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Jack watched the inert form of his friend lying on the infirmary bed. It had been so close, so, so close… actually, according to Janet, the archaeologist wasn’t out of the woods yet.
The colonel shuddered as the events from two days ago replayed in his mind on a continuous loop; the team stepping into the apparently tranquil planet and heading to the temple, Daniel touching the symbols on the wall looking for the combination that would open the stony door, Daniel triggering the bobby trap, Daniel lying on the ground with a spear stuck on his chest… and the blood, so much blood, so much… Daniel’s jaw clenching in agony, his eyes looking at him through a veil of pain and terror, Teal’c taking the wounded archaeologist in his arms and running like a bat out of hell.
“It’s so frustrating not being able to do anything to help,” Sam said as she stroked her friend’s icy hand.
“Well, Fraiser said talking to him could help.” Jack scrubbed his face.
“Yeah, well, I meant doing something more… practical.”
“Right now, I would throw myself into an opening wormhole if I knew that would save his life.”
Sam looked at her CO, a frown scrunching her face.
“You… you'd die to save him?”
“In a heartbeat,” Jack said earnestly.
“You… you said the same about me once.” Her frown deepened.
“I didn’t change my mind,” Jack said, his eyes never leaving the unconscious form of his friend.
“But… I mean, what you said that time…” Sam babbled. “I assumed… did I get it wrong?”
“Which part?” He looked at her now.
“Well, I uh, I understood you have certain… feeling for me. Sir,” she gulped.
“I might,” he sighed.
“But… Daniel…”
“I might have certain feelings for him, too,” the colonel admitted.
“But he's a man!” she exclaimed in shock.
“Believe me, I noticed it.” Jack refocused his attention on the wounded man.
"But you can't have these kinds of feelings for both of us!" she exclaimed, totally puzzled.
“I know.”
“You… you must solve this,” she urged him.
“Any idea of how to do it?" He sighed.
“Well, for instance,” she said with a frown, “if we were facing a life-threatening situation and you could save only one of us, who would you choose?”
Jack gazed at the major, and suddenly everything became crystal clear. It was so clear that he couldn't comprehend how he had hesitated for so long. He looked at Sam and smiled. It wasn’t a lover's smile, but the smile of someone who has found peace.
“You know, Carter? Daniel would have never, ever in a million years asked me that.”
Sam closed her eyes as she realized that Jack had made his choice. She bowed her head and took a deep breath. She turned around and left, carrying her broken fantasy with her.
The end