Author's Note:

            Sorry I haven't updated in so long!  I have been very busy with a great multitude of things: moving out of my dorm room, visiting relatives, helping with a friend's wedding being the major ones.  Hopefully I will have updates more frequently.  I know this one is short, but it was done so I thought I might as well post it.

~Silme

Chapter 14:  Separation

By the time Jack had to go back home, both were very comfortable in their relationship.  Before Jack got onto the transport taking him back to his home base, Sam and Jack said their goodbyes. 

"Don't forget to say hi to Charlie and Dad for me," Sam reminded Jack.

"I won't, are you going to try and come down soon?"

"I should be able to tome in a week or two, the general promised a few days of after the final reports are in," Sam told him.

"I'll miss you Sam," Jack said, pulling Sam into a tight hug.

"I'll miss you too," Sam replied.

"I will call you when I get there, don't worry," Jack promised.

"Bye Jack," Sam said, leaning her head back to be able to see Jack's face.

"Bye Sam," Jack kissed her, and she kissed him back.  "I better go."

"Yeah, get out of here Jack."

"Yes ma'am," Jack replied cheekily as he head for the plane.  Sam waited for the plane to get to the runway before heading back to her final reports.

Jack arrived at Andrew's right on time and headed to Jacob's office to report in.  He also told Jacob that he would pick Charlie up at the end of the day from the base day care.

After talking to Jacob, Jack went to see his team.  He found them in the training building having one of their mini sparring tournaments.

"Look who's back!" Charlie Kawalsky exclaimed.

"Hello Charlie," Jack replied, "Hope you didn't get into too much trouble while I was gone?"
            "Course not, he had the rest of us keeping him in line," John Gonzalez called out.

"Hey! I resemble that remark!" Kawalsky protested.

"Of course you do.  You get into trouble easier than anybody I know," Jack added.

"So, how was Dover?  Meet anybody?" Kawalsky decided to change the subject.

"Dover was fine.  As for question number two, no comment," Jack said.

"Oh yeah guys, he met someone.  What's she like?" Conner MacDonald joined in.

"She's tall, blue-eyed and blond," Jack told them.  He didn't feel like telling the guys anymore than that.  He also didn't want Charlie to make the connection between Jack's mystery girl and Sam.

"Sounds cute, if you ever change your mind, give me her number will ya?" Alex Horn joked.

"Yeah, right.  I'm not changing my mind, no way in hell," Jack replied vehemently.

"Whoa, you really serious about this one huh?" Kyle Thompson queried. 

"Yeah, I am," Jack said quietly. 

"Gonna marry her?" Charlie asked.

"Maybe, if she'll have me.  I gotta go.  The colonel gave me the afternoon off to spend time with Charlie," Jack told his friends.  Their goodbyes followed him out the door.

Jack headed to the nursery after he left the building.  Jack picked Charlie up, and spent the car ride listening to his son's excited chatter.  During his absence, Jack had missed his son terribly, even thought he knew he was in good hands.  The afternoon off would be good for them both.