A/N: I know I said that these stories would center around campfires off-world, but this episode was the first time we get a real Sam/Jack hug, and Jack comforting Sam as they realize they've been duped into believing Daniel is dead. I couldn't pass up the opportunity to tell a story and to move their relationship forward

Set during Fire and Water

Essence of Spirit

General Hammond was the last to leave the wake. He'd been pretty good about his car, considering. Siler had quietly and efficiently cleaned up the broken glass, then taped the edges of the window to protect the General until the window could be repaired. The party had gone on for a few hours more, some guests leaving and others arriving late.

Carter watched the SGC's commander leave, smiling faintly as Teal'c folded himself into the General's small sedan. She appreciated General Hammond offering to drive her teammate back to the base. She had wanted...needed...to stay a bit longer, and she didn't want to look too closely at her reasons. As the silver car's tail lights disappeared down the road, she closed the front door and stepped softly through the house. She eased open the back door, not wanting to disturb the Colonel, but needing to be near him. She took a moment to simply watch him. He taught her so much, this enigmatic commanding officer under whose command she'd been assigned. She knew he would never understand just how much she learned by simply watching him deal with whatever was thrown in their path.

Right now, however, her CO wasn't dealing well at all. He sat straddling the picnic bench, silhouetted against the fading light of the day, every line in his posture screaming defeat and exhaustion. One hand propped up his head, his arm resting heavily on the tabletop. In the other hand he held a long poker, with which he halfheartedly prodded the logs in the small stone fire pit. Harriman, Sam thought, or Davis, maybe, had wanted a fire; so, despite his discomfort and the flash of memories it evoked, O'Neill had built one.

With a final soft curse, the Colonel buried the tip of the poker in the embers and rubbed his hand through his hair. A faint sob carried across the lawn to Sam, and it was that sound broke her from her immobility. She carefully picked her way across the lawn to join him. Her feet damp from the settling evening dew, she slipped onto the bench next to him, her shoulder barely brushing his.

O'Neill sat silently for a few moments, head bent, his forearms resting on his thighs, hands dangling and still. He didn't acknowledge her presence, but he was grateful for it. He cleared his throat, wanting to say something...anything. If anyone had to stay, he was glad it was Carter. It had been his idea to host this wake, and it had seemed a good idea at first. As the party wore on, however, he'd had to force himself to be sociable, to be the host. Finally he'd exchanged a single glance with his Second and escaped to his rooftop observatory. From there he'd watched as Carter had simply and naturally taken over as hostess in his absence. She'd gone from person to person making sure they had what they required, listening when they wanted to share a Daniel anecdote, and giving a hug when someone seemed to need it. It was nice to have someone he could hand things over to, but now he felt a bit guilty about it.

"Thank you, Captain...thank you, Sam. For today, for stepping in. I just couldn't do–"

"You don't have to thank me, Sir. I'm glad I could–" Sam swallowed hard, realizing what she'd said. "I mean, it's okay, Sir. That's what we do. We're a team–" Again she was at a loss. Everything she said reminded her that Daniel wasn't there, reminded her of why they were here tonight. "You know, I keep expecting..."

"Yeah, me too."

"You okay?"

"No...not really."

"Me neither." Sam stopped, her breath catching. "You really scared me back there, you know." Seeing O'Neill's confused look, she continued. "Hockey stick? The General's car?"

"Oh. That. Sorry." O'Neill rocked his head back and forth, loosening the kinks. He leaned back and rested his elbows on the picnic table top, stretching his legs out and crossing them at the ankle. Darkness had swallowed them completely now, and beside him he could see Sam's face, her features softly kissed by the dying embers of the small fire Walter had insisted upon. He took a deep breath, taking in the damp smells of evening mixed with the soft fragrance that was Sam Carter. It was a sweet aroma to him, a dangerous one. She smelled different when they were off-world. Not better, not worse, but different. Off-world Sam Carter's scent was a sometimes heady combination of cotton, strawberry shampoo, and sweat overlaid with a just hint of dirt and the tang of gun oil. Good smells...Sam smells. A scent that always meant that she was nearby, and safe.

Safe.

Oh, God.

Carter heard O'Neill's breath catch again and she turned to face him. She knew his own pain was mirrored on her face and was grateful for the darkness that allowed them to...feel...without masks. She knew her emotions were out of control tonight, and worse, her feelings for her commanding officer were edging close to a line she couldn't ever cross. Despite that knowledge, she heard herself asking before she was aware she'd even formed the thought.

"Sir?"

"Hmm?"

"Would it...can I..." With a gulp she turned her face away and tried again, her words tumbling out almost too fast to be understood. "CanIhaveahug?"

It took Jack a second or two to sort through her request, to understand her rapid-fire question. When he did he simply reached for her, gathering her in his arms. He pulled her close, tucking her head against his shoulder and wrapping his arms tightly around her body. One hand slid to her waist while the other rose to caress her hair, pulling her even closer. He closed his eyes and buried his face into her neck, letting himself enjoy, for just a moment, the silken brush of her hair against his cheek. This close to her he was overwhelmed with the perfume that was on-Earth Sam Carter. As rich and textured as woman herself, Sam's essence was everything it was off-world and so very much more.

In that moment Jack knew that it was that richness of spirit which would get both of them through the next few days. He needed her every bit as much as she needed him and for a few minutes, in a quiet darkness of his back yard, they comforted each other.