After Mark and his wife left, General Hammond looked concerned at the still-crying Samantha and surprised at his overprotective Colonel, who didn't know what else to do to calm her down.
"Colonel, a word, please?" Hammond requested, making a gesture.
Jack, slightly annoyed but respectful, got up from his chair and walked towards the dining room entrance where the General was standing.
"Yes, Sir?" he said, his eyes never leaving Sam.
"Is there anything I need to know, Jack?" Hammond asked slowly.
Jack glanced at Hammond, realizing that he might have been too obvious. He cleared his throat.
"About, Sir?" he asked with fake innocence.
Hammond took a deep breath.
"Look, things got completely out of control. I would offer her to stay here, but I know she'll refuse. Take her back to her hotel and see if she is okay?" Hammond requested.
"Of course, Sir," Jack responded. That was all he wanted to do – take her with him and take care of her. In his arms, preferably.
Hammond sighed and left the room. Jack returned to her chair, where she continued to sit. She had stopped crying and was wiping her face.
"Sam? Do you want to leave?" he asked, kneeling beside her and ensuring that Hammond wasn't hearing them.
She merely nodded. Jack grabbed her hand and, getting up, walked with her out of Hammond's house. They silently entered his truck, and Jack quickly drove them back to his house. He kept his hand on her thigh the entire journey, and she held her face almost glued to the window.
As he opened the front door, she went straight to his couch and curled up like a ball. Quickly, Jack removed his jacket and sat beside her, his arms holding her.
"I'm here," he said, his face next to her neck. She moved towards him and curled in his arms. Then she unraveled like she hadn't in years.
Jack held her tightly, silent but unwavering in his support for her. Hours passed, and they continued in the same position until she was exhausted. Jack carefully picked her up and carried her to her bedroom, putting her to bed. He slowly undressed her and covered her with a blanket. Then he sat on the chair in the room, keeping a silent watch because he knew this was far from over.
Sam's rest was plagued with nightmares involving her mother, her father, and her brother. She woke up screaming, and Jack was by her side in seconds.
"It's okay, I'm here," Jack reassured, holding her tight as tears streamed down her face, soaking his shirt.
"He's gone, Jack. My father is dead, and I won't see him again. I never said goodbye," she said between sobs.
Jack continued to hold her.
"I know it hurts, Sam. It's like a hole inside your heart," he said, kissing her damp temple. "But I'm here, and you won't have to go through this alone," he promised.
She hid her face in his neck, her hands grabbing his shoulders so tightly that it almost hurt. Jack didn't mind at all.
"I don't know what to do," she admitted.
"For now, you need to rest. Then we'll see," he suggested, gently lying her down.
"Stay with me, please," she asked, her hand never leaving his.
Jack swallowed. "Of course," he replied immediately.
She moved over to give him space on the bed, and Jack quickly discarded his shoes and got rid of his pants, keeping just the T-shirt and boxers. He reached inside the bed sheets, and she immediately sought his body. Jack held her again.
"I'm not going anywhere," he reassured, closing the lights. "So just try to get some sleep. I'm here," he said, kissing her forehead.
Sam rested her head on his chest and closed her eyes, tears still falling. Finally, she managed to take a deep breath. She felt so tired. His soothing hands on her back gently guided her to sleep, and eventually, she lost the fight.
Restless through the night, she found no solace in screams anymore. Jack barely tasted sleep, yielding only in the early morning when the sun crept through the curtains. Sam, like an adhesive, clung to his chest. Time slipped away, and their sleep remained undisturbed by alarms until Jack's phone shattered the silence. Startled, he awoke.
"What the fuck?" he grumbled, his eyes opening slowly to the persistent sound.
Sam moaned beside him, turning away and burying herself under the sheets and blankets. Jack rose, determined to locate the source of the annoyance, and finally answered it, taking the cell from his jacket.
"Yeah?" he snapped.
"Jack?" Daniel's voice treaded cautiously.
"Daniel? What the hell do you want?" Jack's annoyance seeped through his words.
Daniel cleared his throat.
"Jack, do you have any idea what time it is? Where are you? Hammond is pissed," he warned.
Jack blinked in confusion.
"Hammond?" he questioned, passing a hand through his face.
"Jack, we had a briefing scheduled for 0900. It's 1000. Hammond said if you aren't at the base in the next fifteen minutes, he'll send airmen after you," Daniel explained in a hushed tone.
Jack swallowed hard.
"Fuck," he cursed. "Tell him I was taking care of the important person. He'll understand. I'll be at the base as soon as possible. Thanks, Daniel," he said, ending the call despite Daniel's lingering questions.
