AN: thank you every one who has review this story so far plus for the alerts. they all make my day, enjoy this next chapter. I wounder who going to be the lucky 400th reviewer?
Chapter 54
When Jack and Sam arrived home, Noreen greeted them at the door, holding Liam in her arms.
"Jack, Sam you're back. What happened?"
"It's classified, Mom," Jack said, taking Liam from her so he could give him a hug and kiss then passed him to Sam.
"You both look tired."
"We are Mom; would you mind looking after them for few more hours while Sam and I get some sleep?"
"Sure thing Jack, I was going to take them shopping any way."
"Shopping for what?"
"Food, Jack, food, those kids of yours have eaten just about everything in the kitchen." She shook her head.
Jack pulled out his credit card and passed it to her. "Here, use my account for the groceries, Mom."
"Thanks, Son. Is there anything you both need while I'm shopping?"
"Coffee and anything else you want to get," Sam said.
"Alright, I need to go; Leroy is already in the car."
Sam passed Liam back to Noreen before she walked past them down to her car. They watched her put Liam in his car seat, and buckle him in, before she got in the car herself. She started the car and drove away.
Jack and Sam walked inside, closed, and locked the door before walking to the stairs and up them. Once in their bedroom, they removed their clothes and got into bed. Sam snuggled up to Jack's side and they both fell into peaceful sleep.
A few hours later, they both woke up when they heard the kids in the hallway, "Sounds like the kids are home," Sam said with her eyes still closed.
"Mmm." Jack opened his eyes and looked at the clock then back to Sam.
"Four hours."
"'Four hours' what, Jack?"
"Sleep, need more."
"Mmm... sounds good." Then they heard the kids, again.
"Sounds like we better get up," Jack said.
"Yeah... early night."
"Sounds good." He leaned over and gave Sam a kiss. She opened her eyes and smiled then he kissed her again.
"Let's go see what our kids are up to."
"Sounds like a plan to me."
They got up and took turns going to the bathroom to relieve themselves, before getting dressed and making the bed. When they walked out of their bedroom, Connor was walking out of his. He turned when he heard footsteps and then grinned.
"Mom, Dad, you're home!" he yelled as he ran towards them. He gave them both a hug just as Charlie and Grace ran up the stairs.
"We're back," Jack said. There were hugs all around.
"I missed you Mom, Dad," Grace said. Charlie said the same thing.
"We missed you too kids. Have you been good for grandma?" Sam asked.
"Yep."
"Come on, let's go down stairs." They walked down stairs and into the living room, where they sat and talked for an hour.
When they heard a car pull up outside, "It's grandma," Connor said.
"I'll go and give Mom a hand," Sam said as she stood.
"We'll all go and help her, come on kids." They all walked out to give Noreen help with the babies and groceries.
Three hours later, they all went out to dinner, including Noreen. They all enjoyed themselves for the next two hours. When they returned home, they watched a TV program together, before the kids went to bed. Noreen decided to give them more "family" time, so she went to her house instead of joining them in the living room. Jack and Sam went to bed half an hour after the kids, since they were still tired.
The next morning after the kids left for school, Jack and Sam decided to go to the day care center where they had enrolled Grace, Charlie, and Connor when they were little. They had decided to start taking the babies to daycare so they could get used to it and when they are older, they could make friends while there. They decided to leave Liam and Leroy for a few hours, so they could start getting used to other people.
Then they went into town, to do some shopping for the kids since they were quickly outgrowing their clothes and shoes. They even had lunch in town before returning home to be there in time for the kids to get home from school.
Sam picked up the twins just before five, while Jack took care of dinner and the older kids.
That Saturday, Sam spent the day with Grace since she got her first period that morning. Sam took Grace shopping for supplies and they went to play games, just enjoying a mother-daughter day.
That night, while Jack and Sam were in bed, Jack looked down at Sam who was snuggling up to his side. "Sam." She looked up.
"What's wrong with Grace?"
"Why?"
"Because, well, she called you into her room, then an hour later you both left for the whole day. So what wrong with her?"
"She started her first period this morning."
"Ah and it took you all day to get supplies?"
