Chapter thirty Seven

Two days later they arrived back on earth. SG1 and Jacob were beamed down to the gate room. General Hammond was in the control room when they arrived.

"I'm back," Jack said with his arms open wide and a grin on his face.

Everyone in the control room looked down at the bottom of the ramp. Everyone was shocked to see them there. Hammond went down to greet them.

"Welcome back SG1, Jacob, I presume every thing went ok?"

"Yes, sir, mission accomplished, all of the Replicators have been destroyed" Sam said.

"That's good to hear. We will debrief in the morning at 0900 hours, you all know the drill, dismissed."

They started to move out of the gate room when they saw many of the base personnel lining up along each side of the hallway, waiting to greet them back.

"Ten hut" Reynolds shouted. Everyone stood at attention and saluted them all as they passed, heading towards the elevator. When they got to the elevator, Jack turned to look back at them all. He returned the salute and,

"Ok, at ease and dismissed."

As soon as he said that, they all started clapping and smiling, their way of welcoming them back, until they disappeared. Ten minutes later they all were in the infirmary, Jack walked in first.

"Hey, doc, miss me" Dr Warner turned around to see Jack standing there with a big grin on his face.

"Colonel O'Neill, it is good to have you back. You know the drill"

After their post op exam was done, they were all cleared to go. Jacob went with Sam back to her place, Daniel stayed on the base and Jack went home. On the way home he picked up some Chinese food for dinner and a six pack.

After he put everything down on the coffee table, he noticed three tapes on the table with a note.

'We taped all of the Simpson for you Jack. Tthe fourth tape is in the DVD player, welcome home, George'

This made him smile. He went over to the his TV and then he saw the photo of him and Sam at last year's Air Force ball and he remembered what Jacob had said

'Looking into one another's eyes and smiling like a happily married couple'

He picked it up and looked at it. He knew that Jacob was right. He knew how to make Sam smile and laugh. He then remembered the envelope, so he put the photo back. He got the envelope out from behind one of the photos. Before turning away, he looked at all of the photos of his team, that had been taken over the years.

He sat down on the sofa, opened and pulled out the letter. When he finished reading the letter, he decided to fight for her, for her love. He folded it up and put it back in the envelope. He gathered the beer and the Chinese food and put them in the fridge. He grabbed his jacket, wallet and keys, he ran out the door, locking it behind him and got into his truck, and drove around to Sam's place.

When Jacob and Sam arrived home, Sam went to check her messages. There were a few of them, mostly from Pete; asking if she was there, why she broke up with him, why wasn't she calling him back, him telling her that he misses her, things like that.

There was one from Mark, asking what was going on. There were three from Cassie, letting her know that she missed her and Jack, telling her to take care of herself or else, which make Sam smile. After listening to the messages, she went to check all of her mail. She noticed two parcels, one addressed to Jacob.

"Dad, there is a parcel for you here" Jacob came out from the guestroom. "Ah, it's Kate's birthday present"

"And this one as well" they opened them up and smiled at them both.

"Tomorrow morning, we will post them away, so they will arrive in time for her birthday"

"Good idea Sam"

"Dad what do you feel like for dinner"

"Hmm Italian, it has been a long time since I last had it"

"Ok, I know this great restaurant where we can go."

"Ok, do we need bookings?"

"I'll give them a call to see if there is a free table"

"Ok" then there was a knock on the door.

"I'll get it dad" Sam went to open the door.

"Sir, are you ok"

"Sam can we talk"

"Ah, sure, come on in" Sam stood back and let Jack in before closing the door.

"Who is it Sam" Jacob said as he walked out of the kitchen.

"Jacob"

"Jack, I'll leave you two to talk" then he went into his room and closed the door.

Jack went in to the lounge and Sam followed him.