A/N: And now...on to the conclusion of 'No Way Back'...

Hammond ushered O'Neill into his office and shut the door. Gesturing at a chair, he indicated that Jack was to sit down, and took his place in his own chair behind the desk.

"I received the results of Major Carter's physical yesterday, and the recommendation, as I'm sure you already know, is that she not be returned to active duty."

"Yeah. I saw it too, sir."

"It was attached to a report detailing the medical opinions of her orthopedic doctor and Doctor Frasier that basically said she has progressed as far as she can under the circumstances and is not physically capable of meeting the minimal physical fitness standards."

"Bull," Jack muttered inaudibly.

"I've discussed this with Major Carter..."

"Sir? You discussed her status without her commanding officer present?"

"My apologies, Colonel. It was at her request. She didn't want to put you in the position of having to discharge her."

"So it's final?"

"No, not yet," was all Hammond offered. "But you need to start thinking seriously about who will take the open position on SG1. You know your team will be more secure with four personnel instead of three."

"General, Major Carter has proven her worth in the field over and over again, and it has very little to do with whether she can run two miles or do 50 situps. Isn't there a waiver or a special exception you can ask for so she can rejoin the team?"

"I've already looked into it, Jack. And I'm not finished exploring that option as well as other options. But you know as well as I that she could be a liability in the field in her present condition. She would not only be endangering herself, but her whole team."

"I know that's the party line, sir. I'm just saying, I don't think it applies to this situation. I can speak for the rest of my team when I say we'd rather have Carter out there even in her present circumstances than anyone else I could think of."

"I know, Jack, I know. But my superiors have made the decision, based on the medicals, that she is not fit for duty and as such is not to be reinstated. All I can do is appeal their ruling and keep that line of pursuit open. But in the meantime, I would like SG1 to start taking trainees out, for routine missions only, each on a one-time-only basis. I think you'll all enjoy the chance to get to know some of our new recruits. It will give you some time to think over who you want on the team permanently."

"I'm sure. Sir." There was no mistaking the irritation in O'Neill's tone.

"Jack," O'Neill looked up and Hammond saw his anger and frustration with the situation scrawled all over his features.

"For what it's worth, I'm sorry it's come to this."

"Thank you, sir. Me too, sir."

"Dismissed."

A few weeks later, Jack received a call from Sam as he sat at his desk doggedly sifting through mission reports. He hadn't heard from her in several days, and he hadn't called her, in an effort to give her some space. She'd been restless and distant ever since their talk about her future. Jack was starting to worry that she might actually be considering a move to D.C. after all.

"Sam! How are you? What have you been up to?"

"Jack, I have a job," she announced without preamble.

"Really! Tell me about it," he responded, surprised and somewhat unnerved by her news.

"It's a professorship at the University of Denver, in the Physics and Astronomy Department. It's exactly what I was hoping to find. The work they're doing in this Department...well, it's an incredible opportunity."

"Sounds great," he managed to get out.

"I start in August. That gives me a month to sell the house and make arrangements to move. I have to go to Denver next week and sign the contract."

Jack struggled for words for a few seconds.

"Jack? You there?"

"Yes, I'm here. Sam, I'd love to hear more about it, but I'm kind of swamped right now. Can I call you back?" He needed some time to adjust to her news.

"Can you come by after work?"

"Sure. I'll bring dinner," Jack offered.

"I'll see you later, then," Sam acknowledged and hung up.

The doorbell rang right at 1800 and Sam knew it was him. She limped over to the door and let Jack in, laughing with delight at the bags of groceries he was barely managing to keep upright. She grabbed one and helped him put the food on the kitchen island.

They cooked together often now, so without much forethought they both picked a task and got to work preparing their small dinner. Jack turned to Sam once everything was prepared.

"Sam, I..."

"You don't know what to say."

"I want to talk you out of it, but I know that's not right."

He got right up into her face, his dark eyes gazing into hers with an intensity that made her shiver. Her resolve began to weaken as she saw sadness and longing equally mixed on his features.

"I can't imagine you not being here," he said painfully.

"Jack, please. I have to do this." Her eyes were now equally intense with determination.

"Why do you have to leave town to do it?"

"Denver's not very far away, Jack. You have to admit this is perfect for me."

His face said otherwise, but he nodded weakly in agreement. Sam dished the chicken and vegetables onto two plates and handed him one. They sat in the living room, eating at the coffee table.

"You should see their observatory, Jack. Actually I've only seen pictures of it so far, but I can't wait to get in there and have a look around. I'll only actually be teaching part of the time. It's a great opportunity."

