Hi everyone, sorry this is a few days late, work was hectic. Will respond to all reviews personally but a general thanks to all. For those who expected a longer story from me, this is not it. This is the end of this particular story but 2 more to come in the very near future. Hope you enjoy the ending.

Chapter 3

The next morning came and neither Daniel nor Teal'c had slept. They'd both been keeping an eye on one of their team mates, occasionally swapping places through the night.

Daniel was with Sam when she awoke. "Daniel? What happened?" she asked, her voice quiet and scratchy.

"What do you remember?" Daniel leaned over and spoon fed her some ice chips, trying to postpone the inevitable conversation.

"I remember being on the planet. I remember what happened with the Colonel. We came back here and I spoke to the General. I was dreaming… about Jack, he…" She suddenly went pale and looked at her wrists. "It's okay, Daniel, I remember now, he doesn't want me." Sam closed her eyes and tears began to fall rapidly down her face.

Daniel held her hand and wiped her face. "It's okay, Sam. Everything's going to be okay."

In the infirmary Jack shot up in bed, suddenly wide awake and holding his head. He looked around and saw only Teal'c. "Did we get drunk last night, T? I have a stinking hangover."

"We did not, O'Neill."

"What did happen last night then, T?"

"Do you not remember, O'Neill?"

"We went to a planet and I had some really weird food. I remember that clearly. Then it all gets a bit blurry. Something about Carter and…"

Jack shot out of the bed and ran to the isolation room. He ordered the guard to open the door, barely waiting for it to open before he darted in. He stood, dumbstruck, as he saw Carter on the bed, wailing, with Daniel holding her. "Oh, God," he whispered, "What have I done?" He quickly turned and left the room, watched by Teal'c and Daniel.

Jack ran. He almost escaped the mountain and, had he not been in a hospital gown, he would have been out of there. However, Hammond caught him and forced him to remain in his quarters. Now he had nothing to do but sit and brood over what he'd done, what he'd said, what Carter had done, and what a complete mess his life – and probably career – was in. He had no concept of how to deal with it. If he were honest, he didn't really think it could be solved. Not for him, anyway. He deserved to be jobless and alone, he deserved the pain. But not Carter, not Sam. He put his head into his hands as memories of the last 24 hours assailed him. He could see only one solution to the problem. He got off the bed and called Hammond.

By the next day Sam was awake and was now fully aware that she had been drugged. She felt calmer today, less likely to do herself damage. She was due at the psychiatrist in 20 minutes. She knew he wouldn't believe that she suddenly felt better but logic told her that if a chemical was the cause it could have already left her system.

Sam was still a little fuzzy on some of the details and her thought processes were a little slow. However, she did know two things for certain: one, she didn't love Pete, he'd just been an excuse to get away from the Colonel; and two, she never wanted to see the Colonel ever again. So, with those two thoughts firmly in her mind, Sam got dressed, having decided it was time to explain all to the 'head' doc and move on with her life away from the SGC.

Daniel and Teal'c arrived at the infirmary in time to walk Sam to her evaluation. Both of them understood how daunting the experience could be. They both hugged her as she got off the bed, relieved to see that she looked better than she had the day before. Daniel shuffled nervously; support was not the only reason they'd come. They had news.

"Err, Sam, before you get going there's something we need to tell you, something you need to know." Daniel moved, shuffling nervously, unsure of how to continue but aware that Sam needed to be informed.

"Yesterday we contacted the planet where you and Jack were drugged. We spoke to the scientist who helped us to escape and he confirmed that Jack was given a drug. Do you remember the old guy? The one who got really mad?" Sam nodded. "Well, he's a seer or something. He knew you'd pick Jack and wanted you for himself. He gave Jack a drug to make him hate you and planned to take you for himself when Jack refused you." Sam's eyes widened at that piece of news. "Jack didn't mean what he said to you, you know. He ahh… he hates himself now."

Sam sat back on the bed, unsure if her legs would hold her up. She stared at Daniel, trying to work out how to process this new information in her already jumbled mind. "He didn't mean it?" Sam clarified with a quiet voice.

"No, Sam, he didn't. I promise," Daniel restated.

"Where is he?" Sam asked, her voice getting a little stronger. Daniel squirmed and even Teal'c moved nervously.

