Jack O'Neill recognized Homeworld Command, in the Pentagon. The section looked exactly like the one in his reality. The general recognized the people working there. It seemed there was nothing awry... for the moment. O'Neill couldn't see what was awaiting him in his office because of the blinds hiding the bay window. He let Daniel, who was preceding him, open the door and enter the room first. It was indeed Jack's office, according to the name indicated on the door. Jack didn't pay attention to what was inside because he felt something warmly hug his legs.

"Daddy!" a five or six years old girl happily exclaimed. She stepped back to better see her father, who happened to be Jack. The general stared at the girl, shocked. She was the spitting image of...

"Look who's here!" the girl added, pointing her right index finger at a woman standing beside the desk.

Colonel Samantha Carter.

Jack looked at the little girl and the big girl. Both had blue eyes and long blond hair. Adult Sam, in her service dress, had a bun. Mini Sam had a ponytail. Adult Sam had a wedding ring. A briefcase, an olive green duffle bag, and the mini Sam's school bag were lying on the floor around the adult. Jack eventually noticed Teal'c, standing beside Daniel. The Jaffa didn't move or greet Jack. Certainly because he had been there before Jack went to the toilets. Unlike Teal'c, Carter hadn't seen Jack before.

"Surprise!" the full bird colonel grinned, delighted to be in Jack's office with him and the girl. Their daughter, obviously. As Jack didn't react, she thought he needed explanation. "I know I wasn't supposed to arrive before tomorrow, but guess what? My workshop initially planned tomorrow has been cancelled, so I booked the last flight available this afternoon and here I am! - her arms were wide open - I managed to find a spot at the Pentagon to work tomorrow, and I can take Ellie to school."

"Yes!" Ellie agreed, happy.

Ellie? As in Eleanor? Jack had a grandmother named Eleanor. He cherished all the moments he had spent with her. O'Neill remained still like a stick, which confused Sam and Ellie. Sam glanced at the two other men, who were as confused as her. Then, she asked the third man, "Jack, you're okay? You look... perturbed."

Jack tilted his head. "Uh, no, I'm just surprised."

"Good!" Sam smiled, satisfied. "That was the purpose."

Jack smiled. Their daughter came to the desk and grabbed a paper on the edge of it. She went back to Jack and showed him the paper. "I drew this, daddy," she said, proud.

Jack knelt to observe the drawing. "That's... beautiful!" he had to lie, not to sadden his daughter, who was smiling. He was fond of this so cute smile and didn't want to be the one who would end it. "What's this?" he queried, looking at Ellie, as he really didn't get the message.

Ellie commented, pointing her right index finger on the different parts of the drawing as long as she was speaking, "This is you, in the Pentagon, mom, heading her department in Nevada, and me."

Jack observed the drawing again. It was quite simple, but now the message suddenly became clear. Ellie was at the center of the paper. Arms stretched out, she was holding her parents' hands. From Jack's standpoint, he was on Ellie's right on the paper, and Sam, on her left. The father was inside a pentagon shape. The mother was in a square shape. Nevada was written below the shape. Ellie had represented her parents and herself very modestly with matchstick figures. A triangle had replaced Ellie's torso, a basic representation of a dress. The girl had sketched yellow vertical lines on her head and on her mother's. Jack had grey lines on his. Ellie had also sketched an ellipse in place of her parents' torso. The shape was colored in blue, certainly the service dress. All were grinning, based on the curve inside their circular faces.

Ellie was symbolizing the family situation. Her parents were working in different states, but they were still together to raise their child. Or was Jack overthinking?

"We look happy," Jack commented, eyes fixed on the paper.

"Why wouldn't we?" Ellie confirmed. Her father looked at her. "We're all together for the weekend. And tonight, we're gonna have dinner with the band!" Ellie smiled.

So, Jack wasn't overthinking. He stood up, hearing that they were going to spend time with the band. Jack guessed Ellie was referring to Teal'c, Daniel, maybe Vala and Mitchell?

Daniel grabbed his cell phone and confirmed Jack's intuition. "Maybe we should go now. Cameron's just texted me. Vala and he are waiting in the parking lot."

Sam nodded. She grabbed her bags, but Teal'c insisted to carry them for her. She thanked him and handed the bags to only keep Ellie's. The daughter gave Jack the drawing and came back to her mother to hold her hand. Jack moved away from the door to let Daniel get out of the office, followed by Sam and Ellie. The girl started to tell her mother about her day at school. Teal'c stayed in the office, as if to wait for Jack. The general spotted his briefcase on the floor, next to the desk. No document holder or laptop was laid on the desk, which made Jack think he had cleaned it before going to the bathroom.

The general grabbed his briefcase. In the process, he quickly glanced at a frame on the table. A wedding picture. He was standing with Sam beside the wedding cake. Jack was holding a toddler Ellie. The child was having the very serious and difficult mission to cut the cake with the spatula. Sam was holding her hand, being the one who was really cutting the cake. Jack could keep on staring at the picture much longer, but he had to leave, as Teal'c was here and silently waiting for him. Jack just made a soft smile and the two men exited the office.

The general looked at Ellie and Sam talking with each other on their way to the elevator. For the third time, he was confused. He had so many questions, once again. Nevertheless, for the first time, he felt calm. Less annoyed than when he was in the bathroom. He could wait for the answers.

To tell the truth, this third situation looked so natural. Sam pursuing her career in the Air Force, being the CO of something in Nevada, possibly at Area 51. Jack still in the Air Force, at Homeworld Command. Sam and Jack being married and raising a child. The family reunited... how often by the way? Whatever, the family was reunited and happy. Ellie didn't seem traumatized by this configuration. This situation seemed natural, it made sense to Jack, he suddenly felt at peace, proud, happy.

Or was this third situation calm before the hurricane? What could it be this time?

Jack saw his family and friends, except Teal'c, getting into the elevator. The general and the Jaffa, steps behind, heard the people inside the elevator laugh. When Jack arrived, he stopped, frozen. He knew something was going to happen sooner or later.

"We are waiting for you, O'Neill," Teal'c said behind Jack.

The general turned his head towards Teal'c. Wasn't he seeing the event horizon right in front of them? An event horizon that was now hiding what was inside the cabin?

"Don't be afraid," Teal'c reassured, very calm. He bent his head and stepped through the event horizon like everything was normal.

Jack looked around. The corridor was empty. He suddenly felt like running away from this event horizon. To go where exactly? O'Neill looked at the drawing one last time. Unlike Teal'c, Jack was afraid, even scared. However, following the rest of the band seemed to be the best option... or he was jaded...

He just wished to figure out a way to get out of this on the other side...