"It sounds really great." His voice betrayed him.

Jack looked exhausted. "I think I'll call it a night. I enjoyed dinner, Sam. I'll see you soon, okay?"

He gave her a brotherly hug that left Sam feeling empty inside, and headed out the door.

"Night."

Sam felt miserable as she tried to fall asleep that night. Jack's defeated expression as he'd left after dinner was burned in her mind. If this was the right move for her, and everything rational in her said it was, why did it hurt so much?

Jack threw another report into his outbox and rubbed at the knot forming near the base of his neck. What a month this had been.

Hammond had saddled him with so many raw recruits he had considered quitting more than once. Either that or killing one or two of them. They'd had a lot of stressful missions, made all the more difficult by the presence of green trainees whose goal in life seemed to be looking for creative ways to get maimed or killed.

And worst of all, Sam was now in Denver, and had been there for the entire Fall. He'd missed her way more than he'd expected to, and he'd expected to miss her a whole lot. In spite of both of their reassurances that they would remain in close contact, the inevitable was already slowly happening and their two very demanding jobs were conspiring to keep them apart. Jack was very close to quitting and showing up on Sam's doorstep begging for sanctuary.

Then there was Hammond.

Hammond had been after him for a while now to choose a fourth team member for SG1. Jack had prolonged that decision as long as he could by doing as Hammond had asked, having taken more than his share of recruits through the Gate on temporary assignment. So far, with this method, Jack had been able to fend off Hammond's demand that he choose a fourth.

Jack had been given the ultimatum this morning, however. Hammond had handpicked the new team member for SG1, he informed Jack brusquely, to be introduced at a briefing scheduled for tomorrow morning. When Jack had protested, Hammond had reminded him, and somewhat impatiently too, that Jack had had his chance.

It was finally quitting time, he noticed with relief. Jack closed up his office and went through the routine of leaving the mountain and driving his car home in a daze of fatigue.

Her car was parked in front of his house.

Yes!

Parking behind it, he jogged to his door and let himself in.

"Sam!" Jack bellowed.

She raised her sleepy head off the couch. "Here," she acknowledged.

"Sam." Jack buried his face against hers with a great sigh. "Whatever you're doing here, in the middle of the week, I don't care. I'm so glad to see you," he whispered fervently.

"I'm back," was all she said in response.

Jack pulled back and stared at her.

"What?"

"I'm back. I resigned a few days ago."

"Why?"

"Well, it's kind of embarrassing, really. Technically, I got fired."

"Oh, come on Carter! You did not. What really happened?"

"It's true. You know I was only teaching part-time this semester. The Department hired a full-time professor with a big, attractive government grant attached to him. My position was terminated."

"That's great!" Jack exulted. "So, what now?"

"Something came up here in Colorado Springs that is perfect for me. I'm moving back."

"Well, I don't even care what it is as long as you're back. Where are you staying? Didn't you sell your house?"

"Actually, it was still on the market. Real estate's been soft in the Springs this entire Fall. I called the real estate agent and now it's not for sale any more. So, I can live in my own house, even though it's pretty bare bones at the moment. Now, come on. Let's go get something to eat, somewhere nice."

Jack pulled his jacket off the floor where it had fallen, unnoticed, when he had first entered his house and found Sam there. Throwing it over his shoulder, he waved her on towards the front door.

By the time they got to the restaurant, Sam had called Daniel, Teal'C, Cassie and Janet and arranged for them all to meet at the restaurant for dinner. The meal stretched out long into the evening as they chatted and joked together, all genuinely thrilled to be together again.

When Sam and Daniel went off to the pool hall, tagged by Teal'C and Cassie, Jack stayed at the table with Janet.

"So how's Cassie doing these days?"

"She's fine, I think. She seems so secretive any more. She's been getting a lot of phonecalls from someone named Ethan, I think."

"Maybe she and I need to have dinner together. That sounds worth delving into."

"If you can get her to talk to you, be my guest. I don't see much of you anymore, Colonel. Are you just buried in work lately?"

"Well, every one of those recruits to whom we've been giving the grand tour generates about 40 pages of paperwork. I had to start a second inbox just for the newbies. But, that's over and done with. Hammond is assigning a permanent member to SG1 tomorrow."

"You don't look too happy about it."

"I'm not."

"I'm sure it's not as bad as you fear, sir."

"It'll probably be worse."

"Ahh, that's the colonel I know and love," Janet ribbed him. "Well, Cassie has school tomorrow. We'd better get going. I'll see you at work tomorrow. Good night."

"Night, Doc."