"Daniel, where is he?" Sam's voice was now firm and demanding.

"He left, Sam, handed in his resignation. Said he didn't feel fit to serve anymore."

"When did he go? Where did he go?" Sam asked, getting agitated.

"About half an hour ago and home, I think. He wasn't talking much," Daniel replied.

Sam jumped off the bed and ran to the door, almost colliding with the psychiatrist as he came to look for her. "I'm fine," she stated, running past him. "And, even if I'm not, you can't help me. Only he can."

For the first time in her military life Sam ignored an order from a superior officer and effectively went AWOL. Of course, since it was General Hammond calling and he knew exactly where she was going, he chose to ignore it.

Sam left the base as quickly as she could, got in her car, and sped to Jack's house. 'He didn't mean it,' the mantra kept playing in her head. She pulled up behind his pickup with a spray of stones and noticed all the boxes in the back of his truck. Jack was packing, leaving! Sam sat in her car, unsure what to say or do now that she was there.

Jack came out of the front door carrying more stuff. He stopped dead seeing her car. He hadn't expected her to come and he had no idea what to say to her. He just wanted to get away from it all. Jack took a deep breath, sighed, and began to walk down the steps to his truck.

All Sam's doubts about the last few days slammed back into her mind when she saw him. She needed to hear it from him, whether he really did mean it all or not. Sam got out of her car and slowly walked towards Jack as he placed the boxes he was carrying in his truck, steeling herself for the conversation to come.

"Did you mean it?" Sam leapt in feet first, foregoing all the usual pleasantries.

Jack spun around to face her, knowing exactly what she was talking about: the comments he'd made in the cell, the ones where he'd told her that she meant nothing to him. His distress at her question and the obvious memory they brought up was written all over his face. Sam almost didn't need him to answer but she waited.

Jack looked directly into Sam's eyes as he answered simply and honestly, "No, I didn't mean it." He took a breath, ran his fingers through his hair, and realised he'd have to explain further. "I'm sorry for what I said, sorry I hurt you. I'm going to the cabin. I need to get away." He could no longer look at her so resumed packing the truck.

Sam stood watching him for a few minutes. He was really going to go. Her mouth got dry but she needed to say something. Then, in a flash, it all became clear, so she decided to take a leap of faith. "Can I come?" she asked tentatively.

Jack whipped around with a look of complete disbelief on his face. He didn't say anything and Sam, feeling even more nervous, began to babble.

"I need to get away, too, and I was hurt… but I can only get over it with you." She couldn't say any more. She'd bared everything to him and if he rejected her now she'd completely crumble.

Jack turned back to the truck, still not saying anything.

Sam could feel her heart breaking, even more than yesterday when she'd had that chemical running through her. This was real.

Sam turned to walk back to her car. "Goodbye, Jack," she said quietly and started to walk quickly, determined not to fall apart in front of him.

"Wait, Sam!" Jack ran over to her, slight desperation in his voice.

"What, Jack?" Sam spun towards him, anger flashing in her blue eyes. Jack was still standing facing her, not saying anything.

Sam was infuriated. "You can't keep doing this. I came to deal with things between us and you leave me hanging. Choose, Jack. You need to choose now because I'm leaving now and I won't be back!"

Sam was mad. In fact, Jack didn't think he'd ever seen her as angry as she was now. He knew he needed to say something, and quick. He looked at her and like a blinding flash it came to him. "You. I choose you, every time," he said quietly, moving towards her and cupping her chin. He stared into her eyes, trying to convey all the emotions he was feeling for her. "Please come with me," he finally said.

Sam had tears in her eyes. There was nothing she could do but hug him and nod into his shoulder. She was exhausted, emotionally and mentally. Jack could tell she was struggling to hold it together.

"Let's go inside. We can leave tomorrow after we pick up some things for you." Jack pulled away from her, took her hand, and began to pull her towards his house.

Sam suddenly pulled back from him, then leaned up and kissed him. She broke away and giggled.

"I need to call the mountain first. It's possible I'm AWOL!"

"Oh, crap." Jack took Sam's hand back and pulled her to the house. They'd get that little wrinkle sorted out then head off to the cabin. Jack could never have expected such a horrific mission would turn out so well.