disclaimer: Not mine. *pouts*

A/Note: I hope nobody minds the sudden change from fast paced adventure to casual conversation on earth. I've turned the angst-o-metre down a little, as requested. THE kiss isn't here either, but there is a kiss. I feel terrible for teasing you guys about that... No, really, I do! Thank you for the fantastic feedback! Your kind words make my day (hence I've had a brilliant week) As always, mistakes are my own and I apologise for them. Enjoy! :)

~ SJ ~

One week later

"Daniel!" Sam looked up from her laptop and grinned to her friend. She'd been in the infirmary for an entire week and was beginning to get antsy from boredom. She was able to sit and work from her bed, but nothing was better than a friendly visit.

"Hey! What are you working on?" Daniel came in and pulled a chair close to her bed.

"My report." She sighed at the document. "All four pages of it. I'm just checking it before I submit it."

"Wow. You know, I don't think Jack would mind if you skipped some of the details." Daniel knew all too well how much Jack hated reading mission reports, and given that he was actually there, he already knew most of this.

"I already have. There are some parts I can't remember." Sam gestured to her computer in weak frustration.

"Well, I found something that may interest you." Daniel folded his hands in his lap. Sam looked interested and tipped her laptop back onto the screen, exposing the air vents underneath. Typing the report was tricky with her left arm in a cast and several scabbing cuts to both hands.

"I've been working on a translation of the journal I found. I was able to use some of the comments on the drawings, along with a derivative of Greek to build a usable syntax." Sam nodded; she'd been curious about the creature since she'd woken up. "When we were on the planet two years ago, do you remember Natal mention to 'turn of rule'?"

Sam turned away and thought back, trying to remember what the village leader had said.

"Vaguely. The term is familiar." She shook her head.

"Well basically, once every six cycles, – about three years here – there is a short period of time called the 'Turn of Rul'. Rul was a bit like a Bogeyman or Mothman, if you will. It was a creature that emerged and stalked the villagers."

"That thing that came after us?" Sam confirmed. Daniel nodded slowly. It did more than came after Sam. It nearly killed her.

"You'll love this. Rul would come down from the mountains to the village and choose one person. It would stalk that person and take them. Hardly anyone ever saw it; they describe it as a ghost of sorts. When the 'Turn of Rul' finished, after about three weeks, they would always find the person who was taken dead on the top of the mountain; completely mauled and often partially eaten."

Sam blanched at the description. That could have been her.

"Solitary predators on earth tend to choose the weakest individual in a group; usually the sick or young." Daniel continued.

Sam nodded in agreement. Daniel lifted a finger.

"Rul always chose the strongest individual. The villagers believed it did this to build its strength and to weaken the remainder of the group. When it came to the next Turn, they left."

Sam blinked.

"You should be flattered." Sam scoffed. "It considered you to be stronger than Jack." Daniel grinned. If that didn't stroke Sam's ego, he wasn't sure what would.

"I'm never going to live that down, am I?" Jack's voice broke the silence of the room. He stood at the door, hands behind his back. He'd obviously been listening to Daniel's explanation, but Sam didn't notice his entrance. He was free of the sling he had donned for the last five days, but his shoulder was sore and his movement was still limited.

"Hey Jack." Daniel was first to greet him; Sam locked her eyes with Jack's. Jack took a few slow and casual steps into the room. He had visited her every day since she had awoken six days ago. He usual spent an hour in her company, just talking about random things. They never broached the subject of their argument on the planet. They still hadn't had that conversation

"Thought I might come down and personally bring Carter the good news." Jack spoke to Daniel, but his eyes were firmly on Sam. "You're being released. You get the next seven days off, and that is an order." Jack smiled. Daniel felt this was a good as time as any to escape the room.

"I better get back to work. I'll come and see you during the week Sam." Daniel gave her hand a gentle squeeze and slid past Jack. Jack turned to see Daniel leave, offering his friend a smile of thanks.

"So... how ya feeling? Ready to go home?" Jack asked with an inquisitive tilt of his head. Sam noticed that he still had his hands clasped behind his back. She made her interest obvious be turning her head sideways and looking to his stomach. Jack didn't respond.

"I guess. It'll be good to sleep in my own bed." She ran her hand down her face. She had had nightmares every night; either of the river or the beast. Each concluded with her or Jack dying, equally horrifying on Sam's mind. Jack took the last few steps forward to her bed.

"Apparently reading helps your brain to slow down. It makes it easier to fall asleep." Jack shrugged innocently. Sam turned her and narrowed her eyes in suspicion. Jack pulled his left hand out from behind his back.

"Maybe this will help." He held out a book to her: Equus. "I noticed that you didn't bring yours back.

Sam delighted him with a brilliant smile. She took the book and turned it in her hands.

"Thank you, Sir!" Her eyes shone with appreciation. Jack grinned at her joy. "How many stores?"

Jack shifted and looked down at his feet, his lips scrunching slightly.

"Well... last count, I called twelve stores." His eyes roamed to the roof as he seemed to count. Sam chuckled and he smiled at her amusement.

"I appreciate that Sir. I really do." Jack knew she meant it.

