I know I said the next chapter would be longer, but it's such a nice cliffhanger *evil me again*

Jack's check-up was done and the doc seemed satisfied with the results. He had admitted that he hadn't slept very well – that had been obvious anyway – but the doc wasn't too worried about that. She expected him to settle into the new situation quickly. Physically he had recovered well, put most of the lost weight back on, and apart from the scars on his back he was just fine. While he put his shirt back on and buttoned it he looked at the doc, who was writing something on her ever present clipboard.

"What!"

"I didn't say anything, sir."

"I can hear you think, doc. Spill."

Janet looked up to face him.

"I know that you have every right to decide for yourself what you are willing to talk about, and who to. But please don't lash out at those closest to you."

"I'm being more cooperative than I've ever been, doc."

"I'm not talking about myself, colonel."
"Did Carter come running to you?"

He knew the flash of temper that he saw in the doc's eyes. She was about to dress him down not giving a fuck about his rank. But apparently she reined in her temper this time. Instead she took a step closer.

"She's miserable, sir. She thinks you're mad at her for hacking your file and believes you are going to press charges. She feels terribly guilty about it, but she said you wouldn't hear her apology."

"She hacked into my file! She should have known better. Maybe I should press charges!"

"Sir, I agree that she shouldn't have done it. But are you really upset because of her breach of trust, or are you worried about how she will deal with what she found?"

"She's my subordinate, doc; a member of my team. Supposed to obey my orders. Do you really think she should know this about me?"

"No, she shouldn't. At least not from hacking your file. But she's not only your subordinate, she's also your friend. She was worried to death and as helpless as all of us when they got you back in that horrible state. She just had to find out what was wrong with you. And she did help you come back, didn't she?"

~o0o~

Jack appeared at Sam's door with his usual stealth. She didn't hear him approach. She only looked up when she noticed a movement.

"Peace offering", he said, holding out a glass of jell-o.

She smiled a small smile and took it from him.

"Sir, I'd like to apologize again for what I did. It was a severe breach -"
"Don't. The doc gave me some talking-to about the way I treated you, Carter. I'm sorry. You didn't deserve that. I am not mad at you for hacking the file, and I won't press charges. I just can't stand the fact that you know. Looking at me like the pathetic victim I obviously am."

Sam flinched at the self contempt in his voice.

"Look, I don't think I have thanked you enough for what you did for me. But it's still true what I said: there is nothing you can do for me about – you know. I am not talking to you about it. In fact I'm not planning on talking about it, period."

When she remained silent he stepped a little closer:

"Are we good?"

Sam nodded, and he closed the distance. Standing right in front of her he said softly:

"I'll be alright, Carter. I'll deal with it my way. There is nothing you can do, OK?"

It still broke her heart, but she finally decided to accept his decision. It was his decision after all. So she simply said:

"OK, sir."

After he had left her lab she looked at the door with a frown on her face that simply didn't cease.

"I really wish there was something I could do", she said to herself. And something came to her mind.

~o0o~

TBC

Don't you agree with me about the cliffhanger? ;-) Think of it as a two-parter, part two coming soon. Promise.