Chapter 21

Three members of SG-1 were at the table describing their latest trip through the gate; unknowingly filling in the finer details of General Hammonds strange dream from the previous night. Teal'c was there with his wordless support and the General sat stoically taking in the tale; that was from their standpoint two different timelines. They left nothing out, even including the parts that made the least sense: the dreams of visitors from the future.

General Hammond told the team of his dreams and of the weird whispers that he heard; listening again in his head how "Grandpa George" shouldn't worry because "daddy would fix everything."

The group decided that they were going to keep this dream version of what happened to themselves. The only one that kept any documentation on it was Sam and even that was only in the form of a diary she planned to rewrite when she had the time. She felt a lost without her little book and wasn't willing to give it up completely.

"And that, General, brings us to the matter I left on your desk," Jack stated, back in his command tone.

The General had been quiet through most of the discussion, only filling them in on his visions towards the end of the discussion. He sat and pondered what all the repercussions would be to approve Jack's letter. Seems fate was on their side yet again. "I never thought I would see the day where you would want to retire again, Jack," the General said with a smile.

Sam didn't have any reaction to the news but both Daniel and Teal'c did. Teal'c's response was to raise an eyebrow, but for him, that was quite the rejoinder. Daniel's head jerked up and he stared wide eyed at Jack.

Jack answered both General Hammond and Daniel as he said, "With everything that has happened I no longer feel comfortable being the team leader. I want to pursue a relationship with the Major and to do that I can no longer be her CO." Jack explanation was an uncharacteristic display of emotions. He felt he owed more to General Hammond, Daniel and Sam then to leave these words unsaid. It cost him a bit to admit so much but as he thought back to the ring he had handed to Sam, his pride had already cost him enough.

Daniel was shocked that Jack had planned to retire. He looked over to Sam and saw that she knew this was coming. A small smile appeared on his face. He knew his parents were getting back together. He paused as he thought about that sentence. He wondered if he would ever NOT consider these two people his parents. A small part of his mind went back to the facts that they still didn't have. Daniel wanted to ask about the DNA testing but didn't feel it was the right time. He was trying to convince himself that it didn't matter. Sam and Jack both remembered and that was all that mattered, right?

Jack glanced over the group as the General paused to think about what was said. His eyes rested on his son seeing the insecurity coming off the boy in waves. He realized that something more needed to be said. They had explained to the group about the email that Sam had found that lead them to compare the DNA of Jack and Daniel in the dream world but with everything that was discussed it was a relatively small matter. Jack had to admit, if only to himself that he wanted to know if Daniel was biologically his. Not that it really mattered to Jack. Not after what they all went through. This past experience forced Jack to admit the paternal feelings he had carried for Daniel since their first trip to Abydos.

"General, if you don't mind, Daniel and I have a small matter to attend to in the infirmary," Jack said with wide eyes, pleading with the General to allow him to leave without making a big fanfare of the request.

Daniel had been staring at the table again as he worried over whether or not to bring up Sam's email again. He shot his eyes up to Jack's face as he finished his question. A small smile appeared on his face as he realized that Jack wanted to know if the DNA testing would say what it had said before. Daniel's face fell as he thought back to the mathematical improbability that he was actually an O'Neill. He couldn't stop wishing that somehow it was true. That he was the baby Jack had given up for adoption. He knew it shouldn't matter, but somehow it still did.

Sam had watched the facial reactions from her son and knew that she needed to intervene, "General, I would like to accompany them, if that is alright." She stood as she waited for a reply and walked over putting a reassuring hand on Daniel's shoulder, giving him a gentle squeeze.

Teal'c, not one to be left to the side added, "As would I, GeneralHammond."

General Hammond watched the interaction from his premier team. He saw that although they had always been close, now they were even closer. He had seen the reactions from Daniel and the actions taken by the rest of the team to support him. He had been a leader for far too long to miss even the small facial expressions. He nodded his consent as he said, "Dismissed." He paused again then looked up at Jack and said, "I would like to meet with you as soon as you are done. There are some matters that we need to discuss."

