A/N: Here we are again! Apologies for the longer gaps between updates recently, it's getting to the end of term at Uni so I'm kinda snowed under, but doing my best still. Thank you so much for your continued responses! I know last chapter was a little random, there's a little explaination and lots of good snuggling in here. Enjoy!

Chapter 14: In which Sam comes to terms with her father's death, and learns about the SGC's latest addition.

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Jack switched off the engine of his truck. He sat for a moment, running his hands through his short hair with a deep sigh, allowing his eyes to close briefly. It had taken nearly four hours before he was allowed to leave the SGC, after the messed up mission they'd returned from. But at least it had meant he was back today, rather than in two days time, as he would have been had the mission gone to plan. But never mind that now. Jacob Carter was dead. The only Tok'ra he even halfway trusted, and Sam's father. Great. He left the vehicle, trudging slowly to Sam's front door. He raised his hand to knock, then thought better of it, letting himself in with the spare key she'd given him so as not to disturb her.

Kicking his shoes off inside the door, he closed it quietly, making his way to her lounge. It was a sorry sight that greeted him. Sam sat huddled on the floor, her back leaning against the sofa, surrounded by piles of used tissues. Her beautiful face was red and streaked with tears, her hands clutching a large album, shaking gently. From where he stood he could hear her breaths come in short, shuddering gasps and sniffles. For a moment he stood leaning on the doorframe, watching her, a concerned frown lining his brow, lips pursed in anger at the universe for taking away someone so dear to her. She had not looked up, but he knew she was aware of his presence; it was instinctive with them. Carefully, he picked his way across the floor and sat gently on the sofa, swinging one leg over so that she was between them. Leaning forwards, he reached a hand down and began to stroke her hair softly. She leaned into his touch, and his other hand moved down to her shoulder, squeezing gently. She wriggled a little more upright, and he began to massage her tense shoulders, kissing the top of her head tenderly as she laid it on his knee.

From this perspective he was able to see the album spread in her lap; old photos, clearly from a happier time. Photos of her family; a young blonde girl with an older brother, two happy, loving parents standing with their arms around them. He realised the woman must be Sam's mother, he'd often wondered about her. She was just as beautiful as her daughter. His eyes moving downwards to contemplate his fiancée, he knew her mother would have been proud. Sam's hand traced the picture almost reverently.

"They're both gone now," her quiet, shaky voice broke the silence. Jack's hand paused its gentle kneading to rub her shoulder reassuringly.

"Yeah," he sighed. His heart nearly broke as a sob escaped from Sam's lips. His hands moved lower on her arms, pulling slightly. "C'mere," he murmured. She complied instantly, turning her body and throwing herself across his lap, arms around his waist, sobbing quietly into his middle. Jack's hand moved gently but firmly across her back, rubbing in wide, comforting circles, his other stroking her hair lightly. He wondered what he should say, what he could possibly say that would ease her pain. He so desperately wanted to make it go away for her. Hated to see her cry. He'd never seen Carter cry, really cry. Not his Carter. Years ago, when some alternate Carter had cried into his shoulder for the husband she had lost, he had felt as though his heart would shatter. This, with his Carter, was ten times worse. More than that. He opted on saying nothing, realising there was no need. He would not patronise her by telling her it would be okay, or other such empty reassurances. He tugged her up gently into his lap, engulfing her shaking body in his warm embrace, just holding her. It was enough; she understood that.

Eventually, Sam's shoulders stilled, and the fists balled into his shirt loosened. She pulled away slowly, raising her head to meet his eyes.

"I-I'm sorry, Jack," she mumbled, wiping at her face furiously. Jack's hand immediately covered hers, stilling it, and took up the task himself, gently stroking her tears away.

"Shhh, baby. You've nothing to be sorry for. Apart from kinda ruining my shirt, there, but hey." He smiled tentatively, reassured by Sam's gentle chuckle.

"Oops... Sorry," she sniffed, blotting at the shoulder of Jack's shirt with a tissue where it had been spoiled by tears and mascara. She curled up into his warmth, tucking her head into his shoulder like a child. "Thank you," she whispered.

"For what?" Jack murmured, his voice soothing her troubled heart, calming the very depths of her distress.

"For being here... And, for being... you."

"You're welcome. Wouldn't be anywhere else. Or anyone else, actually, for that matter.." He smiled softly into her hair, brushing a tender kiss to her troubled forehead. Several minutes later, he nudged her head gently with his shoulder. Getting no response, he realised she'd fallen into a comfortable sleep. Satisfied that she was alright, he leant his head back against the cushions, allowing his eyes to close but still constantly aware of the soft body in his arms.