Running another hand through his messy hair, Jack returned to the room where Sam lay sleeping, covered in sheets, pillows, and blankets. He smiled.
Then, he rushed to the bathroom for a quick shave and shower. Once dressed in BDUs, he returned to her room, reluctant to wake her but needing to talk before leaving. Hating to part ways after everything they'd been through, he sat on the edge of the bed, gently massaging her arm.
"Hey, Sam..." he whispered. She stirred but didn't acknowledge him, so he uncovered her face, kissing her cheek.
"I have to leave. I'm sorry, but Hammond wants me at the base. I promise I'll be home as soon as I can. Try to rest, okay?" he said, his lips tracing her neck.
She moaned softly, slowly opening her eyes.
"Go, Jack. I'll be fine," she assured him, one hand emerging from the pile of clothes on the bed, gently pushing him away.
He smiled and kissed the exposed arm.
"Call me if you need anything," he said as he got up. She had already closed her eyes, and Jack left with a heavy heart.
Upon reaching the base, Jack headed straight to Hammond's office, where the General wore a less-than-pleased expression.
"Your alarm seems to be failing you lately, Colonel. Very unbecoming of your rank and position on this base," Hammond remarked, clearly annoyed.
Jack swallowed hard and opted to be straightforward.
"I'm sorry, Sir, but I was with Doctor Carter," he admitted.
Hammond's eyebrows shot up simultaneously. "Excuse me?" he inquired.
Jack cleared his throat.
"Yes, Sir. After everything that happened yesterday at your house, she had a meltdown when I was taking her back to the hotel—a bad one. So, I took her to my house. I know I shouldn't have, but she was a wreck, and I didn't know what to do. She just cried and didn't stop. I was afraid she might do something..." Jack paused, leaving the sentence hanging, and looked at Hammond.
Hammond sighed heavily, understanding the implications.
"So, she's at your house?" he asked.
Jack nodded.
"She had nightmares all night. I didn't sleep, Sir, so that's probably why I didn't hear the alarm. I know it isn't an excuse for my behavior, but I think you need to know what is happening with her," he explained.
Hammond sighed again.
"I knew something like this might happen. That she would blame herself for not saying goodbye to Jacob and then the meeting with Mark..." Hammond said, running a hand through his face.
"Who is an asshole, Sir, if you will excuse me," Jack interjected, barely containing his anger.
Hammond nodded.
"It's complicated. They never got along. Mark left home as soon as possible and cut ties with Jacob and Samantha. He inherited part of the Carter's genius, you know? He doesn't need his father's money at all. He's a millionaire. While still in university, he built a software company and was rich before he finished his studies. Apparently, both Carters are geniuses. He's far from Sam's genius but is pretty smart still," Hammond revealed.
Jack was taken aback.
"So, if he doesn't care about the money, why the show yesterday?" he asked, confused.
Hammond played with his pen.
"To hurt his sister. Only that," he said sadly.
"What a prick," Jack muttered without thinking.
Hammond gave him a curious look.
"Is there anything you want to tell me, Jack?" Hammond asked again.
Jack swallowed. "No, Sir," he said.
Hammond continued to play with the pen.
"I know this is not the ideal time, but has Samantha told you anything regarding Major Davis' proposal about the Stargate?" he asked.
Jack swallowed again.
"Not in a definitive way, Sir, but I have the impression that it isn't a priority for her right now," Jack said.
Hammond put the pen down.
"Even if we show her the Stargate? Do you think she won't be curious about how it works? She's a scientist, after all," Hammond said slowly.
Jack was now confused.
"I was under the impression that option was only valid if she accepted the offer from the Air Force, Sir," Jack said slowly.
Hammond cleared his throat.
"Yes, so was I. But apparently, they are interested in having her join the Program. Damn interested. So, I'm now authorized to show her the Stargate even if she still hasn't answered our proposal," Hammond clarified.
Jack looked at his boots. "I see," he said in a low voice.
"The idea is also to present her to the rest of SG-1," Hammond said carefully.
Jack looked at Hammond.
"SG-1?" he asked, confused.
"Teal'c, more precisely," Hammond said.
"Oh, I see," Jack said. They wanted her to meet an actual alien. "I'll see what I can do, Sir," Jack stated.
Hammond smiled.
"Please do that, Colonel, since you are already clearly above your duties," he said with a knowing smile.
Jack's years on black ops kept him from blushing, and he left Hammond's office only to run straight into Daniel and Teal'c, who seemed very interested in knowing what Jack had been doing. Sighing heavily, Jack decided it was time to put the rest of SG-1 up to date with what was going on. They were bound to find out anyway.