The customary, "Yes Sir," left his mouth as he turned to walk out the door. He wondered if the General would accept his resignation. He knew that the safety of the Earth itself was on the line. His team was the best. He knew all this but more importantly he knew where his heart was. He knew this was what he needed to do. He could only hope the General would see the wisdom in the request.

The quartet arrived in the infirmary startling Dr. Frazier with their presence. Jack was ready to explain but Sam stepped forward and quietly asked the doctor if they could speak in her office. Janet glanced around at the group, noting their serious faces and acquiesced.

Once the two women were alone Janet asked, "Sam, are you alright? Did something happen?"

Sam tried to hide her smile as she glanced at the closed door. How was she going to explain this? Her smile broadened as she recalled the first time she asked her friend to conduct the test. Those circumstances were completely different. She wondered if she should explain what all had happened but realized the team outside would not want to wait that long. She finally decided to cover as much ground as quickly as she could. "Janet," She began, "I need a favor from you and I swear when all this is over we will get together and I will explain everything."

Janet's eyes narrowed in confusion. What kind of favor was Sam going to ask that would need an explanation for? She looked the Major over to see if there was anything out of place. She was about to ask what the favor was when her eyes caught the glint from Sam's left hand. Her eyes went wide as she realized what had caught her attention. Shooting her stare from the hand to the eyes she asked, "Is that what I think that is?" Janet's eyes went back to the unimaginable object that Sam was currently wearing on her left ring finger.

Sam cocked her head for a second before she followed the doctor's eyes back down to her hand. A full smile crossed her features before she realized she was getting WAY off topic here. She made a mental note to take the ring off until Jack retired. She gave a mental sigh at the sound of the name, Jack before she almost physically shook herself.

She didn't lose the smile but reached over to her friend and said, "Yes, this is exactly what you think it is and I swear I will explain everything."

Janet looked back up at Sam's face and although she saw the smile she also noticed the seriousness in her eyes. She had known this team for a long time and considered Sam to be more than a friend, more like she was family. Janet knew that whatever Sam was going to ask her was something that important. She quickly realized that it was also something that would require secrecy. She really only needed to know one thing, "Is this illegal?"

Sam choked on her laugh as she said, "God no! It's just…" She paused as she glanced back at the door as if she could see through it to her family on the other side. "It's just crazy," she finally said and then added, "And no one else can know; SG-1, General Hammond and now you. I need you to run a DNA test to compare Daniel and Jack."

Janet did a double take at the name "Jack" before her mind fully registered the question. There was a long pause before Janet finally said, "Sam that's not-" she didn't get to finish.

Sam interjected, "Not possible, I know. But, I promise to explain everything, just… not right now."

Janet stared into her friend's eyes for a long moment before nodding before sitting down behind her computer pulling up the correct files to begin her comparison.

Standing just beyond the door were the three remaining members of SG-1. Aside from a glance to each other as the two women left their presence they had no idea what to say or do. None of them were used to standing around. Jack wondered to a tray and started to play with the equipment on it. Daniel only rolled his eyes.

Back inside the office, Janet looked up at her friend. She tilted her head in question and then looked back down at the results from the computer. She opened her mouth a couple of times before she looked back up at Sam.

Sam thought she was going to die waiting for the response before Janet finally responded…

The men outside the room glanced up at the door as it opened wide revealing two stoic faces. Jack was the one that broke the silence as he asked, "Well?"

Janet broke into a huge grin as she replied, "Congratulations… It's a boy!"

As the group took in that almost cryptic sentence, Daniel froze. They didn't actually SAY that the test confirmed that the two were father and son. Daniel looked over to Sam and said, "Mo- uh, Sam…" He was going to ask a question but Sam's eyes became very serious and he faltered.

As she stared at Daniel she said, "Oh no, you don't get to call me that. Not here among family." Her stern look gave way to a warm smile and with a sparkle in her eye she said, "Besides, when I marry your dad, it will be legal." She took the remaining steps between the two and drew Daniel in for a hug.

