A/N I really need to learn to stop estimating how many chapters are left in a story. I start to put something in an authors note and then think "Why don't I just put this in the story?" and then new chapters are born. And I think it's safe to say the original plan for this story has gone out the window and it is officially a shipper fic now...but still heavy emphasis will be put on the character's choices and how they end up where they are at the start of Season 9. I'm sorry, I didn't plan on dragging things out and I thank you so much for your patience and reviews; they are very motivating!
Now, a note on the timeline as I believe Threads and Moebius overlap...
At the end of Moebius 2 Jack is confused because they hadn't 'done anything yet' and Sam explains they were going to in two weeks and after she makes her comment they all end up fishing. So even though the beginning of Moebius 1 (Sam explaining the skematics of the deadelus and Catherine Langford dying) happen AFTER Threads and (I'm thinking) AFTER the Fishing scene, the end of Moedbius 2 actually happens before the fishing trip and before Catherine dies.
In the original timeline it would be; 'Daniel returns from being ascended - They go to Jacob's funeral then go fishing - Return to the SGC where Sam shows Daniel and Teal'c the skematics of the Deadalus and they talk about perhaps SG-1 going as a group to Atlantis- Catherine Langford dies and gives Daniel her stuff then they go to find the ZPM (In my mind Jack can go with them because he's still in the middle of the transition and leaves Hank at the SGC)'
In the restored timeline it goes 'Daniel returns from being ascended- during the excavation Daniel mentions in the video a ZPM and video are unearthed in Egypt and delivered to the SGC - They go to Jacob's Funeral - They go fishing - They come back - Sam explains the Deadalus just to Daniel.'
Sorry if that's confusing, honestly I needed to write it down just to help wrap my own mind around it. Okay. Onward.
Jack hesitated in the doorway of the commissary, watching his team, no...his former team, sharing breakfast.
It wasn't long before Sam's eyes flicked to his and he forced himself to nonchalantly enter the room as if she had just caught him mid step.
She raised a disbelieving eyebrow but made no comment as he stepped up to the table and dropped the folders he was carrying in front of the remaining empty chair with a thud.
"This seat taken?" he pulled the chair out and sat down without waiting for an answer.
"Apparently." Teal'c observed drolly, earning him an amused grin from Sam.
"So?" Daniel prodded immediately, not bothering with small talk.
Jack rolled his eyes, "Can a man have his coffee first?"
"Have you not already had many cups of coffee over the course of the night O'Neill?"
Jack glared at Teal'c, "That's not the point." The alien merely raised an eyebrow in response.
They had received a heads up that the NID had flown some personnel into Peterson yesterday evening so Jack had remained at the SGC and alert in case he needed to 'Kick some scummy butt off of my base'. He tried to keep the news quiet from Sam but she had soon found out when he had not joined them at the previous evening's dinner toasting Daniel's amazing ability to defy death and Teal'c's success with the Jaffa.
The other two members of SG-1 had managed to keep her from returning to the SGC that night by invoking her trust of the General but by 0600 the next morning they were all back at the SGC.
Jack heaved a sigh, "Everything is fine." He didn't feel like going into details of the long arguments he had with the men in suits for most of the night. His eyes tracked to Sam, "But I'm moving up the timeline. We leave tonight; 1800 a car will pick us up here."
"My Dad?" Sam asked hesitantly.
Jack nodded. "He'll come with us. You have an appointment at a Washington funeral home tomorrow morning." He winced, "I'm sorry it's before Mark gets in but with his plane not coming in until 5..."
Sam shook her head, "It's okay. He won't understand but I'd rather deal with Mark's annoyance at dinner than the NID for another 2 days."
The General gave a short look of agreement before reaching over and stealing a piece of toast from Daniel's tray.
The archaeologist glared but let it drop, instead clarifying what else Jack had arranged, "Were you able to schedule internment?"
"Noon Sunday." He looked to Sam again, "I've been personally assured everything will be secured and that burial will be immediate. Those suckers won't be getting their hands on so much as an ash."
Sam gave a small nod of appreciation. Even though Jacob was to be cremated his remains would be interred in a traditional casket so he could be buried in the plot with his wife. If there was a delay in the actual burial by the grounds crew it was anybody's guess what the NID would try to do.
Jack pushed a smile on his face, "And hey, George has arranged a room and refreshments at Fort Myers for a kind of wake after. He said he'd reach out to Jake's old Air Force buddies. Seemed to think there will be a few who get a kick seeing silver oak leaves on your shoulders."
Sam rolled her eyes, "I'm not sure if that's something to look forward to." She met the General's gaze and softened her grimace, "But thank you sir, both of you. I'll have to find a way to thank General Hammond. I know you're both busy."
Jack waved away her concern, "You don't have to worry about that. Hammond and your dad went back a long time. I think George is actually a little shaken up about it, if he wasn't already talking retirement he certainly would be now. I'm sure it helps having someway to contribute."
Sam smiled sadly and looked down to her uneaten eggs, "Still."
Daniel gave her a small smile and leaned over to gently bump shoulders. She smiled back at him but it was fleeting and she returned her attention to her plate.
