Title: Objects in Motion
Author: DizzyDrea
Summary: Jack O'Neill decides to retire because there are more important things in his life than the Air Force. But he just can't stay away from the Stargate Program, no matter how hard he tries. And in truth, he hasn't tried very hard.
Notes: This is part one of a two part story, written during the tenth season of the show. I'm posting it now because it's just sitting on my hard drive, and I hate to see anything go to waste. My style and skill have evolved since I wrote this, so be warned. I haven't edited it at all, so some of the ideas for how the future unfolds are well out of date by now. So, consider this waaaay alternate universe. Also, this is the one and only time I have ever written Daniel/Vala. Not something I plan to repeat, so if you're a Daniel/Vala shipper, enjoy it while you can.
As for the inspiration, I began to think about how this show should end when it was announced that the tenth season would be the last. But as with all things, this story changed over time. Instead of this being the end of the series, it represents a possible ending sometime in the future. These stories were inspired by the Babylon 5 episodes "Objects in Motion"/"Objects at Rest." I've borrowed the episode names, but not the details of the plots.
Disclaimer: Stargate: SG-1 belongs to MGM and Gekko Productions, and anyone else who owns a piece of this thing. Fellas, you've done a bang-up job on this roller coaster ride. I salute you.

~o~

Newton's first law of motion states that an object in motion will tend to stay in motion and an object at rest will tend to stay at rest.

Daniel Jackson tugged at the collar of his dress shirt and fiddled with his tie, musing that even though he wasn't in the Air Force, since becoming involved with the Stargate program his life seemed to be continuously moving at a breakneck pace. He was amazed at how uncomfortable a suit had become during his time at the SGC. His life had changed so dramatically, going from the suit and tie academic to a pseudo-Indiana Jones almost overnight.

Utilities and BDUs had become his favored clothing, and yet today found him in the old familiar suit and tie. General Hank Landry, head of Stargate Command, had specified Service Dress as the uniform of the day. That didn't mean that Daniel had to dress up, but if there was a VIP coming, he certainly didn't want to look like he didn't belong.

"Daniel, you're tugging at that tie like it's strangling you."

Daniel didn't respond, mostly because he'd learned to tune Vala out. He continued to tug at his collar, trying to fix his tie so it would lie perfectly, without much success.

Vala Mal Doran rolled her eyes and regarded Daniel with exasperation from her place draped over the arm of a conference room chair. "You could just take it off, you know."

Daniel shook his head and said "No, I can't. Service Dress for the military means suit and tie for me. If I take off the tie, the suit will be incomplete."

"No one said you had to dress up today, you know," Vala returned. Her own outfit might have been considered scandalous, except for the fact that, being an alien, she really could get away with a tight-fitting, low cut leather jacket and tight leather pants.

"I know, but the General told Sam and Mitchell to wear their Class A's today, and I'd look like a real dork next to them if I showed up in fatigues."

Teal'c, who had been standing near the wall of the briefing room listening to the conversation, raised his eyebrow in curiosity. His own attire consisted of a tan suit and a brown dress shirt. He didn't think he looked odd without a tie, but since he hadn't learned how to tie one, he simply chose to go without. No one ever said anything. Still, the term Daniel had used confused him. "I am unfamiliar with the term 'dork', Daniel Jackson."

Daniel's head whipped around, regarding Teal'c with a bit of suspicion. Lately, whenever he said something like that, he was teasing, something he felt more and more comfortable doing as time had passed. Today, though, there was nothing but curiosity in his deep brown eyes.

"A dork? Hmmm…well, a dork is—it's a person who—it's when—" Daniel broke off, uncertain how to describe the concept of a schlemiel to someone with little idea of what it means to publicly embarrass oneself.

"It's a common American term for someone who embarrasses himself by doing or saying the socially inappropriate thing," Vala filled in.

Daniel's head whipped around the other direction to stare down at her in disbelief. "How did you-?"

"I can read, Daniel," she smirked.

"Right," Daniel rejoined, feeling even more like a dork for implying she couldn't find information without anyone's help.

"Daniel, quit fiddling with your tie. You look fine."

He looked up to find Colonel Samantha Carter walking into the briefing room, Lt Colonel Cameron Mitchell, commander of SG-1 hot on her heels, both looking well turned-out in their dress uniforms.

"I guess I'm a little out of practice tying these things," Daniel muttered as he yanked the knot out of the tie and prepared to retie it.

