AN: Oooh, the Temptation to quote Buffy. You'll see what I mean.

Chapter 12

Two figures walked the halls that the two members of SG1 had escaped through almost 4 years ago, looking quietly into each of the empty and cleaned rooms that they would be leaving for the next researchers. A quiet smile passed between the two as they both thought of that time all of those years ago when a power failure had shut down the life-programs surrounding their many subjects. They had lost many of the fascinating species in the power cut, the surge of energy ending their existence in that moment. But those that had survived, and those who had escaped had shown the observers much about the species that could not be learned in a familiar environment. The choices between the loved one and the chance of escape was a hard one for any of the captives to make but all had made it in that moment, some showing a survival instinct that surprised the scientists, others showing a love which did the same.

They came to the final door in the corridor and shared a smile. This pair had been special. Both of the figures that stood in front of the door had been present when SG1 had first visited their planet. The three Earth-born humans and their Jaffa guard where remembered in the nightmares of the two Gou'ald held captive in one of the twenty life-programs already running. It had not taken the captors long to acknowledge the partnership between the leader and the scientist, his protectiveness over her was quickly noticed as he tried to defend her against the unknown foe. It had not been hard to incorporate them into the life-program and they had been able to initiate the challenges quickly. They had found it easy to take knowledge from all of the four's memories to make sure the two new additions to the project were not made aware of the research going on into their races unique interactions.

The neuro-scientist working with the project had been amazed at the simple formations of the human brain, as he always was when a human subject was incorporated into the project. The solid-holo engineer had much enjoyed the pair's addition because the stargate – as they called it – allowed them to travel and interact with the other subjects in other life programs. It had been a challenge that the engineer had always wanted to take on. They were quickly voted the team's favourite pair, even though they greatly stretched the resources of the project. Their antics were frequently seen talked about in news and even documentaries were written on the difficult couple. When the subjects were lost, some people talked about starting again, but it had been decided that this could not be. Too many ethical concerns had been raised to allow a whole new project.

The soft whirr of a machine told the two figures of the continuing life-program that ran within. A gesture allowed the door to slide open and they entered, looking out onto a grassy hill. They walked in silence to the crest of the hill where they found a young woman in a wheelchair. She looked silently down at a simple stone arch and a small smile graced her features. Carved into the stone in delicate script were the words Colonel Jack O'Neill, We all owe him our lives, some of us owe him more than that. His love will go on forever.' The woman turned from the grave and looked towards the two who were invisible to her and all those around her.

"I'm ready to go home now." She told the air.

"We are prepared." The air told her.

"I just have one more question."

"We will attempt to answer it."

"Did he ever really die?"

Jack looked up from his daydream as the gate started to engage, scattering people in white coats from the gateroom. There was no one off world, there shouldn't be anyone dialling in.

After two failed attempts to rejoin Sam on PX6 666, he had waited for her to follow him home and had lost hope long ago that one day she might turn up on the SGC's doorstep. Having joined Teal'c on SG2 as a leader shortly after the death of Major Ferreti, he was just about ready to move on and believe that he might never see his wife again.

He looked up as General Rogers entered the Control room, nodding his acknowledgement of his presence. Together they turned to watch the spinning cycle of the ring that ruled their existence, watching each chevron as they locked into place. As the gate engaged the General demanded a ICD code and the young tech. gasped as one appeared on his console.

"It's SG1's code, sir. Permission to open the iris." Jack was out of the room before the General could give the order. Stood at the end of the ramp, surrounded by gun-toting marines, he watched and waited, silently praying to any god who might be able to influence events. When a small figure in a wheelchair appeared, silhouetted in the light of the open wormhole, he found himself frozen to the spot, unable to move at all. Suddenly he was released and running, lifting her up into his arms and sinking to the ground, wrapped in each other's presence. When he looked up he found her crying.

"What's wrong Sam?"

"They told me you were dead Jack. God, I didn't know what to do."

"I'm safe Sam, I'm here. I tried to come back for you, I tried so hard, but they wouldn't let me bring you home."

"I tried to find you. I wanted to bring your body home, at least to have you there, somewhere nearby. I always knew you were out there somewhere."

Janet sobbed quietly into Sam's shoulder. Not sure if she was laughing or crying.

"You have to stop doing this to us Sam."

"I'm sorry Janet." Wiping her eyes, Janet composed herself.

"Three years with a mourning Jack is not something I want to relive." She joked.

"Three years without Jack is not something I intend to do ever again." Sam added. Jack, still holding tightly on to her hand, laid a gentle kiss on the palm. I paused, looking down on her delicate hand for a moment. There were scars there, even after three and a half years. Some delicate, fading away; some still thick and angry, set to stay. Sat on the medical bed, alone for a moment Sam examined Jack. His features had changed, she decided. Rubbing a line across his forehead she tried to smooth the frown that resided there. He smiled and it disappeared, prompting a smile back.

"I came out after you." She whispered. "I rejoined the airforce, passed all the fitness tests for you. I set up a team that went after the people that got left behind."

"Why are you back in the wheelchair?"

"A mission went wrong, I wasn't really fit enough. I fell and made it worse. It's been a long time Jack. I didn't think I could live without you, but I did it."

"Thank you."

"And now we're home."

"Yeah. We're home."

"Good."

ELHEA

THE END