Choosing Daniel's lab as the setting, Jack closed the door behind him and sat on the only available stool, ready to divulge the details about Doctor Samantha Carter. Omitting personal information, he stuck to the official story that Hammond knew—the fugitive from justice, the mission to track her down, and persuading her to come to Colorado Springs.
Despite everything they had done to her, the Air Force now wanted her in the Program and at the SGC. Daniel stared at him with his mouth agape while Teal'c remained silent, his gaze piercing.
"And you did all those things without telling us?" Daniel asked, slightly disconcerted.
Jack shrugged his shoulders.
"Hammond entrusted me with a mission, not SG-1. It was classified. Sorry," he said, not looking very apologetic at all.
Daniel crossed his arms.
"Where is this Doctor Carter now?" he inquired, curious.
"Here in the Springs," Jack replied.
"You already said that. I mean, where is she staying?" Daniel pressed.
Jack cleared his throat.
"She has been staying at a hotel but became very distressed due to an argument with her brother yesterday. So, she's at my house right now," Jack said quickly.
Teal'c raised an eyebrow. "That is quite uncommon, O'Neill," he stated.
Jack swallowed.
"They had a huge fight," he explained, as if that clarified everything.
Daniel gave him a pointed look, and Jack opened his arms.
"Fine, I was afraid she might harm herself," he admitted. And he was. Terrified, after everything that had happened in Hammond's house, that she would do something foolish. She had been unpredictable since the first day he had met her.
"And now, what are we supposed to do? When are we going to meet this mysterious Doctor Carter?" Daniel asked.
Jack shrugged his shoulders.
"I don't know. She's not in a good place right now. As soon as she feels better, I guess," he said.
"Does she know about Teal'c?" Daniel asked slowly.
Jack shook his head.
"No, only that we have encountered aliens when we travel to other planets," Jack explained.
Daniel smiled, looking at the big Jaffa. "I bet she'll be surprised," he said.
"Indeed," Teal'c concurred.
Jack sighed.
"So, now you both know what has been happening. I'm sorry for not telling you before, but it was a mission for Hammond, not an SG-1 assignment," Jack said.
Both Daniel and Teal'c nodded.
"Can you cover me? I want to go home and see how she's doing. If she is okay..." Jack said, getting up. "I'll come back as soon as I see she's all right," he added.
At a significant cost, Daniel tried not to smile. Evidently, his friend and colleague had developed deeper feelings for his classified assignment.
"Sure, go, Jack. We've got you covered. Right, Teal'c?" he asked.
Teal'c nodded. Jack patted Daniel on the back and left hurriedly.
"I believe our dear friend and Colonel is in love, Teal'c," Daniel said with a big smile.
Teal'c looked at the open door from where Jack had left at top speed.
"Indeed," he said with a semblance of a smile.
Jack hurriedly drove his truck back home. He silently opened his front door, unaware if she was still asleep. The house was silent as he entered, and he tiptoed to her bedroom. With a sigh, he saw that she was sleeping inside the bed. When he was about to leave, she opened her eyes and looked at him.
"What are you doing here?" she asked in a sleepy voice.
He looked at her, startled.
"Jesus, you scared me! I thought you were asleep," he said, entering the room.
She slowly sat on the bed.
"I've been, and then I wake up, cry some more, and then go back to sleep. It has been a very stupid morning," she said, her voice dripping with sarcasm.
Jack gently grabbed her hand.
"You are allowed to grieve, Sam. It isn't stupid or weak," he said.
Another tear dropped, and she quickly wiped it.
"I hate this," she said, closing her eyes.
Jack started to caress her hand. "What, this?" he asked, squeezing her hand.
She opened her eyes.
"No, that I like. The rest, all this helpless feeling, makes me want to give up," she said.
Jack slowly brushed his lips over hers.
"My dear Sam. A strong woman like you never gives up. She may need a good cry or some days in bed. But she will always come back stronger. You will, too," he said with confidence.
She put her arms around his neck and rested her forehead against his.
"I don't feel strong, Jack, quite the contrary," she said in a low voice.
"I know you don't, but you are," he said, kissing her very gently, his lips then moving to her neck.
She shut her eyes, allowing him to express his love for her. All her defenses were lowered entirely. Following a passionate exchange, Jack found it necessary to pause.
"I want to stay here, but I'm on borrowed time, and I need to leave," he said, moving some hairs from her pale face.
Sam sighed and nodded.
"Thanks for coming. Now go," she said, kissing him deeply.
Jack groaned, and with superhuman effort, he got up, with one last look, and left her. Silently cursing, he returned to his truck and drove back to the base. Fortunately, General Hammond hadn't asked about him.