Disclaimer: i really feel like this is redundant at this point, but i'll put it here anyways just for old times sake.

So sorry that this took so ridiculously long, my teachers really hate me and are trying to kill me(I am not paranoid... WHICH OF MY ENEMIES TOLD YOU THIS?)

and also this chapter really is much longer than the others.

Thanks to all my reviewers! You have no idea how happy I get when I get a review alert.

its almost sad. haha, hope you like this chapter!

and now without further ado, our feature presentation:

He felt like screaming. He felt like throwing something at the wall as hard as he could. He felt like running back and kissing her as passionately as he could. He felt like a man who had just learned the true meaning of be careful what you wish for.

He stalked into an alley between two stone buildings, pretending not to notice all the eyes following him, pretending not to hear the murmurs that broke out after he left. The shadows of the buildings hiding him from view, he sunk against the wall out of sight of the many townspeople, sliding down to the ground with his knees pressed to his chest. It was quiet here, he couldn't hear anything, he couldn't see anyone, he was alone in his own personal hell.

How could she do this to him? How could she do this to Daniel? Though Daniel didn't seem to have much of a problem with it. Just do it Jack.

He didn't understand what was going on. How could she kiss him like that, exactly how he wanted her to kiss him, when she was dating Daniel?

He touched his lips with his fingers, remembering what it had felt like to have her kiss him. He let out a cry of frustration, kicking the ground with his foot as if it were responsible for his current situation and then burying his head in his hands.

"What's her name?" he heard a feminine voice ask. He looked up startled and stared, he had thought he had been alone. At the entrance to the alleyway was a young woman, she looked to be about thirty, her hair bushy and brown around her face. Her dark skin contrasting wildly with the light pink robes she wore, and she looked at him with a curious gaze.

"Who are you?" Jack stammered recovering from his shock, still on the ground he made no move to get up or to go for his side arm, just staring.

She shook her head slowly, a small smile on her lips, "I am Nanna, though my name is not the important one," his brows furrowed together as he looked at the young woman. She walked over to him and slid down next to him, "What's her name?" she repeated simply.

"How do you know that this is about a girl?" he asked, he didn't know why but he didn't bother to replace his mask, there was something about this woman. He let her see his pain, his anger, his frustration, he let her see everything.

The small smile returned to her lips, "No man ever get's this upset if a woman ain't involved."

He looked at her for a long moment, she seemed wise for her age and she was sweet but that wouldn't ever make him trust someone. Yet for some reason he felt compelled to tell her everything.

"Samantha," he said softly,"Her name is Samantha." He realized he had never called her that before, it was always Carter and on rare occasions, very rare, Sam. He liked it, Samantha, he liked the way it rolled off his tongue, liked the way it fit her.

She searched his face for a moment, he looked at her, this stranger that he was trusting for no apparent reason."She is the woman traveling with you?" He nodded slowly, not looking away from her face, "She's pretty," Nanna said.

"Yes, she is," he said slowly, breaking eye contact and leaning his head back against the wall, closing his eyes, of course he knew that she was pretty. Always had, she was the most beautiful woman he had ever seen.

"She loves you," Jack looked back at her, his eyes wide. He searched her face but he could tell she was being sincere. She honestly believed that Sam loved him. If only that were true.

"No," he scowled as he shook his head sadly, "Not me. She loves... someone else."

"No, she loves you," she stated as if it were fact.

"And how would you know that?" he asked bitterly, she didn't know, she hadn't heard what he had heard back at base.

"Because," she said simply.

He looked at her incredulously, "Because? Thats the best you can give me?"

"No girl looks at any man the way she looks at you, or for that matter kisses any man the way she just kissed you unless he's the one she loves," she said slowly as if speaking to a small child.

He gaped at her for a moment, he wanted so badly to believe her yet he knew she was wrong, "Well let me ask you something, if she loves me, as you say she does, then why is she dating someone else?"

She shrugged, "Her reasons are her own, but trust me on this, she loves you."

Trust her. Why should he trust this woman he doesn't know? Why should he believe her? He had no proof that she was telling the truth, in fact he knew that she was wrong. And yet... and yet.

His radio cackled to life startling him out of his thoughts, "O'Neill," Teal'c's deep voice called. He looked at it stunned, he had almost forgotten where he was.

He pressed the button, "Yeah?"

"We are going to meet with the council, it was requested that you return," Teal'c answered.

"Alright," Jack said sighing. He turned back to Nanna, "I've got to go," he said getting up and turning away but she caught his hand in hers.

He turned back to her, question in his eyes, "You never told me your name," she said smiling.

"Jack, my name's Jack," he said.

