As you open this, I send a pray to all of you - that you are safe, that you are healthy and that you are with loved ones. As this monster roams our beloved planet let us remember to not let fear rule us. Let us remember love, kindness and caring. I pray each of you will make it through this and we will be here next year reading another story together.

I have no excuse for the lateness of this chapter so therefore I will give known. I just could not get the words to come out. I hope it is what you wanted but it will not be the last one. We must have a celebration after all the pain our hero's have gone through. So I will be writing one more chapter...hopefully a little faster than this one. LOL

I pray for each of you, and I love each of you. Thank you for reading!

Chapter 39 = Family

Carolyn watched Jack and Sam as they watched the monitor. She had delayed their health screens long enough. Teal'c and Daniel had been checked and were fine. Now that left these two, little Charlie Grace and Jonathon. Tapping Sam on the shoulder, she pointed to the isolation room and did the same to Jack. Of course, Jack made his usual "I hate doctors" look but Carolyn ignored it and started down the hallway.

Carolyn felt sure they were fine, but she still needed to run precautionary test and check other things she was not able to on Thor's S ship. She proceeded with Charlie Grace first. Of course, the babe wanted nothing to do with her. Content in her father's arms, Charlie Grace wanted nothing but sleep. She had been held, loved on and adored since the minute they returned to Earth and though she enjoyed all the attention at the time – now she just wanted to sleep. And although Carolyn had no children, she knew that a baby that wanted to sleep but could not was a grumpy baby. Finally finished with a clean bill of health, she gave the baby to Jack and proceeded with Sam.

Carolyn knew that she was examining three miracles. First Jack, then Sam and Charlie Grace. Knowing this, she was not surprised when Sam's checkup came back as a clean bill of health the same as Charlie Grace. What did surprise her was when she examined Jack and the bruises and scars were still there from the torture he went through in his life. She knew he still had body aches – she had found that out on the ship one night when he had tried to kneel to get something, but it still surprised her as to why he had not come back 100 percent healthy. Was it really what he said it was? Was Oma really that mad at him? It really seemed unfair, but he did not complain – he was just glad to be here with his family and back at home.

"Well I must say this has been an adventure. You are all good to either stay on the base or go home. All that leaves for me to check is Jonathan. I want to make sure he is not having any side effects or aging again. Have you seen him, Jack?"

"Um no. Not since we arrived. I was so caught up in the oblivion of those two asses that I really did not pay attention to anyone. He may be in his room. I will go check."

Sam and Charlie Grace walked out with Jack but headed towards the General's office while Jack went to check Jonathan's room. In a way, he was not surprised when he opened the door and the room was empty. Something in the back of his mind was bothering him but to be sure Jonathan would know not to go off base without being checked first. 'Yeah right, Jack – you would if you wanted to let Sam know you were back and okay.'

Jack rushed upstairs to where the guard was stationed and checked the log. Sure enough, Jonathan had signed himself out and it looked as if he did it the second, they hit the mountain. And Jack knew exactly where he had gone. Jack called Sam and Carolyn to let them know and signed himself out. He knew before Carolyn had a chance to say anything to him. Cassie would freak out if Jonathan showed up at the house in his present condition. He had to get to her house as quick as he could, or he feared what may happen. Cassie knew about Loki and his experiments. She was smart and that would be her first answer to Jonathon's "new look".

Sam stood outside General Landry's office door – fidgeting with Charlie Grace's outfit. When she had returned to the mountain, she had been very surprised to see her godfather. She had assumed after the last conversation she had with everyone that he had gone back to Washington. She lifted her hand to knock on the door but hesitated. What would he say to her? She had meant what she said when she told them all that her career with the Air Force was over. She knew she had that option because this was the year she was to rejoin if she wanted to. The answer was still a firm NO.

Sam knew that her godfather would back her decision, she was also positive that General Landry would back it, that was not the reason she hesitated to go into the office. She was worried about his answer to the question she needed to ask him. She felt sure he would agree but that nagging doubt always remained. Did he really want her with Jack?

Jack drove as quickly as possible to Cassie's house. The scene he witnessed on the front porch made his blood run cold. Was that really Cassie holding the gun to Jonathan's chest? Jack slammed the truck to a stop and raced up the walkway. He prayed that Cassie had not already fired the gun. From the look on Jonathan's face, it seemed she was contemplated doing just that. Jack hoped he could convince her that the Jonathan standing on the porch was her Jonathan.

Jack could literally hear the sigh of relief leave Jonathan as Jack called Cassie's name. Slowly she looked over to where Jack was standing. She looked back at Jonathan and then again at Jack. And it slowly dawned on her. There was no way Jack had been cloned again. Was it true that this really was her Jonathan? Jack and Jonathan watched as the harrow watched over her face at what had almost happened. Dear God, she had almost shot the only man she really loved. Her hand started trembling as the tears fell down her face.

"Uncle Jack, I really don't know if I should attempt to move or not. But I think one of us should attempt to take the gun before it slips."

