A/N: Are you guys ready for it? 'Cause this - this is the final chapter.

Finally...

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Chapter 21

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A couple weeks had passed. SG-1 sans Jack had gone on their first mission as a team since that fateful day when the sky had fallen upon them. In fact, it had seemed as though it had continued to fall all along.

"So, colonel," Dr. Albright said, approaching his patient. "How have you been faring? I hear Alex left to be with her grandfather."

"Yeah," Jack replied, shifting in his seat on the exam table. "Haven't heard from her in awhile."

"I don't imagine she'll go too long without checking in on you," the young physician told him. "It's not in her nature."

"No, it's not," the colonel agreed with a small smile.

"Have you been experiencing any pain or irritation in your eyes?"

"No."

"Alright, how about -"

"I've been seeing things."

"Come again, sir?" Albright asked.

"Shadows," Jack continued, "outlines of things when they move in front of a light source. Thought I might have caught a glimpse of Alex, but I'm not sure."

The doctor sat down on his stool, staring at the older man in surprise. "And you didn't think to pick up the phone and call me?"

"I thought I might have been imagining it. Now, I'm pretty sure I'm not."

"Sir, I was honestly starting to believe that your condition was irreversible, but if you really are able to sense movement..." Albright was becoming excited.

"I can tell that you're doing that thing where you talk with your hands," Jack informed him.

The younger man looked at his own hand poised mid-air and let out a self-conscious laugh, lowering it to his lap. "There's one more treatment I'd like you try."

"Sure. Why not?" the colonel sighed. "What is it?"

"It's new, though it has been tested with positive results, limited side-effects. Its development was commissioned by Kens-Corp."

"Kens-Corp?"

"Bruce Kensington had it started shortly after Alex's accident," Albright explained. "Due to the nature of her injury, the treatment wouldn't have proven very effective at all, but with you... well, there's reason to believe the chance of success is fairly high."

"I'll try it," Jack said.

"But, sir, I haven't finished telling you about it, yet..."

"Albright, what have I got to lose? Besides – I already got a good feeling about this one."

The doctor smiled. "Yeah," he agreed. "I think I can see why."

-

SG-1 sat in the briefing room, waiting for their post mission briefing to start. Teal'c gazed down into the gate room as SG-12 returned from their mission, its two newest members bickering all the way down the ramp. Colonel Adams cuffed them both upside the head. She must have at least hurt their pride, because both Donovan and Hendricks shut up and rubbed at the spot where she'd smacked them.

Elder had been assigned to SG-8 under the command of the newly promoted Major Simmons, whereas Angel and Willis had become a part of SG-14. Brant, the newest member of SG-3, was currently off-duty after suffering an injury on his first mission.

"So, I was thinking maybe we should go see Jack, tonight," Daniel spoke up.

"That sounds like a great idea," Sam agreed.

"Indeed," Teal'c nodded, turning away from the window as General Hammond joined them.

"I see the three of you returned in one piece," he said, taking his seat.

"Yes, sir," the major told him. "We almost had to marry Daniel off again, though."

Daniel put a hand to his face. "Could we not mention that, please?" he begged.

General Hammond chuckled. "This sounds like it's going to be an interesting briefing..."

-

Several months later...

"Jack, you had to be there – practically everything was written on those scrolls. It was like a library of all their history and culture," Daniel was saying.

"For a while, I was afraid we'd never get him to leave the planet," Sam teased.

"It did appear to be an impressive amount of information," Teal'c spoke up in the anthropologist's defense.

"Thanks, Teal'c," Daniel told him.

Jack just shook his head, smiling in amusement while idly pondering whether he really wanted to get up to replace his beer or not. "Carter," he spoke up as the major passed to get more of the standard team night fare, "is your hair shorter?" The colonel squinted to try to make her come into better focus, but it didn't help much.

"You can tell?" she asked.

"Yeah, it looks like you've whacked half of it off!"

"That's about right," Daniel contributed with a grin. Sam gave them both admonishing looks.

"Colonel Jack?" a voice called. Jack was on his feet in an instant, his beer dilemma forgotten. A figure came around the corner of the house and up the patio stairs. "I saw all the cars and thought you might be back here," Alex said, smiling. Her image was distorted and blurry, but to Jack she looked beautiful anyway.

"Alex!" he said, stepping towards her.

"Sorry I haven't been in contact," the girl told him. "I called a few times, but your answering machine..." Jack pulled her into a hug, thankful that she was alright. Her eyes widened in surprise, then she laughed, returning the embrace. "I missed you, too, Colonel Jack."

"All that stuff you tried so hard to teach me – I'm probably not going to need any of it," he informed her as he stepped back.

"I heard! That's wonderful," Alex said. "So, can you see me?"

"More or less – I can almost guarantee you don't look half as bad." He reached out and ruffled her hair.

"Major Sam, Murray, Dr. Jackson," the young woman addressed the rest of SG-1, "it's good to see you again."

"Same to you," the major told her. "You look well."

"Very well," Alex confirmed. "I like the hair cut."

"Thank you!" Sam shot her teammates a triumphant look.

"Rumor has it, you've decided to succeed your grandfather as the head of Kens-Corp," Daniel said, coming up to stand beside Jack.

"I have to survive several years of college, first, but that is the idea."

"That's great. I'm sure you'll do well."

"I didn't get a chance to thank you," Alex told the scientist. "If you hadn't been asking me why I didn't go home, I probably wouldn't have been watching the press conference that morning, then who knows how long it would have been before I found out about my grandfather's heart-attack. I'm not sure if we would've made as easily if I didn't show up when I did. So, thank you."

"I didn't really do anything, but you're welcome," Daniel replied.

"Anyhow, I have to go – I came here with my grandfather for a business conference, so I can't be late. I think he's just coming up with excuses to have me at his side. Oh – almost forgot!" She reached into her pocket and pulled out a keyring, extending it towards Jack. "Your house key."

Jack pushed her hand away. "Keep it," he said. "You might need a place to crash sometime."

A big smile overtook her features and Alex threw her arms around his neck. "Thanks, Colonel Jack!" She started towards the steps, then paused, turning towards Daniel. "One more thing," she said. She rose up on her toes and planted a chaste kiss on his cheek.

"W-what was that for?" Daniel asked in surprise.

"For being my first crush," Alex told him, face slightly flushed. "Thanks, Daniel." With a wave, she left.

Jack turned to gaze at his friend. "Daniel?" he said, his tone teasing.

"I – I don't know," the younger man stammered, putting a hand to his cheek, "I mean, I had no idea..." His teammates laughed, and after moment, he joined in. They were alright. Everyone – SG-1, the recruits, Alex... they were all alright. They had all survived the storm.

Finally, the sky had stopped falling.

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End.

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Epilogue to follow...

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