Jack wandered over to the pool table where Daniel and Sam were battling it out and watched them from the side of the room. With a barely perceptible limp, Sam was running in circles around Daniel, clearly outplaying him, although he seemed to be enjoying the game regardless. Jack watched her for a while, amazed at how much stronger she seemed than the last time he'd seen her. He walked over to the table and gave her upper arm a quick test squeeze.

"You've been working out, Carter," he observed with admiration.

"Yes, I have. You're in the way of this shot..."

She pushed past him and sunk one in the corner pocket, the rebound lining another ball up perfectly for her next shot.

"I wouldn't want to do hand to hand with you right now," he continued, giving her body a very thorough, appreciative gaze. Carter elbowed past him again for her final shot, winning the game, and straightened up, facing Jack.

"You might not want to at that. Pay up, Daniel."

"Ooh! Get Sam around a pool table and she turns into lean, mean biker woman," Daniel accused as he fished a 20 out of his pocket for her, out of sorts from having lost the game.

"Watch it, she might hurt you," Jack advised him. "Well, you two, I've got to get up early, so I'm heading out. See you tomorrow, Daniel. Sam, do you have a phone yet?"

"Are you asking for my phone number?"

"Don't be cute. I have your cell number, you know." Jack was getting a kick out of her pool table personality, a side of Sam that he rarely saw.

"Well, that's my phone right now."

"Okay then. Hey, I'm really glad you've moved back home, Sam. Sorry about the job...okay, actually I'm not sorry at all, but in case you are, my sympathies."

"That was so heartfelt, Jack," Daniel said sarcastically.

"I'm not that sorry either, actually," Sam agreed. "How about I call you when I get done with my first day on the new job tomorrow? Oh, I rode over here with you...you don't mind if I stay for another game with Daniel?"

"Yeah, I'll drop you off, Sam. Now, rack 'em up so I can bury you." Daniel was competitively chalking up his pool cue.

"Sounds great. Knock yourselves out." Jack left with a contented smile on his lips. Tomorrow didn't look so bad any more.

Tomorrow came, bright and sunny, although cold, and Jack was in a better mood than he had been in months when he got to the briefing room. But then he remembered what the briefing was about, and his sullen attitude began to slowly leak across his features again.

Hammond entered, and Jack handed him a monstrous stack of files.

"What's this?"

"It's paperwork on the recruits, sir. And I hope I never have to fill out another newbie evaluation again, with all due respect. Sir."

"Thanks Jack, and let's hope you don't. Colonel, Daniel, Teal'C, shall I have the candidate for SG1 sent in now?"

"Indeed."

"Yes sir."

"Fine."

Jack began to feel a little hopeful at the uncertainty of the word 'candidate'. Maybe he could prolong having to choose a fourth team member even longer.

"Sergeant, tell her we're ready."

Daniel and Teal'C desperately tried to keep straight faces as Major Samantha Carter came through the briefing room door in full dress uniform. Jack was on his feet in a split second, looking completely stunned.

"Carter!" Jack burst out. "Carter is our new team member?"

"If that's agreeable with you, Colonel," Hammond said with an ear-splitting grin.

"Uh, of course it is! But... how did you manage to get the special exception waiver, General?"

"There is no waiver," Sam said coolly. "I passed the fitness test last week and I've been medically cleared for duty by Dr. Frasier, sir."

"You did? You have?"

"Yes, sir. For the past three months, I've been in a very effective, experimental physical therapy program and training regimen up at the University of Denver's P.T. facility."

"So... that was all a story you told me? There was no job teaching Physics?"

"Oh, it was real, at least it started out that way until I heard about the new physical therapy being done at the University. I actually stayed on as a visiting lecturer for the Fall at the Department of Physics and Astronomy while I was enrolled in the P.T. program. I loved it."

Carter stumbled to a halt. "Colonel?"

Jack couldn't speak. For the first time since any of them had known him, they witnessed tears well up in his eyes and roll down his cheeks.

"Major Carter, I am so proud of you," he finally managed to choke out.

Sam took a few steps towards him, tears beginning to form in her eyes as well. The triumphant smile she wore through her tears reflected all of the heartache, setbacks,and sheer perseverance that had led up to this moment.

"Jack, just give her a hug. We won't look," General Hammond urged, unable to keep from smiling. He walked over and shut the door.

But no sooner than Jack had literally leapt across the room and eclipsed Sam in his arms, Teal'C and Daniel were on top of them both, participating in SG1's first officially sanctioned group hug.

"What the hey."

General Hammond walked up, arms spread wide, and joined them.

Samantha Carter was back.