"We had a mother-daughter day. Anyway have you noticed the changes in Charlie?"
"Ah... should I have, why what's wrong with him?"
"His voice is changing."
"Oy... they're growing up too fast." Sam smiled.
"I know. Before we know it, Charlie and Grace will be going to college, Connor will be starting high school, and Liam and Leroy will be in kindergarten."
"It seems like only last week that we brought Grace and Charlie home from the hospital... look at them now."
"I know. Mark was telling me the other day how fast the triplets are growing."
"Yeah, we should go visit them sometime."
"Yeah. I did ask if they were planning to have any more kids. Mark said that they had only planned to have two. But..."
"They got three."
"Yep."
"Let's get some sleep before our kids wake us."
"Good idea." Sam gave Jack a kiss before snuggling down and closing her eyes and falling asleep. Jack did the same few seconds later.
On Monday morning, Jack and Sam drove to the SGC to do their report for their last mission. Just as Sam finished her report, she received a call to report to the control room since there was a problem with the dialing program.
When she was finished there, one of the scientists needed her help with a few issues that had come up while Sam was away. Jack managed to find Sam helping one of the scientists with a problem. Sam finished the solution, and then turned to Jack.
"Home."
"OK." She turned to the scientist and talked for a minute, before leaving with Jack.
"Manage to finish your report, Jack?"
"Yep."
"And the other four?"
"Yes I did."
"Good. You will be rewarded tonight."
"Sam, we do it every night."
"Double tonight." Sam heard him groan.
"Damn you, Sam." Sam giggled.
"We know you love it."
"Oh yeah."
They changed into civilian clothes, then left the mountain to pick up the twins and drove home to enjoy the next few days of down time.
On Friday morning, both Jack and Sam reported to the SGC in their dress blues. After they had been to their locker room, they walked down and into the gate room to find all the Base personnel were there waiting for them.
They were all called to attention when the doors opened. General Hammond, General Ryan, and the President walked into the room and up the ramp.
"At ease," George Hammond said; every one relaxed a bit.
"In my time here, I have come to greatly trust and admire every one of you. My command of this installation has been very rewarding and I could not have asked for a better group of people to have assigned here. Most of you will be surprised to learn that this will be my last address to you all... Sunday will be my last day here at Stargate Command... I'm retiring." Everyone was shocked by the news.
"I've been in the Air Force for over forty years and it has been an honor and privilege working here for the past eighteen months. You all are damn fine officers, Airmen, and Marines and I trust you will give the same support to your new commanding officer. I hope you will give him or her a chance to get to know you. Keep up the good work." He stood back and stepped aside. General Ryan stepped forward.
"I know it is a shock to you all about General Hammond's retirement. Whoever is going to replace him will have big shoes to fill when it comes to the Stargate program. On to other matters... General O'Neill, Major Carter, Captain Ferretti please step forward," Sam, Jack and Lou walked up the ramp and stopped and stood at attention.
"General Jack O'Neill, Major Samantha Carter, Captain Louis Ferretti, you have distinguished yourselves by heroism involving the voluntary risk of life," General Ryan said, as he pinned the Air Medal on Jack. He saluted O'Neill, who more solemnly than usual returned the salute.
Then he moved on to Sam. "Against impossible odds, with only the help of your team members Teal'c and Dr. Daniel Jackson…" General Ryan and Sam saluted each other, and then he pinned the Air Medal on Sam.
He moved on to Ferretti, "…you destroyed both Goa'uld spacecraft that were poised to attack this world. Your exemplary courage and heroism reflect great credit upon yourselves and the United States Air Force." General Ryan and Ferretti saluted, and then the General pinned the Air Medal on Ferretti.
Then he stepped back to the podium. "Captain Ferretti you may return to your other team members." Ferretti walked back down the ramp and back to where he stood earlier.
General Hammond stepped in front of Sam. "It is with great pride that one of my last orders is the announcement of the promotion of Major Samantha Carter to Lieutenant Colonel," General Hammond said. Then he changed Sam's oak leaves.
"Raise your right hand and repeat after me." Sam raised her right hand and repeated what General Hammond said.
When done, they saluted each other and he gave Sam a small nod. Then he stepped aside until he was standing front of Jack.
