A/N: Long time no see! I'll most likely continue to be rather distant on this page, as I suppose my days as a fan fiction-writer have drawn to a close. Instead, I have several projects with original stories and characters going on that will never end up on this website. Maybe I'll return every now and again - such as with this one-shot - simply because it's hard to stay away. And, let's be frank, writing Jack O'Neill is too darn fun! He writes himself, almost. I've found that writing a few one-shots helps get my writing going, so maybe there'll be more where this came from!

This is set some time in season 4 – Before Divide & Conquer, I believe. I don't know exactly when, but since it turned out rather playful - I felt that it could be no later than season 4 to fit in with the tone of the show.


Welcome

"Chevron 6 encoded."

The gate stopped spinning briefly, and the V-shaped chevron illuminated in a fiery orange that lit up the darkness. Then, the ring started spinning once more. The noise was deafening from within the gate room, but having heard it countless times before, Sam hardly noticed it anymore. It had become something that was just a natural part of her life, like breathing or blinking.

"Where's Colonel O'Neill?" Hammond asked as his eyes trailed across the Air Force personnel in the gate room. Daniel, Teal'c and Sam stood lined up next to their General, fresh-faced and eagerly watching the gate in anticipation of their guest.

"I don't know, sir", Sam replied in earnest from the other end of their little line. She tugged at the sleeve of her blue fatigues before once more turning towards the gate. She'd been looking forward to this day for a long time. Thankfully they weren't dealing with a crises or an imminent attack at the moment, meaning she could properly savor this moment.

"He's not exactly the biggest fan of the Tok'ra", Daniel offered with a shrug. "Maybe he's sitting this one out?"

"Chevron 7 locked", Walter's voice echoed over the speaker once more.

Teal'c turned towards his friend and spoke slowly, his deep voice rumbling past his full lips, "I do not believe O'Neill would disobey a direct order from his superior officer because he has negative emotions towards the Tok'ra."

"No, you're right, Teal'c", Daniel agreed.

"But… perhaps if there was a The Simpsons marathon on the television. I believe O'Neill might not leave his house if there was."

Sam smirked as she exchanged a glance with Daniel, who stood rooted on the other side of their Jaffa friend. It wasn't often Teal'c told a joke, but with his deadpan facial expressions there were few jokes he didn't nail. Even General Hammond seemed to struggle to keep his face impassive this time.

"Chevron 7 encoded."

The gate saved them all, as it were. Sam looked up as the blue vortex leapt from the gate before it settled, like calm water, in the metal circle. Sam had always found the color of the wormhole beautiful, even when she didn't think about the scientific aspects of it. It was like a sunrise shining across the ocean, with its rich color and shifting tones that seemed to play across the deep blue. After a few seconds, Jacob Carter stepped through the wormhole.

Clad in the earthy tones of the Tok'ra, the man looked at ease with himself. Sam felt herself relax at the sight. Not having her father on the same planet meant that she was concerned about him at times. She knew he had far more reason to be concerned about her, than the other way around, but still couldn't help it. Jacob's gaze fell on the small group awaiting him at the base of the ramp and stepped forward without further ado. The wormhole disengaged behind him just as his feet touched the concrete floor.

"Welcome, Jacob", Hammond greeted with an honest smile and shook his old friend's hand.

"Thank you, George", Jacob returned. He drew a deep inhale, as if trying to sample the familiar air of Earth (despite being far below ground as it was) "It's good to be back."

Daniel, not one to beat around the bush, eagerly took a step forward. "Do you have any new information from your meetings with the Asgard, Jacob? Any ancient texts I might take a look at, perhaps? Anything that needs decoding, as it were?"

"Sorry, Daniel", Jacob excused himself. "The bond between the Tok'ra and Asgard is stronger than ever, but we didn't take any steps forward this past week. Merely solidified what we already have."

"Ah, well…" Daniel pouted as he stepped back. "Bummer."

The blast door behind them opened then and Jack O'Neill casually strolled in, clad in his green fatigues, looking as if he'd just taken a wrong turn at the buffet line. Sam allowed her eyes to travel up and down the lengths of his lean body. If the man noticed, he didn't seem to mind.

Hammond immediately locked eyes on his subordinate. "You're late, Colonel."

Jack grimaced as he stepped over to the group. He stopped between Sam and Teal'c at the end of the half-circle they'd formed before Jacob. He shrugged as he explained, "Yes, uh… I lost my watch somewhere. I was going to look for it, but… I never found the time."

The room remained silent as Jack's words faded into nothing. All eyes remained fixed on the Colonel, the different variations of blue and brown alight with every variation of humor mixed with weariness. Sam had to bite down on her tongue not to laugh.

"Ah, well…" Jack cleared his throat. His eyes darted across the room briefly. "Carter thought it was funny."

Jacob huffed and shook his head. "No, I didn't."

Jack mock-glared at the older man. Sam clearly saw past their play-acting. It was evident to her how much both men respected each other, and the easygoing banter between them only solidified that to her. Jack nodded in her direction. "I meant the other Carter."

