The final report from the SGC arrived on his desk while he was out for lunch. Spotting it immediately he opened the sealed envelope and skimmed over the report. Seems Carter's pulled it off again, he thought. About to pick up his phone, he almost jumped when it rang under his hand. It was Landry, asking if he'd received the report. The two men discussed the contents briefly, until Landry moved onto another subject.

"Jack, we need her here."

"Who?"

"You know who. The main reason that report is on your desk, that's who."

"Ok. You want her there full time, or just working out of her lab?"

"I'd prefer the here and full time option."

"Alright, go for it."

"Jack, you know the rules for hiring civilians here. I can't just call her up and ask her to move."

Jack suppressed a sigh and listened to Hank talk. He wanted the team that worked on the gas project to help with the delivery process. In Jack's mind, he knew that the best person to have working on this, was Carter.


Sam listened to Major Davis as he explained the offer. She had several options available to her, and could chose whichever one she wanted. She asked him if they needed an answer right away as she wanted to go home and think it over, not make the decision after a few minutes. He would return the following day.

She ate her supper, cleaned the dishes, tidied her apartment and sat down on the couch, pen and paper ready. She read through the options that she had been given and tried to figure out which one she would choose.

The first option they had offered, was to quit her job completely, return to the SGC, and work as a civilian scientist. She remembered the thrill of examining and testing unique alien devices and her current job paled in the department of items that made her heart race. She knew that if she returned, she would never be bored as there was always something new to deal with. Could she return? It had been great to go back, even for a few hours, but she enjoyed the regular hours, days off, and the lower stress levels that her current job offered.

The second option the Air Force had offered, was to stay with the company she worked for, but work at the SGC temporarily on this project. It would require moving until it was finished, but she would be able to return eventually. This plan didn't sit well with her. She had been used to the secrecy involved in working under Cheyenne Mountain, but now, enjoyed the relative freedom to discuss her work with her colleagues. Not just that, disappearing for an unknown amount of time, and then returning. She had a life that she enjoyed and for the first time, felt secure. What if she was gone for more than a year? She wouldn't be able to start back at work without an overwhelming amount of prying, and curious people, asking untold amounts of questions she could never answer. Did she want to go back to living half of her life she wouldn't be able to discuss with anyone?

There was another option, that wasn't on the paper. She could say no, and walk away. That option had only just popped into her head. She could decline both offers, forget they had ever asked her, and continue her life, void of the SGC. It was tempting, she had to admit. While her life in the past few years had taken many twists and turns, she was happy. She wasn't in mortal danger continually, and her biggest fear was tripping while running and breaking an ankle or leg. She had been relieved not to add more secrets into her life on a daily basis, and was exploring a new, single Sam, outside the strict rules of the military. She liked being Dr. Samantha Carter.

She sighed and threw the notepad, filled with pro's and con's, onto her coffee table. Getting up to refill her empty water glass, she glanced at the pictures Daniel had been looking at. Her heart tugged at the sight of the friends she had left behind. True, now Daniel had returned, they were talking, and he had promised to visit as soon as he had some time off, but it wasn't the same. Being at the SGC she would be able to see friends and acquaintances that were not from this world.

She ran her fingers over the familiar faces of her old team, her mind drifting back to the team nights, the many moments of laughter, the overwhelming sense of security, she used to feel, that she would never be alone, as long as she had them. An unbidden tear escaped and she wiped it away with the back of her hand. Her eyes focused on one of the few pictures she had of his face. It had been taken by Janet at a night out. All four faces smiled at the camera, his arm slung over her shoulder, Daniel's arm around her waist, and Teal'c standing behind her, in the center.

Jack. Could she work with him again? They had both changed, and if the last meeting was anything to go by, no longer close friends. She wished that he had stayed in contact, as he had been a friend, almost family, a part of her life. Why had he chosen not to? Why hadn't she tried harder to reach him? She knew the most likely reason that he had pushed her away. She'd married Pete. Years ago, she had wondered if there was anything more than friendship between them. The regulations prevented her from asking and finding out. If he had felt anything for her, by marrying Pete, she would've hurt him in the worst way possible.

She turned away from the pictures of her old life, and grabbed the water from the fridge. Taking a large mouthful of cold water, she pushed Jack into deepest cranny of her brain. Whether or not there had been anything, that should not be a factor in her decision. After Pete betrayed her, she was not interested in any relationships. She had been on several dates, but had stopped dating after the third or fourth guy. Being hurt by Pete, and loosing two children, had changed her. She couldn't stir up the interest for another commitment. She still wanted a child, but after the miscarriages, had been considering adopting. She wasn't ready to go out and start adoption proceedings now, but someday, when she felt ready, she would look into it further. Sitting back on the couch, she refocused her mind on Major Davis' offer.

It was late before she went to bed. She had tried calling Daniel, leaving several messages, but he had yet to call back. She had really wanted to talk to a friend, someone to bounce her thoughts off. She had stayed up, knowing that she wouldn't be able to sleep without making a choice. Now she had, she realised how tired she was. Turning off the living room light, preparing for bed, and curling up under the sheets, she felt satisfied with her decision, and drifted off to sleep quickly.

AN: Just wanted to clear a few things up and apologize for some errors. I didn't give Sam a weapon in the last chapter as I wasn't sure if they would give her one, as she wasn't a memeber of the SGC. Same with the temporary higher clearence. If these were the errors, I'm sorry, and thanks for correcting me. I also didn't mention at the beginning of the story that even though this is happening several years after the events of season 9, some of the episode plots may be pulled in to this story. Once again, I'm sorry for any confusion and errors, but please keep correcting me, as I don't want the story to be too unrealistic.