PART 11
�Must�ve been something important for her to risk those memories,� he thought.
He had gotten her stuff quickly and had wanted to get out of there. When he�d turned from the closet to urge her out of the room, Sam had been standing only two feet from the bed. She�d been staring at it, obviously thinking about what had happened there. The emotions passed over her face with seemingly lightening speed. Even as he saw the terror grip her, he had tried to pull her from it. She hadn�t wanted his comfort, nor had she wanted to leave until she�d gotten what she came for.
Shrugging at the thought that he�d never understand women, let alone Sam, Jack followed Sam back down the hall. She had stopped by the couch, a look of indecision on her face.
�Hey,� he said as casually as he could, �why don�t you crash at my place for a while? I�ve got a whole spare bedroom that hasn�t seen company since the last time Daniel drank himself into a stupor.�
�And that would be when?� Sam asked with a smirk, �Two days ago?�
Jack laughed and then quickly sobered.
�He was actually there about four weeks ago. He was a great support that morning you were first in the hospital and in the coma. Daniel kept telling me to have faith that I didn�t have, hold on to hope I couldn�t find. He was fantastic while he was there, but that night after you came out of the coma, he lost control. He went to my house and got shit-faced on my couch watching the hockey game. You really scared him, Carter. You really scared all of us.�
The silence lengthened as he thought about how close he�d come to losing her. Jack shook himself mentally before he continued.
�My guest room is open . . . What do you say? Lumpy second bed with good friend nearby just in case? Or some cold, unfriendly rock of a bed in some hotel by your lonesome?� he suggested with just a hint of a smile.
He knew that she needed someone she could trust nearby tonight and that Doc had ordered that she not be alone. He also knew he had to leave it up to her, make it her choice or she�d never be content the entire time she was there.
�Well,� she said with just a hint of that old impishness, �since I really don�t have a choice--�
�Sam . . . You always have a choice,� he interrupted.
�I know , sir,� she sighed, �Thank you . . . but I know Janet gave you strict orders that I�m not to be alone for at least a few days. . .Either way, I really appreciate your offer and if you really don�t mind, I would like to take you up on your offer. I won�t sleep if I stay here, even on the couch; and well, I really don�t relish the thought of a hotel after four weeks of being alone in the hospital. I�d really appreciate the company if it�s . . . well . . . if it�s someone I know I can trust.�
�Ah, Sam,� he sighed, �You do trust me. I�m glad to know that.�
He let out the breath he hadn�t realized he�d been holding.
�Great!� he said brightly now, �Then let�s go!�
With that, he turned, duffle bag in hand, and walked out the door, Sam a half step behind him, as usual.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
�Well,� Jack said quietly as he dropped Sam�s stuff on the bed, �I�ll let you get settled. I need to hit the hay since I have to be at a briefing with General Hammond early in the morning. He�s got a special non-science mission for SG-1.�
�Really?� Same said eagerly, �Something non-scientific? Are you sure? Any way I might be able to help?�
�No! No!� he laughed, �Doc threatened my butt with the biggest needle she can find if you show your face on base before Tuesday. She promised worse if you do anything more than sleep, eat and heal before Sunday.�
�But it�s only Wednesday!� she protested, �What am I going to do for a whole week?�
�Sleep . . . eat . . . heal. That�s an order, Major. Doc Frasier�s orders . . . and mine,� he said seriously.
She turned away, gazing out the small window in the corner of the room. Jack stood in the doorway, watching her. �God, even with an air cast on her arm, leg in a cast and the fading bruises, she�s still beautiful,� he thought, then, �Don�t go there, O�Neill,� he told himself. It was too soon after her trauma for her to think about a relationship that she shouldn�t be having, and even if she was interested, he knew there was no way, not with their obligations to the SGC.
In the growing silence of the room, Sam sighed. Her shoulders hunched and she leaned her head on the coolness of the window pane.
�It�s quiet here,� she said softly, �Nice. Nothing but good memories . . . Thanks, sir . . . for inviting me to stay . . . I . . . I don�t know that I would have slept at . . . at . . .�
�At your place . . . Yeah, I kinda figured,� he said gently as he walked up behind her, �Listen, Carter . . . ya need to sleep. C�mon . . . bed down and I�ll take watch, if that�ll help.�
She glanced up and smiled at him, visibly relaxing just a bit.
�Thanks, sir,� she said, �That would help.�
�Good,� he said, �I�ll be right down the hall. Feel free to make yourself at home. And call if you need me.�
With that, Jack beat a hasty retreat from the room before he followed his instinct to hug her until all her horrors went away.