Sam crossed the room and took the ends of the tie from Daniel's hands. Expertly flipping the ends over and around each other, she had the perfect Windsor knot tied in mere seconds as he looked on in amazement.

"I used to tie my father's ties before he left the house for big meetings," she said by way of explanation. "My mother showed me how."

Daniel smiled tenderly at his friend. It was rare for her to share such a personal memory, and he was mindful of the depth of friendship they shared that allowed her to do so.

"Thanks," he smiled and squared his shoulders, finally feeling comfortable in his suit.

"Hey, where's the General?" Mitchell asked the room.

"General Landry is speaking to the President," came Teal'c's sedate reply.

"Well," everyone turned when they heard a loud clap and a voice behind them. General Hank Landry strode into the room, rubbing his hands together, a look of what could only be described as glee covering his face, a look that faded as soon as he entered the room. "Where's—"

Whatever he was about to say was cut off when General Jack O'Neill appeared at the top of the stairs leading from the control room.

"Jack!" Daniel exclaimed before the others could react. "What are you doing here?"

O'Neill smiled and took in the room. These were his friends, the people he valued most in life, and he missed seeing them. Ever since he'd moved to Washington DC, he'd had an empty spot in his life, and no amount of schmoozing and politicking with the Pentagon brass had distracted him from the fact that Colorado Springs was still home and these people his family.

Mentally shaking himself from his momentary reverie, he crossed the room to Daniel and accepted the handshake the other man offered. Teal'c, from his place near the wall, merely inclined his head in acknowledgement of his friend, a gesture O'Neill returned with a smile. Turning to the person he most wanted to see, Jack smiled at Sam and extended his hand.

"Good to see you again, sir," she said in a tone of voice that, despite her respectful words, held more intimacy than anyone realized. Since her return from commanding the Atlantis Expedition nearly a year ago, they had spent their time reacquainting themselves with each other, a task made easier when they were only two time zones away, instead of a galaxy away. In truth, part of what motivated Sam to return to the SGC wasn't so much the chance to take over the SGC Science Division, but being closer to Jack, and finally reaching for the brass ring she had coveted for so long.

"Good to be seen, Colonel," Jack replied in his customary O'Neill bluster. He winked at his former 2IC, letting her know the bluster was just for show.

"Jack, glad you could make it," Hank Landry pulled his friend's attention away.

Jack turned to his old friend and shook his hand as he said, "Wouldn't miss it for the world."

Daniel's brow furrowed in confusion. "Wouldn't miss what, Jack?"

Jack turned back to his friend and smiled broadly. "You'll see," was all he would say in return.

"So, let's get this show on the road," General Landry spoke. "Attention to orders!"

Suddenly, Sam and Mitchell came to attention, eyes forward and unseeing. Daniel looked slightly amused at the pair of them standing stock-still, while Vala continued to lounge sideways in her chosen chair, one leg dangling over the arm, a look of total boredom on her face. Teal'c, on the other hand, stood in respectful silence, ever watchful, understanding that for the Taur'i military, discipline was as important as it had been for him as First Prime all those years ago.

"Colonel Samantha Carter, front and center," came General Landry's order.

Sam strode forward, maintaining her erect posture, saluting when she arrived in front of the General.

General Landry smiled and looked to General O'Neill, who moved to stand next to his friend. Reaching into his inside jacket pocket, he retrieved a small black case and a folded sheet of paper. Unfolding the paper, he began to read its contents.

"Colonel Samantha Carter, for services rendered to the United States Air Force, in recognition of your efforts in defeating enemies foreign and alien, and protecting the planet Earth and its inhabitants, both here and abroad, from destruction, you are hereby promoted to Brigadier General of the United States Air Force, effective immediately."

Shock was evident on Sam's face as the orders were read to her. This was the last thing she had expected. It felt as though she had only just settled into her job heading the science division. Now she would be facing an entirely new command, since promotions to General almost never came without one.

Jack smiled at Sam as he prepared to administer the oath of office. This had been his best idea yet, and one that was surprisingly easy to accomplish. Folding the letter, he spoke into the room.

"Colonel Carter, please raise your right hand."

Sam raised her hand, eyes forward, still trying to comprehend that her life had just taken a huge turn. She almost missed the beginning of the oath, but having recited it before, she filled in the blanks from memory.

"I, Colonel Samantha Carter, do solemnly swear that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign or domestic," she said, repeating the words Jack spoke. She paused with a slight smile at all the times she'd done just that, only the enemies she'd defended against were so foreign that they seemed more like the ramblings of a demented science fiction writer.

