She had swallowed her frustration at her men as soon as the car turned down the long drive at Arlington and the weighty atmosphere of the place and the reality of burying her father took hold around her heart.

Jack and Daniel were already there, standing solemnly next to the shiny coffin. Even with his hat fixed low and eyes covered by the mirrored glasses Sam could see he was tense and knew he would be scanning the area.

She was grateful but wasn't worried; even the NID wasn't low enough to impinge upon the sacred ground of this place.

The ceremony was with full military honors and was anything but quick. She stood strong besides her brother, even when General Hammond's eulogy threatened her composure.

Mark's broke during the folding of the flag and her heart swelled. She took a subtle step to the left, bringing her arm in flush contact with his, lending her strength; but she could not contain her flinch when the gun salute volleyed. She took comfort in noting the pressure around the General's mouth indicated that his glasses were hiding his own wince at the sound.

Finally the bugler finished his call and the assembled people began to quietly disperse leaving Sam and her families at the graveside.

Daniel approached first, offering a handshake to Mark before enveloping Sam in a tight hug. She blinked back her tears and murmured her thanks into his shoulder. When he released her Teal'c offered a solemn bow to them both.

The General also shook her brother's hand with a steady, "Mark." before acknowledging her with a slight lift of his chin, "Carter."

"Sir." She gave him a small smile which he returned with a satisfied nod.

He held out a hand, "I have a box in the car."

Understanding immediately she passed the flag over to him, not reacting as his fingers lightly brushed and lingered on the back of her hand. "Thank you."

His lip twitched but was interrupted from his response by an insistent hand on his sleeve. He looked down and then squatted until he was at David's eye level and removed his sunglasses.

"And what do you want young man?"

With hands on his hips David stared at him with curious intensity, "Are you wearing a clip on tie?"

They had not lingered at the graveside long after the great-tie mystery had been solved; the grounds crew had approached to finish the burial and they departed to the wake Hammond had arranged.

Jack was mildly sympathetic as he saw Jacob's old friends descend on Sam with comments of how they "Knew her when" and "He must have been so proud" and "Always knew you'd make it big." However he'd seen her fend for herself before so when she locked eyes with him he simply offered an amused smile and gestured that he was helpless to save her from her admirers.

"They don't care about me." Mark commented not-unhappily, coming up to stand next to Jack, eyes on his sister.

"They're intimidated by you." Jack returned honestly.

Mark's brow creased and he turned to look at Jack properly, "Wait, what?"

Jack glanced down at his glass as he explained, "You had a falling out of epic proportions with your father and sister and rumor on the street is that it was due in no small part to the Air Force." He turned to Mark, "When your whole identity is defined by the uniform you wear it can be stalling to try and talk with someone whom you know hates what that uniform represents. No one begrudges you your opinion, but it's hard to know what to say." He shrugged and looked away again, "Intimidating."

Mark squinted at Jack, looked around at the uniformed men who had been ignoring him all afternoon and then back to Jack.

"Were you? Intimidated."

A small smirk settled on Jack's face, "Scared as hell."

The younger man shook his head in disbelief, "But you're..." He gestured to Jack's shoulders with the cocktail napkin in his hand, "A General. I mean, look at you. I don't even know what half those ribbons mean!"

Jack tilted his head, "They don't mean absence of fear."

The befuddled look suddenly left Mark's face replaced by sober realization and his hand fell back to his side.

"I don't hate the Air Force, Jack." He began quietly.

Jack's eyebrows rose and he turned to fully face him, regarding Mark carefully as he continued, "I hate what it did to our family. That Dad would choose duty over Sam and me."

"You know..." Jack tried carefully.

Mark held up a hand, stalling him, "I came to those conclusions before I was a father. Now..." He looked back to where David and Lisa were trying to show Teal'c how to make origami napkins, "Now, I would do anything to keep my children safe, even if it meant I couldn't be there for them every day."

He looked back to Jack, eyes flicking to his chest before meeting him in the eye, "But I don't have to make that choice because others already have, including you and my sister. I sincerely thank you for your service Jack. For everything you've done so I don't have to. To keep my family safe."

Jack kept the eye contact with him for a long moment, weighing his words.

"Thanks." He finally replied with an outstretched hand which Mark gripped firmly.

The men turned back to stand shoulder to shoulder and watch Sam smile politely at yet another Lieutenant General.

Jack smirked, "Can I give you a bit of advice?"

Marked looked over, waiting.

"Don't tell any of them that. Way more fun to have them be intimidated by you."

