So...apparently I've been living under a rock this month. I found out yesterday that there is an event called Fictober going on. Well, with only one day left to go, I didn't have time to do 31 one-shots, but I did manage to do one long one-shot with all 31 prompts. The prompts are in bold.

Not beta'd. Sorta proofread. You've been warned lol.

"Carter!" General Jack O'Neill hollered as he strode into her lab. "I need you."

Sam jerked up at his words, her experiment forgotten as her entire body reacted to the urgency in his tone. Her CO's usual, laid-back demeanor was gone, replaced by a level of panic she'd never seen before.

"Sir?" She asked hesitantly, still trying to get a good read on the apparent threat.

"Dad and Mark are here," Jack stated with trepidation, causing Sam to break out in a huge grin. The unflappable General O'Neill was rattled because the Carter men had arrived. "How do I look?" He asked, smoothing his hands over his dress blues.

"You look perfect," she said, brushing his hand aside to smooth the material herself. "And sexy as hell, sir," she leaned forward to whisper into his ear.

He growled in response, his eyes locking onto hers as she pulled back. "Didn't we already have this conversation?" He asked as his hands snagged the the bottom of her own dress blues, tugging her forward. "I know I've warned you multiple times about the consequences of flirting with me at work."

Sam giggled, drawing a heated look from him. She knew what her giggle did to his libido.

"You know Dad will be happy for us," she replied, ignoring his comment. She was fairly certain her father had already deduced the reason for their invite to a formal lunch. Mark, on the other hand, would probably be blindsided by the news his sister had eloped with her commanding officer.

"And Mark?" Jack arched an eyebrow. They both knew what Mark's reaction would be.

"Mark doesn't get a say in who I marry," Sam shrugged. "I don't have to explain myself."

"I agree," Jack nodded once. "But he's my brother-in-law. I'd prefer to at least be on speaking terms with him. Ya know, for Christmas and stuff."

"Which is why you invited both of them to dinner," Sam reminded him. "This wasn't my idea. If you recall, I said—"

"I'm well aware of your feelings about me wanting to get you and your brother talking again," he admitted.

"Sir, ma'am," Walter said from the doorway as he expertly adverted his eyes from the canoodling officers.

"This is it, isn't it?" Jack asked, his tone wary.

"Oh Jack O'Neill, the things you make me do…" Sam sighed dramatically, drawing a wry chuckle from her husband.

"That could have gone better," Jack mumbled as he and Sam followed Jacob and Mark into the Briarhurst Manor Estate dining room.

"I'm not saying I told you so," Sam semi-snapped back before discreetly squeezing his hand in apology. It wasn't Jack's fault her brother was an ass.

The initial meeting and drive over had been more than a little tense. Jacob had taken one look at them both and Sam knew he knew. Her dad's face formed a practiced grimace but there was a light shining in his eyes that betrayed his mirth.

Mark, on the other hand, had scowled at Jack as he looked them both up and down.

"Jack O'Neill," Jack had extended his hand to Mark.

"Sam's commanding officer," Mark shook Jack's hand stiffly. "I've heard a lot about you."

"Likewise," Jack nodded.

"So is this supposed to impress me?" Mark gestured to their dress blues, his eyes lingering on Jack's chest candy. There weren't many people who sported more ribbons than Jacob.

"Mark!" Jacob snapped.

"Come on dad!" Mark growled. "They insist on meeting us on their turf, dressed like that," he waved a hand to indicate their formal attire. "Tell me I'm wrong!"

"Not this again," Jacob threw his hands upward and sent Sam an apologetic look.

"You got knocked up by your CO, didn't you?!" Mark accused acidly.

"What?!" Sam bristled, her face had mottled red from anger and embarrassment as two enlisted walked past with wide stares.

"Let's take this to a more private location," Jack had ordered. His tone allowed no room for argument as he all but shoved Mark toward the car.

Once in the car, Mark had wisely stayed silent in the back seat as Jack navigated the evening traffic.

