O'Neill was back at the SGC, as planned. He stopped by the spacious room where mission reports and other documents would be stored. The general was working at a desk, a few meters behind the counter from where an airman was surveilling the room. O'Neill had put his blue jacket on the backrest of his chair.

The place looked like a library, with shelves of boxes filled with documents in lieu of books. Jack had taken one of them and was reading reports about the mission on Ender written by SG18, SG1, and himself. He was also checking out Sam's service records and a few others' on the computer that was on the desk.

Nothing strange happened on Ender. Jack accompanied SG1 and Captain Bradley over there. They made Faron's leaders acquaintance, had the banquet, and months later, officialized their partnership. As for the tables inside the hill, O'Neill couldn't find anything relevant and strange in any report. SG1 and a scientist who came later wrote that these tables had been used as a leisure spot, based on what Daniel could translate on the walls. Even Jack didn't mention anything particular about these tables, except he suggested it could be a dining room. As for the banquet, everybody wrote it had been a very nice moment, and nobody, including Jack, mentioned a strange situation occurring after that. Jack went back to the SGC the next morning for his meetings with Landry.

Jack sank in the chair, and sighed while loosening his tie. He was disappointed. Did it mean he was in the real world and for some reason, he forgot everything that happened between the banquet and the moment he woke up in the bedroom?

Jack couldn't think about an answer to his own question because Daniel Jackson appeared into the room.

"Hey, Jack! General Caldwell told me you were here." the civilian said after saluting the airman and walking past the counter.

"Hey, Daniel." Jack said, waving a hand.

"Sorry I couldn't speak to you earlier. Had to go through medical checks and calls."

"No problem, Daniel. How were your calls?"

Daniel sighed and put his hands into his pockets. "Business as usual… I didn't realize that I would have to deal with so many administrative duties, running Atlantis."

At the SGC, Jack discovered that: one, Steven Caldwell took over the SGC after Landry, who became the Head of Homeworld Command; two, Daniel Jackson took over Atlantis after Sam, who left because she asked for a transfer in Washington. Today, Daniel was temporarily back at the SGC for some meetings, among a few other things.

Daniel noticed the reports opened on the desk. "Being nostalgic, Jack?"

"Uh, kind of…" the officer vaguely replied.

The archeologist leaned to the table to see what the reports were about. "Oh, our first visit on Ender? I've always loved these people." he commented with a soft smile.

"Yeah... Good people..." Jack said, not believing in himself because of his blurred memories. "Daniel, I was wondering… Did we miss something in these reports?"

"What do you mean?" Daniel asked, surprised.

"I mean, did anything particular occur on this planet?"

Jackson stared at his friend. O'Neill continued, "Well, did something happen after the banquet? For some reason, I barely remember going back to the SGC although I wrote it in my report..."

"Oh, maybe you can blame the wine, or another local meal we had, or the age." Daniel teased. He explained afterwards, more seriously, "No. Except the good dinner, nothing strange happened, Jack. We woke up the next morning. You returned to the SGC. I resumed my work in the hill with Teal'c. Mitchell and Vala gave us a hand while SG18 was with the Enderers. Doctor Parker joined us the day after."

The general was completely disconcerted. Daniel Jackson, the person who would always be the first to not take things for granted, wasn't showing any sign of skepticism.

The civilian noticed Sam's photo on the computer. "Missing Sam in her uniform?" Daniel asked and before Jack could answer, he remembered, "Oh, I see. There was that conversation we had in the hill.". Daniel frowned, suddenly preoccupied. "Jack, is everything okay between you and Sam?"

"Yes!" Jack exclaimed, to reassure his friend. "It's just… I'm thinking… She has changed..."

"That's life, I suppose." Daniel simply concluded.

Jack gazed at Daniel, not sure about what he meant.

