September 1, 2005 – Colorado Springs, CO

It was just after 0630, and Sam was getting ready to head into the mountain, when she heard a knock on her door.

"Hi, Dad."

"Hey, Sammie. Getting ready to head in?"

"Yeah. You want coffee? Or Selmac still won't let you?"

"I'm ok, thanks."

"How are Mark and the kids?"

"They're good. I wish I could stay longer, but I have to get back to the Tok'ra."

"Oh, so you're coming with me today?"

"Yep. So, how are you doing?" He gave her a concerned look, as though he noticed that she seemed a little down this morning.

"I'm fine, Dad," she replied with a faux enthusiasm.

"You can talk to me, Sam. I'll be gone for a while, so I don't mind lending an ear while I'm here."

"It's nothing. I just, after the General's announcement last week, I have a feeling Pete is going to pop the question any time now."

"And, you don't really want that." She glared at him.

"Of course I do, Dad. It's just...With Mom, how did you know? How did you know she was the one for you?"

Jacob looked at her in amazement.

"Because, cookie, when I was with her, I could forget there was anything else, like we were the only two people on Earth. When she wasn't with me, it felt like part of me was missing. When we were together, I wasn't in control. I lost myself and became part of something bigger, better, complete."

She was speechless. It was exactly why she dismissed her feelings for Jack, thinking it was some infatuation, because she knew what love was like with Jonas Hansen, Joe Faxon. It turns out she was completely wrong again.

You're full of crap. You knew all along. You were just scared of letting go of your precious control. He would have given everything for you, but you wouldn't give that for him. Well, now you'll have it for the rest of your life.

"I was afraid you would say that," she replied glumly.

"You were scared," he said in realization, thinking aloud.

"What?"

"That's why the hiding and pretending all of these years. Sam, I'm sorry."

"What are you talking about?"

Jacob regarded the stubborn set on her face and decided to let it go for now.

"Honey, all I'll say is this. If this Pete guy doesn't make you feel any of the things I described with your mother, then don't drag this out. All I want is for you to be as happy as you can be. Now, we better head to the mountain."

September 5, 2005 – Colorado Springs, CO

Janet was at her house getting ready to go to bed, thinking about the whirlwind the past week has been.

I'm getting married to Jack O'Neill!

She still couldn't stop the butterflies whenever she thought those words. She and Cassie and have been talking about what they want for the wedding, and Cassie seemed to be as excited as she was. This was all while they have been packing their house to move into Jack's.

Tonight, Jack was still at the SGC awaiting the return of SG-13, who was late coming back from their mission. Rather than waiting for him at his house, when he may not even get home tonight, Janet decided to get some sleep at home.

She lay down in her bed, thinking happily that there wouldn't be many more nights alone like this the rest of her life, when she vanished in a beam of white light.

September 6, 2005 – Colorado Springs, CO

It was 0720 when SG-13 had finally returned, and Jack was on his way down to the commissary get another cup of coffee when he ran into his good friend, Colonel Ferretti.

"Hey, Lou, you think you can do me a favor?"

"Sure, Jack, what's up?"

"Can you take the reins and the red phone for a few hours? I'm too old to be pulling these all nighters. Dixon just got back, so he won't be in again until tonight."

"Yeah, Jack. I'll handle it."

"Thanks, Louis."

So after the change of plans, Jack headed to his base quarters to catch a few hours of sleep. He woke up at 1035 hours, grabbed a quick shower, and was headed back out when he heard Walter's announcement.

"General O'Neill to the control room."

"Give me a break," he grumbled to himself.

He made his way over to the control room to find out that SG-1 was three hours overdue to check in.

"Dial it up, Walter."

Walter did as ordered.

"Sierra Golf One Niner, this is Sierra Golf Charlie, come in."

"I read you, sir," Carter replied.

"You're overdue to check in, Carter. What's your status?"

"We are secure at the moment, but we can't seem to dial out. The DHD is disengaging after dialing the fourth symbol. I'm working on it, but I haven't seen this problem before."

"Does the chevron on the gate light up before it disengages? Or does it shut off before it lights up?"

Sam paused before answering with some surprise in her voice.

"The fourth chevron does not light up, sir."

"Ok, Carter, the problem is in the gate itself, not the DHD. You need to open it up and and replace the blue crystal. I am sending one over now with an airman. After that, you should be all set. If I don't see you soon, I'll dial back in 30 minutes."

"Copy that, sir. Carter out."

"Walter, I need Hailey and a bored airman in here right away," Jack ordered as he poured himself a desperately needed cup of coffee.

"Yes, sir."

"Captain Hailey, report to the control room," Walter called out. He then ran down the hall to grab an airman and was right back, followed almost immediately by Hailey.

"Captain, I need one of the blue gate crystals. Bring it to Airman Michaels here as soon as possible."

"Yes, sir. I'll be right back."

"Michaels, take the crystal through the gate to Colonel Carter."

"Yes, sir."

After the delivery was made, Carter fixed the gate and dialed home.

"Thank you, sir. You seem to have a knack for fixing stargates."

"Yes, well, maybe there is something other than killing that I'm good at. Anyway, get checked out. We'll debrief in an hour."

"Yes, sir," Carter and Mitchell replied in unison.

After Jack took a phone call from the president and debriefed SG-1, it was already almost 1300 hours, and he hadn't even seen his fiancée yet today. He headed down to the infirmary to see Dr. Lam running the show.

"Doc, I thought you were on tonight."

"I was, sir, but it seems Dr. Fraiser never showed up today. No one seems to have to heard from her."

"What!?"

He was worried now. He turned right around and nearly ran back to his office. He called her cell phone, house, and his house with no response. He finally called Cassie.

"Hey, Cass, have you seen your mother today?"

"Noooo," she drawled. "Her car was still in the driveway when I left, so I assumed you picked her up to take her to work."

"Well, I didn't, and she never came in. I'm heading to the house now. I'll let you know if anything's wrong."

"Please do, Jack." She was worried now, too.

"I will sweetie, gotta go."

He hung up and called to ask Ferretti to relieve him again, and then ran out of the base.

He arrived at the Fraiser house, opened the front door, and walked inside. Nothing looked out of place. He went into Janet's bedroom and saw no sign of a struggle. He noticed that her purse, keys, and cell phone were all there. She obviously didn't leave alone, but again, there were no signs of a struggle. He was sick to his stomach as he checked the rest of the house, no one home and nothing disturbed. There were no other signs of what might have happened. She was just gone.