"This was not part of the plan," Jack murmured under his breath as he sat across from his brother-in-law at the elaborately set table. Was he insane to expect the guy to have a tiny bit of decorum?

Jack knew how it all must look. Hell, he'd been just as protective of his own sister, but had stopped short of actually embarrassing her. His goal back then had been to ensure her new husband knew Jack would end him if he ever hurt her. Mark's objective, on the other hand, seemed to be to inflict emotional pain and that was something Jack would never tolerate.

"It's so quiet in here," Jacob interjected to fill the awkward silence, making Jack wonder what Selmac was thinking about all of this.

"We wanted to come someplace special to share our news," Sam said softly. Jack felt her hand grip his under the table.

Damn, he cursed himself as her hand trembled. He'd been the one to push for this meeting, wanting to help mend the bond between brother and sister. But both Sam and Jacob had been hesitant. In hindsight, Jack should have trusted them and not insisted on such a public dinner.

"Your news?" Mark arched an eyebrow. "You mean there's more than you cheating on my best friend with your CO?"

"Is that what Pete told you?" Sam bit back, barely keeping her voice civil. "He's lying."

"You have no proof," Mark scoffed.

"Fine, I give up," Sam growled. "Believe that abusive jerk over me." She stood up. "I don't care anymore."

"Abusive?" Mark also stood up. "What are you implying about my best friend?"

Both siblings were standing with their hands braced against the table, glaring daggers at each other.

"Don't ruin this," Jacob growled at Mark, grabbing a handful of his shirt and jerking him back into his seat. "And you young lady," Jacob turned his dad-voice onto his daughter. "You better explain that last comment. Now."

"Forget it," she sank back into her seat, arms crossed over her chest. Jack saw the slight quiver of her bottom lip. Despite the bravado, he knew she was close to crying.

"Later," Jack ordered darkly as the memory of Sam showing up on his doorstep that night flashed through his mind. He'd never seen her that broken before and he never wanted to see her like that ever again.

Jacob pinned him with a hard stare. Neither Sam nor Jack had shared this piece of information with him out of fear that Pete Shanahan would disappear. Permanently.

After another tense moment, Jacob gave a barely perceptible nod.

"Was Pete the one to tell you I was pregnant?" Sam asked in an icy tone, but Jack could hear the pain behind her question. The idea that her own brother would believe the shrub over her was unthinkable.

Mark merely shrugged in response.

"Your information was wrong," Jack replied, allowing Mark to see his barely restrained anger.

"Look, there's no right side to this," Mark bristled, shifting uncomfortably in his chair. "It was clearly a bad breakup. I just don't want to see my best friend's name tarnished because you're pissed. I'm sure whatever happened was just a big misunderstanding."

Sam's eyes clenched shut as Jack saw red. Her own brother was gaslighting her.

"Excuse me," Sam forced back her emotions as she stood abruptly. "I'm sorry. I tried," she looked at Jack apologetically before quickly leaving the table. Samantha Carter had reached her breaking point.

"What did I say?" Mark looked genuinely confused.

"You're a piece of work," Jack said as he stood to follow his wife. "Your sister tells you her ex was abusive and you take his side," he sneered, unable to hide the disgust in his voice.

"I didn't—" Mark protested. "Oh come on! Pete's my best friend. Whatever happened between them couldn't have been that bad. It's not like he got violent with her!"

Jack schooled his reaction to Mark's comment a nanosecond too late.

"That son of a bitch!" Jacob surged to his feet. "I'll kill him!"

"It's been handled," Jack grimaced. Sam wasn't going to be happy he'd spilled the beans, even inadvertently. "Here," Jack withdrew a couple of fifties from his wallet and dropped them onto the table. "Pay the bill and call a cab. I'm going to find my wife and take her home."

"Take me with you," Jacob ordered, choosing not to acknowledge Jack's comment about Sam being his wife.

"Hey, what about me?" Mark shot to his feet as the two men turned to leave. "Wait a second," he added a second later before running after them. "What do you mean your wife?!"

