Disclaimer:
I do not own Stargate SG-1. That honour belongs to MGM.
The Next Adventure
"I think we're losing her…"
Sam opened her eyes. She was standing in the Gate room. She had the distinct feeling she'd been somewhere else a minute before, but that feeling faded rapidly as she took in the scene before her. The final chevron locked into place, the wormhole connected, and with a whoosh the shimmering event horizon formed. At the bottom of the ramp stood the rest of SG-1, their faces illuminated by the eerie glow of the Stargate. Something surged inside of her at the sight of her team mates, and she smiled as she surveyed the group, tears pricking the back of her eyes.
Daniel stood there, dressed in his BDU's and with his trade mark broad brim floppy hat and eager smile. He always had air of childlike innocence and compassion about him that he had held on to despite all that had happened. He believed that good lay at the core of humanity, his faith in that one principle was unshakable. His eyes lit up when he saw Sam and he waved "Hey Sam!" he called happily.
"Charging…."
Teal'c stood beside him. She had to resist the urge to run and embrace them. She didn't know why, but her smile got bigger. Teal'c had always been a pillar of strength to her. In the middle of a fire fight, in one of those stupid political stoushed the SGC got tangled up in, or even if she needed to talk to someone, Teal'c was always there, backing up her and the rest of SG-1.
The stoic Jaffa warrior also seemed pleased to see her, inclining his head in greeting as he said "Major Carter. Your presence means the mission can proceed".
Then her eyes locked with a pair of brown ones. Brown eyes which had seen more than their fair share of pain; but had made their peace with the world. Her breath caught. The look of serenity deep in his eyes…
But the flash was gone, and the next moment they were glinting with amusement - and something else?
Her heart lurched in her chest.
"Clear!"
"Finally made it, Carter?" Jack O'Neill asked with a smile tugging at his lips. He was dressed in his green BDU's, baseball cap pulled on casually, hands in pockets. Something niggled at the back of her mind. She nailed it – the P-90 her CO usually cradled was gone, but she immediately knew that weapons would not be needed on this mission.
"Looks like it, sir" she responded.
She joined the three men of SG-1 at the foot of the ramp. Taking a deep breath, the team stepped up the ramp. Sam was overwhelmed at the weight of the memories that crashed down on her she retraced these familiar steps – the joys, the sorrows, the anguish – a kaleidoscope of emotions she'd experienced in the past in this location. The feelings receded as she approached the gate. Sam didn't question why this mission was affecting her this way, she simply accepted it. The team stood paused for a moment in front of the event horizon, and she paused on the threshold, and glanced back. The Gateroom seemed fuzzy and indistinct. "You going to miss it?" a voice muttered in her ear. She looked at Jack…and suddenly understood.
"We've done all we can. She isn't going to make it."
"Stand down."
"No. I'm ready for the next adventure." She smiled up at him.
He smiled back.
"Good. You kept us waiting long enough!" Daniel exclaimed.
"Let us commence our journey" Teal'c said.
With that, Samantha Carter, Jack O'Neill, Daniel Jackson and Teal'c arm in arm stepped through the Stargate….
The doctors stared down at the peaceful face.
"She was the last" one of them said, "The last member of SG-1".
"But she lived to a grand old age" the other replied softly, as she drew the sheet up over the old lady's face.