AN: The last few days I got caught up with reading old stories, so I didn't end up doing any writing. And then when tackling this chapter I was having a hard time deciding whose perspective I should do it from, so I kind of put it off a little more. My muse is SOOO ready for me to start something else. Makes it kind of hard for me to concentrate and tie this thing up.

Jack gave a weary sigh, rubbing a hand over his face. Discomfort filled his veins. As awkward as this sort of situation was to him in the first place, that was not where most of the discomfort lay. Mostly he was upset with himself that it was necessary in the first place. It certainly wasn't the first time he cursed the filter lacking between his brain and his mouth.

And, knowing himself as he did, it certainly wouldn't be the last.

Olivia stood in the waiting room, stretching out the kinks that her cramped position had brought. He could sympathize with her wholly. How many times had he fallen asleep in a cheap plastic chair and awoken stiff and miserable? Jack had long since lost count.

She still did not notice his presence just outside the room, turning her neck slowly. He could hear the pop from where he stood. Jack winced.

"Ouch," he said as he stepped into the room, drawing Olivia's attention. Jack gave a weak smile of sympathy. She was apprehensive, biting her lip absently. He wondered what Olivia was debating on saying.

She finally mustered her courage, but her voice was still tentative. "Are you all right?"

The look on her face pained him. Clearly she feared she was crossing a line. Olivia's gaze fell to the floor, as though she was steeling herself for another onslaught of his wrath.

Way to go, Jack.

"No, actually..." Jack rubbed his hand through his hair. They still stood on opposite sides of the room from each other. Jack took a deep breath. "I'm sorry."

Her head snapped up so quickly Jack feared it'd give another loud pop. Olivia's eyes were wide with confusion. She just looked at him for a while, shocked.

"Why?" she asked.

Jack was taken aback by the question, repeating the word dubiously. "Why?"

Olivia frowned. "You didn't say anything that wasn't true."

"Ah, hell." Jack sighed the words. He fixed her a serious stare. "None of what I said was true."

Though clearly surprised by his words, it was also clear that she did not believe them in the slightest. She shook her head slowly, silent for a moment.

"It was my fault," she countered. Olivia turned away to stare at the wall. Jack could only stare at her back as she continued in little more than a whisper. "I should have known better."

"You couldn't have known." Jack took several steps forward, but stopped far short of her. He was unsure whether he should close the gap between them, or if it would be better to let her keep that space.

She didn't answer, and Jack could hear her suck in a shaky breath. He knew that if she were to turn around he'd see the tears beginning to well.

"You did your best to protect her. Lord knows what she might have done without you. In your place none of us could have hoped to do any better."

Olivia did turn then, and the reality of those tears hit him like a ton of bricks. "You're just saying that."

Jack shook his head. "Ask Carter. Hell, ask anyone. I don't 'just say' anything. There are a choice few people that I'd trust my team with, my life with. You're one of them."

Olivia's gaze flitted towards the door, nodding in Sam's general direction. Pointing out her perceived failure. "How can you say that?"

"Look, Olivia," Jack began, her first name rolled off his tongue without conscious thought, "I learned all I ever needed to know about you back on that ship."

"I didn't do anything," she said lamely.

"You got us out."

Olivia disagreed. "Sam did that."

"Not without your help," Jack said with a small, sincere smile. "We couldn't have broken out without you. You just keep getting pulled into these messed up situations and surprising everyone. In a good way."

Her expression softened a bit at his compliment. Jack was relieved that Olivia was willing to believe he meant his words. He feared she'd hang onto her position with an iron grip. It wasn't to say that the situation was fixed and all her guilt had melted away. But at least she was considering the idea seriously.

"You know, if you ever get tired of the whole police thing..."