Jack watched the silent interaction, shifting his jaw and squaring his shoulders, "I've been thinking." He announced steadily, changing the topic.
"I knew something was wrong." Daniel remarked dryly.
Jack shot him a quick glare but refused to be distracted, "Carter, you were scheduled to have next week off anyway..."
She looked up to him, eyes wide, "Sir, I will be, I am fine. I don't need any time." She was quick to interrupt.
He gave a small smile, "I believe you Sam. But the truth of the matter is that everyone has been a bit through the wringer the past month and you all have plenty of leave stacked up and there are currently no pressing missions."
Teal'c put down his empty cereal dish and eyed Jack quietly, "What are you suggesting O'Neill?"
Jack took a deep breath and rubbed his palms together and then dropped his arms, fingers quickly finding and fidgeting with the edge of the manila folders in front of him.
"Well, assuming that the leader of the base could see fit to give me some leave as well..."
"Walter?" Daniel again interrupted with a smirk.
Jack glared and before his face fell to an exaggerated pout, "He's just so damn insistent about paperwork!" He whined, earning a quickly smothered smile from Sam.
Bolstered by this he swallowed and began again, "So yes, if I can get this," He gestured to the folders he had been carrying, "Squared away I was thinking maybe we could do something next week. Together. The four of us. Away."
He put all he had into projecting an air of indifference but he saw Teal'c and Daniel lock eyes in silent communication and Sam's eyes narrow slightly as he tensed his jaw.
Abandoning her eggs, Sam wrapped both hands around her coffee mug, tilting her head but keeping her eyes on the dark liquid, "Did you have anything in mind? Sir."
He eyed her aloof response, noting the subtle tension in the set of her shoulders and for a moment a flash of self doubt coursed through him. He forced his eyes to Daniel and shrugged, "Well, the floor is open to suggestion but at this short notice I was thinking that Minnesota might be easiest? We could catch a transport to Duluth from Andrews on Monday."
Sam put down her coffee and eyed him steadily, "Your cabin?"
He shrugged a shoulder, "Just a thought. An option."
"I do not recall enjoying fishin..." Teal'c's objection was suddenly cut off by a sharp movement under the table and the Jaffa leveled his best first prime glare at Daniel who returned with his own, not too subtle, pointed glare.
Sam watched her two teammates before slowly returning her attention to her Commanding Officer and sucking in her cheeks to hold back to the broad smile that threatened to escape, "I don't know about Teal'c and Daniel but Minnesota sounds perfect to me...sir."
Jack sat quietly, just blinking, barely registering Daniel looking back and forth between his two military friends with a poorly concealed grin.
Slowly, Jack nodded, "Okay then. I'll just..." He held up the folders in his hand and awkwardly gestured to the door, "And then...and we'll just...you know..."
"Go fishing?" Sam supplied with a smirk.
Jack's jaw dropped and he had to physically shake his head before he was able to stand and stiffly move away from the table.
Daniel lowered the mug from in front of his wide grin and raised his eyebrows to his friend and team leader, "So Sam, you sure you want Teal'c and I to come along?"
Her playful smirk immediately fell away and she looked at the man who was like a brother to her with slight exasperation, "Yes Daniel. Absolutely." She bit her lip and looked down, "I've really missed you both and I know the General has too." When her eyes came back up to Daniel they were wide and full of emotion, "With him leaving soon who knows when we'll be all together again. When you first told us he was leaving you agreed we should do something as a team. This will be perfect." She turned to Teal'c "Please Teal'c? I'll buy you a whole crate of mosquito repellent."
Teal'c gave her a quiet bow of his head, "Of course SamanthaCarter. Although I do advise that we all acquire a significant inventory of mosquito poison and supplies for leisure activities that do not involve fishing."
Sam smiled, "Of course. I'll see what board games I can fit. We just need to make sure Daniel doesn't bring too many books."
She elbowed the linguist who was suddenly looking distracted, "What? Uh yeah. Of course." He agreed before turning and looking back to the door, "Guys, something's happening."
They all followed Daniel's gaze to where O'Neill stood just on the other side of the commissary door listening to something being relayed to him by a sergeant from SG-16 who was now also pointing at Daniel. Jack brow was drawn up in confusion but the sergeant was gesturing emphatically. Finally the General nodded and gave some parting instructions before turning back SG-1's table.
He braced his hands on the table next to Daniel, "You hear about some excavation happening at Giza?"
Daniel squinted at the seemingly random inquiry, "Um, yes. A team from the University of Chicago. Why?"
"They found something." Jack explained, "They sent it here."
Daniel's eyebrows arched above his glasses, "What is it?"
Jack tilted his head, "A ZPM..."
"Really?" Sam's eyes went wide, her military scientist persona immediately falling into place.
Jack nodded, "And..." he squinted as if he didn't really believe what he was about to say, "An SGC video camera." He concluded looking back to Daniel.
At the look of incredulity he shrugged and waved a hand to the door, "It's being brought to your office."
Daniel, Teal'c and Sam exchanged wide eyed looks before scrambling out of their seats to follow the General out the door.