Some time in the afternoon, Sam was awoken by her mobile ringing. She startled awake and groaned as she heard the tone coming from by her feet. The sky outside the strangely familiar yet unknown windows had just started to darken. She guesstimated that it was a little past six but pushed the thought aside as she slid along the bed and reached down to her feet, intent on retrieving her phone before whoever was trying to reach her, gave up.

"Carter" she spoke, wincing at the sound of her hoarse voice.

"Hey Sam, its Janet" her friend spoke softly as she replied, provoking a relieved smile from Sam.

"Hey Janet" she sighed, falling back against the pillow behind her and turning to see Jack still asleep by her side. She closed her eyes, trying not to think about the inevitable conversation when he woke up.

"Listen Sam, I was thinking… about everything that's been going on, we haven't really had much of a chance to well…" she paused hearing Cassie running through the front door.

"Have a heart to heart" Sam supplied waiting for Janet to tune back in.

"well yeah" Janet agreed meekly while Sam bit her lip pondering over the consequences of what had just happened "It's just, Cassie somehow convinced me to let her have a few friends over and I get the feeling she doesn't want me to stick around for the entire time… so I figured tonight was as good a night as any" Janet explained, unaware that Sam was edging out from under Jacks sheets.

"Um ok, where did you want to go?" Sam's voice muffling, ever so slightly, as she balanced the phone on her shoulder to free up her hands, to pull her underwear on.

"Well this is hardly a bar conversation" Janet winced hoping she wasn't being too forward with the proposal.

"my place then" Sam decided for her as she heard the familiar sounds of her CO stirring and quickly gathered the rest of her clothing and escaped before he caught wind of her leaving.

"Is that alright?" she asked "I mean are you sure you're ok with this?" her voice dropping to a whisper as Sam recognised Cassie nearby asking Janet who she was talking to. Sam finished dressing in the lounge room as Janet dealt with Cassie and then snuck back into the bedroom to retrieve her hand bag from the foot of the bed.

"Sam?" Janet asked listening to Sam's breathing rate drop as she tried to be as quiet as possible.

"Its fine" Sam whispered "I have to go, come over whenever you like" she told her and then hung up and turned towards the exit quickly.

"Who was that?" Jack called from the bed as he sat up, dragging his hand over his face. Sam inwardly kicked herself and turned around just inches from the door.

"Uh, Cassie" she lied, she wasn't sure why but hoped he didn't notice "I have to go" she admitted opening her hands as if to show him physically that she had no better excuse.

"Oh" Jack frowned as he turned to the side of the bed and pressed his feet to the floor, gazing down at his bare toes briefly before looking back up at her. "Are you alright?" he asked, somewhat suspicious of her hasty exit but more concerned then anything.

"Yeah" she smiled half heartedly before biting her lip and taking a step backwards "I should go" her thumb gesturing over her shoulder as Jack picked up his boxers from beside the bed and pulled them on.

"You sure?" his eyes widening as he stood and caught eye contact. It was obvious something was bothering her and he had no problem guessing what.

"Yeah, yeah…" she nodded dropping her eyes from his "I just uh, have to meet Cassie, she's waiting for a lift" she conjured taking another step back as he matched it. His eyes dropped to her hands where she held the phone trembling. She hesitated before looking down at her shaky fingers and then quickly busied her hands by placing the phone away in her purse and half turning towards the door.

"Sorry sir" she winced and then turned fully and began moving to escape quickly.

"Listen Sam…" Jack began as he started to follow her, worried as it was becoming increasingly clear that she held some very strong regrets. Sam opened his front door and was going to keep going, ignoring the nagging desperation of her sense of compassion but it won out and she stopped just outside of his door and turned to face him. He slowed as he caught up and then stepped out to stand in front of her. She waited impatiently as he hesitated, seemingly gathering his thoughts and then smiled and started to turn, stopping once his hand grasped hers.

"Sam, I don't regret it…" he told her, at the confusion on her face he groaned, taking his hand back "I mean… that, just before" he exhaled "You know what I mean…The sex bit" he seemed almost to blush. Sam pulled her handbag over her shoulder, shifting her weight from one foot to the other as she waited expectantly for the rest of what was coming. "I'm kinda hoping you don't either" he laughed but sighed as her features stayed blank. His eyes held with hers as she gritted her teeth trying to hold together. He saw the strain it had on her as she struggled to hold face and then pulled back into a trained military stoic stance. "You said you were ready…" he whispered and she smiled nodding her head as she dropped her eyes from him, tears finally breaking through. She wiped her cheeks embarrassed and he slowly took a step closer "…but I get the feeling you're not" "I know…" she exhaled sharply as she let go and distractedly wiped at her eyes, trying not to look at him "…I don't know why sir… I just can't help feeling like I'm making a big…" his hand gingerly touched her forearm, stopping her as he smiled sympathetically.

"…mistake" he finished and she gasped closing her eyes regrettably, not expecting what happened next. Jack pulled her closer to him wrapping his arms around her tightly.

"Jack…" she struggled to get out

"It's ok Sam" he whispered, rubbing her back gently and then softly kissed her cheek "I get it" he told her sincerely and she smiled pulling back after a long moment.

"I should go" she whispered and he blinked his eyes letting go of her and nodding his head as he smiled "sure."