narrowed slightly as he watched Jack. "Take care of her for me, will you? All of you?"
Jack snorted. "She hardly needs us…"
"Jack."
He looked the other man straight in the eyes. "Yes, I will. We will." He tried to smile, hoping Jacob wouldn't look too closely. "It's what we do, after all."
Jacob held his gaze for a long moment longer. Then, seeming satisfied with what he'd found, he nodded and smiled. "Good. Well… take care of yourself, too, Jack. I'd sorta miss the noise if…"
His own smile feeling more genuine than it had in weeks, Jack replied, "You too, Jacob. Take care."
Then, after a quick final handshake, Jacob turned and left the commissary, leaving Jack standing there alone.
He'd fulfill that last promise to Jacob and take care of Carter. After all, he was still her commander. Her mentor. Even her friend. It was his job.
As for the rest…
She had someone else for that. Now. And Jack was sure he'd take care of her, too.
Shaking himself slightly to clear his head, Jack went to go fill his tray. He had to get back to his desk.
He had work to do.