Chapter 4: Jack's Visit

Jack was waiting for the gate to open so he could visit his wife and daughters. It's been a year since he sent them with Jacob. Eagerness was the only thing you could see on the general's face. He was eager to see Sara, Grace, and Sam again. "See you in a couple of weeks, general," Major Thomas affirmed. Jack saluted to everyone before entering the gate.

When Jack came through the gate, he saw Jacob and Anise standing there, waiting for him. "Welcome, General. Don't worry, they don't know you're here," Anise assured. Jack nodded before following them.

Sam was playing with Grace when Jacob came into the room with Sara in his arms. "Did you have fun?" Sam asked.

"Yeah, mommy, grandpa showed me more of their healing thingies," Sara giggled.

Sam smiled at Jacob, she knew that her daughter was just like Jack and her. She was fascinated by all of the objects they would find, but she could never get any of the words. She was intelligent at how the objects would work, but not of how to control them. "Happy birthday, sweet heart," Sam congratulated her. Sara hugged her mother tight.

"What did you get me?" She asked.

Sam held up a locket. "I had this made for you," she replied. Sam snapped the locket around her neck and Sara opened it. On one side it had engraving: Mom, dad, and Grace love your very much. Love, mom. On the other side was a picture of them before they were sent to stay with the Tok'ra.

"I have a present for you too, Sara," Jacob informed.

"What is it, what is it?" Sara asked excitedly.

Jack then came around the corner with a smile. "DADDY! DADDY!" She exclaimed. Jack picked her up into his arms with a smile.

"How's daddy's little angel?" He asked.

"I'm fine, I missed you, daddy," Sara whispered.

Jack held her close with a smile. "Daddy missed you too, angel," he whispered back. Sam got up and hugged him tight with a smile. There was a giggle that could be heard behind them. Sam let him go and walked over to Anise.

"Thanks," Sam praised.

Anise nodded before leaving. Grace grew a lot, she wasn't like Sam at all. All the way through she was like her father the whole way. The only thing she inherited from Sam was her eyes. She had the brown hair that her father once had and the determination he had. "Look," she whispered. Sam placed Grace on the floor and Jack watched as his daughter began to walk t him. She held her arms out to him and giggled.

"Dada," she giggled.

Jack picked her up and kissed her forehead once she reached his arms. "That's daddy's girl," he whispered. Sara walked over and tugged on her father's pants.

"Daddy," she whispered.

Jack kneeled in front of Sara and hugged her tight. "You're daddy's girl too," he chuckled. He kissed the side of Sara's head. "Happy birthday, sweetie," he congratulated.

That night, Jack placed the girls into bed and smiled to see his wife brushing her hair out. "How does it feel to be living with the Tok'ra?" He asked. Sam sighed and put her brush down.

"Don't get me wrong, Jack. Being with my dad is great the girls just love him," she replied.

"But there's a downside to it," he mentioned.

"I'm not with you."

Jack kneeled in front of her and sighed. "I hate it when I have to go down on my knees for you, but anyway, I'm doing this to protect you and the girls. I wouldn't have done this if Nefertem was around. Please, Sam, believe me when I say that I'm doing this out of love," he sighed. Sam nodded and held onto his hands.

"But I've missed you," she whispered.

He wrapped his arms around her and let her cry against him. "I'm sorry," he whispered back.

"It's not your fault," she sobbed.

Tears fell from her eyes and into his shirt. "I just want to get rid of Nefertem, I want you and the girls to come home again," he assured. She pulled away and placed her hands on his face.

"Jack, as long as we're being tracked, this is the only way. Until he is stopped, we can never come home," she added.

He nodded before holding onto her hands. "I know that you said you'll shoot me if I got you pregnant again..." Sam interrupted him by placing her fingers on his lips. She pulled him into a passionate kiss.

The next day, Jack waited for the Stargate to be dialed while standing near Sam and the girls. "Well, I guess it's time to go," he murmured. He hugged Sam and Grace. He went to hug Sara when she backed away from him.

"No," she rejected.

Jack nodded, he understood. "Here, take this, if you ever want to talk, talk through this, sweetie," he offered. He placed the stone that Thor gave him. "I have the other one. Just talk into this pretty stone and daddy will talk right back," he explained. Sara took the stone, but she backed away from him when he tried to hug her. He began to walk to the Stargate when Sara felt guilty.

"Daddy," she whimpered.

Jack turned to see Sara running over to him. He turned and picked her up. "Please, daddy, don't go," she sobbed.

"Sara, listen to me, look at me, sweetie," he insisted.

Sara looked at him while sniffling and tears falling from her eyes. "Remember what I told you, sweetie. Just talk to the stone if you want to talk to me. Daddy will be waiting for you," he repeated. He kissed her forehead and hugged her tight. "Daddy will see you soon, okay, angel?" He asked. Sara nodded and kissed his cheek.

"I love you, daddy," she whispered.

"I love you too," he whispered back.

Then when he let Sara go, he gave his family a final goodbye before walking through the gate. Sara looked at the stone before looking at the gate that just shut down. Sam walked over and took Sara's hand. "Come on, sweetie," she urged. Sara followed her mother with a sad smile.