At this last sentence Teal'c raised an eyebrow to Jack, clearly expressing the need for further explanation. Jack patted Teal'c on the arm and said, "I think we need to get all this out in the open." He gave a look at Sam and wordlessly told her to go ahead and explain. "How about we go out and get something to eat. You guys go get started and I will meet up with you after my meeting with the General."

Sam gave him a warm smile and followed Janet back into the office to get her things. The smile never left her face. She was finally getting everything she had wanted and never thought she could have.

Janet surprised herself that she wasn't demanding answers right then and there but knew they needed to go somewhere that would give them the privacy they all needed to get the story out. And what a story this one was going to be! First Sam was asking about a pregnancy, then she was sporting an engagement ring and now they find out that Jack and Daniel are father and son. One thing is for sure, it was never dull with this group.

Teal'c was still standing awkwardly and that was not a normal stance for him as he watched the two women leave. He felt he was still missing part of the story; a part that would explain what MajorCarter was talking about when she didn't want DanielJackson to refer to her as Sam and that she was going to marry DanielJackson's father.

Daniel glanced at Teal'c and then began to walk towards the door to get what he needed to leave for the day. As he passed Jack, Jack reached over and pulled him into a hug. Jack whispered to him, "It never mattered, but I am glad the test results proved you are my son. I only wish I had known when you were a little boy. You never would have…" He couldn't finish.

Daniel understood and appreciated the sentiment. He leaned back so he could look his father in the eye and said, "You have always been there for me, even before we had any hint of this. Besides, you were there when it mattered the most." It was all he had to say on the subject. Sure, it would have been nice to have known Jack when he was a little boy, but to them, they had even experienced that. He patted his father's arm as he walked past him.

Jack would never stop feeling guilty for not being there for his son but he accepted that none of them would be where they were now if he had known about Daniel. That one point in time would have changed everything for all of them. He still could wish for things, though, like Daniel having met Charlie… He mentally shook those thoughts from his head. He looked up at Teal'c and saw the small tell of confusion on his friend's face and said, "Don't worry, they will explain everything. I need to speak with General Hammond and get a few things straightened out before I join you guys though."

Teal'c gave his friend a nod and Jack walked out of the room heading towards the General's office.

The General was seated at his big desk with the door opened when Jack paused at the entryway. The General raised his eyes to Jack's then pointed at the seat in front of the desk. Jack acknowledged the unspoken command by sitting down in the seat that was pointed to.

Both men sat in silence for a moment before the General said, "Is the reason you are retiring really so that you can pursue a relationship with the Major?"

Jack paused, unsure how he should proceed with this question. He opted for the truth, "Yes Sir, that is the reason."

The smile on the General's face wasn't what he was expecting. Neither were the words that came out of General Hammond's mouth next, "That is exactly what I wanted to hear. I have an idea that could solve everything…"

The two spent the next half hour going over the plan for Jack to retire, for the General to retire and the final piece: For Jack to take over command of the SGC. It would be tricky and they would need to call in a few favors, but this would be the only way for loophole of having a civilian run the SGC. It also had the added benefit of Jack being out of the military and free to pursue his relationship with Sam.

By the time Jack entered the small restaurant he had missed the explanation to Janet and Teal'c the new relationship between Sam, Jack and Daniel. Janet seemed to take the whole thing well and as he sat down to join the group he realized that Sam and Janet were mid planning a small wedding. He gave a knowing smile to his son and Teal'c. He knew everything was going to work out. He had it on good authority. He could almost hear the giggling of a small child as he sat back and listened to tentative arrangements for a private ceremony to join him and Sam.

A/N:

I wanted to thank all of my faithful readers. I had originally written the epilogue but my muse insisted on this small chapter to fill in a couple more blanks… Great big thank you to each and everyone that has stuck with my lazy muse and BIG HUGS to the last few reviewers without you, I am not sure I would have been able to convince my muse to continue. So special thanks to: bats212, dawnmarie1971, annabell14, Ladyschumi, brndjms, Vanidot, gaben, notwolf, SpriteOfTheLight, wandamarie, Torra Jhed, Harm Marie, Stroma, and Tigyr, those final reviews mocked me until I finished this chapter. I hope it was worth the wait…