Continuing the oath, she repeated the final part. "That I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; that I take this obligation freely, without any mental reservations or purpose of evasion; and that I will well and faithfully discharge the duties of the office upon which I am about to enter, so help me God."

Jack smiled even broader as he opened the box he held, revealing the two stars nestled inside. "These were General Hammond's first stars. He gave them to me when I was promoted, and now they're yours."

Sam's eyes misted up at the incredible gesture. It was a longstanding military tradition to pass on your rank insignia to someone younger at their promotion. The fact that George Hammond, the original commander of the SGC, was like a second father to her, and that Jack was, well, Jack, made this even more special.

General O'Neill looked over Sam's shoulder and gestured for Mitchell to move forward. Together, the men removed the silver eagles from Sam's epaulets and pinned the new stars in place. With that done, Mitchell and O'Neill stepped back and both men saluted her for the first time as a General.

Sam almost lost it right there. She returned the salutes, first General O'Neill's and then turning, she saluted Lt Colonel Mitchell. No sooner had her arm returned to her side than Daniel was in front of her, pulling her into a hug.

"Congratulations, Sam!" he exclaimed, almost more excited than she was.

Congratulations were given all around, even Teal'c coming forward to hug his friend.

"So, Sam, where's your next posting?" Daniel asked the inevitable question. Rank of this type always came with a command of some sort, and Daniel dreaded learning that his friend would be leaving them.

Sam turned to Jack and raised her eyebrow in a gesture that reminded him of Teal'c. Jack, who seemed to be smiling a lot this day, smiled even wider.

"Effective immediately, General Carter is to take command of the SGC," Jack spoke to the group.

Sam's shock only deepened. She turned to General Landry and asked, "If you don't mind my asking, where are you going, General?"

General Landry gave a smile and a small laugh. "I'm being booted up to the Pentagon."

"Wait—The Pentagon. Which office?" Daniel asked, somewhat suspiciously.

General Landry exchanged a conspiratorial look with General O'Neill before responding. "Homeworld Security."

All eyes turned to Jack, the current occupant of the Homeworld Security office. Jack just shrugged and said, "I'm retiring."

"Third time's a charm, Jack?" Daniel rejoined, a small smirk on his face.

Jack shrugged again and simply said, "It's time."

"When is it effective?" Sam wanted to know. The future had been slowly inching forward, and now what she most wanted in the world was within reach. She had to know just how close it might be.

Jack looked down at his watch and then back up at Sam. Everyone else disappeared from the room and it seemed like it was just the two of them in this moment. "About five minutes ago," was his quiet response.

Sam took a sharp breath, her blue eyes lighting up at the prospect of what they might be free to do now that the regulations were no longer an issue.

"Well, I guess this calls for a celebration," Vala announced, pulling Sam away from her thoughts. All eyes turned to her as she spoke. "What? Isn't that what you humans do when you get good news?"

"I believe you are correct, Vala Mal Doran," Teal'c intoned.

Sam, for her part, simply smiled at her friend. A party did sound like a good idea. And it would give her the chance to spend some time with Jack.

Jack glanced at Sam and gave a small wink and a smile, letting her know that he knew where her thoughts had gone, and that his were riding a similar path. The time for that was coming, he mused, and sooner than she probably thought.

"Oh, we're not quite done yet," General Landry admonished, bringing Jack promptly back to the present.

"More?" Sam asked, regarding the General suspiciously.

"Yes, General, more," rejoined Landry, enjoying being the first to address her by her new rank. Turning to Mitchell, he said, "Lt Colonel Cameron Mitchell, front and center."

Mitchell, having just seen this play out, knew what was coming. Coming to attention, he turned towards his commanding officer and waited for his new orders.

General Landry pulled a folded piece of paper from his jacket pocket and read its contents, mimicking exactly what General O'Neill had just done for Sam.

"Lt Colonel Cameron Mitchell, for services rendered to this command, your country and your planet, you are hereby promoted to the rank of Colonel, United States Air Force, and Second in Command of Stargate Command, effective immediately."

Folding the paper, the General then held out his hand as Jack dropped Sam's abandoned silver eagles into his waiting grasp, noting her approving look as he did so. Holding them in his hand, he administered the oath of office and then, with Sam's help, pinned them on.

Mitchell saluted all three Generals, his head spinning. "Do I get to keep command of SG-1?" he blurted out, unable to contain himself. He loved going through the 'gate and didn't want to give that up if he didn't have to.

"You'll have to sort that out with your new commander, Colonel," Landry demurred, turning to Sam with the smile of a cat that just ate the canary.