Across the dining room a waiter watched helplessly as the rather loud party stalked out of the Manor.

"I swear, it's not always like this," he told an older couple who were about to order.

"Goodness," the older woman said in a whisper, her hand over her heart. "That poor dear."

"Yah," her husband whispered back. "They were quite the spectacle," he agreed. The group clearly had some unresolved issues to work through. It was obvious at least one of them had hoped to use the dinner as a way to clear the air. He was sure that idea had never worked. Ever. But it made for interesting dinner entertainment.

"Why are we whispering?" His wife asked him after a moment.

"I have no idea," he laughed in a normal tone, breaking the tension as everyone dismissed the two Air Force officers and their company.

"Sam!" Jack called as he jogged across the parking lot. "Carter!" He tried again, wincing at the way she screeched to a halt and snapped to attention at his tone.

"I'm sorry," she said meekly as he caught up to her. "I didn't mean to leave you to clean up my mess—"

"Hey," he said softly, stepping in front of her and cradling her tear-streaked face between his palms. "You have nothing to be sorry for. Your brother is a monumental ass. Besides, I believe you warned me this would happen. It's me who should be apologizing." He swiped at her cheeks with his thumbs.

"You just wanted to fix things between me and Mark," she sniffed, turning her head to kiss one of his palms. "I love that about you."

"Hmm," he hummed in response, pulling her into his chest. "Fixing things is more your thing," he murmured against her hair. "Screwing things up…that's what I'm known for," he added with a self-depreciating chuckle.

"Can we go home?" Sam asked, pulling back.

"Yeah, let me go grab Dad," Jack reluctantly released her and turned to find Jacob. Mark could find his own way to the hotel.

"Jack," the sound of Sam's tone stopped him short. He turned back around unsure of the tremor in her voice . "I feel strange," she looked at him with a perplexed expression a split second before her eyes rolled backwards and she collapsed.

"I'm fine!" Sam bristled as her Dad fussed with the blankets covering her legs.

"You could have died, Sammy," Jacob replied darkly.

"Oh, come on, Dad," she rolled her eyes. "I passed out. That's all." She had one little fainting spell after a very stressful almost-dinner and her father thought the world was ending.

"You scared us, Carter," Jack said gently, drawing her attention from the chair next to her bed.

"I come around the corner to see Jack on the ground cradling my daughter in his arms," Jacob admonished. "I'm your father. I'm allowed to be worried."

Sam's entire being clenched as she looked at the two men who loved her most in the world. Her heart swelled with love as tears pricked her eyes. Damn, she just couldn't keep her emotions in check today, she chided herself.

"You keep me safe," she told them, her voice breaking. "Both of you." Grasping each one by the hand she allowed herself to feel loved.

"I'm sorry to interrupt," Janet said from the doorway. "But I have the results of your blood tests and I think I know why you fainted."

"I'm anemic again, aren't I," Sam sighed, knowing the only other time she had ever been woozy was from low iron.

"Actually, no," Janet's lips quirked. "For once, your iron levels are perfect."

"Then what is it?" Jack asked impatiently.

"Is it alright if I discuss your results now?" Janet looked pointedly at Jacob. She knew her her friend didn't have any secrets from Jack, but her father was a different story.

"It's fine," Sam nodded. "I don't think undomesticated equines could drag him away right now."

"Good call, Sammy," Jacob replied dryly.

"Alright," Janet shuffled a few papers. "Well, I'd like to run a few more tests, but it appears you fainted due to a sudden drop in blood pressure. You indicated you had just come from a stressful situation?"

"Yes," Sam answered simply, not wanting to relive the past few hours.

"You're going to need to avoid stressful situations for a while," Janet informed her with a wry smile.

"That might be a bit difficult," Sam protested, glancing at Jack. "Stress is sort of in the job description."

"Not for the next seven months or so," Janet broke out into a wide, toothy grin at her friends' perplexed expressions. "Congratulations, Sam. You're pregnant."