"It is with great pride that my last order, as Commander of this base, is the announcement of the promotion of Brigadier General Jack O'Neill to Major General." Then he changed Jack's stars.
"Well done, Jack."
"Thank you, George." Then George moved back to his spot. The President stepped forward.
"It is an honor to be here among you all. To Earth and to me you are all heroes. I know that the SGC is the front line of defense against the enemies from other planets. I wish you all the best and keep up the good work."
"Company, dismissed," Hammond said.
Then everyone walked over to Jack and Sam to congratulate them on their promotions and Air Medals and congratulating Ferretti on his Air Medal. Soon everyone started leaving the gate room.
"Jack." He turned to George.
"George."
"Can we talk, up in my office?"
"Sure, when?"
"Now."
"OK." They walked out of the gate room.
When they entered George's office, General Ryan and the President were waiting for them.
"What's going on?" Jack asked.
"General, we would like for you to command the SGC."
"What... me, you're joking right?"
"Yes, you are the best man for it and you are already second in command."
"I don't know what to say."
"How about 'yes'?" the President asked.
"Well, Sirs, I was only reactivated from retirement temporarily."
"We know. We want you back full time, General," the President said.
"I need to talk to my wife about this."
"General, you are not to say a word to your wife. The choice is yours."
"With all due respect, Mr. President, I respect my wife's opinion on things like this and it does concern her, too, Sirs."
"What are you talking about?" the President asked.
"Colonel Carter, Sir, she's my wife."
"Colonel Carter's your wife?" He raised his eyebrows.
"Yes, Sir." He stepped forward, picked up the phone, and pressed three numbers.
"Sam, can you come to George's office... thanks." He hung up and stepped back.
"I'll wait until Sam gets here; after all, she is way smarter than I am." He noticed George was grinning.
A few minutes later, there was a knock on the door; Jack opened it since he was standing closest.
"Jack, you wanted to talk to me?"
"Yeah, come in." When Sam walked in, she stood at attention. "At ease, Colonel," George said as Jack closed the door.
"Jack, what's going on?" she turned to him.
"They want me back full time as 'the man'." Sam's eyes widened.
"Jack, wow, so what are you asking me?"
"Sam, for one: you are my wife and..."
"I know. I understand... pros and cons."
"I knew you were smart; but, also, you know what I'm like." Sam smiled.
"Well, think about this... who would you rather have running the SGC... you or some other General?" Sam raised her eyebrows at him.
Jack looked at her then remembered General Bauer and what he had wanted to do and what had almost happened.
"Pros and cons... I never had a desk."
"Con," Sam said.
"My own parking space."
"Pro."
"I could do whatever I want."
"Within reason."
"I could join SG1 whenever I want."
"Only if we need you to come, and there are other teams..."
"Yeah, now see. I am not sure I am ready to give that up, either. Sitting back, watching you guys go off and have all the fun... I have spent my whole life sticking it to 'the man'. If I do this, I'll be 'the man'. I don't think I can be 'the man'."
"You'll be inheriting a pretty big can of worms with the state of affairs out there."
"Gee, thanks."
"There is the fact that nobody knows how this place should be run better than you. With a little guidance from your good friends and advisers, of course." Sam raised her eyebrows.
George, General Ryan, and the President listened to what Jack and Sam were saying to each other. They were confused but whatever the two were discussing was something they had never came across before with couples in the Air Force. It sounded like they understood each other.
Jack let out his breath. "Are you sure, Sam?" Sam smiled then turned to the other three in the room.
"General Ryan...Jack and I are committed to helping with a school camping trip coming up next month... would it be OK if General Hammond looked after the base for two weeks while Jack and I are away... that is if General Hammond doesn't mind?" Sam said the last part to General Hammond.
"It's fine by me," George said.
"Yes, that is certainly acceptable." Sam turned to Jack.
"Well, Jack, you know where I'll be and whatever you decide, you know I'll support you."
Sam stepped to the door, opened it, and walked out closing it behind her. Jack looked at the three men in the room.
"Before I give you my answer, there are a couple of things I would like to change."
"We are listening," the President said.