"Well Jack, she loves you, just remember that," she patted his hand and then let him go.

He nodded his head slowly once and then went to leave again. He turned back again and said,"Thanks," but she was gone.

She didn't know how long she had been standing there with her hand on her lips staring at the entrance to the alleyway he had gone into. Why would he walk away? Why would he do this to her? She was hurt and stunned and upset. Did he really not love her? Her eyes were stinging and she was fighting as hard as she could not to let those tears fall. She didn't care about the whispers of the towns people or the looks she was getting she just stood and stared.

She started when she felt a hand on her shoulder, putting the hand that was on her lips to the hand that had just touched her.

She turned to look at him, Daniel. He looked at her concern flooding his eyes, "You okay?" he asked softly.

Okay? After that could she be okay? She had trusted him, put every feeling that she had into that kiss and he walked away. She fought harder against the tears forming in the corner of her eye. She thought about saying stupid question and then breaking down into tears, but she couldn't do that, wouldn't do that. She took in a shaky breath, "Yeah, I'm fine," she said trying to sound like her normal self.

He put his hand under her chin and forced her to look at him, "No, you're not," he said slowly. She bit her lip and looked into her best friends eyes.

Swallowing hard, she nodded her head slowly,"No, I'm not," she whispered.

He studied her for a moment and then said, "Come 'ere," pulling her into a hug. She wrapped her arms around him because just for this moment she needed that comfort. That sort of comfort only a best friend can give. She never really appreciated how lucky she was to have Daniel. He ran his fingers through her short hair while she tried not to cry. "Come on, cheer up, it's almost your big day!" he whispered so that only she could hear. She couldn't help but let out a watery giggle at his reminder of her birthday.

She pulled away and gave him a weak smile, "Thanks Daniel," he nodded once and his hand finding hers. He led her through town until they found Corin again. He squeezed her hand before letting it go and talking to Corin. That's right, it's almost her birthday, she should be happy, and yet all she could think about was her CO. She walked along behind Daniel and Corin in this place that almost mirrored earth in looks, aside from the pinkness, not really listening as they set up a meeting with the council of the town.

Her thoughts swirled around in her head, his mask fading away, his lips on hers, his hand on her neck, the sight of him walking away. She thought about what had been bothering him before and how he had let her see everything. Why would he do that if he didn't love her too? But if he did why would he walk away? She stood there drowning in her thoughts, in the background she heard Teal'c calling Jack... her CO back to where they were but her thoughts kept screaming inside her head. She wished for the first time in her life that she could just stop thinking, she wished and wished but the thoughts just kept coming.

He didn't really remember what was talked about at the meeting or even what this planet was called, he remembered that there were about a dozen people at that meeting. He remembered that they were all wearing pink and remembered Daniel talking to them. He remembered being offered to stay the night in some hotel-like place in town and Daniel accepting. And he definitely remembered the blonde scientist who had been avoiding his eyes all day.

'At least I got her to stop asking if I was okay,' he thought bitterly. He glanced at her again, she was staring decidedly ahead as they walked through town. They were going to some town hall to have dinner before they went to bed for the night. He wondered what she was thinking about, what she had planned to do after she kissed him if he hadn't walked away. Would she have forgotten Daniel and chosen him? He remembered Nanna's words, well Jack, she loves you, just remember that.

He sighed as he ran a hand through his salt and pepper hair, he hated remembering things.

Sam sat in the chair Corin had pulled out for her and watched as many plates were brought out for them. Apparently the inhabitants of this planet had prepared a feast, it looked delicious, plenty of regular looking foods, well regular aside from the pinkness of the garnishes and the plates, nothing like the disturbing things she had seen on other planets.

"A toast," Corin said at the head of the table, she lifted her glass along with the rest of the people in the room, "to our new comers, that truth and love will guide us together to an alliance that can be useful to both planets."

There was clinking all throughout the room as people brought their glasses together. Their pink glasses. Sam was starting to get really sick of the color, she had thought it had been cool at first but now all she thought about where ever she looked was Valentines day and that was not a good way to go when trying to avoid thoughts of kissing someone you shouldn't have, someone who wouldn't want you, couldn't want you, didn't want you.

Sam hardly touched her food, moving it around on her plate. She had been avoiding his eyes all day since that kiss. She still hadn't decided if that was a mistake, and she still hadn't figured out why he walked away, still hadn't figured out what was bothering him in the first place. There was so much uknown to her about him at this moment. That truth and love will guide us together... what she wouldn't give for some truth right now, and a little love wouldn't hurt either.