Sam smiled and shook her head, her blonde hair dancing around her face. She was being set up to make her first command decision, a mere ten minutes after she'd taken the oath of office. Nice.

Turning to Mitchell, she said, "Cam, I don't want to have to replace you on SG-1, so you get to keep your team."

Mitchell gave a whoop, and then remembering himself and where he was, smoothed his uniform and nodded respectfully. "Thank you, ma'am."

Everyone laughed at Mitchell's exuberance, but most of them understood just how thrilling a trip through the 'gate could be and didn't begrudge him the happiness at being able to keep doing it.

"So, now that that's over with, I say we all take the rest of the day off and gather at my place for a BBQ," Jack clapped his hands together and rubbed them with relish.

"Uh, Jack," Landry looked at his friend. "You've retired."

"Right," Jack replied, a frown on his face.

"So, as commanding officer of this facility—"

"Uh, General," Sam interrupted, "you're not actually in command here anymore."

"Right," Landry echoed Jack's statement of a moment before.

All eyes turned to Sam, who smiled at the thought of making her second command decision.

"It would appear that we won't be getting much done today, so I say we take General O'Neill up on his offer. I call this a half day."

Mitchell whooped for the second time, Vala rolling her eyes at his juvenile behavior. Daniel and Teal'c simply smiled at what they knew would be Sam's more relaxed command style. And Jack rocked from his heels to his toes and back again, smiling a small, enigmatic smile, looking forward to really getting this day started.

~o~

The party, which had been going strong for the better part of the afternoon, was finally beginning to wind down. What had started as an informal gathering of friends and colleagues had blossomed into a full-blown backyard BBQ. Word had spread somehow that General Jack O'Neill was retiring, and so at some point, nearly all the SGC personnel that could get away had stopped by.

Jack was glad he'd opted to keep his house instead of selling it as he'd originally intended to. He hadn't visited Cheyenne Mountain as often as he would have liked, but having a house to come home to, instead of being forced to stay in VIP quarters deep underground when he did visit, had been worth the small sacrifice. And now that he was retired, he had a place to call home again, among his friends and family. All in all, it had turned out better than he'd planned.

The afternoon had faded towards evening, and now, with the sun beginning to set, only a few remained. All of the original SG-1 were still there, plus the newest members of the team and a few others, still swapping their favorite stories on 'gate travel. General Landry had come for a short time but had long since returned to Cheyenne Mountain, commenting that someone had to "mind the store." He insisted that Sam stay and enjoy the party, reminding her that she would be working harder than she ever had in her life soon enough.

Jack had enjoyed it all immensely. It had been good to spend his first few hours of retirement surrounded by the people he considered most important in his life. But as the afternoon had worn on, he had become more contemplative. And so he had retreated to the porch, nursing his beer and thinking about the future.

Well, at least one part of his future, he mused, smiling wistfully. Sam. He didn't know how he was going to do it yet, but he planned to talk to her before he returned to Washington to pack up his office. He didn't want to think about retirement without her beside him. They had waited too long, he thought. It was about time they got to be happy. He just hoped she still wanted to be happy with him.

"Here you are," Sam said, climbing the steps to the porch, interrupting his thoughts.

"Here I am," Jack confirmed.

"I was wondering where you'd gotten to, sir," she commented.

Jack winced as he took a sip of his beer. "I'll make a deal with you, Carter," he began. "You stop calling me 'sir' and I won't call you Carter anymore."

"Sorry, s…Jack," Sam apologized as she boosted herself onto the railing. "Old habits die hard, I guess."

Jack leaned back in his seat and sipped at his beer. It was these quiet moments that Jack missed the most, he mused. Didn't get any of those in Washington, not that he'd expected to, but he was looking forward to finding out what quietude felt like.

"Penny for your thoughts," Sam cut through his musings.

Jack gave a small smile. "Is that all they're worth these days?"

Sam chuckled. "I've got a five in my wallet, if that's more to your liking," she rejoined.

Jack heaved a sigh and took another sip of his beer. "Just thinking about the future," he hedged.

"The future," Sam echoed. "Heavy thoughts."

Jack gave a small smile. "The future."

"So…why did you decide to retire?" Sam asked, figuring that was as good a place as any to start talking about 'the future'.

Jack leaned forward and rolled the bottle between his palms. His face took on a contemplative look as he tried to find the words to explain. "I've been a soldier most of my life," he began. "I entered the Air Force right out of high school, became a Special Forces operative after graduation, and went to war. I've done things for this country that most people don't even know about."