Sam burst out into almost maniacal laughter. No wonder she'd been on a roller coaster with her emotions lately.

"Carter?" Jack asked her, his expression guarded.

She realized he was likely misinterpreting her borderline-insane reaction. She was thrilled. Ecstatic. She wanted to have his baby more than anything. So very much. Except—

"Mark was right, you did knock me up!" She spat out between peals of laughter.

Jack broke into a wide grin as the reason for her reaction became clear. Ignoring Janet and Jacob, Jack bent down and kissed his wife. And not just a quick peck, but one that Sam felt all the way into her bones. A kiss that left no doubt at all how he felt about her or the unexpected news.

Seven Months Later...

"Do you know what time it is?" Mark growled as he flipped open his phone and pressed it to his ear.

"It's time for you to stop being an ass and come meet your new niece," Jacob growled over the phone.

"Oh, hi Dad," Mark schooled his tone as he sat up in bed. Careful not to disturb his wife, he slipped out of bed and went downstairs.

"I didn't raise a coward, Mark," Jacob told him with a heavy sigh. "It's time to stop hiding and make amends."

"You're one to talk," Mark scoffed, then immediately regretted the words. His Dad had really been trying to make up for the past.

"I know, son," Jacob's sigh was loud even over the long distance connection. "But I've waited for this. A chance to be a father to both my kids at the same time."

"It's not that I don't want to come," Mark winced at the memory of how he had treated his sister. "I just don't see how Sam is ever going to forgive me for what I said. What I did."

After their horrendous dinner seven months ago, Mark had done what he should have from the beginning. He gave his sister the benefit of the doubt. She deserved a whole lot more, but it was the least he could do after the ass he'd made of himself. He knew his actions were the reason she'd fainted in the parking lot after storming out. Jack hadn't even let him come to the base to check on her.

Once Mark had let go of his anger and allowed himself to accept that Sam and Pete's breakup wasn't Jack's fault, he began to see how Pete's story didn't add up. There were holes a mile wide in his friend's version of events.

The final straw had come one night after Pete had had a few beers too many and confessed how he'd hurt Sam. Not hurt as in emotionally, although Mark was now positive there had been emotional abuse. No, the bastard had confessed to putting his hands on her in anger. Pete had bragged how he'd lain in wait, feigning concern as she had come home battered and bruised from a rough mission. A mission, Jacob later confirmed, had almost killed her.

Pete had been upset that it took Sam two weeks to recover on base. He'd been pissed that she hadn't come to see him. So the man had taken advantage of a perfect opportunity to 'teach her a lesson.'

Sam had been too weak to fully defend herself from Pete's attack. The fucking bastard had literally beat Mark's sister and what had Mark done? Oh, he'd just told Sam it must have been some misunderstanding.

He wouldn't blame her if she never spoke to him again.

"Sam knows how manipulative Shanahan can be," Jacob prodded gently. "She doesn't want him coming between you two anymore. Please, Mark. Be the man I raised you to be. Come meet your new niece."

"Yah, okay," Mark said before he could stop himself. "But no promises that this will go the way you want."

Jack paced his living room as he waited for Jacob and Mark to arrive. It had been over seven months since the night Jack had tried to mend the relationship between his wife and her brother. When Jacob had called earlier in the week and asked if he could bring Mark to meet Gracie, it took everything in Jack not to hang up on the man. But he'd never made decisions for Sam and he wasn't about to start now.

Despite his misgivings, Jack's chest had swelled with pride when Sam had told Jacob she refused to let the shrub win. Mark may have been an ass, but he was her brother and family meant everything.

A knock at the door halted Jack's pacing. His eyes locked with Sam's, looking for any signs of hesitation. The pregnancy and subsequent delivery hadn't been easy on her, and Jack had no problem throwing anyone out of the house who dared to upset his wife.

"I'm with you, you know that," he told her simply.

"Always," Sam smiled lovingly at him before giving the sign to open the door.

