A/N Well, here it is. The LAST chapter before the epilogue. I can't believe I'm almost finished. In any event, thanks for sticking with me. It's been a blast all the way around.

And, yeah, I know. He didn't make it back in time for the birth. Sorry, folks, but that's how the characters in my head commanded me to write it, LOL!

Now, without further ado…

Chapter 27

In the years since Daniel had first solved the mystery of the stargate, the members of SG-1 had experienced all manner of traumatic and emotional moments. Death, rebirth, hallucinations, parallel universes, near-apocalypses, true love, and even time travel. Tears had been spilled, laughter shared, and the very deepest bonds of friendship had been forged.

All of it paled in comparison to this moment.

For a few, breathless seconds, Sam's enormous blue eyes darted around the room, as if to confirm that the vision before her was real. Apparently, the dumbstruck looks on both Daniel's and Sarah's faces were enough to convince her. When her gaze finally returned to the rugged, familiar face in the doorway, one constricted word was torn from her throat.

"Jack?"

Their eyes locked, and the rest of the world ceased to exist. The raw, overwhelming emotions in Sam's shaken gaze were enough to break Jack's heart into a million pieces. He knew, without a doubt, that she had been through the worst kind of hell imaginable. He could see it all in the expressions that flickered over her features – grief, loneliness, terror, even guilt. He could sense that she wasn't willing to believe in his existence just yet, because to hope for the impossible, even for a second, would drive a stake through her heart if it turned out to be an illusion. Jack's jaw clenched as her misery washed over him. He couldn't do anything about the trauma already inflicted on his cherished, remarkable Samantha. But he most certainly could make her believe in miracles.

Never breaking eye contact with her, he crossed the room in three steps. Before she could formulate a coherent thought, his arms were wrapped around her, and she was enveloped in the perfect security of his embrace. Timidly, her own arms wound their way around his mid-section. Her hands hesitantly came to rest on his back, as if she was afraid he'd disappear as soon as she touched him. When, instead, he remained solid and real, she began to clutch his chest with all her might. Her eyes, which had remained open in mute disbelief the whole time, suddenly squeezed shut. She inhaled deeply through her nose, and was instantly filled with the comforting, familiar scent of him. It was that sweet breath, touched with the essence of the man she loved, which finally convinced her.

He was real.

Wrenching, silent sobs began to shake her entire body with uncontrolled emotion. All the restrained anguish that she'd fought into a barricaded corner of her soul was released as the floodgates of her grief broke open. She clung to him like a leaf in a hurricane, weeping freely.

As he held her, Jack felt tears of his own streaming down his rugged face. He buried his nose in her hair and rocked her gently, absorbing the untamed force of her emotional torrent. For him, it was a reunion after three long weeks of separation. For her, however, it was a gift of the blessedly impossible, sent straight from the heavens. He couldn't even begin to imagine the nightmare she'd been living. With every shuddering sob, he whispered sweet, meaningless words of comfort in her ear, reassuring her that it was all over.

After a while, Sam's sobs quieted into soft sniffles, and she slowly pulled back far enough to look at her beloved's face. She placed her hand on his cheek, reverently tracing the contours of his tear-streaked features. "You're alive," she murmured in stunned disbelief

He reached up and gently grasped the hand that was caressing his face. With sweet tenderness, he brought it to his mouth and gently kissed her trembling fingertips. "I'm alive," he agreed softly.

As if to prove it to herself one more time, she hesitantly leaned forward, brushing her lips against his. The kiss was heartbreakingly tender, full of all the emotions she'd wept into her pillow for the last three weeks. As he pulled her closer, deepening the kiss, she was filled with the sweet taste of him. For a moment, she lost herself in his embrace. Joy, sweeter than any she'd ever experienced, filled her heart to overflowing, and she was forced to pull away as fresh sobs broke free from her throat. Burying her head in his neck, she allowed her tears to wash away the misery she'd been immersed in since his accident. As she wept, a simple, silent prayer of thanks flew from her heart on the wings of sweet, exhilarating bliss. Finally, all was right with the world.

Holding her securely in his warm embrace, Jack allowed his gaze to wander around the room. Hammond had wandered back in from the hallway, and was quietly wiping moisture from his eyes. Teal'c stood nearby, holding a tiny, pink bundle. Tears streamed unashamedly down his strong, distinguished face. Daniel, from his seat beside the bed, was using a corner of the blue blanket covering the baby in his arms to wipe away tears of his own. And, much to Jack's surprise and astonishment, his ex-wife sat in the room's other chair, crying softly into a tissue. With typical O'Neill humor, Jack noted that the only two people in the room who weren't crying like babies were, well… the babies.