She felt a hand on her knee and looked to see that it belonged to Daniel. He was looking at her in a way that she deemed uniquely Daniel. His head was cocked to the side and his mouth was slightly parted as he studied her, "I'm fine," she mouthed. He nodded once not letting go of her knee just watching her. She smiled and took his hand, Daniel loved her and she loved Daniel, just not in the same way that she loved Jack. She squeezed his hand but didn't let go, she didn't want to feel alone just yet.

Jack gagged as he saw Daniel and Sam holding hands and had to cover it up, pretending was a cough when he recieved some odd looks. Why were they doing this to him? Was this some sort of a game to them? He scowled down at his food, he hadn't been eating much but now he had just lost his appetite.

He pushed his plate away and sat back, waiting for everyone else to finish, trying his hardest not to look at the blonde across from him. After a little while Corin stood, "Now if you please follow me, I will take you to the hotel where you will be staying tonight."

Jack stood and followed the old man out of the room pretending not to notice how Sam...Carter and Daniel didn't release eachothers hands, they walked for a few blocks before coming up on a large building. A large pink building. "Your stay here will be paid for by the town, please enjoy yourselves," Corin said, begining to walk away. Then he stopped and turned around, "Major Carter, if I may have a word?" he asked.

"Uh... sure," came her distracted answer, she smiled at Daniel and then released his hand before following Corin over to a quieter part of the hotel. He tried to keep his mind focused on checking in as the woman behind the counter gave him his card key. She smiled at him and then moved on to help Daniel and Teal'c. He sighed and headed for the elevators he checked his key for the floor number as he got in, floor 3 room 17. He sighed, this was going to be a long night.

"Major Carter," Corin started but she interupted.

"Sam, call me Sam," he smiled at her. She didn't know why but she found herself trusting this old man she barely knew. It was like he was some old friend or family member, and even though she knew he wasn't she found herself treating him as she would any friend. She was feeling much better now, she really was. Daniel always knew what to do when it came to making her feel better, that was one of the things she loved about him.

"Very well, Sam. I feel as though I made you uncomfortable today," she looked at him oddly. What had he done? He smiled softly, "If you remember I was the one who told you of our traditions," he reminded her, her mouth formed a perfect O, saying she understood, "And for that I wish to apologize."

She smiled at him softly, "It's alright Corin, you didn't mean any harm," she said, putting her hand on his arm.

"Of course not! I just wanted to make sure that you were alright," he said, she looked him over, Corin was a sweet, sweet man.

"Thanks Corin, but I'm fine," she said.

He led her back to the desk saying goodnight before leaving. She watched the old man go, his pink robes trailing behind him. Once he was gone she turned back around but there was no one behind the counter. She rang the little bell on the surface in front of her and in a minute someone came out of a swinging door and smiled at her. Sam looked at the dark-skinned woman in all pink behind the counter, "You are one of the travelers?" she asked.

"Yes," Sam answered, "I need a room."

"Of course," said the woman sweetly, after a minute of pressing buttons the woman handed her a key card. "Here you go Samantha, enjoy your stay," the woman said smiling. There was something about that smile, it was almost knowing.

"Thank you... uh," she said searching for a name.

"Nanna," said the woman simply.

"Thank you Nanna," Sam said walking towards the elevators, she was so preoccupied going over the days events that she hadn't even stopped to ask how the girl had known her name.

She tried to sort out her thoughts with a clearer head as she rode up in the elevator. She checked her card key for the room number as she climbed out of the elevator on floor 3, room number 17. 1...2...3... she didn't know what was going on with him... 4...5...6... she thought about that kiss, about how he felt for her, she never had expected him to like her, to love her, she was nothing special after all... 7...8...9...10... she still didn't know what was bothering him from before, didn't know why he was so upset...11...12...13... all she knew was that she was going to get to the bottom of this, she would figure out how he felt, and why and if he cared for her at all. She would because she had to, it was as simple as that...14....15...16...17.

He climbed out of the shower, drying off and wrapping the pinkest towel he had ever used around his waist, he was trying not to think about anything in particular but it seemed no matter what his thoughts always turned to her. He walked back into the bedroom, searching for his clothes when he heard the door click open behind him.

He spun around, "Sir!" he recognized her voice before he saw her.

"Carter!" he gasped out, tightening his hold on the towel around his waist.

Crap.

A/N: hi, okay well that was not at all what i had expected it to be. i realize that throughout the story i have referenced to Daniel as completely oblivious, but i just wanted to put it out there that i don't actually think that. I think he's just not a people person and if he really looked he would understand anything about his friends in the blink of an eye which is sorta what happened here, so yeah, just putting that out there.

again please review!