"Jacob," Jack greeted stiffly, praying his father-in-law was much better at mending broken bonds than he had been. Hopefully, fixing things was a trait that ran in the Carter family.

"Jack," Jacob replied, a tense smile on his face. "Mark knows to behave," he glanced at the nervous man behind him.

"I don't want to cause any problems," Mark held up his hands. "I swear. I just…" he trailed off at the look on Jack's face.

"Mark," Jacob nudged him with his elbow. "This time, just do what I said," he instructed.

Mark took a breath and looked Jack in his unforgiving eyes. "I want to apologize to you and my sister."

Jack studied him closely. He wouldn't slam the door in his face. Not yet. But he wanted Mark to know he wouldn't hesitate to throw him out. Once he was certain Mark received the silent message, Jack stepped back and allowed him inside.

"Hi Sam," Mark said carefully as he crossed the living room.

"Hi Mark," Sam replied warily.

"Wow, she's gorgeous," Mark said in awe as Gracie cooed in her mama's arms. "Just like her mom."

"Mark—" Sam started, not wanting to tiptoe around the elephant in the room, but Mark waylaid her.

"No let me go first," he interrupted. "I'm sorry. To both of you. I was a jerk. I know me saying so doesn't make up for what I did, but—god Sam—I'm so sorry. If I had known—" he stopped as his eyes filled with tears.

"It's okay, Mark," Sam said around the lump in her own throat.

"No it's not," Mark retorted sharply. "Don't let me off that easy. And you, Jack," he turned to his brother-in-law. "You saved my sister from that monster."

"She saved herself," Jack said simply.

"But you dealt with him after. Made sure he'd never bother her again. I know you did. You cleaned up the mess I caused—"

"No," Jack shook his head and stepped forward, placing a hand on Mark's shoulder. "Stop right there. You didn't make Pete an abuser. That's on him."

"But I didn't see it," Mark sighed painfully. "How could I not see who he really was?"

"Mark," Sam stood up with Gracie. "I was with the man for six months and I didn't see it until it was almost too late."

"I'm still sorry," he whispered.

"Apology accepted," Sam smiled sadly at him.

"Can I hold her?" Mark asked after a long silence.

"Yeah," Sam answered, fighting back her own tears. They still had a long way to go, but she knew they'd be alright in the end. They were family after all.

"Thank you," Sam whispered into Jack's ear as she lay in the circle of his arms. Jacob and Mark had left hours ago, but her and Mark's conversation was still running through her brain.

"For what?" Jack nuzzled his nose against her hair.

"For pushing me to talk to Mark," she looked up at him.

"You did that all on your own," he kissed the tip of her nose. "I'd had left him out in the cold after what he did."

Sam chuckled; she knew better. Jack had a soft spot for family and could forgive them for almost anything.

"I meant for pushing us together seven months ago," she explained.

He looked at her incredulously. "That was the worst idea I've ever had," he shuddered.

"Well, yeah, at the time," she giggled, earning a mock glare. "But in hindsight, that night is what led Mark to seeing Pete's lies. Without your bad idea, he and I probably wouldn't even be speaking."

"He would have realized the truth…eventually," Jack hypothesized, but they both knew it was false.

"I love you," she leaned up to kiss his cheek, then smothered her yawn with a hand.

"Sleep," Jack whispered, shifting so she could throw a leg over his thighs and snuggle into his warmth. Gracie would be up for another feeding in a few hours and he wanted Sam to get as much rest as possible.

Her breathing quickly became deep and even, her body heavy against his. Only then did he allow himself to contemplate her words. Sam was right; she usually was. The bad typically paved the way for the good. Without the dark, would anyone be able to recognize or appreciate the light?

Jack knew he had never truly appreciated his previous blessings until he'd lost it all. His chest clenched at the memory.

Looking at his wife, then glancing at his sleeping daughter, he sent up a prayer of thanks for his second chance to whomever or whatever may be listening.

End