"You're a good soldier, Jack" she reminded him.

He glanced up at her before returning to stare at his bottle. "It isn't the only thing I'm good at, though," he declared quietly. "When I met Sarah, I wasn't looking for anything complicated. But she wasn't like any other girl I'd ever met, and suddenly I found myself wanting to do things I'd never wanted to do in my life, like protect her, make a home with her, have a family."

Sam watched Jack in the fading light. He was sitting right in front of her, but his eyes told her he was a million miles away, in a time and place far removed from his porch. He tended to be a private man, keeping his private life separate from his public one. But he was opening up to her in a way he'd never done before, and it sent a small thrill up her spine to know that she was sharing this moment with him.

Concern flitted briefly through her at the thought that he'd brought up Sarah because he wanted her back now that he'd retired. She squashed that thought before it had time to fully form. She knew how he felt about her, and about Sarah. She wasn't going to start doubting him now.

"I miss it, you know," he continued, oblivious to Sam's thoughts. "I miss being married. Miss having someone to share my life with. The SGC has been good for me, gave me a home and a family that I thought I'd never have again. But it's time for me to move on and find those things again outside the Air Force."

Jack looked up to find Sam's eyes on him, studying him intently. He'd thought of nothing but her since he'd decided to retire. They had broken just about every rule in the book in his years with the Stargate program, but fraternization seemed to be the one rule that neither of them wanted to touch. Now was their chance, though, and Jack was determined to take it.

Rising from his chair, he covered the two steps to the railing, coming to a stop right in front of Sam and setting his beer bottle down on the railing beside her. She turned to face him, her legs dangling over the railing, eyes full of questions and heart ready to burst. She'd thought they might finally get a chance to be together after Jack retired, but somehow she didn't expect it to happen the same day he announced it.

"I retired, Sam, because there are more important things in my life than the Air Force," he told her, holding her gaze, trying to communicate with his eyes the depth of emotion in his heart. "I retired, Sam, because I want to be with you."

Sam couldn't believe her ears. Had he just said he wanted to be with her? No dancing around, no innuendo, no veiled meanings. Just the honest truth. She thought her heart might burst from happiness. Her hands reached out of their own volition, running across his chest, up to his shoulders and around his neck, tugging his face down to hers.

At the first, soft touch of their lips, both of them sighed, as if coming home from a long, hard journey. Jack's hands slid around her waist, holding her securely to him as his lips caressed hers. When her lips parted beneath his, he smiled slightly before dipping his tongue into her mouth, tasting her sweetness. Stars seemed to explode behind their eyes, though the kiss was sweet and slow, each savoring the taste and feel of the other, a moment long denied but somehow always fated to be.

When they parted, they stared for long moments into each others' eyes, drinking in the adoration and desire clearly written there. Neither one of them moved, for fear of breaking the spell.

"I love you, Sam," Jack whispered, caressing her face with his hand.

"And I love you, Jack," Sam whispered, marveling at the way those words fell so easily from her lips.

Jack dipped his head and touched her lips in another kiss, this one more passionate but no less loving. They broke apart again, their foreheads together, both reveling in the freedom to simply touch each other.

Jack lifted his head and stared once more into Sam's face, memorizing every detail of how she looked in this moment, wanting to store it away for all time.

"Hey Jack, I was wondering…oh, OH!" Daniel ground to a halt at the top of the steps, realizing too late what he'd interrupted.

Jack merely smiled, never taking his eyes off Sam's. "Daniel?" he queried.

"Uh, yes Jack?" Daniel replied.

"Go away."

"Right," Daniel confirmed, backing away from his two friends, a big smile on his face.

~o~

The stars were twinkling overhead by the time Jack and Sam rejoined the group. By now the only people left were the original members of SG-1, plus Cameron Mitchell and Vala Mal Doran, the others having long since gone home or back to the base.

Jack and Sam were sharing a chaise lounge, Sam stretched out between Jack's legs, leaning against his chest, with Jack's arms surrounding her. If anyone had noticed their easy familiarity, they didn't say anything. This had been years in the making, and for everyone present, it was a good sight to see.

"So, Jack," Daniel began. "What are you going to do with your retirement? Go fishing?"

"Actually, he's going to be working for me," came a familiar voice.

"General Hammond!" Daniel exclaimed.

"I heard there was a party going on. Thought I'd come join the fun."

"You're always welcome, George," Jack replied with a wave of his hand to welcome their old friend into the group.

