"This is not what I intended,

I always swore to you I'd never fall apart.

You always thought that I was stronger,

I may have failed but I have loved you from the start."

"Fall For You." by Secondhand Serenade.

When he heard the knock on his door he was tempted to tell whoever it was to go away. He did not want to make nice with anyone.

"Come in." He called out, watching the door open and his visitor step inside.

Looking up, he saw who his visitor was and wasn't at all bothered when he saw it was Carter. Standing up from the bed as he rolled his t-shirt over the dressings covering his torso they chatted about everything but the reason she was there. It wasn't until he asked if she was speaking at the memorial did she start to crack. Shrugging his shirt on he stepped up to her and stopped a few feet away.

"Sir, I just wanted to say. When you were lying there," she started to say as the tears gathered in the corner of her eyes. She paused to try to compose herself before continuing, "I'm really glad you're okay."

As soon as she finished speaking her walls crumbled, her emotions winning out again. Jack stood and watched the raging emotional battle going on the face of the woman stood just out of reach. His heart broke for her, she had lost not only a colleague but her best friend. When she had said that she was glad he was okay he picked up on the hidden meaning in the words. When she finally locked eyes with him he lost his own battle.

"C'mere." Lifting his arms as he spoke the word that held so much meaning for them both.

Sam heard him say their special word and moved into the comfort of his embrace, his arms going around her and pulling her close. As she settled against him she was mindful of his torso, her arms going around his back and neck. They held each other as tight as his injuries let them, her chin resting on his shoulder as his face found the crook of her neck. He held her as she cried, making small soothing circular patterns on her back. In all honesty, he had wanted to do this since he first saw her face when Daniel broke the news to her about Janet. All he could do was watch as she left the infirmary with tears streaming down her face. She was devastated and hurting and he couldn't move after being stuck back together.

He had no idea how long they stood holding each other, her tears slowly drying up. Neither in a hurry to let go, both too caught up in the feelings holding the other brought them. Finally, it was Jack who moved, but only enough to see her face.

"Let's go home." Kissing her forehead as he spoke. "We can get pizza and beer on the way to my place. If we pass Daniel and Teal'c on the way out they can tag along." Feeling her nod her head against his lips that were still resting on her forehead.

"Let's go home." She agreed before moving away.