It had been quiet for some time now. She hadn't heard any more of the screams – or moans – that had pierced her ears, and her soul, for what had seemed like hours. She had continued to pray it wasn't Jack – although she certainly wouldn't wish the obvious agony on anyone else either. She knew however, deep inside herself, that it was indeed Jack. It wasn't that she could recognize the voice – it was that her connection to him enabled her to know when he was hurt or in pain.

Time passed and she continued to sit, quietly watching as the room again grew darker. Occasionally, she could hear the shouts in Arabic outside her window. Laughter, and talking, the sounds sounded so normal – but simply served to remind her that this wasn't a dream but rather was some kind of perverted reality.

For the life of her, she could not figure out what this all meant. Why would the aliens test Jack in such a way? What reason could they have for making him relive one of the worst times of his life? The prophecy, or whatever it was, that the alien had shown Jack seemed to indicate that they thought he was someone worthy of saving the universe. Why, then would they allow him to be tortured again – or to give him choices to redo his past? She could certainly understand some kind of test if they needed to be sure he was the Chosen One' - that he 'had what it took' as he had said. But what could this mean? Did going through torture, for the second time, prove anything? Or, did choosing a different future, after changing the past – mean anything?

She prided herself on her ability to solve things– to work out puzzles that others couldn't fathom. In this case, she was the one unable to see clearly – to discern the purpose or a reason for what was happening. Although she knew, consciously, that it wasn't her fault that this was happening, she still felt guilty that she couldn't figure this out, couldn't do something to fix it. That's what she did, for God's sake! That's who Sam Carter was – the woman, the soldier who could always figure things out and make things better.

For now, she felt helpless and unworthy of the love she knew Jack had for her.

Without warning, she heard the lock on the cell door turn. She stood up and watched as two Iraqis dragged an unconscious Jack into the cell. They simply dropped him on the floor and left, locking the door behind them.

"Oh, Jack! What have they done to you", she cried as she rushed and knelt at this side.

He was naked and covered with burns all over his body, including the sensitive areas under his arms, in back of his knees, and, she glanced down quickly, in the groin area. She also saw that his wound had opened and had bled freely, although it had appeared to have already stopped.

She knew enough about different kinds of torture to recognize electrical burns. She realized the pain he had felt would have been horrific and was surprised – and distressed – to know he had remained conscious for so long.

Carefully rolling him over on his back, she gently tried to move him to the cot. It was soon apparent that she would not be able to maneuver him up onto it without hurting him further. So, she grabbed the thin mattress off the wire frame and pulled it to the floor and was then able to gently roll him onto it.

She knew the mattress was probably filthy, however it was better than lying on the freezing cement floor. In the condition Jack was in, that would surely lead to more problems.

Sam took off her jacket and attempted to cover as much of him as she could with it. In order to preserve his dignity she decided to cover him from mid-thigh to his waist but recognized that he still needed to be kept warm – especially with the high probability of shock after receiving so many burns. She did the only thing she could and, as she had in Antarctica so many years ago, she lay down next to him to try and keep him warm. Carefully, ever so gently, she put her arms around him and cradled him.

She began to talk to him, softly breathing out words of comfort and peace.

"Jack, soon, when this is all over, we're going to go to your cabin and go fishing", she murmured. "Do you remember that beautiful spot you showed me, that day you took me on a hike? It was so quiet, to peaceful! You showed me that little stream, which wound it's way down to your lake. I remember thinking that it looked like a little piece of heaven. Did you know that as we stood there that day I kept hoping you would kiss me? I was too afraid to show you how I felt but I so wanted to get close to you – to let you know how I felt."

As she continued to speak softly to him, Jack slowly began to stir. At first they were small, uncontrollable movements. Then, she saw his hands slowly clench and his teeth grab at his lower lip – as if to stop any sound from coming out.

"I'm here Jack", she said as she stroked his hair, "I'm here and you're okay now."

Jack's eyes slowly, gradually opened and for a moment he peered at her with half closed lids. He took a deep breath and began to cough, lightly at first and then more harshly."

"Damn! Bloody bastard!"

"How are you Jack?"

"A little chilly Carter, a little chilly", he muttered softly.

She held him closer, carefully running her hands up and down his arms in an attempt to warm him up. She wrapped her legs around his, also hoping to share some body heat with him.

"Carter, uh, am I imagining something here or what? Am I really lying with no clothes on and with you wrapped around me? And if I am … why is that?"

"Yes Sir – they brought you back a while ago and they'd taken your clothes. I didn't want you to get cold. And don't worry, you're not completely naked – you're partially covered with my jacket."

"Okaaaay" for a moment there was complete silence as Jack continued to look at her. Sam didn't know what to say but could feel a blush start to travel up her neck. This was silly, she thought. This was simple survivor training, nothing more. There was absolutely no reason for her to react this way.

Slowly, Jack closed his eyes and began to breath with a steady rhythm. Just as she thought he had fallen asleep she could see the side of his mouth turn up in a slight grin. She then heard him say,

"Sweet!" With that, he fell into a light slumber.

After a short sleep, Jack again woke up, this time rolling slightly away from Sam (carefully clutching her jacket so as not to lose his dignity).

This time it was Sam who was asleep, so he watched her intently, marveling at the strength in this woman. Although his experience had been horrible – something he was avoiding dwelling on right now – he knew that waiting was often as hard. Knowing someone you cared about was suffering and yet being unable to do anything was one of the worst feelings imaginable – especially for people trained to help others, to protect.

"Sam, wake up. Sam?"

"Jack – are you okay?"

"Well, I've been better. Still a little sore (major lie there – he hurt like hell. It felt like his nerves were being scraped with hot knives) but I'll be okay. Been there, done that, remember. I think it's time we see if we can get some attention here."

