AN: Dunno where this came from but dang…get the hankies out…don't like it.

Written and posted at stupid o'clock after a night out where daylight is outside and morning traffic is starting to congest in the streets...so...so...forgive the mistakes and expect changes! Hmm...nothing new there then!

Summary: Warning…sad one in coming! Hurt/Tragedy and major character death inside. AU AU AU! Early season one heartbreaker. Possibly a little look at what might have happened had the Nox not been on that planet that they visited...or earlier. Sam/Jack, K rated one-shot.

Hey Carter 12: Not Really A Question.

The staff-blast came from nowhere and it hit him…it hit him hard.

Carter rose from her safe position, calling to him. "Siirrrrr!" she called, already running but there was nothing she could do…it was too late.

Weapons-fire echoed all around her and somewhere in her mind she registered the fact that Teal'c had just taken out the last enemy, but Jack still lay on the ground.

He gasped for air and opened his eyes as his 2IC crashed to her knees at his side…it was almost like it had all happened in slow motion but suddenly, in the moment that their eyes connected everything became clear to him…

They had only been together as a unit for a few weeks and this was only their forth mission together but somehow he knew there should have been so much more.

"Colonel, what can I do?" Carter sobbed. For the first time since he'd known her she sounded desperate.

She had already radioed for a medi-vac and was pressing her hands to his side so Jack hesitated for a moment, not out of lack of orders, or out of pain or fear. He hesitated purely out of deep resonating realisation.

His heart beat faster.

"Hey Carter." he said. "I have to ask you something."

He gasped for breath.

"And…and it might sound a little strange but…have you ever recognised the moment that you fell in love?"

Her hands, suddenly warm upon his face preceded her broken words. "Yes Jack I have."

She sobbed harder as she hovered above him, speaking as clearly as she could manage. "Because…because it's happening right now."

"Sam." he breathed, shaking his head. "Please don't…please don't fall in love with a dying man."

Samantha Carter hung her head, tears streaming down her face. "It's too late Jack…I already have."

And with that she bent closer and set her vibrant lips upon his almost lifeless own.

FIN

AN: and that is all…