At this, Sam ducked her head. She knew the smile was clearly visible on her face. She had a terrible poker face, as it was. "Yes, sir."

"She gets her sense of humor from her mother", Jacob muttered and added an exasperated sigh just for show. "And looks, thankfully."

"Yes. Thankfully…" Jack added and trailed off as Jacob glared up at him. Jack pretended to pick some lint off of Teal'c's black t-shirt. The Jaffa met the Colonel's gaze and slowly shook his head. Jack dropped his hand back to his side.

"Anyway", Sam said in an attempt to change the subject. Her grin widened as she turned back to face her father. "Dad, I'm really glad you're here."

"Me too, kid", Jacob returned her smile as he pulled her into a tight embrace. At length, he stepped back. "It's been three months. We've got a lot of catching up to do."

"Well, welcome home, Jacob", Jack greeted properly from Sam's right. He shifted his weight, and as he did, his arm gently grazed Sam's shoulder. Sam couldn't tell if he'd done it deliberately or not, and his face was impossible to read. A tiny part of her hoped it had been deliberate, though her mind insisted she was a fool for even thinking it. There were rules and there was nothing to be gained from wishing. As an afterthought, Jack added, "…And Selmak, too, I suppose."

"Selmak says thank you, Jack", Jacob smiled.

"That never seizes to be just a little bit weird…" Jack grimaced. He cleared his throat. "Anyway, I'm sorry I was late to the party. Hope you and… the gang… are doing well."

"The Tok'ra are doing great, Jack", Jacob couldn't contain his humor this time. He shook his head, but the smile lingered. "And you?"

Jack placed both hands in his pockets and glanced down at the Major beside him. "Well, my back's been killing me, but what are you gonna do?"

"You know, a symbiote could fix all that for you", Jacob teased with a wicked glint in his pale gaze. Sam closed her eyes tight at the joke.

Daniel chortled. "Jack? A Tok'ra? Now, that would be the day!"

Jack glanced at his younger friend, pretending to be hurt by his choice of words. Daniel merely pushed his glasses up the length of his straight nose and shrugged his shoulders. Jack opened his mouth as if to retort, but Sam gently placed a hand on his forearm. The Colonel stopped and turned back towards her. His dark eyes were full of playful emotions which he allowed Sam to see as he held her gaze for a second. Sam smiled up at him. Sometimes they all behaved like children, but dammit if Sam didn't love them all anyway. Jack's gaze darted to her lips before he instantly turned back to Jacob.

"So… Jacob…" Jack began, and seemed to grasp at straws trying to think of something to say. "… Were you offered any food on the journey over? No worms, I hope?"

Jacob restrained himself from rolling his eyes. "I wouldn't mind some lunch."

"Great, anyone care to join us? Carter? Daniel?" Jack asked. He gently slapped the Jaffa's chest with the back of his hand. "Teal'c?"

"Actually, Teal'c was going to spar with me for awhile now that we have the time", Daniel offered. "He insists I need to work on my right hook, for whatever reason… But we're game for dinner later?"

"Yes", Teal'c agreed. "I, too am 'game' as Daniel Jackson said."

"I can't, I'm sorry. I have to go over a few reports", Hammond excused himself. "But I am looking forward to our meeting after lunch, Jacob. I just wanted to be here to welcome you when you arrived."

"And I appreciate it, George", Jacob said.

"Well, I can join you for lunch and dinner", Sam offered.

"Attagirl", Jack grinned back down at her and once more let his arm graze her shoulder. This time, Sam was certain it was deliberate. Sam held his gaze and allowed herself to be entranced by the warmth in his eyes. After these years, her commanding officer should not have this affect on her. Sometimes, Sam just couldn't help but entertain the thoughts that dwelled at the back of her mind. Jack O'Neill was a very handsome man, there was no denying it. Jack triumphantly turned to the rest of the group. "Guess that's settled then. So, it'll just be the three of us for lunch then. Cozy."

Jacob laughed as he patted Jack's shoulder and the two men moved towards the blast door, the others close behind them. "Lead the way, Jack. Sam, you coming?"

Sam smiled from ear to ear as she followed the two most important men in her life. Without hesitation, she would go wherever they went, no matter where it might take her. "Right behind you, dad."

"Keep up, Carter. They're serving blue jello in the mess today and we'd better hurry before it's all gone. I know how much you like blue jello, Carter", Jack smirked at Sam as she caught up to his side. "And how mad you get when there's none left."

"Wouldn't want you to go through that again, sir", Sam muttered.

Jack seemed to do a double take at her offered humor, and a smile played at the corner of his lips. He then turned back to Jacob Carter on his other side, as he said, "Say, Jacob, did your daughter ever tell you that story? Me and Daniel like to refer to it as 'The Blue Jello Danger'. It was a Saturday night almost two years ago, and we'd just returned from…"

Sam rolled her eyes as the Colonel proceeded to tell her father the tale in question.