Sam awoke to find herself alone on the sofa. Sitting up slowly, rubbing her eyes, she looked around. Her eyes drifted to the photo album lying open on the floor. She picked it up reverently, smiling weakly as she looked at the fading pictures. That one was taken on her parent's 20th wedding anniversary, she remembered. It was only a few months before her mother died. They all looked so happy... The perfect family. She took a deep, shuddering breath, remembering how that happy family was torn apart. She frowned, desperately trying to concentrate on the happy faces in the picture. She wore a pretty pink dress that she'd hated at the time. Mark had later spilt fruit juice down it, she'd been so mad. She turned to another picture; her own 14th birthday. Dad hadn't been on a mission and had been able to take them all out for the day, to a large nearby theme park. The picture was in front of a rollercoaster, she remembered how green Mom had looked after they'd been on it. Sam, naturally, had loved it. She remembered Dad telling her that in some moments, it had nearly felt the same as flying. She had adored that feeling; craved it afterwards. She smiled, inwardly thanking her father for the ambitions he'd given her; the ambitions that had eventually led her to Stargate Command and into the companionship of the people there; her family now. She flicked back to the beginning of the album. She was four years old, and Mom had helped her bake her first batch of cookies. She'd been so proud. She chuckled at the proud, happy grin on the face of the little girl in the picture, blinking away tears as she recognised the carefree joy in her mother's eyes, crouching behind her to hold the tray steady as Sammie proudly presented it to her father, taking the picture.

The sofa next to her dipped as Jack sat down, and the steaming scent of hot chocolate drifted to her nostrils before a warm mug was pressed into her hands. She mumbled a thank you to him, smiling as his arm wrapped around her shoulders, squeezing gently.

"That you?" He wondered aloud. She nodded. "You were pretty cute... Ow!" He rubbed his thigh where Sam had just slapped him lightly. He smirked at her mock scowl. "What, you were!" He looked down at the picture again, more seriously. "That your Mom?"

"Yeah."

"She's beautiful, Sam. She looks like a really great Mom."

"Yeah, she was," Sam smiled down at the younger version of herself.

"Just like you," Jack added quietly. Sam turned her head, lips parting as she gazed into Jack's serious eyes. His thumb tickled her neck gently as his eyes flickered down across her. "I mean that, Samantha," he whispered seriously. Leaning towards her imperceptibly, Sam's eyes fluttered closed as she closed the distance between them, capturing his lips in her own. She kissed him sweetly, tenderly, sadly, hands holding his head to hers to demonstrate her need for him. He understood. Pulling away after a moment, Jack turned his eyes towards the album in her lap, resting his head gently against hers. "Show me," he invited softly.

Sam responded with a watery smile, turning her attention back towards the photos, clutching the mug of hot chocolate comfortingly to her. For hours, she took Jack through each photo, remembering the happy and the sad times, the ups and downs of her family, her youth. He wanted to know, and she wanted him to know. She understood that his request was more in order to make her open up about her feelings, admit to her grief so that she could process it, remembering the good times they had shared, than about his own curiosity. He had passed the ball to her court. He laughed, smiled and frowned along with her. He held her when she cried. Sam found herself struggling to imagine anyone more perfect, more understanding.

After dinner, and a painful phone call to Mark, Sam flopped back down beside Jack, a distant look in her eyes.

"How'd he take it?" Jack asked carefully.

"Not good," Sam sighed. "He's angry, Jack... Angry that I can't tell him exactly what happened, angry that we don't even have a body, angry that Dad didn't spend more time with him once they'd made up... It's hard for him."

"Yeah, it must be tough."

They sat in silence for several minutes, Sam's head resting leisurely on Jack's broad shoulder. After a while, he nudged her gently, speaking softly.

"Hey. I'm gona miss him too, y'know. He was a good man. I got the impression he didn't like me all that much sometimes... Or rather, he didn't like how much I apparently liked you..." Sam giggled softly. "But he was a good man. Hey, he was the only Tok'ra I liked, what does that tell you? I trusted him, and I think he trusted me. With you... It meant a lot to me."

"Thank you," she whispered in response, nuzzling her head closer into his shoulder. "I appreciate that. I don't think I could have gotten through today without you, Jack."

"Sure ya could have, sweetheart. You're a tough cookie. I'm the big soft one in this relationship," he smiled tenderly into her hair, wincing as she hit him.

"No, Jack, don't tease. You don't - you don't know how much you..." The rest of her sentence was lost in a choking gulp as the tears began to flow once more. Jack exhaled angrily at himself, rolling his eyes upwards in frustration as he held her to him once more, rocking her gently as he rubbed her back.

"Crap, Sam, I'm sorry. I didn't mean... Crap. All I meant was... You've never needed me, Sammie. I'm the one that's needed you. Couldn't have got through so many years ending up as sane as I am without you. I woulda been lost a long time ago."

"That's not true!" She shouted into his shirt. "I... I need you now, Jack, and you've been here, and I...I.. You're so amazing," she sniffed finally.

"I'm amazing, huh? Well, back atcha," he quipped, tilting her chin up and kissing her. She smiled reluctantly, balled fists still gently hitting his chest. Deciding her emotions were running too high to shout at him for his self-deprecating modesty, she changed the subject.

