Jack was enjoying on the sofa with Sam the pasta and the sausages she had cooked. She had brought two lunch boxes, and Jack had reheated them in the microwave.

"It's delicious, Sam!" Jack exclaimed after a mouthful.

Sam smiled, satisfied. Jack was a bit surprised that the meal was actually very delicious. Like the waffles. Did she get a training to improve her cooking techniques? Not that the Sam he knew was an awful cooker, she was doing well when she had time. Time... Indeed, when you spend your days fighting against villains who aim at controlling the universe, you don't really have many occasions to become a chef. You're content when you can go home and have a warm plate, even if it's a very simple meal.

Sam went back to the topic she had started to talk about before Jack congratulated her on the pasta. She took baby clothes from one of the two shopping bags that were on the floor, and showed them to Jack.

"I was in town and I saw these in a store. Aren't they cute?" Sam said, enthusiastic.

Jack's wife was holding a pink dress and a white dress with flowers on it. The pink dress was for a one year old baby, the white, for a two year old.

"Yes, they are." Jack confirmed. "Isn't it a bit too early? She's not even born." he added, hesitant.

"I know, but I couldn't resist! Oh, I'm so gonna spoil this child, Jack, I swear!" Sam warned, sparkles in the eyes and a grin on her face.

Jack restrained himself from trying to make Sam reasonable. He ate a piece of sausage instead. She was too excited by the perspective of welcoming the baby girl. The mother-to-be put the clothes back into the bag. She took her lunch box and enjoyed a mouthful of the pasta.

The general asked, "What are you up to this afternoon?"

"Take Patrick and William back home, take a nap, play with the boys, chat with Janice… Business as usual. And you?"

"Meetings, meetings, and other meetings. Business as usual." Jack offhandedly responded.

"Try not to be late for the dinner."

"I promise." Jack said after wiping his mouth with a napkin.

Sam smiled and sank in the sofa, to relax and contemplate her husband's office. Jack looked at his wife. She looked happy and peaceful. He felt happy and peaceful, too. He hadn't felt like this for a long time.

However, for some reason, something started to bug him, but he couldn't pinpoint what exactly.

Or was he looking for issues that didn't exist in this perfect world?

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Sam was gone, leaving Jack alone in his office. The general had a few minutes left before his next meeting. He was sipping coffee, to recharge his batteries, and was wandering in his office. A photo in a frame, on the shelf near the doorway, caught his attention. The photo was next to another one taken at the cabin with the original SG1. Jack grabbed the frame of interest with his left hand, the right holding the cup of coffee.

It was a portrait of Sam, in her service dress. The full bird colonel was smiling. Lieutenant General O'Neill was standing on Sam's right, and a black man, a four star general, Air Force, was on Sam's left. Jack recognized him. General Albert Kent, Chief of Staff of the Air Force. Jack had retrieved this information during his research in the morning. Never say organizational charts are useless. When Jack got to Ender, Kent was a three star general. The two men were smiling. Some people were in the background, with a table on which Jack could perceive, peering at it, Champaign and petits fours.

General O'Neill didn't see Kent come into his office and call him, "Hi, Jack, how's it going?"

Jack turned. "Good, Albert. Coffee?" Jack proposed, showing his cup.

"No, thanks, Jack. I'm trying not to exceed my limit." the Chief of Staff declined, smiling.

Kent noticed his colleague was holding the frame. He smiled again, a bit nostalgic however. "I remember this one. That was a nice discharge ceremony."

Jack blinked.

Did Kent just say discharge ceremony?

Yes.

With Jack and Albert chatting in the Pentagon right now in their service dress, it wasn't neither Jack's nor Albert's, which meant it was Sam who quit the Air Force.

Kent kept on talking about the picture, "The Air Force and the Stargate Program lost an invaluable asset that day, and you gained an invaluable partner - Kent looked at Jack - You're very lucky to have Sam by your side, Jack."

"I know." the Vice Chief of Staff acknowledged.

It was true. Sam had been an invaluable soldier, scientist, co-worker, friend, partner, and now, wife and mother.

"Well, I was just saying hello, as I didn't have the chance to do it this morning." Kent said before he looked at his watch. "Uh, have another meeting, see you later, Jack."

The Chief of Staff exited the room. Jack looked at the picture again. He frowned because he was having mixed feelings.

Something started to bug him during lunch and he couldn't pinpoint what exactly until that moment with Kent.

What was Sam doing for a living today? Was she still in Astrophysics? Jack realized Sam didn't mention anything about her career since the morning. She just talked about children, cooking, shopping, and chats with some ladies. She didn't mention anything about a professional break because she was expecting. She didn't mention anything about science! How was it possible? Jack knew Sam very well. She would do or say something related to her work even if she wasn't supposed to work, like extra research in her spare time... And her job would be related to science, it couldn't be otherwise. Jack also thought about a detail that was in fact a hint about Sam's not being in the Air Force. Indeed, Davis referred to her by Mrs. O'Neill.

Therefore, did Sam abandon the Air Force, the Stargate Program, and a career as a civilian to take care of her household? Did Jack somehow play a part in this decision?

The Vice Chief of Staff realized his heart rate had increased during his reflection. But these questions couldn't be ignored.

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I'd like to thank you very much for reading this story and your comments.

Sorry it has been a while since the latest chapter. The next are in progress. To be honest, I'm blocked on a few of them, words are not coming... And the story is actually longer than what I imagined, lol. Don't worry, I'm not going to give up. Will just have to juggle between this story, "Unexpected Notices" for which the content is almost ready to be published (need some rereadings for enhancement purposes), and a third one that I started to draft.

Yeah, I know, I'm not making my situation easy, lol. I didn't plan all these ideas for different stories. They just popped up in my head and then I had to write them down. And you'll figure out why I had to draft the third story.

See you soon!