"But Sir – why? They'll just hurt you again."

"Oh, I don't mean the Iraqis. I'd be perfectly happy to never see them again. No, I mean our friendly neighborhood apparition. You know, trusty alien number 2 -I really don't want to see number 1 again either."

Jack tried to sit up but was still in too much pain.

"Some help here Carter?"

Sam helped him sit up as he clutched her jacket to his body.

"Okee dokee – some pants would be really nice here! No peaking, okay Carter!"

"Don't worry Sir – nothing I haven't seen before,"

"Well maybe, but now's not the time to see it again. Not good for a General's dignity you know. Let's see if we can get some attention. Yoo hoo – hello. Anybody there?"

"Do you think they can understand you Sir?"

"I would have thought so but I can always try something else. Abyssus , alienus quislibet illic?"

"What did you say, Sir?"

"I just asked if anyone was there, Nos volo ut sermo vobis - we want to speak with you."

By now it was dark outside and there was little or no light in the room, only what shone in faintly from outside the small window. Everything was extremely quiet, most of the soldiers probably in their beds, or at least inside.

For a while Jack and Sam sat side by side on the mattress on the floor. Jack began to lean against Sam as exhaustion and pain began to get the better of him.

Just as they were going to call it a night a faint light began to appear from one corner of the room. The light grew brighter and brighter until both officers had to cover their eyes or be blinded.

"Hey, tone it down a little – you're burning our eyeballs out here. Verto non lux lucis!"

As soon as Jack spoke in Ancient the lights dimmed enough so he and Sam could uncover their eyes.

"Well, that's better! So – which one are you?"

"I think this is a new one Sir. I don't recognize him or her or … whatever."

"No, me either. Tell me, Mr or Ms whatever, what the hell is going on. Why are you doing this?"

With that, the alien slowly walked (floated?) over to Jack and reached out as if to touch his head just as the last apparition or alien had done.

"I don't think so", cried Sam. This time she fiercely stood between the alien and her General and refused to let 'it' through. "No you don't! You've done enough, Don't you dare hurt him anymore."

For the first time, one of the aliens actually seemed to notice Sam. It looked at her, it's head tilted to one side as if asking a question.

"Yes, that's right. I'm here and I'm staying with General O'Neill. You have to get through me to get to him – and believe me, you don't want to try that!"

"You go Sam", whispered the General. "You can watch my back anytime!"

The alien continued to regard Sam. She slowly began to feel as if the being – or whatever it was – was trying to communicate to her. She looked at it carefully and began to relax. For some reason, it exuded an aura of calm and gentleness – not at all like the previous two. Sam continued to look at it for a moment and finally backed away from O'Neill.

"I think it's okay Sir. I don't think it wants to harm you."

As soon as Sam had leaned away the alien again reached out its hand and acting unhurried, reached out and put two fingers on Jack's temple.

At first, he jerked away – expecting either the intense pain, or the racing images as before. This time, however, he simply felt a warmth flow through him. The pain and weakness he felt started to dissipate, leaving him with a sense of relief and calm.

"God, that feels better", he murmured.

"Jack, the burns are disappearing."

Jack sat quietly as the alien continued to touch him. After a few more minutes, the alien dropped his arm and stepped away from Jack.

"Jack – the alien healed you. Your wound is gone as are the burns."

"I'm not sure it did heal me. I think, maybe, it was me."

"What?"

"I don't know Sam. I think it was just showing me the way. It's trying to communicate with me." With that, Jack stood up and approached the alien. He seemed completely unaware that Sam's jacket had fallen away and he walked forward unembarrassed by his nakedness.

'Make the most of this Sam, she thought. Not often you get to see the man of your dreams in all his glory!' At least now she could let herself think such thoughts as Jack appeared healed and not in pain.

As Jack grew closer to the being it was his turn to reach out and touch the alien. He did so carefully, slowly, so as not to frighten or intimidate. As he touched it he again began to receive images – this time they were slower and more easily understood.

The silent conversation between the General and the alien went on for some time. As Jack appeared relaxed and unafraid Sam just waited, not interfering.

Finally, Jack lowered his arm and said.

"It's time to go Sam. We're outta here."

"Where are we going? Is this the end?

"No, not the end. But I think I'm beginning to understand what' happening."

"What, what did it say? What does this mean?

"Well, it's not totally clear yet, but the alien seemed to want me to know that my choices in the 'test' will determine what the final outcome is. I can choose to change the past, or the future by my actions. Why that matters I don't know but I guess it's important."

"But why are them making you go through this awful experience again?"

"Because this was one of the defining moments of my life. This changed me in ways even I haven't realized. I guess because it's always been in the background of so many of my other choices that the aliens felt it was important. Iraq almost broke me Sam. When I returned I was a different man – harder, stronger in some ways, but also less innocent, less idealistic. They gave me the choice to experience this again – or to change it and not go through this and maybe remain the man I was before Iraq."

"But you said yourself, Jack, you had no choice. A young man may have died if you didn't do what you did."

"Yes, I know – so really, I didn't have a true choice. I knew right from the moment I realized where we were what I would do and I did it. I explained that to the alien."

"If that's the case – and you made the choice to do the same thing again – why did they then make you go through more torture? Why didn't they stop the scenario as soon as your choice was made?"

Jack shook his head – he didn't know either. Both soldiers turned and looked at the alien.

"Because a choice can only be true, if the consequence is also true." The alien hadn't spoken any words out loud, but the thought appeared in the minds of both officers at the same time.

At that moment, the wall of the prison cell appeared to open and a light shone through the space. Jack reached out and took Sam's hand.

"Well, I guess we're off to Never never land", he said. "I just hope they provide me with some pants."

With that, the two stepped through the wall to whatever was next in store for them.