"I hear congratulations are in order, General Carter," Hammond indicated his friend as he took a seat.

"Thank you, sir," she replied with a smile.

"You don't have to call me 'sir' anymore, you know," he reminded her with a wink.

Sam smiled and blushed slightly, inclining her head to glance up at Jack. He squeezed her around the middle as he met her gaze, a smile on his face.

"I've been hearing that a lot today," she responded. "I guess it'll take a while to get used to the new rank."

"That it will," Hammond observed, taking in the way Sam and Jack were snuggled up together on the lounger. He smiled at the thought that these two had finally, if appearances were to be believed, found their way to each other.

Jack had told him when he'd come to his old boss and mentor to talk about retirement, that it was time he did something about his relationship with Sam. He felt he had done all he could do for his country in Homeworld Security, and it was time to move on to the next phase of his life. Hammond had agreed wholeheartedly.

"So, Jack's going to work for you after he retires," Daniel questioned, breaking into Hammond's musings.

"To be accurate, we will be going into business together," Jack supplied, causing all eyes to turn to him.

"Are you not retired, General Hammond?" Teal'c wanted to know.

Hammond chuckled. Retirement had to be a strange idea for someone who's working life was probably going to end in an untimely death at a young age, until he'd come to Earth.

"This is actually an idea I've been working on for some time, but hadn't had the opportunity to implement yet," Hammond informed the group.

"It seems he's had this idea since he sat in my chair at the Homeworld office," Jack smirked. "He just doesn't want me to retire."

"So what will you be doing, sir?" Cam asked.

"We've started a company called GO Ltd.," General Hammond announced, as if that explained everything.

"What's that stand for?" Vala wanted to know, impatient to get to the core of the idea.

"It stands for 'Global Offshore'," Jack inserted. "We'll be providing security for off-world science teams, to take the load off the regular SG teams."

"It's an interesting idea," Cam put in. "Like the private contractors the military uses overseas. So the regular Army doesn't have to pull escort duty."

"Exactly," Hammond confirmed. "I realized a while back that, at some point, we would need to contract out off-world security in order to maintain operational readiness among the SG teams. If we were stretched too thin, we wouldn't be able to defend against an enemy attack. I proposed this to the President, who agreed one hundred percent."

"But the timing for starting something like this has been less than great," Jack continued. "With ongoing threats from the Goa'uld, the Ori and the Replicators, we simply didn't have the resources to dedicate to getting this off the ground. Now that things have calmed down, we should be able to implement the program with a minimum of fuss."

"Does General Landry know about this?" Cam asked.

"He's been briefed by the President," Hammond confirmed. "As the new head of Homeworld Security, this program will fall under his office, so we had to get his buy-in for it to work."

"So how is this going to work, General?" Daniel asked.

"Basically, I'm going to run the office and handle recruitment, and Jack's going to take on field training and operations. We'll have regular teams, called GO teams, manned by former Special Forces personnel that will go out with science teams to provide security. It should be a seamless transition."

"So you're not really leaving the Stargate program, are you, Jack?" Daniel asked, a smile tugging at his mouth.

"No, Daniel, you can't get rid of me that easily," Jack smiled.

Daniel's eyes narrowed. Sam had been silent throughout the exchange, and he suspected she knew more about this than she was letting on. "You knew about this, didn't you, Sam," he accused her.

Sam smiled at being caught. "Jack told me a little while ago. He wanted me to hear it from him. And the upside is he'll be relocating back to the Springs."

Daniel suspected that was the part that Sam liked the most. He smiled once more at the thought that things seemed to be working out well for his two friends.

"O'Neill, I would be happy to help you design a training program for your recruits," Teal'c offered.

"Thanks, buddy," Jack replied. "I'd be grateful for your expertise."

"I'd be happy to help out too," Cam joined in. "These guys aren't going to need much military training, from what I gather, but it's still a shock going through that blue puddle for the first time."

Jack smiled as he remembered his first time through the gate. And Daniel's, and Sam's. It would be a bit of a shock, and that wouldn't be the only one they'd be getting. He had his work cut out for him.

"Thanks, gentlemen. With such friends, we can't fail," he blustered, touched by all the support they were receiving.

"I propose a toast," Vala lifted her beer. "To the future."

"The future," came from those around the group.

Each one took a sip from his or her drink, and contemplated the future. There were big changes in store, but they had always been up to anything thrown at them. With excitement creating a low hum, chatter resumed and the group set about reacquainting themselves with each other and laying out a plan for the future.

…continued…