As Matthew finished and stretched, General Hammond interjected.

"It's getting quite late, people, and I think that we all need some time to absorb all this. Why don't we continue tomorrow. "

They all nodded, and as Sam and Jack were getting up, Matthew came over to them quietly, so the others couldn't hear.

" Major Carter, Sam", he corrected, as Sam smiled. " I think that the next entry should be for yours and the Colonel's eyes only. Why don't I give it to you right now, and you can read it tomight, and I'll just go on tomorrow with the entry after. "

" All right, " Sam said, bemused. " Let's go, then Colonel."

They waited till everyone had left the room, then walked down the hall quietly together. "What do you suppose this is about?" , she asked hesitatingly to Jack.

Jack sighed aloud, sounding almost worried all of a sudden. "I don't know, but it must be important and private, or Matthew would have read it out, right? Let's go to my place, it's closer. Meet you there."

"Okay," she nodded. " And Colonel… it'll be okay, right?"

"Yasureyabetcha" he muttered, pushing the buttons on the elevator. 'I guess whe'll find out. "

"Give me a second here to start a fire, " Jack said, throwing a log into the fireplace. "We might as well be comfortable."

He felt unsettled inside and jumpy. Normally he could handle whatever happened on missions or whatever, but all the raw emotions going on the the briefing room left him exhausted and feeling not in control. He found he just wanted to curl up with Sam on the couch, and not have to worry about anything. But whatever the diary contained, he felt apprehensive, like it was something which could hurl they didn't want to admit into the open. He silently blessed Matthew for having the foresight to keep it private, if it could affect the future of his and Sam's lives.

"I don't really want a beer, sir, I just think I want to flake out on the couch here. It has been just too much, with Daniel and everything. I'm not even hungry."

"Let me know if you change your mind," Jack said, popping the lid of his and settling back with Sam on the couch. Together they opened the pages of the diary to the next entry.

" Dear Diary.

It's after 2 am here and I am so awake after what happened.

Tonight we all sat around and had a fire, at least they did, and had soup and talked . But what they talked about is not what I want to tell you first. What I saw, what I guess I wasn't supposed to see is just whirling around in my head.

I couldn't sleep and so went to the outdoor privy they have in the campground where we stopped. I thought that everyone was asleep by the bus outside, but when I went by where Sam and Jack were, they were gone. I walked a little farther, and came across them in the woods together. Oh, dear Diary, they are just so much in love. They were lying with just a blanket over them, entwined in each others arms passionately kissing, and the look of rapture on their faces is something that I will never forget. It is so obvious that they belong together, but maybe in their military it isn't allowed. Or maybe they are married to someone else. But I have never seen a look of joy on anyones face like Jack's, when he stroked her hair and face tenderly, like he couldn't believe this was happening to him, and then just devoured her lips like it was the last drink on earth and he was dying of thirst.

I suddenly realized that I was eavesdropping, and backed away quietly so as not to disturb them.
I think I will talk to Sam quietly so no one else can hear tomorrow. Make her realize, that what ever the problem, love like that doesn't happen every day, or even every life. I realized that they would lie down their life for the other one, that he would do anything in the world to keep her safe. I don't know why they don't try to work out whatever is keeping them apart. Because the chemistry between them is so strong . You can feel it in every glance, every smile they exchange. And tonight, diary, the woods were practically on fire!

I will try to sleep, diary. But I will have a smile on my face when I do, thinking of how happy my friend Sam is right now."

As they finished the page, Jack looked at Sam, stunned.

His first thought was Thank God that Matthew read this first.

His second thought was, Oh God, what in the hell do we do now.

His eyes met her blue ones and she looked as stunned as him.
" Sir, I mean, Jack.." she whispered.

"I always knew that it was against the regs, but since we were in another universe, as it were, I never thought it would catch up to us. And it was just the once…" her voice broke as her eyes filled with tears. " I just wanted you so badly. I love you, Jack. You know that. But what are we going to do?"

"Shh," he whispered, cradling her tight against him. " I love you too, Sam. And God knows, I want you too. If Hammond hasn't seen this, then we're ok. If he has, I'll resign. And like you said, it was just the once. And we've continued to work together all right since, haven't we?"

She nodded and sniffed, drawing her head down closer on Jack's chest.

"So, if he hasn't said anything yet, maybe it will be ok. We know how much we love each other, we're willing to wait, I am going to resign soon anyway, and then we will be together, right?" , he said, kissing the top of her head.

"Only if you stop tossing beer caps everywhere,' she grinned, tickling him.

They sighed comfortably and snuggled together on the couch, their arms around each other and gazing into each others eyes by the light of the dying fire. .

" Maybe I should go, Jack, ' she whispered.

" Maybe not, " he smiled back.

"Just one more night?"