A/N: Here's the second story in the series. This story takes place after "The Siege, Part 3", but before "Intruder", and it takes place during the beginning of Season 9 of SG-1, after Carter returns from Area 51. Also, there is some Sam/Jack ship in this story, which will continue throughout the rest of this series. Thanks for reading and reviewing.

"So, Lieutenant Colonel?" came a voice from the doorway. Sheppard looked up from the book that he was reading to find Samantha Carter standing in front of him. He'd been waiting for her in her lab, and he'd picked up the unfinished manuscript of the book that she was writing.

Sheppard smiled at Carter. "Big shock, huh?"

"Oh, I don't know," Carter replied with a smile. "You've been doing a great job in Atlantis from what Ja- General O'Neill tells me."

"He said that?" Sheppard asked, a look of confusion crossing his face.

"Don't be phased by the General's harsh exterior," Carter warned. "He really does like you."

Sheppard, feeling somewhat awkward about discussing O'Neill, decided to change the subject. He indicated the manuscript in his hand. "Interesting stuff," he said.

"It's not finished yet. I've been writing it in my spare time," Carter replied.

"Which I'm sure you have a lot of," Sheppard said with a smirk.

"What with this new Ori threat, Ba'al, my work with R&D, and…." She tapered off, before starting again. "I don't think that I've been able to sit down and work on the book in three or four months."

"I'm sure you'll find the time to finish it," Sheppard said reassuringly.

Carter smiled in thanks. "So, how does it feel? Officially being military commander of Atlantis?"

Sheppard shrugged. "No different, I guess."

"Maybe when you get back there," Carter suggested.

"Elizabeth thinks I can do it," Sheppard said absently.

Carter nodded. "She's a great judge of character." Carter smiled to herself before adding, "After being in politics for so long, she'd have to be."

Sheppard laughed half-heartedly.

"What's wrong?" Carter asked.

"I was just thinking about how much this expedition has cost us," Sheppard said with a sigh.

"Thinking about Ford?" Carter asked.

Sheppard nodded. "I'm going to go see his family tomorrow. He always talked about how much he missed them."

Carter placed a reassuring hand on Sheppard's arm. "You'll find him," she said.

Sheppard looked at Carter and nodded. He knew that he had to be optimistic that they would find Ford and be able to help him, but it didn't make confronting Ford's family any easier. He didn't know how to deal with the grieving family. He never had to worry about what someone would think if he didn't come home; he couldn't imagine what Ford or his family went through every time that Ford was away from home.

"Penny for your thoughts," Sheppard heard, interrupting his musings. He looked up at Carter and smiled sadly.

"I don't know how people do it," he said.

"Do what?" Carter asked.

"Have families and still do this," Sheppard answered vaguely.

"Serve, you mean?" Carter asked.

"Yeah," Sheppard answered.

"It's hard," Carter said with a sigh.

Sheppard looked at her questioningly.

"Hey," Carter replied. "I've been on both ends. My father served for years. We sat at home waiting for him more than once. And now, I'm the one leaving the family behind. It's not easy, either way."

"Me, I didn't leave anyone behind," Sheppard said.

Carter searched Sheppard's face for a moment before responding. "Is that necessarily a good thing?" she asked quietly.

Sheppard considered for a moment before shrugging. "My parents died when I was at the Academy. I didn't have any brothers or sisters. It's been just me for a long time. I kinda got used to it."

Carter considered Sheppard before inclining her head. "I suppose you do get used to it. But it doesn't necessarily make you happy." Sheppard gave her an inquisitive look. Carter noticed and added, "Look, I barely talked to my father or my brother while I was at the Academy. And after that, I went overseas and then to the Pentagon to work on the Stargate. It became easier not seeing them at all. But being happy…. I don't think I was really happy again until I came here. Sure, I loved my job, but I didn't really have a family again until I joined SG-1."

Sheppard blinked. He hadn't expected Carter's life story. Still, when he considered his own life, he knew that what she was saying made sense. "I guess," he started. "I guess I did miss having someone around. Someone who cares about what happens to you, you know?"

Carter nodded. "It's hard, knowing that you're leaving someone behind. But then again, you always have someone to fight to come back to."

"Guess I never thought of it like that," Sheppard responded.

Carter paused for a moment before replying. "My first year here, General O'Neill and I were separated from Daniel and Teal'c when the Stargate malfunctioned, and we ended up in Antarctica. He told me that thinking about Sarah, his first wife, got him through a lot of tough times. I never forgot that. He probably wouldn't have survived as long as he has if he hadn't had someone to survive for."

"Who do you have to survive for?" Sheppard asked suddenly. Carter had been talking about coming home to family as if she knew from first-hand experience, but from what Sheppard knew of Carter (which was, admittedly, not much), she did not have any family whom she was close to.

"What?" Carter asked, taken aback by the question.

"Who do you think about when you're out there?" Sheppard reiterated.

Carter bit her lip before answering, thinking carefully about what to say. "Well, there's my brother, Mark," she supplied.

Sheppard searched her face. "You're hiding something," he said with a grin.

"Yup," Carter replied, smirking back.

"There's someone else?" Sheppard asked.

Carter nodded. "Not many people know," she answered. She pulled out her dog tags and showed Sheppard what else was on the chain.

"You're married?" Sheppard asked, shocked as he took in the platinum band with a modest diamond perched on it.

Carter nodded.

"Since when?" Sheppard asked.

"For a few months now. Since I transferred to Area 51 a few months ago," Carter answered.

Sheppard's mind was reeling. He'd heard rumors, but he hadn't put any store into them. "You and…?" he started.

Carter nodded. "We've been trying to keep it our secret."

Sheppard nodded. "I can understand that," he replied, a little shocked at the news.

"Please don't tell anyone. The President knows- he sounded almost happy about it- but still…" She trailed off, not wanting to state the implication out loud.

"Don't worry. I've already forgotten," Sheppard said with a slight smirk as he mocked signs of discomfort.

Carter playfully punched his arm. "Yeah, you're really funny," Carter said with a laugh.

"So, I hear the General's wife is buying dinner tonight," Sheppard said with another smirk.

"Yeah, right," Carter responded. "Come on, Colonel. Let's go get the teams together and we can go celebrate your promotion. And possibly the fact that you're leaving tomorrow," Carter said, with a meaningful look, her twinkling eyes the only thing betraying her harsh expression.

"Whatever you say, Colonel," Sheppard said as he stepped out into the hall and waited for her to turn off the lights in her lab and close the blast door. Yes, tomorrow, he'd return to Atlantis with his team. His family.