Jonathan had barely gotten the words out of his mouth when Jack had reached Cassie and took the gun from her. The poor girl was in shock, Jack could see that, and he knew holding the gun was the worst thing for her. Whether she accidently shot it or not – she did not need to be reminded that she had almost caused not only a death but a death of someone whom she wanted to spend the rest of her life with. Taking the gun, he pulled Cassie in his arms while Jonathan took a sit on the steps. Jonathan had not even realized that he too had started shaking. Realizing how close he had come to dying just hit him.

Jack helped Cassie into the house and sat her on the couch. He started back out to help Jonathan when Cassie gripped his arm. The question in her eyes was more for reassurance than for anything else.

"Yes, he is fine. No, you did not shoot him and Yes, that is your Jonathan."

Jack left Cassie sitting on the couch and went outside to see about Jonathan. Looking at the young man – he could understand why Cassie would not believe it was her Jonathan. He looked the way he should look for a young man. Not the old crabby man that Jonathan and Thor had attempted to make him look like. Jack was just glad that Jonathan had been able to be healed. That he was still able to live a life with the person he wanted to. It seemed as if he was not only talking about Jonathan but himself as well.

"How is she?"

"Why don't you go see for yourself"

With that, Jonathan got up from the steps and started into the house. As he opened the door, he turned back to look at Jack who was already going down the front walk. Jack would never know just how thankful he and Cassie would be in the morning and realization dawned on them on just how close it had been. Jonathan smiled as he turned and saw Cassie standing behind him. She reached for his hand as he slowly closed the door.

Jack looked back when he heard the door shut. Shaking his head and smiling he reached for the door handle to his truck just as Sam pulled up. Walking over to the car, he stood in front of her door before she had a chance to open it.

"Sam, there is no since in going in. They are doing ok."

"But I really wanted to see Cassie and I wanted her to see Charlie Grace."

"I will bring you back by here tomorrow or better yet, we can invite her and Jonathan to the cabin for a grill out. But right now, this is not really the right time."

Sam looked up at Jack – there seemed to be a twinkle in his eyes, but she also saw that he was very determined about them leaving. Looking back at the house and then again at Jack, she surrendered. After all, maybe that's what they needed. Maybe to get past all of this they needed to get together and have a good time. Mentioning good time….

"Ok I will concede on one condition."

"And what is that?" Jack felt he already knew the answer, but he would hear her out anyway.

"I am willing to wait until tomorrow, but we have to go home. Not back to the SGC. Let's go home."

Jack stood and thought for a moment. He had not actually seen the ending of Loki nor Kinsey. He did not know for sure if they were torn apart yet. Did he dare take the chance and give in to what he and Sam both wanted? Did he trust the ones at the SGC to let him know if something happened? What if he went home and spent time with his wife and Button and something happened? Something that would destroy his little family once and for all.

Sam watched him, watched the anger and feelings pass over his face. Feelings and anger of what he and those he loved had been through lately. Could she get him to give and let the anger and hurt go?

"Jack, its time we healed. Not physically – but emotionally. We have got to believe that it is finally over. That this is our time. Our time to build our family. Come home with me. Let's celebrate together, just us tonight."

Jack saw the yearning in her eyes, and he knew it was in his also. He glanced in the back at Button. He knew she would sleep through the night. She had since she had been born. It was weird because he knew most babies woke at least 3-4 times during the night. Charlie did. Looking back at Sam he knew she was right. This was exactly what they needed. He nodded his head and watched the smile he loved light up her face. As he started to walk back to his truck – she called out to him.

"By the way, I just wanted to let you know – he said yes."

Sam rolled up the window and drove away. Now Jack was smiling. So, it was all coming together at last.

Jonathan sat on the couch and held Cassie. He could not believe how close he had come to dying. Of course, what scared him most of the situation was he knew if Cass had completed the act – when she found out the truth, she would have died also. Thankfully that did not happen. He pulled her closer to him and she snuggled even more into him. The desire was overwhelming. He knew it and so did Cassie. They had never gone all the way before. They had always wanted to make their first night together their wedding night, but tonight was very hard to hold true to that thought.

As Jonathan again rubbed Cassie's face with the palm of his hand, she lifted her face and caught his lips. The kiss was deep and sincere with a lot of feelings and comfort. She stood up and took him by the hand as she headed to the stairway. Jonathan looked at the young woman he loved more than anyone in the world. He wanted this so bad, but he needed to be sure that she would not be disappointed tomorrow.

"Cass, are you sure about this? We had always said we would wait."

"Tonight, is the perfect night. I love you and I know beyond a shadow of a doubt that you love me. Yes, I am sure."

With that, Cassie led Jonathan to her mother's bedroom. Cassie had always known that was were she would become a woman at when the time was right between her and the man she loved. As the night grew later, she knew deep in her soul that she had been right.

Jack slowly got up from the bed for the third time since they had laid Button down. What was the deal tonight? Usually there was nothing but peaceful suckling noises coming from her but tonight she just did not want to sleep. He heard Sam giggle as he made his way over to the crib, they had bought on the way home. He made a mental note to pay her back for that giggling once he was in bed. Jack had stumped his toe again on the blasted animal he thought Button had wanted in the store. But obviously he was wrong because it kept ending up outside the crib. As he picked her up and saw how alert she was – he knew this night would not go the way he had planned. But that was the joy of having a family – nothing ever went as planned