Chapter 38
Slowly Sam started to remember what occurred after she realized she could send herself back mentally to the time of which she was exposed to the device. They raised and retrieved Atlantis and brought the city back on time. The earth-made deep space carriers were better than before with more power. The Asgard survived and Ori were never a threat. The Wraith became an alley as it was discovered they simply needed a sound food source that didn't require human lives to be extinguished. Todd the Wraith went from enemy of John Sheppard in the first timeline to friend in the second. Jack didn't need to wipe out an entire civilization, he simply needed to help them survive and find common ground.
Pete Shanahan turned out to be the jerk Sam knew he was with a lingering affection for her. He stayed on in the Civilian Tasks Force and became a hero in his own mind alone.
Sam had momentarily forgotten she was a mother to her young daughter, Olivia. She kicked herself for not remembering her at first. How could she forget her own child? But she did start to recall what happened after she realized she could send herself back to the future. She remembered getting married to Jack with Janet Frasier standing in her honor. She recalled Vala and Qetesh attending as guest. She recalled her father giving away her hand in marriage. She recalled George Hammond presiding over the ceremony and being congratulated by President Landry. She recalled finding the so called "leaker" to the press was in fact the result of a teenage hacker in China who wanted everyone to know the truth. She recalled Penny Parker marrying Charlie shortly after her own wedding. She recalled Jack's clone John growing to adulthood and still going into the military. She then recalled Daniel and Janet settling down together. Jonas Quinn never returned to his reality and accompanied them to Atlantis. He now lived in the city with Jackie as they had a relationship. She recalled how Oma and Daniel both worked together to deprogram Adria who then returned to her reality to confront the Ori and their lies. Sam then recalled that she and Jack were both now retired and she did indeed reach the rank of General herself before hanging up her uniform.
She walked onto the balcony of the Atlantis apartment, sporting white shorts and a purple flannel over a white t-shirt. Atlantis was still located in the middle of the San Francisco Bay. The city remained in US waters due to supply and logistic needs despite international cries for different waters. Jack sat in a lawn chair on the balcony sporting a pair of blue jeans and a matching shirt with a pair of sunglasses. Sam held two glasses of lemonade. She smiled, "Here!"
Jack reached over for the glass as Sam sat in the lawn chair beside him. He took a sip, "Pretty good!" He looked off over the bay.
"What ya thinking?" she asked him.
"How much fishing line I would need to cast from here," he admitted.
Sam looked over the city below. She smirked, "A lot!"
"Where's munchkin?" Jack wondered.
"She went to the zoo on a fieldtrip with her class." Sam told him.
Jack asked, "Things coming back?"
She nodded, "I'm remembering now. I still remember the original timeline and the second one."
"Third," Jack figured.
"Third?" she asked.
"Fish in the pond," he reminded her. "We changed something."
She shrugged, "It was close enough."
Jack asked her, "Would you send yourself back again?"
She pondered, "I don't know. There isn't anything I regret. I have you, a beautiful daughter, two great step kids and this fantastic view."
"I have regret," Jack admitted.
Surprised she asked, "What's that? You changed so much for the better."
Jack cocked his head and looked over at her, "I never got my cabin back. First time I sold it to Hank and second time Sheppard snatched it up. He still owns it."
Sam chuckled, "Maybe John will sell it to you?"
"He wants a fortune," he huffed.
"We have a nice place on Atlantis." she reminded him. "Everyone is working here and this is a great view…"
"The cabin had a nice view too," he miffed.
Sam asked, "You're not thinking of going back just to get your old cabin back, are you?"
"It would be quick in and out," he told her. "I send myself back buy the cabin before Sheppard can and come right back."
"What if you get trapped in the Do Over again?" she asked.
He asked, "You can come and get me, right?"
"Don't bet on it," she warned.
Jack sipped his lemonade and then asked, "We have any whiskey?"
"No," she shook her head. "Why?"
"To add to the lemonade." he suggested.
"You can get a bottle next time ashore." she told him.
Jack muttered, "You were way more fun when I was your C.O."
"What was that, Jack?" she asked sternly.
"Nothing," he chirped innocently.
Meanwhile
Dr. Janet Frasier entered the restricted lab with Major Charlie O'Neill. Charlie was much older now as he neared thirty-five. His dark brown hair was cut short and he wore blue BDU's. He spoke to Janet about his wife Penny.
"Penny was throwing up this morning," he mentioned.
Janet kidded, "Sure she's not pregnant?"
Charlie paused, "Um…" He pondered the notion.
Janet looked at the device sitting on the table before them. "I just need to double check a few readings for Sam before we box it up." She walked up to the device and took notes from the nearby computer.
Charlie walked closer, "Hard to believe this thing knocked out six people and sent my dad all the way back to when he was a kid."
"Apparently, your father sent himself that far back. The device just made it possible for him to do it." Janet told him.
Charlie could see his reflection in the metallic object before him. He leaned closer to get a better look. He decided to rub the side to remove any spots.
"Don't touch," Janet warned.
It was too late and the object activated once more with Charlie's touch hitting them both with a wave of energy. Janet and Charlie saw a white light before collapsing to the floor.
In the Past
Janet blinked as she heard a voice but couldn't quiet figure out what was said.
"Major," the voice stated once more. "Dr. Frasier!" she heard George Hammond speak to her clearly. She blinked and looked upon him standing before her in his uniform.
"Sir," she shook her head unsure what had happened at first.
"You okay?" he asked her.
"I'm fine," she stated. She then realized she was back in the SGC and standing in the briefing room.
Sam walked into the room sporting green BDU's and looking much younger. Behind her was a younger Daniel Jackson and they both seemed bright eyed and full of energy.
Hammond stated, "Captain Carter. Dr. Jackson. I would like you to meet our new base Chief Medical Officer, Major Janet Frasier."
Sam grinned, "Nice to meet you."
Daniel added, "Welcome aboard."
Janet then asked, "Is Jack O'Neill here?"
"Colonel O'Neill?" asked Hammond.
"Yes," she nodded figuring she was just exposed to the device.
"Colonel O'Neill is working in the Pentagon as a liaison." Hammond replied.
"Bring him in," she instructed.
Hammond stated, "I'm not sure I follow."
"Just give him a call and tell him the Napoleon power monger was just caught in the Do Over." she instructed annoyed.
Hammond gave a confused look, "Excuse me."
"Just call him!" she huffed.