Disclaimer: I dont own Stargate or any of the characters, no copyright infringement intended

Sam was ready to pass out on her lab table when she was pulled back to the present by shrill ringing of her cell phone.

"Carter" She answered almost mechanically.

"Is this Colonel Samantha Carter?"

"Yes, it is, how can I help you?"

"I'm officer Porter, with the San Diego police department. Ma'am, I have some unfortunate news for you."

Jack had been on his way to shoo Cater from her lab when he heard the most heart wrenching scream of his life.

"NOOOOOO! That's not true, it cant be!" Jack ran into Carter's lab and found her sobbing on the floor, her cell phone only a few feet from her, shattered. Acting on instinct he quickly pulled her onto his lap, cradling her like a small child. Rocking her back and fourth, while softly stroking her hair.

"Sam, what's wrong, tell me what happened." Sam was surprised by how natural it sounded when he called her by her name.

"They're dead!" Sam continued to cry as Jack held her tightly.

"Who, who's dead?"

"Mark and Kathy."

"Oh god, Sam I'm so sorry. When" Jack had never seen Carter cry like this, but losing the last of ones family would be pretty hard on anyone.

"This after noon, they were on their way to the hospital, Kathy was in labor." Sam was finally starting to calm down, but she didn't try to move from the secure grasp of her CO.

"Did..did the baby-"

"The baby lived, Alison and Jenna are with Kathy's parents now, but apparently Mark and Kathy gave me custody of all of them. Sir, I don't know what to do! I cant raise a teenager a little kid and a baby! I-"

"Yes you can Carter! What the hell kind of attitude is that! You blew up a sun for cryin out loud!"

"This is different Sir. This isn't just my life now, its theirs too. What if I mess up? What if I'm a terrible mom?"

"That's enough Colonel. Now, I know you're hurting, but these kids are going to need you, so, you ship out first thing tomorrow, I'm sending Teal'c and Daniel with you, and I'll come as soon as I can get General Hammond here to fill in for me."

"Sir, you don't have to do this, I'm a big girl you know."

"Yeah, but you don't always have to be strong Sam, you just lost your brother and your sister-in-law, and now you're about to become a mom. Plus, me, you, Daniel and Teal'c are a family, and this is what families do, we help each other." 'He did it again! He called me Sam, this is getting weird, nice but weird. Sam! What the hell! Your brother just died and you're contemplating over how weird it is that your CO is calling you by your first name! Get your priorities strait!' Jack was watching his 2IC as she was apparently having a mental argument with her self. Jack couldn't help but smile, he loved the way her nose wrinkled when she was thinking really hard about something.

"How about you go home and get some sleep, do you want to drive or would you like me to give you a ride?" Jack broke Sam from her silent musings.

"I don't want to be any trouble sir."

"You wont be. Anyways I was just on my way home when I figured I would shoo you out of your lab, so, if you're ready, we can go."

"Yeah, just let me shut off my computer and grab my cell-" Sam looked down at the remnants of her cell phone, let out a sigh and lowered her head. This was going to be a very long week.

"Shit."

"Excuse me?"

"Sorry sir, it's just that I broke another cell phone."

"Oh, yeah, I'll have Walter fill out the form to get you a new one."

"Don't worry sir, I have spares." Jack gave her one of his million dollar Jack O'Neill one-of-a-kind smiles.

"Of course you do."