Mark smiled, "I'm sure you don't know anything about that." He smirked having seen the Brigadier fielding his own deferential greetings all afternoon.

Jack shrugged, "They're annoyed by me. Big difference."

Mark smirked briefly, thinking, "I should thank you for something else." He started carefully.

"What?" Jack, glanced back.

"Being there for Sam."

Jack's head shot forward again, eyes masking.

Mark smiled internally. "She told me that you really helped when Dad was near the end. That you took care of not just the arrangements but that you were there for her so she wasn't alone."

Jack bent his head then met Mark's steady gaze, eyes dark, "Sam will never be alone." He looked back across the room, features softening, "Be it Daniel or Teal'c or myself, or any number of other people she will always have someone looking out for her. I can promise you that."

"You know she broke up with Pete?" Mark changed tact.

Jack nodded but refrained from answering as he noticed men in suits and ear pieces enter the room.

"Jack…?"

But the officer was facing the door and had pulled himself to attention; as had every other military member in the room.

Mark's jaw dropped and he shared a befuzzled look with Mary before turning back to watch the President greeting Hammond at the door.

"Hello everyone," Hayes waved, entering the room, "Please, at ease. I'm not here as any one's commander in chief today. Please, return to your conversations as if I'm not even here."

Jack smirked as Mark watched, wide eyed as the President of the United States approached his sister and gave her in a quick hug and shared quiet words. Before he knew it she was gesturing in his direction.

Jack stepped away and watched in amusement as Mark frantically wiped his hands on his pants before accepting the president's greeting.

"That has to be confusing." Daniel remarked dryly, coming up alongside him.

Jack shrugged, "Hayes is an Air Force guy. I'm sure Mark is imagining plenty of plausible explanations."

"Funny how the truth is the least plausible." Daniel observed dryly.

Jack smirked and sipped from his drink, watching as the president was introduced to Sam's niece and nephew.

"Did she say anything to you?"

Jack jerked his head at Daniel's question, "Going to have to be more specific on that one."

"Sam."

"Again, specific." Jack glared, "Carter's said quite a few things to me over the years."

Daniel rolled his eyes, "Today. After we got here she pulled me aside and said we need to talk." He looked to where she was standing with her sister-in-law, "She didn't sound happy."

Jack shook his head, "She just buried her father."

"I know." He looked around, "I just feel like it was something else." He studied Jack's carefully constructed impassivity, "She didn't say anything to you?"

Jack shook his head.

Daniel looked knowingly at his friend, "What about yesterday?"

Jack looked back to him, "What about it?"

"You two disappeared for a long time."

"To the Air and Space Museum." Jack rolled his eyes, "We got tired of butterflies and rocks."

Daniel ignored the slight, "Did you talk?"

Jack nodded, "Yes."

"About...?" Daniel's hand dragged out in front of him.

"Air and space." At Daniel's exasperated look he added, "Oh, and planes."

Daniel shook his head and took a long drink from his glass. "I can't believe how stupid the two of you are."

Jack's head whipped up, "Excuse me?"

"You've got to do something Jack. Soon. Before your transfer. You two need to work it out before there's a thousand miles between you." His voice was low but his tone insistent.

"Daniel." Jack ground out, eyes flicking to the multitude of ranking officers in the room.

"Come off it Jack," Daniel waved away the implied threat, "Everything is done and defeated. I'm not letting you get away with excuses any more. I didn't think you were either judging by how hard you worked to impress Mark last night."

Jack's face creased in confusion, "What are you talking about?"

"'The cellos in Brahms 3…'" Daniel parodied.

"He's her brother." Jack gestured.

"Right, gotta get on the good side of the girl's brother." Daniel's mocking continued.

Jack looked away, pushing a forceful breath between his lips.

Daniel sighed and rubbed the back of his neck. "Look, Jack, I'm sorry. I know it makes you uncomfortable and it's not the time or the place. You are two of my closest friends and I just want you to be happy." He paused, "For once."

Jack looked back at him, clenching his teeth, quiet for a long moment.

Finally he admitted quietly, "It's good you weren't around last week. Don't think I could have handled both you and Jacob."

Daniel's eyebrows rose nearly to his hairline. "So…" He glanced to Sam, "What are you going to do about it?"

Jack's jaw shifted and followed Daniel's gaze. Sam and Mary were laughing at something Lisa was telling them. He pulled his eyes from her smile and found Hammond and the President in low conversation by the door.

"I'll show you." Jack stiffly handed Daniel his glass, straightened his uniform and walked directly to his superiors.