The archeologist removed his hands from his pockets and seated on the corner of the desk. He detailed, "You told her that you missed her and that you wanted her to be with you in Washington. I guess this is why she left Atlantis, to be with you. You became lieutenant general. She got pregnant. You got this promotion to be the future Vice Chief of Staff. Sam had the boys. I suppose she thought it would be difficult for you two to cope with all this and Sam's potentially being assigned somewhere on Earth or in the universe. Hence, she decided to support you in your duties while looking after her family."

The general expressed his doubt, "I let her do that? We let her do that?"

Jack hadn't had the courage to confront Sam about this aspect after their discussion interrupted by the pizza delivery guy. He had many occasions, though. Was it fear? Cowardice? Laziness because she confirmed she was happy with this life? Whatever, maybe Sam confided to Daniel things she was afraid to tell Jack.

Daniel thought, embarrassed. He eventually answered, "Well, Sam's decision surprised everyone, for sure. There have been questions, but in the end, it was a private matter, not our business.". Daniel made a quick pause. "Well, McKay may be still angry at you, but that's McKay..."

Daniel tilted his head, to mean that Jack shouldn't pay attention to McKay.

"She seems happy…" Jack sighed, but he was actually expressing his mixed feelings.

It was true that Sam looked happy in this world. Life had been simple for the two. No more risky missions, no more geographical separations for a long time. It was now a lot of cuddles between them in a warm bed, precious moments with their two lovely kids. It felt good to have a normal life.

Daniel replied to Jack's comment, "I'm sure she is, Jack. She's with the man she loves, and she's having a daughter."

Jackson smiled at the second part of the last sentence. O'Neill looked at him, perplex.

The head of Atlantis developed, "It doesn't mean she's gonna love her more than Patrick and William. It's just… different. There will be a new girl in Sam's male dominated environment.". Daniel started to count on his fingers. "She lost her mother when she was a teenager. She grew up with a brother and a father. She joined the Air Force at a time when it wasn't common for women to embrace a military career. She ended up with three men in SG1 for a decade.". Daniel stopped the counting. "Of course, there was Janet, then, Vala... Well, until she came to Atlantis with me. There's Cassandra, who's like a daughter to Sam, but she's an adult, now. Sam's having her own little girl. She's gonna have her own mother/daughter relationship with her own daughter. So, Sam's very excited."

Jack nodded, recalling Sam's shopping bags and her plan to spoil the future baby.

"Well, the credit for this speech goes to Vala as well." Daniel confessed. "She's driving me crazy in Atlantis, but things wouldn't be the same without her."

The general smiled softly. Vala was the opposite of Daniel, but they matched. Just like Sam and him.

Daniel Jackson concluded, crossing his arms, "You're a lucky guy, Jack. You wanted Sam in Washington with you and now, she's in Washington with you. You look happy, Jack. You deserve it.". Daniel squinted a bit. "Is it really important to know who did or say what? Maybe you're having this life for a good reason. Just make the most of it, if this is what you're looking for."

Jack smiled softly again, however, Jackson's last part sounded mysterious.

A neon on the ceiling sizzled, making Jack and Daniel briefly turn to it.

Daniel uncrossed his arms. "That's interesting... Caldwell told me they've changed the lights recently."

The gate alarm began to sound at that moment.

Daniel said, "That should be SG1. Let's go see them?"

Jack approved by a nod. Another key takeaway of his visit at the SGC was the discovery of the new SG1. Jack had searched it and opened the according service records on the computer. Colonel Reynolds became the CO of the team and the now Major Bradley was his 2IC. Technical Sergeant Jarod Peacock was the third military member. A civilian completed the team, Doctor Jeremy Wilson.

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Well, it's been a while, so I posted 2 chapters (11 & 12). Thanks for your patience ;) Don't worry, you won't have to get on your knees to have me continue this story. By the way, if you don't know yet, 28th July is the Sam & Jack ship day (figured this out on Twitter). There will be a surprise!

Cheers ;)