"So c'mon, take my mind off of all this. What happened to your mission? Who was the man you were with earlier?" She asked in a small voice, cracking gently.

"Oiy, long story," Jack sighed, leaning back against the sofa. When Sam settled against his chest in a foetal position, he realised she didn't care. Shrugging his shoulders, he attempted to explain. "We met up with the people who'd contacted us, the.. Kelo.. Kelownan's, I think. Jonas was their cultural, ethical, whatever representative. Kind of their equivalent of Daniel," he smiled. "He introduced us to their council... They're in a war with the other two nations of their planet, they were eager to trade for military aid."

"I assume you said no? What were they offering?"

"Of course we said no. It was some kind of... A kind of.. Oh I don't know, some kind of naquadah."

"Some kind of naquadah? What does that mean? It's different?"

"Yeah, yeah, I think so.. I don't know... Naquadria, that was it. Some refined version of naquadah, lots more powerful, yada yada. Thought you'd be interested. Anyway, that's what they were offering."

"Well Jack, that could be revolutionary! A more refined and powerful form of naquadah would be enormously beneficial. We'd need smaller amounts to power the reactors, we could incorporate it into the development of the X-302; the naquadah we've been using hasn't been -"

"Alright, alright, I get the picture!" Jack exclaimed. "Thought you'd like it."

"Sorry, carry on," Sam smiled into his chest. "What happened?"

"Oh, well, turns out they were making some kind of bomb with it -"

"A bomb? But if it is more powerful that naquadah, the effects would be -"

"Huge, huge, I know. Jonas showed us preliminary test results. The council said they'd be forced to use the bomb against their neighbours if we didn't help them out. Tricky situation."

"Yeah.. So how come this Jonas came back with you?"

"Oh, there was some kind of accident. Jonas was showing Daniel the labs; he's a pretty big science nut too. Some kind of overload. One of the scientists managed to prevent it exploding, but not before it released massive amounts of radiation. Apparently it was just in time, Daniel had been just about to jump in there himself to stop it. The scientists in there weren't a pretty sight..." Jack spoke heavily.

"Holy Hannah. If he'd have.."

"Yeah.. I know. The readings were all off the scale, apparently. It seems Daniel had a good long chat with Jonas. After seeing the dangers of this bomb himself, he was a bit more willing to listen. He seemed to cotton on to the idea of a bigger picture pretty quickly. He tried to convince his superiors that carrying on with the bomb was a mistake, that the whole planet was under threat from the Goa'uld, that they should work together instead of fighting each other, yada yada. They wouldn't listen to him, of course."

"Of course." It was times like this that Sam was really grateful Jack didn't play dumb around her any more, or this would have been a much more frustrating conversation.

"So, he made the decision himself. We were just about to leave; they refused to accept anything other than military aid, which we refused, especially after seeing the capabilities of that weapon. Jonas found us, asked if he could come back with us. Said now he was aware of the greater dangers facing his people, he couldn't just sit back and let them destroy themselves, he wanted to try to find a way to help them. He even managed to get his hands on a small amount of that naquadria stuff to show us. Daniel begged a bit, they make a nice double-team, actually, on that front," he grimaced fondly. "But yeah, I figured he'd be helpful in figuring out the stuff. I know it's against protocol, but if he hadn't have come back with us then, he wouldn't have been able to get near the gate again."

"Great, so I'll be able to take a look at it?" Sam looked up eagerly.

"Yes, but not for a few days. I don't think it's a good idea for you to get straight back to work. Hammond said he'd told you to take as long as you need, he told me to take a few days too if I need to, to look after you. So, no rushing back, okay?" He raised his eyebrows sternly.

"Okay, I guess.." she smiled fondly, appreciating his concern. "But this Jonas guy is staying?"

"For the time being, it looks like it. He seems a bright kid, could come in handy."

"Good," she smiled, settling back against his chest, resting her hand against his heart, treasuring the feel of it beating against. Warm, and loving, and alive. Alive. Her love was here, beside her, warm and living. Her father was not. Pressing her face into Jack's chest as though it would block the tears somehow, she mumbled softly. "I think I might need those couple of days..."

"I know, sweetheart. I'll be here." Jack murmured to her, comforting her. If she needed him, there was no way he was moving from her side. Undomesticated equines, and all that.

TBC

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A/N: There we go, bit of a fluffy chapter really. I like cuddling. Hope that explains Jonas' appearance somewhat! Thanks for taking the time to read, and as always, reviews would be lovely.

As I said a couple chapters ago, this story only has a very basic framework in my head, so I'd be interested to know how much you'd like me to develop it. I could just stick to the framework, or I could carry on in some detail, I'm just concerned if it starts getting too long you'll all get bored!! So let me know if you want this to be a relatively short, sweet story, or if I should just give my imagination free reign and go on for however long the muse tells me to, I'd appreciate your input. Thank you!!