"Come on. I just knocked off and I'm taking you home." Sam closed her laptop and placed it on her nightstand. "I'll meet you out there." Jack pointed out the door awkwardly. Sam nodded and closed the curtain around her gurney. She changed with some difficulty into comfortable sweatpants and a hooded jumper; quickly checked out with the doctor on duty and met Jack in the hallway. She was still sore and had trouble with her ankle, but Jack slowed his pace to accommodate her.

They stood in an uncomfortable silence as they rode the elevator to the surface. Sam understood; Jack had developed an aversion to being alone with her in the elevator since he first found out about Pete. It seemed that he was still a little raw on the subject.

Jack was unusually animated in the conversation in his truck. He talked constantly, asking questions and offering witty remarks. It was about halfway home that Sam realised her was flirting with her a lot of the time. She liked the attention. It was not unpleasant, but definitely surprising. They pulled into her driveway and Jack snatched up her duffle from the back before she had removed her seatbelt.

"Hey Carter?" Jack asked while Sam unlocked her front door. She gave the key a wiggle and it opened.

"Sir?"

"Were you really going to go dancing next week?" Jack asked, following her over the threshold. Sam shut the door behind her.

"Um, yeah. The American Institute for Cancer Research hold a charity ball and auction every year in Lakewood. I missed it last year and it's on again this Saturday. I don't think I'll be doing much dancing, but I think I'll go since you gave me the week off." Sam walked straight to the living room and flopped down on the sofa, looking out the window. Jack followed and sat down in the armchair across from her.

"Cancer research?" Jack had a good idea why she chose to become involved with cancer research, but was hoping for confirmation. Sam glanced at him and he saw the sadness in her eyes.

"Dad. I started attending when I found out about his cancer. Even after he took on Selmak, it felt fulfilling to keep going. Besides, it's a nice night out." She shrugged. Jack had a burning question that he didn't hesitate to ask.

"Got someone to go with you? I mean, I'd go with you, just so you don't hurt yourself or anything." He offered lamely. Did he really need an excuse to take his Colonel out for a night? Well, strictly speaking, yes he did.

"You just want to see me in a dress Sir." She retorted. Smart ass.

"I've seen you in a dress before." Jack folded his arms and reminisced.

"Something more flattering than that awful Shavadai get-up." Sam offered. Jack tilted his head from side to side, if contemplating whether the dress had been that awful. "I'd like that Sir." She ended his suffering.

"Great! What time you want me to pick you up?" He leant forward in his chair. It was time to leave.

"Well it starts at seven. I want to leave about six-ish." Jack scrunched his nose.

"I have a conference with the Hammond at five thirty on Saturday. I might have to meet you down there. Is that okay?" Jack wanted to take her himself, but he couldn't really cancel on George. He also knew his chances of rescheduling where slim.

"That's fine sir. I might go up on Friday and get a hotel room. I can do some shopping and have a look around."

"Only if I get to take you home with me after." Jack bargained. Sam decided not to care about whose home she would be returned to and agreed. Jack rose from the armchair and thrust his hands into his pocket. "I might head off." He turned for the front door. She probably wanted to be alone

"Sir?" Sam stopped him. After all they had been through, that can't be it. Jack turned to her. "Thank you."

Jack was taken aback. He shook his head and walked back to her. What had he done that deserved her thanks? He squatted down at her knees, not touching her.

"Carter... I'm going to spend a really long time trying to find a way to thank you. If you didn't do what you did..." She knew what the consequences would have been. "...I mean... I'm sorry I let that gorilla get to you."

Sam shook her head.

"I know you didn't let it get me Jack." They ignored the slip of her address. Jack thought carefully before he made his confession.

"When I close my eyes to sleep, I can feel that thing ripping you from my arms. I can't sleep without seeing what would happen if I was too late." He said quietly.

"I know. I've had nightmares since we came back." Sam admitted. In the infirmary, sleep had not come easy. Jack nodded; he knew what she was dealing with. At least, he thought he did. He'd been unconscious for the worst of it. Once again, he felt the need to go. They were both raw from the experience, and as much as he would have liked to fall asleep on the sofa with her, knowing he would have gotten a good night sleep, he knew it was not the right time to start anything.

He stood up and stepped back from her.

"I better get going. I'll call you during the week. Try and get some sleep..."

"I'll email you my report tonight Sir." She clasped her hands together in her lap.

Jack leant forwards and touched her cheeks. She looked up at him with those blue, soulful eyes and her eyebrow quivered. Jack pressed a lingering kiss to her cheek, right on the corner of her mouth. What terrible aim! He pulled back, only a few inches from her nose.

"Really Sam, thank you." She felt the emotion roll of his in powerful waves. There was a lot unsaid, but she knew this was not the moment. This was not the best time to talk. It was not time for that conversation. But it was nearing.

"You owe me." She grinned. He chuckled, letting his hands fall to his side and standing up straight.

"I'm sure you have a list." He joked.

"Absolutely!" She laughed. It was wonderful sound; Jack hadn't heard it in a while and he was glad to have caused it. Suddenly, he couldn't wait until next Saturday.

~ SJ ~

Sam and Jack go on a date, and I think that will be where this little diddy will end. One more chapter to go. By the process of elimination, the net chapter will feature THE kiss. Now I need to get it right! Characterisation nightmare much? Feedback, always very welcome and most appreciated.