Brilliant rays of morning sunshine are filtering thru the window as Jack stands in the doorway of the room where his son is sleeping soundly. He hears movement behind him as Janet joins him at the doorway.

"He did great. Cassie had so much fun watching him yesterday she asked if she could watch him more often," Janet says softly.

"That would be very helpful when I have to go to DC," Jack responds.

"I'll tell her that. Well I am going to take her home to get ready and we'll see you guys in a couple of hours for the memorial service."

"Thanks for this Doc."

Janet lays her hand on Jacks arm before quietly leaving. Jack watches Teddy for a few moments longer before turning to leave.

"Daddy?" Teddy's small voice calls to him.

He turns to see the small boy sitting up in his bed, his little arms wrapped tightly around the neck of his teddy bear.

"Hi buddy," Jack says as he moves to the side of the bed. He sits gently and Teddy drops his bear and throws himself into Jacks arms.

"I am happy you came back," his little voice says, muffled as he buries his face in Jack's chest.

"Why wouldn't I have come back?"

"My mommy left when I was sleeping and that lady said she is never coming back."

Jack takes a breath as he contemplates how to explain the situation. "You know your mom didn't want to leave you, right?"

"Then why did she go?"

"Teddy, I think we need to talk about what happened to your mom and why you're living with me now."

Jack pauses but before he can continue he hears a knock at the front door and lets out the breath he had been holding in a short huff.

"Stay here for a minute bud and I'll be right back," he says moving Teddy back into the bed.

"Okay."

Jack stands and hands him his bear before heading to the front door. He pulls it open to find Sam standing in a simple black dress and heels.

"Hi," she says with a smile, but it fade to a look of concern when she sees Jack's face. "Is everything okay?"

"Yeah, Teddy was asking about his mom again and I was trying to figure out how to explain why she's gone."

Sam gives him a sad smile and lays her hand on his arm, "Would you like me to talk to him?"

Jack lets out a breath, "Can you?"

"Of course."

OoOoOoOoOoOoO

Sam follows Jack to Teddy's room where he stops outside the doorway and looks at her.

"Do you think he's too young to understand?" he asks.

"Kids understand a lot more than they are given credit for. I'll talk to him and see how much he get but it might be a good idea for you to be close, just in case he reacts badly."

Sam waits for Jack to nod and then she enters the room. Teddy is sitting in his bed playing with a small bear when she walks in but he drops it and smiles at her.

"Hi Sam," he says, jumping off the bed and throwing his arms around her legs.

"Hi Teddy. How are you this morning?"

"I'm good but Jack is sad."

"Is he? And why is that?"

"Because daddy was gone in the night and Jack couldn't sleep because he was keeping the monsters away from me."

Sam smiles as she realizes he is referring to the bear on his bed, "Oh, well you are going to be with your dad today so Jack can get some sleep so he's happy again. How does that sound."

"Good. Why are you here?"

"Because your dad asked me do something very important with the two of you today."

"What?"

Sam steps toward the bed and sits on the edge before pulling Teddy up onto her lap.

"Well, you know that you are going to be living with your dad from now on right?"

"Yes."

"Do you know why?"

"Because my mommy went away."

"That's almost right."

"Why did she leave? Did she not love me anymore?"

"Oh no, I'm sure your mother loves you very much."

"Then why did she go?"

Sam takes a breath and thinks back to when her mother had died.

"You know, when I was young my mom went away too. My dad told me that because I had him to take care of me my mom was able to go live the angels in heaven and even though I would miss her it was better for her to be there."

"Did my mommy go to heaven too?"

"Yes she did. And today we are going to have a special day to remember her and how much she loved you. But your dad is pretty sad so do you think you will be able to be brave for him?"

"Can I give him a hug?"

"That would help him so much," Sam says as Teddy jumps off her lap and runs out of the room in search of Jack. She stands and runs her hands down the front of her dress to smooth out the wrinkles before moving into the hallway. She pauses in the doorway when she sees Jack on one knee, his arms wrapped around the small figure of his son. He lifts his head and looks at her. They lock eyes for a moment before he mouths the words 'thank you'. Sam smiles at him and inclines her head slightly.