When Sam again regained control of her tears, she leaned back and smiled brilliantly at him. Sensing that she was finally ready to accept his presence as reality, Jack returned her smile with one of his own. "So," he asked dryly, "did I miss much?"

Sam laughed past the tears in her throat. "Oh, you know. A wedding. A funeral." She paused, glancing at the bundles snuggled up against Teal'c and Daniel's chests. "A couple of babies." She shrugged. "Nothing major."

Reluctantly releasing her, Jack turned around on the bed. "Yeah, about those babies…" he trailed off, looking expectantly at the two men across the room. Teal'c mobilized first, stepping quickly to the bedside. Gently, he held out the sleeping infant.

With excruciating carefulness, Jack took the tiny baby into his arms. Still awake, she blinked up at him with wide, blue, trusting eyes. Something between a sniffle and a laugh erupted in Jack's throat. "Hello there, little one. You look just like your mama," he said, sounding completely awestruck. After a moment, he glanced up at Sam. "Did we name her yet?"

Smiling tearfully, she nodded. "That's Janelle Sha're, just as we planned."

As she spoke, Daniel approached Jack and carefully deposited his fragile bundle into Jack's other arm. Once both infants were securely tucked into their daddy's embrace, Daniel placed a hand on Jack's shoulder and squeezed it gently. An emotional, wordless communication took place between the two men when their eyes locked. Daniel's face expressed how happy he was to see his old, unlikely friend, and Jack's sent his gratitude for the swift, unwavering support that had gotten Sam through her ordeal. Both men smiled in recognition of the exchange before Jack returned his attention to his babies.

His son, who had been asleep, must have been jostled awake in the transfer from Daniel's arms. His tiny chin trembled as he prepared to cry.

"Oh, hey there buddy!" Jack gently bounced the arm holding the blue bundle. "Shhhh. It's okay!" Apparently, the soothing motion did the trick, because in a moment, the baby was blinking sleepily. Still gazing at the tiny face, Jack spoke quietly to Sam. "Did you name him too?"

The scene before her was almost too much to comprehend. Minutes earlier, her fondest wish had been to see Jack holding their babies, just once, just for a moment. Now that her wish had miraculously been granted, she was almost struck mute by the intense gratitude that washed over her. Without thinking, she reached over and brushed her fingertips along her fiancé's brow. "I named him after the three best men in the entire universe. Jonathan Daniel Teal'c O'Neill."

Jack laughed in spite of himself. "I thought we decided not to name him after his father."

Shaking her head, Sam smiled. "No, you decided not to name him after his father." Letting her fingers trail down his cheek, she spoke softly. "And you weren't around to argue with me anymore."

He looked up from the babies in his arms and met her gaze. "I'm so sorry for all you've been through, Sam."

Her features drifted into an expression of serene calm. "It's okay. You're alive." Looking him over, she laughed giddily. "You're alive!" she repeated ecstatically. Then, her brow quirked in puzzlement. "And you're dressed in marine BDUs. How'd that happen?"

Jack smiled. "It's a long story, and I'll happily tell you all about it. But first, I'd like you to explain something for me." Tilting his head slightly, his tone changed to one of teasing amusement. "How, exactly, did my ex-wife end up being present at the birth of our children?"

Sarah immediately straightened in her chair. A soft "Oh!" of surprise flew from her lips. As everyone in the room, including Jack and Sam, turned to look at her, she started to stand up. "I'm sorry!" she said quickly. "I can go if you want…"

Jack rolled his eyes. "That was a joke, Sarah. Surely you haven't forgotten my lousy O'Neill sense of humor so quickly?"

Sam shook her head at him. "Jack, so help me, you'd better be nice to her. Sarah has been my rock through all of this. I don't know what I would have done without her." The two women shared a look of quiet understanding, which Jack found both remarkable and unsettling.

Sounding remorseful, he tried to smooth things over. "I'm sorry, Sarah. In no way did I mean to imply you shouldn't be here. I think it's great that you and Sam befriended each other."

Exchanging another quick look with Sam, Sarah burst out laughing. "No, you don't," she said cheerfully, "but we forgive you anyway." Then, growing more serious, she smiled sincerely at Jack. "I'm very glad you're all right."

From the door, General Hammond cleared his throat. "Jack, would you like us to give you a few minutes alone with your family?"

Looking quickly into Sam's eyes, Jack easily confirmed his own thoughts on that matter. Slowly, he shook his head. "Not necessary, General." Allowing his gaze to wander over the many, dear faces in the room, Jack felt a contented smile creep over his face.

"I'm already alone with my family."