A/n: I don't own, please don't sue.

I almost didn't think this was going to go anywhere, but uh, wow, you gus liek it and I'm glad

Mark was dead. Karen and Andrew too.

It was a car accident. They were on their way to Grace's science fair.

Jack watched as Sam went into go-to mode. He watched from what had been his brother-in-law's couch as she ran about making arrangements, calling an uncle he never even knew she had, her mother's brother, dealing with the banks, talking to the school district.

Grace had hardly left her side and he was suddenly reminded of when they had lost Janet three years ago. He had seen her break down then, had seen her cry and cope and deal with the loss of her best friend.

He'd been in San Diego for three days and he hadn't even seen her sleep, let alone eat or drink. He'd explained to Hank about needing to be with her and needing to be with Grace and the other man had let them go before Jack had even gotten his explanation out. Daniel had nodded and told Jack to call him when the arrangements had been made, he and Teal'c wanted to be there. Vala had been quiet for a change, telling him to have Sam call her on Daniel's cell that she had decided to borrow, and Jack was grateful of the friendship that the two women seemed to be forming. Cameron had saluted him briskly, not understanding what had happened with Sam that would make the General run out but he wanted to know that she would be okay.

Sam didn't need the General, she need Jack, her friend and her husband.

He knew better then to push her. He'd let her come to him. He'd wait for her to deal with it, to let her wrap her mind around the fact that all that remained of her still newly reconciled family was her niece.

Grace dragged herself over to where he sat, eyes dark and face pale.

"C'mere," was all that was needed before the girl had curled herself up against him. What little time she hadn't spent with Sam she had spent with him. She'd cried into his shoulder when he'd first arrived, all ready hitting the growth spurt he'd been expecting, just needing to be held by him.

Sam had watched, leaning against the doorframe that led to the kitchen with an oddly detached look on her face, one that signaled to him that she needed him there just as much, that his presence was making all the difference in the world.

She didn't want to break down, not in front of Grace.

He'd met her and her brother and Mark and Karen at Jacob's funeral-had it really been two years all ready?- and had fallen in love with the youngest Carters almost as quickly as he had with their aunt.

Andrew had been tall for his age, nearing six foot at only fifteen. He'd had Jacob's eyes, dark and wise but filled with humor despite everything, and what Jack had dubbed the Carter Smirk. He'd talked to Jack about the Air Force and said he had been considering it. As a tribute to his grandfather. He had said that he hadn't gotten to spend the time with his grandfather and his aunt that he'd wanted too. He said that Mark didn't hate the Air Force. That he had bragged about how his little sister had flown in the Gulf War. How she'd defended her country at the risk of her own life.

If they only knew.

He wanted the Carter name to be remembered with as much honor as he held to it.

Jack was oddly touched but the determination in the young man's eyes.

Grace was everything Jack had imagined Sam was like as a kid.

Karen said she'd almost been suspended the week before. Something about a garage door opener and the cage doors for the rats in the science building.

"She's a Sam clone," Mark had said with a sigh, but Jack hadn't missed the pride in his eyes as Grace told her aunt about the science award she'd won.

The first few days with Mark had been a little bit awkward, but after the service he had pulled Jack aside and said that he'd better not let anything happen to his baby sister.

When they'd flown into Colorado for Thanksgiving with Sam and Jack, their goddaughter Cassandra, and their friends from work, Daniel and Murray, it had seemed to help heal the rift that had ripped Sam from her family.

Mark had even been excited that they'd gotten married and said that he'd been expecting it.

Jack had mentioned to Karen later, out of ear shot of the Carter siblings, that he had been surprised that Mark liked him as much as he did, that he thought Mark had been friends with Pete.

"After seeing the two of you," Karen shook her head, "I don't know what came over him, honestly. He saw that you loved her, that you were there for her. I guess he saw what he needed to see."

They had been going back and forth for all the major holidays whenever Sam was on-world ever since. Andrew had even spent a week of his last break with Sam, who'd had some down time coming after that bit with the Ori blowing up their ships, and they had been going over his application for the Academy.

Even Daniel and Teal'c and Cassie had become extended members, each asking about the other via Sam whenever they spoke.

They had a family, a real family for the first time in a long time.

When he'd last seen Mark it had been for Grace's thirteenth birthday about four months ago. He, Sam, Daniel, Teal'c, and even Cassie had taken a three day weekend and flown in as a surprise.

"So when do you think I'll be flying out for my niece's birthday?" Mark had asked, eyebrows raised and smirk firmly in place, as the two men watched as Sam and Grace tried to take on Andrew and Daniel and a water gun fight.

Jack had cleared his throat, "It's uh, not exactly the best time right now," he'd offered, admittedly rather lamely, not thinking about all the times he wondered that as well.

"Uh-huh,"

Mark had taken the guys out to the local bar and grill the night before they were due to fly back out, and thanked them for everything they had done for Sam in the last ten years. He knew he hadn't been the best big brother in the world and felt horrible about it, but he was glad that she had friends as good as the men he sat with.

Daniel had waved it off with a genuine smile, a gentle hand on Mark's arm and a "That's what family's for."

Jack wondered if it had always been that simple.

"Jack, Grace," Sam called softly, poking her head out of the kitchen, "I'm going to order some food, what do you guys want?"