OoOoOoOoOoOoO

Jack stands in the fresh air, Teddy's' little hand in his as Sara's casket is lowered into the grave. As it nears the bottom Janet leans down to Teddy and hands him a rose, telling him to leave it for his mom. Jack barely feels the child's hand slip from his as Teddy steps toward the open grave and tosses the rose in before turning and moving back to Jack's side. As the service comes to an end Jack feels Teddy's arms wrap around his leg and he move a hand to the back of the boys head, ruffling the soft hair.

After another few minutes that feel more like an eternity he realizes everything is over. He looks toward the grave and feels torn. He knew he had still had feeling for Sara but now that she was gone he found himself wondering how things would've been if she had told him about Teddy from the beginning. He flinches when he feels a hand on his shoulder. He turns his head to see Daniel standing beside him.

"You okay?" Daniel asks him.

"Yeah, just peachy."

"Teddy seemed to handle this all pretty well."

"Carter talked to him this morning."

"So how are you handling this?"

"I'm fine Daniel."

"Sorry if I don't believe you, but I know you better than that. You just found out that your ex-wife was killed before she could tell you that you had another son and now you are trying to figure out if she would've ever told you about him. I have to believe that if she was going to tell you about him she would've done it by now. Knowing that, I'm sure you're trying to figure out how this is your fault but the truth is this whole thing played out how she wanted."

Jack looks at his friend, "If this is you trying to make me feel better it's not working."

"Nothing that anyone can say will make you feel better about this situation Jack. That's completely up to you."

Daniel turns and walks away leaving Jack alone. He looks around for Teddy and finally spots him standing with Janet and Cassie by their car so he heads over to join them. As she gets close Teddy turns to him with a smile.

"Can we daddy?"

"Can we what? I missed the first part of that," he says looking at Janet.

"With everything going on I thought you guys could come over for dinner tonight," she explains.

"Oh yeah, that would be great. Would you mind if I drop him off a little early? I have some things I need to get figured out before tomorrow."

"We could just take him with us now if you'd like," Janet offers.

"If that wouldn't be too much trouble."

"Of course not, I know how much of an adjustment this is and I'm happy to help," She says, giving Cassie a quick smile.

"Okay, so what time for dinner?"

"Let's say around 5."

"I'll be there."

Jack kneels down and looks at Teddy, "Alright buddy, you are going to hang out with Cassie and I'll be back in a bit, okay?"

"Okay daddy."

Jack ruffles Teddy's hair slightly as he stands and heads to his truck. As he digs his keys out of his pocket he sees Sam's car behind his truck and takes a breath before walks over to her.

"Are you busy?" he asks when she rolls her window down.

"No, you said you wanted to talk?"

"I know a place, follow me?"

"Okay."

Jack gets in his truck and heads to a little diner. Once they are inside a hostess seats them and offers to bring them coffee before leaving them alone.

"So, what's up?" Sam asks.

"I think you should take the position at Area 51."

"You thi…okay…can I ask why?" Sam asks, confusion clouding her face.

"Because it will be what's best for us in more ways than one at the moment."

Sam sits back as the waitress brings them each a cup and fills them with coffee. After she offers to give them more time to decide she leaves them alone once again and Sam looks at Jack.

"How is my leaving best for us?"

"As long as you are under my command we are breaking regs. If you were to transfer it would be different. And the transfer wouldn't have to be permanent. They have some things they need your help with and once you've finished a couple of projects you could transfer back here."

Then we'd be right back to where we are now."

"No, we wouldn't. I can't explain right now but I need you to trust me Sam. I can't stand the thought of you being so far away but I promise it is what is best for now."

Sam lets out a breath and sips her coffee before speaking, "When would you need an answer?"

"Tomorrow morning," Jack replies as he reaches for her hand across the table. As his hand touches hers he locks eyes with her setting loose a flurry of butterflies in his stomach.

"Please Sam, trust me."

"I trust you with my life," she pauses and pulls her hand away slowly.

"I promise this won't last forever."

"I know. How long do you think I should plan on being there?"

"Could be six months, could be longer. It depends on some things I have to do and how long they take me. I will do what I can to make this as short as possible."

"Okay."

AN: Alright I am working on the next few pieces and I am hoping to have one more update this week, even if it is a little shorter.